Abstract: A control system for fuel injection by predicting engine noise may include an engine noise predicting device configured to derive a predicted engine noise value in real time by a predicted engine noise coefficient which is pre-stored according to a currently measured combustion pressure value of an engine; and a combustion controller configured to determine a difference between the real-time predicted engine noise value derived by the engine noise predicting device and a target engine noise value for a current operation condition of the engine, and when the engine noise is determined as being degraded due to an abnormal combustion, configured to change the target engine noise value to control fuel injection according to the changed target engine noise value.

Abstract: A control device for a compression-ignition engine is provided, in which partial compression-ignition combustion including spark ignition (SI) combustion performed by combusting a portion of mixture gas inside a cylinder by spark-ignition followed by compression ignition (CI) combustion performed by causing the rest of the mixture gas inside the cylinder to self-ignite is executed within a part of an operating range of the engine. The device includes a detector configured to detect a parameter related to noise caused by the combustion inside the cylinder, an EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) controller configured to change an EGR ratio being a ratio of exhaust gas introduced into the cylinder, and a combustion controller configured to control the EGR controller to increase the EGR ratio when a noise index value specified based on the detected parameter of the detector is confirmed to exceed a given threshold during the partial compression-ignition combustion.

Abstract: Based on respective signals from the combustion pressure sensor and a crank angle sensor, heat generation amount data in which a heat generation amount and a crank angle are related to each other is generated, and an estimated heat generation amount is calculated based on a fuel amount in the combustion cycle. When a final value of a heat generation amount in the combustion cycle is smaller than the estimated heat generation amount, the combustion state parameter is calculated based on the heat generation amount data to a crank angle corresponding to the final value of the heat generation amount. When the final value of the heat generation amount is equal to or larger than the estimated heat generation amount, the combustion state parameter is calculated based on the heat generation amount data to a crank angle at which the heat generation amount reaches the estimated heat generation amount.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is provided to maintain cylinder balance. A first operating mode corresponding to a steady state operation of the internal combustion engine is differentiated from a second operating mode corresponding to a transient operation of the internal combustion engine based upon a first operating parameter of the internal combustion engine. In the first operating mode, a first control strategy provides cylinder balance. In the second operating mode, a second control strategy, different than the first control strategy, provides cylinder balance. The second control strategy utilizes a dynamic factor based upon a second operating parameter of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: Feedback control is executed based on a measured CA10 and a measured CA50 that are calculated based on measured data for MFB. During steady operation a correlation index value IRA that shows a degree of correlation between the measured data and reference data corresponding thereto is calculated. During transient operation, a correlation index value IAA that shows a degree of correlation between the measured data and measured data that is measured immediately prior to the measured data is calculated. If the correlation index value IRA or the correlation index value IAA is less than a determination value Ith, control is performed to prohibit reflection in the aforementioned feedback control of each of the measured CA10 and the measured CA50 which are measured in the combustion cycle in which the relevant correlation index value is calculated.

Abstract: Methods and systems for evaluating cylinder pressure profiles in cylinders of an engine are disclosed. In one example, fuel injection timing of engine cylinders is adjusted to improve engine combustion in response to output of one or more pressure sensors installed in engine cylinders. Combustion within a plurality of engine cylinders may be adjusted in response to pressure sensed in a single engine cylinder.

Abstract: An intake air mass estimation unit is provided that sets predetermined degrees of crank angle to an angle that can divide an intake stroke into a plurality of sections, measures at every the predetermined degrees of crank angle the pressure downstream of the throttle valve and the time taken for the predetermined degrees of crank angle rotation, estimates the intake air mass flowing from the upstream to downstream of the throttle valve at every the predetermined degrees of crank angle, using the pressure downstream of the throttle valve and the time taken for the predetermined degrees of crank angle rotation measured at every the predetermined degrees of crank angle, and integrates the intake air mass at every the predetermined degrees of crank angle for 720 degrees of crank angle rotation, thereby estimating the intake air mass needed for one combustion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for adjusting the spark timing of an internal combustion engine. According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, the system includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for recirculating exhaust gas flow from at least one primary EGR cylinder of an engine into an intake system prior to combustion. According to at least one other aspect of the present disclosure, the method includes estimating a dynamic EGR fraction of exhaust gas directed into the intake system via the EGR system, estimating a steady-state EGR fraction of exhaust gas directed into the intake system at the changed mass air flow rate, computing a difference between the dynamic fraction and steady-state fraction to determine a change in EGR fraction, and applying a gain factor to the change in EGR fraction to determine a desired spark timing adjustment.

Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine, the method comprising identifying cylinder stroke during the engine start responsive to a fuel rail pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling the combustion phase of a fuel mixture of a spark-ignition supercharged internal-combustion engine comprising at least one cylinder (12) with a combustion chamber (14), at least one fuel supply means (48, 52) and spark ignition means (38).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control device for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine provided with a cylinder pressure sensor and aims to facilitate optimal control of a combustion state even in a situation where an operating condition is variable. A predetermined combustion-related parameter whose value is uniquely determined by behavior of a change in cylinder pressure relative to a crank angle is used as a control value. Ignition timing is calculated based on the control value in accordance with a calculation rule determined according to a current or target operating condition of the internal combustion engine. The control value resulting from calculation based on a target value of a predetermined physical quantity relating to torque of the internal combustion engine in accordance with a predetermined calculation rule is used as a base value and is corrected by feeding back an output value of the cylinder pressure sensor.

Abstract: A method, and corresponding device, for processing a pressure signal from a pressure sensor mounted in a combustion chamber to detect a combustion in an internal combustion engine. The method provides a pressure signal; filters the pressure signal with a filtration mechanism having a variable gain; generates an output signal representative of the filtered pressure signal; generates a signal representative of the error between the pressure signal and the output signal; and determines if the combustion has occurred during an expansion phase of the thermodynamic cycle.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine, especially an internal combustion engine that is operable, at least in a part-load range, in an operating mode with auto-ignition, in which, at an abrupt change in load and/or at a changeover between an operating mode with auto-ignition and an operating mode without auto-ignition, a parameter of the combustion process correlating with the combustion noise is adapted stepwise over a plurality of combustion cycles from a first parameter value before the abrupt change in load or the changeover to a second parameter value after the abrupt change in load or the changeover, by influencing a combustion position of the combustion process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a glow plug with running engine, with the engine having a crankshaft and at least one cylinder. An effective voltage is generated from a vehicle electrical system voltage, with the effective voltage being applied to the glow plug. A plurality of measurement values of the combustion chamber pressure prevalent in the cylinder is measured during each working cycle of the cylinder, with the angular position of the crankshaft being determined for each individual measurement value. A characteristic value of the combustion process is determined from the evolution of the combustion chamber pressure measured in relation to the angular position of the crankshaft, and the determined characteristic value is compared with a setpoint value, and the effective voltage is set to a minimum value required for reaching the setpoint value.

Abstract: A method and a control module for performing the same include a filter module filtering in-cylinder pressure signals using a filter to form filtered in-cylinder pressure signals. The control module further includes a heat release rate determination module generating heat release rate signals based on the in-cylinder pressure signals and a maximum heat rate determination module determining a maximum heat release rate from the heat release rate signals. The system also includes a correction module correcting auto-ignition for the engine based on the maximum heat release rate.

Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a heat-release rate (HRR) module, a first filter module, a second filter module, an auto-ignition energy determination module, and a corrective action module. The HRR module generates an HRR signal based on in-cylinder pressures of a cylinder of the engine. The first filter module generates a first filtered HRR signal indicative of a first HRR due to combustion in the cylinder by filtering the HRR signal. The second filter module generates a second filtered HRR signal indicative of a second HRR due to auto-ignition in the cylinder by filtering one of the HRR signal and the first filtered HRR signal. The auto-ignition energy determination module determines an auto-ignition energy of the cylinder based on the first and second filtered HRR signals. The corrective action module selectively adjusts auto-ignition of the engine based on the auto-ignition energy. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an engine including a unit for retarding an ignition timing from an MBT by a predetermined value or more during cranking at engine starting or during a period from a first combustion up to an idling engine speed.

Abstract: Combustion noise in a compression-ignition engine is controlled by measuring in-cylinder pressure of a cylinder of the compression-ignition engine, determining a combustion noise level based on the in-cylinder pressure measurement, and modifying a combustion control parameter based on the combustion noise level.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine with several cylinders, at least one cylinder is configured as a reference cylinder to which an active cylinder pressure sensor is allocated. A passive cylinder pressure sensor is allocated to each of the remaining cylinders. At least one actuating member is assigned to the cylinders. A crankshaft angle sensor is provided. During the quasi-stationary operating mode, the cylinder segment durations are equated, by an actuating member engaging in at least one actuating signal allocated to the respective cylinder. Furthermore, during the quasi-stationary operating mode, the measuring signal of the active sensor is allocated to the respective measuring signals of the passive sensors. As a result, the signal processing of the measuring signals of the passive sensors is adjusted depending on the respective measuring signals of the passive sensors captured during the quasi-stationary operating mode and on the allocated measuring signal of the active sensor.

