Control apparatus for variable-cylinder engine, and control apparatus for vehicle
First Claim
1. A control apparatus for a variable-cylinder engine, characterized by comprising:
- regenerative-braking-state detecting means for detecting a regenerative braking state of a vehicle; and
decompression-state setting means for placing selected ones of non-operating cylinders of said variable-cylinder engine in a decompression state, on the basis of the regenerative braking effect of the vehicle detected by said regenerative-braking-effect detecting means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Providing a control apparatus for a variable-cylinder engine or a vehicle control apparatus, which permits a further improvement in the fuel economy of the vehicle. Decompression-state setting means 102 is arranged to place appropriate ones of non-operating cylinders of the variable-cylinder engine 10 in the decompression state, on the basis of regenerative braking state of vehicle detected by regenerative-braking-state detecting means 100, so that only a required minimum number of the non-operating cylinders of the variable-cylinder engine 10 is/are placed in the decompression state, depending upon the detected regenerative braking state of the vehicle, making it possible to not only improve fuel economy of the vehicle but also assure sufficient engine braking of the vehicle.
18 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A control apparatus for a variable-cylinder engine, characterized by comprising:
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regenerative-braking-state detecting means for detecting a regenerative braking state of a vehicle; and
decompression-state setting means for placing selected ones of non-operating cylinders of said variable-cylinder engine in a decompression state, on the basis of the regenerative braking effect of the vehicle detected by said regenerative-braking-effect detecting means.
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2. A control apparatus for a variable-cylinder engine to which an electric generator is operatively connected, characterized by comprising:
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electricity-generating-mode determining means for determining whether it is required to establish an electricity generating mode in which said electric generator is operated to generate an electric energy; and
cylinder-number switching means, operable when said electricity-generating-mode determining means determines that it is required to establish said electricity generating mode, for placing said variable-cylinder engine in a partial-cylinder operating state.
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3. A control apparatus for a vehicle to be driven by both or one of a variable-cylinder engine and an electric generator, as a drive power source, characterized by comprising:
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vehicle-deceleration detecting means for determining whether the vehicle is in a decelerating state; and
drive-power-source braking control means, operable when said vehicle-deceleration detecting means determines that the vehicle is in a deceleration state, for controlling a braking torque produced by said drive power source, on the basis of a regenerative braking torque produced by said electric generator, and an amount of decompression of non-operating cylinders of said variable-cylinder engine.
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4. A control apparatus for a variable-cylinder engine to which a transmission is connected, characterized by comprising:
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engine-idling vehicle-stop detecting means for determining whether a vehicle is held stationary with said variable-cylinder engine being held in an idling state; and
partial-cylinder/neutral-transmission control means, operable when said engine-idling vehicle-stop detecting means determines that the vehicle is held stationary with said variable-cylinder engine being in the idling state, for placing said variable-cylinder engine in a partial-cylinder operating state and at the same time placing said transmission in a neutral state.
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5. A control apparatus for a vehicle to be driven by a variable-cylinder engine and an electric motor as a drive power source, characterized by comprising:
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motor-drive-mode detecting means for determining whether the vehicle is running in a motor-drive mode with an operation of said electric motor; and
partial-cylinder operation commanding means, operable when said motor-drive-mode detecting means determines that the vehicle is running in said motor-drive mode, for placing said variable-cylinder operating state. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A control apparatus for a vehicle to be driven by a variable-cylinder engine and an electric motor as a drive power source, characterized by comprising:
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regenerative-braking-control detecting means for determining whether the vehicle is running with a regenerative braking operation of said electric motor so as to convert a kinetic energy of the vehicle into an electric energy; and
partial-cylinder-operation commanding and power-transmission restricting means, operable when said regenerative-braking-control detecting means determines that the vehicle is running with said regenerative braking operation of the electric motor, for placing said variable-cylinder engine in a partial-cylinder operating state and at the same time restricting transmission of a drive force between said variable-cylinder engine and a drive shaft disposed downstream of said variable-cylinder engine.
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Specification