Method and apparatus for controlling the cylinder torque of a combustion engine having electromagnetically driven valves

• US 20010027760A1
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Published: 10/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ogiso, Makoto, Ito, Yasushi, Nishida, Hideyuki, Matsumoto, Isao, Tanaka, Masaaki, Yoeda, Keiji, Katsumata, Shoji
• Granted Patent: US 6,546,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/90.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/101 Infinitely variable gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2009/2136 Two opposed springs for intermediate resting position of the armature
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2800/00 Methods of operation using a variable valve timing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 9/20 by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0215 changing the valve timing only
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0253 Fully variable control of valve lift and timing using camless actuation systems such as hydraulic, pneumatic or electromagnetic actuators, e.g. solenoid valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/06 Cutting-out cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/21 during a transition between engine operation modes or states
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/41 Control to generate negative pressure in the intake manifold, e.g. for fuel vapor purging or brake booster
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/12 Engine control specially adapted for a transmission comprising a torque converter or for continuously variable transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/008 Controlling each cylinder individually
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0215 in relation with elements of the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/023 : in relation with the gear ratio shifting conjoint control for improving gear change B60W30/19
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/40 : with means for controlling injection timing or duration
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/50 : Signals to an engine or motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/502 : for smoothing gear shifts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus controls an internal combustion engine having electromagnetically driven valves. A target cylinder torque required of one of a plurality of cylinders is individually calculated in accordance with a target engine torque, and a timing for opening and closing each of a plurality of intake and exhaust valves in each of the plurality of cylinders is determined in accordance with the target cylinder torque. Thereby the torque of the internal combustion engine is individually controlled for each of the plurality of cylinders.

Claims

1. An internal combustion engine comprising:

electromagnetic driving valve mechanisms that drive a plurality of intake and exhaust valves of the internal combustion engine in an opening direction and a closing direction;

a target cylinder torque calculator that calculates a target cylinder torque individually for at least one of a plurality of cylinders in accordance with a target engine torque required of the internal combustion engine;

a valve timing determiner that determines a timing for opening and closing of the plurality of intake and exhaust valves in accordance with the target cylinder torque; and

a valve controller that controls the electromagnetic driving valve mechanisms in accordance with the timing for opening and closing at least one of the intake and exhaust valves.

2. The internal combustion engine according to

claim 1

, wherein:

the target cylinder torque calculator individually calculates a target cylinder torque for each of the plurality of cylinders;

the valve timing determiner determines a timing for opening and closing each of the plurality of intake and exhaust valves for each of the plurality of cylinders in accordance with the target cylinder torque for each of the plurality of cylinders; and

the valve controller controls the electromagnetic driving valve mechanisms in accordance with the timing for opening and closing each of the intake and exhaust valves for each of the plurality of cylinders.

3. The internal combustion engine according to

claim 1

, wherein:

the target engine torque is a value that reflects acceleration-deceleration shock absorbing torque.

4. The internal combustion engine according to

claim 1

, further comprising:

a continuously variable transmission having an inertia torque and capable of changing a gear-change ratio automatically, continuously and non-stepwise;

wherein the target engine torque is a value that reflects the inertia torque of the continuously variable transmission.

5. The internal combustion engine according to

claim 1

, wherein:

the target engine torque is a value that reflects a running speed of a vehicle equipped with the internal combustion engine.

6. The internal combustion engine according to

claim 1

, further comprising:

a fuel injection controller that determines at least one of a fuel injection amount and a fuel injection timing for each of the plurality of cylinders in accordance with the target cylinder torque calculated by the target cylinder torque calculator.

7. The internal combustion engine according to

claim 1

, further comprising:

an intake throttle valve disposed in an intake passage of the internal combustion engine to variably adjust an amount of air flowing through the intake passage; and

a valve opening degree determiner that determines an opening degree for the intake throttle valve in accordance with the target cylinder torque calculated by the target cylinder torque calculator.

8. The internal combustion engine according to

claim 1

, further comprising:

an intake manifold negative pressure detector that detects an intake manifold negative pressure generated in an intake passage of the internal combustion engine;

wherein the valve timing determiner determines a timing for opening and closing each of the plurality of the intake and exhaust valves based on the target cylinder torque calculated by the target cylinder torque calculator and the intake manifold negative pressure.

9. A method for controlling at least one of a plurality of intake and exhaust valves of a plurality of cylinders in an internal combustion engine comprising:

individually calculating a target cylinder torque required for at least one of the plurality of cylinders in accordance with a target engine torque required of the internal combustion engine;

determining a timing for opening and closing the at least one of the plurality of intake and exhaust valves in accordance with the target cylinder torque; and

electromagnetically controlling the plurality of intake and exhaust valves in accordance with the timing for opening and closing the at least one of the plurality of intake and exhaust valves.

