Abstract: A method for restarting an engine of a vehicle includes stopping the vehicle and holding the vehicle stationary, reducing engine speed, increasing a rate of reduction of engine speed, if engine speed is less than a reference speed when a desired restart of the engine is indicated, and initiating an engine restart when engine speed is substantially zero.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a digital camera having a sensor (such as a charge coupled device), a first lens directing a first image onto a first region of the sensor, a second lens directing a second image onto a second region of the sensor, and a third lens directing a third image onto a third region of the sensor. A display screen displays to a driver of the vehicle the first image, and a processing unit performs stereoscopic image analysis on data originating from the second and third regions. A fourth lens may be used to direct a fourth image onto a fourth region of the sensor, and the processing unit performs calculations on data from the fourth region for the detection of movement of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control device for a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a stop/start device, and to a method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in such a motor vehicle, wherein the stop/start device is designed to switch off the internal combustion automatically when at least one stop condition is met, wherein the switching off of the internal combustion engine when the stop condition is present does not take place until after a switch off delay time has passed. The control device is designed to prevent, in reaction to a first voice command, the automatic switching off of the internal combustion engine for a predefined time period and/or until a predefined vehicle operating state criterion has been fulfilled irrespective of whether or not the stop condition was already met at the time when the voice command was issued.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for monitoring combustion stability of an HCCI internal combustion engine equipped with a crankshaft, an intake manifold and at least one cylinder, wherein stability is determined based on a deviation of an engine operating parameter such as, for example engine load or engine speed, from a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for monitoring combustion stability of an internal combustion engine equipped with a crankshaft, an intake manifold and at least one cylinder, including the following steps: determining the absolute deviation e of indicated mean effective pressure pind or indicated torque Tind with respect to their actual set point, i.e., with respect to actual indicated mean effective pressure set point pind,setpt or actual indicated torque set point Tind,setpt, namely ?pind or ?Tind, or alternatively determining the relative change ?e in said deviation between two consecutive combustion cycles k, k+1 of said at least one cylinder, i.e., determining (?pind,k+1?pind,k) or (?Tind,k+1??Tind,k) or determining the relative change ?e in angular acceleration ?? of the crankshaft between two consecutive combustion cycles k, k+1, i.e.

Abstract: A method for assessing noise generated during combustion in an internal combustion engine, such method comprising determining a noise index by processing a signal generated in a cylinder of such engine in accordance with a shift invariant wavelet transform.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting the start of combustion in the combustion chamber of an engine with autoignition. In the method, the profile of the cylinder pressure is measured and the signal which is obtained in this way is transformed using wavelet functions. A sudden rise in the absolute value of the wavelet coefficients which are obtained indicates the start of combustion. The simple and at the same time precise detection of the start of combustion which is possible in this way can be used within the framework of a feedback regulation—by changing engine operating parameters such as, for example, the start of injection of the fuel—to regulate the start of combustion in a desired way.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for regenerating a particulate filter in the exhaust system of a diesel engine, an increase in the temperature of the exhaust gases being brought about by post-injection of fuel. The intake pressure (MAP) and/or the air mass flow rate (MAF) are reduced as a function of the ambient temperature of the engine and preferably also when the engine load is low by throttling the engine. In this way, the proportions of burned or unburned post-injected fuel can be stabilized.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting the start of combustion in the combustion chamber of an engine with autoignition. In the method, the profile of the cylinder pressure is measured and the signal which is obtained in this way is transformed using wavelet functions. A sudden rise in the absolute value of the wavelet coefficients which are obtained indicates the start of combustion. The simple and at the same time precise detection of the start of combustion which is possible in this way can be used within the framework of a feedback regulation—by changing engine operating parameters such as, for example, the start of injection of the fuel—to regulate the start of combustion in a desired way.

