Abstract: An SCU as a control device for the gas sensor (first and second NOx sensors) includes an applied voltage switching unit for switching an applied voltage of a pump cell when a deterioration detecting function is performed, and a deterioration rate calculation unit for calculating a deterioration rate of a sensor cell based on a slope during a transient change in an output of the sensor cell according to a switching of the applied voltage by the applied voltage switching unit.

Abstract: A heater control device for an exhaust gas sensor disposed in an exhaust gas passage of an internal combustion engine and including a sensor element having a plurality of cells, and a heater heating the sensor element includes: a heater power control unit configured to execute a temp rising control, in which an impedance of one cell to be measured, of the plurality of cells, is detected and a temperature of the sensor element is raised until the impedance of the one cell reaches a target impedance by setting a power control value of the heater as a heating power control value. The heater power control unit continues the temp rising control until an extension period elapses that is needed for the other cell other than the one cell to reach an activation temperature after the impedance of the one cell reaches the target impedance.

Abstract: An exhaust gas sensor includes a sensor element having a plurality of cells, and a heater heating the sensor element. A heater control device for the exhaust gas sensor includes a heater power control unit that performs an impedance control, in which an energization of the heater is controlled by detecting an impedance of one cell to be measured, of the plurality of cells, such that the impedance of the one cell agrees with a target impedance. The heater power control unit, in the impedance control, estimates a temperature of the other cell other than the one cell based on at least one parameter of an energization condition of the heater and an operating condition of the internal-combustion engine, and corrects the target impedance so that the temperature of the other cell becomes lower than or equal to a permissible upper limit temperature.

Abstract: A NOx sensor includes a pump cell, a monitor cell, and a sensor cell, and the pump cell discharges an oxygen in an exhaust gas introduced into a chamber. The sensor cell outputs a detected signal depending on a concentration of a NOx according to a gas after the oxygen is discharged. A microcomputer of a sensor control circuit temporarily changes an amount of the oxygen discharged by the pump cell, and then calculates output change amounts ?Ip, ?Is, and ?Im of the cells. The microcomputer performs a correction of the concentration of the NOx detected by the sensor cell and a deterioration diagnosis of the sensor cell, based on the output change amounts ?Ip, ?Is, and ?Im of the cells. When the sensor cell current Is is smaller than the monitor cell current Im, the microcomputer determines that the NOx sensor has an abnormality.

Abstract: An electric control device includes: a cam having a variable distance between an outer periphery and a center; a control shaft having one end, which contacts the outer periphery of the cam, and displaceable according to a rotation of the cam to adjust a valve lift amount; a motor rotating the cam; an angle detector detecting a rotation angle of the cam; and a controller. The cam includes multiple steps arranged on the outer periphery. The controller controls the rotation of the cam through the motor to match a detection angle of the angle detector with a target angle corresponding to a target valve lift amount. The controller stops rotating the cam through the motor when a difference between the detection angle and the target angle exceeds a first threshold, and the target angle corresponds to one of the steps.

Abstract: An electric control device includes: a cam having a variable distance between an outer periphery and a center; a control shaft having one end, which contacts the outer periphery of the cam, and displaceable according to a rotation of the cam to adjust a valve lift amount; a motor rotating the cam; an angle detector detecting a rotation angle of the cam; and a controller. The cam includes multiple steps arranged on the outer periphery. The controller controls the rotation of the cam through the motor to match a detection angle of the angle detector with a target angle corresponding to a target valve lift amount. The controller stops rotating the cam through the motor when a difference between the detection angle and the target angle exceeds a first threshold, and the target angle corresponds to one of the steps.

Abstract: When a wastegate valve, which opens and closes an exhaust bypass passage bypassing an exhaust turbine, is open, exhaust gases of respective cylinders bypass the exhaust turbine and pass a sensing point of an air-fuel ratio sensor downstream of the exhaust turbine. Accordingly, the exhaust gases of the respective cylinders can be avoided from being mixed by the exhaust turbine, so an influence of an inter-cylinder variation in an air-fuel ratio due to an inter-cylinder imbalance abnormality becomes apt to appear in an output waveform of the air-fuel ratio sensor. Therefore, existence or nonexistence of the inter-cylinder imbalance abnormality is determined based on the output of the air-fuel ratio sensor when the wastegate valve is open. Eventually, the existence or nonexistence of the inter-cylinder imbalance abnormality can be determined accurately, thereby improving detection accuracy of the inter-cylinder imbalance abnormality.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine capable of obtaining accurate temperature information relating to a catalyst placed in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine. The degree of influence emthc of a catalyst inlet gas temperature and catalyst rear end temperature ethuf[end] is calculated (Step 102). An estimated value ethco of an outlet gas temperature is calculated by weighted averaging the inlet gas temperature and the catalyst rear end temperature ethuf[end] considering the degree of influence emthc (Step 104). A temperature correction coefficient ekthuf[x] for each region of the catalyst is calculated as a function f(emthc) of the degree of influence emthc (Step 108).

