Abstract: An engine control method in which a valve drive mechanism and a fuel injection device are controlled by an electronic control unit during transition between a cylinder-off state and a cylinder-on state of a variable-cylinder engine. During transition from the cylinder-on state to the cylinder-off state, the operation of a suction valve and an exhaust valve is stopped when at least one suction stroke is executed after the stoppage of fuel injection. When the operating state is restored from the cylinder-off state to the cylinder-on state, on the other hand, normal combustion is effected immediately after the valve operation is restarted following preliminary fuel injection if the engine is in a rapid-acceleration operation region. In a normal operation mode, the fuel injection is started after the valve operation is restarted.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus capable of detecting occurrence of abnormality in the ignition coil with high reliability. The apparatus includes an initial detection level hold device for holding an initial level (In) of a detected ion current value I, and an ignition coil diagnosis device for generating an abnormality decision signal of the ignition coil in dependence on the initial level of the ion current. By positively utilizing noise produced in an initial phase of the ignition cycle instead of eliminating it, the abnormality decision signal is generated, on the basis of which an appropriate engine protection measure is taken.

Abstract: A traction control system limits the spin of a vehicle driven wheel at a spin limit value that is a function of the vehicle turn rate and that is decreased as a function of the vehicle turn rate of change.

Abstract: An output torque control system for a multiple cylinder engine limits fuel supply to one or more selected cylinder(s) of the engine according to a predetermined fuel limiting pattern when the engine output torque reduction is to be performed. Fuel supply to the cylinder which first comes to the fuel injection timing after it is determined that the engine output torque reduction is to be performed is limited at least in the fuel injection timing immediately after the determination independently from the predetermined fuel limiting pattern.

Abstract: An excess slip control device for a driving wheel, comprising a driving wheel speed sensor for detecting a driving wheel speed of a vehicle, a slip determining means for determining a slip condition of a driving wheel according to an output from the driving wheel speed sensor, a fuel supply suppressing means for suppressing fuel supply to an engine according to an output from the slip determining means, and a retard control means for controlling an ignition timing to a retard position according to an output from the slip determining means. Thus, the fuel quantity to be supplied to the engine and the ignition timing are controlled according to the slip condition of the driving wheel. Accordingly, an operational shock due to a fluctuation in engine torque may be reduced to thereby improve the drivability, and a control lag may be also eliminated.

Abstract: In a method for reducing the fuel supply for one cylinder of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with centralized injection, the procedure is that the cylinder located in the intake cycle sequence in front of the cylinder whose mixture is to be made much leaner, for example because of unreliable combustion, is already supplied with less fuel than is the case when all cylinders are operable. In addition, the intake cycle for the failed cylinder itself is supplied with as little fuel as possible. Using this method, it is possible to set a very lean mixture in the failed cylinder but a mixture having a lambda value close to 1 in the remaining cylinders. This ensures that the motor vehicle in which the internal combustion engine with the failed cylinder is operating can still be reliably operated and, at the same time, there is no risk of overheating of the catalytic converter.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a misfire in an internal combustion engine for a vehicle includes a rotational speed change quantity computing unit which detects a rotational speed of the engine and computes a change quantity of the rotational speed of the engine, a misfire determination value correction coefficient setting unit which detects a load on the engine and sets a correction coefficient of a misfire determination value based on a result of detection of the engine load, a misfire determination value setting unit for setting a misfire determination value based on the set misfire determination value correction coefficient, and a misfire determining unit for determining whether a misfire has occurred in the engine by comparing the change quantity of the rotational speed of the engine from the rotational speed change quantity computing unit with the misfire determination value from the misfire determination value setting unit.

Abstract: An intermittent fuel-injection method for two-stroke engine, which is done by means of an injection nozzle mounted under a cylinder head or on cylinder wall so as to have fuel directly injected into a cylinder to mix the air inside the cylinder into a homogeneous mixture; a controller is used for controlling the fuel-injection timing and quantity; the controller determines the injection timing and quantity in accordance with the engine intake air flow quantity and engine rpm; under idle running or low-load running condition, an intermittent fuel-injection control method is used so as to enable an engine to perform one, two, three, four or five scavenging and exhaust cycles after one fuel-injection cycle in order to obtain a steady and high combustion efficiency.

