A control device for a compression ratio variable internal combustion engine is provided with a compression ratio variable mechanism for changing an engine compression ratio in accordance with a rotational position of a control shaft, and a detection unit that detects an actual compression ratio. In a predetermined engine operating condition such as immediately after an engine start, reference position learning operation for the detection unit is carried out with the control shaft mechanically locked up at a predetermined reference position. During operation of the engine, even when the actual compression ratio is lost or a difference between the actual compression ratio and a target compression ratio becomes greater than an assumed deviation, due to some abnormalities, the reference position learning operation is immediately carried out, thereby enabling a quick return to a state where normal compression ratio control can be carried out.

Systems and methods are described for powertrain controls optimization. One method comprises adaptively learning engine settings for a sparse sample of a speed-load map, which includes engine operation at boundary conditions of a speed-load map, and generating a dynamic node look-up table based on the learned engine settings for the sparse sample. The dynamic node look-up table may provide engine settings for engine operation at speed-load points not explicitly learned during the adaptive learning.

Systems and methods are provided for varying a compression ratio in an engine having a pressure reactive piston. The pressure reactive piston may include a piston crown, and a spring positioned within the piston crown, wherein the spring includes a first ring, a second ring comprising a plurality of apertures, a rolling element positioned within each of the plurality of apertures, and a third ring. The first ring, the second ring, and the third ring of the spring may be arranged concentrically and the second ring may be positioned between the first ring and the third ring.

A method for extracting characterizing features from an ion current trace retrieved from spark plugs of cylinders of an internal combustion engine, comprises the steps of: i. dividing the ion current signal into crank angle subintervals; ii. calculating a measure of ion current in each crank angle subinterval; and iii. Performing a calculation on the measure of ion currents from different subintervals such that the result of the calculation is dimension free. Further it relates to a method of monitoring combustion processes where a plurality of ion current signals from a number of spark plugs (4A, 4B) are retrieved and used in combination.

An engine assembly includes an internal combustion engine with an engine block having at least one cylinder and at least one piston moveable within the at least one cylinder. A crankshaft is moveable to define a plurality of crank angles (CA) from a bore axis defined by the cylinder to a crank axis defined by the crankshaft. A controller is operatively connected to the internal combustion engine and configured to receive a torque request (T.sub.R). The controller is programmed to determine a desired combustion phasing (CA.sub.d) for controlling a torque output of the internal combustion engine. The desired combustion phasing is based at least partially on the torque request (T.sub.R) and a pressure-volume (PV) diagram of the at least one cylinder.

A control device for a compression ratio variable internal combustion engine is provided with a compression ratio variable mechanism for changing an engine compression ratio in accordance with a rotational position of a control shaft, and a detection unit that detects an actual compression ratio. In a predetermined engine operating condition such as immediately after an engine start, reference position learning operation for the detection unit is carried out with the control shaft mechanically locked up at a predetermined reference position. During operation of the engine, even when the actual compression ratio is lost or a difference between the actual compression ratio and a target compression ratio becomes greater than an assumed deviation, due to some abnormalities, the reference position learning operation is immediately carried out, thereby enabling a quick return to a state where normal compression ratio control can be carried out.

A method for extracting characterizing features from an ion current trace retrieved from spark plugs of cylinders of an internal combustion engine, comprises the steps of: i. dividing the ion current signal into crank angle subintervals; ii. calculating a measure of ion current in each crank angle subinterval; and iii. Performing a calculation on the measure of ion currents from different subintervals such that the result of the calculation is dimension free. Further it relates to a method of monitoring combustion processes where a plurality of ion current signals from a number of spark plugs (4A, 4B) are retrieved and used in combination.