Abstract: A control module comprising a cylinder torque determination module that determines an indicated torque for a cylinder in an engine based on a pressure in the cylinder, a cylinder torque balancing module that determines a derivative term for the cylinder based on rotation of a crankshaft, and a cylinder pressure error detection module that detects a pressure error for the cylinder based on the indicated torque and the derivative term. A method comprising determining an indicated torque for a cylinder in an engine based on a pressure in the cylinder, determining a derivative term for the cylinder based on rotation of a crankshaft, and detecting a pressure error for the cylinder based on the indicated torque and the derivative term.

Abstract: In an ignition timing control apparatus for an engine, a KCS learning value learned when the engine is in a given operating state is used in an ignition timing control executed when the engine is in the other operating state. An estimated knocking occurrence ignition timing is set based on a most retarded ignition timing using the KCS learning value. A final ignition timing is set by changing a KCS feedback correction value based on whether knocking occurs when ignition is performed at the estimated knocking occurrence ignition timing. When a point indicating the engine operating state moves into a region where it is difficult to set the estimated knocking occurrence ignition timing, the KCS feedback correction value is changed to retard the final ignition timing, and the final ignition timing is set using the KCS learning value and the changed KCS feedback correction value.

Abstract: A method for determining one or more cylinder pressure features for setting the combustion position in an internal combustion engine includes ascertaining a curve of a cylinder pressure or a curve of a cylinder pressure gradient with respect to a crankshaft angle, filtering the curve of the cylinder pressure or the curve of the cylinder pressure gradient using a filter, in order to eliminate a component of a pressure fluctuation brought about by the piston movement in the combustion chamber, and determining at least one cylinder pressure feature from the filtered curve.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine control apparatus includes an in-cylinder pressure sensor for detecting in-cylinder pressure. A combustion start time and combustion end time, which are parameters serving as control indexes for an internal combustion engine, are determined in accordance with ignition timing. Information about a heat release amount is acquired in accordance with the in-cylinder pressures that are measured at two points by the in-cylinder pressure sensor. The in-cylinder pressure is estimated in accordance with a relationship among the heat release amount information, control index parameters, and in-cylinder pressure.

Abstract: A method of correcting a crankshaft position may include determining first, second, and third crankshaft positions, determining first, second, and third cylinder pressures, determining first, second, and third cylinder volumes, determining the logarithm of the first, second, and third cylinder pressures and cylinder volumes, and determining a relationship between the third cylinder volume and the first and second cylinder volumes. The first, second, and third crankshaft positions may be provided during one of a piston expansion stroke and a piston compression stroke within a cylinder. The logarithm of the third cylinder pressure and cylinder volume may be evaluated with respect to a predetermined limit of a line defined by the logarithm of the first and second cylinder pressures and first and second cylinder volumes.

Abstract: A method for determining one or more cylinder pressure features for setting the combustion position in an internal combustion engine includes ascertaining a curve of a cylinder pressure or a curve of a cylinder pressure gradient with respect to a crankshaft angle, filtering the curve of the cylinder pressure or the curve of the cylinder pressure gradient using a filter, in order to eliminate a component of a pressure fluctuation brought about by the piston movement in the combustion chamber, and determining at least one cylinder pressure feature from the filtered curve.

Abstract: An ignition timing control apparatus and method for an internal combustion engine, and an engine control unit are provided for more rapidly and effectively restraining knocking as the entire internal combustion engine, and extending the lifetime of the internal combustion engine. The ignition timing control apparatus comprising an ECU. The ECU determines a basic ignition timing on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis, calculates a knock intensity on a cylinder-by-cylinder bases based on a detected signal of a cylinder inner pressure sensor, and updates a correction coefficient learning value for a corresponding cylinder when the knock intensity is larger than a predetermined first determination value and is smaller than a predetermined second determination value larger than the predetermined first determination value, and updates the knock intensities for all the cylinders when the one knock intensity parameter is equal to or larger than the predetermined second determination value.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus is disclosed for determining crankshaft position and engine phase of an internal combustion engine through monitoring intake air pressure fluctuations. The opening of the intake valve is mechanically linked to the crankshaft position of an engine. When the intake valve opens it creates air pressure fluctuations in the air induction system of the engine. The control apparatus is configured to determine intake air pressure fluctuations indicative of an intake air event and thus a particular crankshaft position, and their corresponding period of the engine cycle. The controller then uses this information to determine crankshaft speed and position for the purpose of fuel injection and ignition timing of the internal combustion engine. Engine phase is also determined on four-stroke engines. The engine may also include a crankshaft position sensor in combination with monitoring intake air pressure fluctuations to increase resolution in determination of crankshaft position.

