Abstract: A method for detecting an abnormality in a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle includes an engine that can run in a cylinder cut-off state where intake and exhaust valve lifts are made zero, and a motor/generator that functions as both a motor and a generator. The vehicle travels by means of the power of at least one of the engine and the motor/generator and carries out regenerative braking by the motor/generator while running the engine in a cylinder cut-off state during deceleration. When detecting an abnormality in a negative intake pressure sensor or an EGR control valve based on the negative intake pressure of the engine, the engine is prohibited from running in a cylinder cut-off state even during deceleration, thus generating a negative intake pressure and thereby enabling the abnormality detection to be carried out without any problems.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal-combustion engine includes an exhaust gas purifier having a nitrogen oxide purifier for purifying nitrogen oxide contained in exhaust gases and an oxygen density sensor located downstream of the exhaust gas purifier. The apparatus further includes a sulfur oxide detector for detecting the density of sulfur oxide in the exhaust gas purifier, a sulfur-poisoning recovery apparatus for recovering the exhaust gas purifier from sulfur poisoning when the sulfur oxide detector determines the sulfur oxide density is high, a lean operation limiter for limiting the lean operation of the engine to such operation region that is not influenced so much by the sulfur poisoning after the exhaust gas purifier has been recovered from the sulfur poisoning, and a deterioration determiner for determining deterioration of the exhaust gas purifier based on the output of the oxygen density sensor during the lean operation of the engine.

Abstract: In order to improve the reliability of engine starting by using a motor, the engine cranking using the motor is started according to a request for starting the engine, and when the elapsed time from the starting time of the engine operation reaches a first predetermined time and it is detected that the transmission is in the in-gear state, the engine cranking is continued if the engine speed is equal to or less than a predetermined engine speed defined for determining whether the engine reaches a predetermined starting phase. The engine cranking may be continued for a second predetermined time which is longer than the first predetermined time.

Abstract: This invention relates to an assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle which assists an outputs of the engine by an output of the motor. The assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to this invention, comprises: an engine which outputs propulsive power for the vehicle; a motor which assists the output of the engine; a remaining quantity detector which detects whether the remaining quantity of the fuel is under a fixed value or not; and an assistance-restricting unit which restricts the assistance of the output of the engine by the motor when the remaining quantity detector detects that the remaining quantity of the fuel is under the fixed value.

Abstract: A failure determination system and method for an internal combustion engine and an engine control unit are provided which are capable of properly determining a failure of a variable valve mechanism for inactivating a valve system associated with at least one of cylinders during a predetermined operation of the engine, by discriminating a misfire caused by the failure of the mechanism from a normal misfire. Fuel injection valves inject fuel for each cylinder and oxygen concentration of exhaust gases is detected. A misfire condition is detected on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis. Fuel injection to a misfiring cylinder is stopped. A failure of the mechanism is determined, when a parameter based on the oxygen concentration detection indicates a richer value of an actual air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gases than a predetermined reference value does, under a condition of the fuel injection being stopped.

Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle provided with an engine and a motor as driving sources, and a storage battery device which stores regenerative energy obtained by output from the engine or by regenerative operation of the motor during deceleration of the vehicle. The control device includes: a vehicle speed detection unit which detects speed of the vehicle; a deceleration fuel cut determination unit which determines whether supply of fuel to the engine is stopped during deceleration of the vehicle; and a brake detection unit which detects operation of a brake, wherein regenerative braking is stopped when operation of the brake is detected by the brake detection unit if the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detection unit is lower than a predetermined speed and if it is determined by the deceleration fuel cut determination unit that the supply of fuel to the engine is not stopped.

Abstract: A control system provided in a hybrid vehicle with a combustion engine for outputting a driving force, an electric motor for generating a force for assisting the output from the engine, depending on driving conditions, a power storage unit for storing electric energy generated by the motor acting as a generator using the output from the engine and electric energy regenerated by the motor when the vehicle decelerates. The control system includes an output assist determination means for determining, based on a determination threshold value as the standard, whether to assist the output from the engine by the motor, depending on the driving conditions of the vehicle. An air-fuel controller is provided for changing the air-fuel ratio of the mixture, which is to be supplied to the engine, to a condition leaner or richer than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.

Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle that responds reliably to the assist requests of a driver from start-up to departure of the vehicle.

Abstract: A failure determination system and method for an internal combustion engine and an engine control unit are provided which are capable of properly determining a failure of a variable valve mechanism for inactivating a valve system associated with at least one of cylinders during a predetermined operation of the engine, by discriminating a misfire caused by the failure of the mechanism from a normal misfire. Fuel injection valves inject fuel for each cylinder and oxygen concentration of exhaust gases is detected. A misfire condition is detected on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis. Fuel injection to a misfiring cylinder is stopped. A failure of the mechanism is determined, when a parameter based on the oxygen concentration detection indicates a richer value of an actual air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gases than a predetermined reference value does, under a condition of the fuel injection being stopped.

Abstract: A method for detecting an abnormality in a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle includes an engine that can run in a cylinder cut-off state where intake and exhaust valve lifts are made zero, and a motor/generator that functions as both a motor and a generator. The vehicle travels by means of the power of at least one of the engine and the motor/generator and carries out regenerative braking by the motor/generator while running the engine in a cylinder cut-off state during deceleration. When detecting an abnormality in a negative intake pressure sensor or an EGR control valve based on the negative intake pressure of the engine, the engine is prohibited from running in a cylinder cut-off state even during deceleration, thus generating a negative intake pressure and thereby enabling the abnormality detection to be carried out without any problems.

Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine having an intake system and an exhaust system is disclosed. The exhaust system includes a catalyst, and the intake system includes a throttle valve. The engine is mounted on a vehicle having a brake booster to which an intake pressure at downstream of the throttle valve is introduced. The catalyst temperature rise control in which the intake air amount is increased after starting of the engine and the ignition timing is retarded according to a rotational speed of the engine is performed. When a pressure difference between the detected intake pressure and the atmospheric pressure during the catalyst temperature raising control is less than a predetermined pressure, the increased intake air amount and the retard amount of the ignition timing is gradually decreased.

Abstract: A control apparatus provided in a hybrid vehicle having a combustion engine for outputting a driving force, an electric motor for generating a force for assisting the output from the engine, depending on the driving conditions, a power storage unit for storing electric energy generated by the motor acting as a generator using the output from the engine and electric energy regenerated by the motor when the vehicle decelerates. The control apparatus includes: a speed limiter for decreasing the driving force produced by the motor when the vehicle speed exceeds a first threshold value while the engine and the motor produce the driving force; a generation starter for starting generation by the motor when the vehicle speed exceeds a second threshold value which is higher than the first threshold value; and a generation amount setting device for setting the amount of generation, depending on the driving conditions of the vehicle, when the generation starter starts the generation.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal-combustion engine comprises an exhaust gas purifier including nitrogen oxide purifier for purifying nitrogen oxide contained in exhaust gases and an oxygen density sensor located downstream of the exhaust gas purifier. The apparatus further comprises sulfur oxide detector for detecting density of sulfur oxide in the exhaust gas purifier, sulfur-poisoning recovery means for recovering the exhaust gas purifier from sulfur poisoning when it has been determined by the sulfur oxide detector that the sulfur oxide density is high, and a lean operation limiter for limiting the lean operation of the engine to such operation region that is not influenced so much by the sulfur poisoning after the exhaust gas purifier has been recovered from the sulfur poisoning. Deterioration determining means is also provided for determining deterioration of the exhaust gas purifier based on the output of the oxygen density sensor during the lean operation of the engine.

Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle provided with an engine and a motor as driving sources, and a storage battery device which stores regenerative energy obtained by output from the engine or by regenerative operation of the motor during deceleration of the vehicle. The control device includes: a vehicle speed detection unit which detects speed of the vehicle; a deceleration fuel cut determination unit which determines whether supply of fuel to the engine is stopped during deceleration of the vehicle; and a brake detection unit which detects operation of a brake, wherein regenerative braking is stopped when operation of the brake is detected by the brake detection unit if the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detection unit is lower than a predetermined speed and if it is determined by the deceleration fuel cut determination unit that the supply of fuel to the engine is not stopped.

Abstract: In order to improve the reliability of engine starting by using a motor, the engine cranking using the motor is started according to a request for starting the engine, and when the elapsed time from the starting time of the engine operation reaches a first predetermined time and it is detected that the transmission is in the in-gear state, the engine cranking is continued if the engine speed is equal to or less than a predetermined engine speed defined for determining whether the engine reaches a predetermined starting phase. The engine cranking may be continued for a second predetermined time which is longer than the first predetermined time.

Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine having an intake system and an exhaust system is disclosed. The exhaust system includes a catalyst, and the intake system includes a throttle valve. The engine is mounted on a vehicle having a brake booster to which an intake pressure at downstream of the throttle valve is introduced. The catalyst temperature rise control in which the intake air amount is increased after starting of the engine and the ignition timing is retarded according to a rotational speed of the engine is performed. When a pressure difference between the detected intake pressure and the atmospheric pressure during the catalyst temperature raising control is less than a predetermined pressure, the increased intake air amount and the retard amount of the ignition timing is gradually decreased.

Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle with an engine for producing a driving force for the vehicle, a motor for producing an assist driving force to assist the output from the engine, and a power storage unit for supplying electric energy to the motor and storing regenerated energy produced by regeneration of the motor when the vehicle decelerates. The control system includes a charge zone determining device for determining whether a state of charge (SOC) is within the normal use range, temporary use range, over-discharge range, or over-charge range; a generation mode selector for selecting one of a normal generation mode corresponding to normal use zone, a low generation mode corresponding to temporary use zone, a high generation mode corresponding to over-discharge zone, and a generation stop mode corresponding to over-charge zone, based on the determination by the charge zone determining device; and a generation amount setter for setting the amount of electric power generation corresponding to each mode.

Abstract: The control system of the present invention is provided for a hybrid vehicle with an engine, a motor, and a power storage unit. The control system selects one of an air intake passage pressure assist mode (PB assist mode) corresponding to a partial load range of the engine and a throttle assist mode corresponding to the opening state of a throttle.

Abstract: The control apparatus of the present invention is provided in a hybrid vehicle with a combustion engine for outputting a driving force, an electric motor for generating a force for assisting the output from the engine, depending on the driving conditions, a power storage unit for storing electric energy generated by the motor acting as a generator using the output from the engine and electric energy regenerated by the motor when the vehicle decelerates. The control apparatus includes: a speed limiter for decreasing the driving force produced by the motor when the vehicle speed exceeds a first threshold value while the engine and the motor produce the driving force; a generation starter for starting generation by the motor when the vehicle speed exceeds a second threshold value which is higher than the first threshold value; and a generation amount setting device for setting the amount of generation, depending on the driving conditions of the vehicle, when the generation starter starts the generation.

Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine has a canister for adsorbing evaporative fuel generated in the fuel tank, a purging passage extending between the canister and the intake system of the engine, for purging evaporative fuel into the intake system, and a purge control valve arranged across the purging passage, for controlling the flow rate of evaporative fuel supplied to the intake system through the purging passage. An ECU controls the engine, based on at least one predetermined engine control parameter, and a canister temperature sensor detects the temperature of the canister. The at least one predetermined engine control parameter is changed according to the detected temperature of the canister.