Abstract: A vacuum device comprising at least one component having a portion which, during operation of the vacuum device, is in contact with a vacuum and which is coated at least in part by a layer which absorbs gas particles, in particular with a layer of a no-evaporable getter (NEG) material.

Abstract: In a method for determining a control parameter for a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine, the problem of enabling more precise determination of the control parameter, even if the fuel pressure (FUP) present on the fuel injector varies, is solved in that the fuel pressure (FUP) present on the fuel injector during the injection (I1, I2, I1?, I1?) is concluded while allowing for the time of the fuel pressure value detection and/or the crankshaft angle position of the internal combustion engine during the detection of the fuel pressure value, and that the control parameter is determined based on the fuel pressure (FUP) that was concluded.

Abstract: In order to control an internal combustion engine according to the invention, a polytropic exponent is determined in accordance with at least two measured values of the pressure in the combustion chamber of the cylinder, said measured values being detected after closing the gas discharge valve and before successively opening the gas intake valve. An exhaust gas mass which is located in the cylinder after closing the gas discharge valve and before successively opening the gas intake valve is determined according to the polytropic exponent at an estimated value of the pressure after closing the gas discharge valve and before successively opening the gas intake valve as well as at a certain temperature of the exhaust gas located in the cylinder after closing the gas discharge valve and before successively opening the gas intake valve. An actuation signal for controlling an actuating member of the internal combustion engine is generated in accordance with the determined exhaust gas mass.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a device for controlling an internal combustion engine. An aspect of the invention is determining a polytropic exponent according to at least two measured values of the pressure in a combustion chamber of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine during the working stroke of the cylinder once an air/fuel mixture of a cylinder has been burned and before the gas discharge valve is opened. A first exhaust gas temperature is determined and a second temperature of the exhaust gas is determined in accordance with the first exhaust gas temperature. The pressure associated in the combustion chamber, the pressure prevailing in the combustion chamber after closing the gas discharge valve, and the polytropic exponent are determined. An actuation signal for controlling an actuating member of the internal combustion engine is generated according to the second temperature of the exhaust gas.

Abstract: In a method for determining a control parameter for a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine, the problem of enabling more precise determination of the control parameter, even if the fuel pressure (FUP) present on the fuel injector varies, is solved in that the fuel pressure (FUP) present on the fuel injector during the injection (I1, I2, I1?, I1?) is concluded while allowing for the time of the fuel pressure value detection and/or the crankshaft angle position of the internal combustion engine during the detection of the fuel pressure value, and that the control parameter is determined based on the fuel pressure (FUP) that was concluded.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for regulating the mixture in an internal combustion engine by means of a catalytic converter and a lambda probe that is placed downstream of the catalytic converter. Depending on the historical signal values, said method determines whether intervention in the formation of the mixture is required, whether the existing signal is only decreasing slowly, which necessitates slow regulatory intervention, or whether the signal of the probe placed downstream of the catalytic converter decreases rapidly, which necessitates rapid regulatory intervention. The difference types of intervention enable the volume of the catalytic converter to be reduced, thus preventing high consumption in the warm-up phase or the poor start-up behavior of large catalytic converters.

Abstract: A first energy control unit has a pilot controller with an applied setpoint energy and outputs a pilot control signal, and a regulator outputting a regulator signal as a function of the setpoint energy and an actual energy of the piezo actuator. The energy control unit creates a control signal representative for a current threshold of a charge current, depending on the pilot control and regulator signals. Furthermore, there is a second energy control unit for another setpoint energy and another control signal. A power output stage sets a charge current for the piezo actuator as a function of the predetermined control signal and performs this for the predetermined time. A scheduling unit predetermines, for setting the setpoint energy, the control signal and the time to the power output stage, and for setting the another setpoint energy, the another control signal and the time to the another power output stage.

Abstract: In order to control an internal combustion engine according to the invention, a polytropic exponent is determined in accordance with at least two measured values of the pressure in the combustion chamber of the cylinder, said measured values being detected after closing the gas discharge valve and before successively opening the gas intake valve. An exhaust gas mass which is located in the cylinder after closing the gas discharge valve and before successively opening the gas intake valve is determined according to the polytropic exponent at an estimated value of the pressure after closing the gas discharge valve and before successively opening the gas intake valve as well as at a certain temperature of the exhaust gas located in the cylinder after closing the gas discharge valve and before successively opening the gas intake valve. An actuation signal for controlling an actuating member of the internal combustion engine is generated in accordance with the determined exhaust gas mass.

Abstract: According to the invention, prior to or during an intermediate compression around the upper dead center of a piston of an internal combustion engine during a change in charge a predetermined first fuel mixture is metered into the combustion chamber of the respective cylinder. During the intermediate compression, measured values of pressure in the combustion chamber are measured in a predetermined first crankshaft angle window using cylinder pressure sensor. A measurement for a conversion rate of the first fuel mixture is determined based on the detected measured values of the pressure and reference values of the pressure, which characterize the corresponding pressure curve in the combustion chamber when no fuel is metered. A control signal for at least one actuator of the internal combustion engine is determined based on the conversion rate.

