Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for automatically reactivating passenger-activated functions in an automobile, upon restart of the automobile engine, following an engine shutdown. The functional status of each passenger-activated function that is activated when the engine is shut off is stored. An activation time of each passenger-activated function, which corresponds to the time that the passenger-activated function was activated prior to the engine being shut off, is also stored. Upon engine restart, each passenger-activated function that was previously activated is reactivated to its stored functional status, if its stored activation time is less than a predetermined calibration time.

Abstract: A sensor module adjustment circuit includes a device have a position between minimum and maximum positions. First and second position sensors sense the position of the device and generate first and second position values, respectively. A sensor module includes first and second signal conversion modules that generate first and second signal waveforms based on the first and second position values, that include first and second gain modules, and that vary a frequency and a duty cycle, respectively, of the first and second signal waveforms based on the first and second position values. A gain magnitude module determines first and second signal gains of the first and second gain modules, respectively. A signal preset module adjusts the first and second signal gains so that the first and second signal waveforms are equal to first and second predetermined signal waveforms, respectively, when the position of the device is fixed.

Abstract: A control system includes a device having a position between minimum and maximum positions. First and second position sensors sense the position of the device and generate first and second position values. A sensor module generates a first signal waveform based on the first position value and a second signal waveform based on the second position value. The sensor module varies a frequency of the first signal waveform based on the first position value and a frequency of the second signal waveform based on the second position value. A control module communicates with the sensor module and determines the first and second position values based on the frequencies of the first and second signal waveforms, respectively. The sensor module increases the frequency of the first signal waveform and decreases the frequency of the second signal waveform as the device moves from the minimum position to the maximum position.

Abstract: A controller estimates a temperature of a catalytic converter in a vehicle and determines an engine speed. The controller shuts off fuel to the engine if the estimated temperature is greater than a maximum temperature of the catalytic converter and the engine speed is greater than a maximum engine speed. If the estimated catalytic converter temperature is greater than the maximum temperature, the controller delays a spark retard request to the engine. The controller updates vehicle torque with an integral torque if an RPM error is within an RPM error range and vehicle speed is less than a maximum vehicle speed for a first period. The controller increases torque to the engine by a proportional torque if an RPM error is within an RPM error range to prevent engine stall. The controller updates the integral torque when the RPM error is within an RPM error range for a first period.

Abstract: An engine control system for monitoring torque increase during cylinder deactivation for a displacement on demand (DOD) engine includes a throttle and a controller. The controller adjusts a preload of the throttle prior to a cylinder deactivation event and determines whether a DOD fault is present during the cylinder deactivation event. The controller one of operates the engine without the preload in the deactivated mode and switches the engine back to the activated mode if the fault is present for a predetermined time. The controller cancels the preload if the DOD fault is present and resets the preload if the predetermined period has not expired. The DOD fault includes one of an engine speed fault, a transmission gear fault and a fueled cylinder fault.

Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus is suitable for use in an automobile controller and includes a power supply terminal conducting a reference voltage, a sampling circuit and a reference voltage diagnostic circuit. The sampling circuit is coupled to the power supply terminal and has an output terminal for providing sampled values of the reference voltage. The reference voltage diagnostic circuit has an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the sampling circuit. The reference voltage diagnostic circuit maintains a historical value of the reference voltage over a predetermined time period, compares a current sampled value of the reference voltage to the historical value, and indicates a fault in the reference voltage in response to the current sampled value being different from the historical value by more than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An engine control system for monitoring torque increase during cylinder deactivation for a displacement on demand (DOD) engine includes a throttle and a controller. The controller adjusts a preload of the throttle prior to a cylinder deactivation event and determines whether a DOD fault is present during the cylinder deactivation event. The controller one of operates the engine without the preload in the deactivated mode and switches the engine back to the activated mode if the fault is present for a predetermined time. The controller cancels the preload if the DOD fault is present and resets the preload if the predetermined period has not expired. The DOD fault includes one of an engine speed fault, a transmission gear fault and a fueled cylinder fault.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for automatically reactivating passenger-activated functions in an automobile, upon restart of the automobile engine, following an engine shutdown. The functional status of each passenger-activated function that is activated when the engine is shut off is stored. An activation time of each passenger-activated function, which corresponds to the time that the passenger-activated function was activated prior to the engine being shut off, is also stored. Upon engine restart, each passenger-activated function that was previously activated is reactivated to its stored functional status, if its stored activation time is less than a predetermined calibration time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for ensuring that a throttle increase accompanying a change in the number of active cylinders of an internal combustion engine will not occur too long with more than a selected fraction of all the cylinders activated, so as to not startle a driver. The apparatus comprises an electronic controller that generates the throttle increase if less than all the cylinders are requested to be activated. A determination is made as to whether the number of cylinders being fueled is equal to or less than the selected fraction. A timer is started if the number of cylinders being fueled is greater than the selected fraction. The throttle increase is turned off if the amount of time measured by the timer exceeds a threshold before the number of cylinders being fueled becomes either less than or equal to the selected fraction.

