Intake quantity control apparatus of internal combustion engine

• US 6,814,035 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Eiraku, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): MOHANTY, BIBHU R
• Application Number:
  US10/766,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20040182346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• Field of Search: 123/90.1, 123/90.11, 123/90.15, 123/90.24, 123/704, 123/319, 123/395, 123/402
• US Class Current: 123/90.11
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/022 Chain drive
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/34 characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening and without affecting the magnitude of the valve lift
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 13/0036 the valves being driven by two or more cams with different shape, size or timing or a single cam profiled in axial and radial direction
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/0537 Double overhead camshafts [DOHC]
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2800/00 Methods of operation using a variable valve timing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2820/041 Camshafts position or phase sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/125 Direct injection in the combustion chamber for spark ignition engines, i.e. not in pre-combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0207 changing valve lift or valve lift and timing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0211 the change of valve timing is caused by the change in valve lift, i.e. both valve lift and timing are functionally related
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0219 by shifting the phase, i.e. the opening periods of the valves are constant
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/023 the change of valve timing is caused by the change in valve lift, i.e. both valve lift and timing are functionally related
• 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 13/0261 Controlling the valve overlap
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0406 Intake manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0002 Controlling intake air
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/32 of the low pressure type F02D41/3082 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An intake quantity control apparatus for an internal combustion engine which controls a valve opening characteristic and intake pressure to control the intake quantity more suitably is provided. The apparatus includes a valve opening characteristic control unit for controlling a valve opening characteristic, an intake pressure control unit for controlling an intake pressure and controlling the valve opening characteristic and the intake pressure so as to control the intake quantity, comprises a target intake quantity determining unit for determining a target intake quantity for after elapse of a predetermined time, a unit for determining a range of valve opening characteristic realizable in a predetermined time, and a unit for determining a range of intake pressure realizable in a predetermined time, the valve opening characteristic and the intake pressure being controlled by the valve opening characteristic control unit and the intake pressure control unit so as to become a target valve opening characteristic and target intake pressure set in the realizable ranges based on the target intake quantity.

Claims

1. An intake quantity control apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a valve opening characteristic control means for controlling a valve opening characteristic of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve and an intake pressure control means for controlling an intake pressure and controlling said valve opening characteristic and said intake pressure so as to control the intake quantity, comprising:

a target intake quantity determining means for determining a target intake quantity for after elapse of a predetermined time,

a means for determining a range of valve opening characteristic realizable in a predetermined time by said valve opening characteristic control means, and

a means for determining a range of intake pressure realizable in a predetermined time by said intake pressure control means,

said valve opening characteristic and said intake pressure being controlled by said valve opening characteristic control means and said intake pressure control means so as to become a target valve opening characteristic and target intake pressure set in said realizable ranges based on said target intake quantity.

2. An intake quantity control apparatus for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, further comprising

a means for estimating a valve opening characteristic and intake pressure for realizing said target intake quantity by a predetermined method, wherein

when both said valve opening characteristic and intake pressure estimated by said means are in said realizable ranges, said estimated valve opening characteristic and intake pressure are set as said target valve opening characteristic and said target intake pressure, while

when at least one of said estimated valve opening characteristic and intake pressure is not in said realizable range, a valve opening characteristic and intake pressure in said realizable ranges whereby said intake quantity becomes closest to said target intake quantity or said intake quantity becomes said target intake quantity are set as said target valve opening characteristic and said target intake pressure.

3. An intake quantity control apparatus for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein when determining said range of valve opening characteristic realizable in a predetermined time, additional restrictions relating to operation of the internal combustion engine are considered.

4. An intake quantity control apparatus for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 3, wherein said additional restrictions relating to operation of the internal combustion engine include a positional relationship and valve opening characteristics of the intake and exhaust valves.

5. An intake quantity control apparatus for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein when determining said range of intake pressure realizable in a predetermined time, additional restrictions relating to operation of the internal combustion engine are considered.

6. An intake quantity control apparatus for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 5, wherein said additional restrictions relating to operation of the internal combustion engine include maintaining the intake pressure at not more than a predetermined pressure.

7. An intake quantity control apparatus for an internal combustion engine controlling an intake quantity by a valve opening characteristic control means for controlling a valve opening characteristic of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve and an intake pressure control means for controlling an intake pressure, comprising:

a target intake quantity determining means for determining a target intake quantity for after elapse of a predetermined time,

a target valve opening characteristic determining means for determining a target valve opening characteristic of said valve opening characteristic control means based on said target intake quantity,

a target intake pressure determining means for determining a target intake pressure of said intake pressure control means based on said target intake quantity and said target valve opening characteristic,

a means for determining a range of valve opening characteristic realizable in a predetermined time by said valve opening characteristic control means,

a means for determining a range of intake pressure realizable in a predetermined time by said intake pressure control means,

an operation region determining means determining a realizable operation region from ranges of realizable valve opening characteristic and intake pressure, and

a target value resetting means for determining a suitable operation point from said range of operation region when the operation point determined from said target valve opening characteristic and said target intake pressure is not in said realizable operation region and resetting the target values of said valve opening characteristic control means and said intake pressure control means from said operation point.

8. An intake quantity control apparatus for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 7, wherein said target value resetting means determines an operation point able to realize said target intake quantity or an intake quantity resembling said target intake quantity in said range of realizable operation region and resets the target values of said valve opening characteristic control means and said intake pressure control means from that operation point.