Each of a plurality of control devices (10, 11, 12) of an engine control system (1) is provided with a drive control unit (100, 110, 120) which controls the drive of an engine unit to be controlled according to memory information stored in a memory of the control device, a memory information output unit which outputs the memory information stored in the memory of the control device to other control devices, and a memory information update unit which writes memory information received from the memory information output units of other control devices into the memory of the control device.

A control system for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine is configured to: receive a first request signal indicative of first torque demand; determine a schedule defining an opening timing of the intake valve and a closing timing of the intake valve of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine in dependence on the first torque demand; and cause the intake valve to open in accordance with the schedule. The control system is also configured to, during a period in which the intake valve is open: receive a second torque request signal indicative of a second torque demand different to the first torque demand; determine an updated schedule defining an updated closing timing of the intake valve in dependence on the second torque demand; and cause the intake valve to close in accordance with the updated schedule.

A system for controlling an internal combustion engine has an in-cylinder pressure sensor, a crank angle sensor and a controller coupled to receive inputs from the pressure sensor and crank angle sensor. The controller is configured to convert the cylinder pressure input into a combustion metric indicative of the combustion occurring in the measured cylinder and control fuel input and timing into the engine based on the combustion metric. The controller samples the in-cylinder pressure sensor at a high frequency during critical combustion events and at a lower frequency during the non-critical cylinder conditions.

A method prevents the stalling of the engine of a hybrid vehicle (1) equipped with an auxiliary motor (4) and wheels (R1 to R4), pistons (2a to 2d), tank (3), axle (5), drive shaft (6), gearbox (7), connections (8a, 8b), and computer (9). The method uses an estimate of the predicted instantaneous speed of the main engine (2) at its next top dead center, for the purpose of assisting the main engine in a stall situation, via the auxiliary motor which can supply sufficient power to it on a one-off basis to prevent it from stopping. The method defines two levels of instantaneous speed. If the predicted instantaneous speed is located in the intervention zone between the two levels, the auxiliary motor assists the rotation of the main engine to enable it to rotate in the same direction, without stalling.

Techniques for driving a plurality of inductive actuators are described herein. According to these techniques, a driver unit includes a clock terminal that receives an external clock signal used by an external control unit. The driver unit further includes a serial bus interface configured to communicate with the external control unit via a serial bus. The serial bus is configured to communicate both of trigger commands synchronized to the external clock signal that indicate to at least one of a plurality of programmable control circuits (PCUs) to generate drive signals in response to the trigger commands that are synchronized with the external clock signal and data associated with at least one of the plurality of PCUs and synchronized with the external clock signal, wherein the data is used by the at least one of the plurality of PCUs to generate the drive signals in response to the trigger commands.

The invention, while reducing noise, suppresses a load increase in a processor and a delay in drive control. An engine control unit includes a processor, a driving circuit including a switching element to drive a load such as a fuel injector and an ignition device, and a communication circuit that transmits control signals from the processor to the driving circuit via serial communication. The control signals each include a command frame for controlling the driving circuit and a data frame for driving the load. If a predetermined bits in each of the data frames received from the processor at predetermined time intervals are determined to be the same twice in succession, the engine control unit changes a state of a driving signal Drive for driving the load and thereby changes an operating state of the switching element.

A method for controlling a vehicle power train that includes a heat engine connected to the transmission of the vehicle by a clutch controlled between an open position and a closed position of the transmission by a computer of the transmission exchanging information with a computer of the heat engine. The method includes sending, in order to shut down the engine before the clutch is opened when the vehicle is in motion, the kinematic chain being closed and the injection interrupted, a message from the computer of the transmission to the computer of the engine at a first moment in time so as to synchronize an opening of the clutch and the closure of an air flap of the engine at a second moment in time subsequent to the first moment.

A method to control engine stop-start in a vehicle is provided. The method includes a controller outputting an engine command to auto-start an engine based on detection of shifter position change to one of a first set of shifter positions and whether a first predetermined time threshold has expired following the shifter position change in response to presence of an engine auto-stop mode and one of a set of preselected drive modes. The vehicle may include an engine, a traction battery, and a controller. The traction battery selectively powers components of the vehicle when the engine is auto-stopped. The controller is programmed to, in response to detecting an engine auto-stop condition, one of a set of preselected drive modes, and a shifter position change to one of a first set of shifter positions with a brake application, output an engine command to engage engine auto-start.

A computer-implemented method for calculation and output of control pulses by a control unit having a first computing unit and a second computing unit, wherein the control pulses are output by the control unit to an internal combustion engine. The calculation of the control pulses is optimized in that the first computing unit calculates a control pulse pattern with triggering information for multiple future control pulses at a first sampling rate using prior state data of the engine, and transmits the calculated control pulse pattern to the second computing unit, that the second computing unit at a second sampling rate that is greater than the first sampling rate of the first computing unit corrects the triggering information of the control pulses that are currently to be output using current state data of the engine, and that control pulses are output to the engine based on the corrected triggering information.

A fuel injection control apparatus of a four cycle engine having six cylinders comprises: a crank angle detection device for detecting the crank angle of the four cycle engine; a first computation device for computing the quantity of fuel, which is injected in a predetermined stroke of a four stroke cycle, at a first computation timing; a second computation device for computing the quantity of fuel, which is injected one stroke before the predetermined stroke, at a second computation timing 240 degrees ahead of the crank angle of the first computation timing; and a third computation device for computing the quantity of fuel, which is injected two strokes before the predetermined stroke, at a third computation timing 120 degrees ahead of the crank angle of the second computation timing. The fuel injection control apparatus is adapted to decrease interruptions by computations for fuel injection control in the six cylinder engine, and reduce control load.