10. The method according to

claim 9

, wherein:

the step of calculating a target cylinder torque includes individually calculating a target cylinder torque for each of the plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine; and

the step of determining a timing includes determining a timing for opening and closing each of the intake and exhaust valves for each of the plurality of cylinders in accordance with the target cylinder torque calculated for each of the plurality of cylinders.

11. The method according to

claim 9

, further comprising:

determining at least one of a fuel injection amount and a fuel injection timing for each of the plurality of cylinders in accordance with the target cylinder torque.

12. The method according to

claim 9

, further comprising:

adjusting an amount of air flowing through an intake passage of internal combustion engine based on the target cylinder torque.

13. The method according to

claim 9

, further comprising:

detecting an intake manifold negative pressure generated in an intake passage of the internal combustion engine, wherein;

the step of determining a timing for opening and closing at least one of the plurality of intake and exhaust valves is based on the target cylinder torque and the intake manifold negative pressure.

14. An internal combustion engine comprising:

;

electromagnetic driving valve mechanisms that drive a plurality of intake and exhaust valves of the internal combustion engine in an opening direction and a closing direction;

a target cylinder torque calculator that calculates a target cylinder torque in accordance with the target engine torque required of the internal combustion engine, the target cylinder torque being used fore less than all of the plurality of cylinders;

a valve timing determiner that determines a timing for opening and closing of the plurality of intake and exhaust valves in accordance with the target cylinder torque; and

a valve controller that controls the electromagnetic driving valve mechanisms in accordance with the timing for opening and closing at least one of the intake and exhaust valves.

15. The internal combustion engine according to

claim 14

, wherein the target cylinder torque calculator calculates a first torque for a first cylinder of the plurality of cylinders.

16. The internal combustion engine according to

claim 15

, wherein the target cylinder torque calculator calculates a second torque for a second cylinder of the plurality of cylinders.

17. A method for controlling at least one of a plurality of intake and exhaust valves of a plurality of cylinders in an internal combustion engine comprising:

calculating a target cylinder torque required in accordance with the target engine torque required of the internal combustion engine, the target cylinder torque being used for less than all of the plurality of cylinders;

determining a timing for opening and closing the at least of one of the plurality of intake and exhaust valves in accordance with the target cylinder torque; and

electromagnetically controlling the plurality of intake and exhaust valves in accordance with the timing for opening and closing the at least one of the plurality of intake and exhaust valves.

18. An internal combustion engine comprising:

electromagnetic driving valve mechanisms that drive at least one of intake and exhaust valves of the internal combustion engine in their opening and closing directions by means of an electromagnetic force;

a transmission capable of changing a gear change ratio; and

a controller that controls one of the electromagnetic driving valve mechanism and the transmission in accordance with an operation state of the other of the electromagnetic driving valve mechanism and the transmission.

19. An internal combustion engine comprising:

electromagnetic driving valve mechanisms that drive at least one of intake and exhaust valves of the internal combustion engine in their opening and closing directions by means of an electromagnetic force;

a transmission capable of changing a gear change ratio; and

a valve controller that controls opening characteristics of at least one of the intake and exhaust valves in association with operation states of the electromagnetic driving valve mechanisms and the transmission.

20. The internal combustion engine according to

claim 19

, wherein the transmission is an automatic transmission that has an inertia torque and that is capable of changing a gear change ratio automatically.

21. The internal combustion engine according to

claim 19

, wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission that has an inertia torque and that is capable of changing a gear change ratio continuously and non-stepwise.

22. The internal combustion engine according to

claim 19

, further comprising:

an acceleration-deceleration shock absorbing torque calculator that calculates an acceleration-deceleration shock absorbing torque for absorbing an acceleration-deceleration shock caused by operation of the transmission, and wherein the valve controller controls the opening characteristics so as to obtain the acceleration-deceleration shock absorbing torque.

23. The internal combustion engine according to

claim 22

, further comprising:

a target cylinder torque calculator that calculates a target cylinder torque of cylinders of the internal combustion engine in accordance with a target engine torque required of the internal combustion engine, and wherein the valve controller adds the target cylinder torque calculated by the target cylinder torque calculator to the acceleration-deceleration shock absorbing torque, determines a torque schedule of the internal combustion engine, and controls opening characteristics of at least one of the intake and exhaust valves based on the torque schedule.

24. The internal combustion engine according to

claim 19

, wherein the opening characteristics are opening and closing timings of at least one of the intake and exhaust valves.

25. A method of controlling at least one of intake and exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

controlling one of an electromagnetic driving valve mechanism and a transmission in accordance with an operation state of the other of the electromagnetic driving valve and the transmission.

26. A method of controlling at least one of intake and exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

controlling opening characteristics of at least one of the intake and exhaust valves in accordance with an operation state of a transmission.