Abstract: Misfire detection techniques for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) including an internal combustion engine and an electric motor involve utilizing a crankshaft speed sensor configured to generate a crankshaft speed signal indicative of a rotational speed of a crankshaft of the engine that is coupled to the electric motor via a flywheel. The techniques also utilize a controller configured to control the electric motor to provide a vibrational response to dampen disturbances to the crankshaft, receive the crankshaft speed signal, selectively modify the crankshaft speed signal to obtain a modified crankshaft speed signal, and detect a misfire of the engine based on the modified crankshaft speed signal and a set of thresholds including at least one of a negative misfire threshold and a positive vibrational response threshold.

Abstract: Rationality diagnostic techniques for an intake oxygen sensor are utilized to detect sensor malfunction. A non-intrusive diagnostic technique includes passively detecting when an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve position crosses low/high position thresholds, whereas an intrusive diagnostic technique includes actively commanding the EGR valve to predetermined low/high positions. During a period after the EGR valve position reaches/crosses at least one of the low/high positions/position thresholds, respectively, maximum and minimum intake oxygen concentration is monitored. When the EGR valve position has crossed both the low/high positions/position thresholds and a difference between the maximum and minimum oxygen concentrations is less than a respective difference threshold, a malfunction of the intake oxygen sensor is detected. A malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) could be set to indicate the malfunction.

Abstract: A first computer-implemented diagnostic method can run in response to an imminent deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO) event. A second computer-implemented diagnostic method can run on engine shutdown. Both diagnostic methods involve controlling fuel injectors and a fuel pump to make the fuel rail pressure change from a desired minimum to a desired maximum. Measurements from the fuel rail pressure sensor at these endpoints can then be used to detect a fault of the fuel rail pressure sensor. One or both diagnostic methods can be implemented.

Abstract: Misfire detection techniques for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) including an internal combustion engine and an electric motor involve utilizing a crankshaft speed sensor configured to generate a crankshaft speed signal indicative of a rotational speed of a crankshaft of the engine that is coupled to the electric motor via a flywheel. The techniques also utilize a controller configured to control the electric motor to provide a vibrational response to dampen disturbances to the crankshaft, receive the crankshaft speed signal, selectively modify the crankshaft speed signal to obtain a modified crankshaft speed signal, and detect a misfire of the engine based on the modified crankshaft speed signal and a set of thresholds including at least one of a negative misfire threshold and a positive vibrational response threshold.

Abstract: Rev-matching techniques that do not require a gear position sensor or a clutch position sensor are provided for a manual transmission of a vehicle. The techniques include predicting an intent of a driver to shift gears of the manual transmission based on whether the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating; predicting a shift of the manual transmission from a current gear to a different target gear based on the predicted driver intent; and detecting a trigger condition indicative of the predicted shift of the manual transmission based on a position of a clutch pedal configured to control engagement/disengagement of a clutch of the manual transmission. In response to detecting the trigger condition, a torque request for the torque generating system is modified to obtain a modified torque request, and the torque generating system is controlled based on the modified torque request.

Abstract: A first computer-implemented diagnostic method can run in response to an imminent deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO) event. A second computer-implemented diagnostic method can run on engine shutdown. Both diagnostic methods involve controlling fuel injectors and a fuel pump to make the fuel rail pressure change from a desired minimum to a desired maximum. Measurements from the fuel rail pressure sensor at these endpoints can then be used to detect a fault of the fuel rail pressure sensor. One or both diagnostic methods can be implemented.

Abstract: Rev-matching techniques that do not require a gear position sensor or a clutch position sensor are provided for a manual transmission of a vehicle. The techniques include predicting an intent of a driver to shift gears of the manual transmission based on whether the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating; predicting a shift of the manual transmission from a current gear to a different target gear based on the predicted driver intent; and detecting a trigger condition indicative of the predicted shift of the manual transmission based on a position of a clutch pedal configured to control engagement/disengagement of a clutch of the manual transmission. In response to detecting the trigger condition, a torque request for the torque generating system is modified to obtain a modified torque request, and the torque generating system is controlled based on the modified torque request.

Abstract: A first computer-implemented diagnostic method can run in response to an imminent deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO) event. A second computer-implemented diagnostic method can run on engine shutdown. Both diagnostic methods involve controlling fuel injectors and a fuel pump to make the fuel rail pressure change from a desired minimum to a desired maximum. Measurements from the fuel rail pressure sensor at these endpoints can then be used to detect a fault of the fuel rail pressure sensor. One or both diagnostic methods can be implemented.

Abstract: Rationality diagnostic techniques for an intake oxygen sensor are utilized to detect sensor malfunction. A non-intrusive diagnostic technique includes passively detecting when an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve position crosses low/high position thresholds, whereas an intrusive diagnostic technique includes actively commanding the EGR valve to predetermined low/high positions. During a period after the EGR valve position reaches/crosses at least one of the low/high positions/position thresholds, respectively, maximum and minimum intake oxygen concentration is monitored. When the EGR valve position has crossed both the low/high positions/position thresholds and a difference between the maximum and minimum oxygen concentrations is less than a respective difference threshold, a malfunction of the intake oxygen sensor is detected. A malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) could be set to indicate the malfunction.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing rationality of a humidity sensor output signal determines that the humidity sensor output signal has passed a rationality diagnostic if the output signal is changing sufficiently. If the output signal is not changing sufficiently, the method determines whether it should be changing sufficiently by whether a humidity capacity index determined based on temperature and pressure local to the humidity sensor is changing sufficiently. If the humidity capacity index is changing sufficiently and the humidity sensor output signal is not, the method determines that the humidity sensor output signal has failed a diagnostic check. Upon determining that the humidity sensor output signal has failed the diagnostic check a predetermined number of times, the method determines that the humidity sensor output signal has failed the rationality diagnostic.

Abstract: A first computer-implemented diagnostic method can run in response to an imminent deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO) event. A second computer-implemented diagnostic method can run on engine shutdown. Both diagnostic methods involve controlling fuel injectors and a fuel pump to make the fuel rail pressure change from a desired minimum to a desired maximum. Measurements from the fuel rail pressure sensor at these endpoints can then be used to detect a fault of the fuel rail pressure sensor. One or both diagnostic methods can be implemented.

Abstract: Improved throughput is provided in a spacecraft TDMA cellular communications system by introducing a standby state, in addition to the idle and transfer states, of the medium access control (MAC) protocol, which controls the transfer of data over the radio interface between the network and the user terminals. The terrestrial locations include mobile user terminals and gateways which provide connections to the land line telephone system and/or the land packet data network i.e. Internet service provider. Each of the terrestrial terminals and gateways include a MAC to control the transmitting and receiving of data between the gateway and user terminals. Since packet data is bursty, multiple transitions occur between the idle and transfer states during data transfers. The new standby state maintains synchronization, reducing the transition time to the data transfer state by comparison with the transition time from an idle state where the network does not maintain user synchronization.

Abstract: Tension within a power transfer system is measured by tension evaluator that includes an actuator, a first sensor, and a second sensor. The actuator applies a first load and a second load to a chain. The chain is moved a first amount of deflection in response to the first load and the chain is moved a second amount of deflection in response to the second load. The first sensor senses an event. A third amount of deflection is associated with the event. The second sensor senses an amount of travel of the chain between the second amount of deflection and the third amount of deflection.