Abstract: Disclosed are model-based combustion timing systems and control logic for engine assemblies, methods for making/operating such engine assemblies, and motor vehicles with spark-ignited engine assemblies implementing model-based combustion timing. A method for controlling torque output of an engine assembly includes receiving a requested torque demand for the engine, and determining a current fuel command and valve timing for the engine's power cylinder(s). A first math model is used to determine a desired CA50 based on the requested torque demand, a power cylinder indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP), an expander cylinder IMEP, and the current fuel command/valve timing. A second math model is used to determine a maximum brake torque (MBT) CA50 based on power cylinder and expander cylinder IMEPs, and current fuel command/valve timing. An engine control unit determines a final spark timing based on a correlation between the desired CA50 and MBT CA50, modified by a spark timing gain.

Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a first crank angle module, a second crank angle module, and a spark control module. The first crank angle module determines a first crank angle of an engine at which a predetermined percentage of fuel in a first cylinder of the engine is combusted based on pressure in the first cylinder. The second crank angle module determines a relationship between the first crank angle and a second crank angle of the engine at which the predetermined percentage of fuel in a second cylinder of the engine is combusted based on pressure in the first cylinder and pressure in the second cylinder. The spark control module adjusts spark timing of the first cylinder based on the first crank angle, and adjusts spark timing of the second cylinder based on the relationship between the first and second crank angles.

Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine that includes sensing a characteristic of combustion in a cylinder of the engine, generating a combustion characteristic signal from the sensed characteristic, performing a principal component analysis on the combustion characteristic signal and a predetermined combustion characteristic trace to determine first mode coefficients for the combustion characteristic signal and the predetermined combustion characteristic trace, determining a difference between the first mode coefficient of the combustion characteristic signal and the first mode coefficient of the predetermined combustion characteristic trace, and controlling the internal combustion engine based upon the difference.

Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine that includes sensing a characteristic of combustion in a cylinder of the engine, generating a combustion characteristic signal from the sensed characteristic, performing a principal component analysis on the combustion characteristic signal and a predetermined combustion characteristic trace to determine first mode coefficients for the combustion characteristic signal and the predetermined combustion characteristic trace, determining a difference between the first mode coefficient of the combustion characteristic signal and the first mode coefficient of the predetermined combustion characteristic trace, and controlling the internal combustion engine based upon the difference.

Abstract: A method for generating energy-optimized travel routes with a vehicle navigation system includes generating candidate travel routes between a route origin and one or more route destinations, and then dividing each candidate travel route into a plurality of route segments. The method includes estimating expected travel speeds along each segment using cloud information and calculating an expected energy efficiency over each of the candidate travel routes using one or more vehicle-specific energy efficiency models. The travel routes are displayed via the navigation system, including a trace of the energy-optimized travel routes and an expected or relative energy efficiency along the energy-optimized travel routes. A vehicle includes the navigation system and a powertrain. A powertrain controller may control vehicle speed over a selected route to maintain an optimally energy-efficient speed.

Abstract: A direct-injection internal combustion engine is described and includes a pressure sensor that is disposed to monitor in-cylinder combustion pressure. A method, executed as a control routine in an attached controller, includes monitoring engine speed, engine load, temperature and combustion pressure. Combustion variation parameters are determined based upon the combustion pressure. A desired state for a combustion parameter can be determined based upon the engine speed, the engine load, and the temperature, and an adjustment to the desired state for the combustion parameter can be determined based upon the combustion variation parameters, wherein the adjustment to the desired state is selected to achieve acceptable states for the combustion variation parameters. Operation of the internal combustion engine is controlled based upon the desired state for the combustion parameter and the adjustment to the desired state for the combustion parameter.

Abstract: A direct-injection internal combustion engine is described and includes a pressure sensor that is disposed to monitor in-cylinder combustion pressure. A method, executed as a control routine in an attached controller, includes monitoring engine speed, engine load, temperature and combustion pressure. Combustion variation parameters are determined based upon the combustion pressure. A desired state for a combustion parameter can be determined based upon the engine speed, the engine load, and the temperature, and an adjustment to the desired state for the combustion parameter can be determined based upon the combustion variation parameters, wherein the adjustment to the desired state is selected to achieve acceptable states for the combustion variation parameters. Operation of the internal combustion engine is controlled based upon the desired state for the combustion parameter and the adjustment to the desired state for the combustion parameter.

Abstract: A vehicle is described, and includes a drivetrain system including an internal combustion engine and a geartrain, an accessory device, and a route monitoring system. A controller includes an instruction set to monitor operation of the accessory device, and a request to operate the accessory device. When the request to operate the accessory device includes a request to activate the accessory device based upon not exceeding a limit for an operating parameter of the accessory device, the instruction set executes to determine a horizon for the vehicle based upon the projected path for the vehicle, determine a projected road load and a speed constraint based upon the horizon for the vehicle, and determine a projected axle torque command based upon the projected road load. A first routine determines a first command for operating the accessory device that minimizes fuel consumption and meets the projected axle torque command.

Abstract: A vehicle engine system includes a combustion engine configured to provide a propulsion torque to satisfy a propulsion demand in response to a driver input. The engine system also includes a controller programmed to receive data indicative of at least one upcoming driving event, and issue a command to impart a predetermined velocity profile based on the upcoming driving event. The predetermined velocity profile is arranged to optimize a performance attribute of the combustion engine and preempt the driver input.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes an engine with an engine block having at least one cylinder. A crankshaft is moveable to define a plurality of crank angles from a bore axis defined by the cylinder to a crank axis defined by the crankshaft. The plurality of angles includes a crank angle (CA50) corresponding to 50% of the fuel received by the cylinder being combusted. A controller is operatively connected to the engine and has a processor and a tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for controlling the combustion phasing in the engine during a transient state. The controller is programmed to generate a learned table by storing at least one combustion phasing parameter in the tangible, non-transitory memory. Combustion phasing during a transient state is controlled based at least partially on the learned table.

