Abstract: In solenoid control method and apparatus for an automatic transmission, a current signal varied in a stepwise manner is caused to pass through a filter having a predetermined transfer function, the current signal being inputted to a solenoid to drive a control valve by which a working oil pressure on at least one frictional element of the automatic transmission is controlled by reducing the working oil pressure to release the frictional element and the filter passed current signal is inputted to the solenoid to drive the control valve. The solenoid control method and apparatus described above are applicable to a change-over shift operation.

Abstract: A method and a system for limiting an engine torque of vehicles to a maximum value. In the method, signals representing wheel torques from wheel sensors at the drive train are acquired, the wheel torques, differentiated according to driving situations which can have a harmful influence on the transmission, differential or torque converter, then being checked for a wheel-torque value which is too high. If too high a value is found, the engine torque is limited or reduced.

Abstract: A system and method for fuel metering in a motor vehicle in which the fuel in a reservoir has a definable pressure. A second device for reducing the pressure and a first device for issuing a signal relevant to vehicle safety are provided. The pressure is reduced by the second device in response to the signal relevant to vehicle safety. The first device is configured in such a way that, in order to increase vehicle stability, the braking effect for at least one vehicle wheel brake can be modified, and the signal relevant to vehicle safety is issued as a function of a definable modification of the braking effect.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for automatically shutting down an engine on a machine in during an operators absence in order to prevent potential damage to the machine. A determination is made regarding if the machine is running, and an if an operator is not present. In the preferred embodiment a plurality of predetermined shutdown values, which correspond with at least one of a plurality of critical parameters, are stored in the controller. The machine will shutdown if the critical parameters are determined to be beyond the shutdown values. Additionally, a cool down feature, if enabled, will cause the machine to cool down prior to the machine being shutdown.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for controlling an engine low oil pressure indicator in a hybrid electric vehicle includes a powertrain having an engine and an electric traction motor, an oil pressure sensor/sending unit mechanically connected to the engine, an engine speed sensor/sending unit mechanically connected to the engine, a controller having connections to the oil pressure sensor and engine speed sensor, a low oil pressure indicator electrically connected to the controller, a mode selector having modes for “off” and “run/start”, the controller being configured to prevent activation of the low oil pressure indicator when the mode selector is in the “run/start” mode and the engine is not running.

Abstract: Driving slip rates SLi of respective wheels are calculated, and if a driving slip is excessively large is judged based on the driving slip rates SLi. Further, if a vehicle is in a predetermined turning state is judged, and if the vehicle is in an accelerating state from taking off on a road surface where a difference between coefficients of friction of the road surface with respect to the left and right wheels is large is judged. In addition, if the vehicle is in a state in which a powertrain such as a differential should be protected is judged. Fuel supply to an engine is cut until a possibility of worsening of behavior has been eliminated when the driving slip is excessively large and there is a possibility of worsening of behavior due to turning and the like, and the driving slip is reduced by reduction of driving force. Then, execution of the cutting of fuel supply is prohibited for a predetermined time after execution of the cutting of fuel supply.

Abstract: A method and a system for limiting an engine torque of vehicles to a maximum value. In the method, signals representing wheel torques from wheel sensors at the drive train are acquired, the wheel torques, differentiated according to driving situations which can have a harmful influence on the transmission, differential or torque converter, then being checked for a wheel-torque value which is too high. If too high a value is found, the engine torque is limited or reduced.

Abstract: This invention is a method and system for a hybrid electric vehicle adaptive fuel strategy to quickly mature an adaptive fuel table. The strategy adaptively alters the amount of fuel delivered to an internal combustion engine to optimize engine efficiency and emissions using engine sensors. Before the adaptive fuel strategy is permitted, an engine “on” idle arbitration logic requires the HEV to be in idle conditions, with normal battery state of charge, normal vacuum in the climate control and brake system reservoir; and, the vapor canister not needing purging. The strategy orders the engine throttle to sweep different airflow regions of the engine to adapt cells within the adaptive fuel table. In the preferred configuration, a generator attached to the vehicle drive train, adds and subtracts torque to maintain constant engine speed during the throttle sweeps.

