Abstract: A reciprocating piston internal combustion engine includes: a sensor system on a gas exchange valve which has a valve head situated at a first end of a valve stem; a lever element which engages at a second end of the valve stem and which is designed to actuate the gas exchange valve by displacing the valve head; a detection element which, upon actuation of the gas exchange valve, is displaced along a displacement path; and a sensor device configured to ascertain a position of the detection element. The sensor device is situated in such a way that the detection element, during a displacement along a portion of the displacement path, moves predominantly in a movement toward the sensor device or away from the same, thereby providing a measurement of valve timing of the gas exchange valve.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a variable setting of a compression ratio in a reciprocating internal combustion engine, an error of the variable setting of the compression ratio, being signaled as a function of a measured state variable of the exhaust gas system, in particular a measured exhaust gas temperature.

Abstract: In a method for determining a filling difference between at least two cylinders of an internal combustion engine, e.g., an Otto-cycle engine, a power output parameter contribution made available by the respective cylinder to a total power output parameter of the internal combustion engine is ascertained for each of the at least two cylinders for different fuel quantities, and an air inhomogeneity between the at least two cylinders is ascertained on the basis of the power output parameter contributions, ascertained for the different fuel quantities, of the at least two cylinders.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston internal combustion engine includes: a sensor system on a gas exchange valve which has a valve head situated at a first end of a valve stem; a lever element which engages at a second end of the valve stem and which is designed to actuate the gas exchange valve by displacing the valve head; a detection element which, upon actuation of the gas exchange valve, is displaced along a displacement path; and a sensor device configured to ascertain a position of the detection element. The sensor device is situated in such a way that the detection element, during a displacement along a portion of the displacement path, moves predominantly in a movement toward the sensor device or away from the same, thereby providing a measurement of valve timing of the gas exchange valve.

Abstract: A method for determining quantitative errors in a fuel quantity and air quantity delivered to at least one cylinder of an internal combustion engine, in which in a first phase a cylinder equalization of the internal combustion engine is accomplished, and an error in the fuel quantity delivered to the at least one cylinder is determined therefrom. In a second phase the internal combustion engine is operated with a stoichiometric ratio of air quantity and fuel quantity, a feature of the at least one cylinder correlating with an indicated mean pressure is sensed, and an error in the air quantity delivered to the at least one cylinder is determined from the feature correlating with the indicated mean pressure.

Abstract: In a method for determining a filling difference between at least two cylinders of an internal combustion engine, e.g., an Otto-cycle engine, a power output parameter contribution made available by the respective cylinder to a total power output parameter of the internal combustion engine is ascertained for each of the at least two cylinders for different fuel quantities, and an air inhomogeneity between the at least two cylinders is ascertained on the basis of the power output parameter contributions, ascertained for the different fuel quantities, of the at least two cylinders.

Abstract: A method for testing the operability of a tank venting valve between an internal combustion engine and a fuel vapor storage device of a motor vehicle. The stored fuel vapor from the fuel vapor storage device is fed to the internal combustion engine when the tank venting valve is open and a reaction from a fuel/air control loop is analyzed to diagnose the operability of the tank venting valve. In order to refine the method so that a diagnosis that is as far as possible not subject to error may be performed when not idling, the stored fuel vapor from the fuel vapor storage device is fed to the internal combustion engine at least twice in one driving cycle while the tank venting valve is open, a reaction of the fuel/air ratio control loop being detected each time and the operability of the tank venting valve being inferred by comparing the detected reactions.

Abstract: An operating method for an internal combustion engine is described, especially for a motor vehicle, in which, in a first operating mode, fuel is injected preferably for heating a catalytic converter and, in at least one further operating mode, into a combustion chamber. In order to prevent a sudden change in the torque produced by the internal combustion engine during the switchover from/to the first operating mode, a distribution factor influencing torque is taken into account in an actual branch and/or in a setpoint branch of controller of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method for testing the functionality of a tank system of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, including a controllable tank venting valve connected to an intake manifold and at least one pressure source for testing the tightness of the tank venting system using overpressure or underpressure, the functionality of the tank venting valve being tested via its activation in an opening and/or closing manner during pressurizing the tank system using overpressure or underpressure and by registering and evaluating at least one operating variable of the pressure source. The tank system is pressurized with overpressure or underpressure and the at least one operating variable of the pressure source is registered and evaluated during operation of the engine.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine, permitting a differentiation between an air error and a fuel error as part of mixture adaptation. In at least one operating state of the internal combustion engine a deviation in an air-fuel mixture ratio from a setpoint value is corrected. For this correction in the at least one operating state the particular deviation in the air-fuel mixture ratio is determined for at least two setpoint values. From these deviations an air error and/or a fuel error is determined.

