A circuit and a method for a digital inlet valve having a shutter moveable between a closed and an open position and actuated by a linear electromagnetic actuator including a movable needle located inside a coil winding connected to a power source by a first electronic switch. An electric current is supplied to the coil winding. A parameter indicative of a movement of the needle is monitored. The electric current supply is adjusted when the monitored parameter exceeds a predetermined value.

A method for operating an internal combustion engine, in particular a gas engine, preferably a lean gas engine, which has at least one cylinder, in order to improve the combustion process, a prechamber is provided for igniting a mixture in a main chamber. A pressure curve is detected by a pressure sensor in the main chamber dependent on a crank angle, and the quantity of supplied fuel is controlled or regulated for each individual cylinder using a fuel metering device and the pressure sensor dependent on a desired output and/or a desired torque and/or a desired rotational speed of the internal combustion engine.

A method is made available for monitoring a pressure sensor (18) in a pressure-controlled delivery and metering system for a liquid reactant of a catalytic converter, in particular of an SCR catalytic converter. The delivery and metering system is provided for delivering the reactant from a tank (10) and for metering the reactant via a pressure line (16) and a metering module (19). In order to monitor the pressure sensor (18) which is located in the pressure line (16), a flow rate measurement is carried out in the pressure line (16) and/or in a return path (17) taking into account the relationship between the pressure p and the corresponding flow rate v.

Various systems and methods are described for a particulate matter sensor coupled to an exhaust system of an engine. One example method comprises, during a measurement mode, generating a particulate flow rate based on the sensor and adjusting one or more engine operating parameters based on the flow rate. The method further includes, during a reduced contamination mode, heating the sensor to repel particulate from the sensor, and not adjusting the one or more operating parameters based on the sensor.

A method for diagnosing a lack of engine oil includes determining, by a controller, whether an oil level of an engine is normalized from an insufficient state to a normal state using an oil level switch. When it is determined that the oil level is normalized to the normal state, a driving mode of a vehicle is confirmed. When it is confirmed that the driving mode of the vehicle is an engine off driving mode, a diagnosis of the oil level is stopped.

A method involves controlling a fuel injector to inject a first quantity of a fuel into a cylinder from a plurality of cylinders, of an engine and detecting a first value of a parameter associated with the engine. The method further involves controlling the fuel injector to inject a second quantity of the fuel different from the first quantity of the fuel, into the cylinder of the engine and detecting a second value of the parameter associated with the engine. The method also involves comparing the first value with the second value and detecting a hardware anomaly associated with the engine based on the comparison of the first value with the second value.

A method for operating a drive system including a drive engine for a motor vehicle, including carrying out an acceleration monitoring of the motor vehicle; switching to an alternative monitoring when a signal, which is relevant for the acceleration monitoring and for which a substitute signal exists, does not exist or has failed, and when a driver input which is below a predefined threshold value is specified, and/or a braking intent is specified.

A sensor controller is applied to a particulate matter detection sensor that includes an attachment portion to which conductive particulate matter contained in gas is attached, and a pair of opposed electrodes spaced from each other at the attachment portion. The particulate matter detection sensor is adapted to output a detection signal corresponding to a resistance between the pair of opposed electrodes, and the sensor controller is adapted to calculate an amount of attached particulate matter based on a sensor detection value from the particulate matter detection sensor. The sensor controller includes a heater for heating the attachment portion so as to burn and remove the particulate matter attached to the attachment portion, and an abnormality diagnosis portion for obtaining the sensor detection value during a heating of the heater and for performing diagnosis of abnormality of the particulate matter detection sensor based on the obtained sensor detection value.

A method for determining an error in a pressure, which is measured by means of a pressure sensor in a pressure accumulator for accumulating fuel that can be let out of the pressure accumulator via an injection valve and injected into a cylinder, wherein the method comprises: determining at least two 3-tuples of a first pressure, a period of time, and a second pressure, wherein each first pressure is measured by the pressure sensor; wherein after measuring each first pressure, the valve is opened for a period of time; and wherein after the opening of the valve for the period of time, the second pressure is measured by the pressure sensor; and determining the error of the measured pressure from the at least two 3-tuples.

A method for diagnosing a heating element of an exhaust gas sensor of an internal combustion engine. The exhaust gas sensor includes a temperature measurement device. A modeled temperature at the point of the exhaust gas sensor is continuously ascertained with the aid of a temperature model. The temperature of the exhaust gas sensor is increased by a heating process. The diagnosis of the heating element of the exhaust gas sensor is provided as the result an enable condition. Upon enablement of the diagnosis, a temperature difference between the modeled temperature of the exhaust gas sensor and the measured temperature of the exhaust gas sensor are ascertained. The heating element of the exhaust gas sensor is recognized as defective when the ascertained temperature difference exceeds a predefinable temperature threshold value.