Abstract: An exhaust gas purification catalyst includes: a lower catalyst layer that contains a ceria-zirconia mixed oxide having 50 to 70 mass % of CeO2 and 5 mass % or more of Pr2O3 and carries at least one of Pt and Pd; and an upper catalyst layer that contains at least zirconia and carries at least Rh, wherein the total amount of CeO2 per liter of the carrier base is 15 to 30 g. Because the amount of CeO2 is small, formation of H2S is suppressed and a high capability of adsorbing and releasing oxygen is brought out in spite of the small amount of CeO2.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification catalyst includes: a lower catalyst layer that contains a ceria-zirconia mixed oxide having 50 to 70 mass % of CeO2 and 5 mass % or more of Pr2O3 and carries at least one of Pt and Pd; and an upper catalyst layer that contains at least zirconia and carries at least Rh, wherein the total amount of CeO2 per liter of the carrier base is 15 to 30 g. Because the amount of CeO2 is small, formation of H2S is suppressed and a high capability of adsorbing and releasing oxygen is brought out in spite of the small amount of CeO2.

Abstract: An engine has a variable valve actuation mechanism that varies lift characteristics of an intake valve. An idle speed control apparatus has a control section for controlling an intake air amount of the engine in an idle state for adjusting an actual engine speed to a target engine speed. The control section sets a control amount related to control of the intake air amount in correspondence with the lift characteristics, which are varied by the variable valve actuation mechanism. Accordingly, the engine speed in the idle state is effectively controlled in correspondence with changes of the lift characteristics.

Abstract: A combustion condition for each of plural cylinders included in an internal combustion engine is set by the following control that is performed according to an intake air amount in each of the plural cylinders. A reference cylinder is set to a cylinder in which the intake air amount is smallest, and a fuel injection amount for the reference cylinder is set to a fuel injection amount for realizing a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. The air-fuel ratio in each of the cylinders other than the reference cylinder is set according to the intake air amount in each of the cylinders such that the torque equal to reference torque generated in the reference cylinder is generated. When this setting is performed, air-fuel ratios that are out of a predetermined region in the vicinity of the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio (i.e., air-fuel ratios that are in an avoidance region) are excluded.

Abstract: An engine has a variable valve actuation mechanism that varies lift characteristics of an intake valve. An idle speed control apparatus has a control section for controlling an intake air amount of the engine in an idle state for adjusting an actual engine speed to a target engine speed. The control section sets a control amount related to control of the intake air amount in correspondence with the lift characteristics, which are varied by the variable valve actuation mechanism. Accordingly, the engine speed in the idle state is effectively controlled in correspondence with changes of the lift characteristics.

Abstract: A control device of a multicylinder internal combustion engine provided with a valve operating characteristic control means for controlling a valve operating characteristic of at least one of an intake valve and exhaust valve, which estimates an intake difference of cylinders and limits a control range of said valve operating characteristic in accordance with said estimated intake difference.

Abstract: An ignition timing control apparatus for an engine includes a controller that sets an ignition timing considering a change of a temperature or a pressure in a combustion chamber at a time when an opening/closing characteristic of an intake valve is changed, the opening/closing characteristic including a valve opening timing and a valve closing timing at least one of which is changed by a variable valve mechanism for the engine.

Abstract: An controller detects a change in a load generation state of an accessory device that generates a load on the internal combustion engine during operation, and the controller in turn controls a variable valve mechanism to change at least one of an operation angle and a valve lift of an intake valve of the internal combustion engine, as well as changing an amount of an intake air drawn into the internal combustion engine, in response to the detected change in the load generation state of the accessory device.

Abstract: A control device of a multicylinder internal combustion engine provided with a valve operating characteristic control means for controlling a valve operating characteristic of at least one of an intake valve and exhaust valve, which estimates an intake difference of cylinders and limits a control range of said valve operating characteristic in accordance with said estimated intake difference.

Abstract: If a valve timing adjusting mechanism has a problem, an ECU determines whether or not actual valve timing VTa is larger than valve timing advanced angle limit value VTegr. Depending on the determination, the ECU selects a value for target valve operating angle VLt from safety angles including intermediate valve operating angle VLmid and maximum valve operating angle VLmax. Each of the safety angles VLmid, VLmax is a valve operating angle at which engine combustion is stabilized at the current valve timing. With the valve operating angle fixed at the safety angle VLmid or VLmax, a throttle valve controls intake air amount. This prevents the engine combustion from becoming unstable, thus enabling the engine to be operated in an engine safety mode.

Abstract: An ignition timing control apparatus for an engine includes a controller that sets an ignition timing considering a change of a temperature or a pressure in a combustion chamber at a time when an opening/closing characteristic of an intake valve is changed, the opening/closing characteristic including a valve opening timing and a valve closing timing at least one of which is changed by a variable valve mechanism for the engine.

