Abstract: A method to control operation of an engine during a transition from a first to a second combustion mode is provided. The engine includes a controllable throttle valve, a variable valve actuation system for controlling openings and closings of intake and exhaust valves, and, an intake and an exhaust. Mass airflow, intake manifold pressure, and cylinder volume to operate the engine in the second combustion mode and meet an operator torque request are determined. Current states for mass airflow, intake manifold pressure, and cylinder volume are determined. An opening position of the controllable throttle valve and the openings and the closings of the intake and exhaust valves are controlled during the transition to the second combustion mode based upon differences between the current states for mass airflow, intake manifold pressure, and cylinder volume, and, the mass airflow, the intake manifold pressure, and the cylinder volume.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is selectively operative in one of a plurality of combustion modes. Engine operation is monitored and program code is concurrently executed to operate the engine in a first combustion mode and in a second combustion mode. The engine is preferentially operated in the second combustion mode when the engine operation is within a predetermined area, and selectively operated in the first combustion mode based upon the monitored engine operation.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a controllable throttle and controllable engine valves and is selectively operative in one of a plurality of combustion modes. An engine control method includes monitoring engine operation, determining a desired air flow, estimating a cylinder air charge, and estimating an intake air partial pressure. The throttle control device and engine valves are controlled based upon the intake air partial pressure and the cylinder air charge to achieve the desired air flow.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is selectively operative in one of a plurality of combustion modes. A method for controlling the engine includes commanding the engine operation to transition from a first combustion mode to a second combustion mode. Engine valve operation is commanded to a desired valve overlap and valve overlap is monitored. Engine operation is changed to the second combustion mode when the engine valve overlap achieves a predetermined range or threshold.

Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling engine valves of an internal combustion engine adapted to selectively operate at one of a first open position and a second open position, including controlling engine operation during a transition from a first to a second combustion mode. The method comprises determining a desired engine airflow based upon an operator torque request. A cylinder intake volume is determined for the desired engine airflow when operating at the first open position. A control scheme is determined to control the engine valves to attain the cylinder intake volume for the desired engine airflow when operating at the second open position. The control scheme is executed and the engine valve is transitioned to the second open position when the cylinder intake volume to operate at the second open position is within a range of authority of the engine valves.

Abstract: A method to control operation of an engine during a transition from a first to a second combustion mode is provided. The engine includes a controllable throttle valve, a variable valve actuation system for controlling openings and closings of intake and exhaust valves, and, an intake and an exhaust. Mass airflow, intake manifold pressure, and cylinder volume to operate the engine in the second combustion mode and meet an operator torque request are determined. Current states for mass airflow, intake manifold pressure, and cylinder volume are determined. An opening position of the controllable throttle valve and the openings and the closings of the intake and exhaust valves are controlled during the transition to the second combustion mode based upon differences between the current states for mass airflow, intake manifold pressure, and cylinder volume, and, the mass airflow, the intake manifold pressure, and the cylinder volume.

Abstract: A method for selecting a preferred combustion mode for an internal combustion engine operative in a plurality of combustion modes is described. The method includes selecting a combustion mode in terms of first and second engine parameters, and separating the engine operating region into zones defined by the first parameter. Each of the zones is further separated into sub-zones defined by the second parameter. A combustion mode is associated with each of the sub-zones. Operating states are determined for the first and second parameters. One of the zones is identified based upon the state for the first parameter. One of the sub-zones of the identified zone is identified based upon the state for the second parameter, along with a combustion mode associated with the identified sub-zone. The engine is controlled to the preferred combustion mode, depending upon hysteresis.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is operative in a controlled auto-ignition combustion mode. The operation includes monitoring engine operation, and globally adapting fueling for all the cylinders based upon an engine intake mass air flow and an air/fuel ratio. The fueling for each cylinder is individually adapted based upon states of a combustion parameter for all the cylinders.

Abstract: A microsensor fabricated with a ferroelectric material and a fabrication method therefor are provided. The microsensor includes a support, an insulating layer on the support, a first electrode on the insulating layer, a ferroelectric layer having at least a metal on the insulating layer and the first electrode, and at least a second electrode on the ferroelectric layer.

