Methods and systems are provided for controlling the temperature and ratio of gases within a gas mixing tank reservoir and selectively charging/discharging gases from the reservoir to one or both of an intake system or an exhaust system. In one example, a method (or system) may include storing exhaust gas and/or compressed intake air into a gas mixing reservoir, and increasing or decreasing flow of coolant to the reservoir based on engine operating conditions. The stored gases may be discharged to an intake system and/or an exhaust system based on requests from a controller, and coolant flow to the reservoir may be adjusted based on the composition of the gases stored within the reservoir.

Methods and systems are provided for controlling the temperature and ratio of gases within a gas mixing tank reservoir and selectively charging/discharging gases from the reservoir to one or both of an intake system or an exhaust system. In one example, a method (or system) may include storing exhaust gas and/or compressed intake air into a gas mixing reservoir, and increasing or decreasing flow of coolant to the reservoir based on engine operating conditions. The stored gases may be discharged to an intake system and/or an exhaust system based on requests from a controller, and coolant flow to the reservoir may be adjusted based on the composition of the gases stored within the reservoir.

The invention is a system for predicting emissions of pollutants from a vehicle equipped with an engine using processors (3) to determine emission of pollutants. The processors include a first group of processors (1) for carrying out calculations of chemical kinetics for determining the amounts of chemical compounds present in a chemical reaction in the engine and a second group of processors (2) for carrying out calculations of emission of pollutants simultaneously with the calculation of chemical kinetics, allowing determination of the emission of pollutants from the calculated amounts of chemical compounds. The first group of processors (1) has a global supervisor processor (4) allowing storing data required for the calculations and to distribute the calculations to clusters (5) of processors.

Methods and systems are provided for improving engine knock control by accounting for a drop in charge cooling efficiency of a knock control fluid at higher temperatures. In response to the prediction of an elevated temperature of a knock control fluid at a time of release from a direct injector, a pulse width of the injection is adjusted. Any knock relief deficits are compensated for using alternate engine adjustments, such as boost or spark timing adjustments.

Methods and systems are provided for improving engine knock control by accounting for a drop in charge cooling efficiency of a knock control fluid at higher temperatures. In response to the prediction of an elevated temperature of a knock control fluid at a time of release from a direct injector, a pulse width of the injection is adjusted. Any knock relief deficits are compensated for using alternate engine adjustments, such as boost or spark timing adjustments.

A method for calibrating a drive of a throttle valve of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle includes detecting whether the internal combustion engine is currently running or is not running. The method further includes activating the drive to displace the throttle valve into a target position if it is detected that the internal combustion engine is currently not running. The method further includes calibrating a characteristic at the target position. A correlation between a rotor position of the drive and an output voltage of a throttle valve angle transducer follows a characteristic.

A method for calibrating a drive of a throttle valve of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle includes detecting whether the internal combustion engine is currently running or is not running. The method further includes activating the drive to displace the throttle valve into a target position if it is detected that the internal combustion engine is currently not running. The method further includes calibrating a characteristic at the target position. A correlation between a rotor position of the drive and an output voltage of a throttle valve angle transducer follows a characteristic.

A supercharging system to be mounted in a vehicle including an engine, a driving operator, and an electric power storage unit includes an exhaust turbine, an intake compressor, an electric power converter, and a controller. The exhaust turbine generates electric power. The intake compressor feeds compressed intake air to the engine. The electric power converter supplies electric power from the electric power storage unit and recovers electric power to the electric power storage unit via an electric power path between the exhaust turbine and the intake compressor. The controller acquires a target value of compression power of the intake compressor, based on an operation of the driving operator and an operating state of the engine, and controls the electric power converter such that electric power corresponding to a difference between the acquired target value and the generated electric power is supplied from or recovered to the electric power storage unit.

A supercharging system to be mounted in a vehicle including an engine, a driving operator, and an electric power storage unit includes an exhaust turbine, an intake compressor, an electric power converter, and a controller. The exhaust turbine generates electric power. The intake compressor feeds compressed intake air to the engine. The electric power converter supplies electric power from the electric power storage unit and recovers electric power to the electric power storage unit via an electric power path between the exhaust turbine and the intake compressor. The controller acquires a target value of compression power of the intake compressor, based on an operation of the driving operator and an operating state of the engine, and controls the electric power converter such that electric power corresponding to a difference between the acquired target value and the generated electric power is supplied from or recovered to the electric power storage unit.

A vehicle includes a transmission, a torque converter coupled to the transmission, a controller in communication with the transmission and the torque converter; a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a back seat coupled to the transmission, and sensors configured to detect occupancy of the seats. The sensors are in communication with the controller. The controller is programmed to receive data from the sensors, determine an occupancy status based on the occupancy data, set an engine operating parameter of one of the transmission and the torque converter based on the occupancy status, and control one of the transmission and the torque converter to operate according to the parameter.