Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronically driven pressure boosting system that is used to boost the torque output of an internal combustion engine. The system comprises an electrically driven pressure charging device, an electrical supply system for providing electrical power to drive the pressure charging device including a battery and an engine-driven battery recharger, and an electronic control system for controlling the operation of the pressure charging device and the electrical supply system. The electronic control system determines one or more allowable operating limits to the operation of the pressure charging device based on the state of the electrical supply system, and drives the pressure charging device using the engine-driven battery recharger when the state of the electrical supply system is within an acceptable range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronically driven pressure boosting system that is used to boost the torque output of an internal combustion engine. Engine operating parameters are fed to an engine control unit (ECU). A supercharger is controlled by the ECU and when powered by an electrical supply system boosts engine torque. When the supercharger is in an idle mode of operation at low supercharger speeds it does not boost torque, and when it is in a boost mode of operation at high supercharger speeds, it does boost engine toque. The supercharger requires a lag time to accelerate from an idle speed to a boost speed. The electronic control system monitors the engine operating parameter(s) and calculates therefrom a likelihood that the engine torque will need to be boosted by the compressor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the air-fuel ratio demanded by a fuel controller in order to maintain optimum performance of a catalytic converter.

Abstract: An engine controller system for a direct injection spark ignited internal combustion engine that is capable of operating a stratified mode where fuel is injected during a compression stroke of the engine and a homogeneous mode where fuels is injected during an intake stroke of the engine. The engine controller monitors adjusts the flow rate of the evaporated fuel vapors as a function of the catalyst temperature and the fuel level in the evaporated fuel vapors. The engine controller determines the fuel level in the evaporated fuel vapors as a function of the exhaust gas oxygen senor output.

Abstract: An adapting engine system 10 including at least one pressure sensor 12 positioned within a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, an engine control processor 14 receiving data from the pressure sensor 12 and using the data to determine engine position periodically throughout the life of the engine, and memory 16.

Abstract: This invention relates to an engine torque controller for spark ignition internal combustion engines and more specifically for direct injection engines. The invention provides a torque controller and a method of controlling torque for an engine in which torque is controlled in dependence upon a filtered difference signal where the filtered difference signal is the difference between a desired torque signal and a signal representing an estimate of the current torque.

Abstract: An adapting engine system 10 including at least one pressure sensor 12 positioned within a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, an engine control processor 14 receiving data from the pressure sensor 12 and using the data to determine engine position periodically throughout the life of the engine, and memory 16.

Abstract: An engine controller system for a direct injection spark ignited internal combustion engine that is capable of operating a stratified mode where fuel is injected during a compression stroke of the engine and a homogeneous mode where fuels is injected during an intake stroke of the engine. The engine controller monitors adjusts the flow rate of the evaporated fuel vapors as a function of the catalyst temperature and the fuel level in the evaporated fuel vapors. The engine controller determines the fuel level in the evaporated fuel vapors as a function of the exhaust gas oxygen senor output.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the monitoring of current drawn by an ignition coil for a spark ignition engine, and in particular to circuitry and a method for detecting a malfunction in the charging of an ignition coil or its associated drive circuitry. The electronic circuit comprises: circuitry to measure the voltage of a battery (VB) for charging the coil; software (52) to determine according to the measured battery voltage (VB) a nominal dwell time (TC) for charging fully the coil prior to discharge of the coil; circuitry (32,34) to measure an amount of current drawn by the coil over a time less than the time taken to charge fully the coil; software (36) to extrapolate from the measured current a calculated expected dwell time TD to charge fully the coil; and a device to indicate an error condition (44,62,64,66,68) if the difference (44) between the expected (TD) and nominal (TC) dwell times is beyond a predetermined error limit (58,60).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) and a method for quantifying the net torque (28) produced by an internal combustion engine, for example, in a motor vehicle. Nominal gross engine torque (2) and expected torque losses (17,19,21) associated with the engine (102) are estimated. Estimated net torque (28) from the gross engine torque (2) and expected torque losses (17,19,21) are calculated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for scheduling the ignition sparks for a spark ignition internal combustion engine. An ignition system for a spark ignition engine, includes a device for generating a series of pulses (12) upon each revolution of a crankshaft (1) and a device (8,118) for identifying pulses in the series relative to a top dead center position (TDC) for the engine, one or more ignition coils and a device to charge a coil and then to discharge the coil to generate an ignition spark at a desired spark angle (54) relative to the top dead center position (TDC). The ignition system identifies a first particular pulse (60) occurring after the charging starts and before the discharging begins, and calculates a first interval (I.sub.D) from the first particular pulse (60) so that the discharging happens proximate the desired spark angle (54).

Abstract: A method and system for controlling fuel delivery to an individual cylinder of an internal combustion engine during engine cranking compensates for fuel transport dynamics and the actual fuel injected into the cylinder. A plurality of engine parameters are sensed, including engine temperature, inducted air mass per cylinder and number of engine intake events since cranking. A temperature of the engine stored at key-off is determined. A new puddle mass estimate for the cylinder is determined based on the decay ratio of the new puddle mass estimate to the prior puddle mass estimate stored before key-off utilizing the temperature of the engine stored at key-off. A desired fuel mass to be injected into the cylinder is then determined based on the new puddle mass estimate and the plurality of engine parameters.

Abstract: An air/fuel control method for an internal combustion engine. A portion of fuel delivered to the engine which is lost between the piston and engine cylinder walls during predetermined engine operating conditions is calculated. Fuel delivered to the engine is then adjusted for the calculated lost fuel quantity to achieve a desired engine air/fuel ratio.