Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber including a first spark plug and a second spark plug, wherein the first spark plug is configured to operate at a higher temperature than the second spark plug, the method comprising of varying at least a resulting ratio of an amount of a fuel and an amount of a fluid delivered to the combustion chamber responsive to a first condition, and selectively using at least one of the first spark plug and the second spark plug to ignite at least one of the fuel and the fluid delivered to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A tunable bandpass filter (10) is provided. An RF signal is provided at an input of the tunable bandpass filter, and a level shifted control signal (V1, V2) inputted to the tunable bandpass filter (10) switches a first arrangement and a second arrangement of one or more tuning portions (15, 17-1, 17-2, 17-3) in or out of the tunable bandpass filter using a GaAs FET switch. The first arrangement is coupled to the second arrangement using an inductor (13). An RF signal having a desired predetermined frequency at an output of the tunable bandpass filter (10) is produced by the switching. The tuning portions include the GaAs FET switch (15), a first capacitor (17-1) connected at a first signal terminal of the GaAs FET switch and a second capacitor (17-2) connected between a second signal terminal of the GaAs FET switch and ground. Each of the tuning portions can be arranged in parallel with one another.

Abstract: A system and method to control engine valve operation during periods of cylinder deactivation of an internal combustion engine. Electromechanical valves are controlled in a manner to reduce fuel consumption and emissions during cylinder deactivation periods of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method for operating an engine having at least one cylinder that may be deactivated and a fuel system operating with an alcohol fuel blend, comprising of adjusting a range of operating parameters in which the at least one cylinder is deactivated, where said range is adjusted as the alcohol blend of the fuel varies.

Abstract: A method of starting an internal combustion engine for a vehicle having at least a hydraulic pump configured to be powered at least partially by a source other than the engine and an adjustable hydraulic actuator configured to be adjusted by hydraulic fluid of the hydraulic pump is provided. The method comprises during a first start of the engine, operating with the hydraulic actuator in a first position; and during a second start of the engine, operating with the hydraulic actuator in a second position, said second position different from said first position.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having at least two cylinders, at least one of which having at least an adjustable valve, the method comprising before engine rotation closing electrically actuated valves in at least a first and a second cylinder; fueling at least said first cylinder with a first fuel amount and said second cylinder with a second fuel amount; and performing a first spark in at least one of said first cylinder and said second cylinder; and after engine rotation, firing each cylinder of the engine in a sequential firing order without changing a number of strokes in any cylinder of the engine.

Abstract: As one example, a vehicle propulsion system is provided. The system includes: an internal combustion engine including at least one cylinder; an intake valve operable to selectively admit at least intake air to the cylinder; an exhaust valve operable to selectively exhaust products of combustion from the cylinder; an intake air compressor communicating with the cylinder via the intake valve; an exhaust gas turbine communicating with the cylinder via the exhaust valve; and a control system configured to operate the compressor at a different speed than the turbine, at least under an operating condition, and to adjust an amount of opening overlap between the intake valve and the exhaust valve in response to a rotational speed of the compressor.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine including at least a first cylinder having a first piston and a second cylinder having a second piston, at least one of said first and second cylinders having at least an adjustable valve, the method comprising before engine rotation: closing electrically actuated valves in at least the first and the second cylinder; fueling at least said first cylinder with a first fuel amount based on a position of the first piston and said second cylinder with a second fuel amount based on a position of the second piston; performing a first spark in at least one of said first cylinder and said second cylinder; and applying a starter motor to assist engine starting rotation; after engine rotation, firing each cylinder of the engine in a sequential firing order without changing a number of strokes in any cylinder of the engine.

Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine with electrically actuated valves, the method comprising during at least a run-up in engine speed of engine starting, adjusting intake valve timing of an electrically actuated valve of a cylinder to provide a desired air amount in said cylinder, based on at least an operating condition of said engine.

Abstract: A system for an engine of a vehicle traveling on the road, the system comprising a cylinder of the engine; an emission control device coupled in an exhaust downstream of the cylinder; a first injector configured to directly inject into the cylinder and coupled in a cylinder of the engine; a second injector configured to inject into a port of the cylinder and coupled to a port of the cylinder; and a controller for, in response to a driver pedal tip-in condition, increasing an amount of injection from the first injector.

Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising a cylinder located in the engine, a turbocharger coupled to the engine, a first injector for injecting a first fuel into said cylinder, wherein said first injector is a direct cylinder injector where said direct cylinder injector delivers a liquid including an alcohol, a second injector for injecting a second fuel into said cylinder, wherein said second injector is a port injector, where said port injector delivers a liquid including gasoline, a catalytic device configured to receive exhaust gases produced by at least the cylinder, and a controller configured to vary an amount of said first and second fuel injection during engine operation based on operating conditions, where amounts of variation of said first and second fuels are set to maintain a substantially stoichiometric mixture, the controller further configured to increase a relative amount of injection of the second injector in response to an indication of engine knock during a first operating condition, decrease en

Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising of a cylinder located in the engine; a first injector for injecting a first fuel into said cylinder; a second injector for injecting a second fuel into said cylinder; and a controller configured to vary an amount of said first and second fuel injection during engine operation based on operating conditions, where amounts of variation of said first and second fuels are set to maintain desired engine output and provide a substantially stoichiometric mixture.

Abstract: A method of controlling an engine, the method comprising of providing fuel having a blend to a cylinder of the engine, actively varying said fuel blend in response to at least an operating condition, and where during a transient operating condition, said blend is adjusted to increase a heat capacity of said fuel to reduce a tendency for knock.

Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine of a hybrid-electric vehicle having a controller, the engine having a plurality of cylinders, each with at least an intake and exhaust valve, each of which may be held in a position for a cycle of a cylinder, the method comprising of deactivating a plurality of cylinders in said engine in response to a signal from the controller of the hybrid-electric vehicle by mechanically deactivating valves in each cylinder of the engine, the deactivation in response to a request from the controller of the hybrid-electric vehicle and to reduce a number of operating valves in each cylinder of the engine.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an engine having an intake manifold and an outlet control device coupled to the manifold for controlling flow exiting the manifold and entering at least one cylinder of the engine. The engine further includes an inlet control device for controlling flow entering the manifold. The method includes providing an engine command; calculating a desired cylinder charge based on said command; and adjusting the outlet control device to provide said desired cylinder charge. The engine command may be, for example, a driver command, such as a driver torque command. Further, the outlet control device may be implement in with a variety of mechanisms. For example, in one embodiment the outlet control device is a valve of the engine having a variable lift. In one embodiment the outlet device is a valve having variable timing. Likewise, the inlet device may be adjusted in response to a variety of parameters.

Abstract: A system and method to control engine valve timing to during the start of an internal combustion engine. Electromechanical valves are controlled in a manner to reduce hydrocarbon emissions during the start of an internal combustion engine. The method controls intake valves so that smaller adjustments are made to cylinder spark advance and air-fuel over a range of operating conditions.

Abstract: A method for operating an engine having at least one cylinder that may be deactivated and a fuel system operating with an alcohol fuel blend, comprising of adjusting a range of operating parameters in which the at least one cylinder is deactivated, where said range is adjusted as the alcohol blend of the fuel varies.

Abstract: A method for operating an engine having at least one cylinder that may be deactivated and a fuel system operating with an alcohol fuel blend, comprising of adjusting a range of operating parameters in which the at least one cylinder is deactivated, where said range is adjusted as the alcohol blend of the fuel varies.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having at least one cylinder, the engine coupled to a vehicle, the engine also having an intake manifold and an outlet control device for controlling flow from the intake manifold into the cylinder, the engine further having an inlet control device for controlling flow into the intake manifold, the outlet control device including an electronic throttle, the engine also having an exhaust gas oxygen sensor, the method comprising of generating a signal representing a request from a driver, determining a desired torque based on said request in response to said signal and to improve drive feel, adjusting the outlet control device based on said desired torque, adjusting throttle position based on an operating parameter and injecting fuel into the engine based on a signal from the sensor to maintain average air/fuel at stoichiometry.

Abstract: A tunable bandpass filter (10) is provided. An RF signal is provided at an input of the tunable bandpass filter, and a level shifted control signal (V1, V2) inputted to the tunable bandpass filter (10) switches a first arrangement and a second arrangement of one or more tuning portions (15, 17-1, 17-2, 17-3) in or out of the tunable bandpass filter using a GaAs FET switch. The first arrangement is coupled to the second arrangement using an inductor (13). An RF signal having a desired predetermined frequency at an output of the tunable bandpass filter (10) is produced by the switching. The tuning portions include the GaAs FET switch (15), a first capacitor (17-1) connected at a first signal terminal of the GaAs FET switch and a second capacitor (17-2) connected between a second signal terminal of the GaAs FET switch and ground. Each of the tuning portions can be arranged in parallel with one another.