CONTROL DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

• US 20150211424A1
• Filed: 11/15/2013
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nomura, Mitsuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 10,316,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/352 using bevel or epicyclic gear
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/0537 Double overhead camshafts [DOHC]
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2250/02 the camshaft being driven by chains
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2800/12 Fail safe operation
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2820/041 Camshafts position or phase sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2820/042 Crankshafts position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0234 changing the valve timing only
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0238 by shifting the phase, i.e. the opening periods of the valves are constant
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/227 Limping Home, i.e. taking specific engine control measures at abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/009 using means for generating position or synchronisation signals
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/04 Introducing corrections for particular operating conditions F02D41/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/222 relating to the failure of sensors or parameter detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A control device for an internal combustion engine includes an intake-side variable valve timing mechanism and a controller. The intake-side variable valve timing mechanism is configured to continuously advance or retard a phase of a cam that actuates an intake valve. The controller is configured to actuate the intake-side variable valve timing mechanism toward a retardation side and position the intake-side variable valve timing mechanism at a prescribed position, and execute fail-safe control on the basis of a signal from a cam position sensor instead of a signal from the crank position sensor, when it is determined that there is a failure in a crank position sensor of the internal combustion engine.

Claims

1. A control device for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

an intake-side variable valve timing mechanism configured to continuously advance or retard a phase of a cam that actuates an intake valve; and

a controller configured to actuate the intake-side variable valve timing mechanism toward a retardation side and position the intake-side variable valve timing mechanism at a prescribed position, and execute fail-safe control on the basis of a signal from the cam position sensor instead of a signal from the crank position sensor, when the controller determines that there is a failure in a crank position sensor of the internal combustion engine.

2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein

the intake-side variable valve timing mechanism is configured to be driven by an electric motor.

3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein

the intake-side variable valve timing mechanism is configured to operate within a predetermined phase angle range, and the prescribed position is a most retarded position in the phase angle range.

4. The control device according to claim 3, wherein

the controller is configured to stop energization of the electric motor after the intake-side variable valve timing mechanism is positioned at the most retarded position.

5. The controller according to claim 4, wherein

the controller is configured to stop energization of the electric motor when an engine rotation speed is higher than or equal to a predetermined value after the intake-side variable valve timing mechanism is positioned at the most retarded position, and

the controller is configured to continue energization of the electric motor when the engine rotation speed is lower than the predetermined value after the intake-side variable valve timing mechanism is positioned at the most retarded position.

6. The control device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to stop supplying fuel to the internal combustion engine until the intake-side variable valve timing mechanism reaches the prescribed position, when the controller determines that there is a failure in the crank position sensor and actuate the intake-side variable valve timing mechanism toward the retardation side.

7. The control device according to claim 1, wherein

the internal combustion engine is mounted on a vehicle, and

the fail-safe control is control for allowing the vehicle to retreat.

8. The control device according to claim 7, wherein

timing at which the signal is generated from the cam position sensor is set in correspondence with timing at which fuel is injected to at least one cylinder during the fail-safe control or timing at which the at least one cylinder is ignited during the fail-safe control.

9. A control method for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

continuously advancing or retarding operation timing of an intake valve; and

retarding the operation timing of the intake valve to a prescribed phase, and executing fail-safe control on the basis of a signal from a cam position sensor instead of a signal from the crank position sensor, when it is determined that there is a failure in a crank position sensor of the internal combustion engine.