Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of an engine are presented. In one example, a threshold torque at which deactivated engine cylinders are reactivated is adjusted in response to a varying engine compression ratio. In other examples, the torque threshold is adjusted in response to a rate of change in engine torque and engine compression ratio.

Abstract: A controlling apparatus for an engine includes a purge path connected to a sealing-type fuel tank and an intake system of an engine and is configured to allow purge gas containing evaporated fuel from the fuel tank to flow therethrough. A purge valve placed in the purge path is configured to adjust a flow rate of the purge gas. A calculation unit calculates a degree of opening of the purge valve based on a target introduction ratio of the purge gas, and a controlling unit controls the purge valve so as to establish the degree of opening calculated by the calculation unit. The calculation unit corrects, in high-pressure purge performed when a pressure in the fuel tank increases exceeding a predetermined pressure, the degree of opening using a tank pressure flow velocity correction coefficient K2 corresponding to an upstream pressure of the purge valve.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine with variable displacement engine (VDE) operation coupled to a twin scroll turbocharger. One method comprises directing exhaust from a first outer cylinder and a first inner cylinder of four cylinders to a first scroll of the twin scroll turbocharger, directing exhaust from a second outer cylinder and a second inner cylinder of the four cylinders to a second scroll of the twin scroll turbocharger, and during a first condition, firing all four cylinders with uneven firing.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicle starting apparatus that reduces vibration of an engine caused when the engine starts so that vibration of the vehicle can be decreased. A vehicle starting apparatus according to the present invention is provided with an engine starting apparatus that starts an engine mounted in a vehicle, wherein before the engine is ignited, the engine starting apparatus makes a cranking rotation speed of the engine lower than a rotation speed corresponding to the resonance frequency of the engine, and after the engine has been ignited, the engine starting apparatus increases the rotation speed of the engine up to a rotation speed that is the same as or higher than said rotation speed corresponding to the resonance frequency.

Abstract: Vehicles capable of operating in an energy conserving mode may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing activation of the energy conserving mode. The system may identify the inhibiting features and prompt an operator of the vehicle for authorization to disable the inhibiting features or adjust the feature states to enable the energy conserving mode. In response to receiving authorization, the system may automatically control feature interfaces to remove inhibits to the energy conserving mode. The interface may communicate active inhibitors to an operator using a display or a speaker, or both. Additionally, the interface may query the operator to approve automatic deactivation of the inhibiting features and facilitate the receipt of operator input to the query.

Abstract: A restoring unit for an internal combustion engine may include a restoring console including a substantially cylindrical bearing dome. A first bearing unit may include a first receiving opening. The bearing dome may be rotatably inserted into the first receiving opening about an axis of the restoring console. A spring element may be arranged at least partially on an outer circumferential face of the bearing dome, and the restoring console may be preloaded via the spring element against the first bearing unit. The bearing dome may be detachably arranged in the first receiving opening via a clip connection. The clip connection may include a radial through-slot disposed on a first face side of the bearing dome facing the first receiving opening. The bearing dome may have a console bearing face mounting the restoring console within the first bearing unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for depressurizing a fuel tank prior to refueling. In one example, before refueling the fuel tank having a pressure above a first predetermined pressure, the pressure may be released through a first valve to the first predetermined pressure and the first valve may be closed. Further, a second valve may be opened to further reduce the pressure to a second predetermined pressure, and if flow through the second valve is less than desired, then the first valve may be opened until the second predetermined pressure is reached.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an engine crankshaft is disclosed. The engine crankshaft comprises a rear bearing journal. The rear bearing journal has an output end. The rear bearing journal defines a substantially cylindrical cavity extending from the output end into the rear bearing journal. The engine crankshaft may further comprise at least one torque sensor operatively coupled to the rear bearing journal. The at least one torque sensor is configured to generate a torque signal corresponding to a torque exerted on the rear bearing journal. The torque exerted on the rear bearing journal is indicative of a torque output of an engine.

Abstract: A housing for an engine is provided. The housing includes an intake manifold configured to supply air to at least one chamber defined within the housing, a fuel port configured to supply fuel to the at least one chamber, and a compression control port configured to control at least one of a pressure and a volume of a fuel-air mixture in the at least one chamber during a compression cycle of the engine. The compression control port includes a passage defined through the housing, and at least one valve disposed in the passage and configured to control a flow through the passage.

Abstract: A vehicle controller is installed in a vehicle and controls one or more operations of the vehicle. The vehicle controller includes a control unit that: (i) outputs a first code for authentication to a judging apparatus which judges whether to permit starting of a driving apparatus of the vehicle when a request for starting the driving apparatus is obtained from an information processor which is located outside the vehicle, (ii) controls locking and unlocking of doors of the vehicle when a request for door lock control is obtained from the information processor, and (iii) obtains from the judging apparatus an authentication result of whether the first code and a second code for authentication which the judging apparatus uses are identical. When obtaining the request for door lock control, the control unit controls the locking and unlocking of the doors based on the authentication result.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for cooling an engine system. In one example, a system includes an exhaust gas recirculation cooler and an engine. The system further includes a cooling fluid circuit in which the exhaust gas recirculation cooler and the engine are positionable in series with the exhaust gas recirculation cooler disposed upstream of the engine.

