Abstract: A system and method for selecting a fueling station for vehicle refueling, including receiving fuel information from a remote device corresponding to one or more fueling stations near a vehicle; upon the vehicle travelling to a selected one of the one or more fueling stations, setting a flag to a value based upon a fuel grade of fuel used to refuel the vehicle at the selected one of the one or more fueling stations; and capturing location information for at least one of the vehicle and the selected one of the one or more fueling stations. Subsequent to refueling at the selected one of the one or more fueling stations, the method further includes determining fuel information of the fuel used to refuel the vehicle; and sending the flag, the fuel information of the fuel used to refuel the vehicle, and the captured location information to the remote device.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting a fueling station for vehicle refueling, including receiving fuel information from a remote device corresponding to one or more fueling stations near a vehicle; upon the vehicle travelling to a selected one of the one or more fueling stations, setting a flag to a value based upon a fuel grade of fuel used to refuel the vehicle at the selected one of the one or more fueling stations; and capturing location information for at least one of the vehicle and the selected one of the one or more fueling stations. Subsequent to refueling at the selected one of the one or more fueling stations, the method further includes determining fuel information of the fuel used to refuel the vehicle; and sending the flag, the fuel information of the fuel used to refuel the vehicle, and the captured location information to the remote device.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting air-fuel ratio rich-lean imbalance in an automotive engine cylinder is provided. The system and the method are configured to receive an oxygen sensor voltage of an oxygen sensor. They also include filtering the oxygen sensor voltage to create a filtered oxygen sensor voltage. An engine speed and load are determined, and an air-fuel ratio imbalance detection threshold is determined based on the engine speed and the engine load. A rich-lean imbalance status is determined, the rich-lean imbalance status being non-normal if any portion of the filtered oxygen sensor voltage exceeds the air-fuel ratio imbalance detection threshold, and the rich-lean imbalance status being normal if none of the filtered oxygen sensor voltage exceeds the air-fuel ratio imbalance detection threshold. An engine control unit having several control logics to execute similar steps is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting air-fuel ratio rich-lean imbalance in an automotive engine cylinder is provided. The system and the method are configured to receive an oxygen sensor voltage of an oxygen sensor. They also include filtering the oxygen sensor voltage to create a filtered oxygen sensor voltage. An engine speed and load are determined, and an air-fuel ratio imbalance detection threshold is determined based on the engine speed and the engine load. A rich-lean imbalance status is determined, the rich-lean imbalance status being non-normal if any portion of the filtered oxygen sensor voltage exceeds the air-fuel ratio imbalance detection threshold, and the rich-lean imbalance status being normal if none of the filtered oxygen sensor voltage exceeds the air-fuel ratio imbalance detection threshold. An engine control unit having several control logics to execute similar steps is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating a plurality of valves in an engine uses valve actuators to move each valve. Accelerometers are used to detect acceleration of the valves and particularly the moment when they seat. A knock sensor detects an acoustic impulse made by the valves when they seat. A controller correlates signals from the sensor and accelerometers, wherein a signal from the sensor that correlates in time with a signal from an accelerometer indicates seating of the respective valve, which indicates a closure of the respective valve. The controller measures a magnitude of the acoustic impulse to be used as feedback in controlling the operation of the respective valve actuator, and provide softer landings of the valve.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating a plurality of valves in an engine uses valve actuators to move each valve. Accelerometers are used to detect acceleration of the valves and particularly the moment when they seat. A knock sensor detects an acoustic impulse made by the valves when they seat. A controller correlates signals from the sensor and accelerometers, wherein a signal from the sensor that correlates in time with a signal from an accelerometer indicates seating of the respective valve, which indicates a closure of the respective valve. The controller measures a magnitude of the acoustic impulse to be used as feedback in controlling the operation of the respective valve actuator, and provide softer landings of the valve.

