Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes: an EGR control unit executing open/close control over an EGR valve on the basis of an operating state of the engine; and a fuel injection control unit carrying out at least one of port injection and in-cylinder direct injection by operating at least one of a port injection injector and an in-cylinder direct injection injector on the basis of the engine operating state. The fuel injection control unit sets an EGR non-operation in-cylinder direct injection region, in which the port injection is stopped and the in-cylinder direct injection is carried out while the EGR valve is closed, within an operation range of the engine, and sets part of an EGR operation port injection permissible region, in which at least the port injection is carried out while the EGR valve is open, within the EGR non-operation in-cylinder direct injection region.

Abstract: A cylinder injection valve that injects fuel inside a cylinder and an intake passage injection valve that injects fuel inside an intake passage are provided. When it is determined that deposit greater than or equal to a predetermined amount accumulates, the fuel is forcibly injected by the cylinder injection valve (deposit removing control). The deposit removing control is performed when a pressure of the fuel supplied to the cylinder injection valve is greater than or equal to a predetermined value and an engine load is relatively high. On the other hand, the deposit removing control is not performed when the pressure of the fuel supplied to the cylinder injection valve is greater than or equal to the predetermined value and the engine load is low.

Abstract: In a dual-fuel injection operation, when a fuel injection time by a direct injector as determined on the basis of a direct fuel pressure is less than a minimum value, a dual-injection is performed with a duel injection rate such that the amount of fuel injected by the direct injector is greater than when the dual-injection is performed with a duel injection rate which is determined in accordance with an engine operation state. Thus, the amount of fuel injected by the direct injector is increased, so that the high-temperature fuel that has remained in a high-pressure fuel pipe connected to the injector is rapidly injected and consumed. As a result, the direct fuel pressure can be rapidly lowered, whereby the fuel injection time by the direct injector for implementing an amount of fuel injection in accordance with a direct injection command value can be rapidly increased to the minimum value.

Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes: an EGR control unit executing open/close control over an EGR valve on the basis of an operating state of the engine; and a fuel injection control unit carrying out at least one of port injection and in-cylinder direct injection by operating at least one of a port injection injector and an in-cylinder direct injection injector on the basis of the engine operating state. The fuel injection control unit sets an EGR non-operation in-cylinder direct injection region, in which the port injection is stopped and the in-cylinder direct injection is carried out while the EGR valve is closed, within an operation range of the engine, and sets part of an EGR operation port injection permissible region, in which at least the port injection is carried out while the EGR valve is open, within the EGR non-operation in-cylinder direct injection region.

Abstract: A cylinder injection valve that injects fuel inside a cylinder and an intake passage injection valve that injects fuel inside an intake passage are provided. When it is determined that deposit greater than or equal to a predetermined amount accumulates, the fuel is forcibly injected by the cylinder injection valve (deposit removing control). The deposit removing control is performed when a pressure of the fuel supplied to the cylinder injection valve is greater than or equal to a predetermined value and an engine load is relatively high. On the other hand, the deposit removing control is not performed when the pressure of the fuel supplied to the cylinder injection valve is greater than or equal to the predetermined value and the engine load is low.

Abstract: A control apparatus that controls a fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, the fuel supply system including a low-pressure fuel supply mechanism that injects low-pressure fuel into an intake port of the internal combustion engine, and a high-pressure fuel supply mechanism that injects high-pressure fuel into a cylinder of the internal combustion engine, includes a control portion that controls a supply of fuel to the internal combustion engine from the fuel supply system. Immediately after the vehicle stops, when the internal combustion engine satisfies a predetermined condition, the controller idles the internal combustion engine by supplying the high-pressure fuel to the internal combustion engine by the high-pressure fuel supply mechanism, and after stopping the supply of fuel by the high-pressure fuel supply mechanism, idles the internal combustion engine by supplying the low-pressure fuel to the internal combustion engine by the low-pressure fuel supply mechanism.

Abstract: In a dual-fuel injection operation, when a fuel injection time by a direct injector as determined on the basis of a direct fuel pressure is less than a minimum value, a dual-injection is performed with a duel injection rate such that the amount of fuel injected by the direct injector is greater than when the dual-injection is performed with a duel injection rate which is determined in accordance with an engine operation state. Thus, the amount of fuel injected by the direct injector is increased, so that the high-temperature fuel that has remained in a high-pressure fuel pipe connected to the injector is rapidly injected and consumed. As a result, the direct fuel pressure can be rapidly lowered, whereby the fuel injection time by the direct injector for implementing an amount of fuel injection in accordance with a direct injection command value can be rapidly increased to the minimum value.

Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of: detecting engine speed NE (S100); and stopping power supply to an electric motor of an intake VVT mechanism (S104), if engine speed NE is equal to or lower than a threshold value NE (0) (YES at S102).

Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the step of stopping power supply to an electric motor if a phase of an intake valve is in a first region between the most retarded angle and CA. In the case where the phase of the intake valve is in the first region, the rotational speed of relative rotation between the output shaft of the electric motor and a sprocket is reduced at reduction gear ratio R thereby to vary the phase of the intake valve. In the case where the phase of the intake valve is in a second region between CA and the most advanced angle, the rotational speed of the relative rotation is reduced at reduction gear ratio R thereby to vary the phase of the intake valve.

