Abstract: Systems for efficiently starting an engine of a hybrid electric vehicle are provided. An example of a system comprises a first processor and a second processor. The second processor is configured to determine when to start an internal combustion engine, cause energy to be supplied from an energy storage device to a generator/motor to cause the generator/motor and crankshaft to rotate to at least a hold speed, transmit a first instruction to a first processor when determining that the internal combination engine should be started. The first processor does not supply fuel to at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine in response to the first instruction. The second processor is configured to transmit a second instruction to the first processor after a variable period of time has elapse after the generator/motor or crankshaft has reached at least the hold speed.

Abstract: A system for diagnosing operation of a cooling system for an internal combustion engine includes a coolant temperature sensor producing a temperature signal corresponding to coolant fluid temperature, means for determining either an engine load or a throttle percentage, and a control computer configured to diagnose operation of the cooling system as a function of the temperature signal, either the engine load or throttle percentage, and a fuel delivery command for controllably supplying fuel to the engine. After expiration of a diagnostic period, the control computer diagnoses the cooling system as normally operating if the diagnostic period ended by the temperature signal meeting or exceeding a predefined temperature and if a total energy used by the engine during the diagnostic period is less than an estimated energy, and diagnoses the cooling system as failing if the total energy used during the diagnostic period otherwise meets or exceeds the estimated energy.

Abstract: An EGR fault/failure determination system for an internal combustion engine is operable to monitor a number of EGR system operational parameters and diagnose various EGR-related fault and failure statuses therefrom. For example, the system is operable to determine a number of EGR system-related fault and failure conditions by monitoring measured and command EGR position signals to determine EGR valve controller functionality, to monitor response times between fully open and closed EGR valve positions by comparing measured response times to a calibratable response time value, and to monitor in-range EGR position failures associated with fully closed and fully opened EGR valve position values. The system further includes a Kalman filter-based fault/failure isolation feature operable to isolate and identify one or more sources of EGR valve-related faults/failures.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for diagnosing EGR flow rate operation in an internal combustion engine includes an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold coupled to the engine and an EGR conduit for recirculating exhaust gas from the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold. Means are provided for determining an EGR fraction corresponding to a fractional amount of recirculated exhaust gas in a total air charge supplied to the intake manifold. A control computer is configured to continually accumulate at least one EGR fraction error sum as a function of the EGR fraction and a desired EGR fraction, and to diagnose EGR flow rate operation as a function of the accumulated value of the at least one EGR fraction error sum.

Abstract: A system for diagnosing operation of a cooling system for an internal combustion engine includes a coolant temperature sensor producing a temperature signal corresponding to coolant fluid temperature, means for determining either an engine load or a throttle percentage, and a control computer configured to diagnose operation of the cooling system as a function of the temperature signal, either the engine load or throttle percentage, and a fuel delivery command for controllably supplying fuel to the engine. After expiration of a diagnostic period, the control computer diagnoses the cooling system as normally operating if the diagnostic period ended by the temperature signal meeting or exceeding a predefined temperature and if a total energy used by the engine during the diagnostic period is less than an estimated energy, and diagnoses the cooling system as failing if the total energy used during the diagnostic period otherwise meets or exceeds the estimated energy.

Abstract: An EGR fault/failure determination system for an internal combustion engine is operable to monitor a number of EGR system operational parameters and diagnose various EGR-related fault and failure statuses therefrom. For example, the system is operable to determine a number of EGR system-related fault and failure conditions by monitoring measured and command EGR position signals to determine EGR valve controller functionality, to monitor response times between fully open and closed EGR valve positions by comparing measured response times to a calibratable response time value, and to monitor in-range EGR position failures associated with fully closed and fully opened EGR valve position values. The system further includes a Kalman filter-based fault/failure isolation feature operable to isolate and identify one or more sources of EGR valve-related faults/failures.

Abstract: The invention provides a software method to correct for non-fuel injection induced errors in measured engine speed. This invention provides a means to calculate a least squares regression of the measured engine speed data when the engine is motoring without combustion or load. The motoring test is to avoid the effect of unbalanced cylinder power, thus detecting only the static errors in engine speed measurements. Recognizing that the average cylinder speed should form a straight line within an engine cycle, the lease squares regression of the measured speed data therefore represents the theoretical performance of the engine. A residual between this theoretical performance and the actual measured engine speed can therefore be determined. A table of mean residuals which are averages of individual residuals measured in consecutive engine cycles is constructed for each engine at a reference engine speed.

