Abstract: The invention comprises a method to operate a direct-injection engine operative at various air/fuel ratios. The method comprises monitoring in-cylinder pressure, along with a corresponding engine crank position to periodically to determine instantaneous in-cylinder pressure states corresponding to the engine crank position during compression and expansion. Pressure ratios are determined based upon the instantaneous in-cylinder pressure states. A combustion heat release is determined based upon the pressure ratios. An aspect of the invention comprises extending the operation to diesel, diesel premixed and to HCCI engines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided, comprising an internal combustion engine equipped with a variable geometry intake air compressing device and a control module operative to estimate exhaust gas pressure during ongoing engine operation. The control module is adapted to monitor sensing devices of the internal combustion engine, and is adapted to execute algorithms. The method comprises monitoring signal inputs from the sensing devices, and determining operating parameters for exhaust flow and an exhaust pressure of the intake air compressing device. An exhaust pressure ratio is determined based upon the parameters for exhaust flow and the exhaust pressure of the intake air compressing device. An exhaust pressure is determined based upon the exhaust pressure ratio.

Abstract: A method for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine operating lean of stoichiometry is described. The engine comprises a multi-cylinder direct-injection engine, the engine operative in repetitive cycles each cycle comprising intake, compression, expansion, and exhaust strokes. The method comprises adapting a plurality of fuel injectors to directly inject a first and a second mass of fuel into the cylinders during each cycle. Pressure sensing devices monitor in-cylinder pressure in the cylinders during ongoing operation. The first mass of fuel is injected into one of the cylinders. A cylinder pressure ratio is determined in the cylinder subsequent to injecting the first mass of fuel based upon the monitored pressure. The first mass of fuel injected is adjusted during a subsequent cycle based upon the cylinder pressure ratio.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method to determine a position of a piston in a cylinder of an engine during ongoing operation, comprising adapting pressure sensing devices to monitor in-cylinder pressure, and, operating the engine. In-cylinder pressure is monitored along with a corresponding engine crank position. The engine is operated in a motoring mode and in a cylinder firing mode, and a plurality of instantaneous in-cylinder pressure states are determined during compression and expansion strokes. Pressure ratios are determined based upon the instantaneous in-cylinder pressure states, which are used to determine an engine crank angle and compression ratio error and, adjust the monitored engine crank position based upon the crank angle error and readjust engine operation according to these sensed errors.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method to operate a direct-injection engine operative at various air/fuel ratios. The method comprises monitoring in-cylinder pressure, along with a corresponding engine crank position to periodically to determine instantaneous in-cylinder pressure states corresponding to the engine crank position during compression and expansion. Pressure ratios are determined based upon the instantaneous in-cylinder pressure states. A combustion heat release is determined based upon the pressure ratios. An aspect of the invention comprises extending the operation to diesel, diesel premixed and to HCCI engines.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is configured with combustion chamber pressure sensing and exhaust gas recirculation apparatus. Exhaust gas recirculation control includes closed-loop controlling exhaust gas recirculation apparatus in accordance with a predetermined control target. Adjustments to the control target are made based on combustion chamber pressure information.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is configured with combustion chamber pressure sensing and exhaust gas recirculation apparatus. Fuel injection timing is adjusted based on combustion phasing and exhaust gas recirculation is controlled based on average fuel injection timing adjustments.

Abstract: A control system and method for balancing output and exhaust emission values of the various cylinders of an engine having individual cylinder fuel delivery control. Selected output and emission related values for one cylinder, selected as a base cylinder, are compared to the same values for the other cylinders, and fuel injection quantity and timing (or another combustion phasing variable) are adjusted in the other cylinders to output and emission values of the base cylinder. The adjustments are weighted based on the degree to which changes in both the injection quantity and timing (or other variable) influence changes in both the output and emission values as determined from the sensed readings of pressure sensors in each of the cylinders.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes an intake manifold, a combustion chamber, an exhaust manifold and exhaust gas recirculation apparatus for recirculating a portion of the exhausted gases from the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold. An estimate intake manifold oxygen concentration is determined from the air fraction within the intake manifold which is determined from an engine system model that provides interdependent air mass fractions at various locations within the engine system.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes an intake manifold, a combustion chamber, an exhaust manifold and exhaust gas recirculation apparatus for recirculating a portion of the exhausted gases from the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold. An estimate intake manifold oxygen concentration is determined from the air fraction within the intake manifold which is determined from an engine system model that provides interdependent air mass fractions at various locations within the engine system.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a plurality of control-coupled charge-handling actuators for an internal combustion engine has a multivariable controller responsive to a plurality of engine parameter inputs and effective to provide a plurality of position control signals to the charge handling actuators. Coupling effects of the charge-handling actuator are effectively addressed by the present multivariable control leading to substantial improvements in engine emissions particularly during transient operating conditions.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a plurality of control-coupled charge-handling actuators for an internal combustion engine has a multivariable controller responsive to a plurality of engine parameter inputs and effective to provide a plurality of position control signals to the charge handling actuators. Coupling effects of the charge-handling actuator are effectively addressed by the present multivariable control leading to substantial improvements in engine emissions particularly during transient operating conditions.

Abstract: A process for providing a real-time estimation of in-cylinder NOx production rates during a combustion process in an internal combustion engine. The process employs a model that takes into account fundamental in-cylinder variables such as temperature, pressure and oxygen content. The process can be used with calibrated or uncalibrated internal combustion engines and can be used to capture the effects in variations of engine speed, engine torque, EGR, injection timing, and engine boost levels.

Abstract: A system and method for suppressing cyclic noise components of a sampled sensor signal generates an error compensation signal that is subtracted from the sampled sensor signal to produce a corrected signal. A moving average of the sampled sensor signal, or sensor error signal, is obtained that corresponds to an error signal free of the non-cyclic component. An adaptive noise compensation algorithm is implemented by a compensation module with a minimum number of multiplications. The compensation module relies upon a unit base vector having a length equal to the number of base functions used to represent the cyclic noise component of the sensor signal, or equal to the number of samples over the sampling interval of the cyclic noise. This base vector is multiplied by an adaptive gain, which is a function of the difference between the sensor error signal and a compensation signal output from the adaptive compensation module.

Abstract: A process for providing a real-time estimation of in-cylinder NOx production rates during a combustion process in an internal combustion engine. The process employs a model that takes into account fundamental in-cylinder variables such as temperature, pressure and oxygen content. The process can be used with calibrated or uncalibrated internal combustion engines and can be used to capture the effects in variations of engine speed, engine torque, EGR, injection timing, and engine boost levels.