Control apparatus for variable-cylinder engine, and control apparatus for automotive vehicle including variable-cylinder engine

• US 20040158365A1
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nagano, Shuji, Tabata, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 7,243,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/24 characterised by the combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/32 characterised by the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/16 longitudinal
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/485 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/24 for controlling the temperature of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/16 for vehicles comprising converters between the power source and the motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/20 Braking by supplying regenerated power to the prime mover of vehicles comprising engine-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/026 of lock-up clutches
• 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 10/18 : including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 : for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 20/13 : in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 : Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0225 : Clutch actuator position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0604 : Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0619 : Air-fuel ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0628 : Inlet air flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 : Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/068 : Engine exhaust temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0685 : Engine crank angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/10 : Change speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/107 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 : Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 : Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 : Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 : Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 : Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 : Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0605 : Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0616 : Position of fuel or air injector
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 : Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18136 : Engine braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/435 : Supercharger or turbochargers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/04 : using engine as brake
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/06 : Cutting-out cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 : Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/123 : the fuel injection being cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0814 : comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/004 : Aiding engine start by using decompression means or variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0047 : the gear ratios comprising five forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2012 : with four sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/725 : with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 : Data processing systems or methods, management, administration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/905 : Combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/908 : Fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 : Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/917 : with transmission for changing gear ratio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/918 : Continuously variable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/919 : Stepped shift
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 : Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 : Characterized by control of driveline clutch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/947 : Characterized by control of braking, e.g. blending of regeneration, friction braking

Abstract

[OBJECT] 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

[SOLUTION] 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.

Claims

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.

2. A control apparatus for a variable-cylinder engine to which an electric generator is operatively connected, characterized by comprising:

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.

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:

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.

4. A control apparatus for a variable-cylinder engine to which a transmission is connected, characterized by comprising:

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.

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:

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.

6. A control apparatus according to claim 5, further comprises power-transmission restricting means for restricting transmission of a drive force between said variable-cylinder engine and a drive shaft disposed downstream of said variable-cylinder engine, when said motor-drive-mode detecting means determines that the vehicle is running in said motor-drive mode.

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:

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.