Abstract: A system and method in which the exhaust manifold pressure is measured by a single gauge-type pressure sensor positioned in the exhaust manifold to detect misfires in all cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The pressure sensor detects the exhaust manifold pressure and feeds a signal to a microcomputer via an analog-to-digital converter. A data processing device monitors the pressure waveform created by the data from the sensor to determine if a full or partial misfire occurs. If a cylinder suffers from a partial or complete misfire, the strength of the pressure pulse for that cylinder will be reduced, thus, allowing the data processing device to identify the misfire. The data processing device may determine a misfire by computing an average peak pressure for each combustion cycle, a pressure threshold as a function of engine speed and fuel consumption rate, and a minimum pressure value based on the difference between the average peak pressure and the pressure threshold.

Abstract: An air intake heating and diagnostic system for an internal combustion engine includes a microprocessor based controller for activating electrical heating elements for a preheat time period prior to starting the engine and for a postheat time period after starting the engine. The controller receives inputs corresponding to intake manifold air temperature, battery temperature, vehicle speed, engine speed, and key switch position. The system continuously monitors the integrity of the various sensors, monitors the functionality of the heating elements during the postheat time period, and warns the vehicle operator by illuminating a "check engine" lamp if certain fault conditions are detected. In both cases, the controller sets fault flags within the controller memory corresponding to the detected fault conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating calibration information in which a subfile type is defined for each of a plurality of categories of data including (1) engine control data, (2) engine family data, (3) vehicle interface data, (4) software sequencing data, (5) electronic configuration data, and (6) memory configuration data. A separate subfile is created in memory for each of a plurality of individual sets of data in each of the data categories. Each subfile is automatically provided with line checksums, a cyclic redundancy code, date information, a subfile type identifier, and a subfile authorization level, and data entries are automatically verified base on rules stored in memory in a rules file, each of the subfile types having an associated rules file, and each of the rules files defining criteria for individual data items and for interrelationships between data items in its associated subfile type.

Abstract: A method is provided for computing a stabilized vehicle speed value from a detected vehicle speed pulse signal and a detected engine speed signal, the vehicle speed value being for use by a vehicle speed control system. The method comprises several continuous cyclic steps commncing with generating a measured vehicle speed value from the detected vehicle speed pulse signal and generating a measured engine speed value from the detected engine speed signal. A current gear ratio is calculated from the measured vehicle speed value and the measured engine speed value. This current gear ratio is then passed through a single pole digital filter to filter changes in the gear ratio between consecutive cycles as a function of the current gear ratio and the gear ratio computed in the last preceding cycle of the computation. A current usable gear ratio is generated which is changed from the most recently generated usable gear ratio only if changes in the gear ratio exceed predetermined limit values.

Abstract: A single sensor apparatus and method for determining engine position and engine speed is disclosed. The apparatus includes a gear rotating in synchronism with the camshaft of an internal combustion engine. The gear includes a number of equiangularly spaced teeth, and an additional tooth mechanically synchronized with top dead center position of a particular cylinder of the engine. An algorithm is disclosed for detecting the added tooth with a high reliability and accuracy. In addition, engine speed is determined by measuring the time interval required for a predetermined quantity of gear teeth to pass the sensor by detecting the pulses corresponding to the gear teeth. The resulting time interval is converted into engine speed through a known relationship between the number of teeth on the gear and their angular spacing.

Abstract: An engine control device for electronically controlling fuel injection of an engine is disclosed. The engine control device includes algorithms for instantaneously calculating fueling requirements in accordance with sensory inputs corresponding to engine operating conditions and throttle position. The fueling requirements are instantaneously reflected as modifications of the duration of fueling signals supplied to the fuel injectors, so that instantaneous fueling changes are effected. Fuel is conserved, and engine responsiveness improved in the current or presently occurring fuel injection cycle as a result of the immediate responsiveness of the engine control device operation.

Abstract: An electronic microcomputer based engine brake control device and a method for controlling an engine compression brake is disclosed. An algorithm for enabling engine brake operation includes monitoring a brake enable switch, engine RPM, engine fueling rate, cruise control or power takeoff system activation state, throttle position, manifold pressure and clutch pedal position. Engine brake operation is fully automatic and operates in a safe manner according to the disclosed algorithm.

Abstract: An accelerator control system having an analog pedal position sensor and an idle switch capable of generating complementary output signals indicative of pedal position. The system includes a control circuit which commands the engine to an idle speed if the analog sensor indicates an idle state or if the complementary output signals together indicate an idle state. The system overrides the idle switch in the absence of complementary output signals therefrom and allows operation in response to the pedal position sensor as long as its output signal is within a predetermined range. Provision is made for operation at a reduced performance level in the event of an out-of-range failure of the analog sensor if the complementary output signals together indicate a non-idle condition.