Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having an intake manifold and an outlet control device coupled to the manifold for controlling flow exiting the manifold and entering at least one cylinder of the engine, the engine further having an inlet control device for controlling flow entering the manifold, the method comprising determining a driver torque command; calculating a desired cylinder charge based on said driver torque command; adjusting the outlet control device to provide said desired cylinder charge; and adjusting the inlet control device based on intake manifold pressure.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an engine having an intake manifold and an outlet control device coupled to the manifold for controlling flow exiting the manifold and entering at least one cylinder of the engine. The engine further includes an inlet control device for controlling flow entering the manifold. The method includes providing an engine command; calculating a desired cylinder charge based on said command; and adjusting the outlet control device to provide said desired cylinder charge. The engine command may be, for example, a driver command, such as a driver torque command. Further, the outlet control device may be implement in with a variety of mechanisms. For example, in one embodiment the outlet control device is a valve of the engine having a variable lift. In one embodiment the outlet device is a valve having variable timing. Likewise, the inlet device may be adjusted in response to a variety of parameters.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having at least one cylinder, the engine coupled to a vehicle, the engine also having an intake manifold and an outlet control device for controlling flow from the intake manifold into the cylinder, the engine further having an inlet control device for controlling flow into the intake manifold, the outlet control device including an electronic throttle, the engine also having an exhaust gas oxygen sensor, the method comprising of generating a signal representing a request from a driver, determining a desired torque based on said request in response to said signal and to improve drive feel, adjusting the outlet control device based on said desired torque, adjusting throttle position based on an operating parameter and injecting fuel into the engine based on a signal from the sensor to maintain average air/fuel at stoichiometry.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an engine having an intake manifold and an outlet control device coupled to the manifold for controlling flow exiting the manifold and entering at least one cylinder of the engine. The engine further includes an inlet control device for controlling flow entering the manifold. The method includes providing an engine command; calculating a desired cylinder charge based on said command; and adjusting the outlet control device to provide said desired cylinder charge. The engine command may be, for example, a driver command, such as a driver torque command. Further, the outlet control device may be implemented in with a variety of mechanisms. For example, in one embodiment the outlet control device is a valve of the engine having a variable lift. In one embodiment the outlet device is a valve having variable timing. Likewise, the inlet device may be adjusted in response to a variety of parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods for valve actuation use series-connected coils of upper and lower electromagnets acting as electromagnetic generators that attempt to maintain a constant magnetic flux, while their forces are essentially independent. A valve controller initiates valve actuation by reducing holding force of the holding electromagnet. As spring force begins to move an armature away from the holding electromagnet, the associated coil generates a voltage that attempts to maintain constant flux. This generated voltage causes a large increase in current that essentially transfers the flux to the other on-coming coil, which attracts and holds the armature against its associated spring force to open or close the valve. The internal voltage generated inside the two coils operates even if the coils are supplied with zero external voltage (shorted) to transfer stored energy directly between the coils. Energy may be transferred indirectly using an energy storage device.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an engine having an intake manifold and an outlet control device coupled to the manifold for controlling flow exiting the manifold and entering at least one cylinder of the engine. The engine further includes an inlet control device for controlling flow entering the manifold. The method includes providing an engine command; calculating a desired cylinder charge based on said command; and adjusting the outlet control device to provide said desired cylinder charge. The engine command may be, for example, a driver command, such as a driver torque command. Further, the outlet control device may be implement in with a variety of mechanisms. For example, in one embodiment the outlet control device is a valve of the engine having a variable lift. In one embodiment the outlet device is a valve having variable timing. Likewise, the inlet device may be adjusted in response to a variety of parameters.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an engine having an intake manifold and an outlet control device coupled to the manifold for controlling flow exiting the manifold and entering at least one cylinder of the engine. The engine further includes an inlet control device for controlling flow entering the manifold. The method includes providing an engine command; calculating a desired cylinder charge based on said command; and adjusting the outlet control device to provide said desired cylinder charge. The engine command may be, for example, a driver command, such as a driver torque command. Further, the outlet control device may be implement in with a variety of mechanisms. For example, in one embodiment the outlet control device is a valve of the engine having a variable lift. In one embodiment the outlet device is a valve having variable timing. Likewise, the inlet device may be adjusted in response to a variety of parameters.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine provide valve actuation that selectively couples an energy storage device to a launching coil to recover energy stored in the magnetic field and valve spring of the launching coil, decouples the energy storage device during a valve opening or closing event to control energy supplied to the catching coil, and couples the energy storage device to the catching coil to transfer energy from the storage device to the catching coil to provide a repeatable soft landing. A nonlinear feedback controller incorporates a feedforward system with an observer to control the rate of energy into the magnetic field of the catching coil while compensating for system losses and work to overcome gas forces within the combustion chamber. Feedback linearization techniques improve stability of the control system.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an engine having an intake manifold and an outlet control device coupled to the manifold for controlling flow exiting the manifold and entering at least one cylinder of the engine. The engine further includes an inlet control device for controlling flow entering the manifold. The method includes providing an engine command; calculating a desired cylinder charge based on said command; and adjusting the outlet control device to provide said desired cylinder charge. The engine command may be, for example, a driver command, such as a driver torque command. Further, the outlet control device may be implement in with a variety of mechanisms. For example, in one embodiment the outlet control device is a valve of the engine having a variable lift. In one embodiment the outlet device is a valve having variable timing. Likewise, the inlet device may be adjusted in response to a variety of parameters.

