Deceleration Responsive Cutoff Of Fuel To Engine (e.g., Pollution Control) Patents (Class 123/325)
  • Patent number: 8214127
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a clutch cut off enable module and a torque control module. The clutch cut off enable module generates an enable signal based on a clutch engagement signal and an accelerator pedal signal. The torque control module reduces a spark advance of an engine to a minimum value and disables fueling of cylinders of the engine based on the enable signal. The minimum value is a minimum allowed spark advance for current engine airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Jun Lu, Robert C. Simon, Jr., Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Todd R. Shupe
  • Patent number: 8165774
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a sensor that generates a vehicle speed signal. A cruise control system generates a cruise control signal to maintain a vehicle at a target speed. A control module compares the vehicle speed signal to the target speed signal. The control module calculates different cruise control gains to delay changes in throttle position of the cruise control system when the vehicle speed signal is greater than the target speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventors: Lan Wang, Wenbo Wang, Zhong Wang
  • Patent number: 8108130
    Abstract: In the calibration of a lambda sensor (26), inaccuracies occur during a fuel cut-off overrun phase depending on the temperature. A method is proposed for correcting an output signal of a lambda sensor (16) of an internal combustion engine (1), having the following steps: detection of a fuel cut-off overrun phase of the internal combustion engine (1), sensing of an exhaust-gas composition by the lambda sensor (16) during the fuel cut-off overrun phase, sensing of a temperature which represents a measure of the intake air of the internal combustion engine (1), calibration of the lambda sensor (16) based on the second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Scheuerer
  • Publication number: 20110224887
    Abstract: A throttle valve controller is provided for an internal combustion engine, an electronic engine controller, via which an overrun cutoff of the fuel supply of the engine, is controllable, a throttle valve, which is displaceable using at least one electrical positioning motor, and a gas pedal having at least one potentiometer for recognizing the gas pedal position are provided. The throttle valve controller, if an overrun cutoff is activated and the position of the gas pedal is unchanged or reducing, brings the throttle valve using the positioning motor into a position in which the throttle valve throttles the gas stream flowing through it less than would be the case if the overrun cutoff were not activated in the respective gas pedal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Torsten MUELLER
  • Publication number: 20110083639
    Abstract: A system includes a fuel cutoff module and a cylinder deactivation module. The fuel cutoff module generates a fuel cutoff signal when a deceleration fuel cutoff condition occurs, wherein fueling to M cylinders of an engine is disabled based on the fuel cutoff signal, and wherein M is an integer greater than or equal to one. The cylinder deactivation module deactivates the M cylinders in response to the fuel cutoff signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Jack Gallon, Alan W. Hayman, Robert S. McAlpine, James J. Mazzola, III
  • Patent number: 7848859
    Abstract: A device and a method for evaluating a sensor signal indicating the position of an accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle. For this purpose, the device compares the sensor signal to a first comparison level, and an idle state is ascertained if the first comparison level is undershot. When a start of the motor vehicle from rest is detected, a departure from the idle state is inferred if a second comparison level, which is lower than the first comparison level, is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Homeyer, Michael Dornhausen
  • Patent number: 7774128
    Abstract: A method of measuring an initial hydrocarbon concentration in a canister includes opening a purge control valve thereby introducing hydrocarbons from the canister to a cylinder; calculating an amount of air introduced into the cylinder; and calculating the initial hydrocarbon concentration based on the amount of air. A method of controlling fuel injection includes measuring an initial hydrocarbon concentration in a canister by opening a purge control valve in a fuel cut-off mode; determining a driving state of a vehicle; calculating an air inflow to a cylinder according to the driving state of the vehicle; calculating a ? set-point according to the driving state of the vehicle; and calculating fuel injection amount based on the air inflow and the ? set-point. Also, a system for controlling fuel injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyung Kee Kim
  • Publication number: 20090118988
