Abstract: In an electrical drive system, an electric differential comprises a first rotor for driving a first drive wheel, a second rotor for driving a second drive wheel, the first and second rotors capable of independent relative rotation, and a common stator for driving the first and second rotors. The common stator may comprise a single winding for driving both rotors or first and second windings for driving the first and second rotors respectively. A processor and a sensor system monitor parameters such as torque, speed, magnetic flux, etc. to detect the loss of traction by one or both drive wheels and adjust the operation of the motor until traction is regained.

Abstract: A crossed-slot antenna is fabricated using rectangular sheet of metal. A crossed-slot is etched or stamped in the sheet of metal. A feed structure is similarly formed in the sheet of metal. Sidewalls are integrally formed with the sheet of metal and are bent to form a rectangular box. A circuit board is attached to the rectangular box. An air-filled cavity is defined by the sheet of metal, the sidewalls, and the circuit board. Alternatively, a crossed-slot antenna with a solid cavity is fabricated using a sheet of plastic. Ridges are formed in a cross pattern on the sheet of plastic. The sheet of plastic is plated with metal. The metal is removed from a surface of the sheet of plastic, exposing the ridges.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initiating regeneration in a particulate trap including the steps of locating structures in the particulate trap in areas that generate particulate build up, generating microwaves, absorbing microwaves with the particulate build up, and controlling the microwaves to initiate a burn off of particulates.

Abstract: A vehicle control system regulates oxides of nitrogen levels in vehicle emissions. Recirculation of exhaust gas in an engine is controlled with an exhaust gas regulator valve and/or a cam phaser. An oxides of nitrogen sensor determines the level of oxides of nitrogen levels in the exhaust gas and communicates the information to a vehicle controller. The controller determines if the oxides of nitrogen levels are within a predetermined threshold according to a lookup table. The controller adjusts the valve and/or cam phaser if the oxides of nitrogen levels are not within the threshold.

Abstract: An engine system includes an engine having an intake manifold and a supercharger that supplies compressed air to the intake manifold. An engine control module calculates a desired pre-supercharged pressure of air into the supercharger and calculates a desired manifold air flow into the engine. The engine control module determines a desired throttle area based on the desired pre-supercharged pressure and the desired manifold air flow and generates control signals to control the engine based on the desired throttle area.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining when vehicle powertrain torque is being used to substantially maintain a vehicle at a substantially zero speed on a graded surface, and to shift the supplied torque from the powertrain to another vehicle system or component. A vehicle controller determines that the powertrain system is supplying a hold torque, which has a magnitude sufficient to substantially maintain the vehicle at a substantially zero speed on the graded surface. A brake torque at a magnitude at least equivalent to the hold torque is automatically applied from the vehicle brake system to thereby maintain the vehicle at the substantially zero speed. Thus, the powertrain system can remove the torque it is supplying to hold the vehicle at the substantially zero speed.

Abstract: An engine control system including a variable displacement internal combustion engine, a plurality of cylinders located in the internal combustion engine, a plurality of fuel injectors for providing fuel to the plurality of cylinders, a plurality of valves coupled to the plurality of cylinders, the plurality of valves controlling the air flow in and out of the cylinders, an actuation apparatus for actuating the plurality of valves, an intake manifold coupled to the internal combustion engine, a throttle coupled to the intake manifold, a controller electronically coupled to the fuel injectors, an accelerator pedal position sensor electronically coupled to the controller, and where the controller determines the number of the cylinders to provide with fuel and air and a desired engine output torque based on the accelerator pedal position sensor and a hysteresis value.

Abstract: An improved ABS control method incorporates entry criteria for initiating ABS control based on brake pedal position and rate of depression, adaptively adjusted by a reference pedal position corresponding to a predefined vehicle deceleration. A periodically-updated characterization of the relationship between brake pedal position and vehicle deceleration is used to establish the reference brake pedal position, and when insipient wheel lock is detected, the initiation of ABS control is delayed by an entry delay period that decreases with increasing rate of pedal depression and with the degree to which the pedal position exceeds the reference pedal position. In this way, the entry conditions are predicated primarily on the manner of brake pedal depression, with adaptive adjustment for variations in braking effectiveness.

