Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Filippo Parisi

Paolo Casasso

Eugenio Pisoni

Angelo Argento

Stefano Nieddu

Stefano Cassani

Alessandro Catanese

Andrei Gheorghi Kanev

Ivan Pelizzoni

Claudio Monferrato

Massimo Lucano

A method of controlling a solenoid valve of an automotive system, the valve being charged by a pulse width modulated signal (PWM) and determining an actuation of an automotive system component is provided. The method comprises the following: determining a target end of command of the valve as a function of a PWM state and a time interval from a last change of PWM state; monitoring a current value, a PWM phase period and the PWM state of a last pulse width modulated signal; and correcting in the next pulse width modulated signal at least one of said current value and PWM phase period, so that a next end of command of the valve will occur at the target end of command.

Method of controlling a solenoid valve

A method is provided for estimating the temperature in an internal combustion engine. The method includes, but is not limited to the steps of providing a sensor resistor (RTD) in the internal combustion engine, the sensor resistor (RTD) having a predetermined resistance-temperature characteristic, measuring a sensor voltage (V) across the sensor resistor (RTD), calculating a resistance value of the sensor resistor (RTD) based on the sensor voltage (V) and estimating the temperature using the resistance value and the resistance-temperature characteristic. The method further comprises the steps of connecting, in series to the sensor resistor (RTD), a first branch of a current mirror arrangement, connecting a reference resistor (R) in series to a second branch of the current mirror arrangement, measuring a reference voltage (V) across the reference resistor (R) and calculating the resistance value of the sensor resistor (RTD) based on the sensor voltage (V) and the reference voltage (V).

Method for estimating the temperature in an internal combustion engine

A pressure monitoring system for a combustion engine includes, but is not limited to of combustion chambers and pressure sensors associated to at least some of the combustion chambers. A multiplexer has inputs connected to at least a first one and a second one of the pressure sensors. A non-zero phase shift exists between the operating cycles of first and second ones of the combustion chambers associated to the first and second pressure sensors. A controller controls the multiplexer to output data from the first pressure sensor while the first combustion chamber is in a predetermined portion of its operating cycle and pressure data from the second pressure sensor while the second combustion chamber is in the predetermined portion of its operating cycle.

Combustion pressure monitoring system for a combustion engine

At each engine cycle, nearby the TDCC, an injector is driven so as to perform a fuel injection sequence according to a predetermined pattern (A-Z), including a plurality of successive, separate fuel injection pulses (pulse-pulse N) having respective predetermined durations. The start of the first injection pulse (Pulse) of the sequence is defined as a predetermined angular distance from the TDCC. For each injection pulse (pulse-pulse N) following the first one (pulse) the respective start is selectively determined either as a time distance from the end of the immediately preceding injection pulse (pulse-pulse N&#x2212;1) or as an angular distance from the relevant TDCC, in dependence on the instantaneous value of at least one predetermined parameter.

Method for controlling two consecutive injection pulses in an electrically-actuated fuel injector system for an internal combustion engine, particularly a diesel engine

A method is provided for controlling a glow plug (GP) associated with a cylinder chamber of a Diesel engine. The method includes, but is not limited to the steps of driving in an on-off manner in a period of time an electronic switch (M) connected essentially in series with the glow plug (GP) between the terminals of a d.c. voltage supply (B), sensing the voltage (V) across the glow plug (GP) and the current (I) flowing through the glow plug (GP) and performing a voltage closed loop control for controlling the temperature of the glow plug (GP). The method further includes, but is not limited to the steps of calculating a normalized current error (&#x3b5;I) as a function of said sensed current (I), calculating a normalized voltage error (&#x3b5;V) as a function of said sensed voltage (V), calculating a weight function (K) as a function of predetermined parameters (&#x3b1;, &#x3b2;, n) and calculating a global error (&#x3b5;) as a function of said normalized current error (&#x3b5;I), normalized voltage error (&#x3b5;V) and weight function (K). Finally, the method includes, but is not limited to the step of combining the voltage closed loop control with a current closed loop control according to the value of said global error (&#x3b5;).

Method and an apparatus for controlling glow plugs in a diesel engine, particularly for motor-vehicles

A glow plug control unit is provided that includes a first switch for connecting power supply lines to a glow plug. The glow plug control unit further includes a voltage measurement unit for measuring the voltage at the power supply lines. A current measurement unit is built for measuring the current through the first switch and a control circuit is built for controlling the first switch and, in a current control mode, for regulating the current through the first switch.

Growing community of inventors

Turin, Italy

Filippo Parisi