Abstract: In a method relating to an engine with n cylinders, fuel is injected in a predetermined order into the cylinders in a manner which is synchronized with the position of the pistons of the engine. The method includes the following steps after start-up: injection into m cylinders in a predetermined order of injection; measurement of engine speed and/or acceleration; continuation of injection in a predetermined order of injection if engine speed and/or acceleration exceed(s) a predetermined threshold; continuation of injection with a delay in the event of the contrary. The method can be used with respect to the start-up of a direct injection engine.

Abstract: A method for determining a value representative of the pressure in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, includes the following steps: i. measuring the vibration level (2) of the internal combustion engine with an accelerometer placed on the engine block of the internal combustion engine, ii. integrating a value from the signal (2) provided by the accelerometer in a window (t1, t2) delimited as a function of the position of the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, iii. supplying the result of the integration (A1) as a value representative of the pressure, characterized in that the signal (2) provided by the accelerometer in step “i” is integrated while being raised to a power greater than 1 by a predetermined exponent.

Abstract: A method for determining a value representative of the pressure in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, includes the following steps: i. measuring the vibration level (2) of the internal combustion engine with an accelerometer placed on the engine block of the internal combustion engine, ii. integrating a value from the signal (2) provided by the accelerometer in a window (t1, t2) delimited as a function of the position of the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, iii. supplying the result of the integration (A1) as a value representative of the pressure, characterized in that the signal (2) provided by the accelerometer in step “i” is integrated while being raised to a power greater than 1 by a predetermined exponent.

Abstract: A method of determining the “phasing” of an internal combustion engine includes two banks of cylinders each supplied by its own intake manifold. This determining method consists, on the one hand, in equipping each intake manifold with an air flow meter and in measuring the air flow rate in each of the manifolds so as to detect an increase in the air flow rate in one of the manifolds representative of an intake of air into the bank of cylinders supplied by the manifold, and, on the other hand, in equipping one of the rotary members, crankshaft or camshaft associated with each bank of cylinders with a target that rotates as one with the rotary member and is able to determine which cylinder of the bank of cylinders determined to be in the intake phase is in the air intake phase.

Abstract: A method for determining the exhaust pressure (Pr) of a turbocharged internal combustion engine, including a solenoid by-pass valve for the exhaust gas, characterized in that an exhaust pressure (Pi) is determined as a function of the inlet air flow to the engine, (Ar), the engine speed (Rr) and the degree of opening of the solenoid exhaust by-pass valve (Tr), by interpolation from a reference map having exhaust gas pressure values (Pc) for given inlet air flow values (Ac), the engine speed (Rc) and the degree of opening of the solenoid exhaust by-pass valve (Tc), and the exhaust pressure determined by the interpolation (Pi) is corrected as a function of ambient pressure values (Pa, Po).

Abstract: An engine air supply control method relating to a turbocharged engine including an intake manifold (20) which is disposed downstream of the compressor of the turbocharger (14) and an exhaust manifold (22) which is disposed upstream of the turbine of the turbocharger (14). The method includes determining the mass air flow supplying the engine and/or the pressure in the intake manifold (20) and the temperature in the exhaust manifold. The pressure in the exhaust manifold (22) is determined as a function of the pressure in the intake manifold (20), the engine speed, the temperatures in the cylinders (4) and in the exhaust manifold (22), the pressure in the intake manifold (20) being optionally determined from the mass air flow. Inversely, the pressure in the intake manifold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the speed of a vehicle with the aid of sensors on board said vehicle, whereby the vehicle is moved by an engine (6) coupled to a gear box (8), wherein the speed is determined by multiplying the value of the engine rpm obtained by a sensor by a predetermined coefficient as a function of the engaged gearbox ratio. The engaged gearbox ratio is determined during a change in gearbox ratio by dividing the values of the engine rpm measured just before and after the ratio change by each another and by comparing the result of said division with predetermined stored values which are dependent upon the gear box (8) with which the vehicle is fitted. The invention can be used to determine the speed of a vehicle in a degraded mode i.e. in the event of a speed sensor failure.