Abstract: An engine non-stop warning apparatus for a vehicle provided with an engine stop control section configured to stop an engine on condition that a stop switch is continuously pressed for a specified time duration during operation of the engine includes an engine stop determination section configured to determine whether or not the engine is going to stop or stopping by the lapse of the specified time duration after the stop switch is pressed during the operation of the engine, and an engine non-stop warning section configured to warn a vehicle user that the engine is not stopping in a case the engine stop determination section determines that the engine is not going to stop or stopping by the lapse of the specified time duration after the stop switch is pressed during the operation of the engine.

Abstract: A method/control unit for detecting a voltage offset in a range of a voltage-lambda characteristic curve of a two-point lambda sensor in an engine exhaust gas duct as to a reference voltage-lambda characteristic curve of the two-point lambda sensor, which is part of a controlled system for adjusting an air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine, a characteristic curve deviation of voltage-lambda characteristic curve to the reference characteristic curve being corrected at ?=1, so that a change in the air-fuel mixture composition toward ?=1 occurs, starting from a value pair to be checked on the reference characteristic curve, with a lambda and a voltage to be checked, the actual value of lambda being inferred from the change in the mixture composition until reaching ?=1. The method/control unit permit determining and compensating a voltage offset of a two-point lambda sensor conditional upon aging or manufacturing tolerances.

Abstract: There are provided a multi-layer piezoelectric element which is capable of suppression of occurrence of an imperfect area, suffers from no development of leakage current even with moisture intrusion, has long-term freedom from variations in displacement and can achieve stable driving, as well as to provide a piezoelectric actuator, an injection device, and a fuel injection system provided with the multi-layer piezoelectric element. A multi-layer piezoelectric element includes a stacked body in which piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes acting as positive and negative internal electrodes are laminated; an inorganic coating attached to a side surface of the stacked body where ends of both the positive internal electrodes and the negative internal electrodes are exposed; and metal particles composed predominantly of a metal element contained in the internal electrodes, the metal particles dispersed in the inorganic coating.

Abstract: Provided is an air intake device for an internal combustion engine, the air intake device being configured so that a reduction in the amount of intake air is minimized. An air intake device for an internal combustion engine has: an intake air path for supplying air from a surge tank to the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine; and an exhaust gas path for supplying exhaust gas from an exhaust gas distribution header to the combustion chamber. The length of the exhaust gas path measured along the centerline of the exhaust gas path is set to be in the range from 75% to 125%, inclusive, of the length of the intake air path measured along the centerline of the intake air path.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for measuring and controlling the EGR rate in a combustion engine system, comprising an EGR cooler, an EGR valve and a turbine, and determining the EGR mass flow (dmEGR) from the difference between the total exhaust gas mass flow (dmTot) across the engine cylinders, and the turbine mass flow (dmTurb) across the turbine.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for pre-ignition control. A pre-ignition mitigating enrichment is deactivated in response to a tip-out but reactivated in response to a subsequent tip-in. By preemptively enriching the engine, repeated pre-ignition due at subsequent tip-ins is reduced.

Abstract: A stop control system for an engine including a crankshaft is provided with a motor and a control device. The motor is connected to the crankshaft of the engine, and the control device is configured to stop the crankshaft in a compression stroke of the engine by temporarily driving the motor to thereby assist rotation of the crankshaft that is still being forwardly rotated after starting stop control operation of the engine under predetermined engine stop conditions.

Abstract: A system includes a cylinder event module that determines an air-per-cylinder value for a cylinder intake event or a cylinder non-intake event of a current cylinder based on a mass air flow signal and an engine speed signal. A status module generates a status signal indicating whether the current cylinder is activated. A deactivation module, based on the status signal, determines a current accumulated air mass in an intake manifold of an engine: for air received by the intake manifold since a last cylinder intake event of an activated cylinder and prior to one or more consecutive cylinder non-intake events of one or more deactivated cylinders; and based on a previous accumulated air mass in the intake manifold and the air-per-cylinder value. An activation module, based on the status signal, determines an air mass value for the current cylinder based on the air-per-cylinder value and the current accumulated air mass.

Abstract: A single-cylinder internal combustion engine includes a knock sensor mounted to apart other than a cylinder block to detect knocking. The engine includes a crankcase, a cylinder block, and a cylinder head connected by a bolt. A boss to mount the knock sensor is provided on the crankcase. A center of the boss is positioned on a same side of a cylinder axis as the bolt, when viewed in an axial direction of the boss.