Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a transient operation detection module, an injection determination module, and an injection control module. The transient operation detection module detects whether the engine is operating in a transient state. The injection determination module, based on an elapsed time since a fuel request and at least one of a plurality of engine operating parameters, at least one of (i) increases a number of fuel injections per combustion cycle to N, and (ii) adjusts periods for each of the fuel injections, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to two. The injection control module controls fuel injection during the transient state based on at least one of (i) N fuel injections per combustion cycle and (ii) the adjusted periods.

Abstract: An on-vehicle DC/DC converter transforms high-voltage electric power originating from an on-vehicle high-voltage source to low-voltage electric power at a regulated voltage level. The low-voltage electric power is distributed by a low-voltage bus. A method for operating the DC/DC converter includes monitoring a state of charge and a temperature of a low-voltage battery connected to the low-voltage bus, setting a DC/DC converter command to a nominal voltage level as a function of the state of charge and temperature of the low-voltage battery, monitoring a total low-voltage electric load, and adjusting the DC/DC converter command to a minimum low-voltage reference voltage when the vehicle is operating below a predetermined speed and the total low-voltage electric load is greater than a predetermined load.

Abstract: Methods of making a substantially crack-free electrode layer are described. The methods include depositing an electrode ink on a substrate; placing a layer of porous reinforcement layer on a surface of the wet electrode ink; and drying the electrode ink to form the substantially crack-free electrode layer on the substrate. Substantially crack-free electrode layers and fuel cells incorporating substantially crack-free electrode layers are also described.

Abstract: A unified microphone pre-processing system includes a plurality of microphones arranged within a vehicle passenger compartment, a processing circuit or system configured to receive signals from one or more of the plurality of microphones, and the processing circuit configured to enhance the received signals for use by at least two of a telephony processing application, an automatic speech recognition processing application, and a noise cancellation processing application. The method includes receiving signals from one or more of a plurality of microphones arranged within a vehicle passenger compartment, and enhancing the received signals for use by at least two of a telephony processing application, an automatic speech recognition processing application, and a noise cancellation processing application. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions to cause a processor to perform a method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is also described.

Abstract: A battery supplies power to a solenoid valve at a voltage and by a DC/DC boost converter at a boost voltage that is higher than the battery voltage. Operating parameters of the injector are stored that include at least peak high and peak low currents and peak phase duration. A pull-in phase up is performed to current into the solenoid valve when a value greater than the peak high current is reached. Current is monitored into the solenoid and switching on the battery voltage to the solenoid if the current into the solenoid is equal to or lower than, the peak low current, then monitoring the current into the solenoid and powering the solenoid at the boost voltage if the current into the solenoid is still lower than the peak low current. Otherwise powering the solenoid at the battery voltage and performing a hold phase.

Abstract: A device and method for operating automotive battery system relays and related switches. By creating a dual bipolar magnetic field adjacent the contactor portion of a switching mechanism in the relay, the magnetic field used to promote arc extinguishing is shifted, which in turn reduces the Lorentz force that forms as a byproduct of the field. Such a configuration has the potential for simultaneously maintaining arc-extinguishing capability and improving short-circuit withstanding capability while reducing the tendency of the Lorentz forces to interfere with the operation of a solenoid or other switch-activating mechanisms. Such devices and methods may be used in conjunction with hybrid-powered and electric-powered vehicles.

Abstract: A piston with a cast bi-metallic dome feature and a method of making the piston. In one form, the piston is for use in a diesel engine, while in another, the piston is for use in a gasoline engine. The dome feature may include a laminate of a relatively high-temperature material (such as stainless steel) and a relatively low temperature material (such as aluminum or aluminum alloys) such that the portion of the dome made from the relatively high-temperature material is directly exposed to combustion within a cylinder into which the piston is placed. In another form, an aluminum coated stainless steel layer is used to form the dome. In one form, an ablation casting process may be used to manufacture the dome.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a downshifting of a transmission of a motor vehicle in coasting mode from a staring gear into a target gear. The method includes, but is not limited to estimating an output torque exerted by the engine with starting gear engaged, calculating a set point torque by means of the output torque and the transmission ratios of starting and target gear, and activating the engine with engaged target gear subject to the presetting of the calculated set point torque.

Abstract: A vehicle having multiple isolated fluid circuits configured to be filled through a common fill port includes a first fluid circuit disposed within the vehicle, the first fluid circuit having a first fill port, a second fluid circuit disposed within the vehicle, and a conduit defining a fluid passageway between the first fluid circuit and second fluid circuit, the conduit including a valve. The valve is configured such that the first and second fluid circuits are fluidly coupled via the passageway when the valve is open, and are fluidly isolated when the valve is closed.

Abstract: A thermal shield-diverter includes a first layer and a second layer. Each of the first and second layers is formed from a material resistant to thermal energy, and each is characterized by a surface having a width and a height. The shield-diverter also includes a third layer formed from a material substantially non-conductive of thermal energy. The third layer is characterized by a third width and a third height, and is disposed between the first layer and the second layer to define at least one passage extending along at least one of the first height and the second height. The at least one passage is configured to divert thermal energy along the respective first and second heights and expel the thermal energy from the shield-diverter when the shield-diverter is exposed to a heat source. An engine assembly employing such a shield-diverter is also disclosed.

