Magneti Marelli S.p.a.

Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.a.

Ferdinando De Cristofaro

Domenico Tavella

Stefano Sgatti

Massimo Zanotti

Alessandro Riegel

A method of controlling a vehicle equipped with an internal-combustion engine with a 'stop and start' system. The method provides, during vehicle running, for learning the 'duty cycle' values associated with the odd gears and even gears, determining the &#x201c;maximum duty cycle&#x201d; value for the odd gears and &#x201c;minimum duty cycle&#x201d; value for the even gears, determining a duty-cycle band to which the &#x201c;neutral gear&#x201d; condition corresponds on the basis of the &#x201c;minimum duty cycle&#x201d; value for the even gears and &#x201c;maximum duty cycle&#x201d; value for the odd gears, and controlling the &#x201c;stop and start&#x201d; system on the basis of the duty-cycle band to which the &#x201c;neutral gear&#x201d; condition corresponds.

Method of controlling a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine with a stop and start system

A method is described for estimating the intake air flow rate in an internal combustion engine provided with an air intake system, wherein said system comprises valve means for controlling an intake air flow rate, characterized in that it comprises the phases of implementing a first and a second algorithm, suitable to determine respectively a first and a second engine intake air flow rate; and of selecting the first or the second flow rate, on the basis of a previously defined selection criterion.

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Turin, Italy

Ferdinando De Cristofaro