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.

A method of generating vehicle control data includes: storing, with a storage device, relationship prescription data; operating, with an execution device, an operable portion of an internal combustion engine; acquiring, with the execution device, a detection value from a sensor that detects the state of the vehicle; calculating, with the execution device, a reward; and updating, with the execution device, the relationship prescription data using update mapping determined in advance, the update mapping using the state of the vehicle based on the detection value, an operation amount used to operate the operable portion, and the reward corresponding to the operation as arguments, and returning the relationship prescription data which have been updated such that an expected profit for the reward calculated when the operable portion is operated in accordance with the relationship prescription data increases.

Diagnostics for inadequate performance and/or degradation of an exhaust aftertreatment system are disclosed. A performance degradation analysis of the exhaust aftertreatment system includes a determination of a long term brake specific NOx value over a time period and a comparison of the long term brake specific NOx value to a threshold value.

A freezing diagnosing device to be installed in an engine includes an ambient temperature sensor, a liquid temperature sensor, and a freezing determination unit. The ambient temperature sensor detects an ambient temperature. The liquid temperature sensor detects the temperature of a liquid held in the engine. The freezing determination unit determines that a freezing state of a pipe coupled to a pressure sensor in the engine is established when one or both of a first condition and a second condition are satisfied. The first condition is that the ambient temperature detected by the ambient temperature sensor is equal to or less than a first threshold. The second condition is that the temperature of the liquid detected by the liquid temperature sensor is equal to or less than a second threshold.

A system includes an exhaust aftertreatment system including a particulate filter and a controller. The controller is configured to: receive a particulate filter regeneration event trigger; receive information, the information comprising a temperature regarding the particulate filter; determine the temperature regarding the particulate filter is below a temperature threshold associated with a particulate filter regeneration event; and responsive to determining the temperature regarding the particulate filter is below the temperature threshold, command the engine to operate in a cylinder deactivation mode, whereby at least one cylinder of a plurality of cylinders of the engine is deactivated.

An exhaust emission control device for an engine is provided with a first purifying catalyst including an HC adsorbent that adsorbs HC at a low temperature and releases HC at a high temperature and a diesel oxidation catalyst capable of oxidizing HC, a second purifying catalyst including a NOx catalyst capable of storing NOx contained in exhaust, a NOx catalyst regenerator that regenerates the NOx catalyst while raising the temperature of the NOx catalyst, and HC controller that decides whether the amount of adsorbed HC that is HC adsorbed by the HC adsorbent is equal to or more than a preset reference amount and, when the amount of adsorbed HC is decided to be equal to or more than the reference amount, raises the temperature of the first purifying catalyst.

A hybrid electric vehicle and a catalyst heating control method are configured to select a point in time at which catalyst heating control is performed and to perform a follow-up measure based on the selected point in time. The catalyst heating control method includes performing mode switching from a first mode in which only a drive motor is used as a driving source to a second mode in which an engine is driven in a state in which a drive shaft and the engine are disconnected from each other to start heating of a catalyst of the engine. When demand torque higher than a maximum output of the drive motor occurs before the catalyst heating is completed, the second mode is maintained until the demand torque is greater than the sum of the maximum output and a predetermined margin.

A method of manufacturing an on-board diagnostic (OBD) limit part and a method of testing to evaluate an OBD system. The method of manufacturing the OBD limit part includes introducing a contaminant to an selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst and contacting the contaminant with the SCR catalyst for a selected period of time. The method of manufacturing utilizes a vessel, the contaminant, and the SCR catalyst. The OBD limit part is a combination of the contaminant and the SCR catalyst within the vessel. The method of testing to evaluate the OBD system includes collecting data related to an exhaust gas before and after the exhaust gas is exposed to the OBD limit part, collecting an indication provided by the OBD system, and comparing the data related to the exhaust gas and the indication provided by the OBD system. The method of testing to evaluate the OBD system utilizes a system that includes an exhaust gas source, a first and a second fluid path, the OBD limit part, and the OBD system.

A method is provided for managing the light-off of a 3-way catalytic converter that is located in an exhaust line of a petrol engine having a plurality of cylinders with each cylinder having at least one exhaust valve. The method includes calculating a value of enthalpy of exhaust gases to make it possible to determine a quantity of heat supplied to the three-way catalyst, determining a threshold enthalpy value signaling the light-off of the catalyst, and stopping of activation of the three-way catalyst upon determining the value of the enthalpy that was calculated has reached the threshold enthalpy value.

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.