Abstract: Disclosed are multi-pulse fuel delivery control systems, methods for using such systems, and motor vehicles with engines employing multi-pulse fuel injection schemes. A fuel delivery control system is disclosed with fuel injectors that selectively inject multiple pulses of fuel per working cycle into cylinders of an engine. An engine sensor detects an operating condition of the engine, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) sensor detects a state of an EGR system coupled to the engine. An engine control unit is programmed to: determine, from the detected EGR state, a current intake burned gas fraction; determine, from the detected engine operating condition, a desired intake burned gas fraction; determine a secondary fuel mass injection adjustment based on the desired and current intake burned gas fractions; and command the fuel injectors to inject two fuel pulses into each cylinder per working cycle, with the second pulse modified based on the determined adjustment.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is described. Controlling the internal combustion engine includes gathering engine operating data during steady-state engine operation, including gathering a first dataset associated with a cylinder air charge during steady-state operation of the engine in the PVO state and gathering a second dataset associated with a cylinder air charge during steady-state operation of the engine in the NVO state. An optimization routine is executed to determine a first subset of parameters associated with a first relationship for a cylinder air charge model based upon the second dataset. The optimization routine is also executed to determine a second subset of parameters associated with a second relationship for the cylinder air charge model based upon the first dataset. A cylinder air charge is determined in real-time during engine operation based upon the cylinder air charge model and the first and second subsets of parameters.

Abstract: A vehicle is described, and includes a drivetrain system including an internal combustion engine and a geartrain, an accessory device, and a route monitoring system. A controller includes an instruction set to monitor operation of the accessory device, and a request to operate the accessory device. When the request to operate the accessory device includes a request to activate the accessory device based upon not exceeding a limit for an operating parameter of the accessory device, the instruction set executes to determine a horizon for the vehicle based upon the projected path for the vehicle, determine a projected road load and a speed constraint based upon the horizon for the vehicle, and determine a projected axle torque command based upon the projected road load. A first routine determines a first command for operating the accessory device that minimizes fuel consumption and meets the projected axle torque command.

Abstract: A method for generating energy-optimized travel routes with a vehicle navigation system includes generating candidate travel routes between a route origin and one or more route destinations, and then dividing each candidate travel route into a plurality of route segments. The method includes estimating expected travel speeds along each segment using cloud information and calculating an expected energy efficiency over each of the candidate travel routes using one or more vehicle-specific energy efficiency models. The travel routes are displayed via the navigation system, including a trace of the energy-optimized travel routes and an expected or relative energy efficiency along the energy-optimized travel routes. A vehicle includes the navigation system and a powertrain. A powertrain controller may control vehicle speed over a selected route to maintain an optimally energy-efficient speed.

Abstract: A vehicle engine system includes a combustion engine configured to provide a propulsion torque to satisfy a propulsion demand in response to a driver input. The engine system also includes a controller programmed to receive data indicative of at least one upcoming driving event, and issue a command to impart a predetermined velocity profile based on the upcoming driving event. The predetermined velocity profile is arranged to optimize a performance attribute of the combustion engine and preempt the driver input.

Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a first crank angle module, a second crank angle module, and a spark control module. The first crank angle module determines a first crank angle of an engine at which a predetermined percentage of fuel in a first cylinder of the engine is combusted based on pressure in the first cylinder. The second crank angle module determines a relationship between the first crank angle and a second crank angle of the engine at which the predetermined percentage of fuel in a second cylinder of the engine is combusted based on pressure in the first cylinder and pressure in the second cylinder. The spark control module adjusts spark timing of the first cylinder based on the first crank angle, and adjusts spark timing of the second cylinder based on the relationship between the first and second crank angles.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is configured to operate in a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition combustion mode. Operation of the engine includes determining a combustion pressure parameter for each cylinder. Fueling for each cylinder is controlled responsive to a target state for the combustion pressure parameter for the corresponding cylinder. An end-of-injection timing and a corresponding spark ignition timing for each cylinder are controlled responsive to a target mass-burn-fraction point for an engine operating point.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a variable focus lens containing graphene, a preparing method of the variable focus lens, a focus controlling method of the variable focus lens, and a display device including the variable focus lens.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes an internal combustion engine with an engine block having at least one cylinder and at least one piston moveable within the at least one cylinder. A crankshaft is moveable to define a plurality of crank angles (CA) from a bore axis defined by the cylinder to a crank axis defined by the crankshaft. A controller is operatively connected to the internal combustion engine and configured to receive a torque request (TR). The controller is programmed to determine a desired combustion phasing (CAd) for controlling a torque output of the internal combustion engine. The desired combustion phasing is based at least partially on the torque request (TR) and a pressure-volume (PV) diagram of the at least one cylinder.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes an internal combustion engine with an engine block having at least one cylinder. An intake manifold and an exhaust manifold are each fluidly connected to the at least one cylinder and define an intake manifold pressure (pi) and an exhaust manifold pressure (pe), respectively. A controller is operatively connected to the internal combustion engine and configured to receive a torque request (TR). The controller is programmed to determine a desired fuel mass (mf) for controlling a torque output of the internal combustion engine. The desired fuel mass (mf) is based at least partially on the torque request (TR), the intake and exhaust manifold pressures and a pressure-volume (PV) diagram of the at least one cylinder.