Abstract: A method for testing the functionality of a tank system of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, including a controllable tank venting valve connected to an intake manifold and at least one pressure source for testing the tightness of the tank venting system using overpressure or underpressure, the functionality of the tank venting valve being tested via its activation in an opening and/or closing manner during pressurizing the tank system using overpressure or underpressure and by registering and evaluating at least one operating variable of the pressure source. The tank system is pressurized with overpressure or underpressure and the at least one operating variable of the pressure source is registered and evaluated during operation of the engine.

Abstract: An operating method for an internal combustion engine is described, especially for a motor vehicle, in which, in a first operating mode, fuel is injected preferably for heating a catalytic converter and, in at least one further operating mode, into a combustion chamber. In order to prevent a sudden change in the torque produced by the internal combustion engine during the switchover from/to the first operating mode, a distribution factor influencing torque is taken into account in an actual branch and/or in a setpoint branch of controller of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: In a method and a device for leak testing of a vessel, e.g., a tank venting system of a motor vehicle, a leak-tightness measurement is performed by introducing a positive pressure or partial vacuum and detecting the variation over time of a positive pressure or partial vacuum in the vessel, and a reference measurement is performed using a reference leak. A conclusion is drawn as to the presence of a leak in the vessel by comparing the results of the leak-tightness measurement and the reference measurement. To avoid faulty diagnoses, the positive pressure or partial vacuum during the leak-tightness measurement and the reference measurement is detected by using a single pressure measuring device.

Abstract: A method for testing the operability of a tank venting valve between an internal combustion engine and a fuel vapor storage device of a motor vehicle. The stored fuel vapor from the fuel vapor storage device is fed to the internal combustion engine when the tank venting valve is open and a reaction from a fuel/air control loop is analyzed to diagnose the operability of the tank venting valve. In order to refine the method so that a diagnosis that is as far as possible not subject to error may be performed when not idling, the stored fuel vapor from the fuel vapor storage device is fed to the internal combustion engine at least twice in one driving cycle while the tank venting valve is open, a reaction of the fuel/air ratio control loop being detected each time and the operability of the tank venting valve being inferred by comparing the detected reactions.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine, permitting a differentiation between an air error and a fuel error as part of mixture adaptation. In at least one operating state of the internal combustion engine a deviation in an air-fuel mixture ratio from a setpoint value is corrected. For this correction in the at least one operating state the particular deviation in the air-fuel mixture ratio is determined for at least two setpoint values. From these deviations an air error and/or a fuel error is determined.

Abstract: A method and a device for controlling an output variable of a drive unit in the starting phase is described. A controller is provided, regulating the actual value of at least one output variable to a setpoint variable of this output variable which is specified as a function of time. When at least one condition marking entry into the starting phase exists, the setpoint value of the output variable is initialized with the actual value of the output variable.

Abstract: A process for controlling an internal combustion engine, whereby the internal combustion engine is equipped with a device to change a valve timing. To permit a change in the valve timing only when it is necessary for the operation of the internal combustion engine, a transmission, connected at the end of the internal combustion engine, is monitored as to whether a shift operation is taking place in the transmission. If such a shift operation is recognized, a change in the valve timing is suppressed.

Abstract: In a method and a device for leak testing of a vessel, e.g., a tank venting system of a motor vehicle, a leak-tightness measurement is performed by introducing a positive pressure or partial vacuum and detecting the variation over time of a positive pressure or partial vacuum in the vessel, and a reference measurement is performed using a reference leak. A conclusion is drawn as to the presence of a leak in the vessel by comparing the results of the leak-tightness measurement and the reference measurement. To avoid faulty diagnoses, the positive pressure or partial vacuum during the leak-tightness measurement and the reference measurement is detected by using a single pressure measuring device.

Abstract: A method and a device for controlling an output variable of a drive unit in the starting phase is described. A controller is provided, regulating the actual value of at least one output variable to a setpoint variable of this output variable which is specified as a function of time. When at least one condition marking entry into the starting phase exists, the setpoint value of the output variable is initialized with the actual value of the output variable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for controlling an internal combustion engine, whereby the internal combustion engine is equipped with a device to change a valve timing. To permit a change in the valve timing only when it is necessary for the operation of the internal combustion engine, it is proposed that a transmission, connected at the end of the internal combustion engine, be monitored as to whether a shift operation is taking place in the transmission. If such a shift operation is recognized, a change in the valve timing is suppressed.