Abstract: A method for monitoring the data traffic over a CAN bus of a CAN-type communication network of a motor vehicle. The network includes a plurality of nodes associated to said CAN bus in a signal-exchange relationship in order to detect data traffic with anomalies and generate an alert. The method includes the steps of carrying out at each node an intrusion-detection operation on messages received at said node and a corresponding vehicle-recovery operation. The intrusion-detection operation includes receiving CAN messages or groups of CAN messages transmitted to the node on the CAN bus, analysing the CAN messages or groups of CAN messages, and issuing an alert comprising a type of anomaly that has caused the alert. The vehicle-recovery operation includes implementing, on the basis of said type of anomaly, a corresponding intrusion-recovery action.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for managing the energy supplied to a low-voltage system of a vehicle. The low-voltage system includes a battery, which supplies the first voltage on a low-voltage bus. A system for charging the battery includes an alternator for supplying a charging voltage to the battery, and motor-vehicle loads supplied by the battery and/or by the alternator. A high-voltage system operates at a second voltage higher than said first voltage. The high-voltage system includes the vehicle energy-recovery stage. The second voltage is supplied through an intermediate energy-storage system and a DC-DC converter. A control module that carries out energy-management operations at least by the alternator. The second voltage of the DC-DC converter is regulated via a control procedure of a hysteretic type.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for managing the energy supplied to a low-voltage system of a motor vehicle that comprises an energy-recovery stage. The low-voltage system, operating at a first voltage, comprises a battery, a system for charging the battery, and motor-vehicle loads supplied by the battery and/or by the alternator. A high-voltage system operates at a second voltage higher than the first voltage. The high-voltage system includes the vehicle energy-recovery stage, which supplies the second voltage. The second voltage is supplied through an intermediate energy-storage system and a DC-DC converter, which converts the second voltage into the first voltage on the low-voltage bus. A module regulates the alternator, that activates at least one first operating mode in which the alternator regulates a voltage of the battery at a nominal operating value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid-state relay including a power semiconductor switch device connected between a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal and having a command terminal. An electronic driving block is adapted to generate a command signal applied to the command terminal to switch the at least one semiconductor switch device from a closed/open state to an open/closed state to disconnect/connect the first electrical circuit portion from/to the second portion of the electrical circuit. An electronic block detects a current which crosses the power semiconductor switch device. The electronic detection block includes a first electronic device adapted to generate a first signal indicative of a difference of potential between the first and second terminals generated by the current which crosses a total resistance present between the first and second terminals of the power semiconductor switch device in the closed state.

Abstract: An electromechanical actuator to operate a component in an internal combustion engine comprising an actuator body housing, on the inside, an actuator device, which controls the movement of the component so as to move it between a maximum opening position and a maximum closing position, and vice versa. The actuator device includes an electric motor and a gear drive that transmits the motion from the electric motor to the component. The electromechanical actuator is made of a first metal material and comprises a conditioning circuit comprising a pipe for the passage of a conditioning fluid, which is made of a second thermally conductive material. A method of manufacturing the electromagnetic actuator is also disclosed.

Abstract: Method to control the sealing of a blow-by gas breather circuit of an internal combustion engine, comprising a separator device to agglomerate the particles of finely atomised lubricating oil and to remove the solid particulate particles and having an outlet connected by a pipe to an intake pipe through which the gas purified from the lubricating oil and the particulate flows out and a pressure sensor; the method providing the following steps: acquiring the signal coming from said pressure sensor; filtering the signal coming from the pressure sensor; integrating over time the square of the filtrated signal coming from the pressure sensor; and determining the sealing of the pipe according to the integrated signal which is the combustion energy generated by the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method to determine the injection pattern in the intake stroke of the combustion cycle of the cylinders of a direct-injection internal combustion engine, which includes determining the overall quantity of fuel to be injected for each combustion cycle of each cylinder during the intake stroke; determining the maximum quantity of fuel to be injected for each partial injection as a function of the value of the start of injection angle, of the speed and of the load of the internal combustion engine; and determining the number of partial injections and the objective quantity to be injected for each partial injection as a function of the quantity of fuel to be injected for each combustion cycle of each cylinder during the intake stroke and of the maximum quantity of fuel to be injected for each partial injection.