Abstract: An engine management system for an internal combustion engine, which has at least one cylinder pressure sensor and at least one engine actuator, includes a data processor arranged to receive and process cylinder pressure data from the cylinder pressure sensor and the actuator controller arranged to control the actuator to optimize engine performance based on the processed data, in which the cylinder pressure data is obtained during a performance optimized engine cycle or cycles. The processor processes the data to construct a cylinder pressure variation function for the engine cycle or cycles and derive control data therefrom for the actuator controller.

Abstract: The individual cylinder air to fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine varies due to the fact that the intake manifold cannot distribute airflow into the individual cylinders evenly. This feature of the present invention utilizes minimum timing for best torque MBT timing criterion provided by the ionization signals or by the in-cylinder pressure signals to balance the air to fuel ratios of the individual cylinders. The control method of the present invention comprises: calculating a mean timing coefficient, calculating a timing coefficient error, integrating the minimum timing for best torque timing coefficient error, calculating a raw fuel trim coefficient, resealing the raw fuel trim coefficient, updating a feedforward look-up table based upon the current engine operating conditions, and calculating a final fueling command.

Abstract: A method, system, and machine-readable storage medium for determining a predetermined operating condition of an internal combustion engine are disclosed. In operation, the method, system and machine-readable storage medium measure a cylinder pressure in at least one combustion chamber at a predetermined point in a combustion cycle. Next, the method, system, and machine-readable storage medium determine at least a first value for an operating parameter of the engine using the measured cylinder pressure, determine a second value for the operating parameter of the engine using data received from at least one engine sensor, and then generate a predetermined signal if a difference between the first value and the second value has a predetermined relationship.

Abstract: A method of controlling an internal combustion engine is provided, in which at least two operating states are differentiated, at least one operating variable of the engine being controlled, a setpoint torque being predetermined on the basis of the optimum operating point for the respective operating state and on the basis of the position of a throttle valve operated by the driver, and the value of at least one operating variable to be output being determined from the setpoint torque. A cylinder-individual firing angle retardation value is predetermined by a knock control system, so that the cylinder-individual firing angle retardation value is taken into account directly in calculating the setpoint torque.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for operating an internal combustion engine (1) wherein a fault of a pressure system with a pressure sensor (14) is determined by a first diagnostic system (14?) of the engine (1). The pressure sensor (14) is especially a pressure sensor of a high pressure fuel system of the engine. For a plausibility consideration of a pressure system fault, which is determined by the first diagnostic system (14?), at least one further diagnostic system (18?) of the engine (1) is checked as to a second fault.

Abstract: Torque estimation techniques in the real-time basis for engine control and diagnostics applications using the measurement of crankshaft speed variation are disclosed. Two different torque estimation approaches are disclosed—“Stochastic Analysis” and “Frequency Analysis.” An estimation model function consisting of three primary variables representing crankshaft dynamics such as crankshaft position, speed, and acceleration is used for each estimation approach. The torque estimation method are independent of the engine inputs (air, fuel, and spark). Both approaches have been analyzed and compared with respect to estimation accuracy and computational requirements, and feasibility for the real-time engine diagnostics and control applications. Results show that both methods permits estimations of the indicated torque based on the crankshaft speed measurement while providing not only accurate but also relatively fast estimations during the computation processes.

Abstract: A controller (31) of a knocking index value calculation device in a spark ignition engine (1) determines operating conditions of the engine (1), estimates an in-cylinder pressure at a reference crank angle, which is set at a predetermined crank position after compression top dead center, using these operating conditions, estimates a temperature of unburned gas in the cylinder at the reference crank angle using these operating conditions, and calculates a knocking index value using the in-cylinder pressure and unburned gas temperature.

