Continental Automotive Systems Corporation

Vitesco Technologies Usa, LLC

Brian J McKay

Ihab S Soliman

Abhid Akram Abubeckar Mohamed Sahul

Isaac P VanVelzen

Benjamin Bargman

Ben Bargman

A method is provided for powering a 48V electrically heated catalyst of a catalytic converter of a vehicle without using a 48V battery. The method provides a 12V battery. An electrical energy storage device is electrically connected between the electrically heated catalyst and the 12V battery. The electrical energy storage device is charged by the 12V battery so as to store a voltage of 12V that can then be switched to 48V. The electrically heated catalyst is powered with 48V supplied by the charged electrical energy storage device. A system for performing the method is also disclosed.

48V electrically heated catalyst system for a vehicle

A proactive heating system for a vehicle, which is used to increase the temperature of an exhaust catalyst prior to ignition of an engine to reduce emissions. The proactive heating system is part of an exhaust system for a vehicle, and includes an electrically heated catalyst and an air pump, which are activated prior to engine ignition, to increase the temperature of a three-way catalyst such that the three-way catalyst is at the desired target threshold temperature, or light-off temperature, prior to engine ignition, eliminating the delay in emissions treatment after cold-start of the engine. The proactive heating system addresses the high level of untreated emissions emitted from an internal combustion engine before the catalytic emissions system reaches the light-off temperature. The proactive heating system provides heating of a catalyst to light-off temperature without combusting hydrocarbon fuel, which leads to engine out emissions.

Proactive catalyst heating

An expanded powertrain interface and strategy for an autonomous driving controller to control powertrain torque (or vehicle acceleration/deceleration) capability at the current operating point, in addition to capability for subsequent operating points at a future time based on predictive assessment of powertrain energy management, subsystem contraints/limits, and capability in the future. The powertrain interface and strategy applies to a vehicle with electrified powertrain control (hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or pure battery electric vehicle (BEV)) with an autonomous driving (AD) capability (either full or semi-automated driving). This powertrain interface and strategy may also be used with non-electrified powertrain (conventional) systems based on available combustion engine torque at the target vehicle speed and gear.

Predictive powertrain limits strategy for autonomous/automated driving vehicle

A sensor system () determines the Stoichiometric Air to Fuel Ratio (SAFR) of fuel mixtures. The system includes a first electrode () and a second electrode (), with the first electrode surrounding the second electrode so that a fuel mixture can flow between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrodes are constructed and arranged to provide data for determining a conductivity and permittivity of the fuel mixture. A temperature sensor () is constructed and arranged to measure a temperature of the fuel mixture. A processor () is constructed and arranged to determine the SAFR of the fuel mixture based on the measured temperature and permittivity of the fuel mixture.

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West Bloomfield, MI, United States of America

Brian J McKay