Abstract: An engine control system for a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as driving force sources, for permitting stopping and restarting of the engine in accordance with predetermined drive conditions. The engine control system includes a fuel cutter for cutting fuel supply to the engine when the vehicle decelerates and an engine speed detector for detecting an engine speed. Stopping of the engine is initiated by cutting the fuel supply by the fuel cutter, and when the engine speed becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined speed, the engine is stopped by operating the motor as a generator and by cutting the fuel supply.

Abstract: An improved engine torque control method uses existing powertrain sensors and controls to reliably detect and suppress power-hop with minimum degradation of vehicle acceleration. Power-hop is detected by identifying a characteristic wheel jerk magnitude and oscillation frequency based on driven wheel speeds. Once a power-hop condition is detected, the control method computes a desired engine torque output for suppressing the detected power-hop without unnecessarily degrading vehicle performance, based on the wheel jerk magnitude, the engine speed and vehicle acceleration. A combination of engine cylinder fuel cut-off and spark retard is then scheduled for reducing the engine output torque to the desired level for the duration of the power-hop condition.

Abstract: A system for controlling downhill vehicle operation includes an electronically actuatable engine compression brake unit associated with an internal combustion engine, an electronically controllable turbocharger boost pressure adjustment device, electronically actuatable service brakes and a transmission including a number of automatically selectable gear ratios, wherein each of these components are coupled to a control computer. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the control computer is operable to detect a potential runaway vehicle condition and control any one or combination of engine compression brake activity, turbocharger boost pressure, service brake activity and automatic transmission shifting to thereby provide for a controlled descent down a negative grade and thereby prevent a runaway vehicle condition.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for controlling a drive unit wherein a quantity, which represents the torque, is limited by a limiting value during the transition from the overrun phase of the drive unit into the traction phase. The limiting value is determined from the slip of at least one drive wheel in the overrun phase.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for determining an effective throttle value of an internal combustion engine for controlling automatic transmission shift points. In one embodiment, the system is operable to determine an effective throttle value as a function of commanded fueling and engine speed under operating conditions wherein engine torque is requested by a system/component other than manual throttle control to thereby provide a throttle value indicative of what throttle position or percentage would be under present operating conditions if engine torque was being requested via manual throttle control. The present invention accordingly overcomes deficiencies in known automatic transmission shift point control systems by continuously computing an equivalent throttle percentage whenever fueling or requested torque values are not dominated by actual throttle (e.g. accelerator pedal) percentage.

Abstract: A control system for an automotive vehicle is capable of realizing superior control precision and response ability by an intake air flow rate control on the basis of a fuel injection amount which is, in turn, derived on the basis of a target torque even in lean-burn condition. The control system controls at least one of vehicle speed, a vehicular distance, driving wheel speed, slip ratio toward a target value, derives a target torque of an engine on the basis of the target value, a fuel injection amount for the engine on the basis of the target torque of the engine, a target air supply amount to the engine on the basis of the fuel injection amount derived by the vehicle condition control means and an actual air supply amount of the engine. The control system controls the actual air supply amount toward the target air supply amount.

Abstract: A deviation between a target value of a quantity of state and an actual value of the quantity of state that is caused to follow the target value or a time-integral of the deviation is filtered. Based on the filtered value, a switching surface &sgr; is calculated. Based on a value of the switching surface &sgr;, a control input value u is outputted. The filter is set through comparison in Bode diagrams between a design model of a control system based on an ordinary sliding mode control method and a characteristic variation model of the control system, and by performing compensation in such a direction as to cancel out the variation. The filtering process makes it possible to properly control the control system having a dead time by the sliding mode control method.

Abstract: In a method and a device for controlling the drag torque of an internal combustion engine, a setpoint for the air supply to the internal combustion engine is held substantially constant during control of the drag torque in case of a tendency to instability of at least one wheel, and the drag torque is controlled by alteration of a second setpoint for the ignition angle and/or the fuel metering.

