Control device for engine fuel supply

• US 5,685,800 A
• Filed: 02/23/1996
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Toukura, Nobusuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENSEN, NATHAN
• Application Number:
  US08/606,250
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 477/38, 477/39, 477/90, 477/107, 477/111, 477/123, 123/481
• US Class Current: 477/90
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/501 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/12 Engine control specially adapted for a transmission comprising a torque converter or for continuously variable transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/022 in relation with the clutch status
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/126 transitional corrections at the end of the cut-off period
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/14 Control of torque converter lock-up clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/40 comprising signals other than signals for actuating the final output mechanisms

Abstract

In an engine of an automobile, when fuel injection is restarted by the operation of the accelerator pedal from the state in which fuel supply has been cut off during deceleration, fuel injection is controlled according to one of a plurality of fuel injection patterns, which specify a specific cylinder for fuel injection and a specific cylinder for which fuel is not to be injected, and which correspond with various speed change ratios. The engine output torque is kept smooth by performing fuel injection according to that one of these patterns which corresponds to the speed change ratio when the accelerator pedal is operated. Preferably, the fuel injection patterns are determined starting from whichever cylinder initially comes up for fuel injection. Thereby it is possible to attenuate fore and aft vibration of the vehicle immediately after fuel injection is restarted by operation of the accelerator pedal, especially when a direct connection system is provided which has put the engine and the speed change device into the directly connected state during deceleration.

Claims

1. A fuel supply control device for an engine, said engine having a plurality of cylinders for which fuel injection is performed individually in a fixed order, and being connected to means for transmitting a rotation of said engine at a speed change ratio selected from a plurality of candidate ratios, comprising:

accelerator means,

means for supplying fuel to be injected into said cylinders in response to operation of said accelerator means,

means for stopping the supply of fuel by said fuel supply means when a predetermined fuel supply stoppage condition holds,

means for storing, according to speed change ratios, a plurality of fuel injection patterns which determine a specific cylinder for which fuel is to be injected and a specific cylinder for which fuel is not to be injected,

means for selecting in said storing means a fuel injection pattern which corresponds to said selected speed change ratio when said accelerator means is operated after said stopping means has stopped the fuel supply, and

means for controlling said supplying means so as to bring the fuel injection to be performed based on said selected fuel injection pattern.

2. A fuel supply control device according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting means comprises a continuously variable transmission.

3. A fuel supply control device according to claim 2, wherein said continuously variable transmission and said engine are connected together via a torque converter which comprises a lock up clutch which directly connects together said transmission and said engine, the control of said fuel supply means by said control means being limited to the condition when said transmission and said engine are directly connected together by said lock up clutch.

4. A fuel supply control device according to claim 1, wherein, in said fuel injection patterns, said specific cylinders for which fuel is to be injected and said specific cylinder for which fuel is not to be injected are determined according to a fuel injection order from a cylinder from which fuel injection is to be resumed.

5. A fuel supply control device according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls said fuel supply means only during a predetermined time period after said accelerator means is operated.