    Abstract: A system comprises a post oxygen performance diagnostic (POPD) module that performs a POPD of a post oxygen sensor, wherein the POPD includes a deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO) portion. A torque converter control module adjusts operation of a torque converter clutch (TCC). The POPD module and the torque converter control module operate the TCC to control engine speed above a predetermined engine speed during the DFCO portion of the POPD. A method comprises performing a POPD of a post oxygen sensor, wherein the POPD includes a deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO) portion and adjusting operation of a torque converter clutch (TCC) to control engine speed above a predetermined engine speed during the DFCO portion of the POPD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Moening, Igor Anilovich, John W. Siekkinen, Jayson S. Schwalm, Daniel J. Wickman
  • Patent number: 7503308
    Abstract: A fuel injection and ignition control method including the steps of: calculating a total injection amount correction value at the restart of fuel injection by adding an injection amount correction value determined with respect to a fuel cut period and an engine operating state to an injection amount increase correction value in acceleration when an engine accelerating operation is performed in a state where fuel cut is performed and the engine is operated; determining an injection restart time ignition timing delay amount with respect to the total injection amount correction value and a throttle valve opening degree; and performing fuel injection control to increase a fuel injection amount to be higher than a fuel injection amount in normal time by the total injection amount correction value, and ignition control to delay ignition timing from ignition timing in normal operation by the injection restart time ignition timing delay amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 7490588
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a first fuel-cut duration extending portion that, when a fuel-cut is being executed during deceleration of the vehicle, slows the decrease in the engine speed by executing a slip control of a lock-up clutch; and a second fuel-cut duration extending portion which, when the engine speed has decreased to a coast-downshift threshold, which is higher by a given amount than a fuel-cut cancellation threshold, while the slip control is being executed, allows to downshift the automatic transmission if the road on which the vehicle is presently traveling has a downhill gradient that is larger than a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Kimura, Toshimitsu Satou
  • Patent number: 7441547
    Abstract: A method of feeding fuel to an engine, comprising the steps of determining whether or not the engine is decelerating based on a time-lapse change rate of an engine speed of the engine, and reducing an amount of the fuel to be fed to air taken into the engine from outside to less than a reference amount preset according to the engine speed when it is determined that the engine is decelerating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Kawamura, Satoru Watabe
  • Publication number: 20080223334
    Abstract: An engine control system is provided. The system includes: an engine torque module that estimates torque output based on charge energy; and a cylinder mode module that controls fuel cut-off and adjusts spark timing to the engine based on the torque output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Buslepp, Louis A. Avallone, Stuart R. Smith, Donovan L. Dibble
  • Publication number: 20080168964
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a first fuel-cut duration extending portion that, when a fuel-cut is being executed during deceleration of the vehicle, slows the decrease in the engine speed by executing a slip control of a lock-up clutch; and a second fuel-cut duration extending portion which, when the engine speed has decreased to a coast-downshift threshold, which is higher by a given amount than a fuel-cut cancellation threshold, while the slip control is being executed, allows to downshift the automatic transmission if the road on which the vehicle is presently traveling has a downhill gradient that is larger than a reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeru KIMURA, Toshimitsu Satou
  • Patent number: 7395809
    Abstract: A method for controlling a diesel engine in a vehicle is presented. The engine comprises at least one cylinder, a fuel injector for each cylinder for injecting fuel into the respective cylinder, and a throttle valve for controlling the flow of air into the cylinder. The throttle valve is adjusted to assume a not fully open position if an amount of fuel injected into the at least one cylinder is equal to or less than a fuel injection threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kjell Möller, Daniel Gustavsson, Martin Andreasson
  • Patent number: 7395808
    Abstract: There is provided a control system for controlling an internal combustion engine with an exhaust system provided with a catalyst, comprising a fuel cut means for stopping the supply of fuel to the internal combustion engine when the vehicle in which the internal combustion engine is mounted is in a decelerating state, the control system of an internal combustion engine characterized in that, in the case that the fuel cut is executed, when the speed SPD of the vehicle is higher than a predetermined first vehicle speed Sh, the intake air amount Ga of the internal combustion engine is made smaller than the intake air amount Gai of when the internal combustion engine is in the idling state (step 120), while when the speed SPD is the first vehicle speed Sh or less, the intake air amount Ga is made larger than the intake air amount Gai of when the internal combustion engine is in the idling state (step 130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mamoru Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 7383813