Abstract: This method is intended for a turbocharged internal combustion engine having an electrically controlled throttle valve. The turbocharger has a waste gate for regulating its pressure. The position of the valve and the extent to which the gate is open are controlled according to two distinct modes of operation. In the first mode, the position of the valve is predetermined as a function of engine control and operating parameters, and the position of the gate is used to regulate the air flow rate. In the second mode, the extent to which the gate is open is predetermined as a function of engine control and operating parameters, and the position of the valve is used to regulate the air flow rate. Which mode is used is gauged by an electronic device which chooses the mode of operation to be implemented as a function of predetermined conditions stored in memory.

Abstract: A method for determining the exhaust pressure (Pr) of a turbocharged internal combustion engine, including a solenoid bypass valve for the exhaust gas, characterised in that an exhaust pressure (Pi) is determined as a function of the inlet air flow to the engine, (Ar), the engine speed (Rr) and the degree of opening of the solenoid exhaust by-pass valve (Tr), by interpolation from a reference map having exhaust gas pressure values (Pc) for given inlet air flow values (Ac), the engine speed (Rc) and the degree of opening of the solenoid exhaust bypass valve (Tc), and the exhaust pressure determined by the interpolation (Pi) is corrected as a function of ambient pressure values (Pa, Po)

Abstract: A method of determining the ambient pressure which is performed in a turbocharged engine having a throttle which is disposed between a heat exchange chamber, known as an intercooler, and an intake manifold. A compressor is provided in order to compress the air in the heat exchange chamber, and the engine is equipped with elements for indicating the pressure in the chamber. The method includes the following steps: detecting the opening of the throttle; measuring the pressure (MAP_UP) in the heat exchange chamber; and determining the ambient pressure (AMP) by measuring the pressure (MAP_UP) in the heat exchange chamber at a predetermined moment which is defined in relation to a characteristic point of the curve (24) representing the pressure (MAP_UP) in the heat exchange chamber as a function of time, the ambient pressure (AMP) being equal to the pressure measured in the heat exchange chamber.

Abstract: A method of determining the ambient pressure which is performed in a turbocharged engine having a throttle which is disposed between a heat exchange chamber, known as an intercooler, and an intake manifold. A compressor is provided in order to compress the air in the heat exchange chamber, and the engine is equipped with elements for indicating the pressure in the chamber. The method includes the following steps: detecting the opening of the throttle; measuring the pressure (MAP_UP) in the heat exchange chamber; and determining the ambient pressure (AMP) by measuring the pressure (MAP_UP) in the heat exchange chamber at a predetermined moment which is defined in relation to a characteristic point of the curve (24) representing the pressure (MAP_UP) in the heat exchange chamber as a function of time, the ambient pressure (AMP) being equal to the pressure measured in the heat exchange chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the speed of a vehicle with the aid of sensors on board said vehicle, whereby the vehicle is moved by an engine (6) coupled to a gear box (8), wherein the speed is determined by multiplying the value of the engine rpm obtained by a sensor by a predetermined coefficient as a function of the engaged gearbox ratio. The engaged gearbox ratio is determined during a change in gearbox ratio by dividing the values of the engine rpm measured just before and after the ratio change by each another and by comparing the result of said division with predetermined stored values which are dependent upon the gear box (8) with which the vehicle is fitted. The invention can be used to determine the speed of a vehicle in a degraded mode i.e. in the event of a speed sensor failure.

Abstract: In a method relating to an engine with n cylinders, fuel is injected in a predetermined order into the cylinders in a manner which is synchronized with the position of the pistons of the engine. The method includes the following steps after start-up: injection into m cylinders in a predetermined order of injection; measurement of engine speed and/or acceleration; continuation of injection in a predetermined order of injection if engine speed and/or acceleration exceed(s) a predetermined threshold; continuation of injection with a delay in the event of the contrary. The method can be used with respect to the start-up of a direct injection engine.

