Control system for engines and automatic transmissions

• US 5,405,303 A
• Filed: 01/28/1994
• Issued: 04/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Harada, Jun, Takada, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Dirk
• Application Number:
  US08/187,920
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 477/158, 477/163
• US Class Current: 477/163
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/74 Inputs being a function of engine parameters F16H59/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/04 Smoothing ratio shift
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0437 by using electrical signals F16H61/0403 and F16H61/061 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/067 using an accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/16 Inhibiting or initiating shift during unfavourable conditions, e.g. preventing forward reverse shift at high vehicle speed, preventing engine over speed unintentional control input F16H61/18
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/502 for smoothing gear shifts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A control system for controlling both: an engine having a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of intake ports formed individually for the cylinders, a plurality of intake valves for opening or closing the intake ports individually for the cylinders, and a control valve for opening or closing one of the intake ports of each of the cylinders; and an automatic transmission connected to the engine. The control system comprises: a valve controller for opening the control valve, when an engine load is high, and for closing the control valve when the engine load is low: an air/fuel ratio controller for making an air/fuel ratio when the control valve is closed higher than that when the control valve is open; and a shift inhibitor for inhibiting the shift in the automatic transmission till a predetermined time period elapses after the switching of the control valve.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling both:

an engine having a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of intake ports formed individually for said cylinders, a plurality of intake valves for opening or closing said intake ports individually for said cylinders, and a control valve for opening or closing one of the intake ports of each of said cylinders; and

an automatic transmission connected to said engine and having friction means to be engaged by an oil pressure regulated by pressure regulation means, comprising;

valve control means for opening said control valve, when an engine load is high, and for closing said control valve when the engine load is low;

air/fuel ratio control means for making an air/fuel ratio when said control valve is closed higher than that when said control valve is open; and

regulation level change means for changing a regulation level by said pressure regulation means in accordance with the ON/OFF state of said control valve.

2. A control system according to claim 1,

wherein said pressure regulation means includes an accumulator and an accumulator back pressure control valve, and

wherein said regulation level change means raises the pilot pressure for said accumulator back pressure control valve, when said control valve is open, and drops the same when said control valve is closed.

3. A control system according to claim 1,

wherein said valve control means outputs a control valve switching signal to said regulation level change means and switches said control valve after said regulation level change means has changed the regulation level.

4. A control method of controlling both:

an engine having a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of intake ports formed individually for said cylinders, a plurality of intake valves for opening or closing said intake ports individually for said cylinders, and a control valve for opening or closing one of the intake ports of each of said cylinders; and

an automatic transmission connected to said engine and having friction means to be engaged by an oil pressure regulated by pressure regulation means,

wherein the improvement resides in that a regulation level by said pressure regulation means is changed in accordance with the ON/OFF state of said control valve.

5. A control method according to claim 4,

wherein the switching of the ON/OFF state of said control valve is decided so that it is executed after the regulation level has been changed to make the oil pressure suitable for the ON/OFF state after the switching.

6. A control system for controlling both:

an engine capable of having its output characteristics changed in accordance with a running state to set a plurality of output torques for one throttle opening; and

an automatic transmission having a friction device for setting a gear stage and capable of controlling a regulation level of an oil pressure for engaging said friction device, comprising;

output characteristic increase decide means for deciding a switching of the output characteristics of said engine from low to high output characteristics in accordance with a change in the running state; and

regulation level change means for changing said regulation level to a level corresponding to said predetermined high output characteristics before the output characteristics of said engine are switched to said predetermined high output characteristics.

7. A control system according to claim 6,

wherein said output characteristic increase decide means includes means for determining the switching of the output characteristics of said engine to the high output characteristics if an engine water temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.

8. A control system according to claim 6,

wherein said output characteristic increase decide means includes means for determining the switching of the output characteristics of said engine to the high output characteristics if the depression rate of an accelerator pedal is equal to or higher than a predetermined rate.

9. A control system according to claim 6,

wherein said output characteristic increase decide means includes means for determining a fuel injection time from a fundamental fuel injection time having a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and a correction coefficient determined by a running state.

10. A control system according to claim 6,

wherein said regulation level change means includes means for outputting a signal indicating the end of the change in the regulation level.

11. A control system according to claim 10,

wherein said output characteristic increase decide means includes means for switching the output characteristics of said engine after it has received the signal indicating the end of the change in the regulation level.