When it is determined that there is a likelihood of occurrence of an abnormality in a supercharger, a maximum engine rotation speed and a maximum MG2 rotation speed are changed to a low rotation speed side and operating points of an engine and a rotary machine are controlled such that an engine rotation speed and an MG2 rotation speed are respectively within ranges which do not exceed the changed maximum rotation speeds. Accordingly, even when the supercharger does not operate normally and an abnormal increase in a supercharging pressure occurs, it is possible to curb a high-rotation state of the engine rotation speed and the MG2 rotation speed. As a result, even when an abnormal increase in the supercharging pressure occurs, it is possible to curb a decrease in durability of components.

Pulley-movement detection within an alternator or integrated starter/generator (ISG) for a vehicle is provided. The alternator or ISG includes a housing, a stator fixed within the housing, a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator about an axis, and a shaft coupled to the rotor for rotation about the axis. The alternator or ISG also includes pulley coupled to the shaft at an interface, and configured to engage with a chain or belt to transfer movement between the shaft and the chain or belt. An electrical switch located at the interface is configured to be in a first state when the pulley is axially secured to the shaft, and a second state when the pulley is axially displaced away from the shaft. This can enable signals or warnings to be output in response to the electrical switch changing states, indicating an improper connection at the interface.

Methods and systems are provided for controlling fuel injection to cylinders of an engine in a vehicle. In one example, a method comprises monitoring an electrical energy profile associated with a fuel injector that has been commanded to inject a predetermined amount of a fuel into an engine cylinder, inferring a fuel injection pressure based on the electrical energy profile, and controlling a subsequent fuel injection based on the inferred fuel injection pressure. In this way, fuel injection may be controlled without relying on a pressure sensor in a fuel rail that supplies fuel to the fuel injector, under conditions where the fuel rail does not include the pressure sensor or where the pressure sensor is degraded.

A learned neural network in weights using at least the four parameters of the engine load, engine speed, intake pressure inside the intake passage downstream of the throttle valve (12), and amount of intake air fed into the engine as input parameters of the neural network and using a target EGR rate as training data is stored. At the time of engine operation, the learned neural network is used to estimate the target EGR rate from the above parameters and abnormality of the exhaust gas recirculation system is detected based on the difference between the estimated value of the target EGR rate and the target EGR rate.

Methods and systems are provided for conducting a diagnostic on a fuel tank isolation valve that regulates a flow of fuel vapors from a fuel tank to an evaporative emissions system. In one example, a method comprises determining whether the fuel tank isolation valve is stuck in a first open position or a second open position based on a time duration between commanding open a canister purge valve to direct fuel vapors to an engine, and an exhaust gas sensor indicating a rich air-fuel ratio. In this way, appropriate mitigating action may be taken in response to the fuel tank isolation valve being stuck in either the first open position or the second open position.

Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a set of feature data, the feature data sensed from a fuel injector during a fuel injection event; processing, by a processor, the set of feature data with a decision tree model to generate a prediction of a fault status; and selectively generating, by the processor, a notification signal based on the prediction.

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, an apparatus that includes a high-pressure pump having a pump element, a regulating device positioned upstream of the high-pressure pump, a fuel channel defined between an inflow side of the regulating device and the pump element, and a safety device, actuatable to reduce a through-flowable cross section of the fuel channel.

An internal combustion engine (1) has a variable compression ratio mechanism (2) that varies a mechanical compression ratio and a variable valve timing mechanism (7) that varies a valve timing of an intake valve (4). When there is a demand to execute reference position learning (step 21) for system calibration of the variable valve timing mechanism (7), the execution of the reference position learning is permitted on the condition that the mechanical compression ratio is higher than a threshold value VCRth (step 22). When any anomaly is present in the variable compression ratio mechanism (2), the reference position learning of the variable valve timing mechanism (7) is prohibited (steps 23 and 25).

A current control circuit for an ignition system (i.e., igniter current limiter) is disclosed. The current control circuit can reduce a coil current over a soft shut down (SSD) period using an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) that is controlled by a negative feedback loop, which controls the current limit of the IGBT according to a SSD profile. In order to prevent an unwanted current rise during the soft shut down period, the current control circuit compares a gate voltage of the IGBT to a reference signal and based on the comparison can enable the SSD profile to include a fast ramp. The fast ramp quickly lowers the current limit of the IGBT so that the coil current equals the current limit and can be controlled by the negative feedback loop.

A pump control unit controls a fuel pump based on a control target value of an engine. A pump characteristic detection unit acquires a pump characteristic value among pump characteristic values, which indicate an operating state of a fuel pump and include a supplied current to the fuel pump, an applied voltage to the fuel pump, a generated voltage of the fuel pump, and a rotation speed of the fuel pump. A pump characteristic storage unit stores the acquired pump characteristic value together with the control target value. A determination threshold set unit sets a determination threshold value by using at least one of the stored pump characteristic value, the control target value, and a combination of at least two of the control target values. A fuel pump deterioration determination unit determines deterioration of the fuel pump by using the stored pump characteristic value and the determination threshold value.