Systems and methods for controlling a gasoline urea selective catalytic reductant catalyst are described. In one example, an observer is provided that corrects an estimate of an amount of NH.sub.3 that is stored in a SCR. The amount of NH.sub.3 that is stored in the SCR is a basis for generating additional NH.sub.3 or ceasing generation of NH.sub.3.

Systems and methods for controlling a gasoline urea selective catalytic reductant catalyst are described. In one example, an observer is provided that corrects an estimate of an amount of NH.sub.3 that is stored in a SCR. The amount of NH.sub.3 that is stored in the SCR is a basis for generating additional NH.sub.3 or ceasing generation of NH.sub.3.

A method for operating an internal-combustion engine having an exhaust gas catalyst, a first exhaust gas sensor upstream of the exhaust gas catalyst and a second exhaust gas sensor downstream of the exhaust gas catalyst. A fill level of an exhaust gas component that can be stored in the exhaust gas catalyst is determined using a theoretical catalyst model, into which, as the input value, a signal of the first exhaust gas sensor (a first signal); a signal of the second exhaust gas sensor (a second signal); and a target signal are provided. The target signal corresponds to the signal that would be expected at the determined fill level in the exhaust gas catalyst. The catalyst model is reinitiated when the deviation of the second signal from the target signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The fill level is also regulated, and an air-fuel mixture is adjusted.

Methods and systems are provided for adapting a target impedance of an oxygen sensor. In one example, a method may include updating a target impedance of an oxygen sensor based on a difference between an estimated voltage across a sensing element of the oxygen sensor and a reference RMS voltage of the sensing element. The temperature of the oxygen sensor may be adjusted based on the updated target impedance.

A method and a device for performing diagnostics on an exhaust gas sensor includes a series circuit of a Nernst cell and a first other cell. The exhaust gas sensor has a first, a second, and a third connection where a voltage drop can be measured between the first connection and the second connection by the Nernst cell and a voltage drop between the second connection and the third connection can be measured by the first other cell. The diagnostic method has steps for feeding a direct or alternating current into the first, second, and third connections; for directly or indirectly sensing an electrical voltage potential at at least one of the first, second, and third connections; and for evaluating the voltage potential sensed to diagnose a short circuit or an open circuit in the Nernst cell and/or in the first other cell.

A system includes a heating element, a signal injector, and a signal receiver. The heating element is coupled between a first node and a second node. The signal injector is communicatively coupled the heating element via the first node. The signal generator is configured to provide a test signal to the heating element. The signal receiver is communicatively coupled to the heating element via the second node. The signal receiver is configured to receive the test signal from the heating element and to determine a capacitance of the heating element based upon the received test signal.

A filling of an exhaust gas component storage of a catalytic converter is regulated. An actual fill level of the exhaust gas component storage is ascertained using a first system model, and a base lambda setpoint value for a first control loop is predefined by a second control loop. An initial value for the base lambda setpoint value is converted into a fictitious fill level, the fictitious fill level being compared with a setpoint value for the fill level output, and the base lambda setpoint value being iteratively changed as a function of the comparison result, if a difference between the setpoint value for the fill level and the fictitious fill level is greater than a predefined degree. The base lambda setpoint value is not changed if no difference exists between the setpoint value for the fill level and the fictitious fill level.

A method for regulating a filling of an exhaust gas component reservoir of a catalytic converter in the exhaust of an internal combustion engine. An actual fill level of the exhaust gas component reservoir is ascertained using a first system model, and in which a baseline lambda setpoint for a first control loop is predefined by a second control loop in which an initial value for the baseline lambda setpoint is converted, by a second system model identical to the first system model, into a fictitious fill level; the fictitious fill level is compared with a setpoint for the fill level; and the baseline lambda setpoint is iteratively modified as a function of the comparison result. At the beginning of a coasting phase, the baseline lambda setpoint is calculated based on signals of sensors and control variables which relate to the delivery of air and/or fuel to combustion chambers.

An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) control method includes a valve duty differentiated control including: detecting, by a controller, an engine operation region, a mixer region, and an external factor region as a valve control condition for an EGR valve duty correction variable for controlling an EGR system; applying, by the controller, the EGR valve duty correction variable to an EGR valve duty, which is set by a target air amount to an intake air amount, to calculate a minimum EGR valve duty; and outputting, by the controller, the calculated minimum EGR valve duty to an EGR valve as the EGR valve duty.

A method for controlling an air-fuel ratio in an idle purge-off mode is provided. The method includes stopping feedback for an amount of fuel for a particular period of time when idle purging is terminated and performing freeze control with a constant lambda control value.