Abstract: A diesel fuel system includes a reservoir containing diesel fuel. A suction tube extends into the reservoir and has an inlet so that fuel can be suctioned into the suction tube. A fence is erected around the inlet to prevent ice wafers from entering the inlet and blocking the suction tube. The fence can be mounted on the floor of the reservoir. Or, the fence can be mounted on the suction tube.

Abstract: A method for monitoring performance of a passive selective catalytic reduction system includes operating the internal combustion engine in a preconditioning mode. Subsequent to the preconditioning, an air/fuel excursion is introduced into the exhaust gas feedstream and a signal output from a sensor monitoring the exhaust gas feedstream in the selective catalytic reduction system during the air/fuel excursion is monitored. An operating effectiveness is determined for the selective catalytic reduction system correlated to the signal output from the sensor monitoring the exhaust gas feedstream.

Abstract: A method is provided for measuring a resistance value of a resistive component, which provides for connecting a pull up resistance, in series to the component and supplying a first voltage value to a free end of the pull up resistance and a second lower voltage value to a free end of the component, monitoring a signal indicative of a voltage value between the component and the pull up resistance, determining the difference between the monitored signal and a generated PWM signal having a high voltage value and low voltage value, integrating the difference, obtaining an output signal, varying a duty cycle of the PWM signal based on the variation over time of the output signal, acquiring a duty cycle of the PWM signal, and determining the resistance value of the resistive component based on the duty cycle value and of the pull up resistance value.

Abstract: A method includes: retarding spark timing relative to a predetermined spark timing when an engine torque output reduction is requested for a gear shift; estimating a first torque output of an engine based on N cylinders of the engine being fueled, an engine speed, an air per cylinder (APC), and the predetermined spark timing; estimating a second torque output of the engine based on M cylinders being fueled, the engine speed, the APC, and the spark timing. determining an initial pressure ratio across a turbocharger compressor; determining an adjustment based on M and the first and second torque outputs; generating a desired pressure ratio across the turbocharger compressor based on the adjustment and the initial pressure ratio; and controlling opening of a turbocharger wastegate based on the desired pressure ratio. N is a total number of cylinders of the engine and M is less than or equal to N.

Abstract: A desired pulse width module determines a desired length of a single pulse of fuel for a combustion cycle of a cylinder of an engine. A multiple pulses module determines a number of pulses (N) for the combustion cycle, wherein N is an integer greater than 1. A fraction determination module determines N fractional values for the N pulses, respectively. An injector control module generates individual lengths for the N pulses based on the N fractional values, respectively, and based on the desired length. A fuel actuator module opens a fuel injector that injects fuel into the cylinder during the combustion cycle in N pulses having the individual lengths, respectively.

Abstract: Ammonia in a gas stream comprising oxygen and nitrogen may be effectively completely oxidized to a mixture of NO and NO2 for further processing to nitric acid. The gas stream is flowed over fine particles of La1-xSrxCoO3 and/or La1-xSrxMnO3, and/or La1-xSrxFeO3 where x=about 0.1, 0.2, or 0.3. The particles are supported as catalyst layers on gas stream-contacting surfaces of a flow-through catalyzed oxidation reactor. These relatively inexpensive perovskite-type materials may be used to promote oxidation of ammonia at temperatures below about 450° C. to about 500° C. to selectively produce a mixture of NO and NO2. This mixture is suitable for further oxidation to NO2 for adsorption into water to make nitric acid.

Abstract: A system includes a source module configured to generate a value related to control of a vehicle component. A destination module is configured to receive the value and implement the value in a control procedure to control the vehicle component. A diagnostic tool is configured to implement a diagnostic language that defines a compatibility relationship between the source module and the destination module. The diagnostic tool can determine whether the value generated by the source module is compatible with the control procedure based on the compatibility relationship. A method includes identifying a value generated by the source module, identifying a characteristic of the value generated by the source module, determining whether the destination module is configured to receive the value from the source module and implement the value in the control procedure, and determining whether the value is compatible with the control procedure given the compatibility relationship.

Abstract: An exhaust system component for a motor vehicle has a first exhaust passage, an attachment flange, which encloses the first exhaust passage, for the connection of the component to an adjacent component, the attachment flange defining an attachment plane for the contact with the adjacent component and having fastening holes for the connection to the adjacent component, and a second exhaust passage, which is spaced apart from the first exhaust passage in a longitudinal direction of the component. A normal line on the attachment plane extends at a non-negligible angle to the longitudinal direction, and the fastening holes are elongated in a direction parallel to the attachment plane.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for managing the transition between a lean combustion mode and a rich combustion mode, or vice versa. After a regeneration demand, or at the end of the regeneration phase, the air mass flow is modified from a first set point to a new set point within a predetermined time depending on the engine conditions. An air mass percentage value is cyclically calculated and compared with a target value. When the target value is reached, the fuel path is then suddenly switched to compensate the torque change due to different combustion modes and to achieve the desired rich or lean condition.

Abstract: An annular seal for sealing between a cylindrical probe and a bore includes a radially inward-facing sealing portion having a first contact height, a radially outward-facing sealing portion having a second contact height, where the first contact height is greater than the second contact height. The seal further includes a vertical-loading portion, and a sloped deformation portion that extends between the vertical-loading portion and the radially outward-facing sealing portion.