The inhibition device includes a micro-controller configured with a triggering condition including a number of intervals and, for each interval, a corresponding duration and a corresponding threshold. Each interval is a range specifying how much the vehicle's acceleration pedal has changed its position in terms of percentages of a pedal stroke. Each duration specifies the fastest time duration allowable for the acceleration pedal to attain a corresponding interval of pedal position change. The micro-controller converts progress signals of the acceleration pedal to corresponding percentages, obtains a difference DEF between the successive percentages, records a time duration RES between successive progress signals, and calculates DEF/RES=X. When X is greater than or equal to a threshold of a corresponding interval, the micro-controller sends an idle signal to the vehicle's engine control unit or intercepts the progress signals to prevent them from reaching the engine control unit.

The inhibition device includes a micro-controller configured with a triggering condition including a number of intervals and, for each interval, a corresponding duration and a corresponding threshold. Each interval is a range specifying how much the vehicle's acceleration pedal has changed its position in terms of percentages of a pedal stroke. Each duration specifies the fastest time duration allowable for the acceleration pedal to attain a corresponding interval of pedal position change. The micro-controller converts progress signals of the acceleration pedal to corresponding percentages, obtains a difference DEF between the successive percentages, records a time duration RES between successive progress signals, and calculates DEF/RES=X. When X is greater than or equal to a threshold of a corresponding interval, the micro-controller sends an idle signal to the vehicle's engine control unit or intercepts the progress signals to prevent them from reaching the engine control unit.

An apparatus, method, and/or system is provided for conducting an engine shutdown in a circumstance of a runaway engine event. In a condition where an uncontrolled fuel source is present in the ambient air, there may be a risk of a runaway engine condition in an internal combustion engine. Air taken into an intake system of the engine may include an undesired or uncontrolled combustible component. The method, apparatus, and/or system includes steps, control systems, devices, and mechanisms to prevent opening of at least one intake valve or exhaust valve of at least one cylinder of the engine to stop combustion in the chamber, in response to a condition indicating a possible runaway engine event. The indicator may include an engine overspeed condition, or presence of the combustible component in the intake air.

An apparatus, method, and/or system is provided for conducting an engine shutdown in a circumstance of a runaway engine event. In a condition where an uncontrolled fuel source is present in the ambient air, there may be a risk of a runaway engine condition in an internal combustion engine. Air taken into an intake system of the engine may include an undesired or uncontrolled combustible component. The method, apparatus, and/or system includes steps, control systems, devices, and mechanisms to prevent opening of at least one intake valve or exhaust valve of at least one cylinder of the engine to stop combustion in the chamber, in response to a condition indicating a possible runaway engine event. The indicator may include an engine overspeed condition, or presence of the combustible component in the intake air.

Methods, systems and devices for evaluating incoming air to an engine, industrial controller including engine controls, valves and solenoids, for concentrations of explosive or combustible gases or vapors, and actuating process control including but not limited to shutting down an engine or other industrial process to control an outcome including the prevention of an overspeed condition when pre-set or calculated elevated gas or vapor concentrations are detected. In some embodiments industrial control including engine shutdown may be achieved conventionally via an electronic kill signal, a shutdown of the fuel injector, carburetor or fuel pump, and in emergency conditions by the shutoff of incoming air to an air intake, turbocharger, or other air delivery systems. Decisions based on explosive gas or vapor concentrations and species and the use of networking to allow additional systems to take action before explosive gases or vapors reach said other valve-sensor devices can provide additional safety.

An engine assembly includes an internal combustion engine and a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor unit. The CO sensor unit includes a CO sensor controller including a CO sensing circuit configured to detect a level of CO and a shutdown circuit. The shutdown circuit is configured to receive a detected level of CO and calculate a trailing window average of the detected level of CO. The trailing window average includes an average of the detected level of CO over a predetermined sampling window. The shutdown circuit is further configured to determine whether to initiate a shutdown of the internal combustion engine based on at least the calculated trailing window average and a predetermined trailing window average threshold and initiate the shutdown of the internal combustion engine based on determining that the trailing window average exceeds the predetermined trailing window average threshold.

A control apparatus for an engine is provided. The control apparatus includes an intake control valve controller for fully closing, when an engine stop request is issued, an intake control valve for adjusting a flow rate of intake air passing through an intake passage of the engine, an engine speed increase controller for increasing an engine speed to reach a target speed after the intake control valve is fully closed by the intake control valve controller, and a fuel injection stopper for stopping a fuel injection after the engine speed is increased by the engine speed increase controller.

A control apparatus for an engine is provided. The control apparatus includes an intake control valve controller for fully closing, when an engine stop request is issued, an intake control valve for adjusting a flow rate of intake air passing through an intake passage of the engine, an engine speed increase controller for increasing an engine speed to reach a target speed after the intake control valve is fully closed by the intake control valve controller, and a fuel injection stopper for stopping a fuel injection after the engine speed is increased by the engine speed increase controller.

Systems and methods for controlling knock in an internal combustion engine are presented. In one example, spark timing is retarded in engine cylinders where engine knock is indicated and spark is subsequently advanced after it has been retarded. The rate spark timing is advanced may be based on a way engine cylinders have been deactivated.

Systems and methods for operating an engine with deactivating and non-deactivating valves are presented. In one example, fuel supplied to cylinders being reactivated is supplied by direct fuel injectors even though the engine is operating in a region (e.g., speed and torque) where under conditions where cylinders are not being reactivated the engine injects fuel solely via port fuel injectors.