Patent Publication Number: US-10760482-B1

Title: Methods and system for reducing a possibility of spark plug fouling

Description:
FIELD 
     The present description relates to methods and a system for a vehicle that includes an electric machine for electrical power to external electrical power consumers. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     A vehicle may include an electric machine that may provide a propulsion force to the hybrid vehicle. The electric machine may also supply alternating electrical current to external electrical power consumers from time to time. Further, in some examples, the electric machine may not provide propulsion force for the vehicle. In one example, a hybrid vehicle may be parked at a construction site and the engine of the hybrid vehicle may rotate the armature of the electric machine so that the electric machine may supply electric power to electric power consumers that are external or off-board the hybrid vehicle. The engine of the hybrid vehicle may operate at a variety of speeds and loads to meet the electrical power consumption of the electric power consumers. The engine may also be operated with the electric machine to generate electric power for several hours each day. During some engine operating conditions while the engine and the electric machine are operating to generate electrical power, carbon may tend to build on the engine&#39;s spark plugs. If the amount of carbon deposited on the engine&#39;s spark plugs is greater than a threshold amount, the engine may misfire. On the other hand, carbon may be removed from the engine&#39;s spark plugs while the engine and the electric machine are operating to generate electrical power. Whether or not carbon is being deposited on or being removed from spark plugs depends on the speed and load at which the engine is operating. In addition, the amount of carbon deposited or removed from the spark plugs may vary depending on the speed and load at which the engine is operated. Users of the vehicle may notice engine speed changes if the engine begins to misfire and engine emissions may increase if the engine begins to misfire. Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a way of mitigating the possibility of engine misfires. 
     The inventors herein have recognized the above-mentioned issues and have developed a powertrain operating method, comprising: characterizing each of a plurality of engine operating regions as one or more carbon building regions, one or more carbon removing regions, or one or more carbon neutral regions; measuring an amount of time an engine operates in the one or more of the carbon building regions via a controller while the engine rotates an electric machine that provides power to external power consumers; and adjusting operation of the engine to operate in one or more of the carbon removing regions while the engine rotates the electric machine that provides power to the external power consumers in response to the amount of time exceeding a threshold. 
     By adjusting operation of an engine that is coupled to an electric machine that provides power to external electrical power consumers, it may be possible to reduce the possibility of engine misfires when supplying power to electrical power consumers. In particular, if the engine is operating at light loads where carbon may accumulate on the engine&#39;s spark plugs while electrical power consumers are electrically coupled to an electric machine that is rotated via the engine, engine speed may be increased even though a load that may be provided by the external electrical power consumers has not changed. By increasing the engine speed, spark plug temperatures may increase, thereby oxidizing carbon that may accumulate on the engine&#39;s spark plugs so that the possibility of engine misfires may be reduced. In addition, a load that the electric machine provides to the engine may be increased to further reduce the possibility of spark plug fouling. The increased electric machine load may be used to charge an electric energy storage device that is on-board the vehicle so that beneficial work may be generated by increasing the engine load. 
     The present description may provide several advantages. In particular, the approach may improve engine operation while an engine is being used to generate electrical power. Further, the approach may provide beneficial work when carbon is being removed from engine spark plugs. In addition, the approach provides compensation for times when the engine is operated in carbon removing operating conditions. Further still, the method described herein may be applied to engines that are operated at extended idle conditions, irrespective of if the engine is driving a mechanical load, or a load that generates electrical power, or no external load. 
     The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present description will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages described herein will be more fully understood by reading an example of an embodiment, referred to herein as the Detailed Description, when taken alone or with reference to the drawings, where: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an engine; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a vehicle driveline; 
         FIG. 3  shows an example engine operating sequence; 
         FIG. 4  shows an example method for operating an engine that supplies electrical power to external electrical power consumers; and 
         FIG. 5  shows an engine map with example carbon building, carbon removing, and carbon neutral regions. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present description is related to operating a hybrid vehicle that includes an engine and an electric machine. The electric machine may be operated to provide electrical power to external electrical power consumers. The vehicle may include an engine of the type shown in  FIG. 1 . The engine may be included in a driveline as shown in  FIG. 2 . The vehicle driveline may operate according to the sequence of  FIG. 3 . The vehicle driveline may be operated according to the method of  FIG. 4 . The engine may include carbon building, carbon removing, and carbon neutral operating regions as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , internal combustion engine  10 , comprising a plurality of cylinders, one cylinder of which is shown in  FIG. 1 , is controlled by electronic engine controller  12 . The controller  12  receives signals from the various sensors shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The controller employs the actuators shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  to adjust engine and driveline or powertrain operation based on the received signals and instructions stored in memory of controller  12 . 
     Engine  10  is comprised of cylinder head  35  and block  33 , which include combustion chamber  30  and cylinder walls  32 . Piston  36  is positioned therein and reciprocates via a connection to crankshaft  40 . Flywheel  97  and ring gear  99  are coupled to crankshaft  40 . Optional starter  96  (e.g., low voltage (operated with less than 30 volts) electric machine) includes pinion shaft  98  and pinion gear  95 . Pinion shaft  98  may selectively advance pinion gear  95  via solenoid  93  to engage ring gear  99 . Optional starter  96  may be directly mounted to the front of the engine or the rear of the engine. In some examples, starter  96  may selectively supply power to crankshaft  40  via a belt or chain. In one example, starter  96  is in a base state when not engaged to the engine crankshaft  40  and flywheel ring gear  99 . 
     Combustion chamber  30  is shown communicating with intake manifold  44  and exhaust manifold  48  via respective intake valve  52  and exhaust valve  54 . Each intake and exhaust valve may be operated by an intake cam  51  and an exhaust cam  53 . The position of intake cam  51  may be determined by intake cam sensor  55 . The position of exhaust cam  53  may be determined by exhaust cam sensor  57 . Intake valve  52  may be selectively activated and deactivated by valve activation device  59 . Exhaust valve  54  may be selectively activated and deactivated by valve activation device  58 . Valve activation devices  58  and  59  may be electro-mechanical devices. 
