Abstract: A number of variations may include a product that may include a valve system having a first valve plate constructed and arranged to selectively open and close a blowdown passage, a second valve plate constructed and arranged to selectively open and close a scavenge passage, and wherein the first plate and second plate have a common axis of rotation.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a product comprising a latching solenoid comprising: a valve; a spring operatively connected to the valve; a base plate adjacent the valve, wherein the base plate is constructed and arranged to maintain residual magnetism; an armature adjacent the base 10 plate and operatively connected to the spring; a pin disposed within the armature and operatively connected to the valve; wherein the latching solenoid includes a coil, wherein when the latching solenoid is energized the coil pulls the armature in a first direction toward the base plate; and wherein when the latching solenoid is energized the base plate becomes residually 15 magnetized so that when the armature moves in the first direction toward the base plate the armature magnetically latches to the base plate and remains attached to the base plate when the latching solenoid is de-energized.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a product including a thermal management component comprising a housing comprising a first polymer wherein the first polymer is constructed and arranged to provide thermal control of at least one neighbor component comprising an exterior surface in contact with the thermal management component wherein the first polymer comprises a heat generating polymer.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a product including a thermal management component comprising a housing comprising a first polymer wherein the first polymer is constructed and arranged to provide thermal control of at least one neighbor component comprising an exterior surface in contact with the thermal management component wherein the first polymer comprises a heat generating polymer.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a product comprising a latching solenoid comprising: a valve; a spring operatively connected to the valve; a base plate adjacent the valve, wherein the base plate is constructed and arranged to maintain residual magnetism; an armature adjacent the base 10 plate and operatively connected to the spring; a pin disposed within the armature and operatively connected to the valve; wherein the latching solenoid includes a coil, wherein when the latching solenoid is energized the coil pulls the armature in a first direction toward the base plate; and wherein when the latching solenoid is energized the base plate becomes residually 15 magnetized so that when the armature moves in the first direction toward the base plate the armature magnetically latches to the base plate and remains attached to the base plate when the latching solenoid is de-energized.

Abstract: A cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a fluid cavity that contains a fluid. The cylinder head assembly also includes a first member with a first internal surface defining a first part of the fluid cavity. Also, the assembly includes a second member with a second internal surface defining a second part of the fluid cavity. The second member is coupled to the first member. The first and second internal surfaces cooperate to define the fluid cavity.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine valvetrain for an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine Includes one or more cylinders with one or more intake valves, one or more blowdown exhaust valves, and one or more scavenge exhaust valves. In one example, the internal combustion engine valvetrain includes a first valve actuation mechanism to open and close the blowdown exhaust valves, and Includes a second valve actuation mechanism to open and close the scavenge exhaust valves.

Abstract: A cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a fluid cavity that contains a fluid. The cylinder head assembly also includes a first member with a first internal surface defining a first part of the fluid cavity. Also, the assembly includes a second member with a second internal surface defining a second part of the fluid cavity. The second member is coupled to the first member. The first and second internal surfaces cooperate to define the fluid cavity.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling knock in an internal combustion engine. The method utilizes an adaptive control scheme to tailor knock thresholds to the current engine operating conditions, as well as to identify the cylinder in which the knocking condition occurred. The method utilizes a modified spark advance to alter the spark timing for the engine cylinders if a knocking condition is detected and a predetermined set of conditions has been met.

Abstract: A multi-function apparatus and a method for performing the functions of a starter, alternator and engine stabilization system for an engine of a motor vehicle. The apparatus comprises a rotor, a stator and a switching/detection system associated with the stator. The stator comprises three independent stator sectors which each comprise a plurality of independent stator coils. The rotor comprises a plurality of rotor poles about its periphery. The rotor is secured to the flex plate of the engine and the stator sectors are secured to the bell housing of the vehicle's power train. The stator coils each protrude through opening formed in the bell housing such that the rotor poles are closely adjacent the stator coils without contacting the stator coils as the rotor rotates.

Abstract: A method is provided for adaptively determining a torque-related (K-factor) value for a torque converter in a vehicle and providing adaptive torque management to an automatic transmission. The torque-related K-factor value is computed for a given torque converter as a function of engine speed and difference in torque measured with the vehicle operating in idle neutral and drive. The vehicle dynamically learns the K-factor value and manages torque applied to the transmission by limiting the engine output speed as a function of the learned torque-related K-factor and vehicle speed.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system for optimizing performance of an internal combustion engine. The present invention senses gases emitted from engine combustion chambers via a first gas sensor and senses gases emitted from said engine combustion chambers subsequent to said gases passing through an engine catalytic converter via a second gas sensor. The temperatures of said first and second gas sensors are then sensed through data output from first and second gas sensors and temperature sensors. The first and second gas sensors are linearized in response to the sensed temperatures of the first and second gas sensors. The fuel level input into the engine combustion chambers is adjusted in response to linearizing of the first and second gas sensors.