    Abstract: The problem during overrun fuel cut-off operations, i.e. cut-off of fuel injection during trailing throttle conditions of the vehicle, is that the transition entails an undue torque jump, resulting in the smooth operation of the engine and the driving comfort of the passengers of the vehicle being affected. The aim of the invention is to reduce the torque jump. Said aim is achieved by injecting fuel into a cylinder of the Otto engine in a multiple injection process, at least a partial quantity of the fuel that is to be injected being injected during the compression phase, whereby the quantity of air that is taken in advantageously decreases because no internal cooling takes place while the efficiency is advantageously reduced due to the lesser degree of swirling, resulting in lower torque. Overall, torque (DM) is reduced to a significantly greater extent than by merely adjusting the spark angle (ZW) while smooth operation of the Otto engine is not affected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Weiss, Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 7377239
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine, a computer program product, a computer program, and a control and/or regulating device for an internal combustion engine make detection of an erroneously permanently closed intake valve for a cylinder of the internal combustion engine having more than one intake valve possible. Air and fuel are supplied to the cylinder of the internal combustion engine via a plurality of intake valves. The air and fuel are supplied to the cylinder via a shared duct, which opens into separate ducts for each intake valve of the cylinder. The separate ducts have the same volume. After an interruption of the fuel supply to the cylinder, the fuel supply is resumed. Starting at a first point in time of the resumption of the fuel supply, the fuel quantity supplied to one of the separate ducts is ascertained assuming a permanently closed associated intake valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Roth
  • Patent number: 7377256
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive unit, in which, given the use of a vehicle-speed controller, the actual speed is prevented from exceeding the setpoint speed too significantly. In the method, a setpoint value for an output variable of the drive unit is predetermined. An overrun fuel cutoff of the drive unit is enabled as soon as the setpoint value for the output variable falls below a characteristic value for the overrun fuel cutoff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Glora
  • Patent number: 7328686
    Abstract: Engine cylinder reactivation from a fuel-cut state is controlled based on a calculated future engine speed and a minimum allowable engine speed. The future engine speed is calculated based on the current rate of change of engine speed and a duration required to reactivate an engine cylinder. The duration can be in the time domain, or engine event domain, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Cullen
  • Patent number: 7311079
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner, Shane Elwart, Jeff Doering, Christian T. Goralski, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7258101
    Abstract: An excess oxygen reduction system includes a fuel cut-off condition module, an injector module, and a valve module. The fuel cut-off condition module determines whether a fuel cut-off condition exists. The injector module prevents a fuel injector from fueling a cylinder when said fuel cut-off condition exists. The valve module closes an impulse charging valve when said fuel cut-off condition exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike M. McDonald, William C. Albertson, Christopher R. Graham
  • Patent number: 7236874
    Abstract: In an engine torque loss computing section, a pump loss computing section computes a pump torque loss, and a frictional loss computing section computes a frictional torque loss. The pump torque loss and the frictional torque loss are summed to obtain an engine torque loss. Furthermore, a torque loss correction amount computing section computes a torque loss correction amount, and a correction amount changing section changes the torque loss correction amount based on a result of determination of whether fuel cut-off is currently executed. The torque loss correction amount is added to the uncorrected initial engine torque loss to obtain a corrected engine torque loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Ichihara
  • Patent number: 7146958
    Abstract: An object is to improve fuel consumption efficiency. Accordingly, a fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (engine water temperature) TMKSTDLYT which changes in a decreasing trend with an increase in the engine water temperature is set (step S10). A fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (state of charge)TMKSTDLYQ which changes in an increasing trend with an increase in the state of charge QBAT is set (step S12 and S14). A fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (vehicle speed) TMKSTDLYV which changes in a decreasing trend with an increase in vehicle speed VP is set (step S13 and S15). Then the greatest value of; the fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (engine water temperature)TMKSTDLYT, the fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (state of charge)TMKSTDLYQ, and the fuel gradual addition delay time when starting (vehicle speed) TMKSTDLYV is set as a fuel gradual addition delay time when starting TMKSTDLY (step S16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanobu Asakawa, Manabu Niki, Kohei Hanada, Minoru Suzuki, Teruo Wakashiro