Abstract: An inter-bank variation detection device of an internal combustion engine provided with a valve opening characteristic setting means (57) for changing the valve opening characteristic of an intake valve (9) for each of the cylinders (#1 to #4) or each of the bank (BL, BR); an indicator detecting means for detecting indicators of the state of combustion for each bank at the time of a first valve opening characteristic set by the valve opening characteristic setting means and the time of a second valve opening characteristic smaller than the first valve opening characteristic; a fuel injection amount variation detecting means (27) for detecting variation of the fuel injection amount for each bank by using the indicator (Xfn) detected by the indicator detecting means at the time of the first valve opening characteristic; and a valve opening characteristic variation detecting means (27) for detecting variation of the valve opening characteristic for each bank by using the indicator (Xsn) detected by the indicator

Abstract: The power circuit device for vehicles is provided with a grounding portion for grounding portions closer to a power consumption device side than a relay of main conductive routes when the relays used for the main conductive routes extending from an accumulator of a vehicle to a fuel heating device, a catalyst heating device, an electric pump, or the like is turned OFF, so that a false power application is not executed even a short-circuit occurs in a part of a power circuit. Also, when two relays are arranged in series, the grounding portion is provided for the relay closer to the power consumption device in order to monitor a voltage level of the main conductive route and make it easy to detect a short-circuit or a disconnection occurrence.

Abstract: An inter-bank variation detection device of an internal combustion engine provided with a valve opening characteristic setting means (57) for changing the valve opening characteristic of an intake valve (9) for each of the cylinders (#1 to #4) or each of the bank (BL, BR); an indicator detecting means for detecting indicators of the state of combustion for each bank at the time of a first valve opening characteristic set by the valve opening characteristic setting means and the time of a second valve opening characteristic smaller than the first valve opening characteristic; a fuel injection amount variation detecting means (27) for detecting variation of the fuel injection amount for each bank by using the indicator (Xfn) detected by the indicator detecting means at the time of the first valve opening characteristic; and a valve opening characteristic variation detecting means (27) for detecting variation of the valve opening characteristic for each bank by using the indicator (Xsn) detected by the indicator

Abstract: An controller detects a change in a load generation state of an accessory device that generates a load on the internal combustion engine during operation, and the controller in turn controls a variable valve mechanism to change at least one of an operation angle and a valve lift of an intake valve of the internal combustion engine, as well as changing an amount of an intake air drawn into the internal combustion engine, in response to the detected change in the load generation state of the accessory device.

Abstract: If a valve timing adjusting mechanism has a problem, an ECU determines whether or not actual valve timing VTa is larger than valve timing advanced angle limit value VTegr. Depending on the determination, the ECU selects a value for target valve operating angle VLt from safety angles including intermediate valve operating angle VLmid and maximum valve operating angle VLmax. Each of the safety angles VLmid, VLmax is a valve operating angle at which engine combustion is stabilized at the current valve timing. With the valve operating angle fixed at the safety angle VLmid or VLmax, a throttle valve controls intake air amount. This prevents the engine combustion from becoming unstable, thus enabling the engine to be operated in an engine safety mode.

Abstract: An engine is provided with a variable valve mechanism capable of changing a degree of an operating angle and a phase of a valve-open period of an intake valve. A controller selectively executes at least one of a plurality of knock controls including a phase adjustment of the valve-open period of the intake valve when a knocking is detected by a knock sensor. When the operating angle of the intake valve is smaller than 180 degrees, a knock control is selected and executed such that a valve-open timing IVO of the intake valve does not exceed a predetermined timing (TDC+?) retarded from a top dead center TDC by a predetermined angle ?. Specifically, for example, when the operating angle is smaller than 180 degrees and the valve-open timing IVO of the intake valve is after the top dead center TDC, the valve-open timing IVO is advanced.

Abstract: A combustion condition for each of plural cylinders included in an internal combustion engine is set by the following control that is performed according to an intake air amount in each of the plural cylinders. A reference cylinder is set to a cylinder in which the intake air amount is smallest, and a fuel injection amount for the reference cylinder is set to a fuel injection amount for realizing a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. The air-fuel ratio in each of the cylinders other than the reference cylinder is set according to the intake air amount in each of the cylinders such that the torque equal to reference torque generated in the reference cylinder is generated. When this setting is performed, air-fuel ratios that are out of a predetermined region in the vicinity of the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio (i.e., air-fuel ratios that are in an avoidance region) are excluded.

Abstract: An intake air amount control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided with: an opening control mechanism and a variable valve mechanism, which control an intake air amount; an intake characteristics change mechanism for controlling the intake air amount by adjusting a parameter or parameters different from those of the above two mechanisms; and an intake amount control device for performing a cooperative control of these mechanisms upon the occurrence of any normal condition. The intake air amount control apparatus is also provided with: an abnormality detection device for detecting an abnormal condition in these three mechanisms; and a fail-safe device for controlling the intake air amount of the opening control mechanism out of these three mechanisms and controlling the other two mechanism, so as to fix their control amounts to constant values.

Abstract: An intake air amount control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided with: an opening control mechanism and a variable valve mechanism, which control an intake air amount; an intake characteristics change mechanism for controlling the intake air amount by adjusting a parameter or parameters different from those of the above two mechanisms; and an intake amount control device for performing a cooperative control of these mechanisms upon the occurrence of any normal condition. The intake air amount control apparatus is also provided with: an abnormality detection device for detecting an abnormal condition in these three mechanisms; and a fail-safe device for controlling the intake air amount of the opening control mechanism out of these three mechanisms and controlling the other two mechanism, so as to fix their control amounts to constant values.