Patent ID: 6974251

Claim:
A method for generating a Predicted Ambient Temperature (PAT) of air around a vehicle for controlling vehicle operation, based on vehicle Intake Air Temperature (IAT), vehicle speed (VSS), vehicle intake airflow (MAF), engine run time (ERT) and Last Predicted Ambient Temperature (LPAT), comprising the steps of: increasing a count value and generating the PAT based on IAT or LPAT when MAF and VSS are below respective thresholds and said count value has not yet reached a predetermined count value; decreasing the count value and generating the PAT based on IAT or LPAT when at least one of MAF and VSS exceeds or is equal to its respective threshold and said count value has not yet reached the predetermined count value; when said count value reaches the predetermined count value, determining whether ERT exceeds a corresponding threshold value; and in response to said determining step, generating the PAT based on IAT or LPAT if said ERT does not exceed the corresponding threshold value, otherwise generating the PAT based on an offset temperature that is obtained by subtracting an offset value from IAT.