     Direct fuel injector  66  is shown positioned to inject fuel directly into cylinder  30 , which is known to those skilled in the art as direct injection. Port fuel injector  67  is shown positioned to inject fuel into the intake port of cylinder  30 , which is known to those skilled in the art as port injection. Fuel injectors  66  and  67  deliver liquid fuel in proportion to pulse widths provided by controller  12 . Fuel is delivered to fuel injectors  66  and  67  by a fuel system (not shown) including a fuel tank, fuel pump, and fuel rail (not shown). 
     In addition, intake manifold  44  is shown communicating with turbocharger compressor  162  and engine air intake  42 . In other examples, compressor  162  may be a supercharger compressor. Shaft  161  mechanically couples turbocharger turbine  164  to turbocharger compressor  162 . Optional electronic throttle  62  adjusts a position of throttle plate  64  to control air flow from compressor  162  to intake manifold  44 . Pressure in boost chamber  45  may be referred to a throttle inlet pressure since the inlet of throttle  62  is within boost chamber  45 . The throttle outlet is in intake manifold  44 . In some examples, throttle  62  and throttle plate  64  may be positioned between intake valve  52  and intake manifold  44  such that throttle  62  is a port throttle. Compressor recirculation valve  47  may be selectively adjusted to a plurality of positions between fully open and fully closed. Waste gate  163  may be adjusted via controller  12  to allow exhaust gases to selectively bypass turbine  164  to control the speed of compressor  162 . Air filter  43  cleans air entering engine air intake  42 . 
     Distributorless ignition system  88  provides an ignition spark to combustion chamber  30  via spark plug  92  in response to controller  12 . Universal Exhaust Gas Oxygen (UEGO) sensor  126  is shown coupled to exhaust manifold  48  upstream of three-way catalyst  70 . Alternatively, a two-state exhaust gas oxygen sensor may be substituted for UEGO sensor  126 . 
     Catalyst  70  may include multiple bricks and a three-way catalyst coating, in one example. In another example, multiple emission control devices, each with multiple bricks, can be used. 
     Controller  12  is shown in  FIG. 1  as a conventional microcomputer including: microprocessor unit  102 , input/output ports  104 , read-only memory  106  (e.g., non-transitory memory), random access memory  108 , keep alive memory  110 , and a conventional data bus. Controller  12  is shown receiving various signals from sensors coupled to engine  10 , in addition to those signals previously discussed, including: engine coolant temperature (ECT) from temperature sensor  112  coupled to cooling sleeve  114 ; a position sensor  134  coupled to an accelerator pedal  130  (e.g., a human/machine interface) for sensing force applied by human driver  132 ; a position sensor  154  coupled to brake pedal  150  (e.g., a human/machine interface) for sensing force applied by human driver  132 , a measurement of engine manifold pressure (MAP) from pressure sensor  122  coupled to intake manifold  44 ; an engine position sensor from a Hall effect sensor  118  sensing crankshaft  40  position; a measurement of air mass entering the engine from sensor  120 ; and a measurement of throttle position from sensor  68 . Barometric pressure may also be sensed (sensor not shown) for processing by controller  12 . In a preferred aspect of the present description, engine position sensor  118  produces a predetermined number of equally spaced pulses every revolution of the crankshaft from which engine speed (RPM) can be determined. 
     Controller  12  may also receive input from human/machine interface  11 . A request to start or stop the engine or vehicle may be generated via a human and input to the human/machine interface  11 . The human/machine interface  11  may be a touch screen display, pushbutton, key switch or other known device. 
     During operation, each cylinder within engine  10  typically undergoes a four stroke cycle: the cycle includes the intake stroke, compression stroke, expansion stroke, and exhaust stroke. During the intake stroke, generally, the exhaust valve  54  closes and intake valve  52  opens. Air is introduced into combustion chamber  30  via intake manifold  44 , and piston  36  moves to the bottom of the cylinder so as to increase the volume within combustion chamber  30 . The position at which piston  36  is near the bottom of the cylinder and at the end of its stroke (e.g. when combustion chamber  30  is at its largest volume) is typically referred to by those of skill in the art as bottom dead center (BDC). 
     During the compression stroke, intake valve  52  and exhaust valve  54  are closed. Piston  36  moves toward the cylinder head so as to compress the air within combustion chamber  30 . The point at which piston  36  is at the end of its stroke and closest to the cylinder head (e.g. when combustion chamber  30  is at its smallest volume) is typically referred to by those of skill in the art as top dead center (TDC). In a process hereinafter referred to as injection, fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber. In a process hereinafter referred to as ignition, the injected fuel is ignited by known ignition means such as spark plug  92 , resulting in combustion. 
     During the expansion stroke, the expanding gases push piston  36  back to BDC. Crankshaft  40  converts piston movement into a rotational power of the rotary shaft. Finally, during the exhaust stroke, the exhaust valve  54  opens to release the combusted air-fuel mixture to exhaust manifold  48  and the piston returns to TDC. Note that the above is shown merely as an example, and that intake and exhaust valve opening and/or closing timings may vary, such as to provide positive or negative valve overlap, late intake valve closing, or various other examples. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a non-limiting vehicle  225  including a powertrain or driveline  200 . The powertrain of  FIG. 2  includes engine  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . Powertrain  200  is shown including vehicle system controller  255 , engine controller  12 , electric machine controller  252 , transmission controller  254 , energy storage device controller  253 , and brake controller  250 . The controllers may communicate over controller area network (CAN)  299 . Each of the controllers may provide information to other controllers such as power output limits (e.g., power output of the device or component being controlled not to be exceeded), power input limits (e.g., power input of the device or component being controlled not to be exceeded), power output of the device being controlled, sensor and actuator data, diagnostic information (e.g., information regarding a degraded transmission, information regarding a degraded engine, information regarding a degraded electric machine, information regarding degraded brakes). Further, the vehicle system controller  255  may provide commands to engine controller  12 , electric machine controller  252 , transmission controller  254 , and brake controller  250  to achieve driver input requests and other requests that are based on vehicle operating conditions. 
