Abstract: A hybrid vehicle has a first running mode with an engine stopped and a second running mode with the engine operating. An ECU monitors information related to the frequency of intermittent startup of the engine in response to the startup and stoppage of the engine during vehicle running. The ECU executes running control such that startup of the engine is suppressed during the first running mode when in an operation pattern in which the frequency of intermittent startup is high. Accordingly, discomfort to the driver and degradation in fuel efficiency caused by repeating stoppage and startup of the engine frequently in a short period of time can be prevented.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle has a first running mode with an engine stopped and a second running mode with the engine operating. An ECU monitors information related to the frequency of intermittent startup of the engine in response to the startup and stoppage of the engine during vehicle running. The ECU executes running control such that startup of the engine is suppressed during the first running mode when in an operation pattern in which the frequency of intermittent startup is high. Accordingly, discomfort to the driver and degradation in fuel efficiency caused by repeating stoppage and startup of the engine frequently in a short period of time can be prevented.

Abstract: In a vehicular control apparatus mounted on a vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a rotating electrical machine, and a storage device that is supplied with a power from the rotating electrical machine, the vehicle can be decelerated through stoppage of injection of fuel into the internal combustion engine and regenerative braking by the rotating electrical machine. The vehicular control apparatus controls the vehicle such that a remaining capacity in the storage device becomes lower when a catalyst temperature of the internal combustion engine is high than when the catalyst temperature of the internal combustion engine is low.

Abstract: Upon satisfaction of an idle learning condition, the internal combustion engine system of the invention successively performs learning of an idle control amount and learning of a most delayed angle control amount in this sequence. Upon satisfaction of a most delayed angle learning condition, on the other hand, the internal combustion engine system successively performs learning of the most delayed angle control amount and learning of the idle control amount in this sequence. This arrangement effectively reduces the total time required for completion of learning both the idle control amount and the most delayed angle control amount, compared with the conventional procedure of individually learning only one control amount corresponding to the satisfied learning condition.

Abstract: In a vehicular control apparatus mounted on a vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a rotating electrical machine, and a storage device that is supplied with a power from the rotating electrical machine, the vehicle can be decelerated through stoppage of injection of fuel into the internal combustion engine and regenerative braking by the rotating electrical machine. The vehicular control apparatus controls the vehicle such that a remaining capacity in the storage device becomes lower when a catalyst temperature of the internal combustion engine is high than when the catalyst temperature of the internal combustion engine is low.

Abstract: On incompletion of port learning, an auto stop-permitting water temperature is set to a temperature which is higher than a temperature set on completion of the port learning and is higher than a port injection temperature as an upper limit temperature that enables an engine to be driven in a port injection drive mode. This arrangement increases the opportunity of continuing the operation of the engine with fuel injection from a port fuel injection valve without an auto stop, thus increasing the opportunity of the port learning.

Abstract: When an exhaust gas switching valve is in a closed state, a target rotation speed Ne* and a target torque Te* are set in the same way as when the exhaust gas switching valve is in an open state to control an engine (S120, S130). A motor torque command Tm1* is set by using the target torque Te* corrected by a correction torque ?T based on an engine rotation speed Ne, and also a motor torque command Tm2* is set so that a torque demand Tr* is delivered to a drive shaft to control motors MG1 and MG2 (S150 to S230). Thereby, since the exhaust gas switching valve is in a closed state, even if the output from the engine decreases, the engine and the motors MG1 and MG2 can be controlled properly.

Abstract: A variable valve timing system changes a valve phase by reducing an operation amount of an actuator at a speed reduction ratio that varies depending on a phase region. When the valve phase is outside a region in which the ratio of the amount of change in the phase with respect to the operation amount of the actuator is low, namely a high speed reduction ratio, the actuator may be operated due to, for example, a reaction force applied to a camshaft, and an undesirable valve phase change may result. Accordingly, when an engine stop command is possibly issued, the target phase value is restricted to a region more delayed than a phase restriction value set in consideration of the amount by which the valve timing can be changed from when an engine stop command is issued until when the engine is stopped.

Abstract: When a misfire occurs in any cylinder of an engine, an exhaust switching valve is closed to pass exhaust gas through an HC adsorbing section to a catalytic purifying section having a three-way catalyst (step S130). Thus, unburned fuel (HC) mixed in the exhaust gas due to a misfire of the engine can be adsorbed in the HC adsorbing section. Accordingly, unburned fuel (HC) due to a misfire after the start of the engine is completed can be prevented from being exhausted.

Abstract: In a device for restraining the deterioration of a catalytic apparatus of an internal combustion engine of the present invention, when the temperature of the catalytic apparatus arranged in the engine exhaust system is higher than a predetermined temperature in a vehicle deceleration, a fuel-cut of the engine is prohibited and a first motor-generator MG2 connected with the vehicle drive shaft 6 is operated as a generator to charge an electrical accumulator 8.

