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A method and system for controlling engine speed during a vehicle launch (from a rest condition to a moving condition), such vehicle having the engine is coupled to an automatic shifting manual transmission. The method comprises determining a spark timing offset based on one or more of engine speed,

A method and system for controlling engine speed during a vehicle launch (from a rest condition to a moving condition), such vehicle having the engine is coupled to an automatic shifting manual transmission. The method comprises determining a spark timing offset based on one or more of engine speed, a time rate of engine speed, relative air charge, engine coolant temperature, accelerator pedal position, and a time rate of change of accelerator pedal position. A new spark timing is determined as the base spark timing minus the spark timing offset. By adjusting spark timing based primarily on a time rate of change of engine speed, engine speed fluctuations arising during a clutch engagement associated with vehicle launch are largely attenuated.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of controlling spark timing for spark plugs disposed in cylinders of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:determining a base spark for each spark plug;wherein said base spark timing is substantially a MBT (minimum spark advance for best torque) spark timing ad said offset

1. A method of controlling spark timing for spark plugs disposed in cylinders of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:determining a base spark for each spark plug;wherein said base spark timing is substantially a MBT (minimum spark advance for best torque) spark timing ad said offset spark timing is set to zero when dNe/dt is negative; anddetermining a time rate of change of engine speed dNe/dt;modifying the base timing by an offset spark timing in accordance with the determined dNe/dt. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said engine is disposed in a vehicle, the method further comprising:determining that a launch request has been made by an operator of said vehicle; andexecuting said determining a base spark timing, said determining a time rate of change of engine speed, and said modifying the base timing in response to said determined launch request. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:determining a desired amount of torque reserve; andcomputing said offset spark timing to provide said desired amount of torque reserve. 4. A method for use in controlling engine torque of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, such torque being controlled by a spark timing of spark plugs disposed in engine cylinders, a base spark timing for such spark plugs being determined in an engine control unit electrically coupled to the spark plugs, the method comprising:determining that a launch request has been made by an operator of the vehicle wherein said launch is determined based on a present vehicle speed being substantially zero and an operator of the vehicle pressing the accelerator pedal, said accelerator pedal being electrically coupled to the engine control unit;determining a time rate of change dNe/dt of engine speed during execution of the determined launch;determining a spark timing offset from the base timing for the spark plugs, such spark timing offset being a function of the determined dNe/dt;determining a new spark timing for the spark plugs, such new spark timing being a function of the base spark timing and said offset timing; andcommanding said new spark timing to the spark plugs. 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said new spark timing is substantially the difference between the base spark timing and said offset spark timing. 6. The method of claim 4 wherein the engine is coupled to a clutch and said offset spark timing is based on a temperature which gives an indication of a temperature of the clutch. 7. The method of claim 4 wherein said temperature is an engine coolant temperature. 8. The method of claim 4 wherein said offset spark timing is based also on a relative air charge. 9. The method of claim 4 wherein said offset spark timing is based also on accelerator pedal position. 10. The method of claim 4 wherein said offset spark timing is based also on engine speed divided by a speed of said vehicle. 11. A method for use in controlling engine torque of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, such torque being controlled by a spark timing of spark plugs disposed in engine cylinders, a base spark timing for each spark plug being determined in an engine control unit coupled to the spark plugs, the method comprising:determining that a launch request has been made by an operator of the vehicle;determining a time rate of change dNe/dt of engine speed during execution of the determined launch;determining a spark timing offset from the base timing for the spark plugs, such spark timing offset being a function of the determined dNe/dt;determining a new spark timing for the spark plugs, such new spark timing being a function of the base spark timing and said offset timing; andcommanding said new spark timing to the spark plugs,wherein the engine is coupled to an automatic manual transmission via a clutch, said transmission and a driver interface are coupled to a transmission control unit and disposed in the vehicle, said driver interface is electrically coupled to said transmission control unit, s aid driver interface comprising an upshift paddle, and said launch is determined based on an operator of the vehicle depressing the upshift paddle. 12. A method for controlling engine torque of an internal combustion engine, such torque being controlled by a spark plug disposed in engine cylinders, a base spark timing for each spark plug being determined in an engine control unit electrically coupled to the spark plugs, the method comprising:determining a time rate of change of engine speed, dNe/dt;determining a spark timing offset from the base timing for the spark plugs, such spark timing offset being a function of the determined dNe/dt;determining a new spark timing for the spark plugs, such new spark timing being a function of the base timing and said offset spark timing; andcommanding said new spark timing to the spark plugs;wherein the engine is coupled to an automatic transmission via a clutch, said transmission and a driver interface are coupled to a transmission control unit, said driver interface comprises an upshift paddle, and said launch is determined based on an operator of the vehicle depressing the upshift paddle. