Abstract: A method for diagnosing operational performance of a secondary air system used in an internal combustion engine. The engine produces exhaust gases. The exhaust gases pass through a catalytic converter. The engine includes an exhaust gas oxygen sensor. The secondary air system introduces air into the exhaust gas after engine start-up. The oxygen sensor produces a feedback control signal during a feedback mode for adjusting engine operating air-fuel ratio, such feedback mode being initiated at a first time. The method determines from the signal produced by the exhaust gas oxygen sensor a second time relative to the first time when the oxygen sensor signal indicates that a predetermined exhaust gas air fuel ratio is produced. The operational performance of the secondary air system is diagnosed as a function of the determined second time.

Abstract: A lightweight windshield wiper installation system is provided wherein the system includes a re-usable mounting device in combination with a lightweight windshield wiper assembly which does not require a connecting member. The mounting device includes a mounting arm having a first end and a second end, a first retaining means, a second retaining means. The lightweight windshield wiper installation system may further include an arm linkage, and a release handle. The mounting arm is operative to position a lightweight windshield wiper system onto a vehicle which is removably attached to the mounting arm via the first retaining means and the second retaining means. The release handle cooperates with the first retaining means and the second retaining means via an arm linkage to hold and release the lightweight windshield wiper system.

Abstract: A restraint and fuel pump cutoff control system is disclosed wherein a restraint control module controls the restraint system such as an air bag deployment system and a fuel system power supply based upon data inputs from sensors positioned at various locations on the vehicle. When data received from the sensors indicates that a collision event has occurred and has reached the predetermined level of severity, power to the fuel system is cut off to prevent undesired pumping of fuel. If power is interrupted during a collision event, the fuel system will be cut off and remain cut off until reset by turning the ignition switch to off and then to run/start indicating a clean shutdown. The restraint control module utilizes collision data profiles to distinguish between power shutdowns occurring during a collision event and power shutdowns occurring when only background data is being received from the sensors.

Abstract: A method of controlling engine idle speed in a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and multi-ratio transmission when launched from a neutral idle rest condition. At neutral idle, the transmission is controlled such that the input and output members are decoupled. During vehicle launch from neutral idle operation, two different strategies may be employed to control engine idle speed. One preferred method is to determine a feedforward or predicted torque converter load as a function of time. Another preferred method is to determine the feedforward or predicted torque converter load by comparing a maximum engine brake torque and the torque capacity of the forward clutch at any given time. Irrespective of the particular method used, other engine torque loads are added to the feedforward or predicted torque converter load to determine the engine output torque required to control engine idle speed and provide a smooth between transmission operating modes throughout the launch period.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.

Abstract: A vehicle monitoring system including a camera mounted on top of the vehicle reflector in operative relation to the camera. The camera and the conical reflector provide a 360° field of view image around the vehicle. A controller is also included is adapted to detect objects within the field of view image, and determine a reference angle between the vehicle and a detected object. The controller also generates a distance value between the vehicle and the detected object as a function of a lane (w) and a reference angle (q). In one embodiment, the system includes an overhead-view display system including a reference vehicle indicator representative vehicle within the environment and an indicator element adapted to display the detected object with respect to the vehicle indicator as a function of the distance value.

Abstract: A method is provided for coating a radiator support assembly for a motor vehicle including the steps of providing magnesium components for the radiator support assembly and coating the magnesium components. The method also includes the steps of assembling the magnesium components into the radiator support assembly and painting the radiator support assembly.

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: An internal combustion engine, comprising an engine block (1), a crankshaft rotatably journalled in the engine block and a transmission (2) mounted at one side of the engine block is disclosed. The transmission has an input shaft driven by the crankshaft and two concentrically journalled output shafts (11,14). One output shaft (11) is drivingly connected to an integrated starter/generator (3) while the other one (14) is connected to a chain sprocket (25) for a camshaft chain.