Abstract: A method of adjusting idle spark for an individual cylinder of an internal combustion engine in an automotive vehicle including the steps of determining a crankshaft acceleration for an individual cylinder of the internal combustion engine and determining an average acceleration error for the individual cylinder based on the determined crankshaft acceleration. The method also includes the steps of determining an adaptive spark advance for the individual cylinder based on the determined average acceleration error and determining a new spark advance for the individual cylinder based on the determined adaptive spark advance and a nominal spark advance. The method further includes the steps of adjusting idle spark for the individual cylinder based on the new spark advance for the individual cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for limiting the occurrence of knock conditions in an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a throttle sensor that detects transition of an engine throttle from a steady state throttle condition to a wide open throttle condition. Further, spark means is provided for generating a spark for an engine cylinder firing event, with the spark means generating the spark with an associated spark advance. Further, a controller is provided that is responsive to the wide open throttle condition detected by the throttle sensor and that causes the spark advance to incrementally advance to a maximum level over a predetermined time period, thereby minimizing the occurrence of engine knock conditions.

Abstract: A method for advanced crank spark with blend spark retard for an internal combustion engine includes the steps of selecting whether a spark in an engine cylinder will be fired on a predetermined first or second crank edge during an engine start mode, firing the spark on the second crank edge during the engine start mode if the second crank edge is selected, firing the spark on the first crank edge if the first crank edge is selected, determining whether the internal combustion engine is in the engine start mode based on engine speed, continuing to select whether to fire the spark on the predetermined first crank edge or the predetermined second crank edge if the internal combustion engine is in the engine start mode based on engine speed less than the predetermined speed, and retarding the spark from a first spark level to a hold start level at a predetermined rate, holding the spark at the hold spark level for a hold period, and advancing the spark to the first spark level at the predetermined rate, if the i

Abstract: A method for pulse width modulating a resistance element of an oxygen sensor. The method quickly heats the resistance element of the oxygen sensor soon after start of the engine with a relatively high duty cycle yielding wide pulse widths. During a mid oxygen sensor temperature range, the method decreasing the duty cycle and thereby the pulse width modulation. And, upon the oxygen sensor reaching peak operating temperature range, the method decreases the pulse width modulated voltage signal supplied to the oxygen sensor to relatively short duty cycled pulses.

Abstract: A circuit and method are provided for heating a dual heater oxygen sensor. One resistance element is of relatively low resistance such that the oxygen sensor is heated quickly and the other element is of relatively high resistance such that the oxygen sensor is heated and maintained at an optimal operating temperature. The circuit and associated method turn on a low resistance start heater that is in communication with the oxygen sensor given start-up conditions. Once the oxygen sensor has reached an operating temperature range a high resistance operating temperature heater is turned on and the start heater is turned off.

Abstract: A method of throttle fuel lean-out for an internal combustion engine including the steps of sensing a throttle position of a throttle for the engine with a throttle position sensor, calculating a delta throttle value based on the sensed throttle position, determining whether the engine is in a throttle deceleration condition based on the calculated delta throttle value, linearizing the change in throttle position with respect to absolute throttle position and engine speed if the engine is in a throttle deceleration condition, calculating a throttle deceleration fuel lean-out multiplier value based on the linearized change in throttle position, and applying the calculated throttle deceleration fuel lean-out multiplier value to a fuel pulsewidth value of fuel injectors for the engine and reducing the amount of fuel injected into the engine by the fuel injectors.

Abstract: A method of load and speed modifying on fuel lean-out for an internal combustion engine includes the steps of sensing a speed of the engine, determining an engine speed modifier as a function of current sensed engine speed, sensing a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) of an intake manifold of the engine, determining an engine load modifier as a function of current sensed MAP, adding the determined engine speed modifier and engine load modifier together to yield a speed/load modifier, and applying the speed/load modifier value to a fuel pulsewidth value of fuel injectors for the engine and reducing the amount of fuel injected into the engine by the fuel injectors.

Abstract: A method of proportional deceleration fuel lean-out for an internal combustion engine includes the steps of sensing a throttle position of a throttle for the engine with a throttle position sensor, calculating a throttle proportional deceleration fuel lean-out multiplier (LOTHR) value based on the sensed throttle position, sensing a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) of an intake manifold for the engine with a MAP sensor, calculating a MAP proportional deceleration fuel learn-out multiplier (LOMAP) value based on the sensed MAP, combining the LOTHR and LOMAP values and calculating an overall proportional deceleration fuel lean-out multiplier (LOMULT) value, and applying the calculated LOMULT value to a fuel pulsewidth value of fuel injectors for the engine and reducing the amount of fuel injected into the engine by the fuel injectors.