Abstract: A method for computing indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) in an internal combustion engine using sparse input data. The method uses an indirect integration approach, and requires significantly lower resolution crankshaft position and cylinder pressure input data than existing IMEP computation methods, while providing calculated IMEP output results which are very accurate in comparison to values computed by existing methods. By using sparse input data, the indirect integration method offers cost reduction opportunities for a manufacturer of vehicles, engines, and/or electronic control units, through the use of lower cost sensors and the consumption of less computing resources for data processing and storage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing automatic pressure balancing of an internal combustion engine. The engine includes cylinders, fuel injector valves provided to selectively deliver fuel directly into the cylinders, fuel-balancing valves each fluidly connected to the fuel injector valves for controlling the fuel delivered to the fuel injector valves and cylinder pressure sensors each mounted to one of the cylinders. The method comprises an automatic pressure balancing procedure including the steps of monitoring a cylinder pressure in each of the cylinders, determining a peak combustion pressure produced in each of the cylinders, calculating a mean peak pressure produced in all of the cylinders, calculating a pressure difference between the mean and the peak pressure and incrementally adjusting the fuel delivered by one of the fuel-balancing valves to the corresponding fuel injector valve mounted to the cylinder having the pressure difference larger than a predetermined pressure value.

Abstract: A method and a control system that includes a window module that determines a piston position window, a mean effective pressure determination module that generates a mean effective pressure with in-cylinder pressure signals within the piston position window and an engine control module that controls the engine using the mean effective pressure.

Abstract: A method for determining a value representative of the pressure in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, includes the following steps: i. measuring the vibration level (2) of the internal combustion engine with an accelerometer placed on the engine block of the internal combustion engine, ii. integrating a value from the signal (2) provided by the accelerometer in a window (t1, t2) delimited as a function of the position of the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, iii. supplying the result of the integration (A1) as a value representative of the pressure, characterized in that the signal (2) provided by the accelerometer in step “i” is integrated while being raised to a power greater than 1 by a predetermined exponent.

Abstract: A method for estimating exhaust temperature on an output of an internal combustion engine cylinder, the cylinder including a crankshaft transforming into a rotation a translational movement of a piston mounted sliding in the cylinder, the piston closing a combustion chamber of the cylinder. The exhaust temperature is estimated based on the temperature inside the cylinder at a time of opening of the valve, the temperature inside the cylinder being itself estimated from an angle of rotation of the crankshaft, cylinder pressure, volume of air injected into the cylinder, and flow rate of recycled gases. A method diagnoses a cylinder pressure sensor based on an estimate of the exhaust temperature.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine control apparatus includes an in-cylinder pressure sensor for detecting in-cylinder pressure. A combustion start time and combustion end time, which are parameters serving as control indexes for an internal combustion engine, are determined in accordance with ignition timing. Information about a heat release amount is acquired in accordance with the in-cylinder pressures that are measured at two points by the in-cylinder pressure sensor. The in-cylinder pressure is estimated in accordance with a relationship among the heat release amount information, control index parameters, and in-cylinder pressure.

Abstract: An engine controller comprises a combustion state detection or estimation means for detecting or estimating a combustion state in the combustion chamber, a combustion air-fuel ratio estimation means for estimating a combustion air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber according to an exhaust air-fuel ratio and the detected or estimated combustion state, and a means for calculating engine control parameters according to the estimated combustion air-fuel ratio.

Abstract: A method for inferring Indicated Mean Effective Pressure as total transient indicated engine torque in an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of acquiring at least one crankshaft time stamp for use in determining a cylinder-specific engine velocity; calculating an incremental change in engine kinetic energy from the previously fired cylinder (j?1st) to the currently fired (jth) cylinder using the cylinder-specific engine velocity; equating the incremental change in engine kinetic energy to a change in energy-averaged cylinder torque (IMEP) from the previously-fired (j?1st) to a currently-fired (jth) cylinder; summing a plurality of the incremental changes in engine kinetic energy over time to determine a value of the transient component of indicated torque; determining a value of the quasi-steady indicated engine torque; and adding the value of transient component of indicated torque to the value of quasi-steady indicated engine torque to yield the Indicated Mean Effective Pressure.

Abstract: A controller for an internal combustion engine is disclosed that includes an intake control valve adjusting a flow of intake air in the internal combustion engine and controls a position of the intake control valve in accordance with an engine operating condition. The controller includes an in-cylinder pressure detector for detecting an in-cylinder pressure in the internal combustion engine. The controller also includes a gravity position calculator for calculating a gravity position of a total heat generation amount during a combustion period based upon the detected in-cylinder pressure. Additionally, the controller includes an opening correcting unit for correcting a position of the intake control valve based upon the calculated gravity position of the total heat generation amount. A process for controlling the intake control valve is also disclosed.