Abstract: A system and method for controlling temperature within a vehicle cabin include monitoring various temperature sensors to determine current operating conditions, determining a desired temperature or temperature range based on occupant input, dynamically estimating a temperature gradient based on changes in the current operating conditions over a predetermined time, predicting when the desired temperature or temperature range will be attained based on the gradient and the current operating conditions, and controlling a heating/cooling system based on the predicted time. Controlling the heating/cooling system may include shutting off the system at a predicted time, or turning on the system at a predicted time. The process of prediction can be linear, non-linear, or empirical, i.e., based on a table.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for accurately forecasting the quantity of all parts necessary to assemble all vehicles of a vehicle product line for a predetermined time period. The method comprises inputting the available features and product rules for vehicle orders of the vehicle line into a computer data base, inputting sales forecasts for a first plurality of features of the vehicle line into the computer data base randomly generating a substantial sample of vehicle orders based on the features, product rules, and the feature sales forecasts, and determining the quantity of all parts necessary to assemble all vehicles of a vehicle product line for a predetermined time period based on the sample order.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle 10 having a propulsion system 12 which integrates a motor-generator 14 and a variable displacement internal combustion engine 16. Motor-generator 14 and engine 16 are each operatively coupled to drive train 17 of vehicle 10, and cooperatively power vehicle 10.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle 10 and a method for operating the hybrid electric vehicle 10 in which combustion is made to occur within the internal combustion engine 24 only after the crankshaft 25 of the engine 24 has been rotated by an electric motor or generator 30 to a certain speed and according to a certain ramped or partially ramped profile 114, 112, thereby reducing the amount of emissions from the engine 24, allowing for a more efficient torque transfer to wheels 42, and allowing for a more smoother operation of the vehicle 10. The fuel injectors 13, throttle plate 11, and spark plugs 15 are also controlled in order to allow emissions to be reduced during activation of the engine and to allow the catalytic converter 7 to be heated in order to allow these emissions to be further reduced as the engine 24 is operating.

Abstract: An electrical machine drive system (100) includes a DC power source (102), an inverter (104) and a three-phase electrical machine (106). In response to a fault condition, power switches (122, 124) in the inverter are opened. Any short circuits are then determined by examining the phase currents of the three-phase electrical machine. If short circuits are found in the inverter, then the inverter is made balanced by shorting all upper braches (122, 126) or all lower branches (124, 128), depending on the location of the short circuit. Torque ripples are avoided by balancing the circuit during the fault mode, thereby providing comfort to a user of an electric or hybrid electric vehicle employing the electrical machine drive system.

Abstract: A multi-phase induction motor torque control method comprising the steps of establishing an adaptive speed observer and an adaptive flux observer using a speed sensorless control scheme. Rotor speed is estimated based on filtered current and voltage command signals as inputs. A flux observer based on the estimated rotor speed and rotor flux angle is calculated using the estimated rotor flux. Torque is determined following estimation of speed and flux.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus 12 which uses or calculates a temperature gradient of a portion 16 of a vehicle 10 to determine a value equal to or representative of a time before a maximum allowable operating temperature is reached by the portion 16. If the value is less than a certain threshold, the apparatus 12 reduces the operating speed of the portion 16 and, in one embodiment, provides a warning signal to an operator of the vehicle 10.

Abstract: An arrangement 7 of a dual oil feed variable timed camshaft is provided. The arrangement includes a camshaft 10 which has a radial side 22 and an end face 26. The camshaft 10 has first and second passages 30, 42 fluidly connecting end face 26 with the radial side 22. A hub 60 is connected with camshaft end face 26. The hub 60 has a central opening 68 intersecting with the first and second passages 30, 42. The hub 60 has at least first and second axial spaced radial passages 80, 82 intersecting with the hub central opening 68. A timing pulley 90 has relative rotational movement with respect to the hub 60. The timing pulley 90 and the hub 60 define pressure chambers 104 which are divided by vanes 88 into retard angle spaces 108 intersecting with the hub first radial passages 80 and advance angle spaces 112 intersecting with the hub second radial passage 82.

Abstract: A system (40) for an automotive vehicle has a temperature sensor (90) generating a temperature signal indicative of the temperature outside the vehicle and a battery. A battery controller (54) is coupled to the temperature sensor (90) and the battery (64). The controller monitors a state of charge of the battery (64), monitors a temperature outside of the vehicle and compares the state of charge to a predetermined state of charge. The predetermined state of charge is a function of the temperature. The controller (54) generates an indicator when the state of charge reaches the predetermined state of charge.

