Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080223111 | SYSTEM FOR DETECTING HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKS - A control system and method for detecting a hydraulic system leak in an engine includes a pressure sensor that senses a first pressure reading of a hydraulic fluid supply at a first time and a second pressure reading of said hydraulic fluid supply at a second time. A comparison module calculates a pressure ratio based on the first and second pressure readings and signals a fault condition based on a relationship between the pressure ratio and a pressure threshold. | 09-18-2008 |
20080223114 | ENGINE OIL VISCOSITY DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An engine oil viscosity measurement system is provided. The system includes: a solenoid response module that determines an actual response time based on a position signal; an expected response module that determines an expected response time based on a system voltage and engine oil temperature; and a diagnostic module that diagnoses viscosity of the engine oil based on the actual response time and the expected response time. | 09-18-2008 |
20090099719 | Method for vehicle suspension wear prediction and indication - A vehicle suspension wear prediction and indication method includes processing data inputs from a suspension system and converting the data inputs into a cumulative wear estimate. The data inputs are selected to model a magnitude factor and a duration factor related to the operation of the suspension system. | 04-16-2009 |
20090173311 | ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR INCREASED VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY - An engine control system comprises a driver input module, a cylinder actuation module, and an active fuel management (AFM) module. The driver input module generates a fuel saver mode (FSM) signal having a first state based upon a driver input. The cylinder actuation module selectively disables at least one of a plurality of cylinders of an engine based upon a deactivation signal having a first state. The AFM module generates the deactivation signal based on at least one engine parameter and at least one threshold. The at least one threshold is modified when the FSM signal has the first state. | 07-09-2009 |
20090188755 | OIL CONDITION SENSING METHODS AND SYSTEMS - An engine oil system comprises an oil condition sensing device and a control module. The oil condition sensing device includes an electrically actuated member and is in fluid communication with an engine oil reservoir. The control module selectively causes current to be supplied to the oil condition sensing device to actuate the member, measures the current, determines a parameter of the current, and selectively identifies at least two of an oil level, an oil change event, and an oil viscosity level based on the parameter. | 07-30-2009 |
20100024769 | EXTENDING VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT OPERATION THROUGH SPARK KNOCK CONTROL - A control system comprising a spark knock detection module that detects a spark knock in an engine of a hybrid vehicle, and a torque control module that selectively regulates an engine torque output and an electric machine torque output based on the spark knock. A method comprising detecting a spark knock in an engine of a hybrid vehicle, and selectively regulating an engine torque output and an electric machine torque output based on the spark knock. | 02-04-2010 |
20100029421 | CRANKSHAFT REVERSAL DETECTION SYSTEMS - A crankshaft reversal detection system includes a sensor module and a control module that communicates with the sensor module. The sensor module detects position of a belt tensioner that communicates with a crankshaft driven accessory drive belt. The control module determines a rotational direction of the crankshaft pulley based on the position of the belt tensioner. | 02-04-2010 |
20100033372 | IN-VEHICLE ALERT OF CLOUD POINT IN ENGINE DIESEL FUEL - The disclosure relates to a method for receiving in-vehicle information regarding diesel fuel cloud point condition. The method includes establishing communication between a telematics unit in a vehicle and i) a global positioning system device, ii) a call center including a database, and iii) a cloud point monitoring device in the vehicle. The telematics unit receives from at least one of i, ii, or iii, information pertaining to vehicle location, cloud point, and ambient temperature. The telematics unit determines from the information whether fuel in a fuel system of the vehicle is reaching cloud point or can reach cloud point within a given time period. The telematics unit then transmits an in-vehicle alert when the fuel in the vehicle fuel system is reaching cloud point or can reach cloud point within a given time period. The disclosure also relates to a system for performing the method. | 02-11-2010 |
20100102783 | Method and system to reduce accessory drive belt slip - A method and a system for reducing belt noise in an engine, wherein the belt is engaged with an alternator includes a transmission upshift detection module determining a transmission upshift or a quickly closing throttle detection module determining a quickly closing throttle. The control module further includes an engine speed prediction module determining a predicted engine speed in response to determining a transmission upshift and an engine deceleration prediction module determining a predicted engine deceleration when the predicted deceleration of the engine crankshaft is greater than a threshold. An alternator control module controls a rotor current in the alternator to add load to the alternator rotor to reduce potential belt noise. | 04-29-2010 |
20100125400 | FUEL TEMPERATURE ESTIMATION IN A SPARK IGNITED DIRECT INJECTION ENGINE - A fuel control system that includes a fuel injector control module that selectively applies a power source to a coil of a fuel injector. The fuel control system also includes a current determination module that selectively measures current flowing through the coil. The fuel control system also includes a fuel temperature estimation module that selectively calculates a resistance of the coil based on the measured current and a voltage value of the power source and that determines an estimated fuel temperature based on the resistance. The fuel injector control module controls operation of a fuel system based on the estimated fuel temperature. | 05-20-2010 |
20100191446 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREDICTIVE ENGINE RE-STARTING AND PREDICTIVE NEUTRAL/IDLE OPERATION OF A VEHICLE - A predictive engine restart method and related systems for a host vehicle having an internal combustion engine are provided. An exemplary method begins by establishing a real-time data communication channel with a neighbor vehicle that is positioned in front of the host vehicle. The method continues by receiving vehicle status data from the neighbor vehicle using the real-time data communication channel. The vehicle status data includes transmission status data for the neighbor vehicle, accelerator pedal status data for the neighbor vehicle, and brake pedal status data for the neighbor vehicle. Then, the method re-starts the engine when the transmission status data indicates a mode other than park or neutral, and when the accelerator pedal status data indicates accelerator pedal travel greater than a threshold amount. Alternatively, the engine is re-started when the automatic transmission status data indicates a mode other than park or neutral, and when the brake pedal status data indicates a released condition. | 07-29-2010 |