     For example, in response to a driver releasing an accelerator pedal and vehicle speed, vehicle system controller  255  may request a desired wheel power or a wheel power level to provide a desired rate of vehicle deceleration. The requested desired wheel power may be provided by vehicle system controller  255  requesting a first braking power from electric machine controller  252  and a second braking power from engine controller  12 , the first and second powers providing a desired driveline braking power at vehicle wheels  216 . Vehicle system controller  255  may also request a friction braking power via brake controller  250 . The braking powers may be referred to as negative powers since they slow driveline and wheel rotation. Positive power may maintain or accelerate driveline and wheel rotation. 
     In other examples, the partitioning of controlling powertrain devices may be partitioned differently than is shown in  FIG. 2 . For example, a single controller may take the place of vehicle system controller  255 , engine controller  12 , electric machine controller  252 , transmission controller  254 , and brake controller  250 . Alternatively, the vehicle system controller  255  and the engine controller  12  may be a single unit while the electric machine controller  252 , the transmission controller  254 , and the brake controller  250  are standalone controllers. 
     In this example, powertrain  200  may be powered by engine  10  and/or electric machine  240 . However, in other examples, electric machine  240  may not provide propulsive force to the powertrain  200  and it may be positioned at the front end of engine  10  or another suitable location. Further, in another example, element  240  may be a mechanical power take-off for operating external mechanically driven devices. Engine  10  may be started via optional engine starting system shown in  FIG. 1  or via driveline integrated starter/generator (ISG)  240  also known as an integrated starter/generator. Driveline ISG  240  (e.g., high voltage (operated with greater than 30 volts) electrical machine) may also be referred to as an electric machine, motor, and/or generator. Further, power of engine  10  may be adjusted via power actuator  204 , such as a fuel injector, throttle, etc. 
     Bi-directional DC/DC converter  281  may transfer electrical energy from a high voltage buss  274  to a low voltage buss  273  or vice-versa. Low voltage battery  280  is electrically coupled to low voltage buss  273 . Electric energy storage device  275  is electrically coupled to high voltage buss  274 . Low voltage battery  280  selectively supplies electrical energy to starter motor  96 . Electric machine  240  may supply alternating current to external electrical power consumers  289  via receptacle  288 . External electrical power consumers  289  are located off-board vehicle  225  and they may be provided power when transmission  208  is engaged in park. External electrical power consumers  289  may include but are not limited to tools, entertainment devices, and lighting. 
     An engine output power may be transmitted to an input or first side of powertrain disconnect clutch  235  through dual mass flywheel  215 . Disconnect clutch  236  may be electrically or hydraulically actuated. The downstream or second side  234  of disconnect clutch  236  is shown mechanically coupled to torque converter impeller  285  via shaft  237 . Disconnect clutch  236  may be fully closed when engine  10  is supplying power to vehicle wheels  216 . Disconnect clutch  236  may be fully open when engine  10  is stopped (e.g., not combusting fuel). 
     Torque converter  206  includes a turbine  286  to output power to shaft  241 . Input shaft  241  mechanically couples torque converter  206  to ISG  240 . Torque converter  206  also includes a torque converter bypass lock-up clutch  212  (TCC). Power is directly transferred from impeller  285  to turbine  286  when TCC is locked. TCC is electrically operated by controller  12 . Alternatively, TCC may be hydraulically locked. In one example, the torque converter may be referred to as a component of the transmission. Torque may be transferred via fluid from impeller  285  to  286 . 
     When torque converter lock-up clutch  212  is fully disengaged, torque converter  206  transmits engine power to automatic transmission  208  via fluid transfer between the torque converter turbine  286  and torque converter impeller  285  or vice-versa, thereby enabling torque multiplication. In contrast, when torque converter lock-up clutch  212  is fully engaged, the engine output power may be directly transferred via the torque converter clutch to an input shaft  241  of ISG  240 . Alternatively, the torque converter lock-up clutch  212  may be partially engaged, thereby enabling the amount of engine torque directly relayed to the ISG to be adjusted. The transmission controller  254  may be configured to adjust the amount of torque transmitted by torque converter  212  by adjusting the torque converter lock-up clutch in response to various engine operating conditions, or based on a driver-based engine operation request. 
     Torque converter  206  also includes pump  283  that pressurizes fluid to operate disconnect clutch  236 , forward clutch  210 , and gear clutches  211 . Pump  283  is driven via impeller  285 , which rotates at a same speed as ISG  240 . 
     ISG  240  may be operated to provide power to powertrain  200  or to convert powertrain power into electrical energy to be stored in electric energy storage device  275  in a regeneration mode. ISG  240  is in electrical communication with energy storage device  275 . ISG  240  has a higher output power capacity than starter  96  shown in  FIG. 1 . Further, ISG  240  directly drives powertrain  200  or is directly driven by powertrain  200 . There are no belts, gears, or chains to couple ISG  240  to powertrain  200 . Rather, ISG  240  rotates at the same rate as powertrain  200 . Electrical energy storage device  275  (e.g., high voltage battery or power source) may be a battery, capacitor, or inductor. The downstream side of ISG  240  is mechanically coupled to the input shaft  270  of automatic transmission  208 . The upstream side of the ISG  240  is mechanically coupled to the turbine  286  of torque converter  206 . ISG  240  may provide a positive power or a negative power to powertrain  200  via operating as a motor or generator as instructed by electric machine controller  252 . 
     ISG  240  may rotate turbine  286 , which in turn may rotate impeller  285  to start engine  10  during engine starting. Torque converter  206  may multiply torque of ISG  240  to rotate engine  10  when driveline disconnect clutch  236  is fully closed. Thus, the torque of ISG  240  may be increased via torque converter  206  to rotate engine  10  during engine starting. TCC  212  may be fully open when ISG  240  is cranking engine  10  so that torque of ISG  240  may be multiplied. Alternatively, TCC  212  may be partially open when ISG  240  is cranking engine  10  to manage torque transfer to engine  10 . ISG  240  may rotate at a greater speed than engine  10  during engine cranking. 
