Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a “lean-burn” internal combustion engine in cooperation with an emissions control device capable of alternatively storing and releasing an exhaust gas constituent when exposed to exhaust gases that are lean and rich of stoichiometry, respectively, determines an ability of the device to store the exhaust gas constituent by initiating a lean engine operating condition immediately following a first purge event; discontinuing the first lean engine operating condition in favor of a second purge event when the instantaneous efficiency of the device falls below a reference value; and determining the amount of excess fuel necessary to release the thus-stored amount of exhaust gas constituent.

Abstract: An engine cylinder firing event is intentionally defeated by clipping the flyback voltage of the ignition system primary coil winding under the control of a misfire generator that develops a misfire logic signal from ignition dwell events and user inputs and also develops a signal indicative of which cylinder firing event was defeated.

Abstract: A electronic engine control (EEC) module executes a generic neural network processing program to perform one or more neural network control funtions. Each neural network funtion is defined by a unitary data structure which defines the network architecture, including the number of node layers, the number of nodes per layer, and the interconnections between nodes. In addition, the data structure holds weight values which determine the manner in which network signals are combined. The network definition data structures are created by a network training system which utilizes an external training processor which employs gradient methods to derive network weight values in accordance with a cost function which quantitatively defines system objectives and an identification network which is pretrained to provide gradient signals representative the behavior of the physical plant. The training processor executes training cycles asynchronously with the operation of the EEC module in a representative test vehicle.

Abstract: A fuel control system operates under closed-loop control to sense the oxygen content of the combustion products of an internal combustion engine along with the engine angular velocity and air flow through the intake manifold and to alter the composition of air and fuel combusted by the engine, such that under stable closed-loop control, the air/fuel composition generally oscillates about stoichiometry between a minimum and a maximum value. The rate of fluctuation of the oxygen content of the combustion products is monitored and if the oxygen content does not switch when expected, then a transient change in the exhaust content of the exhaust gas is assumed and a transient response is generated. The transient response comprises the generation of an air/fuel ratio substantially equal in magnitude and time but opposite in direction from the detected transient. After the transient response, periodic fluctuation of the air/fuel ratio between the minimum and maximum values is resumed.

Abstract: A vehicle traction controller controls vehicle traction and directional stability by determining the rotational velocity of the vehicle. The rotational velocity of the vehicle is measured and compared to a predefined range. If the rotational velocity is outside of the predefined range, then a wheel torque value, which is indicative of a braking force to be applied independently of driver initated braking, is generated for each wheel which is on a side of the vehicle as determined by the rotational velocity. The wheel torque value is compared to a range of values, which is based on road surface friction, and altered if the wheel torque value is outside of the range of values. Wheel spin and skid control is employed to reduce wheel spin and skid.

Abstract: An electronic engine controller (EEC) controls the delivery of fuel to an internal combustion engine via one or more fuel injectors by generating a base fuel value and modifying it with a transient fuel compensation value. The EEC determines the transient fuel compensation value by measuring a temperature value indicative of the temperature of the induction system of the engine and determining a valve effect value indicative of the effect of intake valve temperature on the vaporization of fuel in the induction system. A transient fuel compensation value is then generated in response to the temperature value and the valve effect value. The base fuel value, generated under any of a variety of known engine control methods, including open-loop control and closed-loop control, is altered in response to the transient fuel compensation value to generate a fuel injector control signal for controlling the amount of fuel delivered by the fuel injectors.