20100212629 | OXYGEN FLOW REDUCTION DURING ENGINE START/STOP OPERATION - An engine control system comprises an intake valve deactivation module and an exhaust valve deactivation module. The intake valve deactivation module deactivates an intake valve of a cylinder of an engine based on an engine stop request such that the intake valve remains closed. The exhaust valve deactivation module deactivates an exhaust valve of the cylinder after the intake valve deactivation module deactivates the intake valve such that the exhaust valve remains closed. | 08-26-2010 |
20100284823 | OIL PRESSURE CONTROL IN AN ENGINE - An engine having a fluid lubrication and control system is provided. The engine also includes a pump configured to maintain fluid pressure in the lubrication and control system when the engine is running. The engine additionally includes an accumulator in fluid communication with the lubrication and control system. The accumulator is configured to accumulate and retain fluid when the engine is running, and to discharge the fluid when the engine is not running in order to maintain fluid pressure in the lubrication and control system. A method for controlling oil pressure in the engine is also provided. | 11-11-2010 |
20100324804 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING THE VOLUME OF INFOTAINMENT UNITS OF VEHICLES - A method for controlling a volume of an infotainment unit of a vehicle having an engine having a stop/start capability during operation of the vehicle includes the steps of obtaining information pertaining to a condition of the engine, and controlling the volume based at least in part upon the condition. | 12-23-2010 |
20110087423 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ENGINE COMPONENTS DURING CYLINDER DEACTIVATION - An engine control system includes a power supply module, a measurement module, and a calibration module. The power supply module disables power supplied to N components of an engine when M cylinders of the engine are deactivated, wherein M and N are integers greater than or equal to one. The measurement module measures outputs of the N engine components. The calibration module calibrates the measurement module based on unpowered measurements from one or more of the N engine components during a period after the power supplied to the N components is disabled. | 04-14-2011 |
20110168131 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CLEANING SOLENOID VALVE DEBRIS - An engine control system includes an active fuel management (AFM) control module that selectively enables and disables an AFM mode using at least one AFM valve. The engine control system further includes a solenoid fault correction module that selectively opens and closes at least one AFM valve when AFM mode is disabled. | 07-14-2011 |
20120204545 | VALVETRAIN CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONSERVING COMBUSTION HEAT - An engine control system includes a catalyst module and a cylinder module. The catalyst module determines a catalyst temperature. The cylinder module selectively switches operation of a first cylinder from a first engine cycle having four strokes to a second engine cycle having N times four strokes, based on the catalyst temperature, wherein N is an integer greater than one. A related method is also provided. | 08-16-2012 |
20120259501 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING ENGINE OIL LEVELS - A system includes a user interface module, a level determination module, and a level storage module. The user interface module outputs an oil level request based on user input. The level determination module determines N oil levels of an engine. N is an integer greater than one. The level storage module stores the N oil levels and outputs one of the N oil levels in response to the oil level request. | 10-11-2012 |
20120310506 | TORQUE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A system of a vehicle includes a fueling prediction module, a short pulse determination module, a torque control module, and a generator control module. The fueling prediction module generates N predicted fueling pulse widths for N future combustion events of an engine, respectively. N is an integer greater than one. The short pulse determination module determines a number of the N predicted fueling pulse widths that are less than a predetermined period. The torque control module selectively increases a torque output of the engine based on the number. The generator control module selectively increases a load imposed by a generator of electricity based on the number. | 12-06-2012 |
20130055972 | CATALYST TEMPERATURE BASED VALVETRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A system for a vehicle includes a triggering module and a cylinder control module. The triggering module generates a trigger when a catalyst temperature is greater than a predetermined temperature. In response to the generation of the trigger, the cylinder control module: disables opening of an exhaust valve of a cylinder for an exhaust phase of a first combustion cycle of the cylinder; disables opening of the exhaust valve for N combustion cycles of the cylinder that follow the first combustion cycle; and enables opening of the exhaust valve for a second combustion cycle that follows the N combustion cycles. N is an integer greater than zero. | 03-07-2013 |
20130060453 | ENGINE SPEED BASED VALVETRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A system for a vehicle includes a trigger module, a fuel control module, and a cylinder control module. The trigger module generates a trigger when an engine speed is greater than a first predetermined speed. The first predetermined speed is greater than zero. The fuel control module cuts off fuel to cylinders of the engine in response to the generation of the trigger. The cylinder control module selectively disables opening of intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders in response to the generation of the trigger after the fuel is cut off. | 03-07-2013 |
20130080022 | ENGINE OIL LEVEL MONITORING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An oil monitoring system includes a level module, a limit module and an remedial action module. The level module is configured to determine N oil levels of an engine of a vehicle, where N is an integer greater than 1. The limit module is configured to determine an oil level trend based on the N oil levels and estimate when a level of oil in the engine is to be outside the predetermined range based on the oil level trend. The remedial action module is configured to perform a remedial action based on the estimate of when the level of the oil is to be outside the predetermined range. | 03-28-2013 |
20130110383 | STOP-START CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR ENGINES WITH FULLY FLEXIBLE VALVE ACTUATION SYSTEM | 05-02-2013 |