Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating an actuator having a coil and a displaceably mounted armature driven by a magnetic field generated by the coil, in a measurement operating mode for ascertaining a time at which the armature reaches its stop position after activation of the actuator. The method includes applying to the coil an actuation voltage signal dimensioned such that the expected armature stop time falls in a time window in which a temporally constant voltage is applied to the coil, detecting an intensity profile of the current flowing through the coil within the time window, and determining the armature stop time, based on an evaluation of the detected current intensity profile. A method for operating such an actuator is also disclosed, wherein information about the stop time is obtained in a measurement operating mode and used in a series operating mode for optimized actuation of the actuator.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for estimating a fuel leakage quantity which enters from a leaking injection valve during a shut-down time of a motor vehicle into an intake tract or into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle and is added to a fuel mixture to be combusted during a starting process. The method may include: measuring a first start index characteristic of a starting behavior of the engine during a first starting process; determining a first injected fuel quantity during the first starting process; measuring a second start index characteristic of a starting behavior of the engine during a second starting process; determining a second injected fuel quantity during the second starting process; and estimating the fuel leakage quantity based on the measured first start index, the determined first injected fuel quantity, the measured second start index and the determined second injected fuel quantity.

Abstract: A method for determining the movement time curve of an electromagnetically driven armature of an actuator that has a coil may include: (a) applying to the coil a control signal dimensioned such that the armature undergoes only a partial deviation from the armature starting position without reaching an end position defined by a stop, and reaches, the armature starting position again after reaching a turnaround position, wherein the deviation of the armature over time is described at least approximately by a section of a parabola at least between the turnaround position and the starting position, (b) determining the time at which the armature reaches the armature starting position again, (c) determining the speed with which the armature reaches the armature starting position again, and (d) ascertaining the movement time curve of the armature using a mathematical equation that describes the parabola based on the detected time and the detected speed.

Abstract: An exhaust gas catalytic converter is laden with oxygen until it is saturated at least upstream of an exhaust gas probe. A predefined first rich air/fuel ration is set in a combustion chamber of a cylinder. A first oxygen storage capacity value is determined as a function of the measurement signal of an exhaust gas probe and the predefined first rich air/fuel ratio. The exhaust gas catalytic converter is laden with oxygen until it is saturated. A predefined second rich air/fuel ration is set in the combustion chamber of the cylinder. A second oxygen storage capacity value is determined as a function of the measurement signal of the exhaust gas probe and the predefined second rich air/fuel ration. A corrected oxygen storage capacity value is determined as a function of the first and second oxygen storage capacity values.

Abstract: An exhaust catalyst is charged with oxygen until saturated. A given first rich air/fuel ratio (LAM1_SP) is set in a combustion chamber of a cylinder. A first oxygen storage capacity value (OSC1) is determined depending on the measured signals (MS1, MS2) from first and second exhaust probes. The exhaust catalyst is charged with oxygen until saturated. A given second rich air/fuel ratio is set in the combustion chamber of the cylinder. A second oxygen storage capacity value (OSC2) is determined depending on the measured signal from the first and second exhaust probe. A corrected oxygen storage capacity value (OSC_COR) is determined depending on the first and second oxygen storage capacity values (OSC1, OSC2).

Abstract: A method for determining a closing time of a valve having a coil drive may include switching off a current flow through a coil of the coil drive so that the coil is depowered, measuring a time curve of a voltage induced in the non-powered coil, wherein the induced voltage is generated at least partially by a motion of the armature relative to the coil, evaluating the measured time curve of the voltage induced in the coil, wherein the evaluation comprises comparing the measured time curve of the voltage induced in the depowered coil to a reference voltage curve stored in an engine controller, and determining the closing time based on the evaluated time curve. The reference voltage curve is thereby adapted to current operating conditions of the valve. A corresponding device and computer program for determining the closing time of a valve comprising a coil drive are also disclosed.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has at least one cylinder, with which an injection valve for metering fuel is associated and an exhaust system with an exhaust gas catalytic converter. A first exhaust gas probe is disposed upstream of or in the exhaust gas catalytic converter, and a second exhaust gas probe is downstream. A lambda controller determines a regulating variable as a function of the first probe and a control variable acting on a fuel mass to be metered using the injection valve. A trim regulator determines a regulating variable thereof as a function of the second probe and the first trim control variable thereof as a function of a P regulator component and the second trim control variable thereof as a function of an I regulator component. A function of a predetermined evaluation of the first trim control variable decides whether the second trim control variable is adapted.

