Abstract: Disclosed is a reluctor plate controller that detects vacuum and pressures in the engine which are used to create digital motor control signals for controlling a reluctor plate actuator using a digital stepper motor, servo motor or a voice-coil actuator. The system can be programmed to create various desired responses that function to create better efficiency of an internal combustion engine, less pollution and/or greater engine output.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a ducted fuel injector. In one example, the ducted fuel injector comprises a plurality of passages, with at least one of the passages configured to receive an oxygen poor gas from a reservoir or an adjacent cylinder to decrease a likelihood of pre-ignition in the duct.

Abstract: Systems and methods for starting an engine of a hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, the method uses the engine to generate larger amounts of thermal energy while the engine is rotated under power of an electric machine. The systems and methods described herein may be applied to series and parallel hybrid vehicles.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for removing condensate form a charge air cooler coupled to an engine intake system. In one example, a method may include flowing heated air from a fuel vapor canister of an evaporative emissions control (EVAP) system through the charge air cooler to vaporize condensate in the CAC. The air is drawn in from atmosphere by operating an electric booster in a reverse direction and the air is heated at the canister by operating a canister heater.

Abstract: Managing firing fraction transitions of a variable displacement internal combustion engines by (a) avoiding transport delays in an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) feed by starting movement of an EGR valve position after a decision to transition to a new firing fraction has been made, but prior to the start of the transition and (b) adjusting the EGR valve as needed during the transition so as to maintain an EGR fraction within a predetermined range during the transition. By performing both (a) and (b), spikes of nitrous oxide (NOx) and/or hydrocarbon emissions are reduced or altogether eliminated during the transition.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the functioning of a turbocharged diesel engine equipped with a cylinder deactivation system includes detecting when the turbocharged diesel engine is at risk of compressor surge, and then delaying the implementation of the cylinder deactivation. The delay may be a set period of time, or it may be determined by performing a set of instructions effective for estimating changes in intake manifold pressures over time if cylinders are deactivated, and then comparing the intake manifold pressure estimates to acceptable intake manifold pressure information. A formula for performing the required estimates is provided.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is configured to perform an all-cylinder operation and a partial-cylinder operation. The ignition timing controller executes a process that sets a knock control amount and a knock learning value, a process that determines whether knocking is occurring, a process that updates a value of the knock control amount in accordance with whether knocking is occurring, a process that updates the knock learning value such that the knock learning value gradually approaches a knock control operated amount, a process that operates ignition timing of each cylinder based on the knock control amount and the knock learning value, and a process that limits update of the knock learning value such that a followability of the knock learning value to the knock control operated amount is lower during the partial-cylinder operation than during the all-cylinder operation.

Abstract: A system and method for the use of machine learning for detecting faults for cylinder intake and/or exhaust valves that do not properly open or close as commanded and for generating a flag for such faults.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises a plurality of cylinders, including at least one de-activatable cylinder having at least one deactivator assembly operatively connected to the at least one valve train for the de-activatable cylinder. In such an internal combustion engine, a method for actuating engine valves comprises operating at least one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders to provide positive power generation according to the main valve actuations and, additionally, placing the at least one deactivator assembly for a de-activatable cylinder of the at least one de-activatable cylinder in a deactivation state. While the at least one deactivator assembly for the de-activatable cylinder is in the deactivation state and while the at least one cylinder is operating to provide positive power generation according to main valve actuations, the method further comprises performing at least one secondary valve event via at least one engine valve for the de-activatable cylinder.

Abstract: A method for detecting valve leakage of a least one valve at a cylinder intake manifold or exhaust manifold of a vehicle engine, the method comprising: acquiring a set of pressure data points indicative of the pressure in the cylinder intake manifold or exhaust manifold for crankshaft angular positions covering crankshaft angular rotation degrees such that each of the at least one valve has opened at least one time; and determining at least one test value based on the set of pressure data points, wherein a valve leakage is detected based on a comparison of the at least one test value to a threshold value.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller and an operating unit. The controller controls an automatic vehicle hold (AVH) system maintaining the brake of the vehicle even after an operation of the brake pedal is canceled, and an idling stop system (ISS) stopping idling of an internal combustion engine. The operating unit switches the AVH and ISS between an enabled state and a disabled state in response to an occupant's operation. When the vehicle comes to a stop, the controller activates the AVH in a case where the operation of the brake pedal satisfies a first operation condition, and activates the ISS in a case where the operation of the brake pedal satisfies a second operation condition. The controller changes at least one of the first operation condition or the second operation condition when the AVH and the ISS are both switched to the enabled state by the operating unit.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method of igniting an air/fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine includes receiving an air/fuel mixture into a pre-combustion chamber, the pre-combustion chamber enclosing a portion of an igniter, igniting the air/fuel mixture in in the pre-combustion chamber with the igniter to produce a flame, directing the flame to eject the pre-combustion chamber through a collection of passages in a wall of the pre-combustion chamber, toward a peripheral wall of a main combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, igniting, by the flame, air/fuel mixture in the main combustion chamber adjacent the peripheral wall, and then igniting air/fuel mixture in the main combustion chamber in a central region of the main combustion chamber with a propagating flame front of the ignited air/fuel mixture or a portion of the directed flame adjacent the peripheral wall.