Abstract: A control method adjusts fuel injection into an engine having a variable compression ratio. The method determines the cylinder air amount based on various sensors and the current compression ratio. The disclosed fuel injection method can perform both open loop and closed loop control. A method is also disclosed for putting the compression ratio to a base value during engine shutdown so that subsequent engine starts occur with a consistent compression ratio.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine, having an engine block (1), a crankshaft rotatably journalled in the engine block and a transmission (2) mounted at one side of the engine block is disclosed. The transmission has an input shaft driven by the crankshaft and two concentrically journalled output shafts (11, 14). One output shaft (11) is drivingly connected to an integrated starter/generator (3) which is mounted relative to the engine block so that an upper portion thereof extends above an upper end plane (1a) of the engine block.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new method and system for optimizing the efficiency of an automotive catalytic converter by adjusting the engine air/fuel ratio based on estimates of the actual amount of oxidants stored in the catalyst. An available oxidant storage capacity of the catalyst is determined by establishing an oxidant set point location, i.e., a location in the catalyst about which the system controls the oxidant storage. The oxidant set point is established based on the temperatures of the different potential set point locations and the levels of deterioration of the different potential set point locations, as well as the oxidant storage capacity of the emission control device system.

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 apparatus for controlling the operation of a “lean-burn” internal combustion engine in cooperation with an exhaust gas purification system having an emissions control device capable of alternatively storing and releasing an exhaust gas constituent, such as NOx, when exposed to exhaust gases that are lean and rich of stoichiometry, respectively, wherein a measure of the efficiency of the device to remove the exhaust gas constituent from engine exhaust gas is determined, and a purge event for releasing previously-stored NOx is initiated when the efficiency measure falls below a threshold value.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.

Abstract: A sensing system (10) for an automotive vehicle includes a first radar sensor (18) generating a first and a second range signal, and a second radar sensor (20) generating a first and a second range signal corresponding to two sampling time periods. A controller (12) is coupled to the first radar sensor (18) and the second radar sensor (20). The controller (12) calculates a first position and a second position from the first radar sensor and the second radar sensor range measurements. The controller (12) generates a first set of points corresponding to the first position and a second set of points corresponding to the second position. The controller (12) calculates a plurality of calculated range-rate values in response to the first set of points and the second set of points. The controller (12) compares the plurality of calculated range-rate values to the measured range-rate and selects the closest range-rate from the plurality of calculated range-rate values.

Abstract: Internal combustion engines and electric motors in motor vehicles generate, at all operating points, airborne emissions and solid-borne emissions, which are superimposed in the interior of the vehicle and perceived as engine noise by the occupants. To differentiate quantitatively between airborne and solid-borne portions of engine noise, sound measurement are made in the vehicle interior and engine compartment both with air and when the engine compartment is flooded with a gas having different acoustic characteristics than air. From analysis of the two measurements, the solid-borne portion and the airborne portion of the engine noise can be determined with a high degree of precision.

Abstract: A variable length connecting rod (12) has a first locking mechanism (36) for releasably locking connecting rod parts in a first effective length setting (FIG. 7) for the rod, and a second locking mechanism (38) for releasably locking the connecting rod parts in a second effective length setting to change the compression ratio for an engine cylinder. When a length change is to be made, hydraulic fluid unlocks a locked one of the locking mechanisms, allowing inertial force to effect the length change during an engine cycle. At completion of a length change, the other locking mechanism automatically unlocks.

Abstract: A method for estimating the amount of NOx stored in a lean NOx trap. The method includes determining a change in the oxygen concentration between an exhaust air/fuel ratio entering the lean NOx trap and exiting the lean NOx trap to determine the amount of NOx absorbed in the trap and correcting such determination for water gas shift reaction effects in such change in oxygen concentration determination.

Abstract: A method of operating an alternator of a motor vehicle includes the steps of monitoring an amount of stored electrical energy available to operate the vehicle, estimating a vehicle electrical load, and regulating an output of the alternator based at least in part on the amount of electrical energy available to the vehicle and the estimated vehicle electrical load.