Abstract: A method for recognizing the type of fuel actually used in an internal combustion engine; the recognition method includes the steps of: sensing the intensity of the vibrations generated by the internal combustion engine within a measurement time window; determining the value of at least one synthetic index by processing the intensity of the vibrations generated by the internal combustion engine within the measurement time window; comparing the synthetic index with at least one predetermined comparison quantity; and recognizing the type of fuel actually used as a function of the comparison of the synthetic index to the comparison quantity; and forcedly altering, when detecting the intensity of the vibrations, the engine control with respect to the normal standard engine control, so as to enhance the behavioral differences of the different types of fuel that can be used by the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A fuel pump for a direct injection system having: a pumping chamber; a piston, which is mounted in a sliding manner on the inside of the pumping chamber; an intake channel, which originates from a wall of the pumping chamber and has a housing portion; an intake valve, which is inserted into the housing portion of the intake channel; and a locking ring nut with an annular shape, which is threaded and is screwed into the housing portion of the intake channel so as to strike against the intake valve; the housing portion has an annular abutment, which reduces the diameter of the housing portion and against which the intake valve strikes; the locking ring nut is screwed into the housing portion with a tightening force that is sufficient to determine a plastic deformation of the annular abutment against the intake valve.

Abstract: A method for the diagnosis of the offset of the resolver of an electric motor, comprising acquiring a predetermined offset of a resolver associated with the electric motor; in a first transient, supplying an excitation current to the phases of the electric motor. As a consequence of the excitation current, a current established on the axis d of minimum reluctance and a current established on an axis q in phase quadrature with respect to the axis of minimum reluctance are determined. The correctness of the offset of the resolver is diagnosed if the current established on the axis d in the first transient is higher than the current established on the axis d in the second or third transient, and if the current established on the axis q in the first transient is lower than the current established on the axis q in the second or third transient.

Abstract: Fuel pump for a direct injection system provided with a common rail. The fuel pump has a pumping chamber defined in a main body; a piston which is mounted in a sliding manner inside the pumping chamber to cyclically vary the volume of the pumping chamber; an intake channel which originates from a wall of the pumping chamber; an intake valve which is coupled to the intake channel; a delivery channel which originates from a wall of the pumping chamber; a delivery valve which is coupled to the delivery channel; and an actuating spring which has a plurality of turns having a pitch that varies between the turns and that is coupled to the piston so as to push the piston towards a maximum volume or minimum volume position of the pumping chamber.

Abstract: Method to control an electromagnetic actuator of an internal combustion engine, in particular for a fuel pump of a direct-injection system; wherein the electromagnetic actuator is controlled by an electric current pulse of the Peak&Hold type, i.e. subdivided into a peak phase and a hold phase; the method includes acquiring the initial duration of the peak phase, during which a peak control current is to be supplied to the electromagnetic actuator to control the movement of a component of the electromagnetic actuator moving towards a position defined by a limit stop; and determining the duration of the peak phase by progressively decreasing the initial duration of the peak phase by a first change.

Abstract: Described herein is a system for testing wireless interaction of a system for reproduction of audio signals, in particular a user-interface device of a motor vehicle configured for reproducing audio signals, with a mobile phone, said reproduction system and said mobile phone being configured for communicating over a wireless communication channel for short-range communications. According to the invention, the above system comprises a module for simulation of a mobile phone, comprising processing means configured for simulating operation of a mobile phone, said module for simulation of a mobile phone being associated in a signal-exchange relationship to a short-range wireless transceiver module configured for communicating via said wireless communication channel with the system for reproduction of audio signals.