Abstract: In a method for protecting a catalytic converter from overheating, a conventional misfire recognition method is used to determine whether misfires are occurring in a cylinder. If this is the case, an attempt is made to interrupt the fuel supply to the affected cylinder. If this succeeds, the remaining cylinders are supplied with a lean mixture. If it does not succeed, all the cylinders are operated with a rich mixture. The lean setting of the mixture in the case of interrupted fuel supply to the affected cylinder has the effect that after the combustions in the cylinders, no further fuel reaches the catalytic converter which could combust in the catalytic converter with the oxygen induced by the affected cylinder.

Abstract: A misfire sensing apparatus for an internal combustion engine can determine an occurrence of misfiring in any of engine cylinders as well as which cylinder is misfiring with improved accuracy and reliability. A crank angle sensor 11 generates an output signal at predetermined crank angles of the engine. A control unit 20 identifies operating states of the cylinders based on the output signal from the crank angle sensor. It successively senses misfire information in the form of the number of revolutions per minute of the engine at the predetermined crank angles, and determines possible misfiring in a cylinder when a difference between the current misfire information and the previous one is greater than a predetermined level.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the operation of an internal combustion engine, such as is usable in a motor vehicle, combines the recognition of ignition failures with recognition of combustion failures. In one embodiment combustion failures are detected by the faltering of torque delivered by the engine. Ignition failures are electrically detected in terms of spark voltage or spark duration. In a first embodiment the rate of ignition and combustion failures is first compared with a predetermined threshold and if neither threshold is exceeded, the detection of an individual ignition failure is deemed plausible and is registered if detected. Only a failure rate in excess of a threshold results in cylinder-specific remedial measures to protect a catalyst in the exhaust system. In a second embodiment, unlike the first, only an ignition failure results in a cylinder-selective remedial action.

Abstract: Misfiring of individual cylinders in an internal combustion engine is detected based on sensing exhaust pressure during each operating cycle of the engine. A pressure signal is sampled and digitized during each cycle to form an input vector for a pattern classifier. Predetermined internal coefficients of the trained classifier enable the classifier to discriminate between firing and misfiring cylinders in real time with a high degree of accuracy. Overall system cost is reduced by sharing a pressure transducer with an exhaust gas recirculation system on the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: When one of the combustion chambers is found to be operating non-compliantly, it is deactivated by the engine management computer preventing the electronic valve control computer from opening the solenoid-actuated intake valve for that combustion chamber.

Abstract: A driving wheel slip control system for a vehicle detects an excessive slip state of at least one of the driving wheels of the vehicle and reduces engine output when the excessive slip state is detected, by repeating alternate fuel cut and fuel supply such that fuel supply is stopped for a first predetermined time period, and a second predetermined time period. During the second predetermined time period the engine is supplied with an amount of fuel smaller than one required for an operating condition of the engine in the excessive slip state. If the excessive slip state has a greater variation in magnitude than a certain value, fuel supply is continuously effected for a third predetermined time period longer than the first predetermined time period or all the time during the excessive slip state.

Abstract: A method of electronic engine control for a motor vehicle includes sensing an ignition voltage of a final ignition stage, effecting a performance check of the final ignition stage in response to a control signal generated in response to sensing the ignition voltage of a final ignition stage, and providing an error flag if the control signal deviates from a predetermined control signal. An apparatus for performing the foregoing method comprises an electric control circuit that includes a sensor for detecting the ignition voltage, and control means that effects a performance check in response to a sensor output signal and emits the error flag in response to an error control signal.