     Automatic transmission  208  includes gear clutches  211  (e.g., for gears 1-10) and forward clutch  210 . Automatic transmission  208  is a fixed ratio transmission. Alternatively, transmission  208  may be a continuously variable transmission that has a capability of simulating a fixed gear ratio transmission and fixed gear ratios. The gear clutches  211  and the forward clutch  210  may be selectively engaged to change a ratio of an actual total number of turns of input shaft  270  to an actual total number of turns of wheels  216 . Gear clutches  211  may be engaged or disengaged via adjusting fluid supplied to the clutches via shift control solenoid valves  209 . Power output from the automatic transmission  208  may also be relayed to wheels  216  to propel the vehicle via output shaft  260 . Specifically, automatic transmission  208  may transfer an input driving power at the input shaft  270  responsive to a vehicle traveling condition before transmitting an output driving power to the wheels  216 . Transmission controller  254  selectively activates or engages TCC  212 , gear clutches  211 , and forward clutch  210 . Transmission controller also selectively deactivates or disengages TCC  212 , gear clutches  211 , and forward clutch  210 . 
     Further, a frictional force may be applied to wheels  216  by engaging friction wheel brakes  218 . In one example, friction wheel brakes  218  may be engaged in response to a human driver pressing their foot on a brake pedal (not shown) and/or in response to instructions within brake controller  250 . Further, brake controller  250  may apply brakes  218  in response to information and/or requests made by vehicle system controller  255 . In the same way, a frictional force may be reduced to wheels  216  by disengaging wheel brakes  218  in response to the human driver releasing their foot from a brake pedal, brake controller instructions, and/or vehicle system controller instructions and/or information. For example, vehicle brakes may apply a frictional force to wheels  216  via controller  250  as part of an automated engine stopping procedure. 
     In response to a request to accelerate vehicle  225 , vehicle system controller may obtain a driver demand power or power request from an accelerator pedal or other device. Vehicle system controller  255  then allocates a fraction of the requested driver demand power to the engine and the remaining fraction to the ISG. Vehicle system controller  255  requests the engine power from engine controller  12  and the ISG power from electric machine controller  252 . If the engine power that flows through torque converter  206  and ISG power is less than a transmission input power limit (e.g., a threshold value not to be exceeded), the power is delivered to transmission input shaft  270 . Transmission controller  254  selectively locks torque converter clutch  212  and engages gears via gear clutches  211  in response to shift schedules and TCC lockup schedules that may be based on input shaft power and vehicle speed. In some conditions when it may be desired to charge electric energy storage device  275 , a charging power (e.g., a negative ISG power) may be requested while a non-zero driver demand power is present. Vehicle system controller  255  may request increased engine power to overcome the charging power to meet the driver demand power. 
     In response to a request to decelerate vehicle  225  and provide regenerative braking, vehicle system controller may provide a negative desired wheel power (e.g., desired or requested powertrain wheel power) based on vehicle speed and brake pedal position. Vehicle system controller  255  then allocates a fraction of the negative desired wheel power to the ISG  240  and the engine  10 . Vehicle system controller may also allocate a portion of the requested braking power to friction brakes  218  (e.g., desired friction brake wheel power). Further, vehicle system controller may notify transmission controller  254  that the vehicle is in regenerative braking mode so that transmission controller  254  shifts gears  211  based on a unique shifting schedule to increase regeneration efficiency. Engine  10  and ISG  240  may supply a negative power to transmission input shaft  270 , but negative power provided by ISG  240  and engine  10  may be limited by transmission controller  254  which outputs a transmission input shaft negative power limit (e.g., not to be exceeded threshold value). Further, negative power of ISG  240  may be limited (e.g., constrained to less than a threshold negative threshold power) based on operating conditions of electric energy storage device  275 , by vehicle system controller  255 , or electric machine controller  252 . Any portion of desired negative wheel power that may not be provided by ISG  240  because of transmission or ISG limits may be allocated to engine  10  and/or friction brakes  218  so that the desired wheel power is provided by a combination of negative power (e.g., power absorbed) via friction brakes  218 , engine  10 , and ISG  240 . 
     Accordingly, power control of the various powertrain components may be supervised by vehicle system controller  255  with local power control for the engine  10 , transmission  208 , electric machine  240 , and brakes  218  provided via engine controller  12 , electric machine controller  252 , transmission controller  254 , and brake controller  250 . 
     As one example, an engine power output may be controlled by adjusting a combination of spark timing, fuel pulse width, fuel pulse timing, and/or air charge, by controlling throttle opening and/or valve timing, valve lift and boost for turbo- or super-charged engines. In the case of a diesel engine, controller  12  may control the engine power output by controlling a combination of fuel pulse width, fuel pulse timing, and air charge. Engine braking power or negative engine power may be provided by rotating the engine with the engine generating power that is insufficient to rotate the engine. Thus, the engine may generate a braking power via operating at a low power while combusting fuel, with one or more cylinders deactivated (e.g., not combusting fuel), or with all cylinders deactivated and while rotating the engine. The amount of engine braking power may be adjusted via adjusting engine valve timing. Engine valve timing may be adjusted to increase or decrease engine compression work. Further, engine valve timing may be adjusted to increase or decrease engine expansion work. In all cases, engine control may be performed on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis to control the engine power output. 
     Electric machine controller  252  may control power output and electrical energy production from ISG  240  by adjusting current flowing to and from field and/or armature windings of ISG as is known in the art. 
     Transmission controller  254  receives transmission input shaft position via position sensor  271 . Transmission controller  254  may convert transmission input shaft position into input shaft speed via differentiating a signal from position sensor  271  or counting a number of known angular distance pulses over a predetermined time interval. Transmission controller  254  may receive transmission output shaft torque from torque sensor  272 . Alternatively, sensor  272  may be a position sensor or torque and position sensors. If sensor  272  is a position sensor, controller  254  may count shaft position pulses over a predetermined time interval to determine transmission output shaft velocity. Transmission controller  254  may also differentiate transmission output shaft velocity to determine transmission output shaft acceleration. Transmission controller  254 , engine controller  12 , and vehicle system controller  255 , may also receive addition transmission information from sensors  277 , which may include but are not limited to pump output line pressure sensors, transmission hydraulic pressure sensors (e.g., gear clutch fluid pressure sensors), ISG temperature sensors, sensor for determining torque transferred via the transmission clutches, gear shift lever sensors, and ambient temperature sensors. Transmission controller  254  may also receive requested gear input from gear shift selector  290  (e.g., a human/machine interface device). Gear shift lever may include positions for gears 1-N (where N is an upper gear number), D (drive), and P (park). 