Abstract: A control system for an electric motor including an inverter for providing power to the electric motor, a controller for controlling the inverter, a first motor speed control block in the controller injecting a high frequency signal into the electric motor to determine the speed and position of the electric motor, a second motor speed control block in the controller detecting the back electromotive force to determine the speed and position of the electric motor, and a transition control block in said controller to vary operation between the first motor speed control block and the second motor speed control block.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling a shutdown of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus comprises an intake manifold configured to conduct an intake charge of air to an intake port of the internal combustion engine and a throttle configured to alter the intake charge of air to the intake port of the internal combustion engine. The apparatus further comprises a controller configured to control the throttle such that a substantial termination of the intake charge of air is provided during the shutdown of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: Preignition in an engine is prevented by identifying engine conditions that relate to autoignition. If one or more of the engine conditions exceed a threshold, a controller retards the spark in the engine. The controller detects whether autoignition occurs in the engine due to the retarded spark advance. If autoignition is detected, the controller corrects the one or more engine conditions by at least one of reducing a throttle opening, cutting of fuel to a cylinder, adjusting a camshaft phase, and storing a diagnostic code.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for diagnosing emissions in a multi-banked catalyst emissions system for a motor vehicle. A method of diagnosing emissions in a multi-banked emissions system suitably includes obtaining an emissions measurement for each bank in the multi-banked emissions system, converting the emissions measurements to scaled values, adding the scaled values to obtain a total emission value, and triggering an indication if the total emission value exceeds a pre-determined maximum. A system for processing emissions from an engine in a motor vehicle typically includes multiple exhaust banks and a processor. Each of the exhaust banks includes a catalytic converter and at least one oxygen sensor. The processor receives measurements from the oxygen sensors, converts the measurements to scaled values as a percentage of a threshold value, computes a total emission value from the scaled values, and triggers an indication if the total emission value exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: A fuel system with a pressure-sensitive monitor accumulates multiple pressure-related sample points and estimates the general trend of pressure change in a fuel system over time, thereby detecting the presence or absence of a fuel vapor leak in the fuel system.

Abstract: A battery pack for a battery-powered vehicle is provided in accordance with the present invention. The battery pack for the battery-powered vehicle comprises battery modules coupled in series. The battery modules are configured to provide power to the battery-powered vehicle and each of the battery modules has a state-of-charge. The battery pack also comprises battery control modules (BCMs) that are coupled to the battery modules. Each of the battery modules is coupled to one of the BCMs and each of BCMs is configured to monitor a battery module parameter. Furthermore, the battery pack comprises a battery control interface module (BCIM) coupled to each of the BCMs. The BCIM is configured to receive the battery module parameter from each of the BCMs and independently adjust the state-of-charge of each of the battery modules based on the battery module parameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of characterizing for tire pressure imbalances in a set of tires of vehicle, the vehicle having four wheels, and each wheel having a sensor generating a pulse for a predetermined amount of distance traveled by the wheel including entering a first characterization mode, accumulating a number of pulses from each sensor and adding the number of pulses from each sensor to generate a first record total pulse count in the characterization mode, generating a second record total pulse count in the characterization mode, determining if the first record is similar to the second record, and discarding at least one of the first and second records if the first and second records do not meet a criteria.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for accurately predicting a fuel injector tip temperature (FITT) are described. One technique for predicting the temperature of a fuel injector tip in an engine suitably includes the steps of estimating an initial temperature of the fuel injector tip and calculating a steady state temperature of the fuel injector tip. A filter coefficient is determined as a function of a rate of airflow into the engine, and the temperature of the fuel injector tip is predicted as a function of said initial temperature, the steady state temperature, and the filter coefficient. In a further embodiment, the steady state temperature is filtered into a feedback temperature at a rate that is determined by the filter coefficient.

Abstract: A transmission line pressure controller compensates for pump speed effect on transmission line pressure. A sensor determines a pressure of a pressure control actuator. The controller determines a selected transmission range, including drive or reverse. The controller determines an effective engine speed. The controller adjusts the pressure control actuator according to the selected transmission range and the effective engine speed.

Abstract: An engine exhaust system includes a catalytic converter. An inlet sensor senses a first oxygen level of exhaust gases entering the catalytic converter. An outlet sensor senses a second oxygen level of exhaust gases exiting the catalytic converter. A controller communicates with a fuel system of an engine, the inlet sensor, and the outlet sensor. The controller initiates a rich condition after a fuel cut-off period and calculates a mass of oxygen released by the catalytic converter based on a mass air flow into the engine. The controller calculates a target oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of the catalytic converter over a target time period.

Abstract: An engine control system in a vehicle including a variable displacement internal combustion engine, a controller for controlling the displacement of the variable displacement internal combustion engine, where the controller adaptively determines a torque threshold used to switch the variable displacement internal combustion engine between a partially displaced operating mode and a fully displaced operating mode.

Abstract: An induction machine includes a rotor having rotor flux and a rotor resistance. The induction machine outputs first and second reference current values. A control system includes a first controller that outputs first and second reference voltage values to the induction machine and that generates an estimated rotor flux magnitude value based on a rotor resistance parameter. A computation circuit receives the first and second reference current values from the induction machine and the first and second voltage reference values from the first controller and calculates an actual rotor flux magnitude. A rotor resistance adjustor that updates the rotor resistance parameter based on the actual and estimated rotor flux magnitudes.