Abstract: A wheel spin detector monitors the speeds of vehicle wheels and supplies a signal to an engine management system when excessive wheel spin is detected. The engine management system includes a fuel controller which, in response to the signal from the detector, reduces engine torque by inhibiting the supply of fuel to one or more cylinders of the engine such that either all cylinders are continuously fuelled or continuously unfuelled or one and only one cylinder is intermittently fuelled. When an unfuelled cylinder is fuelled again, the mixture supplied to it may be temporarily enriched.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine has a vibration sensor which senses engine vibrations and a low-pass filter which passes a low-frequency component of the output of the vibration sensor. A comparator detects misfiring when the level of the low-frequency component exceeds a prescribed reference level. When misfiring is detected, a microcomputer identifies the misfiring cylinder and stops the supply of fuel to the misfiring cylinder. The control apparatus may also include a knocking suppression device responsive to a component of the output signal of the vibration sensor.

Abstract: A method is described for controlling the injection of fuel in a direct injected, multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, to smooth transients in engine output torque associated with a deceleration fuel cut-off mode of engine operation. This is accomplished by detecting engine operating conditions that call for the initiation of a transition associated with the decelaration fuel cut-off engine operating mode. In response to the detected operating conditions, a transitional period is initiated, during which the injection of fuel into a varying portion of engine cylinders is then interrupted. When the transitional period is associated with entry into the deceleration fuel cut-off mode, the injection of fuel to a progressively increasing number of cylinders is interrupted. When the transitional period is associated with recovery from the deceleration fuel cut-off mode, the injection of fuel to a progressively decreasing number of engine cylinders is interrupted.

Abstract: A relation with output characteristic of an oxygen density sensor corresponding to a deviation of an air fuel ratio of a mixed gas supplied actually to an internal combustion engine from a desired air fuel ratio is stored beforehand in an air fuel ratio controller of the present invention. Then, the air fuel ratio deviation is computed correspondingly to an actual output of the oxygen density sensor according to the stored relation, and an air fuel ratio controlled variable is corrected according to the computed air fuel ratio deviation, thereby controlling the air fuel ratio to the desired air fuel ratio.

Abstract: A combustion engine is provided having a cylinder blanking system. The cylinders are deactived according to turbo-pressure and engine RPM. Specifically, when low load conditions exist for a predetermined period of time, fuel is cut off from some of the cylinders. The system may be manually overriden.

Abstract: A traction control device comprising a cylinder number determining device for determining the number of cylinders to which the supply of fuel is to be stopped, in accordance with the speed difference between a rotating speed of a free running wheel and a rotating speed of a driven wheel. A change of an actual number of cylinders to which the supply of fuel is actually stopped by a fuel stop controlling device is prohibited until a predetermined time has elapsed from a time at which the actual number of cylinders was changed.

Abstract: An engine control system of a multiple cylinder engine shifts operation between operation with all the cylinders operated and operation with a portion of the cylinders rested under a predetermined condition. When the operation with all the cylinders operated is shifted to operation with the number of the operating cylinders reduced, a control value for controlling the cylinder, such as an amount of fuel to be supplied or an ignition timing, is corrected in a direction of increasing output of the engine, the cylinder being in process of combustion immediately prior to a shift from the operation with all the cylinders operated to the operation with the number of the operating cylinders being reduced.

Abstract: When a two-stroke combustion engine (10) runs in the no-load or underload mode with intermittent fuel injection, besides the injection nozzles (12) being activated intermittently, the throttle (18) is opened more than is usual on transition into the no-load or underload mode and the fuel is simultaneously injected at a constant angle of aperture and flow. The process ensures reliable ignition of a weak mixture in the no-load or coasting mode; thus the energy consumption and exhaust production are limited in these modes and the engine runs in a cost-effective manner.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fuel supply control system for an internal combustion engine. The system comprises a fuel supply member for supplying fuel to each cylinder of the engine; a pressure sensor which outputs a signal representative of an internal pressure of each cylinder under compression stroke; a crankangle sensor which outputs two types of signals, one being a signal which is issued each time a crankshaft of the engine rotates by a given angle, and the other being a signal which is issued each time the crankshaft comes to a given angular position; a pre-ignition judging device for judging whether a pre-ignition occurs or not in each cylinder based on the signals from the pressure sensor and the crankangle sensor; and a fuel supply stop device for stopping the fuel supply to a cylinder when the pre-ignition judging device judges that the cylinder encounters the pre-ignition.

