Abstract: Lightweight, low-cost, high-density electrical connectors are disclosed that provide impedance-controlled, high-speed, low-interference communications, even in the absence of shields between the contacts, and that provide for a variety of other benefits not found in prior art connectors. An example of such an electrical connector may include a first signal contact positioned within a first linear array of electrical contacts and a second signal contact positioned within a second linear array of electrical contacts that is adjacent to the first linear array. Either of the signal contacts may be a single-ended signal conductor, or one of a differential signal pair. The connector may be devoid of shields between the signal contacts, and of ground contacts adjacent to the signal contacts.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling operation of a engine coupled to an exhaust treatment catalyst. Under predetermined conditions, the method operates an engine with a first group of cylinders combusting a lean air-fuel mixture and a second group of cylinders pumping air only (i.e. without fuel injection.) In addition, the engine control method also provides the following features in combination with the above-described split air/lean mode: auto speed control, sensor diagnostics, air-fuel ratio control, adaptive learning, fuel vapor purging, catalyst temperature estimation, and default operation. In addition, the engine control method also disables the split air/lean operating mode under preselected operating conditions.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a modular electrical connector includes a plug having a printed circuit board, a contact finger positioned on a portion of the printed circuit board, and a housing for supporting and constraining the printed circuit board so that the portion of the printed circuit board extends from the housing. The printed circuit board has a flexible portion that permits the portion of the printed circuit board to translate in relation to the housing. The modular electrical connector also includes a receptacle for mating with the plug and having a first contact for electrically contacting the contact finger when the plug and the receptacle are mated, and a housing having a slot formed therein for receiving the portion of the printed circuit board when the plug and the receptacle are mated.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine for low emissions include an inner feedback control loop to control the engine fuel/air ratio with feedback provided by a first exhaust gas sensor and an outer feedback control loop that modifies the fuel/air ratio reference provided to the inner feedback control loop based on feedback signals provided by the first exhaust gas sensor and a second exhaust gas sensor. The fuel/air ratio reference signal controller adapts to the oxygen storage capacity of the catalyst by modeling the catalyst as an integrator with an unknown gain and estimating the catalyst gain based on the first and second exhaust gas sensor signals. Using the estimated catalyst gain, an adaptive controller gain factor is determined and subsequently used to determine the fuel/air ratio reference signal provided to the fuel/air ratio controller of the inner feedback control loop.

Abstract: Lightweight, low-cost, high-density electrical connectors are disclosed that provide impedance-controlled, high-speed, low-interference communications, even in the absence of shields between the contacts, and that provide for a variety of other benefits not found in prior art connectors. An example of such an electrical connector may include a first signal contact positioned within a first array of electrical contacts and a second signal contact positioned within a second array of electrical contacts that is adjacent to the first linear array. Either of the signal contacts may be a single-ended signal conductor, or one of a differential signal pair. The connector may be devoid of shields between the signal contacts, and of ground contacts adjacent to the signal contacts.

Abstract: Lightweight, low cost, high density electrical connectors are disclosed that provide impedance controlled, high-speed, low interference communications, even in the absence of shields between the contacts, and that provide for a variety of other benefits not found in prior art connectors, such as low insertion loss. Signal contacts and ground contacts within the connectors can be scaled and positioned relative to one another such that a differential signal in a first differential signal pair produces a high field in the gap between the contacts that form the signal pair and a low field near an adjacent signal pair. Consequently, cross talk between adjacent signal contacts can be limited to acceptable levels for the particular application. In such connectors, the level of cross talk between adjacent signal contacts can be limited to the point that the need for (and cost of) shields between adjacent contacts is unnecessary, even in high speed, high signal integrity applications.

Abstract: A method is presented for idle speed control of a lean burn spark ignition internal combustion engine using a fuel-based control strategy. In particular, the idle speed control strategy involves using a combination of fuel quantity or timing and ignition timing to achieve desired engine speed or torque while maintaining the air/fuel ratio more lean than prior art systems. Depending on engine operating conditions, the fuel quantity or timing is adjusted to give a more rich air/fuel ratio in order to respond to an engine speed or torque demand increase. Additionally, due to operation close to the lean misfire limit, the spark ignition timing is adjusted away from MBT in response to an engine speed or torque demand decrease. The advantages of this fuel based control system include better fuel economy as well as fast engine response time due to the use of fuel quantity or timing and ignition timing to control engine output.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine for low emissions include an inner feedback control loop to control the engine fuel/air ratio with feedback provided by a first exhaust gas sensor and an outer feedback control loop that modifies a reference fuel/air ratio provided to the inner feedback control loop based on feedback signals provided by a second exhaust gas sensor positioned downstream relative to a portion of the catalyst and a third exhaust gas sensor positioned downstream relative to the second exhaust gas sensor. Catalyst gains are determined by modeling the catalyst as an integrator with an unknown gain and estimating the catalyst gain based on the exhaust gas sensors with the gain used to monitor catalyst performance and/or modify the engine fuel/air ratio.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine determine a catalyst gain based on an exhaust gas sensor positioned upstream relative to a catalyst and at least one exhaust gas sensor positioned downstream relative to at least a portion of the catalyst and use the gain to determine the condition or performance of the catalyst. The gain may be determined by modeling the catalyst as an integrator with an unknown gain and estimating the gain using a polynomial approximation. The gain is compared to an expected value or threshold associated with current operating conditions, such as catalyst temperature and/or mass air flow.