Abstract: In a method for correcting the output signal of a broadband lambda probe of an internal combustion engine, the influence of the air humidity on the lambda value determined by the broadband lambda probe is detected and is deducted by means of a compensation model. For this purpose, a measured air humidity is incorporated in the calibration of the broadband lambda probe during an overrun shut-off phase of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for operating an exhaust-gas catalytic converter (21) of an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder (Z1-Z4) and one exhaust-gas section (4), in which the exhaust-gas catalytic converter (21) and a lambda probe (43) downstream of the exhaust-gas catalytic converter (21) are arranged. A characteristic value which is representative for the NOx concentration is determined as a function of a measured signal (VLS DOWN) of the lambda probe (43).

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an exhaust gas catalyst, a first exhaust gas sensor that is arranged in such a manner that it can be used in lambda control, and a second exhaust gas sensor that is arranged in such a manner that it can be used in trim control. A HC quality value (EFF_CAT_HC) which is representative of an oxygen storage capacity of the exhaust gas catalyst is determined depending on a measuring signal (VLS_DOWN) of the second exhaust gas sensor. A NOx correction factor (COR_NOX) is determined depending on the measuring signal (VLS_DOWN) of the second exhaust gas sensor, namely depending on signal portions that are representative of the residual oxygen. A NOx quality value (EFF_CAT_DIAL_NOX) is determined depending on the HC quality value (EFF_CAT_HC) and the NOx correction factor (COR_NOX).

Abstract: In the method for determining the alcohol concentration of the tank fuel after filling up with E85 fuel or E0 fuel, two corridors of possible lambda values for filling with E0 fuel and E85 are established according to the volumes of the tank fuel before and after filling, and the lambda values are taken into account in the evaluation.

Abstract: A regeneration method for a storage catalytic converter in an exhaust-gas purification system of an internal combustion engine, has the following steps: (a) switching of the internal combustion engine from a standard operating mode with a lean exhaust gas to a regeneration mode with a rich exhaust gas, (b) measurement of a nitrogen oxide concentration in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine after the switchover to the regeneration mode, (c) determination of a characteristic variable of a desorption peak of the measured nitrogen oxide concentration after the switchover to the regeneration mode, and (d) minimization of the characteristic variable of the desorption peak through controlling of the internal combustion engine as a function of the measured characteristic variable of the desorption peak.

Abstract: A first exhaust gas sensor signal (vls_up) of a first exhaust gas sensor (AS1) is detected. In addition, a second exhaust gas sensor signal (vls_down) of a second exhaust gas sensor (AS2) is detected. A relevant first estimated value of an emission of at least one exhaust gas component is determined in relation to a position of the first exhaust gas sensor (AS1) in the exhaust gas tract as a function of the first exhaust gas sensor signal (vls_up) and a relevant second estimated value of an emission of the at least one exhaust gas component is determined in relation to a position of the second exhaust gas sensor (AS2) in the exhaust gas tract as a function of the second exhaust gas sensor signal (vls_down). A conversion rate (K) of the at least one exhaust gas component is estimated as a function of a ratio of the second estimated value and the first estimated value of the determined emission. The exhaust gas catalytic converter is diagnosed as a function of the determined conversion rate (K).