Abstract: A method of and a device for monitoring combustion in a spark ignition internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber and a discharge system wherein a discharge voltage is monitored for determining whether combustion in the combustion chamber takes place.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for altering the acoustic signature of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. Several techniques for altering the acoustic signature of an engine are shown, including time-varying, disabling or cutout of individual cylinders of an engine in a random fashion in order to reduce the periodic characteristics of the exhaust noise of the engine. Alternate embodiments include offsetting crank pins to transform an even firing engine into an uneven firing engine, inhibiting the fueling of individual cylinders, and inhibiting the ignition signals provided to individual cylinders. A combination of the above techniques may also be implemented in order to disperse the exhaust noise energy present over a wide frequency range, making acoustic detection of the exhaust signature difficult. Cylinder cutout schemes are implemented over a single or multiple engine cycle to disperse exhaust noise pulses over time and randomize measurable spectral noise composition.

Abstract: A traction control device comprising a fuel supply control device for controlling the supply of fuel fed into the engine cylinders. When the temperature of the engine is high, if the speed difference between the rotating speed of the free running wheel and the rotating speed of the driven wheel exceeds a predetermined value, the supply of fuel fed into some of the cylinders or all of the cylinders is stopped. Conversely, when the temperature of the engine is low, even if the speed difference exceeds the predetermined value, the feeding of fuel to all of the cylinders is continued.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder 2 cycle engine having n cylinders has fuel injected and ignited at (n-1).times.360/n crank angle intervals. This induces the situation wherein combustions occur in each cylinder at n-1 cycle intervals. This provides at least one piston stroke for each cylinder during in which no combustion takes place and fresh air is pumped through the combustion chamber in a manner to scavenge residual combustion gases therefrom.

Abstract: A fuel controller for an internal combustion engine has a misfiring sensor which can detect when misfiring occurs in an engine cylinder. When misfiring is detected, the fuel injector corresponding to the misfiring cylinder is prevented from supplying fuel to the misfiring cylinder, while the fuel injectors for the other cylinders continue to operate normally. The fuel injector for the misfiring cylinder can be disabled by a switching circuit which turns off a power amplifier for driving the fuel injector. Misfiring can be detected by sensing changes in the rotational speed of the engine between prescribed crankshaft angles due to a reduction in torque when misfiring occurs.

Abstract: In a method of traction control, fuel injectors are selectively disabled to unfuel respective cylinders of an engine to reduce engine torque output. The method provides for limiting the number of cylinders that can be disabled for acceleration spin control based on engine and vehicle operating parameters to improve traction control performance and provide protection for the vehicle catalytic converter.

Abstract: A multiple cylinder two-stroke fuel-injected internal combustion engine is operated at idle by interrupting the fuel injection stages in a predetermined pattern such that over a certain number of crankshaft revolutions a fewer number of injections occur than over the same number of revolutions at non-idle. The quantity of fuel injected per injection is increased relative to that required to operate the engine at idle wihtout any injection interruptions. Spark timing is also advanced.

Abstract: A fuel injection controlling device for a two-cycle engine includes an electronic fuel injection system having a fuel injection quantity determining device for determining a fuel injection amount in response to a rotational speed of said engine and a throttle opening. A misfire detecting device is provided for detecting a misfire condition of said engine. Further, a device is provided for decreasing the amount of fuel injection upon transition from a misfire condition to a fired condition. The misfire detecting device includes a sensor for detecting an internal pressure of an intake air path, a storage device for storing therein an output value of the sensor and data of an intake air path internal pressure in a predetermined operating condition of the engine upon normal combustion, and a comparison device for comparing the output value with data read out from the storage means to detect a difference in pressure.