Abstract: If it is necessary to rapidly change a phase of an intake camshaft and an intake VVT mechanism relatively slow in responsiveness as it is associated with an “A” bank of a V-type, 8-cylinder engine is in operation for at least a predetermined period of time, an ECU executes a program including the step of controlling intake VVT mechanisms to operate those associated with both the “A” bank and a “B” bank.

Abstract: At the time of reference position learning for ensuring accuracy in detecting a valve timing, an operation amount of an actuator is set such that intake valve phase changes to a position of most retarded angle as a reference phase. When the intake valve phase reaches the most retarded angle and the change in the intake valve phase stops (YES at S150), it is determined that the intake valve phase has reached the reference phase and the learning is terminated normally. If the learning operation does not end normally even after the time lapse from the start of learning exceeds a limit time Tlmt, the reference position learning is terminated forcibly (YES at S170), and power supply to the actuator is stopped. Thus, power consumption can be reduced and the apparatus can be protected at the time of reference position learning.

Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of: controlling, when the phase of an intake valve is a phase advanced relative to a threshold value CA (FF) (NO in S106), an electric motor operating an intake VVT mechanism by feedback control (S202); and controlling, when the phase of the intake valve is a phase retarded relative to the threshold value CA (FF) (YES in S106), the electric motor by feed-forward control (S200). Under the feed-forward control, a duty command value is output that is smaller than an upper limit of a duty command value under the feedback control.

Abstract: In a variable valve timing apparatus having a VVT mechanism in each of a plurality of banks, start of a valve timing control is not permitted until reference position learning of valve timing is completed in the corresponding bank and in other banks. Accordingly, the plurality of banks come to have matching valve timing setting at the time of valve timing control, whereby variation in the amount of air introduced to cylinders can be suppressed, and satisfactory combustion characteristics can be maintained.

Abstract: A valve timing control is executed by an ECU that controls an engine and an electric-motor ECU that controls an electric motor. The ECU and the electric-motor EDU serve different functions. The ECU sets the target phase of an intake valve based on the engine operating state, and prepares a rotational speed command value for the electric motor that serves as an actuator such that a phase feedback control loop, in which the intake valve phase is caused to match the target phase, is formed. The electric-motor EDU forms a feedback control loop for the motor speed, in which the electric power supplied to the electric motor is controlled such that the electric motor rotates in accordance with the rotational speed command value.

Abstract: An ECU transmits a pulsed operation command signal, indicating operation commands for an electric motor used as a VVT actuator, to an electric-motor EDU. The electric-motor EDU recognizes the combination of the direction in which the actuator should be operated (actuator operation direction) and the control mode based on the duty ratio of the operation command signal, and the rotational speed command value based on the frequency of the operation command signal. The electric-motor EDU controls the electric motor according to the control commands. The duty ratio indicating the combination is set such that even if the duty ratio is falsely recognized, a false recognition concerning the actuator operation direction is prevented, such false recognition causing the valve phase to change in an undesirable direction, and even if the actuator operation direction is falsely recognized, the rate of change in the phase is restricted.

Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the step of stopping power supply to an electric motor if a phase of an intake valve is in a first region between the most retarded angle and CA. In the case where the phase of the intake valve is in the first region, the rotational speed of relative rotation between the output shaft of the electric motor and a sprocket is reduced at reduction gear ratio R thereby to vary the phase of the intake valve. In the case where the phase of the intake valve is in a second region between CA and the most advanced angle, the rotational speed of the relative rotation is reduced at reduction gear ratio R thereby to vary the phase of the intake valve.

Abstract: An actuator operation amount setting unit prepares the rotational speed command value for an electric motor such that the phase of an intake valve changes in accordance with the target phase. An electric-motor EDU controls the motor supply electric power such that the electric motor operates in accordance with the rotational speed command value. An overheating determination unit determines whether at least one of the electric motor and the electric-motor EDU needs to be restricted from heating up based on a result of comparison between the information indicating the motor supply electric power and the reference value. A rotational speed command value restriction unit restricts the rotational speed command value provided to the electric-motor EDU to a value within a predetermined range, when it is determined that the at least one of the electric motor and the electric-motor EDU needs to be restricted from heating up.

Abstract: At the time of reference position learning, an operation amount of an actuator is set such that intake valve phase changes to a position of most retarded angle in a region where the amount of change in intake valve phase relative to the actuator operation amount is small (S110). When the intake valve phase reaches the position of most retarded angle and the change in the intake valve phase stops (YES at S140), it is determined that the intake valve phase has reached the position of most retarded angle as the reference phase, and learning is completed. Further, in response to completion of learning, power supply to the electric motor as the actuator is stopped. Consequently, it becomes possible to reduce power consumption and to protect the apparatus at the reference position learning for ensuring accuracy in detecting valve opening/closing timing.

Abstract: A motor current (driving current of motor) is estimated based on a target motor speed, an actual motor speed, and an engine speed. When the estimated motor current exceeds the upper limit value equivalent to a heat generation limiting current, the motor current is restricted by restricting a variation (motor speed F/B amount) in target motor speed outputted to an EDU from an ECU. Thereby, the heat value of motor may not exceed the heat generation limit, and it can be prevented that the coil temperature of motor exceeds an allowable temperature range. A durability deterioration and failure of motor can be prevented.

Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of: detecting engine speed NE (S100); and stopping power supply to an electric motor of an intake VVT mechanism (S104), if engine speed NE is equal to or lower than a threshold value NE (0) (YES at S102).