  • Patent number: 7127346
    Abstract: An engine control system that regulates operation of an engine includes an intake valve that regulates air intake into a cylinder of the engine and an exhaust valve that regulates exhaust from the cylinder. A control module determines a cylinder volume at intake valve closure and a cylinder volume at intake valve opening and calculates an intake pumping torque based on the cylinder volume at intake valve closure and the cylinder volume at intake valve opening. The control module determines a cylinder volume at exhaust valve closure and a cylinder volume at exhaust valve opening and calculates an exhaust pumping torque based on the cylinder volume at exhaust valve closure and the cylinder volume at exhaust valve opening. The control module calculates a net pumping torque based on the intake pumping torque and the exhaust pumping torque and regulates engine operation based on the net pumping torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Trombley, Kenneth J. Buslepp, John M. Gunselman
  • Patent number: 7080625
    Abstract: An engine control system for controlling engine operation in activated and deactivated modes in a displacement on demand engine system includes an engine control that generates a load control signal based on one of an activation and a deactivation signal. An accessory control manipulates operation of an accessory driven by the engine based on the load control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Albertson, Alexander J. Roberts, Thomas E. Bolander, Michael A. Kropinski
  • Patent number: 7073465
    Abstract: A method and device for operating an internal combustion engine, which diagnose and/or adapt the exhaust-gas recirculation system for, in particular, multibranch internal combustion engines. In this context, the internal combustion engine includes at least one adsorption catalyst in at least one exhaust branch. In addition, at least one exhaust-gas recirculation duct is provided, which is equipped with an exhaust-gas recirculation valve and feeds exhaust gas from the at least one exhaust branch back into at least one air-supply duct, a level of pollutant stored in the at least one adsorption catalyst being ascertained in a first operating state of the internal combustion engine when the exhaust-gas recirculation valve is at least partially open, so that a first value for the pollutant level is produced. In a second operating state of the internal combustion engine, a second value for the pollutant level in the at least one adsorption catalyst is ascertained when exhaust-gas recirculation valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Woll, Richard Hotzel, Ralf Buehrle, Lanouar Chouk
  • Patent number: 7059298
    Abstract: The present invention judges whether an internal combustion engine is operated by a special operation method in which a fuel cut is performed more frequently than predefined depending on the operation of an accelerator pedal. The present invention provides a shorter purge resumption period subsequently to recovery from a fuel cut when it is judged that the internal combustion engine is operated by the special operation method than when it is judged that the internal combustion engine is not operated by the special operation method. The purge resumption period is a period during which a purge gas flow rate is lower than during a steady operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Ozaki, Mamoru Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 7051704
    Abstract: An intake air control apparatus method and apparatus for an internal combustion engine in which the engine includes a variably operated valve mechanism for making at least one of an operating angle of an intake valve and a valve lift thereof variable. A determination is made on whether a deceleration fuel supply cutoff condition to cutoff the fuel supply to the engine is established. A fuel supply cutoff control is carried out when the deceleration fuel supply cutoff condition is established, and at least one of the operating angle of intake valve and the valve lift thereof is reduced by the variably operated valve mechanism to a predetermined extreme minimal value before the fuel supply cutoff control is started in a state in which the deceleration fuel supply cutoff condition is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Kawamura
  • Patent number: 6988487
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel injection control device which can prevent the occurrence of a phenomenon that when a pressure of fuel in the inside of a pressure storage chamber is elevated during a fuel cut, and the injection of fuel is restarted, the fuel is injected at a high fuel pressure largely different from a target fuel pressure. Accordingly, the fuel injection control device can prevent the deterioration of an exhaust gas and the occurrence of an engine stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiko Oono, Toshiaki Date
  • Patent number: 6978204
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner, Shane Elwart, Jeff Doering, Christian T. Goralski, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6883493
