A vehicle idling stop control device has switches that detect an operation of opening a driver's door and an unbuckling of a driver's seat belt as disembarkation operations by a driver. When a disembarkation operation performed by the driver is detected during an idling stop, the idling stop is cancelled and the engine is restarted upon detecting a disembarkation operation performed by a driver during the idling stop. Also, restarting of the idling stop is prevented due to ending of the disembarkation operation performed by the driver until after the vehicle starts traveling. Thus, unnecessary automatic stopping and automatic restarting of the engine are thereby avoided when the vehicle sets off without the driver actually exiting the vehicle.

Methods and systems for heating an emission control device are provided. In one example, a method for a vehicle comprises during an engine cold start, heating an emission control device of the engine using a dual heat exchanger to heat secondary air and cool exhaust gas, and further heat secondary air with an electric heater. The method further comprises directing the heated secondary air to each exhaust runner of the engine via individual air injectors to mix with exhaust gas. In this way, an improved mixture of air and exhaust reduces catalyst light-off time and increases conversion efficiency, thereby reducing hydrocarbon emissions during engine cold start.

A system for use with a block heater connected to an engine for pre-start heating of the engine. The system includes a power source, a relay assembly coupled to the power source, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The relay assembly, when closed, electrically connects the power source to the block heater, to thereby energize the block heater to heat the engine. The temperature sensor senses an ambient temperature indicative of a temperature of the engine. The controller is programmed to selectively activate the relay assembly to energize the block heater such that the engine coupled to the block heater is heated from the sensed ambient temperature to a target temperature at approximately a target time.

In exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided for controlling emissions for a drive system for a vehicle. In one embodiment, the system includes: one or more first sensors configured to measure an engine temperature pertaining to an engine of the vehicle; one or more second sensors configured to measure an ambient temperature surrounding the vehicle; one or more third sensors configured to detect an amount of running time in which the engine has been running; and a processor coupled to the one or more first sensors, the one or more second sensors, and the one or more third sensors and configured to at least facilitate controlling emissions for the drive system based on the engine temperature, the ambient temperature, and the amount of running time in which the engine has been running.

If an engine coolant temperature is equal to or lower than a first low-temperature determination value and a battery temperature is equal to or lower than a second low-temperature determination value when a request to start up an engine is made, the advancement driving of a variable valve operating mechanism is first started. Then, when an advancement amount of the variable valve operating mechanism later becomes equal to or larger than a prescribed startup start determination value, is started.

A method for starting an internal combustion engine comprises the steps of: providing an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder and a piston supported at a crankshaft for repeated reciprocal movement in the cylinder so as to define a main combustion chamber, the internal combustion engine further having an ignition device arranged in said cylinder with an igniter portion and a fuel injector which are both arranged at a pre-chamber, wherein the pre-chamber has a plurality of orifices for providing fluid communication between said pre-chamber and the main combustion chamber, injecting fuel in the pre-chamber, and igniting the injected fuel in the pre-chamber for pre-heating of the pre-chamber prior to injecting fuel in the main combustion chamber for combusting the injected fuel in the main combustion chamber.

The disclosure relates to a supercharged, direct-injection internal combustion engine having an intake system for the supply of charge air and having an exhaust-gas discharge system for the discharge of exhaust gas and having at least two series-connected exhaust-gas turbochargers which each comprise a turbine arranged in the exhaust-gas discharge system and a compressor arranged in the intake system and of which a first exhaust-gas turbocharger serves as a low-pressure stage and a second exhaust-gas turbocharger serves as a high-pressure stage, a first bypass line being provided which branches off from the exhaust-gas discharge system between the first turbine and the second turbine so as to form a first junction point.

Switchable radiative energy harvesting systems and methods of harvesting radiation are disclosed. A system includes an optical filter that includes at least one of an active material and a passive material. The optical filter is switchable between a shield mode and a harvesting mode such that the at least one of the active material and the passive material is in a reflecting state during the shield mode such that the optical filter blocks passage of radiation from a thermal emitter to a thermophotovoltaic cell and a transmitting state during the harvesting mode such that that the optical filter allows the radiation to pass from the thermal emitter to the thermophotovoltaic cell.

The present invention describes a fuel-management system for minimizing particulate emissions in turbocharged direct injection gasoline engines. The system optimizes the use of port fuel injection (PFI) in combination with direct injection (DI), particularly in cold start and other transient conditions. In the present invention, the use of these control systems together with other control systems for increasing the effectiveness of port fuel injector use and for reducing particulate emissions from turbocharged direct injection engines is described. Particular attention is given to reducing particulate emissions that occur during cold start and transient conditions since a substantial fraction of the particulate emissions during a drive cycle occur at these times. Further optimization of the fuel management system for these conditions is important for reducing drive cycle emissions.

A method for heating an exhaust gas aftertreatment component in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. At the combustion chamber, a fuel injector for injecting a fuel into the combustion chamber and a spark plug for igniting a flammable fuel-air mixture are arranged. The internal combustion engine has a valve lift curve switching mechanism, which allows for a shift and/or change of the opening times of the exhaust valve. The method includes: intake of fresh air into the combustion chamber, injection of a fuel into the combustion chamber, ignition of an ignitable fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber when the piston is in a range of 10° KW to 30° KW after the upper ignition dead point, and opening of the exhaust valve when the piston is in a range of 55° KW to 95° KW after the upper ignition dead point.