Abstract: An arrangement for the recognition of misfirings of internal combustion engines with externally supplied ignition in which for the recognition of misfirings, the cylinders are combined into two groups and an ignition system of its own is coordinated to each group; a thermo-element is thereby arranged in the exhaust tract of a cylinder of each group. A pair of thermo-elements is series-connected in opposite polarity and the resulting thermo-voltage at the free ends is monitored by means of two threshold circuits. From the amount and sign of the resulting thermo-voltage, a defective ignition system can be determined and the corresponding cylinder group can be turned off.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine has cylinders each of which is provided with an exclusive fuel injection valve individually driven their openings. Each cylinder has a misfiring detecting means for detecting misfiring of that cylinder. The control apparatus includes a drive stopping means for stopping the driving of the fuel injection valve corresponding to a misfired cylinder so as to stop fuel supply to that misfired cylinder.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine has a misfiring sensor 1 which senses the number of cylinders which are not firing based on the exhaust gas temperature of the engine. When the misfiring sensor detects that a cylinder is not firing, a microcomputer 2,3 temporarily shuts off the supply of fuel to each cylinder is succession and monitors changes in the output of the misfiring sensor. If the output of the misfiring sensor does not change when the fuel supply to a cylinder is temporarity cut off, that cylinder is determined to be misfiring, and the microcomputer cuts off the supply of fuel to the misfiring cylinder.

Abstract: An open secondary coil of an ignition coil is detected by the use of a reverse current in the primary of the ignition coil to indicate the occurrence of an open secondary coil.

Abstract: A fuel controller for an internal combustion engine has a microprocessor which calculates the air intake rate per cylinder per suction stroke of the engine. The microprocessor detects misfiring when the air intake rate undergoes a large increase, due to a fall in enginie rotational speed caused by misfiring. The microprocessor prevents the fuel injector of a misfiring cylinder from supplying fuel to the misfiring cylinder.

Abstract: A fuel controller for an internal combustion engine senses misfiring in an engine cylinder by sensing changes in the rotational speed of the engine between prescribed crankshaft angles due to a reduction in torque when misfiring occurs. When misfiring occurs, the supply of fuel to the misfiring cylinder is cut off for a prescribed number of engine rotations and then the supply of fuel is restarted. A warning indicator is turned on as long as misfiring is detected by the misfiring sensor.

Abstract: The ratio air and fuel mixture delivered to the fueled cylinders of an engine of a vehicle is controlled while selective cylinders of the engine are unfueled to reduce engine torque output to inhibit excessive wheel spin during vehicle acceleration. The air/fuel ratio of the mixture delivered to the fueled cylinders is increased as cylinders are selectively unfueled to reduce engine torque output and power enrichment to the fueled cylinders is inhibited when any cylinders are unfueled to reduce engine torque output for traction control and for a time period after all cylinders are again fueled.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a multi-cylinder type internal combustion engine including first and second cylinder groups each includinhg at least one cylinder. The apparatus comprises sensors for generating electrical signals indicative of engine operating conditions including engine speed, and a control circuit coupled to the sensors for determining an appropriate value repetitively at uniform intervals. This calculation is made according to the engine operating conditions. A fuel supply device is coupled to the control circuit for supplying fuel to the first and second cylinder groups in an amount corresponding to the calculated value. The control circuit operates the fuel supply device to alternatively terminate the fuel delivery to the first cylinder group and the fuel delivery to the second cylinder group under an overspeed condition.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus comprises a cylinder discrimination sensor for generating cylinder discrimination signal, a crank angle sensor for generating crank angle signal, a fuel injection valve provided in each cylinder of the engine, an ignition coil provided in correspondence to each and every cylinder, a flip-flop circuit for detecting a state of misfire in each cylinder on the basis of a state of signal of said ignition coil, and a micro-computer for receiving the cylinder discrimination signal, the crank angle signal and the output signal of the flip-flop circuit to detect that a state of misfiring has occured continuously at the same cylinder and for closing the fuel injection valve corresponding to the cylinder where the misfiring has occured.

