Abstract: A motor vehicle includes apparatus for towing a trailer with a retractable drop leg. A backup camera captures a detection image with a field of view including the trailer. A vehicle controller detects an initiation of driving with the trailer being connected. A pattern memory prestores at least one image pattern indicative of an extended position or a retracted position of the drop leg. An image scanner receives the detection image when the initiation of driving is detected, wherein the image scanner compares the detection image and the at least one image pattern to detect whether the drop leg is in the extended position. A notification device responsive to the image scanner alerts a driver if the extended position is detected.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes apparatus for towing a trailer with a retractable drop leg. A backup camera captures a detection image with a field of view including the trailer. A vehicle controller detects an initiation of driving with the trailer being connected. A pattern memory prestores at least one image pattern indicative of an extended position or a retracted position of the drop leg. An image scanner receives the detection image when the initiation of driving is detected, wherein the image scanner compares the detection image and the at least one image pattern to detect whether the drop leg is in the extended position. A notification device responsive to the image scanner alerts a driver if the extended position is detected.

Abstract: A transportation vehicle provides a brake autohold function to maintain braking without requiring the driver to continuously apply pressure on a brake pedal. The vehicle comprises an autohold selector, a parking brake selector, a brake pedal, and an accelerator pedal. A braking system is adapted to enter an autohold event according to a pressed brake pedal at vehicle standstill during an active autohold mode toggled by the autohold selector. A controller is configured to terminate the autohold event in response to either a deactivation command using the parking brake selector or accelerator pedal movement, without deactivating the autohold mode. By manually terminating the brake autohold event the vehicle can begin to creep forward using only the torque generated by the engine at idle, thereby avoiding the additional torque that is generated when the accelerator pedal is used to terminate the brake autohold event.

Abstract: A transportation vehicle provides a brake autohold function to maintain braking without requiring the driver to continuously apply pressure on a brake pedal. The vehicle comprises an autohold selector, a parking brake selector, a brake pedal, and an accelerator pedal. A braking system is adapted to enter an autohold event according to a pressed brake pedal at vehicle standstill during an active autohold mode toggled by the autohold selector. A controller is configured to terminate the autohold event in response to either a deactivation command using the parking brake selector or accelerator pedal movement, without deactivating the autohold mode. By manually terminating the brake autohold event the vehicle can begin to creep forward using only the torque generated by the engine at idle, thereby avoiding the additional torque that is generated when the accelerator pedal is used to terminate the brake autohold event.

Abstract: A method for a fuel delivery system coupled to an engine is disclosed, the fuel delivery system including a lower pressure pump (LPP) fluidly coupled upstream of a higher pressure pump (HPP). The method may include during operation of both the HPP and LPP, adjusting operation of the LPP in response to pressure fluctuations at an inlet of the HPP.

Abstract: A method for a fuel delivery system coupled to an engine is disclosed, the fuel delivery system including a lower pressure pump (LPP) fluidly coupled upstream of a higher pressure pump (HPP). The method may include during operation of both the HPP and LPP, adjusting operation of the LPP in response to pressure fluctuations at an inlet of the HPP.

Abstract: A power distribution system and method of operation, for a motor vehicle. The power distribution system includes a generator is in a parallel electrical connection with a battery and a switch. The generator is also in communication with a vehicle load circuit, while the battery is in selective communication with the generator based on the state of the switch. The switch disconnects the battery from the vehicle load circuits to isolate the battery from the vehicle load circuit and the generator output voltage, and allowing the generator to run at a voltage below the nominal battery voltage. The method includes the steps of disconnecting the battery from the generator and vehicle load, lowering the generator output voltage from the generator, and providing the generator output voltage to the vehicle circuit.

Abstract: A system for determining a minimum ignition coil charge duration of an internal combustion engine to meet a desired level of combustion stability includes a sensor in communication with a controller. The sensor is configured to measure the ionization current of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine and output to the dwell controller. The controller is configured to determine a combustion stability criterion based upon the ionization signal and determine the minimum ignition coil charge duration based upon the combustion stability criterion.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for ensuring operation of a motorized throttle. The presence of an obstruction, such as ice, is detected inside the motorized throttle. The obstruction is then removed within a predetermined time to free the motorized throttle. A new closed throttle position is then recorded as a zero degree reference from which to control a throttle plate to a desired angle.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system is provided with a fuel solenoid valve to minimize fuel leakage and evaporative emissions during diurnal cycles by preventing pressure buildup as the temperature of the fuel system rises. The fuel solenoid valve is located between a pressurized side of the delivery system and a fuel tank. In one embodiment, the fuel solenoid valve is closed when the engine is running or when the engine is off and the rail is hot. When the fuel rail cools down, the solenoid valve opens to bleed a desired amount of fuel thereby creating a fuel vapor space. Thereafter, during hot soak conditions of the diurnal cycles when the fuel rail is hot again while the engine is off, the pressure will rise due to the thermal expansion of the fuel and the created fuel vapor space minimizes further rising of the fuel pressure. Further, by adjusting the solenoid valve opening time, the pressure rising limit may be set at a desired pressure to minimize injector leakage.