Abstract: A spectral method, and corresponding system, for knock detection includes acquiring (603) spectral energy associated with vibration caused by a knocking condition from a running engine. Preferably, a sampled data system (105) acquires the spectral energy by converting an output from an accelerometer (101) into data samples (103) in a digital form. Then from the acquired spectral energy, a knock variable is derived from magnitudes of spectral components, representing a characteristic of a combustion chamber located within the running engine. In a preferred embodiment the knock variable is derived from magnitudes of spectral components related by ratios corresponding to Bessel function coefficients. The preferred embodiment includes a Digital Signal Processor (109) applying a Fast Fourier Transform method (503) to estimate a spectral content used to determine the knock variable. Then, a knock indication is provided (509) when the knock variable exceeds a magnitude of a predetermined threshold (507).

Abstract: A method for monitoring the performance of a catalytic converter (34) computes the oxygen storage capacity and desorption capacity of a catalyst within the catalytic converter (34). An engine control unit (10) receives mass flow rate information of air from a mass air flow rate sensor (12) and an injector driver (24), and receives electrical signals from an upstream exhaust gas sensor (28) and a downstream exhaust gas sensor (30). A rate modifier is determined from excess air ratios and an adaptation parameter. The engine control unit (10) calculates normalized air fuel ratios for the exhaust gas entering and leaving the catalytic converter (34) and performs numerical integration using the rate modifier to determine the oxygen storage capacity of the catalyst in the catalytic converter (34). The calculated oxygen storage capacity of the catalyst can be compared with threshold values to determine the performance of the catalytic converter (34).

Abstract: The catalyst control method of the invention continuously estimates a level of oxygen stored by a catalyst within a catalytic converter. The estimated oxygen stored by the catalyst is compared to a predetermined threshold and positive or negative deviations in the oxygen amount from the threshold is determined. When a positive deviation from the threshold amount is detected, the air/fuel ratio flowing into an engine (16) is decreased. Correspondingly, when a negative deviation is detected, the air/fuel ratio flowing into the engine (16) is increased. The amount of oxygen stored by the catalyst is determined by analyzing signals from a first gas sensor (28) positioned upstream from a catalytic converter (34) and a second gas sensor (30) positioned downstream from the catalytic converter (34). An engine control unit (10) integrates an expression for the mass flow rate of excess oxygen into the catalytic converter (34).

Abstract: A method for monitoring the performance of a catalytic converter (34) computes the oxygen storage capacity and desorption capacity of a catalyst within the catalytic converter (34). An engine control unit (10) receives mass flow rate information of air from a mass air flow rate sensor (12) and an injector driver (24), and receives electrical signals from an upstream exhaust gas sensor (28) and a downstream exhaust gas sensor (30). The engine control unit (10) calculates normalized air fuel ratios for the exhaust gas entering and leaving the catalytic converter (34) and performs numerical integration to determine the oxygen storage capacity and oxygen desorption capacity of the catalyst in the catalytic converter (34). The calculated oxygen storage and desorption capacities of the catalyst are compared with threshold values to determine the performance of the catalytic converter (34).

Abstract: A system for detecting the presence of a knock condition by interpreting a broadband spectra signal as measured from an internal combustion engine is described. The system includes a spectra measurement device, preferably an accelerometer (101) mounted to an engine for providing a broadband spectra signal (103) to a knock detector (105). Preferably the knock detector (105) is based on a digital signal processor. The signal (103) is provided simultaneously to knock discrimination elements (405, 409, and 413), that provide a knock spectra signal (415) representative of the average energy within a predetermined knock spectra, and noise discrimination elements (417, 421, and 425), that provide a noise spectra signal (427) representative of average energy within a predetermined noise spectra. The knock spectra signal (415) is combined with the noise spectra signal (427) to provide a knock signal (431) when an engine knocking condition is detected.

Abstract: A system, and corresponding method, for detecting the presence of a misfire condition by interpreting spectral activity of a running engine includes a device (309, 313) for measuring a characteristic, preferably an acceleration characteristic indicative of the running engine's performance, A spectral discrimination device (319), preferably a digital filter, receives a composite signal (317) provided by the measuring device (309, 313). The digital filter (319) provides a normal firing signal (321), corresponding to spectral energy attributable to a portion of the composite signal (317) representative of a normal firing condition in the running engine, and a misfire signal (323), corresponding to spectral energy attributable to another portion of the composite signal (317) representative of a misfiring condition in the running engine. A comparison device (325) provides and indication of a misfire condition (327) when a magnitude of the misfire signal (323) exceeds a magnitude of the normal firing signal (321).