Control apparatus and control method for motor vehicle

• US 6,389,807 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2000
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Takashi, Suzuki, Naoto, Takaoka, Toshifumi, Okada, Daimon
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, BINH Q
• Application Number:
  US09/713,213
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 602/74, 602/85, 602/76, 602/77, 602/84, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 123/90.15, 123/90.19, 701/103, 701/109
• US Class Current: 60/285
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/068 Engine exhaust temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 9/20 by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/04 using engine as brake
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0802 Temperature of the exhaust gas treatment apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0235 in relation with the state of the exhaust gas treating apparatus control of exhaust gas treating apparatus per se F01N
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/123 the fuel injection being cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 69/28 characterised by means for cutting-out the fuel supply to the engine or to main injectors during certain operating periods, e.g. deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A control apparatus for a motor vehicle detects a catalyst temperature during fuel cut. If the catalyst temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature, the control apparatus almost completely opens a throttle valve and increases an amount of intake air to thereby reduce pumping loss. If the catalyst temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, the throttle valve is almost completely closed. Thereby it becomes possible to reduce pumping loss of the engine while preventing an excessive decrease in catalyst temperature.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a fuel supply detector that detects whether or not supply of fuel to an engine has been stopped during a traveling state of the vehicle;

a temperature detector that detects a temperature of a catalyst in an exhaust system; and

a controller that restricts flow of outside air into the exhaust system if it is detected that fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped and that the temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature and that causes outside air to flow into the exhaust system if it is detected that fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped and that the catalyst temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the controller increases an amount of intake air in the engine if it is detected that fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped and that the temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system is higher than the predetermined temperature.

3. The control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the controller increases an amount of intake air in the engine in accordance with a temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system if it is detected that fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped and that the temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system is higher than the predetermined temperature.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the controller increases an amount of intake air in the engine in accordance with a temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system if it is detected that fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped and that the temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system is higher than the predetermined temperature.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the controller increases an amount of intake air in the engine during the stop of fuel supply in the vehicle and drives exhaust valves in their closing directions in accordance with a temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system if it is detected that the temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system is higher than the predetermined temperature.

6. The control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

the controller controls to keep intake valves of the engine open if it is detected that fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped.

7. The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a motor-generator that drive said vehicle as one of a drive source for said vehicle and generates a regenerative energy during deceleration of said vehicle;

wherein;

the controller stops supply of fuel to the engine when the regenerative energy is generated by the motor-generator and allows air outside of the engine to be introduced to the engine.

8. A control apparatus for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a fuel supply detector that detects whether or not fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped during the traveling state of the vehicle; and

a controller that increases an amount of intake air in an engine if it is detected that fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped and that retards a timing for closing exhaust valves of the engine with respect to a timing during fuel supply.

9. The control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

the controller controls to keep intake valves of the engine open if it is detected that fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped.

10. The control apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a motor-generator that drive said vehicle as one of a drive source for said vehicle and generates a regenerative energy during deceleration of said vehicle;

wherein;

the controller stops supply of fuel to the engine when the regenerative energy is generated by the motor-generator and allows air outside of the engine to be introduced to the engine.

11. A control method for a motor vehicle, comprising:

detecting whether or not fuel supply to the engine has been stopped during a traveling state of the vehicle;

detecting a temperature of a catalyst in an exhaust system;

restricting flow of outside air into the exhaust system if it is detected that fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped and that the temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature; and

permitting flow of outside air into the exhaust system if it is detected that fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped and that the temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system is higher than the predetermined temperature.

12. The control method according to claim 11, wherein:

an amount of intake air in the engine is increased if it is detected that fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped and that the temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system is higher than the predetermined temperature.

13. The control method according to claim 12, wherein:

an amount of intake air in the engine is increased in accordance with a temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system if it is detected that fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped and that the temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system is higher than the predetermined temperature.

14. The control method according to claim 12, wherein:

an amount of intake air in the engine is increased in accordance with a temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system if it is detected that fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped and that the temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system is higher than the predetermined temperature.

15. The control method according to claim 12, wherein:

an amount of intake air in the engine is increased during the stop of fuel supply in the vehicle and exhaust valves are driven in their closing directions in accordance with a temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system if it is detected that the temperature of the catalyst in the exhaust system is higher than the predetermined temperature.

16. The control method according to claim 15, wherein:

intake valves of the engine are kept open if it is detected that fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped.

17. The control method according to claim 11, further comprising:

providing a motor-generator that drive said vehicle as one of a drive source for said vehicle and generates a regenerator energy during deceleration of said vehicle;

wherein;

supply of fuel is stopped to the engine when the regenerative energy is generated by the motor-generator and air outside of the engine is allowed to be introduced to the engine.

18. A control method for a motor vehicle, comprising:

detecting whether or not fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped during a traveling state of the vehicle; and

increasing an amount of intake air in the engine if it is detected that fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped; and

retarding a timing for closing exhaust valves of the engine with respect to a timing during fuel supply.

19. The control method according to claim 18, wherein:

intake valves of the engine are kept open if it is detected that fuel supply in the vehicle has been stopped.

20. The control method according to claim 18, further comprising:

providing a motor-generator that drive said vehicle as one of a drive source for said vehicle and generates a regenerator energy during deceleration of said vehicle;

wherein;

supply of fuel is stopped to the engine when the regenerative energy is generated by the motor-generator and air outside of the engine is allowed to be introduced to the engine.