     Brake controller  250  receives wheel speed information via wheel speed sensor  221  and braking requests from vehicle system controller  255 . Brake controller  250  may also receive brake pedal position information from brake pedal sensor  154  shown in  FIG. 1  directly or over CAN  299 . Brake controller  250  may provide braking responsive to a wheel power command from vehicle system controller  255 . Brake controller  250  may also provide anti-lock and vehicle stability braking to improve vehicle braking and stability. As such, brake controller  250  may provide a wheel power limit (e.g., a threshold negative wheel power not to be exceeded) to the vehicle system controller  255  so that negative ISG power does not cause the wheel power limit to be exceeded. For example, if controller  250  issues a negative wheel power limit of 50 N-m, ISG power is adjusted to provide less than 50 N-m (e.g., 49 N-m) of negative power at the wheels, including accounting for transmission gearing. 
     Thus, the system of  FIGS. 1 and 2  provides for a system, comprising: an engine in a hybrid vehicle driveline; an electric machine in the hybrid driveline; and a controller including executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory to adjust operation of the engine in response to an amount of time the engine operates in one or more carbon building regions exceeding a threshold while the electric machine is electrically coupled to an external electric power consumer. The system includes where adjusting operation of the engine includes increasing engine speed and load. The system further comprises additional instructions to increase output of the electric machine in response to the amount of time the engine operates in one or more carbon building regions exceeding the threshold. The system further comprises additional instructions to store the increased output of the electric machine in an electric energy storage device. The system includes where operation of the engine is adjusted while a transmission coupled to the electric machine is engaged in park. The system further comprises adjusting operation of the engine in further response to an amount of time the engine operates in one or more carbon removing regions being less than a threshold. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , plots of a prophetic vehicle operating sequence according to the method of  FIG. 4  and the systems of  FIGS. 1 and 2  are shown. The plots are aligned in time and occur at a same time. The vertical lines at t 0 -t 16  show particular times of interest. 
     The first plot from the top of  FIG. 3  is a plot of an engine operating mode versus time. The vertical axis represents the engine operating mode and the engine is activated (e.g., rotating and combusting fuel) when trace  302  is at a higher level near the vertical axis arrow. The engine is not activated (e.g., not combusting fuel) when trace  302  is near the level of the horizontal axis. The horizontal axis represents time and the time increases from the left side of the figure to the right side of the figure. Trace  302  represents the engine operating state. 
     The second plot from the top of  FIG. 4  is a plot that indicates the operating region of the engine. The vertical axis represents the engine operating region and the engine operating region is indicated along the vertical axis. The level “Building” indicates that the engine is operating in a region (e.g., engine speed and load) where carbon may be accumulating on one or more engine spark plugs. The level “Neutral” indicates that carbon accumulating on the engine&#39;s spark plugs is not substantially increasing or decreasing. The level “Reducing” indicates that carbon accumulation on the engine&#39;s spark plugs may be decreasing due to oxidation of carbon on the spark plugs. The horizontal axis represents time and the time increases from the left side of the figure to the right side of the figure. Trace  304  represents the engine operating region. 
     The third plot from the top of  FIG. 3  is a plot an accumulated amount of time that an engine operates in a carbon building region versus time. The vertical axis represents the accumulated amount of time that the engine operates the carbon building engine operating region (e.g., an accumulated amount of time that an engine operates in an engine operating region where carbon may build or accumulate on one or more engine spark plugs). The horizontal axis represents time and the time increases from the left side of the figure to the right side of the figure. Trace  306  represents the accumulated amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon building engine operating region. 
     The fourth plot from the top of  FIG. 3  is a plot an accumulated amount of time that an engine operates in a carbon reducing region versus time. The vertical axis represents the accumulated amount of time that the engine operates the carbon reducing engine operating region (e.g., an accumulated amount of time that an engine operates in an engine operating region where carbon may be reduced on one or more engine spark plugs). The horizontal axis represents time and the time increases from the left side of the figure to the right side of the figure. Trace  308  represents the accumulated amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing engine operating region. Horizontal line  350  is a threshold level that when exceeded by trace  306  may cause the initiation of the carbon reducing state. 
     The fifth plot from the top of  FIG. 3  is a plot of an initiated carbon reducing state versus time. The vertical axis represents the initiated carbon reducing state and the initiated carbon reducing state is activated when trace  310  is at a higher level near the vertical axis arrow. The initiated carbon reducing state is not activated when trace  310  is at a lower level near the horizontal axis. Trace  310  represents the initiated carbon reducing state. Engine operation is adjusted for the engine to be actively engaged in the initiated carbon reducing state such that engine load may be increased to increase spark plug temperature so that carbon may be oxidized from the engine&#39;s spark plugs. Horizontal line  355  is a threshold level that when exceeded by trace  308  may cause the amounts of time the engine operated in the carbon building regions and carbon reducing regions to be reset to zero. 
     At time t 0 , the engine is off and the engine operating region is carbon neutral. The amount of engine operating time in the carbon building region is low and the amount of engine operating time in the carbon reducing region is low. The initiated carbon reducing state is not activated so engine operation is not adjusted. 
     At time t 1 , the engine is activated and the engine begins operating in the carbon building region so that the amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon building region begins to increase. The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region is not adjusted. The engine rotates the electric machine and the electric machine is coupled to external electrical power consumers (not shown). Engine operation and electric machine operation are adjusted to provide the external power consumers the power that they request (not shown). The initiated carbon reducing state is not activated so engine operation is not adjusted. 
     At time t 2 , the engine is deactivated and the engine stops operating so that it is in the carbon neutral region. The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon building region ceases increasing. The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region is not adjusted. The engine stops rotating the electric machine and the electric machine is coupled to external electrical power consumers (not shown). The initiated carbon reducing state is not activated so engine operation is not adjusted. 