Abstract: An exhaust-gas sensor signal (vls_down) of an exhaust-gas sensor that is disposed in an exhaust gas train downstream of at least one first catalytic converter volume (V1) and upstream of at least one second catalytic converter volume (V2) is acquired. An estimated value of an intermediate emission for a position of the exhaust-gas sensor is determined in dependence upon the exhaust-gas sensor signal (vls_down). An estimated value of an emission downstream of the at least one second catalytic converter volume (V2) is determined in dependence upon the estimated value of the intermediate emission and in dependence upon at least one predefined correction characteristic (fac_cor_ufc) or at least one predefined correction characteristics map for correcting the estimated value of the intermediate emission with regard to an influence of the at least one second catalytic converter volume (V2) upon the emission of the at least one exhaust gas component.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a NOX storage catalyst. A storage capacity (NOX_STC) of the NOX storage catalyst is determined for the purpose of operating the internal combustion engine. The temperature (TEMP) of the NOX storage catalyst is increased if the storage capacity (NOX_STC) is less than a predefined threshold value.

Abstract: Each cylinder bank of the internal combustion engine is assigned in each case one injection event memory (EES), an injection determining process (EEP) and an injection execution process (EAP). In the respective injection determining process (EEP), desired injection events (EE) are determined for the associated cylinder bank. These injection events are stored in succession in the respectively associated injection event memory (EES). In the respective injection execution process (EAP), injection events (EE) are retrieved in succession from the associated injection event memory (EES) and executed in a sequence in which they were stored in the associated injection event memory (EES) by the associated injection determining process (EEP) (FIFO: first in first out). The in each case next injection event (EE) is executed only after the end of an execution of the in each case previously executed injection event (EE).

Abstract: A plateau phase of a test signal of an exhaust gas probe located in a catalytic converter is detected following a jump from a preset rich air/fuel ratio in a combustion chamber of one cylinder to a preset lean air/fuel ratio, the plateau phase being obtained following the jump, and the duration is determined as a storage period. A plateau phase of the test signal, which is obtained following a jump from a preset lean air/fuel ratio to a preset rich air/fuel ratio, is detected following the jump, and the duration of the plateau phase is determined as an evacuation period. An allocation rule for assigning the test signal to a detected air/fuel ratio is adjusted according to the storage period and the evacuation period. To calibrate the exhaust gas probe, the allocation rule is adapted according to a plateau value of the test signal during the plateau phase.

Abstract: According to a current operating state (BZ) of an internal combustion engine and/or a specified particle number emission limit (PE), a minimum hydrocarbon concentration (HCMK) of a combustion chamber exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine that is required to comply with the specified particle number emission limit is determined. An operation (B) of the internal combustion engine is specified to achieve a hydrocarbon concentration (HCK) of the combustion chamber exhaust gas that is at least as large as the determined minimum hydrocarbon concentration (HCMK).

Abstract: For operating a internal combustion engine a first characteristic value is determined depending on a distance integral of at least a portion of a control signal of an oxygen sensor control based on control reference signal characteristics across a given time period. Depending on the first characteristic value (KW—1) a quality value (GW—1) is determined. Depending on the quality value (GW1) either the existence or the non existence of an error of the exhaust sensor is detected.

Abstract: An exhaust gas catalytic converter is laden with oxygen until it is saturated at least upstream of an exhaust gas probe. A predefined first rich air/fuel ration is set in a combustion chamber of a cylinder. A first oxygen storage capacity value is determined as a function of the measurement signal of an exhaust gas probe and the predefined first rich air/fuel ratio. The exhaust gas catalytic converter is laden with oxygen until it is saturated. A predefined second rich air/fuel ration is set in the combustion chamber of the cylinder. A second oxygen storage capacity value is determined as a function of the measurement signal of the exhaust gas probe and the predefined second rich air/fuel ration. A corrected oxygen storage capacity value is determined as a function of the first and second oxygen storage capacity values.