Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle employing a powertrain system and a braking system coupled to vehicle wheels includes interrupting vehicle creep operation upon detect absence of a qualified operator in a driver's seat when the vehicle is in a propulsion state.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle employing a powertrain system and a braking system coupled to vehicle wheels includes interrupting vehicle creep operation upon detect absence of a qualified operator in a driver's seat when the vehicle is in a propulsion state.

Abstract: A method for operating a spark-ignition internal combustion engine includes controlling spark ignition timing responsive to a combustion charge flame speed corresponding to an engine operating point and a commanded air/fuel ratio associated with an operator torque request.

Abstract: A hybrid powertrain system includes reciprocating free-piston internal combustion engines, each including a linear alternator device configured to generate electric power. A control module determines mechanical and electrical power demands responsive to an operator torque request and a state of charge of an energy storage device. The control module operates the torque machine to generate an output torque responsive to the mechanical power demands and operates the reciprocating free-piston internal combustion engines to generate electric power responsive to the electrical power demands.

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 method for operating a spark-ignition internal combustion engine includes controlling spark ignition timing responsive to a combustion charge flame speed corresponding to an engine operating point and a commanded air/fuel ratio associated with an operator torque request.

Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of fuel reforming in an internal combustion engine configured to selectively operate in a homogeneous charge compression-ignition combustion mode with an exhaust recompression strategy includes monitoring in-cylinder pressures during a current combustion cycle, utilizing the monitored in-cylinder pressures to project reforming required in a next combustion cycle, and controlling the next combustion cycle based on the projected reforming required in the next combustion cycle.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling operation of an HCCI internal combustion engine effective for robust engine warm-up operation. The method includes selectively implementing ones of a plurality of operating modes in response to predetermined catalyst and engine temperature conditions.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicular powertrain including an internal combustion engine includes monitoring map preview information, determining a projected vehicle path based upon the map preview information, determining likely engine operation demands along the projected vehicle path, wherein the likely engine operation demands include likely required engine speeds and likely required engine loads, determining selectable engine operating modes at each likely engine operating demand, and executing engine operation based upon the selectable engine operating modes.

Abstract: A method for transitioning operation of a spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine having a two-step, variable phase valvetrain between HCCI and SI modes includes providing a low-lift intake valve, un-throttled stoichiometric SI operation intermediate a low-lift exhaust and intake valve HCCI mode and a high-lift exhaust and intake valve, un-throttled SI mode.

Abstract: A hybrid powertrain system includes reciprocating free-piston internal combustion engines, each including a linear alternator device configured to generate electric power. A control module determines mechanical and electrical power demands responsive to an operator torque request and a state of charge of an energy storage device. The control module operates the torque machine to generate an output torque responsive to the mechanical power demands and operates the reciprocating free-piston internal combustion engines to generate electric power responsive to the electrical power demands.

Abstract: A method for extending the low-load operation of a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine includes employing a valve actuation device creating a negative valve overlap, thereby trapping and recompressing combusted gases within a combustion chamber, the device effecting increasingly longer negative valve overlap as engine load decreases, injecting during the negative valve overlap a fraction of fuel into the recompressed combusted gases, and igniting the fuel with a heat source during the negative valve overlap.

Abstract: A method to control combustion in an HCCI engine, to mitigate effects of combustion chamber deposits is detailed. The method comprises applying a specific surface coating to a combustion chamber surface. The surface coating has thermal properties substantially similar to the combustion chamber deposits. The thermal properties preferably include a) thermal conductivity, b) heat capacity, and c) thermal diffusivity. Applying a surface coating results in a reduction of combustion variability due to variation in combustion chamber deposits, and an improvement on combustion stability at low loads due to reduced heat loss. A preferred thermally insulating surface coating includes thermal parameters of a heat capacity in a range of 0.03×106 J/m3-K to 2.0×106 J/m3-K; a thermal conductivity in a range of 0.25 W/m-K to 2.5 W/m-K; and, a thermal diffusivity in a range of 1×10?7 m2/s to 8×10?6 m2/s.

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 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 direct injection spark ignition multi-cylinder internal combustion engine operative in a controlled auto-ignition combustion mode includes a direct fuel injection system, a spark ignition system and a controllable engine valve system. The air/fuel ratio in the exhaust gas feedstream and an intake mass air flow are measured and an actual air/fuel ratio is calculated based upon the intake mass air flow and engine fueling. Magnitude of a negative valve overlap period between an exhaust valve closing and an intake valve opening is adjusted based upon the measured mass air flow. Timing of pre-injection fueling is adjusted during the negative valve overlap period based upon the measured air/fuel ratio.

Abstract: A homogeneous charge compression ignition engine is fueled within a warm-up region of engine temperatures using a minimally defined fuel mass schedule and injection timings and simple interpolative techniques.

Abstract: Cold start and warm-up operations of an HCCI engine are improved through coordinated control of engine valves, fuel injection and spark timing.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicular powertrain including an internal combustion engine includes monitoring map preview information, determining a projected vehicle path based upon the map preview information, determining likely engine operation demands along the projected vehicle path, wherein the likely engine operation demands include likely required engine speeds and likely required engine loads, determining selectable engine operating modes at each likely engine operating demand, and executing engine operation based upon the selectable engine operating modes.

Abstract: A powertrain and a control method therefore are provided wherein ignition of a combustible charge in a combustion chamber of a controlled auto-ignition internal combustion engine equipped with in-cylinder fuel-injection and a spark ignition device is controlled. A spark-discharge plasma channel is generated between the electrodes of the spark ignition device, and the combustible charge is ignited. The spark-discharge plasma channel is moved toward and entrained by the combustible charge, effective to advance phasing of controlled auto-ignition combustion.