Abstract: A variable valve timing system changes a valve phase by reducing an operation amount of an actuator at a speed reduction ratio that varies depending on a phase region. When the valve phase is outside a region in which the ratio of the amount of change in the phase with respect to the operation amount of the actuator is low, namely a high speed reduction ratio, the actuator may be operated due to, for example, a reaction force applied to a camshaft, and an undesirable valve phase change may result. Accordingly, when an engine stop command is possibly issued, the target phase value is restricted to a region more delayed than a phase restriction value set in consideration of the amount by which the valve timing can be changed from when an engine stop command is issued until when the engine is stopped.

Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle, on a start of an engine, when an engine water temperature is low and there is a need of advancing open and close timings of an intake valve from their most delayed positions, electric power is supplied to a WT motor either via a first route or via a second route. Even when the state of charge of a low voltage battery is very low and insufficient, the required electric power is supplied from a DC-DC converter to the VVT motor without passing through the low voltage battery. On the start of the engine, such start control ensures an adequate change of the open and close timings of the intake valve set in the stop state of the engine.

Abstract: When a power demand Pe* is not less than a preset reference value Pref2 in a vehicle stop state (steps S110 and S260), a target rotation speed Ne* of an engine is set to a rotation speed of not lower than a relatively low minimum rotation speed Nemin2 (step S290). A target timing VT* is set according to the set target rotation speed Ne* to have a smaller degree of advance, compared with the setting of the target timing VT* in an engine operating state for driving the vehicle (step S300). The engine is accordingly driven at the target rotation speed Ne* with an open-close operation of an intake valve at the target timing VT*. Such drive control effectively reduces the driver's uncomfortable feeling or odd feeling triggered by operation of the engine at a relatively high rotation speed in the vehicle stop state.

Abstract: On incompletion of port learning, an auto stop-permitting water temperature is set to a temperature which is higher than a temperature set on completion of the port learning and is higher than a port injection temperature as an upper limit temperature that enables an engine to be driven in a port injection drive mode. This arrangement increases the opportunity of continuing the operation of the engine with fuel injection from a port fuel injection valve without an auto stop, thus increasing the opportunity of the port learning.

Abstract: In a vehicle equipped with both an engine and a motor as the driving power source, in the event of incompletion of learning a control demand for regulation of an idling rotation speed of the engine, intermittent operation prohibition control of the invention permits intermittent operation of the engine under the setting of a gearshift lever to a parking position. The intermittent operation prohibition control of the invention prohibits the intermittent operation of the engine, on the other hand, under the setting of the gearshift lever to a drive position. This arrangement avoids the continuous operation of the engine against the driver's expectation, while prohibiting the intermittent operation of the engine to ensure the opportunity of learning the control demand for regulation of the idling rotation speed of the engine.

Abstract: The technique of the invention determines whether input data for driving and controlling a cooling fan have any abnormality (steps S100 and S110), sets an actual drive level F* of the cooling fan to a high level (Hi) in the event of detection of any abnormality (step S130), and controls a fan motor to drive the cooling fan at the set drive level F* (step S140). This arrangement effectively prevents a temperature rise to an abnormally high level in any of an engine and motors even in the event of any abnormality arising in the input data.

Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle, on a start of an engine, when an engine water temperature is low and there is a need of advancing open and close timings of an intake valve from their most delayed positions, electric power is supplied to a VVT motor either via a first route or via a second route. Even when the state of charge of a low voltage battery is very low and insufficient, the required electric power is supplied from a DC-DC converter to the VVT motor without passing through the low voltage battery. On the start of the engine, such start control ensures an adequate change of the open and close timings of the intake valve set in the stop state of the engine.

Abstract: When a command to stop an engine is issued, it is determined whether a current state is a speed reduction enabled state where an intake valve phase is brought into a phase region, in which speed reduction ratio is high, by the time the engine is stopped if an engine speed reduction control according to a predetermined speed reduction pattern is started at the present moment. If it is determined the current state is not the speed reduction enabled state, starting of the engine speed reduction control is not permitted, or the engine speed reduction control is restricted by reducing the deceleration, and then an intake valve phase control is executed. Thus, a required length of time before the engine is stopped is ensured, namely, a required length of period in which the intake valve phase is changed is ensured.

Abstract: A control method of a vehicle includes a step of running the vehicle in an EV running mode in accordance with an operation of a driver, a step of performing a warming-up running, when it is determined that warming up is required, and a step of prohibiting the EV running mode such that the warming up running can be performed.

Abstract: Upon satisfaction of an idle learning condition, the internal combustion engine system of the invention successively performs learning of an idle control amount and learning of a most delayed angle control amount in this sequence. Upon satisfaction of a most delayed angle learning condition, on the other hand, the internal combustion engine system successively performs learning of the most delayed angle control amount and learning of the idle control amount in this sequence. This arrangement effectively reduces the total time required for completion of learning both the idle control amount and the most delayed angle control amount, compared with the conventional procedure of individually learning only one control amount corresponding to the satisfied learning condition.