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for operating a drive unit of a vehicle are suggested. Starting from a driver command torque which is converted into a resulting desired torque while considering additional torques, a correction of the resulting desired torque is undertaken in dependence upon the loss torques, which are not available for the drive. For realizing a negative torque command of the driver, the driver command torque is corrected with the loss torque weighted in dependence upon accelerator pedal position and rpm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Lilian Matischok, Juergen Biester, Holger Jessen, Thomas Schuster, Rainer Mayer
  • Patent number: 6876918
    Abstract: An engine torque estimating apparatus is connected to an automatic transmission and an internal combustion engine. A control unit of the engine torque estimating apparatus is arranged to stop a fuel supply to the engine when a predetermined engine operating condition is satisfied, to estimate a torque generated by the engine using a first map which has defined the torque according to an engine speed and an intake air flow of the engine when the fuel supply to the engine is executed, and to estimate the torque using a second map which has defined the torque according to the engine speed when the fuel supply to the engine is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Tomoaki Kabe, Masahiro Hamano, Katsutoshi Usuki, Tetsuya Fujioka
  • Patent number: 6863048
    Abstract: A vacuum system for an engine with variable valve lift includes a controllable vacuum-forming valve at the entrance to the intake manifold and a programmable engine control module (ECM) to increase vacuum as desired within the manifold by modulating the valve as needed to optimize fuel economy. To provide vacuum brake assist, a brake booster diaphragm is connected conventionally to the manifold and a vacuum storage tank and check valve are disposed between the booster diaphragm and the manifold. During periods of vehicle deceleration, when engine load is low, the ECM may switch the VVL-controlled intake valves to a higher lift to increase the pumping capacity of the engine, while simultaneously partially closing the vacuum-forming valve to create vacuum in the intake manifold, the brake booster, and the vacuum storage tank at little or no expense to engine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Burkhard, Brian K. Allston, John S. Lylak, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6840213
    Abstract: A control apparatus, a control method, and an engine control unit for a variable cylinder internal combustion engine are provided for appropriately performing any of an idling rotational speed control, a deceleration fuel-cut control, and an auxiliary machinery driving control irrespective of whether or not a cylinder pausing mechanism fails. The control apparatus for the variable cylinder internal combustion engine switchably operated in a full cylinder operation mode and a partial cylinder operation mode comprises an ECU. The ECU determines whether or not the cylinder pause mechanism fails, and sets a target idling rotational speed for use in the idling rotational speed control to a normal operation value when the cylinder pausing mechanism is normal and to a faulty operation value higher than the normal operation value when the cylinder pausing mechanism is faulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunji Takahashi, Hiroki Yoshimatsu, Toshiaki Ichouda
  • Publication number: 20040261765
    Abstract: An evaporative emission control system detects an opening failure of a purge control valve that controls the amount of purge gas flowing from a canister into an intake passage of the engine, and determines whether a significant shift occurs in an air/fuel ratio feedback factor when the opening failure is detected. If the air/fuel ratio feedback factor is shifted to the rich side, a rich-side initial value is set to a vapor concentration learned value, and, if the feedback factor is shifted to the lean side, a lean-side initial value is set to the vapor concentration learned value. These initial values give larger changes to the vapor concentration learned value than update amounts by which the learned value is updated during normal learning control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Akinori Osanai
  • Publication number: 20040250792
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted internal combustion engine has a variable lift mechanism for varying the valve lift of an intake valve. During deceleration of the vehicle, an ECU performs fuel cutoff control for temporarily stopping supply of fuel to the engine. During the fuel cutoff control, the ECU performs throttle opening increase control as necessary to set the opening degree of a throttle valve greater than a usual target opening degree that is set when an acceleration pedal is not depressed. If the throttle opening increase control is being performed when resumption of the fuel supply is required during the fuel cutoff control, the ECU controls the variable lift mechanism such that the valve lift is reduced compared to a situation where the throttle opening increase control is not being performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayasu Mizobuchi, Atsushi Ayabe, Toshio Sugimura
  • Patent number: 6830038
