| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080245130 | System for detecting failures in fuel systems - A diagnostic system and method includes a fuel level sensor that senses a fuel level in a fuel tank and a sensor diagnostic module that monitors a fuel transfer mechanism for a time period, that calculates a change in the fuel level, and that evaluates operation of the first fuel level sensor based on the change and the predetermined period. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080306668 | CRUISE CONTROL INTERACTION WITH DRIVER ComMANDED SPEED RESET - A cruise control system includes an input device that generates an operator input signal. A control module generates a cruise control command signal to maintain a vehicle speed at a set target speed. The control module operates in a normal mode that is associated with decreasing the set target speed, based on the operator input signal, when the vehicle speed is within a window about the set target speed. The control module overrides the normal mode and enables reset of the set target speed to a current vehicle speed, which is based on the operator input signal, when the vehicle operator input signal is greater than the cruise control command signal. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080306669 | CRUISE CONTROL INTERACTION WITH DECELERATION FUEL CUTOFF - A vehicle control system includes a sensor that generates a vehicle speed signal. A cruise control system generates a cruise control signal to maintain a vehicle at a target speed. A control module compares the vehicle speed signal to the target speed signal. The control module calculates different cruise control gains to delay changes in throttle position of the cruise control system when the vehicle speed signal is greater than the target speed. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090071147 | Brake Booster Leak Detection System - A control system for evaluating a brake booster system includes an engine evaluation module that detects an engine off condition. A pressure evaluation module, during the engine off condition, monitors hydraulic brake line pressure, detects a change in brake booster pressure, and determines a brake booster vacuum decay rate based on the change in brake booster pressure. A fault reporting module detects a brake booster system fault based on the brake line pressure and the brake booster vacuum decay rate. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090118966 | METHOD OF TORQUE INTEGRAL CONTROL LEARNING AND INITIALIZATION - A torque control system comprises a torque correction factor module, a RPM-torque transition module, and a selection module. The torque correction factor module determines a first torque correction factor and a second torque correction factor. The RPM-torque transition module stores the first torque correction factor. The selection module selectively outputs one of the first torque correction factor and the second torque correction factor based on a control mode of the torque control system. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090216400 | FUEL DOOR SENSOR DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A diagnostic system for a vehicle comprises a refueling indicator module and a diagnostic module. The refueling indicator module selectively indicates when a refueling event occurs. The diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in a fuel door position sensor when the fuel door position sensor indicates that a fuel door is in one of an open position for less than a first predetermined period when the refueling event occurs and a closed position for greater than a second predetermined period when the refueling event occurs. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090216426 | PLUG-IN HYBRID EVAP VALVE MANAGEMENT TO REDUCE VALVE CYCLING - A control module for an engine of a vehicle includes a mode determination module that determines whether the vehicle is in a fuel-saving mode based on an acceleration of the vehicle. A diurnal control valve (DCV) control module selectively closes a DCV a predetermined time after at least one of determining that the vehicle is in the fuel-saving mode and determining that the engine is stopped. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090273230 | BRAKING BOOSTER SYSTEM LEAK DIAGNOSTICS - A leak diagnostic system for a vehicle comprises a calculation module and a diagnostic enabling module. The calculation module calculates a decay rate of a brake booster vacuum. The diagnostic enabling module selectively enables the decay rate calculation based on mass airflow (MAF) into an engine and engine vacuum. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090308359 | NOISE MINIMIZATION FOR EVAPORATIVE CANISTER VENTILATION VALVE CLEANING - A control system comprising a detection module that detects at least one of a vehicle speed and an engine speed and a canister vent valve control module that selectively modulates the canister vent valve based on at least one of the vehicle speed and the engine speed. A method comprising detecting at least one of a vehicle speed and an engine speed and selectively modulating a canister vent valve based on at least one of the vehicle speed and the engine speed. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090319147 | CRUISE CONTROL AND ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT (AFM) INTERACTION - A method and controller for operating cruise control in a vehicle having an engine with active fuel management (AFM) is provided. Adaptive scaler values can be determined based on a cylinder deactivation signal and calibrated scaler values. Cruise control commands can be calculated based on the adaptive scaler values. A speed of the vehicle can be controlled based on the cruise control commands. