Methods and systems for operating an engine that includes a controller and a NOx sensor are described. In one example, output of the NOx sensor is selectively made available to software modules within the controller when an offset in NOx sensor output is not expected. If the offset in NOx sensor output is expected, the NOx sensor output may not be made available to the software modules.

Engine controllers and control schemes that facilitate skip fire engine operation in conjunction with use power take-off devices are described. In one aspect, a skip fire mode is exited when the power take-off unit is engaged and the current torque request exceeds a torque threshold. In some embodiments, the exit is delayed when the temperature of an after treatment system is below a designated temperature threshold. In another aspect, the engine transitions to the skip fire mode when the power take-off unit disengages. In some embodiments, exiting is conditioned on the current torque request being less than a torque threshold. In some embodiments, the transition is made immediately, whereas in others the transition only occurs when the power take-off unit is not reengaged for a period of time or is further conditioned on determining that the power take-off unit is likely to remain disengaged for the period of time.

A catalyst deterioration detection device is provided to detect deterioration of a catalyst provided in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine. The catalyst deterioration detection device includes a storage device and processing circuitry. The storage device stores map data specifying a mapping that uses time series data of an excess amount variable in a first predetermined period and time series data of a downstream detection variable in a second predetermined period as inputs to output a deterioration level variable. The processing circuitry executes an acquisition process that acquires data, a deterioration level variable calculation process that calculates a deterioration level variable of the catalyst based on an output of the mapping using the data acquired by the acquisition process as an input. The map data includes data that is learned through machine learning.

An internal combustion engine, with an engine regulating device and an exhaust gas aftertreatment device with an SCR catalytic converter for the reduction of at least one NO.sub.x component, and with a catalytic converter regulating device, wherein the engine regulating device is prescribed a target value for an NO.sub.x mean value of the NO.sub.x component of the exhaust gases, which mean value results at an outlet point of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device in relation to a predefinable time period, and the engine regulating device is configured at least in one operating mode to continuously calculate an NO.sub.x reference value for the catalytic converter regulating device with consideration of No.sub.x components which have already been emitted and the predefined target value, which reference value is selected in such a way that the predefined target value results at the outlet point of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device at the end of the predefinable time period when the calculated NO.sub.x reference value of the catalytic converter regulating device is fed as NO.sub.x setpoint value to the regulating means.

A device for diagnosing a particulate filter suitable for: determining a measured pressure time profile, and a theoretical pressure time profile upstream of the filter, implementing, on each profile: low-pass filtering to obtain a first filtered time profile, second low-pass filtering of the first filtered time profile to obtain a second filtered time profile, calculating a difference between the second filtered time profile and the first filtered time profile, obtaining an absolute value of the calculated difference, and calculating an integral of the absolute value, and, from a comparison between the two integrals, a diagnosis of the particulate filter.

A catalyst deterioration detection device is provided to detect deterioration of a catalyst provided in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine. The catalyst deterioration detection device includes a storage device and processing circuitry. The storage device stores map data specifying a mapping that uses time series data of an excess amount variable in a first predetermined period and time series data of a downstream detection variable in a second predetermined period as inputs to output a deterioration level variable. The processing circuitry executes an acquisition process that acquires data, a deterioration level variable calculation process that calculates a deterioration level variable of the catalyst based on an output of the mapping using the data acquired by the acquisition process as an input. The map data includes data that is learned through machine learning.

A method for monitoring a concentration of a corrosive gas including at least observing at least one gas fuse, the gas fuse having at least one metal wire, which is configured for breaking due to corrosion if exposed to the corrosive gas in a way that a time-integrated concentration of the corrosive gas exceeds a critical value.

An internal combustion engine (1), with an engine regulating device (3) and an exhaust gas aftertreatment device (16) with an SCR catalytic converter (4) for the reduction of at least one NO.sub.x component, and with a catalytic converter regulating device (6), wherein the engine regulating device (3) is prescribed a target value for an NO.sub.x mean value of the NO.sub.x component of the exhaust gases, which mean value results at an outlet point (7) of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device (16) in relation to a predefinable time period, and the engine regulating device (3) is configured at least in one operating mode to continuously calculate an NO.sub.x reference value for the catalytic converter regulating device (6) with consideration of No.sub.x components which have already been emitted and the predefined target value, which reference value is selected in such a way that the predefined target value results at the outlet point of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device (16) at the end of the predefinable time period when the calculated NO.sub.x reference value of the catalytic converter regulating device (6) is fed as NO.sub.x setpoint value to the regulating means.

A short cyclic thermal treatment process in an engine aftertreatment system of a diesel engine in a vehicle, which may be able to recover and/or retain NOx conversion performance of an engine aftertreatment system by keeping the system clean from unintended pollution like accumulated urea deposits. The thermal treatment process is controlled by a process controller, arranged to carry out a long cyclic cleaning process at a first time interval, at a first exhaust gas temperature higher than the operational temperature in regeneration mode; combined with a short cyclic thermal treatment process at a second time interval, at a second exhaust gas temperature higher than the operational temperature in non-regeneration mode; wherein the second elevated exhaust gas temperature is lower than the first temperature.

A controller is configured to control an internal combustion engine. The controller is configured to execute a catalyst temperature-increasing control of increasing a temperature of the three-way catalyst device by introducing air-fuel mixture, which contains the fuel injected by a fuel injection valve, into an exhaust passage without burning the air-fuel mixture in a cylinder. The controller includes an air-fuel ratio control unit configured to control an air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture during the execution of the catalyst temperature-increasing control such that the air-fuel ratio becomes a richer air-fuel ratio during a first period from a beginning of the catalyst temperature-increasing control to a specified air-fuel ratio switching timing than during a second period from the air-fuel ratio switching timing to a completion of the catalyst temperature-increasing control.