A method and apparatus to determine values for at least one fuel use characteristic variable which represents a first fuel use process in a first vehicle, are provided. In addition, values are determined for at least one parameter which represents at least one peripheral condition of the fuel use in the first vehicle during the first fuel supply process. A mathematical relationship is determined between one or more supplied values of the at least one fuel use characteristic variable and the corresponding values of the at least one parameter. A profile data record including a data record and/or learning data is supplied on the basis of at least one determined mathematical relationship. At least one further fuel parameter of a fuel which is used by the first vehicle and/or by a second vehicle during a second fuel use process is adapted as a function of the supplied profile data record.

A method of adaptively sampling data to determine the start of injection in a solenoid actuated valve of a fluid injector includes, in an operating cycle or portion thereof of the valve, sampling the signal of current through a solenoid of the valve at sampling points having a pre-defined interval therebetween. At each sampling point, determining the value of the first derivative of current and detecting the sampling point at which the first derivative achieves a maximum as the start of injection. Values of the first derivative of the sampling points immediately preceding and immediately following the start of injection are determined. In a subsequent operating cycle, synchronisation of sampling is altered to shift sampling times depending on the values of the first derivative of the sampling points immediately preceding and immediately following the start of injection.

A system and method for controlling an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system in a hybrid vehicle using an intrusive monitor include adjusting EGR flow through an EGR valve based on an average pressure difference between pressure measured from a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor and inferred pressure determined from mass air flow (MAF) into an intake of an engine when engine speed, throttle and camshaft timing position change is below a corresponding threshold. The measured pressure and inferred pressure are determined when the EGR valve is in a closed position and an open position.

A system to predict calibration values for a vehicle. The system is configured to receive a plurality of training data sets for a component of the vehicle. Each of the plurality of training data sets includes one or more training inputs and one or more corresponding training outputs. The system is further configured to automatically develop a prediction model based on the plurality of training data sets. The system is further configured to receive an input data set and determine, using the prediction model, a predicted calibration value based on the input data set. The system is further configured to transmit the predicted calibration value to an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

Calibration of offline combustion engines using simulations, including: simulating, based on one or more simulator models operating on simulator input, operation of an engine being simulated; training, based on simulating the operation of the engine being simulated, one or more trained models; and generating, for offline engine calibration and based at least on the one or more trained models, calibration data corresponding to one or more electronically controllable components of an engine being calibrated.

A knock determination apparatus for an internal combustion engine calculates a knock intensity based on an output signal of an in-cylinder pressure sensor in a gate range for knock determination. When the calculated knock intensity is larger than a knock determination threshold value, the knock determination apparatus determines that knock has occurred. Further, the knock determination apparatus calculates an integrated intensity which is an integrated value of knock intensities that are equal to or larger than a knock intensity at a point of 97% or more in a target knock level among knock intensities that are calculated at the respective cycles during continuous N cycles in the same cylinder. Furthermore, the knock determination apparatus corrects a knock determination threshold value so that the difference between the calculated integrated intensity and a target integrated intensity becomes small.

There is provided a regeneration device for an exhaust-gas purifying device 40 which is provided in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, the regeneration device including: an injector for injecting fuel into a cylinder; a glow plug which is energized to be heated to thereby increase a temperature inside the cylinder; and a regeneration control unit for executing a regenerating operation for restoring a purification capacity of the exhaust-gas purifying device by controlling the injection of fuel of the injector and the energization of the glow plug , wherein during the regenerating operation, the regeneration control unit controls the injection of fuel of the injector by a multi-stage injection including at least a post injection and energizes the glow plug at a predetermined duty ratio to burn, within the cylinder, fuel supplied by the post injection.

A method for controlling an electronic throttle control (ETC) system, in which an electronic control unit (ECU) controls the ETC system using an air volume learning value containing information on a volume of air introduced into an engine for each opening degree of the ETC system according to carbon deposit of the ETC system, the method may include reading an air volume learning value used during a previous operation. The air volume learning value is compared to a preset learning value change reference value. Whether an operation condition of the engine satisfies a learning value change condition which is preset to change the air volume learning value, and whether the volume of air passing through the ETC system satisfies a preset learning-value-change-air-volume condition are determined. The air volume learning value used during the previous operation and stored in the ECU is substituted with a preset initial value of the air volume learning value.

A learning method for controlling opening or closing of an intake/exhaust valve of a vehicle may include a state determining step determining whether a vehicle state satisfies a learning entry condition, a learning frequency determining step determining whether a learning frequency is less than a preset reference frequency after the vehicle starts, when the vehicle state satisfies the learning entry condition, a change learning step learning an area of an inflow passage of the intake/exhaust valve that is changed due to a deposition of impurities, when the learning frequency while driving is less than the preset reference frequency after the vehicle starts, and an escape condition determining step determining whether the vehicle state satisfies a learning escape condition, after the learning step.

A vehicle which can improve fuel consumption without a driver feeling uncomfortable is provided. The vehicle includes: a hydraulic pressure sensor for acquiring a brake torque value which increases in accordance with a stepping-in amount of a brake pedal by the driver, and an ECU which automatically stops an engine after a basic time has elapsed since a basic condition is satisfied and then automatically restarts the engine. The ECU automatically stops the engine before the basic time elapses, when an increment of the brake torque value from a reference value after the basic condition is satisfied is equal to or greater than an additional stepping judgment value, and a shortened time shorter than the basic time has elapsed.