Abstract: A first energy control unit has a pilot controller with an applied setpoint energy and outputs a pilot control signal, and a regulator outputting a regulator signal as a function of the setpoint energy and an actual energy of the piezo actuator. The energy control unit creates a control signal representative for a current threshold of a charge current, depending on the pilot control and regulator signals. Furthermore, there is a second energy control unit for another setpoint energy and another control signal. A power output stage sets a charge current for the piezo actuator as a function of the predetermined control signal and performs this for the predetermined time. A scheduling unit predetermines, for setting the setpoint energy, the control signal and the time to the power output stage, and for setting the another setpoint energy, the another control signal and the time to the another power output stage.

Abstract: The isentropic exponent (?) and the constant (k) in the equation p·V?=k for processes before and after fuel combustion in the cylinder are determined on the basis of the signals from a cylinder pressure sensor and from a crankshaft sensor. Cylinder pressures (p) before and after fuel combustion can be determined through the equation with the corresponding isentropic exponents (?) and corresponding constants. During fuel combustion, cylinder pressure (p) is sensed by the cylinder pressure sensor. The ratio between the fuel mass burned in the cylinder of the internal combustion engine and the fuel mass (MBR) supplied to the cylinder is determined on the basis of the above-mentioned variables. The process has the advantage of reducing the computation outlay necessary to determine the ratio between the fuel mass burned in the cylinder of the internal combustion engine and the fuel mass (MBR) supplied to the cylinder.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a device for controlling an internal combustion engine. An aspect of the invention is determining a polytropic exponent according to at least two measured values of the pressure in a combustion chamber of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine during the working stroke of the cylinder once an air/fuel mixture of a cylinder has been burned and before the gas discharge valve is opened. A first exhaust gas temperature is determined and a second temperature of the exhaust gas is determined in accordance with the first exhaust gas temperature. The pressure associated in the combustion chamber, the pressure prevailing in the combustion chamber after closing the gas discharge valve, and the polytropic exponent are determined. An actuation signal for controlling an actuating member of the internal combustion engine is generated according to the second temperature of the exhaust gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for use in a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion engine that is preferably equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation device. This system and method enable an improved adjustment of the temperature level inside the combustion chamber. In addition to adjusting the temperature by using the exhaust gas recirculation device, an influencing of the temperature, which is independent thereof, ensues based on the compression of the induced fresh air by the exhaust gas turbocharger. An increase in temperature is maintained even after the compressed air is expanded on a throttle valve, and this increase in temperature can, in the end, be used for influencing the energy content inside the combustion chamber.

Abstract: According to the invention, prior to or during an intermediate compression around the upper dead center of a piston of an internal combustion engine during a change in charge a predetermined first fuel mixture is metered into the combustion chamber of the respective cylinder. During the intermediate compression, measured values of pressure in the combustion chamber are measured in a predetermined first crankshaft angle window using cylinder pressure sensor. A measurement for a conversion rate of the first fuel mixture is determined based on the detected measured values of the pressure and reference values of the pressure, which characterize the corresponding pressure curve in the combustion chamber when no fuel is metered. A control signal for at least one actuator of the internal combustion engine is determined based on the conversion rate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for electrohydraulic valve lift switching with a hydraulically activatable actuating element for bringing about valve lift switching, which is connected to an oil line, whereby the action of pressurized oil on the actuating element can be controlled by an on/off valve arranged in the oil line and connected to a control device. The invention has an oil pressure metering device arranged in the oil line, which is connected to the control device, and a device for detecting the time period between activation of the on/off valve by the control device and a characteristic change in the measured oil pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for use in a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion engine that is preferably equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation device. This system and method enable an improved adjustment of the temperature level inside the combustion chamber. In addition to adjusting the temperature by using the exhaust gas recirculation device, an influencing of the temperature, which is independent thereof, ensues based on the compression of the induced fresh air by the exhaust gas turbocharger. An increase in temperature is maintained even after the compressed air is expanded on a throttle valve, and this increase in temperature can, in the end, be used for influencing the energy content inside the combustion chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for regulating the mixture in an internal combustion engine by means of a catalytic converter and a lambda probe that is placed downstream of the catalytic converter. Depending on the historical signal values, said method determines whether intervention in the formation of the mixture is required, whether the existing signal is only decreasing slowly, which necessitates slow regulatory intervention, or whether the signal of the probe placed downstream of the catalytic converter decreases rapidly, which necessitates rapid regulatory intervention. The difference types of intervention enable the volume of the catalytic converter to be reduced, thus preventing high consumption in the warm-up phase or the poor start-up behavior of large catalytic converters.

Abstract: For an effectively working regulation of the combustion process in the HCCI mode, a modeled combustion process, to be described by internal variables of state, is formed by using process-influencing variables. Output variables of the actual and modeled combustion process are then used to regulate the process-influencing variables.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for electrohydraulic valve lift switching with a hydraulically activatable actuating element for bringing about valve lift switching, which is connected to an oil line, whereby the action of pressurized oil on the actuating element can be controlled by an on/off valve arranged in the oil line and connected to a control device. The invention has an oil pressure metering device arranged in the oil line, which is connected to the control device, and a device for detecting the time period between activation of the on/off valve by the control device and a characteristic change in the measured oil pressure.

Abstract: For an effectively working regulation of the combustion process in the HCCI mode, a modeled combustion process, to be described by internal variables of state, is formed by using process-influencing variables. Output variables of the actual and modeled combustion process are then used to regulate the process-influencing variables.