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100077728 | AIR-FUEL IMBALANCE DETECTION BASED ON ZERO-PHASE FILTERING - A control system comprising an oxygen sensor that generates an oxygen signal based on an oxygen concentration level in an exhaust gas of an engine, a filtering module that determines a filtered signal based on the oxygen signal, and an air-fuel imbalance detection module that detects an air-fuel imbalance in the engine based on the oxygen signal and the filtered signal. A method comprising generating an oxygen signal based on an oxygen concentration level in an exhaust gas of an engine, determining a filtered signal based on the oxygen signal, and detecting an air-fuel imbalance in the engine based on the oxygen signal and the filtered signal. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100222982 | TORQUE MODEL-BASED COLD START DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A control system for an engine having a catalytic converter includes an energy calculation module that calculates a calculated mass air flow (MAF) of intake air of the engine based on a requested torque and a requested spark timing that correspond to a desired thermal energy of exhaust of the engine, and that determines an expected thermal energy of the exhaust based on the calculated MAF, and an energy residual module that determines a thermal energy residual of the exhaust based on the expected thermal energy and an estimated thermal energy of the exhaust, wherein the estimated thermal energy is based on a measured MAF of the intake air. The control system includes an energy evaluation module that determines a diagnostic result that indicates whether the catalytic converter is operating within a target temperature range based on the thermal energy residual. Related control methods are also provided. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100298095 | VEHICLE FUEL CONTROL BASED ON VACUUM-ASSISTED BRAKE COMPONENT ACTUATION - A control method for an engine of a vehicle includes generating a brake value indicative of an operating condition of a brake system of the vehicle, and selectively adjusting one of a fuel control value of the engine and a fuel adjustment diagnostic value for the engine based on the brake value. In the method, a mass of fuel delivered to the engine is based on the fuel control value, and a diagnostic result indicative of lean operation of the engine is based on the fuel adjustment diagnostic value. The brake operating condition is selected from a group including a state of operation, a pedal displacement, an actuation period, a fluid operating pressure, and a power assist pressure. The fuel control value is provided. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20110046829 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING CREEP TORQUE IN A VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A HYBRID POWERTRAIN SYSTEM - Vehicle creep control includes executing a first control scheme to determine a preferred output torque as a first function of the operator input to the brake pedal when the actual direction of vehicle travel is a first direction and the operator-selected direction of vehicle travel is also the first direction, and executing a second control scheme to determine the preferred output torque as a second function of the operator input to the brake pedal when the actual direction of vehicle travel is a second direction and the operator-selected direction of vehicle travel is the first direction. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110088659 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING TORQUE DURING ENGINE START OPERATIONS IN HYBRID VEHICLES - A control system for a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor includes an engine speed control module, an air pressure control module, and an engine torque control module. The engine speed control module increases engine speed during a first calibration period based on a driver torque request and a predetermined torque threshold. The air pressure control module decreases intake manifold pressure (MAP) of the engine during a second calibration period based on the driver torque request and the predetermined torque threshold. The engine torque control module starts the engine during a period after the first and second calibration periods by activating N of M cylinders of the engine, wherein N is based on the driver torque request and the predetermined torque threshold. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110114062 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ENGINE TORQUE DURING INTRUSIVE TESTING - A control system and method for controlling an engine includes a control module. The control module includes an evaporation control valve module closing a canister purge valve during a system diagnostic. A torque determination module determines a torque change for an end of the system diagnostic. A torque adjustment module changes an engine torque to a changed torque corresponding to the torque change. The evaporation control valve module opens the purge valve at the end of the diagnostic. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110130902 | METHOD OF SMOOTHING OUTPUT TORQUE - A method of output torque smoothing for a hybrid powertrain having an electric machine and a spark ignition engine with a first cylinder and a second cylinder includes commanding a fuel-cut transition, including consecutively initiating and completing deactivation of the first cylinder and initiating and completing deactivation of the second cylinder. The fuel-cut transition is characterized by an absence of retarding spark to the first cylinder and second cylinder. Fuel is supplied to the first cylinder until the first cylinder completes deactivation and to the second cylinder until the second cylinder completes deactivation. The electric machine captures a first torque from the first cylinder by generating electricity until the first cylinder completes deactivation and captures a second torque from the second cylinder by generating electricity until the second cylinder completes deactivation. | 06-02-2011 |