Abstract: An engine management system for a vehicle includes engine and transmission control modules that are connected to a serial vehicle data bus. A dedicated serial data bus is connected to the transmission control module and the engine control module. The engine and the transmission control modules perform processor validity and integrity checks over the dedicated data bus. In an alternate powertrain management system, engine and transmission control modules are connected to a serial vehicle data bus.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling a shutdown of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus comprises an intake manifold configured to conduct an intake charge of air to an intake port of the internal combustion engine and a throttle configured to alter the intake charge of air to the intake port of the internal combustion engine. The apparatus further comprises a controller configured to control the throttle such that a substantial termination of the intake charge of air is provided during the shutdown of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus compensates throttle area in an engine control system with an electronic throttle using intake diagnostic residuals. A plurality of tables relate throttle area, breakpoint numbers, flow loss factors and residual values. At least one of the tables is updated based on the intake diagnostic residuals to generate a compensated throttle area.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting a throttle of a vehicle engine. The apparatus comprises an input sensor configured to provide an input signal having a value that approximately corresponds to an operating level of the vehicle engine requested by an operator and a memory configured to store a maximum input value for the input sensor. The maximum input value provides the value of the input signal that approximately corresponds to a maximum operating level of the vehicle engine. The apparatus is further configured to receive the input signal and access the memory to retrieve the maximum input value and further configured to update the maximum input value with the value of the input signal if the value of the input signal is greater than the maximum input value.

Abstract: An engine management system for a vehicle includes engine and transmission control modules that are connected to a serial vehicle data bus. A dedicated serial data bus is connected to the transmission control module and the engine control module. The engine and the transmission control modules perform processor validity and integrity checks over the dedicated data bus. In an alternate powertrain management system, engine and transmission control modules are connected to a serial vehicle data bus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus compensates throttle area in an engine control system with an electronic throttle using intake diagnostic residuals. A plurality of tables relate throttle area, breakpoint numbers, flow loss factors and residual values. At least one of the tables is updated based on the intake diagnostic residuals to generate a compensated throttle area.

Abstract: A vehicle control system method and apparatus including a mobile application service provider communicating over a wireless communication network, a mobile station communicating with the mobile application service provider over the wireless communications network, and a vehicle controller communicating with the mobile station via an automotive communications network, and where the mobile application service provider accesses vehicle data and transfers the vehicle data to the mobile application service provider to be utilized by the mobile application service provider or another information provider.

Abstract: A method of controlling a motor vehicle engine having an electronic throttle including positioning the electronic throttle in response to a requested throttle area, determining a fault in the vehicle engine, limiting the throttle area after a fault has been determined to control vehicle speed, limiting acceleration of the vehicle after the fault has been determined, and determining if the engine may be operated at full throttle after the fault has been determined to allow the vehicle to operate in a high power demand application.

Abstract: A method of controlling a motor vehicle engine having an electronic throttle including positioning the electronic throttle in response to a requested throttle area, determining a fault in the vehicle engine, limiting the throttle area after a fault has been determined to control vehicle speed, limiting acceleration of the vehicle after the fault has been determined, and determining if the engine may be operated at full throttle after the fault has been determined to allow the vehicle to operate in a high power demand application.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting a throttle of a vehicle engine. The apparatus comprises an input sensor configured to provide an input signal having a value that approximately corresponds to an operating level of the vehicle engine requested by an operator and a memory configured to store a maximum input value for the input sensor. The maximum input value provides the value of the input signal that approximately corresponds to a maximum operating level of the vehicle engine. The apparatus is further configured to receive the input signal and access the memory to retrieve the maximum input value and further configured to update the maximum input value with the value of the input signal if the value of the input signal is greater than the maximum input value.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling a shutdown of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus comprises an intake manifold configured to conduct an intake charge of air to an intake port of the internal combustion engine and a throttle configured to alter the intake charge of air to the intake port of the internal combustion engine. The apparatus further comprises a controller configured to control the throttle such that a substantial termination of the intake charge of air is provided during the shutdown of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An improved traction control system in which a wheel spin condition is detected based on measured vehicle acceleration instead of measured wheel speeds. An electronic controller detects a wheel spin condition by computing the acceleration of the vehicle drive shaft and comparing the computed acceleration to an acceleration threshold stored as function of vehicle speed and wheel torque. If the computed acceleration exceeds the threshold for more than a predetermined time, the engine torque is reduced in relation to the amount by which the computed acceleration exceeds the threshold. When the computed acceleration falls below the threshold, the torque reduction is gradually removed. The wheel torque, vehicle speed and drive shaft acceleration are easily determined and filtered, and the incremental cost of the traction control function is primarily related to the memory requirements to accommodate the acceleration threshold look-up table.

Abstract: An improved method of governing vehicle acceleration in which desired throttle area is initialized to an open-loop, vehicle speed dependent, value at the onset of vehicle acceleration governing, and is thereafter updated based on a combination of open-loop, and proportional and integral closed-loop terms. The open-loop term is calibrated to produce a throttle area limit for controlling the vehicle acceleration on flat terrain with nominal loading at sea level, while the proportional and integral terms compensate for terrain inclination, loading and altitude, yielding an optimal balance of smoothness and response time. The open-loop term may be empirically determined as a function of both vehicle speed and barometric pressure, and the vehicle acceleration is computed using a least squares approximation of acceleration based on successively measured values of vehicle speed.

Abstract: A maintenance method for periodically maintaining the operating condition of an exhaust gas recirculation valve for controlling recirculation of internal combustion engine exhaust gas from an exhaust gas path to an engine intake air path in which the valve is periodically driven to a maximum open position and then back to an initial position, such as a closed position when engine operating conditions are such that there is no driveability or emissions penalty associated with such valve maintenance and when sufficient battery drive voltage is available to drive the valve as required for maintenance thereof.