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the engine is disposed in a vehicle, the method further comprising:determining that a launch request has been made by an operator of said vehicle; andexecuting said commanding said new spark timing to the spark plugs when said launch request has been determined. 14. The method of claim 12 wherein said offset spark timing is based on at least one of the following: an engine, coolant temperature, a relative air charge, an accelerator pedal position, a time rate of change of said accelerator pedal position, and a time rate of change of said engine speed. 15. A method for controlling engine torque of an internal combustion engine, such torque being controlled by a spark timing of spark plugs disposed in engine cylinders, a base spark timing for each spark plug being determined in an engine control unit electrically coupled to the spark plugs, the method comprising:determining a time rate of change engine speed, dNe/dt;determining a spark timing offset from the base timing for the spark plugs, such spark timing offset being a function of the determined dNe/dt;determining a new spark timing for the spark plugs, such new spark timing being a function of the base spark timing and offset spark timing; andcommanding said new spark timing to the spark plugs,wherein the engine is disposed in a vehicle and said launch is determined based on a present vehicle speed being substantially zero and an operator of the vehicle depressing an accelerator pedal, said accelerator pedal being disposed in said vehicle and electronically coupled to the engine control unit. 16. A system for use in controlling engine torque in an internal combustion engine disposed in a vehicle, such torque being controlled by a spark timing of spark plugs disposed in engine cylinders, the system comprising:an engine speed sensor; andan engine control unit electrically coupled to the engine, the spark plugs, and said engine speed sensor, said engine control unit determining a base spark timing, said engine control unit further determining an offset spark timing based on a signal form said engine speed sensor, said engine control unit further determining a new spark timing as a function of the base spark timing and said offset timing, and said engine control unit further commanding said new spark timing to the spark plugs, wherein an engine speed is determined based on said signal from said sensor and said offset spark timing is based on a time derivative of said engine speed, further comprising: a filter for filtering said time derivative of engine speed. 17. The system of claim 16, further comprising: an accelerator pedal position sensor coupled to an accelerator pedal and said engine control unit wherein accelerator pedal position sensor and said offset spark timing is based also on said accelerator pedal posit ion and said time rate of change of pedal position. 18. The system of claim 16, further comprising: a engine coolant temperature sensor coupled to said engine control unit wherein engine coolant temperature is determined from a signal from said engine coolant temperature. 19. The system of claim 16 wherein said base spark timing is determined to provide a desired torque reserve. 20. A system for use in controlling engine torque in an internal combustion engine disposed in a vehicle, such torque being controlled by a spark timing of spark plugs disposed in engine cylinders, the system comprising:an engine speed sensor; andan engine control unit electrically coupled to the engine, the spark plugs, and said engine speed sensor, said engine control unit determining a base spark timing, said engine control unit further determining an offset spark timing based on a signal from said engine speed sensor, said engine control unit further determining a new spark timing as a function of the base spark timing and said offset spark timing, and said engine control unit further commanding said new spark timing to the spark plugs, wherein said offset spark timing is substantially zero when said time rate of change of engine speed is less than zero and said base spark timing is substantially a MBT (minimum spark advance for best torque) spark timing. 21. A system for controlling an engine in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, comprising:an engine control unit for providing timing to spark plugs of the engine;a vehicle launch sensor for sensing that a launch request has been made by an operator of the vehicle, wherein said launch sensor comprises an accelerator pedal and a vehicle speed sensor disposed in the vehicle and electrically coupled to said engine control unit; and said launch is determined based on a present vehicle speed being substantially zero and an operator of the vehicle depressing an accelerator pedal;an engine speed sensor for measuring engine speed;wherein such engine control unit in response to a launch sensor and engine speed sensor;determines a time rate of change dNe/dt of engine speed during execution of the determined launch;determines a spark timing offset from a base timing for the spark plugs, such spark timing offset being a function of the determined dNe/dt;determines a new spark timing for the spark plugs, such new spark timing being a function of the base spark timing and said offset spark timing; andcommands said new spark timing to the spark plugs. 22. A system for controlling an engine in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, comprising:an engine control unit for providing timing to spark plugs of the engine;a vehicle launch sensor for sensing that a launch request has been made by an operator of the vehicle wherein said launch sensor comprises an upshift paddle, said upshift paddle is part of a driver interface disposed in the vehicle;an engine speed sensor for measuring engine speed;wherein such engine control unit in response to a launch sensor and engine sensor;determines a time rate of change dNe/dt of engine speed during execution f the determined launch;determines a spark timing offset from a base timing for the spark plugs, such spark timing offset being a function of the determined dNe/dt;determines a new spark timing for the spark plugs, such new spark timing being a function of the base spark timing and said spark timing; andcommands said new spark timing to the spark plugs.