Abstract: When a wastegate valve, which opens and closes an exhaust bypass passage bypassing an exhaust turbine, is open, exhaust gases of respective cylinders bypass the exhaust turbine and pass a sensing point of an air-fuel ratio sensor downstream of the exhaust turbine. Accordingly, the exhaust gases of the respective cylinders can be avoided from being mixed by the exhaust turbine, so an influence of an inter-cylinder variation in an air-fuel ratio due to an inter-cylinder imbalance abnormality becomes apt to appear in an output waveform of the air-fuel ratio sensor. Therefore, existence or nonexistence of the inter-cylinder imbalance abnormality is determined based on the output of the air-fuel ratio sensor when the wastegate valve is open. Eventually, the existence or nonexistence of the inter-cylinder imbalance abnormality can be determined accurately, thereby improving detection accuracy of the inter-cylinder imbalance abnormality.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine capable of obtaining accurate temperature information relating to a catalyst placed in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine. The degree of influence emthc of a catalyst inlet gas temperature and catalyst rear end temperature ethuf[end] is calculated (Step 102). An estimated value ethco of an outlet gas temperature is calculated by weighted averaging the inlet gas temperature and the catalyst rear end temperature ethuf[end] considering the degree of influence emthc (Step 104). A temperature correction coefficient ekthuf[x] for each region of the catalyst is calculated as a function f(emthc) of the degree of influence emthc (Step 108).

Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine which has a spray hole designed geometrically to produce a spray of fuel so that substantially 70% or more of an amount of the spray hits a preselected area of a head of an intake valve of the engine when the intake valve is closed. The preselected area is one of a first and a second area of the intake valve head which are defined by a reference boundary line extending through a base end of a stem of the intake valve. The preselected area is the first area closer to an intake manifold, while the second area is closer to an exhaust valve. This avoids rich misfire and reduces HC emissions from the engine regardless of the intake valve is in a closed state or in an open state.

Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine which has a spray hole designed geometrically to produce a spray of fuel so that substantially 70% or more of an amount of the spray hits a preselected area of a head of an intake valve of the engine when the intake valve is closed. The preselected area is one of a first and a second area of the intake valve head which are defined by a reference boundary line extending through a base end of a stem of the intake valve. The preselected area is the first area closer to an intake manifold, while the second area is closer to an exhaust valve. This avoids rich misfire and reduces HC emissions from the engine regardless of the intake valve is in a closed state or in an open state.

Abstract: A bypass passage for bypassing a check valve is connected with a vacuum introducing passage of a brake booster. The bypass passage is provided with a switching valve. Just before the start of an engine, the switching valve temporarily opens the bypass passage whereby to equalize a remaining pressure of the brake booster substantially becomes equal to an atmospheric level. As a result, the pressure in the brake booster at the starting time is set to substantially the atmospheric level so that the airflow to be sucked from the brake booster into the intake pipe at the starting time is made substantially contact every times. Thus, the fuel injection rate can be set considering the airflow to be sucked from the brake booster into the intake pipe at the starting time, even if that airflow cannot be detected.

Abstract: A bypass passage for bypassing a check valve is connected with a vacuum introducing passage of a brake booster. The bypass passage is provided with a switching valve. Just before the start of an engine, the switching valve temporarily opens the bypass passage whereby to equalize a remaining pressure of the brake booster substantially becomes equal to an atmospheric level. As a result, the pressure in the brake booster at the starting time is set to substantially the atmospheric level so that the airflow to be sucked from the brake booster into the intake pipe at the starting time is made substantially contact every times. Thus, the fuel injection rate can be set considering the airflow to be sucked from the brake booster into the intake pipe at the starting time, even if that airflow cannot be detected.