Abstract: A laser spark plug, in particular for an internal combustion engine, having a combustion chamber window through which laser radiation may be emitted from an interior of the laser spark plug toward an exterior, the laser spark plug having a component which surrounds at least part of the beam path of the laser radiation in the area of the exterior. In particular, the laser spark plug, in the area of the component, has at least one channel which has at least two orifice sections and which allows fluid communication between the orifice sections, a first orifice section being situated in the area of an outer surface of the combustion chamber window, and a second orifice section being situated in a radially outer area of the laser spark plug, in particular of the component.

Abstract: A negative pressure abnormality detection apparatus includes a negative pressure sensor to output a signal representing negative pressure in a negative pressure chamber of a brake booster into which intake negative pressure of an intake manifold generated by rotation of an engine is introduced; a negative pressure detection unit to detect the negative pressure based on the signal; an abnormality determination unit to determine whether an abnormality occurs with the negative pressure sensor, based on whether the negative pressure is shifted toward atmospheric or vacuum pressure relative to a threshold, when a state continues for a predetermined time or longer during which the engine rotates and a negative-pressure-expending braking operation is not performed; and a threshold change unit to change the threshold depending on opening of a throttle valve in an intake pipe connected with the intake manifold, while the state continues.

Abstract: A controller injects fuel into a cylinder at a high fuel pressure of 30 MPa or higher, at least in a period between a terminal stage of a compression stroke and an initial stage of an expansion stroke when an operating mode of an engine body is at least in a first specified sub-range of a low load range, and at least in a second specified sub-range of a high load range. The controller sets an EGR ratio in the first specified sub-range to be higher than an EGR ratio in the second specified sub-range, and advances start of fuel injection in the first specified sub-range to start of fuel injection in the second specified sub-range.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine in an idle mode, in which an ignition angle and/or an air quantity of the internal combustion engine is influenced and/or is modified as a function of an idle rotation speed of the internal combustion engine. The ignition angle and/or the air quantity and/or a fuel quantity for at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine is modified as a function of at least one variable characterizing a combustion event in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A combustion chamber is provided within an internal combustion engine, the chamber bounded by a cylinder bore, a primary end, and a secondary end. The secondary end reciprocates between a TDC position nearest the primary end and a BDC position. Induction and exhaust ports are timed to open and close to transfer air into, and gasses from, the chamber. The chamber becomes fuel stratified when the secondary end is positioned within a stratified distance of the primary end. When stratified, the chamber is comprised of a central region, a perimeter region, and a transfer passageway between regions. A fuel injector at the primary end injects fuel only into the central region and only prior to ignition. The perimeter region pumps air into the central region prior to ignition, creating tumble turbulence. Combustion is initiated near TDC in the central region and concluded near TDC in the transfer passageway.

Abstract: A vehicle drive control device performs acceleration/deceleration running by alternately repeating acceleration running and deceleration running, wherein it compares between an efficiency of the motor at a first operation point determined by a rotation speed and a torque of a motor and an efficiency of the motor at a second operation point for outputting a higher torque than the first operation point, and if a difference between the efficiencies is greater than a determination value, the acceleration running at the second operation point and the deceleration running being repeated, the second operation point being set a maximum efficiency line of the motor with the rotation speed and the torque of the motor as parameters to perform the acceleration running, and if acceleration during the acceleration running becomes larger than an acceleration limit value, a rotating machine acting at least as an electric generator generating electricity to charge a battery.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine (1) is provided with a supercharger (12) and a cylinder direct injection fuel injector (10). When the engine shifts in a low-speed supercharging region at a state where the wall temperature of a cylinder bore (3) is low, liquid fuel adheres to a wall surface of the cylinder bore (3) so that lubricating oil is diluted with the liquid fuel and released into a combustion chamber (4). As a result, there occurs abnormal combustion. In the present invention, the fuel injection amount is increased at the time when the engine shifts in a predetermined low-speed supercharging region. The lower the wall temperature of the cylinder bore, the larger the rate of increase of the fuel injection amount. This makes it possible to suppress the temperature of air-fuel mixture in the vicinity of compression top dead center and prevent the occurrence of abnormal combustion.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide an evaporated fuel treatment device capable of performing a function diagnosis of a sealing valve with high accuracy even if an internal combustion engine is in operation. The evaporated fuel treatment device includes a sealing valve that blocks a fuel tank from the atmosphere, a canister, a canister internal pressure detection unit, a control part that performs an instruction for opening or closing the sealing valve and controls a purge, and a diagnostic part that performs a function diagnosis of an evaporated fuel sealing system including the fuel tank, the canister, and the sealing valve. The diagnostic part performs the function diagnosis of the sealing valve based on whether or not a canister internal pressure detected by the canister internal pressure sensor varies beyond a predetermined range.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling vibrations during transitions between engine operating modes in a four-cylinder engine. One method includes timing a transition in engine operation between two-cylinder, three-cylinder, and four-cylinder modes with a sequence of firing events such that successive firing events are separated by at least 120 crank angle degree intervals. Vibrations resulting from transitions may be countered by adjusting active mounts, the active mounts being adjusted in synchronization with a valvetrain switching solenoid.

Abstract: A vehicle safety rollover device, that upon detection of a vehicle rollover, automatically shuts-off power to an ignition system of said vehicle and shuts down an electrical system of said vehicle. Power flows through a first latching relay switch to an ignition starter, and a second latching relay switch disconnects the electrical shutoff signal from the power input. When a sensor is activated, power flows from the power input to the set pins of the latching relay switches, causing the relay switches to switch positions from the first output position to the second output position. This causes power to the ignition starter to be disconnected, and power to flow to the electrical shutoff signal via the second latching relay switch, thereby causing the electrical system of the vehicle to shut down.

