A method and system for operating a hybrid vehicle that includes an integrated starter/generator and a driveline disconnect clutch is described. In one example, the method determines whether or not to rotate an engine via an electric machine while propelling a vehicle via the electric machine according to vehicle efficiency.

A device comprises: an injector for injecting fuel into an engine combustion chamber, a switch formed by an injector housing and an injector nozzle needle and which changes its switching state depending on a closed or open state of the injector, an input line for supplying energy to an actuating element which adjusts the nozzle needle in its two states, an output line for conducting energy away from the actuating element, and an evaluation unit for detecting the switching state of the switch, wherein a first switch contact of the switch is connected to an electrical input line of the injector, a second switch contact of the switch is connected to ground, and the evaluation unit is configured to carry out a signal measurementon the input line and/or an output line to conclude a switch state.

A method is provided for controlling an engine. In one example, the method may include injecting fuel to the engine; and during an operating condition, limiting injected fuel based on engine airflow to a smoke-fuel limit, the smoke-fuel limit transiently adjusted from a first smoke-fuel limit to a second smoke-fuel limit based on a duration operating at the smoke-fuel limit. In one example, the method may include during another operating condition, fuel injection not limited by the smoke-fuel limit. In some examples, the duration may be a time duration. In some examples, the duration may be a crank angle duration. In some examples, limiting the injected fuel is based on an estimated engine airflow and estimated fuel injection amount to the engine.

The vehicle movement control apparatus of the disclosure sets an update movement route as a target movement route when an update condition is satisfied. The apparatus acquires a turning characteristic, an acceleration characteristic, and a deceleration characteristic of a vehicle while executing an automatic movement control to cause the vehicle to move along the update movement route. The apparatus updates vehicle behavior characteristic data so as to represent actual vehicle behavior characteristics, based on the acquired turning characteristics, the acquired acceleration characteristic, and the acquired deceleration characteristic.

Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle engine to deliver desired torque to a power take off device coupled to the engine. In one example, the method may include, learning a filtered PTO torque demand during vehicle acceleration, and steady state operation, and during transition in engine states using the learned PTO torque demand to adjust engine speed in order to deliver a desired engine torque output for optimal operation of the PTO device.

A system and method for determining a fluid consumption rate from a fluid tank is described. The fluid tank includes a fuel for an internal combustion engine and the internal combustion engine provides power to a powered system. The method includes determining instantaneous fluid consumption; determining an operating condition of the powered system, the powered system providing a load on the internal combustion engine; determining the load on the internal combustion engine and a state of the internal combustion engine; and calculating the fluid consumption rate based on the instantaneous fuel consumption, the load on the internal combustion engine, and the state of the internal combustion engine.

Methods and systems are provided for an ultrasonic wave generator within a vehicle emissions control system. In one example, a frequency of ultrasonic waves may be applied to a fuel vapor canister, the frequency adjusted in response to an estimate of hydrocarbon distribution within a vapor canister received from temperature and hydrocarbon sensor outputs.

An internal combustion engine including a pre-chamber connected to a pre-chamber feed conduit for supplying the pre-chamber with a fuel (F), and a main combustion chamber. Fuel (F) in the main combustion chamber can be ignited by an ignition flare which passes from the at least one pre-chamber into the at least one main combustion chamber and which is produced by ignition of fuel (F) in the pre-chamber. At least one valve can be open-loop or closed-loop controlled by an open-loop or closed-loop control device depending on a parameter characteristic of a change in a power produced by the internal combustion engine, and/or by which a pre-chamber fuel flow directed through the pre-chamber feed conduit to the at least one pre-chamber can be at least partially diverted into a volume separate from the at least one pre-chamber.

A throttle body fuel injection system and method that is arranged to easily replace four-barrel carburetors includes a throttle body assembly with four main bores, each with a throttle plate and an associated fuel injector. Each injector feeds fuel into a circular fuel distribution ring via a fuel injection conduit, which introduces pressurized fuel into the air stream. The fuel distribution rings and bores have profiles that avoid constrictions for to prevent low pressure zones according to the Venturi effect. The throttle body includes an idle air control circuit having a port opening into main intake bores downstream of the point of fuel distribution into the air stream, thereby reducing the tendency for a lean fuel mixture at idle. An ECU “feed forward” algorithm controls fuel injection as a function of the position of the idle air control valve.

A fuel estimation apparatus includes a combustion characteristic acquisition portion and a mixing ratio estimation portion. The combustion characteristic acquisition portion acquiring a combustion characteristic value indicating a physical amount relating to a combustion of an internal combustion engine acquires the combustion characteristic values of the combustions executed in different combustion conditions. The mixing ratio estimation portion estimates the mixing ratios of various components included in a fuel, based on the combustion characteristic values acquired by the combustion characteristic acquisition portion.