A control apparatus of an engine including an intake valve, an exhaust valve, and a variable valve timing mechanism for varying open and close timings of at least one of the intake and exhaust valves, is provided. The control apparatus includes a processor configured to execute a valve controlling module for performing, via the variable valve timing mechanism, a valve overlap in which the intake and exhaust valves are both opened on intake stroke of the engine, and a temperature estimating module for estimating a temperature of exhaust gas at a given location in the exhaust system by estimating a temperature increase of the exhaust gas caused by afterburn and accounting for the temperature increase, the afterburn occurring due to fresh air blowing through a cylinder of the engine to an exhaust system during the valve overlap.

A control apparatus of an engine including an intake valve, an exhaust valve, and a variable valve timing mechanism for varying open and close timings of at least one of the intake and exhaust valves, is provided. The control apparatus includes a processor configured to execute a valve controlling module for performing, via the variable valve timing mechanism, a valve overlap in which the intake and exhaust valves are both opened on intake stroke of the engine, and a temperature estimating module for estimating a temperature of exhaust gas at a given location in the exhaust system by estimating a temperature increase of the exhaust gas caused by afterburn and accounting for the temperature increase, the afterburn occurring due to fresh air blowing through a cylinder of the engine to an exhaust system during the valve overlap.

A method includes receiving a plurality of injection pulses; generating a plurality of drive signals in response to the plurality of injection pulses; generating an interrupt signal in response to the plurality injection pulses, the interrupt signal being one of a high interrupt signal and a low interrupt signal; and transitioning between a plurality of operating states in response to the interrupt signal.

Methods and systems are provided for fueling an engine of a vehicle during an exit from a deceleration fuel shut-off (DFSO) condition. In one example, a method may include fueling the engine using a compression stroke direct injection during the exit from the DFSO condition to reach a first engine torque threshold, and may further include increasing a separation between the compression stroke direct injection and a spark to gradually increase the engine torque to a second, higher engine torque threshold, and thereafter transitioning engine fueling from the compression stroke direct injection to an intake stroke direct injection. In this way, torque bumps may be reduced during DFSO exit.

Methods and systems are provided for fueling an engine of a vehicle during an exit from a deceleration fuel shut-off (DFSO) condition. In one example, a method may include fueling the engine using a compression stroke direct injection during the exit from the DFSO condition to reach a first engine torque threshold, and may further include increasing a separation between the compression stroke direct injection and a spark to gradually increase the engine torque to a second, higher engine torque threshold, and thereafter transitioning engine fueling from the compression stroke direct injection to an intake stroke direct injection. In this way, torque bumps may be reduced during DFSO exit.

Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, the engine system may be installed in a hybrid vehicle, and, in response to a request to restart the engine while the vehicle is being propelled via motor torque only, the engine may be rotated unfueled via the motor torque at less than cranking speed while at least partially opening a valve disposed in a passage coupled between the first exhaust manifold and the intake passage. In another example, in response to the request to restart the engine, all exhaust valves of a second set of exhaust valves coupled to the second exhaust manifold may be deactivated.

Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, the engine system may be installed in a hybrid vehicle, and, in response to a request to restart the engine while the vehicle is being propelled via motor torque only, the engine may be rotated unfueled via the motor torque at less than cranking speed while at least partially opening a valve disposed in a passage coupled between the first exhaust manifold and the intake passage. In another example, in response to the request to restart the engine, all exhaust valves of a second set of exhaust valves coupled to the second exhaust manifold may be deactivated.

A method and system for initiating regeneration of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) within a diesel engine system comprising the DPF, a data link connector (DLC), and an electronic control unit (ECU) such as an engine control unit includes an engine communication interface (ECI) device and a communication device that request and transmit DPF inhibit parameters that indicate whether initiation of regeneration of the DPF can be performed. The ECI device can comprise two connectors that are connectable to different types of DLC. The communication device can comprise a smart-phone. The ECI device can determine which DPF inhibit parameter are to be requested from the ECU and which vehicle communication protocol is required to communicate with the ECU. The communication device can receive the DPF inhibit parameters, determine whether initiation of regeneration of the DPF can be performed, and transmit a communication to request initiation of regeneration of the DPF.

Methods and systems are provided for controlling an engine idle-stop based on upcoming traffic and road conditions. In one example, a method may include receiving data including traffic information and road characteristics immediately ahead of a vehicle from one or more remote sources, and adjusting one or more vehicle thresholds based on the received data. A duration of a prospective engine idle-stop may be estimated based on the received data and an engine idle-stop may be initiated based on the duration of the prospective engine idle-stop and the adjusted one or more vehicle threshold.

Methods and systems are provided for controlling an engine idle-stop based on upcoming traffic and road conditions. In one example, a method may include receiving data including traffic information and road characteristics immediately ahead of a vehicle from one or more remote sources, and adjusting one or more vehicle thresholds based on the received data. A duration of a prospective engine idle-stop may be estimated based on the received data and an engine idle-stop may be initiated based on the duration of the prospective engine idle-stop and the adjusted one or more vehicle threshold.