Abstract: A method is presented for idle speed control of a lean burn spark ignition internal combustion engine using a fuel-based control strategy. In particular, the idle speed control strategy involves using a combination of fuel quantity or timing and ignition timing to achieve desired engine speed or torque while maintaining the air/fuel ratio more lean than prior art systems. Depending on engine operating conditions, the fuel quantity or timing is adjusted to give a more rich air/fuel ratio in order to respond to an engine speed or torque demand increase. Additionally, due to operation close to the lean misfire limit, the spark ignition timing is adjusted away from MBT in response to an engine speed or torque demand decrease. The advantages of this fuel based control system include better fuel economy as well as fast engine response time due to the use of fuel quantity or timing and ignition timing to control engine output.

Abstract: A system and process for determining fuel injection time scheduling in an internal combustion engine. The system and method uses a prediction of engine speed to compensate for the errors due to rapid speed change in fuel injection during crank/start and engine speed transition like engine tip-in and tip-out.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine determine a catalyst gain based on an exhaust gas sensor positioned upstream relative to a catalyst and at least one exhaust gas sensor positioned downstream relative to at least a portion of the catalyst and use the gain to determine the condition or performance of the catalyst. The gain may be determined by modeling the catalyst as an integrator with an unknown gain and estimating the gain using a polynomial approximation. The gain is compared to an expected value or threshold associated with current operating conditions, such as catalyst temperature and/or mass air flow.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling operation of a engine coupled to an exhaust treatment catalyst. Under predetermined conditions, the method operates an engine with a first group of cylinders combusting a lean air-fuel mixture and a second group of cylinders pumping air only (i.e. without fuel injection.) In addition, the engine control method also provides the following features in combination with the above-described split air/lean mode: auto speed control, sensor diagnostics, air-fuel ratio control, adaptive learning, fuel vapor purging, catalyst temperature estimation, and default operation. In addition, the engine control method also disables the split air/lean operating mode under preselected operating conditions.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine for low emissions include an inner feedback control loop to control the engine fuel/air ratio with feedback provided by a first exhaust gas sensor and an outer feedback control loop that modifies the fuel/air ratio reference provided to the inner feedback control loop based on feedback signals provided by the first exhaust gas sensor and a second exhaust gas sensor. The fuel/air ratio reference signal controller adapts to the oxygen storage capacity of the catalyst by modeling the catalyst as an integrator with an unknown gain and estimating the catalyst gain based on the first and second exhaust gas sensor signals. Using the estimated catalyst gain, an adaptive controller gain factor is determined and subsequently used to determine the fuel/air ratio reference signal provided to the fuel/air ratio controller of the inner feedback control loop.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine for low emissions include an inner feedback control loop to control the engine fuel/air ratio with feedback provided by a first exhaust gas sensor and an outer feedback control loop that modifies a reference fuel/air ratio provided to the inner feedback control loop based on feedback signals provided by a second exhaust gas sensor positioned downstream relative to a portion of the catalyst and a third exhaust gas sensor positioned downstream relative to the second exhaust gas sensor. Catalyst gains are determined by modeling the catalyst as an integrator with an unknown gain and estimating the catalyst gain based on the exhaust gas sensors with the gain used to monitor catalyst performance and/or modify the engine fuel/air ratio.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling operation of a engine coupled to an exhaust treatment catalyst. Under predetermined conditions, the method operates an engine with a first group of cylinders combusting a lean air-fuel mixture and a second group of cylinders pumping air only (i.e. without fuel injection.) In addition, the engine control method also provides the following features in combination with the above-described split air/lean mode: auto speed control, sensor diagnostics, air-fuel ratio control, adaptive learning, fuel vapor purging, catalyst temperature estimation, and default operation. In addition, the engine control method also disables the split air/lean operating mode under preselected operating conditions.