Abstract: This method is intended for a turbocharged internal combustion engine having an electrically controlled throttle valve. The turbocharger has a waste gate for regulating its pressure. The position of the valve and the extent to which the gate is open are controlled according to two distinct modes of operation. In the first mode, the position of the valve is predetermined as a function of engine control and operating parameters, and the position of the gate is used to regulate the air flow rate. In the second mode, the extent to which the gate is open is predetermined as a function of engine control and operating parameters, and the position of the valve is used to regulate the air flow rate. Which mode is used is gauged by an electronic device which chooses the mode of operation to be implemented as a function of predetermined conditions stored in memory.

Abstract: An engine air supply control method relating to a turbocharged engine including an intake manifold (20) which is disposed downstream of the compressor of the turbocharger (14) and an exhaust manifold (22) which is disposed upstream of the turbine of the turbocharger (14). The method includes determining the mass air flow supplying the engine and/or the pressure in the intake manifold (20) and the temperature in the exhaust manifold. The pressure in the exhaust manifold (22) is determined as a function of the pressure in the intake manifold (20), the engine speed, the temperatures in the cylinders (4) and in the exhaust manifold (22), the pressure in the intake manifold (20) being optionally determined from the mass air flow.

Abstract: The operation of an internal combustion engine as a function of the air pressure in at least one engine air inlet manifold (5, 7), in which a campaign of bench tests is carried out on the engine in order to establish a law governing the evolution of the air flow rate MAF of the air entering a cylinder (1) of this engine, as a function of the admission pressure MAP taken from the inlet manifold, this being done at various engine speeds and then, on an operating engine, the air pressure is measured in the engine inlet manifold, a corresponding air pressure MAP value is supplied to a computer (27) that is also supplied the engine speed corresponding to it, and, from this, the air flow rate is deduced as a function of the established evolution law.

Abstract: This involves setting the operation of an internal combustion engine as a function of the air pressure in at least one engine air inlet manifold (5, 7), in which a campaign of bench tests is carried out on the engine in order to establish a law governing the evolution of the air flow rate MAF of the air entering a cylinder (1) of this engine, as a function of the admission pressure MAP taken from the inlet manifold, this being done at various engine speeds and then, on an operating engine, the air pressure is measured in said engine inlet manifold, a corresponding air pressure MAP value is supplied to a computer (27) that is also supplied the engine speed corresponding to it, and, from this, said air flow rate is deduced as a function of the established evolution law.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the operation of sensors in an internal combustion engine includes providing reference values from output signals from a sensor. A sliding average (comparison value) is calculated from a relatively large number of reference values. The operation of the sensor is diagnosed as a function of the amplitude distribution of the reference values about the comparison value. If a malfunction is found, a fault message is transmitted to the driver and reversionary running of the internal combustion engine is started. An electric controller operating in accordance with the sensor is also provided.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the operation of sensors in an internal combustion engine includes providing reference values from output signals from a sensor. A sliding average (comparison value) is calculated from a relatively large number of reference values. The operation of the sensor is diagnosed as a function of the amplitude distribution of the reference values about the comparison value. If a malfunction is found, a fault message is transmitted to the driver and reversionary running of the internal combustion engine is started. An electric controller operating in accordance with the sensor is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for returning to nominal advance. This method is put into practice in the context of a strategy of electronic control of an internal combustion engine when a phenomenon of pinging has been detected and a method of retarding the ignition advance has led to the disappearance of the pinging. According to the invention this method is one which consists in:counting the number of correct detections (x) of pinging which took place during a given number of combustion cycles,determining, for each of the detections counted, what was the energy level (E) of the pinging and calculating the mean energy level corresponding to the counted number of detections,weighting the number of detections with the mean energy level,and comparing the weighted number of detections (z) with a set of empirically predetermined thresholds (S.sub.0 to S.sub.n) in order thereby to formulate a law governing return to nominal advance.