A controller executes a first restarting process when restarting of an engine is requested under a condition where an engine speed is less than a determination speed. In the first restarting process, cranking of the engine is performed by a motor generator in a state in which the motor generator is connected to a crankshaft through engagement of a clutch, and fuel injection and ignition are initiated in the engine when a combustion initiation condition is satisfied in this state. The controller executes a second restarting process when restarting of the engine is requested under a condition where the engine speed is greater than or equal to the determination speed. In the second restarting process, fuel injection and ignition are initiated in the engine, and the motor generator is connected to the crankshaft through engagement of the clutch after the engine has been restarted.

An internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle includes a crankshaft, a camshaft, a cylinder, a piston movably disposed in the cylinder and coupled to the crankshaft for driving the crankshaft, a first gas exchange valve which is assigned to the cylinder, a first valve clearance compensation device, where via the first valve clearance compensation device the first gas exchange valve is displaceable between a first open position and a first closed position by a first cam of the camshaft, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to align the camshaft such that the first valve clearance compensation device is pressure-loaded in the idle state of the crankshaft by a plateau area assigned to the first cam to hold the first gas exchange valve in the first open position.

Provided is a start controller for an engine capable of reducing torque of a starter consumed to start the engine. The start controller includes a stop position sensor that detects a position of a piston in each cylinder at an engine stop time, an intake pressure sensor that detects an intake pressure in an intake passage, and a processor that determines whether the position of the piston in each of the cylinders detected by the stop position sensor is within a specified target range after the engine is stopped. In the case where it is determined that the position of the piston in each of the cylinders after the engine stop is out of the target range and the intake pressure detected by the intake pressure sensor is lower than an atmospheric pressure, the engine is started by a motor even when an engine start condition is not satisfied.

Methods and systems are provided for providing compression release during a stop/start event in an engine. In one example, a method includes: responsive to a request for a stop/start event in an engine with a continuously variable valve lift (CVVL) system including a compression release hydraulic valve actuator coupled to a valve of a first cylinder, determining a desired stop position of the engine; and prior to restarting the engine during the stop/start event, adjusting the compression release hydraulic valve actuator to open the valve during a compression stroke of the first cylinder. In this way, an amount of torque used to restart the engine may be reduced.

Methods and systems are provided for performing expansion combustion in an engine of a start-stop vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving an auto-start request to restart an engine from an auto-stop, determining a fuel mass to inject into a cylinder for an expansion combustion event based on a duration of the auto-stop, and actuating a spark plug of the cylinder after injecting the determined fuel mass to perform the expansion combustion event. In this way, an air-fuel ratio of the expansion combustion event may be more accurately controlled, resulting in more robust expansion combustion engine restarts.

A hybrid vehicle and a method for controlling there same, includes a motor provided with a resolver configured for detecting a first rotation angle of the motor, and connected to a crankshaft of an engine through a predetermined connecting means; a rotation angle sensor configured for detecting a second rotation angle of the engine; and a control unit electrically connected to the rotation angle sensor and configured to determine whether a failure has occurred in the rotation angle sensor, and determine a first rotation angle corresponding to a specific crank position based on a relationship of a previously obtained first rotation angle and the second rotation angle, and a rotation number of the motor when the control unit concludes that the failure has occurred in the rotation angle sensor.

An intake variable valve timing mechanism (VVT) that collectively changes an intake valve close timing as a close timing of a plurality of intake valves and a control device that controls an engine including a plurality of injectors and the intake VVT are provided. When a specified engine stop condition is satisfied, a fuel cut is performed to stop a fuel supply into a plurality of cylinders by the injector. After the fuel cut, the intake VVT is controlled such that a retarded amount of the intake valve close timing immediately before a stop of a stop-time compression stroke cylinder as a cylinder stopped in a compression stroke from intake bottom dead center is larger than a retarded amount of the intake valve close timing immediately before a stop of a stop-time expansion stroke cylinder as a cylinder stopped in an expansion stroke from the intake bottom dead center.

A method of starting an integrated starter generator drives a starter generator without using a rotor position sensor to start an engine. The method includes the following steps of: (a) applying a first drive current with a first frequency and a first amplitude to drive the starter generator to reversely rotate in a speed open-loop control mode, and acquiring a first load information according to a drive voltage and the first drive current of the starter generator, (b) confirming whether the first load information meets a heavy load condition, (c) stopping reversely rotating the starter generator when the first load information meets the heavy load condition, and (d) forwardly rotating the starter generator to drive the engine to start.

Methods and systems are provided for providing compression release during a stop/start event in an engine. In one example, a method includes: responsive to a request for a stop/start event in an engine with a continuously variable valve lift (CVVL) system including a compression release hydraulic valve actuator coupled to a valve of a first cylinder, determining a desired stop position of the engine; and prior to restarting the engine during the stop/start event, adjusting the compression release hydraulic valve actuator to open the valve during a compression stroke of the first cylinder. In this way, an amount of torque used to restart the engine may be reduced.

The disclosure relates to a method for controlling an internal combustion engine configured with a belt starter generator or an electric machine of a hybrid powertrain. The internal combustion engine includes a cylinder and a piston, which together delimit a working chamber. The internal combustion engine includes a variable valve actuation system for actuation of inlet valves of the working chambers, controlling the opening time and/or the closing time and/or the lift. A strategy for operating the internal combustion engine with a negative drive torque or when shutting down or when starting up the internal combustion includes controlling the inlet valves of individual or all working chambers in such a way that the transfer of fresh air from an intake section to an exhaust manifold is controlled and that the drag torque of the internal combustion is reduced.