Method for detecting abnormality in hybrid vehicle

• US 20030106728A1
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nishioka, Futoshi, Izumiura, Atsushi, Kitajima, Shinichi, Kumagai, Katsuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,448,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/54 Transmission for changing ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/50 Control strategies for responding to system failures, e.g. for fault diagnosis, failsafe operation or limp mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0671 Engine manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/06 Cutting-out cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/0012 with selective deactivation of cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0406 Intake manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0005 during deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/49 Detecting, diagnosing or indicating an abnormal function of the EGR system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A method for detecting an abnormality in a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle includes an engine that can run in a cylinder cut-off state where intake and exhaust valve lifts are made zero, and a motor/generator that functions as both a motor and a generator. The vehicle travels by means of the power of at least one of the engine and the motor/generator and carries out regenerative braking by the motor/generator while running the engine in a cylinder cut-off state during deceleration. When detecting an abnormality in a negative intake pressure sensor or an EGR control valve based on the negative intake pressure of the engine, the engine is prohibited from running in a cylinder cut-off state even during deceleration, thus generating a negative intake pressure and thereby enabling the abnormality detection to be carried out without any problems.

Claims

1. A method for detecting an abnormality in a hybrid vehicle that comprises an engine that can run in a cylinder cut-off state where intake and exhaust valve lifts are made zero, and a motor/generator that functions as both a motor and a generator, the vehicle traveling by means of the power of at least one of the engine and the motor/generator and carrying out regenerative braking by the motor/generator while running the engine in a cylinder cut-off state during deceleration;

wherein, when detecting an abnormality based on a negative intake pressure of the engine, the engine is prohibited from running in a cylinder cut-off state even during deceleration.

2. The method for detecting an abnormality in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the abnormality detection is detection of an abnormality in at least one of a negative intake pressure sensor and an EGR control valve.