Abstract: A method for controlling the speed of an off-the-road vehicle traveling on a gradient permits a constant downhill speed to be maintained. The vehicle speed can be set to a constant descending speed by an electronic system through active braking intervention, without requiring actuation of the brake by the driver. The vehicle in which the method is practiced has several forward speeds and one reverse speed within a low-range traveling phase. The constant descending speed is dependent upon the position of the gas pedal and upon the currently engaged gear of the low-range traveling phase. The method for use in off-the-road vehicles is particularly advantageous for situations in which the braking action of the engine on steep gradients is no longer sufficient to decelerate the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and device setting a driving torque in a motor vehicle, in particular setting the torque as a part of an anti-slip regulation. At least two triggerable actuators are available for influencing the driving torque, where the actuators have different dynamic responses with regard to the setting of a driving torque. The core of the invention consists of the fact that first a component of the driving torque to be set is determined, and this component thus determined is used for triggering the actuator with the lower dynamics. In addition, the change in the driving torque produced by this triggering of the actuator with the lower dynamics is estimated. The difference between the driving torque to be set and the estimated driving torque is then used for triggering at least one actuator with higher dynamics.

Abstract: In a traction control device for a vehicle which is equipped with a multi-cylinder engine, fuel supply is cut for a specific cylinder when a slip factor of the drive wheels exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The device comprises a sensor for detecting the engine load, and when the engine load becomes larger than a predetermined load, the threshold value is increased. As a result, the engine operation region wherein fuel cut is performed is narrowed under the high engine load and overheating of the catalytic converter due to fuel cut under the high engine load is thereby prevented.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control system comprises a section for calculating a command driving force-required to make a sensed vehicle speed equal to a preset command vehicle speed, a section for calculating a command engine output in accordance with the command driving force and the command vehicle speed, a section for calculating a command engine speed corresponding to the command engine output from a predetermined engine torque-versus-speed characteristic relationship in an engine constraint state of minimum throttle setting and fuel cutoff inhibition when the command driving. force is negative, and a section for calculating a command transmission ratio in accordance with the command engine speed. When the driving force command is negative, the control system put the engine in the constraint state and controls a continuously variable transmission in response to the command transmission ratio so as to prevent undesired vehicle speed hunting.

Abstract: In a lean burn engine for a vehicle wherein an ordinary air-fuel ratio and a lean air-fuel ratio are selectively applied, an engine output is reduced when a slip of a drive wheel is detected. By controlling the air-fuel ratio when the engine output is reduced to an ordinary air-fuel ratio, the engine is prevented from becoming unstable even when output is reduced at a lean air -fuel ratio. Preferably, when the engine output reduction has terminated, the air-fuel ratio is returned to the air-fuel ratio prior to the output reduction.

Abstract: In a traction controller for cutting fuel supply to the cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine based on a slip factor of the drive wheels of a vehicle, an ordinary fuel cut mode in which fuel is cut to only some cylinders and a multi-cylinder fuel cut mode in which fuel is cut to a larger number of cylinders are provided. When the slip factor exceeds a first threshold value, ordinary fuel cut begins, and when the fuel cut duration time exceeds a predetermined value and the slip factor exceeds a second threshold value higher than the first threshold value, multi-cylinder fuel cut is performed. In this way, the drive wheels are prevented from slipping while preventing hunting of the slip factor due to multi-cylinder fuel cut and temperature rise of a catalytic converter.

Abstract: An automobile traction control system includes a traction control unit for calculating a slip amount as the difference between a drive-wheel speed and a target drive-wheel speed, an engine control unit cooperating with a fuel-supply system for decreasingly compensating the engine power by the fuel-out control action in response to the slip amount, and a temperature sensor for detecting an internal combustion engine temperature. The traction control unit is responsive to the internal combustion engine temperature for properly setting the target drive-wheel speed or for properly setting control gains of the engine control system so that the engine speed is maintained above a minimum internal combustion engine revolution speed at which engine stall is prevented.