Abstract: A method and control system that directly determines combustion quality by measuring an ionization signal of each combustion event during initial engine operation is shown. The determined combustion quality is used to optimize engine performance for emissions and driveability by compensating various engine control parameters during initial engine operation, including starting. Compensation of engine control parameters may include changes to fuel delivery, spark ignition timing, and engine load. Any compensation of the engine control acts to ensure that a sufficient quantity of vaporized fuel is delivered to the engine to effectively start and operate the engine at the load level demanded by the engine, engine loads, and the operator.

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 and apparatus for real-time measurement of combustion characteristics of each combustion event in each individual cylinder coupled with an ability to control the engine based upon the combustion characteristics are shown. The invention includes using selective sampling techniques and wavelet transforms to extract a critical signal feature from an ionization signal that is generated by an in-cylinder ion sensor, and then feeds that critical signal feature into an artificial neural network to determine a desired combustion characteristic of the combustion event. The desired combustion characteristic of the combustion event includes a location of peak pressure, an air/fuel ratio, or a percentage of mass-fraction burned, among others. The control system of the engine is then operable to control the engine based upon the combustion characteristic.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine employs a split injection to create stratified air/fuel mixture charge. The stratified charge includes an ignitable air/fuel mixture portion around a spark plug within the surrounding lean air/fuel mixture and experiences a two-stage combustion. The first stage is combustion of the ignitable air/fuel mixture portion initiated by a spark produced by the spark plug, providing an additional increase of cylinder pressure. The second stage is auto-ignited combustion of the surrounding lean air/fuel mixture induced by such additional cylinder pressure increase. The system and method also employ generating a combustion event indicative (CEI) parameter related with combustion speed or ignition timing point of auto-ignition of auto-ignited combustion of the surrounding mixture, and determining control parameters of a spark timing controller and a fuel supply controller in response to the CEI parameter.

Abstract: An engine control system and method include determining which engine cylinder is performing at a level differently than a majority of the other cylinders. Whenever a cylinder output is below that of the other cylinders, an engine performance variable, such as the spark angle, preferably is adjusted to bring the cylinder indicated mean effective pressure into conformance with that of the other cylinders. By adjusting the individual cylinder performance variable, engine performance is brought to a desired level of smoothness, especially under conditions such as engine idle.

Abstract: A controller for an internal combustion engine is disclosed that improves drivability by always stabilizing combustion. A combustion state is detected based on an engine speed fluctuation every cylinder, and whether combustion is stable is determined. When combustion is stable, whether the condition of executing fuel stability deteriorating operation is satisfied is determined. When combustion is unstable or the condition of executing the fuel stability deteriorating operation is satisfied, a control item adapted to current operating state is selected from control items of ignition timing, ignition method, in-cylinder flow velocity, EGR rate, and air-fuel ratio, and a control is performed so that the combustion velocity and the combustion pressure are stabilized. In the ignition control method, a spark is made a plurality of times by a spark plug. In the control of the in-cylinder flow velocity, a gas flow velocity in a cylinder is increased by strengthening a swirl flow.

Abstract: An engine control system and method include determining which engine cylinder is performing at a level differently than a majority of the other cylinders. Whenever a cylinder output is below that of the other cylinders, an engine performance variable, such as the spark angle, preferably is adjusted to bring the cylinder indicated mean effective pressure into conformance with that of the other cylinders. By adjusting the individual cylinder performance variable, engine performance is brought to a desired level of smoothness, especially under conditions such as engine idle.

Abstract: A method and system to determine the borderline spark timing for a given speed and load of a given cylinder and control spark timing relative to that borderline spark timing to maintain the torque/efficiency of the engine. The system measures combustion related events at several steps from a retarded spark timing to a spark timing signal which is calculated to be beyond the borderline spark timing value. From these measurements, the borderline spark timing signal for a given cylinder at a given speed and load is determined and saved. Borderline spark timing is the spark timing at which audible knock starts to occur.

Abstract: An improved engine control in which the fuel volatility is detected based on a measure of the fired-to-motored cylinder pressure ratio, and used to trim fuel and spark timing controls during engine warm-up and transient fueling periods. In a first embodiment, a matrix of empirically determined pressure ratio values that occur with fuels of differing volatility is stored and compared to the measured pressure ratio to identify the closest stored pressure ratio, and the fuel volatility is determined based on the fuel volatility associated with the identified pressure ratio. In a second embodiment, the actual fuel vapor-to-air equivalence ratio is computed based on the measured pressure ratio, and the fuel volatility is determined based on the deviation between the actual ratio and the desired fuel vapor-to-air equivalence ratio.