Abstract: An apparatus for minimizing the total quantity of hydrocarbon emissions from a catalytic converter in the exhaust path of an internal combustion engine includes a temperature sensor coupled to the catalytic converter for continuously generating an output signal representative of the catalyst temperature, and a controller for receiving the output signal from the temperature sensor and for enhancing the output signal to have a response time of less than one second. The controller adjusts one or more operating parameters of the engine to cause the catalyst temperature to rapidly rise when the catalyst temperature is less than the catalytic converter light-off temperature and adjusts one or more operating parameters of the engine to minimize the rate of hydrocarbon emissions output from the catalytic converter when the catalyst temperature is greater than the catalytic converter light-off temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is cold-start fuel vapor emission control system for an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and a fuel tank, comprising the following components: (1) a housing for containing an honeycomb adsorber for adsorbing fuel vapor; (2) a vapor passage for fluidly connecting the housing and the fuel tank; (3) a charging system for measuring the quantity of adsorbed fuel vapor and for, if necessary, increasing the amount of adsorbed fuel vapor to a level sufficient to "vapor-only" start the engine; (4) a purging passage connecting the housing to an intake manifold for introducing a mixture comprised of the fuel vapor and air to the intake manifold. In a preferred embodiment, the honeycomb adsorber comprises a monolithic, binderless honeycomb structure having a continuous activated carbon phase.

Abstract: A fuel injector control apparatus and system of controlling fuel injector operation is disclosed. The control utilizes signals representative of fuel vaporization parameters including conductive and convective fuel flow characteristics. In particular, the presence of liquid fuel on the walls of an intake port which fails to vaporize upon injection is compensated for by the fuel injector control. Algorithms are utilized for controlling fuel injection based upon the convective fuel vapor flow mass and the conductive fuel vaporization rate.

Abstract: A fuel injection control system for an internal combustion engine which compensates for intake port and intake valve wall wetting is disclosed. The system compensates for fuel film flow on the wall to maintain a substantially constant air/fuel ratio during acceleration and deceleration. Physical characteristics of the air and fuel used in engine combustion, intake manifold pressure, and engine speed are processed by the engine control to control the amount of fuel injected by the fuel injector with a compensation for unvaporized fuel on intake port surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling temperatures of catalytic converters in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The exhaust system includes a light-off catalytic converter and a main, or underbody, catalytic converter. The light-off catalytic converter is smaller and is disposed nearer to the engine than is the main catalytic converter so that it can be brought to an efficient operating temperature by engine exhaust gases in less time than can the main catalytic converter. This reduces the output of initial undesirable exhaust emissions during start-up periods when the engine and exhaust system components are relatively cold. A valve controls the flow of exhaust gases through each of the two catalytic converters to bring them most quickly to, and maintain them at, their most efficient operating temperatures.