Method and apparatus for preventing locking of engine-operating-characteristic changing device
First Claim
1. A method of controlling an engine-operating-characteristic changing device that changes a compression ratio of an intake air of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, the engine-operating-characteristic changing device being operable between a first operating state that provides a first compression ratio and a second operating state that provides a second compression ratio that is lower than the first compression ratio, the engine-operating-characteristic changing device including a locking unit for locking the engine-operating-characteristic changing device in the first operating state;
- the method comprising the steps of;
determining whether there is a possibility that the engine-operating-characteristic changing device is locked in the first operating state by the locking unit when the engine-operating-characteristic changing device is not to be placed in the first operating state; and
when it is determined that there is the possibility, preventing the locking unit from locking the engine-operating-characteristic changing device in the first operating state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of controlling an engine-operating-characteristic changing device operable between a first and a second operating state and including a locking device for locking the changing device in the first operating state in which a compression ratio of an intake air of an internal combustion engine is maintained at a value higher than that in the second operating state, the method including steps of determining whether there is a possibility that the engine-operating-characteristic changing device is locked in the first operating state by the locking device, where the changing device should not be placed in the first operating state, and if it is determined that there is the possibility, implementing a preventive operation to prevent the locking unit from locking the changing device in the first operating state.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of controlling an engine-operating-characteristic changing device that changes a compression ratio of an intake air of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, the engine-operating-characteristic changing device being operable between a first operating state that provides a first compression ratio and a second operating state that provides a second compression ratio that is lower than the first compression ratio, the engine-operating-characteristic changing device including a locking unit for locking the engine-operating-characteristic changing device in the first operating state;
- the method comprising the steps of;
determining whether there is a possibility that the engine-operating-characteristic changing device is locked in the first operating state by the locking unit when the engine-operating-characteristic changing device is not to be placed in the first operating state; and
when it is determined that there is the possibility, preventing the locking unit from locking the engine-operating-characteristic changing device in the first operating state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- the method comprising the steps of;
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14. A control system that controls an engine-operating-characteristic changing device that changes a compression ratio of an intake air of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, the engine-operating-characteristic changing device being operable between a first operating state that provides a first compression ratio and a second operating state that provides a second compression ratio that is lower than the first compression ratio, the engine-operating-characteristic changing device including a locking unit for locking the engine-operating-characteristic changing device in the first operating state, the control system comprising a controller that:
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determines whether there is a possibility that the engine-operating-characteristic changing device is locked in the first operating state by the locking unit when the engine-operating-characteristic changing device is not to be placed in the first operating state; and
when it is determined that there is the possibility, prevents the locking unit from locking the engine-operating-characteristic changing device in the first operating state.
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Specification