Abstract: A method for regenerating a diesel particulate filter (10) in the exhaust gas system of a diesel engine (5) is disclosed in which particulate matter is burned by increasing the temperature in the diesel particulate filter (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for interrupting the regeneration of a particulate filter in the exhaust gas system of a diesel engine to protect the filter against destructive overheating. In this case, an electronic control unit calculates a desired mass air mass flow rate (MAFdes) based on engine speed (n), fuel supply (Fq) to the engine, and air/fuel ratio (A/Fdes). A mass air flow rate regulator controls the position of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve as a function of the difference between the desired mass air mass flow rate (MAFdes) and the measured mass air flow rate (MAFmes). An intake manifold absolute pressure controller adjusts the position of an intake throttle valve as a function of the difference between the measured intake manifold absolute pressure (MAPmes) and the modified intake manifold absolute pressure (MAPmod). MAPmod is determined by a coordination module, based on the mass air flow rate error and other parameters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for regenerating a particulate filter in the exhaust system of a diesel engine, an increase in the temperature of the exhaust gases being brought about by post-injection of fuel. The intake pressure (MAP) and/or the air mass flow rate (MAF) are reduced as a function of the ambient temperature of the engine and preferably also when the engine load is low by throttling the engine. In this way, the proportions of burned or unburned post-injected fuel can be stabilized.

Abstract: A method for regenerating a diesel particulate filter (10) in the exhaust gas system of a diesel engine (5) is disclosed in which particulate matter is burned by increasing the temperature in the diesel particulate filter (10).

Abstract: A method for determining the load on an internal combustion engine exhaust particulate filter optimizes filter regeneration by determining the portion of the filter load constituted by accumulated ash. In one technique, the ash load is determined by recording the lowest value of DPF load over a time or distance interval. In another technique, an estimate is made of the amount of load remaining at each of a plurality of DPF regeneration events; the amount of remaining load immediately following the regeneration event corresponds to the amount of accumulated ash in the DPF. DPF load estimation is performed using equations for laminar or turbulent flow in pipes. These equations establish a linear or quadratic relationship between the flow through the DPF and the pressure drop measured across it.

Abstract: A method for regenerating a particulate filter communicating with exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine 12 is provided. The method includes indicating that the particulate filter 48 needs to be regenerated. The method further includes adjusting the throttle valve 18 to decrease an amount of air inducted into one of the engine cylinders to increase a temperature of the exhaust gases while maintaining an engine speed above a predetermined engine speed. The method further includes increasing the speed of the engine 12 and injecting a predetermined amount of fuel into one of said cylinders late in a power stroke of the cylinder to further increase the temperature of the exhaust gases to regenerate the filter 48.

Abstract: In a chromatography system of the type including an oven for the chromatographic column, and an electric heater for controllably heating the oven, an improved system is disclosed for controllably opening and closing the oven door to enable a fully controlled heat leak, thereby to stabilize the oven temperature at a desired set point. A signal, which is indicative by first or second conditions of an oven temperature above or below the set point, is generated. A heater power control responsive to one of the signal conditions can effect heating of the oven. A bi-directional door motor and actuator means is provided for opening and closing the oven door over a prescribed operating range, and this means is enabled to operate for a predetermined period upon the signal in its first or second condition departing from preset threshold values for a predetermined period, in consequence of which the opening or closing of the oven door is effected in incremental steps.

Abstract: An improvement is disclosed for use in a chromatographic system of the type including detector means providing a detector output signal indicative of the level of a component sought to be determined, detector output amplifier means for receiving the signal, an error signal balancing loop connected to the amplifier output to provide a balancing signal in feedback relationship to the amplifier, and means for adjusting the sensitivity range of the amplifier.

Abstract: A system for injecting sample fluids into an analyzer and processing the analysis data is disclosed. The system includes a fluid sample analyzer, a sample storage module for a number of fluid samples, an injection module by which samples are injected into the analyzer, and a control module for governing and sequencing the operation of the system. The storage module houses a plurality of sample-containing trays which can be loaded with samples remote from the system. A gas operated liquid purging system is employed for minimizing the quantity of residual material injected into the analyzer with successive samples, which system operates over a broad range of purging fluid viscosities using excessive amounts of fluid purge material.