Control apparatus for internal combustion engine

• US 6,591,183 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Yosuke, Kawai, Katsuhiko, Kita, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T.
• Application Number:
  US09/838,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20020038177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 701/103, 701/108, 701/109, 701/102, 701/114, 602/74, 602/76, 602/85, 123/674, 123/672, 123/690, 123/691, 123/694, 123/704
• US Class Current: 701/103
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0215 changing the valve timing only
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0253 Fully variable control of valve lift and timing using camless actuation systems such as hydraulic, pneumatic or electromagnetic actuators, e.g. solenoid valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2011/102 at least one throttle being moved only by an electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1409 using at least a proportional, integral or derivative controller
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1415 using a state feedback or a state space representation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1418 Several control loops, either as alternatives or simultaneous
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1426 taking into account control stability
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1431 the system including an input-output delay
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1433 using a model or simulation of the system
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/0007 using electrical feedback F02D35/0015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1401 characterised by the control or regulation method F02D41/1473, F02D41/1477 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1441 Plural sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1456 with sensor output signal being linear or quasi-linear with the concentration of oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/16 for idling

Abstract

An intermediate target value calculating unit calculates an intermediate target value φmidtg(i) on the basis of an output φ(i−1) of an A/F ratio sensor in computation of last time and a final target value φtg(i). By the computation, the intermediate target value φmidtg(i) is set between the output φ(i−1) of the A/F ratio sensor in computation of last time and the final target value φtg(i). A correction amount calculating unit calculates a correction amount AFcomp(i) of the target A/F ratio on the basis of a deviation Δφ(i) between the intermediate target value φmidtg(i) and the output φ(i) of the A/F ratio sensor. Consequently, the control is hard to be influenced by variations in waste time of the subject to be controlled and an error in modeling. While maintaining the stability of the A/F ratio feedback control, higher gain can be achieved and robustness can be also increased.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, for feedback controlling an input of a subject to be controlled in an internal combustion engine so that an output of the subject to be controlled coincides with a final target value, comprising:

intermediate target value setting means for setting an intermediate target value on the basis of the output of the subject to be controlled and the final target value; and

feedback control means for calculating a correction amount of the input of the subject to be controlled on the basis of the output of the subject to be controlled and the intermediate target value.

2. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate target value setting means sets the intermediate target value so as to be between an output of the subject to be controlled in computation of last time or predetermined times ago and the final target value.

3. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate target value setting means obtains the intermediate target value by adding the final target value and a value derived by multiplying a deviation between an output of the subject to be controlled in computation of last time or predetermined times ago and the final target value by a positive coefficient smaller than 1.

4. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein an expression used to calculate a correction amount of an input of the subject to be controlled includes a term which becomes larger as a deviation between the intermediate target value and an output of the subject to be controlled becomes larger.

5. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein an expression used to calculate a correction amount of an input of the subject to be controlled includes a term which becomes larger as an integration value of a deviation between the intermediate target value and an output of the subject to be controlled becomes larger.

6. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein

the intermediate target value setting means sets an intermediate target value of a deviation on the basis of a deviation of last time between an output of the subject to be controlled and the final target value, and

the feedback control means calculates a correction amount of an input of the subject to be controlled on the basis of a deviation between the output of the subject to be controlled and the final target value and the intermediate target value.

7. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a catalyst for treating an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine;

an upstream-side exhaust gas sensor and a downstream-side exhaust gas sensor for detecting A/F ratio or rich/lean of the exhaust gas on the upstream and downstream sides of the catalyst, respectively;

exhaust gas A/F ratio feedback control means for feedback-controlling a fuel injection amount so that an A/F ratio detected by the upstream-side exhaust gas sensor becomes equal to an upstream-side target exhaust gas A/F ratio; and

sub-feedback control means for correcting the upstream-side target exhaust gas A/F ratio so that an exhaust gas A/F ratio detected by the downstream-side exhaust gas sensor becomes equal to a downstream-side target exhaust gas A/F ratio, wherein

the sub-feedback control means has back stepping control means for calculating a correction amount of the upstream-side target exhaust gas A/F ratio on the basis of a state variable obtained from an exhaust gas A/F ratio detected by the downstream-side exhaust gas sensor by using a back stepping method.

8. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 7, wherein the back stepping control means divides a model of a subject to be controlled into a plurality of sub systems, and each sub system includes a virtual input term calculated by the state variable.

9. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 8, wherein the virtual input term has a term proportional to an integration value of the state variable.

10. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 8, wherein the input term is set by using a non-linear function expressed as a linear line or curve having an inclination smaller than 1 and passing first and third quadrants in a predetermined region including the origin and expressed as a linear line having an inclination of 1 in the other region.

11. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 7, wherein the back stepping control means calculates the correction amount by a linear sum of the state variable, a deviation between the state variable and the virtual input term, and an integration value of the deviation.

12. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 11, wherein the back stepping control means calculates each of coefficients of the linear sum by an optimum regulator based on a model of a subject to be controlled at the time of calculating the correction amount.

13. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a catalyst for treating exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine;

an upstream-side exhaust gas sensor and a downstream-side exhaust gas sensor for detecting A/F ratio or rich/lean of an exhaust gas on the upstream and downstream sides of the catalyst, respectively;

exhaust gas A/F ratio feedback control means for feedback controlling a fuel injection amount so that an A/F ratio detected by the upstream-side exhaust gas sensor becomes equal to an upstream-side target exhaust gas A/F ratio;

sub feedback control means for performing sub feedback control for correcting the upstream-side target exhaust gas A/F ratio so that an exhaust gas A/F ratio detected by the downstream-side exhaust gas sensor becomes a downstream-side target exhaust gas A/F ratio; and

intermediate target value setting means for setting an intermediate target value of the sub feedback control on the basis of the exhaust gas A/F ratio detected by the downstream-side exhaust gas sensor and a final downstream-side target exhaust gas A/F ratio, wherein

the sub feedback control means calculates a correction amount of the upstream side target exhaust gas A/F ratio on the basis of the exhaust gas A/F ratio detected by the downstream-side exhaust gas sensor and the intermediate target value.

14. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 13, wherein the intermediate target value setting means sets the intermediate target value so as to be between an exhaust gas A/F ratio detected by the downstream-side exhaust gas sensor in computation of last time or a predetermined number of times ago and a final downstream-side target exhaust gas A/F ratio.

15. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 13, wherein the intermediate target value setting means obtains the intermediate target value by adding a final downstream-side target exhaust gas A/F ratio and a value obtained by multiplying a deviation between the exhaust gas A/F ratio detected by the downstream-side exhaust gas sensor in computation of last time or a predetermined number of times ago and a final downstream-side target exhaust gas A/F ratio by a positive coefficient smaller than 1.

16. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 13, wherein an equation for calculating a correction amount of the upstream-side target exhaust gas A/F ratio includes a term which increases as a deviation between the intermediate target value and the exhaust gas A/F ratio detected by the downstream-side exhaust gas sensor becomes larger.

17. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 13, wherein an equation for calculating a correction amount of the upstream-side target exhaust gas A/F ratio includes a term which increases as an integration value of a deviation between the intermediate target value and the exhaust gas A/F ratio detected by the downstream-side exhaust gas sensor becomes larger.

18. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 13, wherein an equation for calculating a correction amount of the upstream-side target exhaust gas A/F ratio includes a term which is switched according to whether the exhaust gas A/F ratio detected by the downstream-side exhaust gas sensor is rich or lean.

19. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising feedback control means for feedback-controlling an input of a subject to be controlled of an internal combustion engine so that an output of the subject to be controlled coincides with a target value, wherein

the feedback control means has:

proportional derivative means for calculating a correction amount of an input of the subject to be controlled by proportional derivative control in which a gain of a differential term is higher than a gain of a proportional term; and

regulating means for regulating the correction amount calculated by the proportional derivative means so as to be within a predetermined range.

20. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 19, wherein the feedback control means executes any of exhaust gas A/F ratio feedback control, electronic throttle control, variable valve timing control, idle speed control, fuel pressure feedback control, boost pressure feedback control of a turbo charger, and cruise control.

21. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, in which a sensor for detecting A/F ratio or rich/lean of exhaust gas is disposed on each of the upstream side and the downstream side of a catalyst for treating exhaust gases disposed in an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

exhaust gas A/F ratio feedback control means for feedback controlling an exhaust gas A/F ratio on the upstream side of the catalyst on the basis of an output of the upstream side sensor;

sub feedback control means for performing sub feedback control for reflecting an output of the downstream side sensor into the feedback control on the exhaust gas A/F ratio on the upstream of the catalyst; and

parameter varying means for variably setting at least one of parameters of the sub feedback control in accordance with a deviation between the exhaust gas A/F ratio on the upstream side of the catalyst and a theoretical exhaust gas A/F ratio.

22. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 21, wherein the parameter varying means uses a detection value of the upstream side sensor as an exhaust gas A/F ratio on the upstream side of the-catalyst, and variably sets the parameter in accordance with the deviation between the detection value and the theoretical exhaust gas A/F ratio.

23. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 21, wherein the parameter varying means uses a target exhaust gas A/F ratio of the feedback control on the exhaust gas A/F ratio on the upstream side of the catalyst as an exhaust gas A/F ratio on the upstream side of the catalyst, and variably sets the parameter in accordance with the deviation between the target exhaust gas A/F ratio and the theoretical exhaust gas A/F ratio.

24. An exhaust gas ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 21, wherein the parameter varying means increases at least one of parameters of the sub feedback control as a deviation between the exhaust gas A/F ratio on the upstream side of the catalyst and a theoretical exhaust gas A/F ratio increases when the exhaust gas A/F ratio deviation is in a predetermined range and, when the exhaust gas A/F ratio deviation is out of the predetermined range, the parameter varying means fixes the parameter to a predetermined value smaller than the maximum value of the parameter within the predetermined range.

25. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 21, wherein

the parameter variably set by the parameter varying means is an integral term and/or a skip term, and

the sub feedback control means corrects the target exhaust gas A/F ratio of the feedback control on the exhaust gas A/F ratio on the upstream side of the catalyst by using the integral term and the skip term.

26. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 21, wherein

the upstream side sensor detects the A/F ratio of the exhaust gas, and

the downstream side sensor detects the rich/lean of the exhaust gas.

27. An exhaust gas A/F ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, in which a sensor for detecting A/F ratio of exhaust gas is disposed on each of the upstream side and the downstream side of a catalyst for treating exhaust gases disposed in an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

exhaust gas A/F ratio feedback control means for feedback controlling an exhaust gas A/F ratio on the upstream side of the catalyst on the basis of an output of the upstream side sensor;

sub feedback control means for performing sub feedback control for reflecting an output of the downstream side sensor into the feedback control on the exhaust gas A/F ratio on the upstream of the catalyst; and

parameter varying means for fixing at least one of parameters of the sub feedback control to a predetermined value smaller than a maximum value of the parameter within a predetermined range when a deviation between the exhaust gas A/F ratio on the upstream side of the catalyst and a theoretical exhaust gas A/F ratio is out of the predetermined range.