     At time t 3 , the engine is activated again and the engine begins operating in the carbon building region so that the amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon building region begins to increase. However, the timer increases at a faster rate than at time t 1  because the amount of carbon that is generated at time t 3  is determined to be greater than at time t 1 . The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region is not adjusted. The engine rotates the electric machine and the electric machine is coupled to external electrical power consumers (not shown). The initiated carbon reducing state is not activated so engine operation is not adjusted. 
     At a time t 4 , the engine is deactivated again and the engine stops operating so that it is in the carbon neutral region. The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon building region ceases increasing. The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region is not adjusted. The engine stops rotating the electric machine and the electric machine is coupled to external electrical power consumers (not shown). The initiated carbon reducing state is not activated so engine operation is not adjusted. 
     At time t 5 , the engine is activated again and the engine begins operating in the carbon reducing region so that the amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region begins to increase. The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon building region is not adjusted. The engine rotates the electric machine and the electric machine is coupled to external electrical power consumers (not shown). The initiated carbon reducing state is not activated so engine operation is not adjusted. 
     At a time t 6 , the engine is deactivated again and the engine stops operating so that it is in the carbon neutral region. The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region ceases increasing. The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region is not adjusted. The engine stops rotating the electric machine and the electric machine is coupled to external electrical power consumers (not shown). The initiated carbon reducing state is not activated so engine operation is not adjusted. 
     At time t 7 , the engine is activated again and the engine begins operating in the carbon building region again so that the amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon building region begins to increase again. However, the timer increases at a slower rate than at time t 1  because the amount of carbon that is generated at time t 7  is determined to be less than at time t 1 . The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region is not adjusted. The engine rotates the electric machine and the electric machine is coupled to external electrical power consumers (not shown). The initiated carbon reducing state is not activated so engine operation is not adjusted. 
     At a time t 8 , the engine remains activated, but the amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon building region exceeds threshold  350  and the amount of time that the engine operated in the carbon reducing region is less than threshold  355 , so the initiated carbon reducing state is activated and the engine is adjusted to operate in the carbon reducing region. The amount of time in the carbon reducing region begins to increase again. 
     At time t 9 , the engine remains activated and the amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region exceeds threshold  355 , so both amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon building region and the amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region are reset to values of zero. In addition, the initiated carbon reducing state is deactivated so that the engine is adjusted to operate in the carbon building region again. 
     At time t 10 , the engine is deactivated and the engine stops operating so that it is in the carbon neutral region. The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon building region ceases increasing. The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region is not adjusted. The engine stops rotating the electric machine and the electric machine is coupled to external electrical power consumers (not shown). The initiated carbon reducing state is not activated so engine operation is not adjusted. 
     At time t 11 , the engine is activated again and the engine begins operating in the carbon building region so that the amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon building region begins to increase. The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region is not adjusted. The engine rotates the electric machine and the electric machine is coupled to external electrical power consumers (not shown). The initiated carbon reducing state is not activated so engine operation is not adjusted. 
     At time t 12 , the engine is deactivated and the engine stops operating so that it is in the carbon neutral region. The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon building region ceases increasing. The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region is not adjusted. The engine stops rotating the electric machine and the electric machine is coupled to external electrical power consumers (not shown). The initiated carbon reducing state is not activated so engine operation is not adjusted. 
     At time t 13 , the engine is activated again and the engine begins operating in the carbon reducing region so that the amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region begins to increase. The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon building region is not adjusted. The engine rotates the electric machine and the electric machine is coupled to external electrical power consumers (not shown). The initiated carbon reducing state is not activated so engine operation is not adjusted. 
     At a time t 14 , the engine is deactivated again and the engine stops operating so that it is in the carbon neutral region. Note that the amount of time that the engine operated in the carbon reducing region is greater than threshold  355 . The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region is not adjusted. The engine stops rotating the electric machine and the electric machine is coupled to external electrical power consumers (not shown). The initiated carbon reducing state is not activated so engine operation is not adjusted. 
     At time t 15 , the engine is activated again and the engine begins operating in the carbon building region so that the amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon building region begins to increase. The amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region is not adjusted. The engine rotates the electric machine and the electric machine is coupled to external electrical power consumers (not shown). The initiated carbon reducing state is not activated so engine operation is not adjusted. 
     At time t 16 , the amount of time that the engine operated in the carbon building region exceeds threshold  350 . However, since the amount of time that the engine operated in the carbon reducing region exceeds threshold  355 , the amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon building region and the amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region are reset to zero. The engine continues to operate in the carbon building region and the initiated carbon reducing state is not activated. 
     In this way, an engine may be actively engaged in a carbon reducing region to reduce an amount of carbon that may accumulate on engine spark plugs responsive to two different timers. The timers may be incremented at different rates so that the propensity for carbon to accumulate or be removed from spark plugs may be compensated. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a flow chart of a method for operating a vehicle engine and driveline in a way that may reduce the possibility of engine misfires while generating electrical power for external electrical power consumers is shown. The method of  FIG. 4  may be incorporated into and may cooperate with the system of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Further, at least portions of the method of  FIG. 4  may be incorporated as executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory while other portions of the method may be performed via a controller transforming operating states of devices and actuators in the physical world. 
     At  402 , method  400  determines vehicle operating conditions. Vehicle operating conditions may include but are not limited to driver demand torque, transmission gear, vehicle speed, electric machine speed, engine speed, engine load, engine temperature, determining the engine operating region (e.g., carbon building region, carbon reducing region, carbon neutral region) and electric energy storage device state of charge (SOC). Method  400  may determine the engine operating region via indexing a map (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 5 ) via the present engine speed and load. Method  400  proceeds to  404 . 
     At  404 , method  400  judges if the engine is driving and rotating the electric machine to supply electrical power to external electrical power consumers while the transmission is engaged in park or neutral. Method  400  may judge that the engine is driving the electric machine to supply electrical power to external electric power consumers based on operating states of electrical receptacles, the transmission gear shift lever, and the vehicle operating mode. If method  400  judges that the engine is driving the electric machine to supply electrical power to external electrical power consumers, the answer is yes and method  400  proceeds to  406 . Otherwise, method  400  proceeds to  450 . Method  400  may not supply power to the vehicle&#39;s electric energy storage unit when the engine and electric machine are supplying electrical power to external electric power consumers, unless the value of the first timer or first accumulator exceeds the first threshold. By not charging the electric energy storage device, it may be possible to reserve a portion of electric energy storage capacity in case initiation of the carbon reducing state is activated so that excess charge may be usefully stored. 
