Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Hughes Aircraft Company

Jeffrey A Sell

Gary L Doll

Julian R Verdejo

Charles A Peck

Joseph Pierre Heremans

John W Siekkinen

Louis A Avallone

Richard B Jess

Mark D Carr

Martin Stephen Meyer

Bradley C Gibson

Justin Adams

Dale W McKim

Joseph V Mantese

Thomas Arthur Perry

Thomas Hubert Van Steenkiste

John Robert Bradley

Joseph R Dulzo

Andrew Mark Mance

John E Marano

Ian J Macewen

Frank J Bohac, Jr

Tenneille Weston Capehart

Christopher R Graham

Antonio B Catalan

Richard Earl Teets

Christopher P Musienko

Onassis Matthews

Shuanita Robinson

Manfred W Reissmueller

Hiro Yamasaki

Michael J Svestka

Roy Richter

Everett K Shelton

Dozier: James R

Jerry S Roach

Lynn A Totten

Michael Wayne Leiferman

Paul R Hozak

The present disclosure provides a control system for a heating element used in an oxygen sensor. The control system comprises a rate module that periodically determines a rate of change of current through the heating element and a temperature adjustment module that periodically compares the rate of change and a rate value. The temperature adjustment module selectively adjusts an operating temperature of the oxygen sensor between a normal temperature and a remedial temperature lower than the normal temperature based on the comparison of the rate of change and the rate value. The present disclosure also provides a related control method for the heating element.

Control system and method for oxygen sensor heater control

A heating module for an oxygen sensor comprises an estimated mass module, a cumulative mass module, and a temperature control module. The estimated mass module determines an estimated mass of intake air to remove condensation from an exhaust system after startup of an engine. The cumulative mass module determines a cumulative mass of intake air after the engine startup. The temperature control module adjusts a temperature of an oxygen sensor measuring oxygen in the exhaust system to a first predetermined temperature after the engine startup and adjusts the temperature to a second predetermined temperature when the cumulative air mass is greater than the estimated air mass, wherein the second predetermined temperature is greater than the first predetermined temperature.

Oxygen sensor heater control strategy

A method comprises detecting a status of a transfer pump for transferring fuel between a first fuel source and a second fuel source; receiving a fuel trim value and a vehicle operating parameter; and calculating a fuel composition of one of the first fuel source and second fuel source based on the fuel trim value, the transfer pump status and the vehicle operating parameter. A control module comprises a secondary pump transfer module detecting a status of a transfer pump for transferring fuel between a first fuel source and a second fuel source; and a fuel composition estimation module in communication with the secondary pump transfer module, receiving a fuel trim value and a vehicle operating parameter, and calculating a fuel composition of one of the first fuel source and second fuel source based on the fuel trim value, the transfer pump status, and the vehicle operating parameter.

Virtual fuel sensor for dual fuel tank applications

A control system and method for adaptively controlling transmission ratio shifting in an electronically controlled transmission. A refueling event is detected. After the detected refueling event, fuel consumption is monitored for a predetermined period during which a change in composition of fuel to the engine reaches or approaches a steady state. During the period, the rate of adapting transmission shift controls is modified to respond quicker to the change in shift characteristics induced by differences in torque produced by the engine. Implementing this method can improve transmission shift quality while the quality of fuel reaching an engine is in transition.

Fuel quality indication for adaptive transmission control

An oxygen sensor readiness module comprises a voltage source, a current detection module, and a control module. The voltage source selectively produces a bias signal, which is applied to a sensing element of an oxygen sensor. The current detection module measures a pumping current of the oxygen sensor. The control module generates a readiness signal based upon a comparison of the pumping current with a pumping current threshold.

Oxygen sensor readiness detection

A humidity based control system for an internal combustion engine includes a calculation module and a calibration module. The calculation module determines a humidity of air used in a combustion process of the internal combustion engine. The control module selectively controls spark timing and exhaust dilution in the internal combustion engine based on the humidity.

Humidity based control system for an internal combustion engine

A control system for an oxygen sensor heater is provided. The control system includes a passive heater control module that generates a heater control signal at a first duty cycle and measures a resistance of the oxygen sensor heater. An exhaust gas temperature mapping module maps the resistance to an exhaust gas temperature. An active heater control module generates a heater control signal at a second duty cycle based on the exhaust gas temperature.

Oxygen sensor heater control methods and systems

Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling the heating of an oxygen sensor in a motor vehicle. The apparatus comprises an oxygen sensor for measuring oxygen levels in exhaust gases of a motor vehicle. The oxygen sensor comprising a heater rod, an outer electrode surrounding the heater rod, and a shell surrounding the outer electrode and configured for mounting the oxygen sensor in the motor vehicle. A first electrical connection coupled to the outer electrode and a second electrical connection coupled to the shell are configured to facilitate measurement of capacitance between the outer electrode and the shell during operation of the motor vehicle.

Method and apparatus for controlling the heating of an oxygen sensor in a motor vehicle

A method of estimating composition of fuel in the fuel tank of a vehicle. A refuel event is detected. Fuel consumption is monitored during a plurality of stages after the refuel event. A plurality of fuel trim shift values are determined relative to the stages. The fuel trim shift values are used to estimate a fuel composition change. This method eliminates a need for a hardware fuel composition sensor and also provides dynamic filtering of fuel trim values.

Apparatus and methods for estimating vehicle fuel composition

This invention relates to an apparatus for sensing a vehicle steering wheel position. A permanent magnet target wheel having a global axial magnetic field normal to a first surface is attached to a steering shaft which is rotated by the steering wheel. Multiple regions equally spaced along a common radius on the first surface are magnetically altered and sensed by magnetically responsive sensors positioned adjacent the first radius. A single region positioned within a finite radius along a second radius on the first surface is magnetically altered and sensed by a magnetically responsive sensor positioned adjacent the second radius. The magnetic sensors are responsive to passage of the multiple regions and single region as the target wheel is rotated. Detection of each of the multiple regions corresponds to rotation of the target wheel by an incremental number of degrees. Detection of the single region corresponds to a target wheel position within a predetermined angular range, referred to as the center position. A turn counter is utilized to determine which of the center positions corresponds to the steering wheel neutral position.

Vehicle steering wheel position sensing apparatus

Thin films of boron nitride are grown on single crystal silicon substrates using laser deposition techniques. The films are characterized by essentially a single crystal throughout and having a cubic structure which is in epitaxial registry with the underlying silicon substrate.

Laser deposition of cubic boron nitride films

Laser depositon of crystalline boron nitride films

A multilayer structure for use in forming a transistor which may be suitable for high temperature applications is provided. A single crystal silicon substrate has an overlaying layer of epitaxially grown cubic boron nitride in crystallographic registry with the silicon substrate. The cubic boron nitride is epitaxially grown using laser ablation techniques and provides an electrically resistive and thermally conductive barrier. An active layer of epitaxial silicon is then grown from the layer of cubic boron nitride, such that the overlaying layer of epitaxial silicon is in crystallographic registry with the layer of boron nitride which is in crystallographic registry with the underlying silicon substrate. Appropriately doped source and drain regions and a gate electrode are provided to form the transistor. A clean crystallographic lattice match between the cubic boron nitride and surrounding silicon is obtained, thereby minimizing any stresses due to a mismatch in lattice constants and permitting the overlaying silicon active layer to be extremely thin.

Method of fabricating a transistor having a cubic boron nitride layer

Transistor having cubic boron nitride layer

Laser deposition of crystalline boron nitride films

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West Bloomfield, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey A Sell