Abstract: An electronic throttle control (ETC) system to control an idle speed of an engine includes an accessory that increases a load on the engine and a controller that generates an idle request signal based on the increased load. The controller compares the idle request signal to an idle maximum signal and sets an idle command signal equal to the idle request signal if the idle request signal is less than the idle maximum signal. The controller determines the idle command signal based on the idle request signal, a previous idle command signal and the idle maximum increase signal if the idle request signal is greater than the idle maximum signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for ensuring that a throttle increase accompanying a change in the number of active cylinders of an internal combustion engine will not occur too long with more than a selected fraction of all the cylinders activated, so as to not startle a driver. The apparatus comprises an electronic controller that generates the throttle increase if less than all the cylinders are requested to be activated. A determination is made as to whether the number of cylinders being fueled is equal to or less than the selected fraction. A timer is started if the number of cylinders being fueled is greater than the selected fraction. The throttle increase is turned off if the amount of time measured by the timer exceeds a threshold before the number of cylinders being fueled becomes either less than or equal to the selected fraction.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices are described that provide a three-state control signal across a single electrical conductor. A three-position switch provides an output signal that selects between the first reference voltage, a second reference voltage and an intermediate voltage. The output from the switch is transmitted to a voltage divider circuit that produces a predetermined result when the switch output corresponds to the intermediate state. The output of the voltage divider is then provided to an analog-to-digital converter to decode the state of the switch. The three-state control signal may be used, for example, to place a vehicle component such as a windshield temperature controller or rear-window defogger into a desired one of three operating states. Similarly, the three-state concepts may be widely applied in many automotive, industrial, consumer electronics and other settings.

Abstract: An engine control system and method monitors torque increase during cylinder deactivation for a displacement on demand engine. A timer is started at cylinder deactivation. A controller adjusts throttle position and determines whether cylinder deactivation completes within a predetermined time. The controller adjusts throttle position based on the status of an enable condition. The controller determines if engine speed and vehicle acceleration are each within a threshold. The controller operates the throttle in a preload operating mode if the enable condition is met and operates the throttle in a normal operating mode if the enable condition is not met.

Abstract: A system and method is directed to wheel slip for a mobile vehicle. The method provides for monitoring a plurality of vehicle system signal inputs, determining an actual vehicle speed value, a pedal progression vehicle speed value, and a control signal modification value based on the vehicle system signal inputs. The method further provides for determining a control signal value based on the control signal modification value and controlling pedal progression input based on the determined control signal value. The system includes means for determining an actual vehicle speed value, a pedal progression vehicle speed value, and a control signal modification value based on a plurality of vehicle system signal inputs. Means for determining a control signal value based on the control signal modification value and means for controlling pedal progression input based on the determined control signal value are also provided.

Abstract: A control system for maintaining powertrain responsiveness adjusts a throttle progression curve to compensate for different vehicle loads. The control system calculates an actual vehicle acceleration rate based on measured vehicle speed for evaluation of total mass being propelled by the vehicle. The calculated actual vehicle acceleration rate is compared to a target vehicle acceleration rate. A throttle progression curve is adjusted based on the results of the comparison so that a subsequent actual vehicle acceleration rate is closer to the target vehicle acceleration rate.

Abstract: A control system for adjusting a throttle progression curve to compensate for traction slip calculates a maximum vehicle acceleration value based on wheel torque and vehicle speed conditions, then compares the actual vehicle acceleration to determine if it is greater than the maximum acceleration to determine if slip is detected, and adjust a throttle progression curve based on the results of the comparing step to enable the vehicle to learn the current road conditions and reduce the throttle progression for a given pedal position during slippery conditions to reduce the amount of slip that occurs during future accelerations.

Abstract: An ignition timing control method for a vehicle which provides an engine torque output waveform for canceling vibrational disturbances caused by sudden throttle plate movement resulting in engine accelerations and decelerations. The ignition timing is variably advanced and retarded in accordance with a phase-shifted derivative of engine speed to produce an appropriate engine torque output waveform for optimally canceling the vehicle vibrational disturbances. The phase shift is accomplished by applying a time delay to the engine speed derivative. A negative bias is added to the ignition timing for retarding ignition timing by a predetermined amount to permit a full sinusoidal canceling waveform. A blend multiplier is utilized to gradually remove the effects of the canceling waveform and bias, thereby gradually returning the ignition timing to its original setting.

Abstract: An algorithm, for use in automotive vehicle control systems for substantially reducing control inaccuracies caused by parameter sensing delays, predicts the present value of a sensed parameter by establishing a time history of the parameter behavior over a predetermined time period, and by extending the time history to the present time based on the dominant time constant of the parameter, the most recent sensed value of the parameter, and a calculated rate of change in the time history of the parameter.