     At  406 , method  400  allows a value of a first accumulator, or alternatively, a first timer to increase if method  400  judges that the engine is presently operating in a carbon building region (e.g., an engine operating region where an amount of carbon deposits on a spark plug is increasing). In other words, method  400  may measure an amount of time the engine operates in a carbon building region. In one example, a timer accumulates a total amount of time that the engine is operating in the carbon building region. The timer may increment in predetermined step amounts (e.g., 0.1 seconds) and the total amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon building region may be determined via summing the total number of 0.1 second increments. For example, if the timer increments 100 times, then the engine operated in the carbon building region for 10 seconds and the timer stores an accumulated value of 10. 
     Alternatively, each carbon building region is assigned a multiplier value. The multiplier value may be a scalar value that is greater than zero. In nominal carbon building regions, the carbon building regions may be assigned a multiplier value of one. In carbon building regions where carbon deposit formation is more significant, the carbon building regions may be assigned a multiplier value that is greater than one. In carbon building regions where carbon deposit formation is less significant, the carbon building regions may be assigned a multiplier value that is less than one. The multiplier values may be multiplied with timer increment values and the results may be added to a sum of other timer increment values that have been multiplied by other carbon building region multipliers and stored in an accumulator. For example, if the engine is operating at 700 RPM and 0.2 load, which is a carbon building region with a multiplier value of 1.1, and the timer increments each time interval of 0.1 seconds for 100 seconds, then the value stored in the accumulator after the 100 increments is the sum of one hundred multiplications of 1.1·0.1 or 1.1·0.1·100=11. 
     At  408 , method  400  allows a value of a second accumulator, or alternatively, a second timer to increase if method  400  judges that the engine is presently operating in a carbon reducing region (e.g., an engine operating region where an amount of carbon deposits on a spark plug is decreasing). In other words, method  400  may measure an amount of time the engine operates in a carbon reducing region. In one example, a timer accumulates a total amount of time that the engine is operating in the carbon reducing region. The timer may increment in predetermined step amounts (e.g., 0.1 seconds) and the total amount of time that the engine operates in the carbon reducing region may be determined via summing the total number of 0.1 second increments. For example, if the timer increments 100 times, then the engine operated in the carbon reducing region for 10 seconds and the timer stores an accumulated value of 10. 
     Alternatively, each carbon reducing region is assigned a multiplier value. The multiplier value may be a scalar value that is greater than zero. In nominal carbon reducing regions, the carbon reducing regions may be assigned a multiplier value of one. In carbon reducing regions where carbon reduction is more significant, the carbon reducing regions may be assigned a multiplier value that is greater than one. In carbon reducing regions where carbon reduction is less significant, the carbon reducing regions may be assigned a multiplier value that is less than one. The multiplier values may be multiplied with timer increment values and the results may be added to a sum of other timer increment values that have been multiplied by other carbon reducing region multipliers and stored in an accumulator. For example, if the engine is operating at 3000 RPM and 0.8 load, which is a carbon building region with a multiplier value of 1.1, and the timer increments each time interval of 0.1 seconds for 100 seconds, then the value stored in the accumulator after the 100 increments is the sum of one hundred multiplications of 1.1·0.1 or 0.1·0.1·100=11. Method  400  proceeds to  410 . 
     At  410 , method  400  judges if the value stored in the first timer or first accumulator is greater than a first threshold number. If so, the answer is yes and method  400  proceeds to  412 . Otherwise, the answer is no and method  400  returns to  404 . 
     At  412 , method  400  judges if the value stored in the second timer or second accumulator is greater than a second threshold number. If so, the answer is yes and method  400  proceeds to  420 . Otherwise, the answer is no and method  400  proceeds to  414 . 
     At  420 , method  400  resets the values of the first and second timers or accumulators to values of zero. Method  400  returns to  404 . By resetting the timers or accumulators, conditions of the spark plugs may be evaluated without generating huge numbers in the timers or accumulators. Further, the threshold values may be maintained as useful measures for assessing spark plug degradation. 
     At  414 , method  400  adjusts engine operation so that the engine is operating in a carbon reducing region. In particular, the initiation of the carbon reducing state is activated so that carbon may be removed from engine spark plugs. For example, the engine may be adjusted from 700 RPM and 0.2 load to 2500 RPM and 0.6 engine load to reduce carbon deposits that may be present on one or more engine spark plugs. The engine may be operated in the carbon reducing region up to a time when the value in the second timer or second accumulator exceeds the second threshold value. After the value in the second timer or second accumulator exceeds the second threshold value, the engine returns to an operating range that is based on the amount of electrical power that the electric machine is generating for the electrical power consumers. If the engine output is increased to operate the engine in the carbon reducing region, then the output of the electric machine may be increased and the amount of electric charge produced via the electric machine that is greater than the amount of electric charge consumed via external electric power consumers may be stored in the electric energy storage unit. Additional charge may not be supplied to the external electric power consumers. Method  400  returns to  404 . 
     Optionally at  450 , method  400  allows a value of a first accumulator, or alternatively, a first timer to increase if method  400  judges that the engine is presently operating in a carbon building region (e.g., an engine operating region where an amount of carbon deposits on a spark plug is increasing) as described at  406 . By allowing the first timer or accumulator values to increase when the engine and electric machine are not supplying electrical power to external power consumers, it may be possible to compensate for conditions that might increase spark plug fouling when the engine and electric machine are not providing electrical power to external power consumers so that spark plug fouling may not occur prematurely when the engine and electric machine are providing power to external electrical power consumers. Method  400  proceeds to  452 . 