    Abstract: To provide a fuel cutoff control method for an engine including a secondary air introducing system, capable of preventing afterburning in an exhaust pipe at the time of fuel being cut off in a decelerating state of the engine. A fuel cutoff control method during deceleration of an engine including a secondary air introducing pipe connected to an exhaust pipe, and an air cut valve provided on the secondary air introducing pipe, the method comprising a determination step of determining under predetermined condition's whether or not the engine is in a decelerating state, wherein in the decelerating state, a greater amount of fuel than a normally required amount of fuel flow is supplied during a predetermined period of time after the start of deceleration, and then fuel is cut off after the predetermined period of time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiko Yamashita, Tomoji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20040187843
    Abstract: To provide a fuel cutoff control method for an engine including a secondary air introducing system, capable of preventing afterburning in an exhaust pipe at the time of fuel being cut off in a decelerating state of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Toshihiko Yamashita, Tomoji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20040187484
    Abstract: A computer controller is described for disabling fuel injection into cylinder groups of an engine. The system controls engine output a reduced engine torques without reducing engine air amounts below an engine misfire amount by reducing the number of cylinders carrying out combustion. Engine airflow is controlled to maintain accurate torque at requested levels throughout engine operating ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, Gopichandra Surnilla, Michael John Cullen, Shane Elwart
  • Patent number: 6799113
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement control the drive unit of a vehicle. In this method and arrangement, an rpm limiting to a reference rpm takes place when the demand of the driver is withdrawn. The reference rpm is determined at the start of the withdrawal of the driver command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Denz, Werner Hess, Martin Ludwig
  • Patent number: 6769394
    Abstract: With a method for controlling the fuel supply to an internal combustion engine, in particular to a two-stroke motor, a parameter (K) of the machine, which is influenced by the fuel supply in a delayed manner, is tuned to a predetermined desired value (SW) by switching on and cutting off the fuel supply. The hysteresis is largely compensated in that an upper and/or lower threshhold value (OS,US) is allocated to the desired value (SW) of the parameter (K), that the parameter (K) is continuously measured, and that the fuel supply is cut off when the measured parameter (K) crosses the lower and/or upper threshhold value from below to above, and that the fuel supply is switched on when the measured parameter (K) crosses the upper and/or lower threshhold value (OS,US) from above to below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Dolmar GmbH
    Inventors: Harry Radel, Andreas Krueger
  • Patent number: 6758189
    Abstract: When a large load is exerted during restraint control of an engine of a jet propulsion boat, the drop of the engine revolution frequency causes a feeling of harsh braking. An engine revolution frequency control apparatus provided to prevent this problem includes a engine revolution frequency detector for detecting an engine revolution frequency, and threshold value setting units for setting first and second engine revolution frequency threshold values. The second threshold value is set to be higher than the first threshold value. An engine control unit includes an overspeed governing capability that starts restraint control for restraining rotation when the engine revolution frequency detected by the engine revolution frequency detector is more than said first threshold value when the engine is accelerating, and terminates restraint control when the engine revolution frequency is less than a second thresholds value during deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mamoru Uraki, Sumio Sato, Tomoya Kono, Hajime Shogase
  • Publication number: 20040128049
    Abstract: An engine torque estimating apparatus is connected to an automatic transmission and an internal combustion engine. A control unit of the engine torque estimating apparatus is arranged to stop a fuel supply to the engine when a predetermined engine operating condition is satisfied, to estimate a torque generated by the engine using a first map which has defined the torque according to an engine speed and an intake air flow of the engine when the fuel supply to the engine is executed, and to estimate the torque using a second map which has defined the torque according to the engine speed when the fuel supply to the engine is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Tomoaki Kabe, Masahiro Hamano, Katsutoshi Usuki, Tetsuya Fujioka
  • Publication number: 20040094120
    Abstract: A fuel cut control device that stops supply of fuel to an internal combustion engine during deceleration of the internal combustion engine having a throttle valve for each cylinder, which detects a maximum value of an intake pipe pressure during one combustion cycle of the internal combustion engine, starts fuel cut control when it is detected that the detected maximum value of the intake pipe pressure becomes less than a set fuel cut start determination value, and stop the fuel cut control when it is detected that the detected maximum value of the intake pipe pressure exceeds a fuel supply restart determination value set higher than the fuel cut start determination value to restart the supply of the fuel to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kishibata, Yuichi Kitagawa, Hiroyasu Sato, Akira Shimoyama