Abstract: A method and system that responds to non-propulsive needs of a hybrid vehicle by setting at least two thresholds related to engine support: one threshold to keep a running engine ON and a another threshold to turn the engine ON from an OFF state.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for evaluating the chemical deterioration of automotive engine oil over time. A change in oil quantity is detected and measured by an oil quantity sensor. Based on the change in quantity of oil, the level of chemical deterioration of the oil is inferred.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injection arrangement for the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, containing a fuel injector mounted on the cylinder head of the cylinder. A damping material in the form of a shim is arranged between the contact faces, extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the fuel injector, of the fuel injector, on the one hand, and of the cylinder head, on the other hand, in order to suppress the transmission of vibrations and sound.

Abstract: A method of controlling an exhaust gas aftertreatment system in a compression ignition engine having a power-assisted turbocharger coupled to a power source. The turbocharger includes a compressor in communication with an intake manifold and a turbine in communication with an exhaust manifold. The method comprises the steps of determining an operating mode of the exhaust gas aftertreatment system selected from the group consisting of a light off mode, regeneration mode, and storage mode. The method then determines a charge value associated with the power source, and engages the power source to the power-assisted turbocharger as a function of the charge value and the operating mode of the exhaust gas aftertreatment system. In one aspect of the invention, negative power is applied to the power-assisted turbocharger to increase the exhaust gas temperature to achieve particulate filter light-off.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating slip gain for use in the control of torque in a multi-phase induction machine. The slip gain estimate is based on a transient response of the induction machine to torque command changes. The invention is independent of machine parameters other than the slip gain. The method uses a slip gain estimation algorithm that is suited for use either as a self-calibration procedure or a background procedure that continually updates the slip gain during normal operation of the induction machine. The estimation method of the invention is suited for automotive driveline applications, which typically have limited sensor capability and which may present tuning problems associated with high volume production and with slip gain estimates when temperature changes during normal operation.

Abstract: An automotive internal engine 8 is provided which includes an engine controller 70 cognizant of a desired deceleration condition for a vehicle and a combustion chamber 12 with a reciprocating piston 15 mounted therein. The piston has a top dead center and a bottom dead center position. A cam driven exhaust valve 14 is provided which can be selectively disabled to a closed position to deactivate the combustion chamber 12 in response to a signal given by the engine controller 70. A variable phase cam driven intake poppet valve 16 responsive to a signal given by the engine controller 70 is provided to selectively set the opening and closing operation of the intake poppet valve 16 to be generally symmetrical about one of the center positions during the first combustion chamber 12 deactivation during vehicle deceleration.

Abstract: A regenerative brake control method and system for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) with a disconnect clutch separating the engine from the motor. When the engine is disconnected from the HEV powertrain, more regenerative braking energy is possible because the negative powertrain torque of the engine's friction and pumping is eliminated. The control can determine when to disconnect and reconnect the engine to the powertrain using, for example, driver demand, vehicle speed, accelerator position, brake pedal position, engine state, motor state, and motor fault status. The control also minimizes powertrain disturbance to improve vehicle drivability by continuously adjusting the amount of regenerative braking to correspond to the changing torque of the engine on the powertrain during disconnect or reconnect.

Abstract: Methods of utilizing engine 15 crankshaft acceleration 17 to monitor cold start spark retard are presented. A first method utilizes a variance in a crankshaft acceleration based deviation signal 21 and looks for changes in the variance to confirm if cold spark retard has occurred by the ignition system. In a second method, a threshold level of a group of cylinder crankshaft acceleration deviation signals &Dgr;, can be detected and compared to a level of crankshaft deviant acceleration when normal spark is commanded to determine if commanded spark retard has been realized.

Abstract: A compression ignition internal combustion engine 7 is provided. The engine has at least one combustion chamber 10 having an air inlet 14 and an exhaust outlet 26. A dual fuel injector is provided having a mixing chamber 46 with an outlet fluidly connected with the combustion chamber 10 via a first valve 54. A liquid fuel line 64 is provided for delivering liquid fuel to the mixing chamber 46. The liquid fuel line 64 is connected to the mixing chamber 46 via a second valve 60. A combustible gas line 56 is provided for delivering compressed combustible gas to the mixing chamber 46. Upon an opening of the first valve 54, the liquid fuel is brought into the combustion chamber 10 by the compressed combustible gas.

Abstract: In an electric or hybrid electric vehicle, a voltage monitor (102) is directly coupled to a traction motor (38) and/or generator motor (30) to detect a permanent magnet induced voltage within the motor at a predetermined speed and no load condition (300). A controller (100) compares the detected permanent magnet induced voltage with an expected reference voltage that represents an expected permanent magnet induced voltage at full magnetization and the predetermined speed (302). The controller produces an indication of magnetization based on the reference voltage, the detected permanent magnet induced voltage, and the predetermined speed. If the indication of magnetism reaches a predetermined threshold, the motor is made inoperable and/or a current to the motor is limited to prevent damage to components (306, 308, 310, 312, 314). Preferably, a user of the vehicle is made aware of these actions by an audible and/or visual indicator (308, 314).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the capacity of a trap to store NOx based on the change in oxygen storage in the trap occurring as a result of sulfation of the trap.