Abstract: Method to detect and control detonation phenomena in an internal combustion engine provided with a number of cylinders and with at least two detonation sensors. For each combustion cycle as a function of the cylinder and of the engine point that is being explored, the method comprises the steps of processing the signal coming from each detonation sensor so as to determine a detonation energy for each detonation sensor; calculating a detonation index for each detonation sensor and controlling the internal combustion engine as a function of a total detonation index through the algebraic sum of the detonation indexes for each detonation sensor.

Abstract: An automotive internal combustion engine electronic control unit for performing safety-related functions with a predetermined automotive safety integrity level, including: a microcontroller and an integrated circuit distinct from and communicating with the microcontroller. The microcontroller performs one or more safety-related functions with the same automotive safety integrity level as required to the automotive engine electronic control unit. The integrated circuit performs one or more safety-related functions with an automotive safety integrity level that is lower than that of the microcontroller. The integrated circuit performs, for each performed safety-related function, a corresponding diagnosis function for detecting failures in the performance of the safety-related function.

Abstract: A method to control a supercharged internal combustion engine by means of a turbocharger provided with a turbine and a compressor which compresses the air taken in; the control method includes the steps of determining the instantaneous rotation speed of the turbocharger; and calculating the average power delivered by the turbine as a function of the absolute value of the j-th harmonic component of the instantaneous rotation speed of the turbocharger and of the instantaneous rotation speed of the turbocharger; and controlling the supercharged internal combustion engine as a function of the average power delivered by the turbine.

Abstract: A hydraulic servo-control of a servo-controlled gearbox provided with a hydraulic accumulator, having an outer housing and a piston that is slidable axially inside the outer housing and adapted to define a first variable-volume chamber for a gaseous material and a second variable-volume chamber for a control fluid under pressure; and at least one limit stop arranged at an open end of the outer housing which serve as a lower limit stop element; wherein the outer housing is provided with an upper limit stop element, which acts to limit the pressure value inside the first variable-volume chamber within a predetermined safety range.

Abstract: A hydraulic servo-control of a servo-controlled gearbox comprises hydraulic actuators defining chambers, a storing tank containing control fluid used by the actuators at room pressure, a hydraulic accumulator containing control fluid under pressure, a motor pump drawing the fluid from the tank and feeding it under pressure to the accumulator, and solenoid valves selectively connecting the chambers to the tank and accumulator. The accumulator includes an outer housing defining an inner cylindrical surface defining a first diameter, a piston arranged and axially slidable and mobile inside the housing and defining there a first variable-volume chamber for a gas and second variable-volume chamber for the fluid under pressure, and a limit stopper arranged at an open end of the housing, acting as a striker for the piston, and having an annular circlip defining an opening and overall second diameter approximating by excess the first diameter of the surface of the housing.

Abstract: A method to control the temperature of the exhaust gases of a supercharged internal combustion engine, the method comprising: determining the minimum air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gases downstream of the exhaust manifold as a function of the flow rate of air that is not involved in the combustion taking place inside the cylinders and flows directly from the intake manifold into the exhaust pipe; detecting an air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gases downstream of the exhaust manifold by means of a sensor; and controlling the supercharged internal combustion engine as a function of the comparison between the air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gases detected by the sensor and/or the minimum air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gases with a number of threshold values.

Abstract: An electric apparatus with safety connector for preventing electric shock, having an electric circuit comprising at least a pair of terminals electrically separated from each other, and a cover which covers the electric circuit so as to prevent access to it when it is disposed in the assembly configuration to cover the electric circuit. The cover is mechanically fixed in position by a plurality of attachment mechanisms. A safety connector associated with the cover and provided with an electric conductor element, wherein the security connector passes through the cover so as to short-circuit the terminals and a projection supports the electric conductor element and is movable from a closed configuration in which it short-circuits the terminals to an open position in which it does not short circuit the terminals. A cover element which, in closed configuration, at least partially overlaps at least one of attachment mechanisms.