Abstract: An engine system uses data associated with at least one operating condition of an engine to set the engine system to an AI mode when the engine is in an SI mode 1) within first operating condition limits, and 2) when a rate of change of a first operating condition is within rate of change limits, maintain the engine system in the SI mode when the engine is outside of first operating condition limits or when the rate of change of the first operating condition is not within rate of change limits, set the engine system to the SI mode when the engine is in the AI mode outside second operating condition limits, and maintain the engine system in the AI mode when the engine is within second operating condition limits, wherein the second operating condition limits are different from the first operating condition limits.

Abstract: A rotary needle fuel injector having a housing including a wall having a plurality of non-circular apertures extending through the wall and a rotatable rod inside the housing and having a bore through which fuel is supplied. The rotatable rod has a plurality of apertures communicating with the bore and in selective communication with the non-circular apertures in the housing wall. The non-circular apertures also include an axis of symmetry extending along a direction of rotation of the rotatable rod and an axis of asymmetry perpendicular to the axis of symmetry.

Abstract: A temperature sensing device includes a probe unit on a first end and a sensor unit on a second end opposite the first end. The first end is introduced into an environment to be measured, such as an exhaust gas line from a combustion engine, and the second end is positioned in a region outside of the environment such that the sensor unit is at least partially insulated from a temperature of the environment. The probe unit, exposed to the temperature of the environment, achieves a temperature that corresponds to the temperature of the environment. The sensor unit is operable to sense the temperature of the probe unit and generate a corresponding electrical signal usable to determine a sensed temperature of the environment. The temperature of the environment can be determined on a cycle-by-cycle basis, and is usable for implementing advanced combustion strategies such as HCCI and SACI.

Abstract: In one embodiment an engine system includes a cylinder, an inlet valve configured to control the flow of gases into the cylinder, an outlet valve configured to control the flow of gases out of the cylinder, a throttle configured to control the flow of fuel into the cylinder, a memory including program instructions stored therein, and a processor operably connected to the inlet valve, the outlet valve, the throttle, and the memory, and configured to execute the program instructions to control the inlet valve and the outlet valve in accordance with an HCCI valve lift profile and an SI valve open/close profile, and activate a first spark in the cylinder while controlling the inlet valve and the outlet valve in accordance with the HCCI valve lift profile and the SI valve open/close profile.

Abstract: A combustion engine system in one embodiment includes a combustion engine, at least one controllable component operably connected to the combustion engine, at least one sensor configured to sense a parameter associated with the combustion engine, and an electronic control unit (ECU) operably connected to the at least one controllable component and the at least one sensor, wherein the ECU is configured to determine a temperature of an unburned mixture based upon the sensed parameter, and control the at least one controllable component based upon the determined temperature.

Abstract: An engine system uses data associated with at least one operating condition of an engine to set the engine system to an AI mode when the engine is in an SI mode 1) within first operating condition limits, and 2) when a rate of change of a first operating condition is within rate of change limits, maintain the engine system in the SI mode when the engine is outside of first operating condition limits or when the rate of change of the first operating condition is not within rate of change limits, set the engine system to the SI mode when the engine is in the AI mode outside second operating condition limits, and maintain the engine system in the AI mode when the engine is within second operating condition limits, wherein the second operating condition limits are different from the first operating condition limits.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling engine combustion during a mixed-mode combustion modality. A target exhaust valve timing is determined based on a first combination of engine speed and load. An amount of trapped residual in an engine cylinder after an exhaust valve is closed during a first combustion cycle is also determined. Based at least in part on the amount of trapped residual, an amount of gas that will be drawn into the engine cylinder when the intake valve is opened during a second combustion cycle is determined. The target exhaust valve timing is then adjusted during the second combustion cycle in order to adjust the amount of gas that will be drawn into the engine cylinder when the intake valve is opened during a third combustion cycle.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method of controlling an engine system includes providing a first cylinder with a first inlet valve, a first outlet valve, and a first throttle, controlling the first inlet and the first outlet valve in accordance with an SI valve lift profile, activating a first spark in the first cylinder while controlling the first inlet and the first outlet valve in accordance with the SI valve lift profile, controlling the first inlet and the first outlet valve in accordance with an HCCI valve lift profile, activating a second spark in the first cylinder while controlling the first inlet and the first outlet valve in accordance with the HCCI valve lift profile, and controlling the SOI timing of the first throttle in an HCCI SOI mode while controlling the first inlet valve and the first outlet valve in the HCCI valve lift profile after activating the second spark.

Abstract: A temperature sensing device includes a probe unit on a first end and a sensor unit on a second end opposite the first end. The first end is introduced into an environment to be measured, such as an exhaust gas line from a combustion engine, and the second end is positioned in a region outside of the environment such that the sensor unit is at least partially insulated from a temperature of the environment. The probe unit, exposed to the temperature of the environment, achieves a temperature that corresponds to the temperature of the environment. The sensor unit is operable to sense the temperature of the probe unit and generate a corresponding electrical signal usable to determine a sensed temperature of the environment. The temperature of the environment can be determined on a cycle-by-cycle basis, and is usable for implementing advanced combustion strategies such as HCCI and SACI.

Abstract: A combustion engine system in one embodiment includes a combustion engine, at least one controllable component operably connected to the combustion engine, at least one sensor configured to sense a parameter associated with the combustion engine, and an electronic control unit (ECU) operably connected to the at least one controllable component and the at least one sensor, wherein the ECU is configured to determine a temperature of an unburned mixture based upon the sensed parameter, and control the at least one controllable component based upon the determined temperature.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling engine combustion during a mixed-mode combustion modality. A target exhaust valve timing is determined based on a first combination of engine speed and load. An amount of trapped residual in an engine cylinder after an exhaust valve is closed during a first combustion cycle is also determined. Based at least in part on the amount of trapped residual, an amount of gas that will be drawn into the engine cylinder when the intake valve is opened during a second combustion cycle is determined. The target exhaust valve timing is then adjusted during the second combustion cycle in order to adjust the amount of gas that will be drawn into the engine cylinder when the intake valve is opened during a third combustion cycle.

Abstract: In one embodiment an engine system includes a cylinder, an inlet valve configured to control the flow of gases into the cylinder, an outlet valve configured to control the flow of gases out of the cylinder, a throttle configured to control the flow of fuel into the cylinder, a memory including program instructions stored therein, and a processor operably connected to the inlet valve, the outlet valve, the throttle, and the memory, and configured to execute the program instructions to control the inlet valve and the outlet valve in accordance with an HCCI valve lift profile and an SI valve open/close profile, and activate a first spark in the cylinder while controlling the inlet valve and the outlet valve in accordance with the HCCI valve lift profile and the SI valve open/close profile.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method of controlling an engine system includes providing a first cylinder with a first inlet valve, a first outlet valve, and a first throttle, controlling the first inlet and the first outlet valve in accordance with an SI valve lift profile, activating a first spark in the first cylinder while controlling the first inlet and the first outlet valve in accordance with the SI valve lift profile, controlling the first inlet and the first outlet valve in accordance with an HCCI valve lift profile, activating a second spark in the first cylinder while controlling the first inlet and the first outlet valve in accordance with the HCCI valve lift profile, and controlling the SOI timing of the first throttle in an HCCI SOI mode while controlling the first inlet valve and the first outlet valve in the HCCI valve lift profile after activating the second spark.