  • Publication number: 20040035389
    Abstract: With a method for controlling the fuel supply to an internal combustion engine, in particular to a two-stroke motor, a parameter (K) of the machine, which is influenced by the fuel supply in a delayed manner, is tuned to a predetermined desired value (SW) by switching on and cutting off the fuel supply. The hysteresis is largely compensated in that an upper and/or lower threshhold value (OS,US) is allocated to the desired value (SW) of the parameter (K), that the parameter (K) is continuously measured, and that the fuel supply is cut off when the measured parameter (K) crosses the lower and/or upper threshhold value from below to above, and that the fuel supply is switched on when the measured parameter (K) crosses the upper and/or lower threshhold value (OS,US) from above to below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: DOLMAR GmbH
    Inventors: Harry Radel, Andreas Krueger
  • Patent number: 6694956
    Abstract: There is provided a control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of properly controlling the amount of exhaust gas recirculation according to a degree of flow rate degradation of an exhaust gas recirculation system and at the same time suppressing progress of the flow rate degradation. The control system has an exhaust gas recirculation system including an exhaust gas recirculation passage for communicating between an exhaust passage and an intake passage, and an exhaust gas recirculation valve for controlling the rate of exhaust gas recirculation to the intake passage via the exhaust gas recirculation passage according to the operation amount of the valve. An ECU cuts off supply of fuel to the engine during deceleration of the engine. An intake pipe absolute pressure sensor detects pressure within the intake passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Hideo Moriwaki
  • Publication number: 20030106523
    Abstract: When a large load is exerted during restraint control of an engine of a jet propulsion boat, the drop of the engine revolution frequency causes a feeling of harsh braking. An engine revolution frequency control apparatus provided to prevent this problem includes a engine revolution frequency detector for detecting an engine revolution frequency, and threshold value setting units for setting first and second engine revolution frequency threshold values. The second threshold value is set to be higher than the first threshold value. An engine control unit includes an overspeed governing capability that starts restraint control for restraining rotation when the engine revolution frequency detected by the engine revolution frequency detector is more than said first threshold value when the engine is accelerating, and terminates restraint control when the engine revolution frequency is less than a second thresholds value during deceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Mamoru Uraki, Sumio Sato, Tomoya Kono, Hajime Shogase
  • Patent number: 6536226
    Abstract: An equalizing tank is disclosed comprising a housing, a pressure dissipation orifice, and a return flow line configured to provide fluid communication within the housing without fluid entering the pressure dissipation orifice. Also disclosed is a method of making the equalizing tank and an automotive air-conditioning system including the equalizing tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Dietrich Klingler
  • Patent number: 6526745
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a variable valve mechanism is capable of altering opening and closing timings and opening amounts of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of the internal combustion engine. A fuel injection valve supplies fuel either directly or indirectly to a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. A forcible valve closing mechanism controls the variable valve mechanism such that at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve is placed in a closed state when the fuel injection valve is prohibited from operating. New gas is prevented from flowing from the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine to the intake system thereof when fuel injection control is prohibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Ogiso
  • Patent number: 6474297
    Abstract: Fuel breaking/saving device for cars during coasting, including an automatic sensing power supply, a relay powered and controlled by the automatic sensing power supply to activate a fuel injector, a manual switch connected with a battery and a microswitch for controlling on/off of power, a normally closed microswitch connected with the automatic sensing power supply and the manual switch and activated and controlled by a linkage and a linkage connected with a throttle shaft and activated and controlled by an accelerator pedal. After receiving a message, the automatic sensing power supply compares the message with the standard value and judges whether the message reaches the standard value and then the automatic sensing power supply at proper time supplies power to the relay to make the relay decide whether the fuel injector should inject the fuel or break/save the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: Lai Ming De