Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle is described. The method determines a desired vehicle condition based on three driver actuated elements. In a preferred embodiment the first element can be pedal position, the second element can be a brake actuator or, more specifically, brake actuation duration, and the third element can be a gear selection lever. Further, the desired vehicle condition can be desired powertrain output, vehicle acceleration, or various other parameters.

Abstract: A method for operating a direct injection spark ignition engine in stratified mode and dual mode is presented. The method includes determining a fuel fraction in a fuel vapor canister; determining whether the fuel vapor canister should be purged; performing purge flow from the fuel vapor canister to a cylinder of the engine; and supplying purge flow and injected fuel to a cylinder of the engine during an intake stroke and supplying injected flow during a compression stroke so that the engine operates in the combined homogeneous and stratified charge mode. The method also includes controlling the purge flow and the injected fuel supplied to balance an amount of fuel supplied during the intake stroke and the compression stroke. The step of controlling calculates the amount of fuel to be injected and includes adjusting the amount of fuel supplied based on an amount of purge supplied to the cylinder.

Abstract: A nitrous oxide trap temperature control system for desulfating the trap uses and engine with some cylinders operating with lean combustion and some cylinders operating with rich combustion. The lean and rich combustion gases are combined to form an mixture which is fed to the trap to provide an exothermic reaction. The desired lean and rich air/fuel ratios of the respective lean and rich cylinders are determined based in part on the difference between the trap temperature and a desired trap temperature. The desired lean and rich air/fuel ratios of the respective lean and rich cylinders are also determined from the desired mixture air/fuel ratio entering the trap.