Abstract: A fuel pressure relief valve is provided to minimize evaporative emissions due to fuel leakage through the fuel injectors. The fuel pressure relief valve is sealed during operation to prevent flow through the valve. When the automotive vehicle is not operating and the temperature has cooled, the valve unseals. Thereafter, temperature rises that would otherwise result in pressure buildup are prevented.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for determining engine stop position and includes an engine tracking subsystem and a throttle control subsystem. The engine tracking subsystem is coupled to the engine and determines the engine position by sensing rotation of the crankshaft. Once the engine controller receives an engine shutdown signal, the throttle is controlled to lower the air pressure in the intake manifold of the engine. Lowered as such, the resulting reversal torque caused by compression of air in the cylinders is smaller than the friction load torque of the engine and engine reversal is eliminated or substantially reduced. When the engine has stopped, the engine tracking system stores the last engine position for use during the next engine startup.

Abstract: A fuel volume accumulator is provided to hold rail pressure for hot engine restart and then reduce fuel pressure when the engine is off thereby minimizing evaporative emissions during diurnal cycles by preventing pressure build up as a temperature of a fuel system rises. The fuel volume accumulator comprises a fuel inlet body, and a moving element adapted to communicate with an inner surface of the fuel inlet body to define a fuel chamber. The fuel chamber is adapted to expand with substantially minimal pressure resistance until the extent of its volume is encountered. The fuel inlet body is in open communication at a first end with a fuel pump via a check valve and a fuel rail via an orifice which restricts fuel flow to substantially maintain a quick fuel rail re-pressurization.

Abstract: A fuel pressure relief valve is provided to minimize evaporative emissions due to fuel leakage through the fuel injectors. The fuel pressure relief valve is sealed during operation to prevent flow through the valve. When the automotive vehicle is not operating and the temperature has cooled, the valve unseals. Thereafter, temperature rises that would otherwise result in pressure buildup are prevented.

Abstract: An engine diagnostic system is described in which a number of engine diagnostics for an electronic throttle are performed while the throttle itself is off line. Of particular interest are positional, electrical, and timing tests of performance for the electronic throttle. A number of self-diagnostic routines may be performed when the engine is off-line and the testing will not interfere with an operator of the engine or a motor vehicle containing the engine.

Abstract: An engine diagnostic system is described in which a number of engine diagnostics for an electronic throttle are performed while the throttle itself is off line. Of particular interest are positional, electrical, and timing tests of performance for the electronic throttle. A number of self-diagnostic routines may be performed when the engine is off-line and the testing will not interfere with an operator of the engine or a motor vehicle containing the engine.

Abstract: A control system must establish the same throttle position repeatedly to obtain fuel efficiency and prevent speed dropping during idling. Sensors determine the throttle position or other engine parameter associated with the throttle position and create an analog signal. The information is processed by a analog-to-digital converter which places the signal into a discrete level. A controller receives this signal and compares it to a point assigned between two discrete levels representing the desired throttle position or engine parameter. Therefore, the signal will never equal the assigned point. The controller makes corrections based on this comparison after every iteration because the error will never reach zero.

Abstract: A control system must establish the same throttle position repeatedly to obtain fuel efficiency and prevent speed dropping during idling. Sensors determine the throttle position or other engine parameter associated with the throttle position and create an analog signal. The information is processed by a analog-to-digital converter which places the signal into a discrete level. A controller receives this signal and compares it to a point assigned between two discrete levels representing the desired throttle position or engine parameter. Therefore, the signal will never equal the assigned point. The controller makes corrections based on this comparison after every iteration because the error will never reach zero.

Abstract: An electronic engine control system incorporates an electronic fuel controller for adaptively altering the amount of fuel delivered to an internal combustion engine. The fuel controller detects the oxygen level contained in the engine's exhaust emissions along with the engine speed, or engine angular velocity, load and other engine operating parameters and varies the fuel delivery in accordance with the detected parameters. The change in fuel delivery is stored in a table contained in a memory. The information stored in the table is utilized by the fuel controller as an addend to a fuel delivery value calculated from the detected operating parameters.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling ignition timing during alternating rich and lean fuel-air composition excursions for efficiency and for controlling torque fluctuations associated with the excursions. The method, for use in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine including an electronic fuel and spark control module, includes reducing spark advance instantaneously during a rich fuel-air excursion, and increasing spark advance during a lean fuel-air excursion. The amount of spark advance adjustment is preferably determined utilizing nonlinear functions which relate spark, torque ratios, and air-fuel ratios.