Abstract: An engine control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle is provided with a conversion angle detecting device, an angle determining device, an engine load calculating device and an engine control device. The conversion angle detecting device detects a rotational phase of a cam with respect to a crankshaft as a detected conversion angle of a variable valve operating mechanism of an engine. The angle determining device determines if the detected conversion angle is different from a starting conversion angle when the engine is started. The engine load calculating device calculates a requested load to be imposed on the engine based on the detected conversion angle if the detected conversion angle is different from to the starting conversion angle at a time the engine is started. The engine control device controls the engine in accordance with the requested engine load that was calculated.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine 1 at a standstill of a vehicle after cold starting can switch its combustion mode to a homogenous combustion mode or a stratified combustion mode. An operation range of the stratified combustion at the standstill of the vehicle after cold starting is expanded relative to an operation range of the homogenous combustion at the standstill of the vehicle after cold starting as an inclination of the vehicle decreases. With this technique, the operation range of the stratified combustion can be expanded while assuring an intake air negative pressure required for achieving the brake performance, so that HC reduction at the standstill of the vehicle after cold starting is obtained.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine 1 at a standstill of a vehicle after cold starting can switch its combustion mode to a homogenous combustion mode or a stratified combustion mode. An operation range of the stratified combustion at the standstill of the vehicle after cold starting is expanded relative to an operation range of the homogenous combustion at the standstill of the vehicle after cold starting as an inclination of the vehicle decreases. With this technique, the operation range of the stratified combustion can be expanded while assuring an intake air negative pressure required for achieving the brake performance, so that HC reduction at the standstill of the vehicle after cold starting is obtained.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle is provided with a conversion angle detecting device, an angle determining device, an engine load calculating device and an engine control device. The conversion angle detecting device detects a rotational phase of a cam with respect to a crankshaft as a detected conversion angle of a variable valve operating mechanism of an engine. The angle determining device determines if the detected conversion angle is different from a starting conversion angle when the engine is started. The engine load calculating device calculates a requested load to be imposed on the engine based on the detected conversion angle if the detected conversion angle is different from to the starting conversion angle at a time the engine is started. The engine control device controls the engine in accordance with the requested engine load that was calculated.

Abstract: A variable valve mechanism (12a, 12b) varies a lift amount and an opening/closing timing of an intake valve (10) of an internal combustion engine (1). During a first period in an engine start operation, wall flow is suppressed by setting the lift amount of the intake valve (10) to be smaller so as to increase the intake air velocity. During a second period, which starts after the first period ends, the atomization of injected fuel is enhanced by increasing a valve overlap amount between the intake valve (10) and an exhaust valve (11) so as to promote blow-back of the combustion gas to an intake port (4). By sequentially applying a process for increasing the intake air velocity and a process for increasing the valve overlap amount, the emission of unburned hydrocarbon during the engine start is effectively reduced.

Abstract: A variable valve mechanism (12a, 12b) varies a lift amount and an opening/closing timing of an intake valve (10) of an internal combustion engine (1). During a first period in an engine start operation, wall flow is suppressed by setting the lift amount of the intake valve (10) to be smaller so as to increase the intake air velocity. During a second period, which starts after the first period ends, the atomization of injected fuel is enhanced by increasing a valve overlap amount between the intake valve (10) and an exhaust valve (11) so as to promote blow-back of the combustion gas to an intake port (4). By sequentially applying a process for increasing the intake air velocity and a process for increasing the valve overlap amount, the emission of unburned hydrocarbon during the engine start is effectively reduced.