Abstract: A method for determining the existence of a “short time” type state within a vehicle control assembly 10. The method requires the measurement of the temperature 59 of engine coolant 16 at a first time 61 and the determination and/or the inferential creation of the temperature 60 of the engine coolant 16 at a second and later time 62. A “short time” type state is identified when the temperature 60 at the second time 62 is greater than or equal to the temperature 59 at the first time 61.

Abstract: A method for determining the use of a block heater in an internal combustion engine and compensating for the effects that such heaters can have on an engine coolant sensor. The method uses measurements of ambient air temperature to determine if the use of a heater is likely and then compares the measured coolant temperature with an inferred coolant temperature to verify the usage of the block heater when the difference is significant. When use of a heater is detected, the value for coolant temperature initially supplied to the engine control system is compensated with a normalized coolant temperature value that is based on a functional relationship between the inferred engine temperature and the measured coolant temperature. Then as the mechanism of the engine begins to mechanically turn and the coolant is circulated, the normalized value of coolant temperature is filtered in a way that the normalized value approaches the temperature reading from the coolant sensor, as the starting process continues.

Abstract: A method for determining the use of a block heater in an internal combustion engine and compensating for the effects that such heaters can have on an engine coolant sensor. The method uses measurements of ambient air temperature to determine if the use of a heater is likely and then compares the measured coolant temperature with an inferred coolant temperature to verify the usage of the block heater when the difference is significant. When use of a heater is detected, the value for coolant temperature initially supplied to the engine control system is compensated with a normalized coolant temperature value that is based on a functional relationship between the inferred engine temperature and the measured coolant temperature. Then as the mechanism of the engine begins to mechanically turn and the coolant is circulated, the normalized value of coolant temperature is filtered in a way that the normalized value approaches the temperature reading from the coolant sensor, as the starting process continues.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining engine oil temperature without an oil temperature sensor infer the oil temperature at engine start based on the calculated temperature at power down and various other parameters which may include engine coolant temperature, soak time, ambient temperature, and whether an engine block heater has been used. The invention provides a more accurate determination of engine oil temperature to allow more precise engine control particularly during cranking and during the first few minutes of engine operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inferring the engine coolant temperature in cylinder head temperature sensor equipped vehicles including the steps of measuring the cylinder head temperature, calculating the engine coolant temperature from the measured cylinder head temperature as a function of at least one vehicle operational state, generating a signal for the calculated engine coolant temperature, and sending the generated signal to a display.

Abstract: A fuel control system and method for an engine having a returnless fuel system uses a fuel blend sensor to adjust a desired air/fuel ratio to allow continuous fuel blend changes. Engine operating conditions are monitored and used to track the movement of small fuel quantities from the fuel blend sensor to the fuel injectors. The system and method use the cells in the stack to represent the volume of the fuel quantities and their corresponding measured fuel blend.

Abstract: An electrically powered fuel pump in an electronic returnless fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine is controlled during transient engine operating conditions. A controller senses an operating parameter to infer whether a transient engine operating condition exists. Then, the controller generates an estimate of a fuel pump correction signal based on this inference. The correction signal is generally sufficient to cause the fuel pump to respond to the transient condition, by supplying a generally correct amount of fuel, prior to the engine requiring a change in fuel quantity.

Abstract: A method and system for adaptive feedforward control of a fuel delivery system provides for adapting a normalized pressure input and a normalized flowrate input to a feedforward voltage look-up table. If low fuel flow and high manifold pressure are detected (104), then the normalized pressure input will be adapted based on a target fuel rail pressure and a pressure multiplier PMUL. If high fuel flow is detected (106), then the normalized flowrate input will be adapted based on a target flowrate and a flowrate multiplier FMUL. The present invention provides adaptive feedforward control without the need for the look-up table to be stored in a keep-alive memory (KAM).

Abstract: A dual speed fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine in an automotive vehicle includes a fuel pump, a dropping resistor connected to the fuel pump for reducing the voltage required to drive the fuel pump, and a controller for determining an optimum transition point between one of a relatively high and low speed fuel pump operation so that a controlled amount of fuel is delivered to the engine. The controller calculates fuel pressure increase across the fuel pump, determines the minimum fuel pump voltage necessary to drive the fuel pump such that a predetermined amount of fuel is supplied to the engine and determines the current draw of the fuel pump. The controller then calculates the voltage drop across the dropping resistor and compares the resulting voltage with the minimum fuel pump voltage. The controller then selectively by-passes the dropping resistor based on this comparison.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inferring the engine coolant temperature in cylinder head temperature sensor equipped vehicles including the steps of measuring the cylinder head temperature, calculating the engine coolant temperature from the measured cylinder head temperature as a function of at least one vehicle operational state, generating a signal for the calculated engine coolant temperature, and sending the generated signal to a display.