Abstract: A system is provided and includes a fuel module that, based on a crankshaft angle of an engine, generates a value indicative of an amount of fuel burned in a cylinder or a change in the amount of fuel burned. A heat release module, based on the value, determines an amount of heat released during a combustion event of the cylinder. A pressure module, based on the amount of heat released, estimates a pressure in the cylinder. A temperature module, based on the pressure, estimates a temperature in the cylinder. A concentration module, based on the pressure or the temperature, estimates nitrogen oxide concentration levels in the cylinder. An output module, based on the nitrogen oxide concentration levels, estimates an amount of nitrogen oxides. A control module, based on the amount of nitrogen oxides out of the cylinder, controls operation of the engine or an exhaust system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine (1) provided with at least one working cylinder (3a-3d) each with an associated auxiliary cylinder (5a-5d), which engine (1) is operable in spark ignition and compression ignition modes. Each working cylinder (3a-3d) comprises a working piston (7a-7a) connected to a first crankshaft (9), and each auxiliary cylinder (5a-5d) comprises an auxiliary piston (10a-10d) connected to a second crankshaft (12). The first crankshaft (9) is connected to the second crankshaft (12) to drive the second crankshaft (12) at half the rotational speed of the first crankshaft (9). A device for controlling the phase angle is arranged between the first and second crankshafts. The method involves controlling the phase shift device in order to retain residual exhaust gas and increase the compression ratio.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to prevent disturbance in the behavior of a power plant at the time of switching a controller in a vehicle power plant whose operation is controlled by manipulation of a plurality of actuators by the controller. In order to achieve the purpose, a vehicle power plant control apparatus provided by the present invention is configured as a target value tracking controller in which at least one controller calculates the amount of manipulation of the actuators according to an equation including an integrator for integrating a deviation between a state quantity and a target value thereof such that each of a plurality of state quantities of the power plant can track the corresponding target value.

Abstract: A connecting rod (10) has a crankpin bearing eye (11) attached to a crankshaft (38) and a connecting-rod bearing eye (12) attached to a piston. An eccentric adjustment device (13) adjusts an effective connecting rod length and has eccentric rods (15, 16) that engage a lever (14) of the eccentric adjustment device (13). Each eccentric rod (15, 16) has a piston (20, 21) guided in a hydraulic chamber (22, 23). The hydraulic chambers (22, 23) can be charged with hydraulic oil from first hydraulic lines (41) that lead to the crankpin bearing eye (11) and second hydraulic oil lines (24, 25) that lead from the crankpin bearing eye (11). Check valves (26, 27) prevent a backflow of hydraulic oil back into the second hydraulic lines (24, 25). At least one filter prevents an ingress of contaminants from the crankshaft into the hydraulic chambers (22, 23) via the hydraulic oil.

Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle system is provided. The method includes monitoring a change in a temperature of the fuel vapor canister coupled to a fuel tank via a canister temperature sensor and adjusting operation of a fuel tank isolation valve based on the change in temperature of the fuel vapor canister.

Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a first model predictive control (MPC) module and an engine actuator module. The first MPC module generates predicted parameters based on a model of an engine and a set of possible target values and generates a cost for the set of possible target values based on the predicted parameters and a desired exhaust enthalpy. The first MPC module also selects the set of possible target values from multiple sets of possible target values based on the cost. The engine actuator module adjusts an actuator of the engine based on at least one of the target values.

Abstract: The present invention is provided with: an injection timing detection unit; an engine rotation speed detection unit; an engine load detection unit; and a storing unit for storing control data of the variation in optimal ignition timing with respect to engine speed and engine load, and control data of correction coefficient pertaining to optimal ignition timing with respect to the engine load at a specific fuel injection timing. Referring to the control data, the variation in the optimal ignition timing is determined based on the detected fuel injection timing and the detected engine rotation speed; and, referring to the control data, the variation in the optimal ignition timing is determined based on the specific fuel injection timing and the detected engine speed, and the deviation between the respective variation in the optimal injection timing is determined.

Abstract: Various approaches are described for air-fuel ratio control in an engine. In one example, a method include adjusting fuel injection from an anticipatory controller responsive to exhaust oxygen feedback of an exhaust gas sensor positioned upstream of an exhaust catalyst, the anticipatory controller including a first integral term and a second integral term, the second integral term correcting for past fuel disturbances. In this way, it is possible to provide fast responses to errors via the anticipatory controller, while corrected known past fueling errors, on average, via the second integral term.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling an internal combustion engine, detects a rotating direction of an output shaft of the internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes a crank angle sensor for outputting a pulse signal in accordance with rotation of a crankshaft. The crank angle sensor outputs at the time of reverse rotation of the crankshaft a pulse signal POS having a wider pulse width than that at the time of forward rotation. A control unit receiving pulse signal POS calculates a difference between a present value and a previous value of a pulse width of pulse signal POS and detects switching of a rotating direction of the crankshaft based on a magnitude of this difference. Thus, it is possible to suppress lowering of detection accuracy of a rotating direction of the crankshaft under the influence of variation of measurement values of the pulse width.

Abstract: A compression ignition engine (10) operates to fuel an engine cylinder (12) to create an in-cylinder air-fuel charge and to cause that charge to autoignite. A fuel injector (20) operates to inject fuel into the engine cylinder for substantially the entire duration of a first phase (24) of fuel injection at substantially the maximum injection pressure that the fuel injector can deliver to create a premixed fraction of the in-cylinder air-fuel charge prior to autoignition. As the first phase ends, fuel injection transitions to a second phase (26) which commences in advance of autoignition. During the second phase, the fuel injector injects fuel into the engine cylinder at a rate of injection that is significantly less than the rate of injection used during the first phase.