Simulated Cam Position for a V-Type Engine

A method for estimating a cam shaft position of a V-type internal combustion engine, the engine comprising cylinders in a first bank and a second bank, a first variable cam timing phaser in the first bank, a second variable cam timing phaser in the second bank, a crankshaft position sensor, and a first cam position sensor in the first bank, the method comprising:

• measuring average crankshaft acceleration characteristics of the cylinders in the first bank and average crankshaft acceleration characteristics of the cylinders in the second bank using the crankshaft position sensor during a power stroke;
• detecting a cam phasing of the first bank using the first cam position sensor;
• and
• determining a cam phasing of the second bank based on the cam phasing of the first bank and the average acceleration characteristics of the cylinders in the first bank and the second bank.

A method for estimating a cam shaft position of a V-type internal combustion engine, the engine comprising cylinders in a first bank and a second bank, a first variable cam timing phaser in the first bank, a second variable cam timing phaser in the second bank, a first cam shaft position sensor in the first bank, and a crankshaft position sensor, the method comprising:

• determining a first average crankshaft acceleration of the cylinders in the first bank and a second average crankshaft acceleration of the cylinders in the second bank using the crankshaft position sensor during a power stroke;
• detecting a cam phasing of the first bank using the first cam shaft position sensor;
• comparing an operating condition of the cylinders in the first bank and an operating condition of the cylinders in the second bank;
• and
• determining a cam phasing of the second bank based on the cam phasing of the first bank, a difference between the average accelerations in the first bank and the second bank, and a comparison of the operating condition of the cylinders in the first bank and the cylinders in the second bank.