Abstract: A model-based estimation of mass airflow is provided which provides an accurate estimation of mass airflow without introducing undesirable time delays characteristic of filtered mass airflow signals.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for fabricating a multi-element compound nanostructure are provided. The method includes steps of providing a substrate in a chamber, providing a particle-beam having plural first particles, providing a particle source having plural second particles to fill the chamber therewith and focusing the particle-beam on the substrate and depositing the first particles with the second particles on the substrate to form the multi-element compound nanostructure. In comparison with the conventional ones, the provided method is more simplified and has a great potentiality for being applied.

Abstract: A predictive energy management system for a hybrid vehicle that uses certain vehicle information, such as present location, time, 3-D maps and driving history, to determine engine and motor power commands. The system forecasts a driving cycle profile and calculates a driver power demand for a series of N samples based on a predetermined length of time, adaptive learning, etc. The system generates the optimal engine and motor power commands for each N sample based on the minimization of a cost function under constraint equations. The constraint equations may include a battery charge power limit, a battery discharge power limit, whether the battery state of charge is less than a predetermined maximum value, whether the battery state of charge is greater than a predetermined minimum value, motor power output and engine performance. The system defines the cost function as the sum of the total weighted predicted fuel consumed for each sample.

Abstract: A novel surface acoustic wave device with a decreased velocity dispersion and a low insertion loss as well as the fabrication method therefor is provided. The surface acoustic wave device includes a substrate, an insulating layer with an indentation on the substrate, a silicon layer with a first portion on the insulating layer and a second portion suspended above the indentation, a piezoelectric layer on the first and the second portions of the silicon layer, and at least an electrode on the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for producing a two-dimensional patterned beam, e.g. a two-dimensional patterned and focused ion beam, for fabricating a nano-structure on a substrate with the precursor gas. In comparison with the conventional focused ion beam that is applied for fabricating a dot-like nano-structure the method is more simplified and easy to be achieved.

Abstract: A novel surface acoustic wave device with a decreased velocity dispersion and a low insertion loss as well as the fabrication method therefor is provided. The surface acoustic wave device includes a substrate, an insulating layer with an indentation on the substrate, a silicon layer with a first portion on the insulating layer and a second portion suspended above the indentation, a piezoelectric layer on the first and the second portions of the silicon layer, and at least an electrode on the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a commanded engine and motor torque to minimize fuel consumption and manage battery state of charge in a hybrid electric vehicle. The method includes determining a penalty factor value that dictates the usage of the battery. A cost value is determined for every feasible engine torque for a selected or demanded vehicle torque and speed request. Each cost value is determined by a fuel consumption value, a change in the battery state of charge and the penalty factor value. The change in the battery state of charge is determined from the motor power and a nominal battery state of charge. For a specific penalty factor, a look-up table for optimal engine torque is generated for different requested vehicle torques at various vehicle speeds. A separate look-up table is provided for each penalty factor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to control combustion in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine operating in a controlled auto-ignition mode with minimum combustion phasing error using a least amount of fuel reforming. This comprises monitoring combustion in each cylinder, and determining a target combustion phasing. Fuel delivery to each cylinder is selectively controlled effective to achieve the target combustion phasing, and, effective to achieve the target combustion phasing further comprises controlling the fuel delivery effective to equilibrate combustion phasing of the cylinders.

Abstract: A novel surface acoustic wave device with a decreased velocity dispersion and a low insertion loss as well as the fabrication method therefor is provided. The surface acoustic wave device includes a substrate, an insulating layer with an indentation on the substrate, a silicon layer with a first portion on the insulating layer and a second portion suspended above the indentation, a piezoelectric layer on the first and the second portions of the silicon layer, and at least an electrode on the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light-enhancing component and a fabrication method thereof by using the focused-ion-beam. In the present invention, the surface plasmon polariton structure is coated on the surface of the optical fiber so as to form the light-enhancing component. When the light passes through the optical fiber, the luminous flux transmitted through the aperture on the surface plasmon polariton is enhanced, and the light beam smaller than the diffraction limitation can be transmitted to the far-field, i.e. the nano-optic sword is formed. The light-enhancing component of the present invention can be used for the optical data storage, the optical microscopy, the biomedical detections and the lithography to perform the extra optical resolutions beyond the diffraction limitation.

Abstract: A microsensor fabricated with a ferroelectric material and a fabrication method therefor are provided. The microsensor includes a support, an insulating layer on the support, a first electrode on the insulating layer, a ferroelectric layer having at least a metal on the insulating layer and the first electrode, and at least a second electrode on the ferroelectric layer.