Abstract: A system (12) and method for determining the charged air mass in a cylinder (14) of an internal combustion engine (10) are provided. The system (12) includes an electronic control unit (ECU) (58) configured to determine a temperature of the combination of charged air and recirculated exhaust gas inducted into the cylinder (14). The ECU (58) is further configured to determine a total mass flow rate of the combination of inducted air and recirculated exhaust gas based on a pressure in an intake manifold (22) of the engine (10) and the previously determined temperature. Finally, the ECU (58) is configured to determine the mass of charged air in the cylinder (14) from the total mass flow rate.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine during sensor degradation uses a remaining active sensor. The engine has an exhaust gas recirculation system utilizing pressure sensors upstream and downstream of an orifice. The downstream pressure sensor is coupled to the engine intake manifold and is also used for engine air-fuel ratio control.

Abstract: A method of determining throttle flow in a fuel delivery system is disclosed. First, a time-efficient throttle flow data collection method is described. The collection method uses a sonic nozzle flow bench to measure airflow as a function of throttle angle and pressure in a manner analogous to on-engine dynamometer throttle flow characterization. Opening each sonic nozzle combination, then recording throttle downstream pressure and computed nozzle flow allows data to be taken in a fraction of the time normally needed. In conventional methods, the estimated airflow rate as a function of throttle angle differs from the measured airflow rate because the leak area is incorrect. The method of the invention correctly determines the estimated throttle airflow rate by using a low pass filtering technique to adjust the estimated airflow rate to eventually equal the measured airflow rate, particularly at small throttle angles.

Abstract: A system (12) and method for determining the charged air mass in a cylinder (14) of an internal combustion engine (10) are provided. The system (12) includes an electronic control unit (ECU) (58) configured to determine a temperature of the combination of charged air and recirculated exhaust gas inducted into the cylinder (14). The ECU (58) is further configured to determine a total mass flow rate of the combination of inducted air and recirculated exhaust gas based on a pressure in an intake manifold (22) of the engine (10) and the previously determined temperature. Finally, the ECU (58) is configured to determine the mass of charged air in the cylinder (14) from the total mass flow rate.

Abstract: An ignition and fuel control system 10 of a vehicle 18 is provided including a controller 22. The controller 22 is electrically coupled to an ignition system 14, a fuel system 16, a crankshaft position sensor 32, and a camshaft position sensor 34. The crankshaft position sensor 32 senses a crankshaft position and generates a crankshaft position signal. A camshaft position sensor 34 senses a camshaft position and generates a camshaft position signal. The controller 22 determines a crankshaft position and a camshaft position in response to the crankshaft position signal and the camshaft position signal respectively. The controller 22 identifies a reference engine cylinder in response to the crankshaft position and the camshaft position and generates a synchronization value. The controller 22 also enables the ignition system 14 and the fuel system 16 in response to the synchronization value.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine during sensor degradation uses a remaining active sensor. The engine has an exhaust gas recirculation system utilizing pressure sensors upstream and downstream of an orifice. The downstream pressure sensor is coupled to the engine intake manifold and is also used for engine air-fuel ratio control.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an engine having an intake manifold and an outlet control device coupled to the manifold for controlling flow exiting the manifold and entering at least one cylinder of the engine. The engine further includes an inlet control device for controlling flow entering the manifold. The method includes providing an engine command; calculating a desired cylinder charge based on said command; and adjusting the outlet control device to provide said desired cylinder charge. The engine command may be, for example, a driver command, such as a driver torque command. Further, the outlet control device may be implement in with a variety of mechanisms. For example, in one embodiment the outlet control device is a valve of the engine having a variable lift. In one embodiment the outlet device is a valve having variable timing. Likewise, the inlet device may be adjusted in response to a variety of parameters.

Abstract: A method for measuring flow through an orifice using an upstream gauge pressure sensor and a downstream absolute pressure sensor determines atmospheric pressure when flow through the orifice is substantially zero, or less than a predetermined value. Then, this estimate, along with the upstream and downstream pressure sensors are used to measure flow through the orifice.

Abstract: A method for estimating pressure surround an engine uses a gauge pressure sensor upstream of an orifice and an absolute pressure sensor downstream of the orifice. In particular, atmospheric pressure can be determined when flow through the orifice is below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An engine air/fuel control system responsive to an electrically heated exhaust gas oxygen sensor. Electrical power is supplied to the sensor by a feedback control system responsive to peak-to-peak measurement in the sensor output. Peak-to-peak measurements are averaged over a predetermined number of sample times and the resulting average value compared to a deadband. When the average measurement is above, within, or below the deadband, electrical power to the heater is, respectively, reduced, held constant, or decreased.

Abstract: An air/fuel control system (8) and method for an engine (28) having two engine banks coupled to a single catalytic converter (50). First and second exhaust gas oxygen sensors (44, 55) are coupled to respective first and second exhaust manifolds (56, 57). A feedback signal is generated by a PI controller responsive to an average (104-120) of the first and second sensor outputs (44, 45). An adjustment signal is generated (440-448) by another PI controller responsive to a difference between the first and second sensor outputs (44, 45). Fuel delivered to the first engine bank (300a-306a) is adjusted by a first modified feedback signal generated by adding the adjustment term to the feedback signal (450-454). And, fuel delivered to the second engine bank (300b-306b) is adjusted by a second modified feedback signal generated by adding the adjustment term to the feedback signal (460-462).