Abstract: A method of estimating the individual fuel air ratio richness of an individual cylinder in an engine by utilizing a single oxygen sensor at the confluence of a plurality of exhaust runners. The method provides for the use of a wide range or switching oxygen sensor at the confluence of a plurality of exhaust runners.

Abstract: A skip shift device performance detecting method used to more accurately enable skip shift diagnostic execution in a manual transmission equipped vehicle where a skip shift has been requested and a transmission clutch remains engaged. Where a skip shift request ceases during clutch engagement, a timed loop is used to monitor if clutch disengagement occurs before the loop times out. Where clutch disengagement occurs before the loop times out, skip shift diagnostic execution is enabled. Where the loop times out before disengagement, skip shift diagnostic execution is disabled. Where the skip shift is requested and the clutch remains engaged, the skip shift request is monitored to determine whether it is withdrawn before clutch disengagement. If it is withdrawn before clutch disengagement, the aforementioned timed monitoring loop is executed. If it is not withdrawn before clutch disengagement, execution of the skip shift diagnostic is enabled.

Abstract: A skip shift device performance detecting method used to more accurately enable skip shift diagnostic execution in a manual transmission equipped vehicle where a skip shift has been requested and a transmission clutch remains engaged. Where a skip shift request ceases during clutch engagement, a timed loop is used to monitor if clutch disengagement occurs before the loop times out. Where clutch disengagement occurs before the loop times out, skip shift diagnostic execution is enabled. Where the loop times out before disengagement, skip shift diagnostic execution is disabled. Where the skip shift is requested and the clutch remains engaged, the skip shift request is monitored to determine whether it is withdrawn before clutch disengagement. If it is withdrawn before clutch disengagement, the aforementioned timed monitoring loop is executed. If it is not withdrawn before clutch disengagement, execution of the skip shift diagnostic is enabled.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling power units of a vehicle powertrain for optimizing their respective efficiencies, thereby optimizing an overall vehicle efficiency. The method includes the steps of determining an efficiency of a power unit, determining present operational data of the power unit, determining a torque to be provided to the vehicle powertrain, determining a plurality of optimization constraints as a function of the torque to be provided, the present operational data and the efficiency of the power unit, determining an optimized operation mode of the power unit as a function of the optimization constraints and the present operational data of the power unit, and manipulating the power unit to operate in the optimized operation mode.

Abstract: A method for characterizing an air mass flow rate target within an internal combustion engine. The method includes determining a reference air mass flow rate term, determining a predicted compressibility term, and processing these terms to determine an air mass flow rate target. The air mass flow rate term can be used as an input for vehicle controllers including those for controlling pressurized induction systems.

Abstract: A method for characterizing an air flow target within an internal combustion engine. The method includes determining an air mass flow rate target, determining an engine speed term, and processing these terms to obtain an air flow target. The air flow target can be used as an input for vehicle controllers including those for controlling pressurized induction systems.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the barometric pressure external to an air intake of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a pressure value indicative of an absolute pressure in the intake manifold of the engine; (b) providing a mass airflow value of the airflow into the engine; (c) characterizing a pressure drop across the intake system based on the mass airflow value; and (d) determining a barometric pressure based on the pressure value and the pressure drop, such that the pressure drop is indicative of the pressure differential between the atmospheric pressure and the pressure in the intake manifold. Furthermore, the determination of the barometric pressure may be triggered when the throttle blade reaches a predetermined throttle threshold position which is a function of the rotational speed of the engine.

Abstract: A method for characterizing the friction losses within an internal combustion engine includes determining a start-up friction term, a mechanical friction term, a pumping loss term, and an adapted friction term to compensate for long-term frictional changes in the engine. A total engine frictional loss is determined by summing the start-up friction term, the mechanical friction term, the pumping loss term and the adapted friction term.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing the idle of an engine for a motor vehicle includes determining an engine rotational speed, modifying the engine rotational speed to define a friction engine speed, estimating a mechanical friction loss as a function of the friction engine speed, defining a torque request as a function of the mechanical friction loss and utilizing the torque request to control the engine at idle.

Abstract: A method is provided for accommodating the purge vapors from an evaporative emission control system of an automotive vehicle. The method includes a means of learning the bank-to-bank distribution of purge vapors within the engine manifold. As such, the fuel to air ratio delivered from various injectors can be selectively controlled to accommodate the purge vapor at that bank of the engine and maintain the desired fuel to air ratio.

Abstract: A method is provided for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine. The method includes providing the engine with a plurality of fuel injectors, each including an electromechanical mechanism for receiving fuel under pressure via a fuel supply system and for injecting a measured amount of fuel into the engine in response to a command signal whose duration is indicative of the amount of fuel to be injected. The command signal is determined based upon a measured throttle position, engine speed and engine load. A resistance of a solenoid coil of the electromechanical mechanism is then calculated and the command signal is adjusted by incrementing or decrementing the command signal to compensate for variations in the measured resistance of the solenoid coil of electromechanical mechanism due to temperature variations.