Abstract: In apparatus and method for controlling a driving force for an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a slip condition of a driven road wheel is detected, an opening angle of an engine throttle valve so as to control the slip condition of the driven road wheel to a predetermined condition is adjusted, a target opening angle of the throttle valve according to the detected slip condition is derived, the opening angle of the throttle valve is determined, a steady state deviation of an output of the engine developed between the target opening angle of the throttle valve and the actually detected opening angle thereof is derived, and the derived steady state deviation is compensated using another driving force reducing control unit such as an engine control unit used for, for example, cutting off a fuel supply to a determined number of engine cylinders.

Abstract: A wheel speed differential with another wheel of each of several wheels is determined as a parameter for brake-adjustment use, and driving torque conveyed respectively from an engine to the several wheels is adjusted by braking torque determined on a basis of the parameter for brake-adjustment use so as to restrain the wheel-speed differential. In such a driving torque control, the engine output is reduced if the braking torque is excessive. Therefore, load to the brake apparatus and drivetrain caused by engine output can be reduced. Thus, deterioration of the durability of the brake apparatus and drivetrain can be prevented.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling a motor vehicle having a plurality of component systems. A first one of the component systems is a motor control system. An interface is defined between various ones of the component systems and faces toward the first component system. The interface operates on the basis of the torque generated by the motor. The component systems exchange data via the interface with respect to this torque for controlling the motor vehicle.

Abstract: An engine output control apparatus for use with an automotive vehicle supported on a road surface by a pair of driven road wheels and a pair of non-driven road wheels to control an output transmitted from an internal combustion engine to the driven road wheels through an automatic transmission adapted to produce changes up based on engine output and vehicle speed. A traction control signal is produced when the degree of slip of the driven road wheels is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The engine output is reduced in the presence of the traction control signal. Changes up are produced at higher vehicle speeds in the presence of the traction control signal than in the absence of the traction control signal when the engine output is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: In a V type engine comprising a catalyst in each of banks, when a fuel cut requirement on the basis of a traction control is generated, cylinders in which the fuel is cut are controlled to be switched between right and left banks. For example, when a requirement for a fuel cut with respect to two cylinders, at first, after the fuel cut of two cylinders are performed in the right bank for a predetermined time, the fuel cut of two cylinder are performed in the left bank for a predetermined time and this operation is repeated during a continuing time of the fuel cut. Accordingly, a thermal damage due to the fuel cut can be prevented from concentrating only to one catalyst.

Abstract: In a fuel cut controller wherein fuel supply is stopped to some cylinders when there is a fuel cut request, an ordinary fuel cut mode and a multi-cylinder fuel cut mode are set. When the ordinary fuel cut mode has continued for a predetermined time, fuel cut is performed in an equal or larger number of cylinders in the multi-cylinder fuel cut mode, and the engine output torque therefore decreases further. At the same time, due to the increase in cylinders where fuel supply is stopped, the amount of fresh air flowing from these cylinders to a catalytic converter increases, and the amount of unburned fuel flowing into the converter from the cylinders where fuel supply is performed decreases. As a result, heat due to reaction of unburned fuel in the converter decreases, and the increasing amount of fresh air cools the converter, so temperature rise of the converter is suppressed.

Abstract: A cruise control road speed control device provides an attenuating member connected between the speed control and the fuel injection volume adjusting member. The attenuating member feeds the controller output signal in a lower value range to the adjusting member after attenuation. This measure suppresses the undesired rpm oscillations and thus, even with cruise control operation at low engine loads, permits satisfactory driving comfort without perceptible juddering effects. The cruise control can be used for controlling the road speed of commercial vehicles with Diesel engines and automatic transmissions.

Abstract: In order to provide an accurate traction control by closing a second throttle valve provided in series to an accelerator-operated ordinary throttle valve, with a simplified actuator, a control system for reducing a vehicle driving torque employs one or more sensors for sensing a second vehicle operating parameter representing a road surface friction coefficient (.mu.) or a driver's command for acceleration, in addition to sensors for sensing a first vehicle operating parameter representing a drive wheel slip. When the road surface friction coefficient is high or when the driver depresses the accelerator pedal hard, the control system restrains the closing operation of the second throttle valve in accordance with the second parameter even though the closure of the second throttle valve is requested by the first parameter.