Engine control apparatus

• US 6,422,972 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2000
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Eguchi, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): ESTREMSKY, SHERRY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/629,979
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 477/107, 477/110, 477/37, 477/175, 477/111
• US Class Current: 477/107
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0616 Position of fuel or air injector
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/501 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/123 the fuel injection being cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0818 Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/46 dependent on a comparison between speeds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/918 Continuously variable

Abstract

An engine control apparatus waits to stop the engine of a hybrid vehicle until the vehicle is in a condition to be able to start moving properly. An engine control apparatus for a vehicle, having a continuously variable transmission, coupled to an engine which generates a drive force, for driving wheels, so that, when the vehicle is in a stop-event, to enable stopping or restarting of operation of the engine in response to specific driving conditions, comprising: a fuel supply cut device for stopping operation of the engine while continuing to cut supply of fuel to the engine, when the vehicle is in a deceleration event; a vehicle velocity detector for detecting a traveling velocity of the vehicle; and a deceleration detector for detecting deceleration of the vehicle, wherein the fuel supply cut device reverts from a fuel supply cut condition when a traveling velocity of the vehicle detected by the vehicle velocity detector is lower than a predetermined velocity and a deceleration detected by the deceleration detector is higher than a predetermined deceleration.

Claims

1. An engine control apparatus for a vehicle, having a continuously variable transmission, coupled to an engine which generates a drive force, for driving wheels, so that, when said vehicle is in a stop-event, to enable stopping or restarting of operation of said engine in response to specific driving conditions, comprising:

a fuel supply cut device continuing to cut supply of fuel to said engine, when said vehicle is in a deceleration event, and for stopping operation of said engine when said vehicle is in the stop-event;

a vehicle velocity detector for detecting a traveling velocity of said vehicle; and

a deceleration detector for detecting deceleration of said vehicle,

wherein said fuel supply cut device reverts from a fuel supply cut condition when the traveling velocity of said vehicle detected by said vehicle velocity detector is lower than a predetermined velocity and a deceleration detected by said deceleration detector is higher than a predetermined deceleration, and cuts supply of fuel to stop the operation of said engine, when said vehicle reaches a restart-enabling condition after said vehicle is in the stop-event.

2. An engine control apparatus for a vehicle, having a continuously variable transmission, coupled to an engine which generates a drive force, for driving wheels, so that, when said vehicle is in a stop-event, to enable stopping or restarting of operation of said engine in response to specific driving conditions, comprising:

a fuel supply cut device continuing to cut supply of fuel to said engine, when said vehicle is in a deceleration event, and for stopping operation of said engine, when said vehicle is in the stop-event;

a vehicle velocity detector for detecting a traveling velocity of said vehicle; and

a reduction ratio detector for detecting reduction ratio of said continuously variable transmission,

wherein said fuel supply cut device reverts from a fuel supply cut condition only during an interval in which a reduction ratio detected by said reduction ratio detector is lower than a predetermined reduction ratio predetermined in accordance with a traveling velocity detected by said vehicle velocity detector, and cuts the supply of the fuel to stop the operation of said engine, when said vehicle reaches a restart-enabling condition after said vehicle is in the stop-event.