     Optionally, at  452 , method  400  allows a value of a second accumulator, or alternatively, a second timer to increase if method  400  judges that the engine is presently operating in a carbon reducing region (e.g., an engine operating region where an amount of carbon deposits on a spark plug is decreasing) as described at  406 . By allowing the second timer or accumulator values to increase when the engine and electric machine are not supplying electrical power to external power consumers, it may be possible to compensate for conditions that might reduce spark plug fouling when the engine and electric machine are not providing electrical power to external power consumers so that initiating of a carbon reducing state may be avoided when vehicle driving conditions reduce carbon deposits on spark plugs. Method  400  proceeds to  454 . 
     At  454 , method  400  operates the engine and the electric machine responsive to the driver demand torque and vehicle speed. For example, the engine and electric machine may provide the requested driver demand torque without supplying electrical power to external electrical power consumers. Method  400  proceeds to exit. 
     The method of  FIG. 4  provides for a powertrain operating method, comprising: characterizing each of a plurality of engine operating regions as one or more carbon building regions and one or more carbon removing regions; measuring an amount of time an engine operates in the one or more of the carbon building regions via a controller while the engine rotates an electric machine that provides power to external power consumers; and adjusting operation of the engine to operate in one or more of the carbon removing regions while the engine rotates the electric machine that provides power to the external power consumers in response to the amount of time exceeding a threshold. The method further comprises not supplying electrical power to an electric energy storage device of a vehicle while the engine operates in the one or more of the carbon building regions. The method further comprises supplying electrical power to the electric energy storage device of the vehicle while the engine operates in the one or more of the carbon removing regions. The method includes where the one or more carbon building regions are engine speeds and loads where carbon builds on one or more engine spark plugs. The method includes where the one or more carbon removing regions are engine speeds and loads where carbon is removed from one or more engine spark plugs. The method includes where the electric machine does not supply additional power to the external power consumer in response to the amount of time exceeding the threshold. The method includes where the electric machine supplies power to an electric energy storage device in response to the amount of time exceeding the threshold. The method further comprises increasing output of the electric machine in response to the amount of time exceeding the threshold. 
     The method of  FIG. 4  also provides for a powertrain operating method, comprising: adjusting a first value responsive to an amount of time an engine operates in one or more carbon building regions via a controller; adjusting a second value responsive to an amount of time an engine operates in one or more carbon removing regions via a controller; and adjusting operation of an engine via a controller to operate in the one or more of the carbon removing regions in response to the first value exceeding a first threshold and the second value not exceeding a second threshold. The method further comprises resetting the first value to zero and the second value to zero in response to the first value exceeding the first threshold and the second value exceeding the second threshold. The method includes where the first value is based on one or more carbon building region multipliers. The method includes where the second value is based on one or more carbon removing region multipliers. The method includes where the first value and the second value reside within memory of the controller. The method further comprises increasing output of an electric machine in response to the first value exceeding the first threshold and the second value not exceeding the second threshold. 
     In another representation, the method of  FIG. 4  provides for a powertrain operating method, comprising: characterizing each of a plurality of engine operating regions as one or more carbon building regions, one or more carbon removing regions, and one or more carbon neutral regions; measuring an amount of time an engine operates in the one or more of the carbon building regions via a controller while the engine rotates an electric machine that provides power to external power consumers; and adjusting operation of the engine to operate in one or more of the carbon removing regions while the engine rotates the electric machine that provides power to the external power consumers in response to the amount of time exceeding a threshold. The method further comprises not supplying electrical power to an electric energy storage device of a vehicle while the engine operates in the one or more of the carbon building regions and the value of the first timer or accumulator is less than the first threshold and the value of the second timer or accumulator is less than the second threshold. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a plot  500  of example carbon building, carbon reducing, and carbon neutral operating regions is shown. The vertical axis represents engine load and engine load increases in the direction of the vertical axis arrow. The horizontal axis represents engine speed and engine speed increases in the direction of the horizontal axis arrow. 
     Plot  500  shows a carbon building region  502  that is shown at lower engine speeds and loads. Region  502  is bounded via line  503  and it includes all of the cross-hatched area. Carbon may tend to accumulate on engine spark plugs if the engine is operated in this region for an extended period of time. Plot  500  also shows a carbon neutral region  504  that is shown at middle engine speeds and engine loads. Region  504  is bounded by line  503  and by line  505 . Carbon may tend not to accumulate or be removed when the engine is operated in this operating range. Finally, plot  500  also shows a carbon removing region  506  that is shown at higher engine speeds and engine loads. Region  506  is bounded by line  505  and it is indicated by the hatched area. Carbon may tend to be removed or oxidized from engine spark plugs when the engine is operated in this operating range. 
     It should be understood that the engine may include carbon regions that are different than those shown in  FIG. 5  without exceeding the scope of this disclosure. For example, an engine may have three distinct and separate carbon reducing regions, two carbon neutral regions, and two carbon building regions. Further, each of these carbon regions may be assigned a unique multiplier value as described in the method of  FIG. 4 . 
     Note that the example control and estimation routines included herein can be used with various engine and/or vehicle system configurations. The control methods and routines disclosed herein may be stored as executable instructions in non-transitory memory and may be carried out by the control system including the controller in combination with the various sensors, actuators, and other engine hardware. The specific routines described herein may represent one or more of any number of processing strategies such as event-driven, interrupt-driven, multi-tasking, multi-threading, and the like. As such, various actions, operations, and/or functions illustrated may be performed in the sequence illustrated, in parallel, or in some cases omitted. Likewise, the order of processing is not necessarily required to achieve the features and advantages of the example embodiments described herein, but is provided for ease of illustration and description. One or more of the illustrated actions, operations and/or functions may be repeatedly performed depending on the particular strategy being used. Further, at least a portion of the described actions, operations and/or functions may graphically represent code to be programmed into non-transitory memory of the computer readable storage medium in the control system. The control actions may also transform the operating state of one or more sensors or actuators in the physical world when the described actions are carried out by executing the instructions in a system including the various engine hardware components in combination with one or more controllers. 
     This concludes the description. The reading of it by those skilled in the art would bring to mind many alterations and modifications without departing from the spirit and the scope of the description. For example, single cylinder, I3, I4, I5, V6, V8, V10, and V12 engines operating in natural gas, gasoline, diesel, or alternative fuel configurations could use the present description to advantage.