Abstract: In an apparatus of the type in which the air-fuel ratio of an engine is detected by an air-fuel ratio sensor and the air-fuel ratio is feedback-controlled in accordance with the detection result to operate the engine at a desired air-fuel ratio, a change of the output characteristic of the air-fuel ratio sensor is always corrected for.

Abstract: A vehicle traction control device includes an engine output controller for deactivating the combustion stroke of an engine in order to control the vehicle traction, a vehicle speed judgment circuit for judging whether or not a speed detected by a vehicle speed detector is lower than a preset speed, and an engine revolution-number judgment circuit for judging whether or not a value detected by an engine revolution-number detector exceeds a preset value, wherein the vehicle speed judgment circuit and the engine revolution-number judgment circuit are connected to the engine output controller so as to deactivate the engine combustion stroke when the vehicle speed is lower than the preset speed and the number of revolution of the engine exceeds the preset value.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for preventing and, at an early stage, removing wheel spin and a consequent lateral skidding of vehicles while constantly supervising and upon need reducing the momentary torque of the motor by blocking the fuel supply to one or more cylinders of the motor without influencing the optimum fuel/air relationship, whereby the skidding of a vehicle is observed as known per se and the fuel supply to one or more cylinders of the motor is/are completely inhibited in case an unacceptably great skidding is observed, by defining in a controlling means (13) a constant chain of combustions including a predetermined number of successive part-combustions of the motor, and by inhibiting, in case of an actual skidding, first one and then a successively increasing number of part-combustions of the chain of combustion, corresponding to the combustion of some specificly determined cylinders of the motor, said inhibiting being proceeded until the skidding has been brought to cease or has been reduced to

Abstract: A method of operating and exhaust-gas-turbocharged, low-compression multi-cylinder Diesel-cycle internal combustion engine that has a first cylinder group which operates over the full load range, and a second cylinder group which is cut out during starting and in the idling and part load ranges but is cut in in the remaining load range, each cylinder group having associated with it a turbocharger with associated charge air pipe, the charge air pipes being interconnected by a pressure equalizing system.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling a two-cycle marine engine having a fuel injection system wherein the firing frequency of the cylinders is reduced under low speed running so as to improve fuel economy and engine performance by improving scavenging while the firing intervals between the cylinders is maintained uniform. The invention is disclosed as being applied to a number of variations of multiple cylinder engines and may be employed with spark ignited or diesel engines since the ignition system of the engine per se is not affected.

Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising a metering device to adjust the quantity of fuel delivered each cycle of the device in response to conditions in the engine induction passage, a control activating said device to effect a base number of fuel delivery cycles to the engine, and a sensor responsive to transient engine conditions to increase the number of cycles of the metering device above the base number per engine revolution.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine wherein fuel injectors are provided for each of the cylinders. The injectors are divided into two groups, the cylinders in each of the groups having operational phases which are spaced from each other by a crank angle of 360 degrees. Injection systems are provided for each group for attaining independent injections between the groups. In each of the groups, a basic amount of fuel for one engine cycle, and then a final injection amount, is calculated, as a difference of the basic amount with respect to the actual amount of fuel injected during a preceding injection of the corresponding group. An injection of a precise amount of fuel is attained irrespective of any change in the engine condition.

Abstract: A fuel control system for the fuel supply system of a compression ignition engine is arranged so that above a predetermined engine speed and below a predetermined level of fuel supply, fuel supply to the combustion chambers of the engine in turn is prevented. The remaining combustion chambers are arranged to receive an increased fuel supply to maintain the engine power.

Abstract: An internal-combustion engine which includes two cylinder groups, of which one cylinder group operates constantly, whereas the second cylinder group is inactive in a part-load operation for better fuel economy. However, during forward or reverse operation of the vehicle and during the warm-up phase of the internal-combustion engine, the second cylinder group is provided with a reduced fuel-air mixture to prevent the engine from dying. An actuating device is provided which responds to certain parameters such as engine temperature and gear position. This actuating device controls a radial cam which interacts with the throttle valve for the second set of cylinders during these conditions to supply the required fuel-air mixture.