Abstract: To suppress the possibility that a body-side holding member comes into contact with a joint portion 92 of a damper mechanism 9. damper cover that is arranged on an upstream side of a pressurizing chamber and is attached to a body to form a damper chamber, a damper mechanism that is arranged in the damper chamber, and a body-side holding member that holds the damper mechanism from the body side are provided. The body-side holding member includes a bottom surface in contact with the body and a flexible portion formed along an urging direction by being urged downward from the damper cover toward the body.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing secondary air to an exhaust system during catalyst warm-up. In one example, a method may include operating an engine in a thermactor mode responsive to a cold start condition, the thermactor mode including skipping a first number of engine cylinders and producing torque via a remaining number of the engine cylinders, and differently adjusting a cylinder valve of at least one of the first number of the engine cylinders relative to the remaining number of the engine cylinders while operating in the thermactor mode. In this way, exotherms may be generated by the secondary air reacting with fuel in exhaust gas, thus increasing a temperature of the catalyst.

Abstract: A CPU substitutes a difference between a crank-side speed that is a rotation speed of a crankshaft and a downstream-side speed that is a speed of a portion, opposite from the crankshaft, in a damper into a differential speed. The CPU calculates a torsion angle through a process of integrating the differential speed. The CPU calculates a torsion speed component that is a speed component of the crankshaft due to torsion of the damper based on a process of integrating a value obtained by multiplying the torsion angle by an elastic modulus, and calculates a time that is a variable indicating a speed of the crankshaft, used to determine a misfire, based on the torsion speed component. The CPU subtracts a value obtained by subtracting an output value of the integrating process, applied to a finite response low-pass filter process, from the output value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining degradation of a cylinder deactivation mechanism are described. In one example, engine data generated while an engine is operation with all of its cylinders active is used to correct engine data generated while one or more engine cylinders are deactivated to improve detection of a degraded cylinder deactivation mechanism.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing secondary air to an exhaust system during catalyst warm-up. In one example, a method may include, responsive to a cold start of an engine: operating the engine with a number of unfired cylinders and a remaining number of fired cylinders each engine cycle, and adjusting exhaust mixing by adjusting an exhaust valve parameter of at least one unfired cylinder of the number of unfired cylinders. In this way, the unfired cylinders may provide the secondary air as well as increased mixing of the secondary air with burned exhaust gas from fired cylinders, thus increasing exotherm production in the exhaust system to increase a temperature of the catalyst.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing secondary air to an exhaust system during catalyst warm-up. In one example, a method may include, during a cold start condition, operating an engine with a number of cylinders deactivated and a remaining number of cylinders active, and adjusting a first air charge within a deactivated cylinder of the number of cylinders relative to relative to a second air charge within an active cylinder of the remaining number of cylinders. In this way, an amount of secondary air provided to the exhaust system of the engine may be more robustly controlled, thus decreasing cooling of the exhaust system during the cold start condition that may otherwise occur due to excess secondary air.

Abstract: A method for detecting reverse flow for a dual fuel engine is disclosed. The engine may include an intake manifold, a liquid fuel supply line and a gaseous fuel supply line, the gaseous fuel supply line including a gaseous fuel supply and a gaseous fuel rail. The method may include: operating the dual fuel engine in a liquid fuel only mode via the liquid fuel supply line; determining a reverse flow in the gaseous fuel supply line; and outputting an indication of reverse flow in response to the determination of reverse flow.

Abstract: Implementations provide techniques for remote starter adapter for use with a communication device. In one implementation, a system comprising a memory and an adapter coupled, operatively coupled to the memory, having an interface to connect to a remote starter. The adapter is to receive, via a wireless connection, a probe request from a communication device, the probe request comprising a command data structure. It is determined whether to change a status of an indicator based on the command data structure. Responsive to changing the statue of the indicator, a signal associated with the adapter is generated. Thereupon, the signal is transmitted, via the interface, to an input circuit to activate the remote starter.