Control apparatus for internal combustion engine

• US 7,272,484 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Fujita, Masahiko, Inoue, Masaya, Maeda, Naohide
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Hieu T.
• Application Number:
  US11/592,195
• Time in Patent Office: 319 Days
• Field of Search: 701/102, 701/110, 701/22, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 477/5, 477/3
• US Class Current: 701/102
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/20 Reducing vibrations in the driveline
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/24 by using an external load, e.g. a generator
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1498 measuring engine roughness
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine can effectively suppress the rotational fluctuation of the engine by properly controlling the operating state of a rotating electrical machine without applying an excessive load to a power supply system connected to the rotating electrical machine. The rotating electrical machine is used for both electric operation and electric power generation, and is connected to the engine. A control circuit controls at least one of a field current and an armature current of the rotating electrical machine. A power supply system is connected to the rotating electrical machine. A rotational fluctuation suppression section (ECU) suppresses the rotational fluctuation of the engine by controlling an amount of electric power and generated torque of the rotating electrical machine in accordance with an electric power load of the vehicle, an amount of electric power of the power supply system, and the rotational speed of the rotating electrical machine.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine installed on a vehicle, comprising:

a rotating electrical machine for both electric operation and electric power generation that is connected to said internal combustion engine;

a control circuit that controls at least one of a field current and an armature current of said rotating electrical machine;

a rotational speed detection part that detects the individual rotational speeds of said internal combustion engine and said rotating electrical machine;

a power supply system connected to said rotating electrical machine;

an electric power detection part that detects an amount of electric power of said power supply system; and

a rotational fluctuation suppression section that suppresses the rotational fluctuation of said internal combustion engine;

wherein said rotational fluctuation suppression section controls an amount of electric power generation and generated torque from said rotating electrical machine in accordance with an electric power load of said vehicle, the amount of electric power of said power supply system, and the rotational speed of said rotating electrical machine.

2. The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said rotational fluctuation suppression section controls the efficiency of said rotating electrical machine in a variable manner.

3. The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said rotational fluctuation suppression section controls to switch the operating state of said rotating electrical machine among a driving state, a power generation state, and a three-phase short circuited state.

4. The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said rotational fluctuation suppression section controls to switch the operating state of said rotating electrical machine among a driving state, a power generation state, and a transistor-operated chopping power generation state.

5. The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said rotational fluctuation suppression section switches the operating state of said rotating electrical machine among a driving state, a power generation state, and a switching control state between said driving state and said power generation state, and a three-phase short circuited state in accordance with the electric power load of said vehicle and the amount of electric power of said power supply system;

and

said rotational fluctuation suppression section switches said power generation state among a diode-operated rectification power generation state, a transistor-operated chopping power generation state, and a switching control state of switching between said rectification power generation state and said chopping power generation state in accordance with the rotational speed of said internal combustion engine.

6. The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein

a stop time estimation section that calculates an estimated stop time of said vehicle;

and

a state selection section that selects a state of said internal combustion engine during a stop time of said vehicle;

wherein said state selection section selects, based on at least one of said estimated stop time and the amount of electric power C of said power supply system, either of an idle state using said internal combustion engine alone, an idle assist state using said rotating electrical machine and said internal combustion engine in combination with each other, and a stop and restart state of said internal combustion engine.

7. The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 6, wherein

said state selection section selects, as a control mode of said internal combustion engine, a state in which the best fuel mileage is obtained, by referring to a control map of said internal combustion engine with respect to said estimated stop time.

8. The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 6, wherein

said state selection section compares said estimated stop time with a first reference time and a second reference time which is longer than said first reference time;

and

said state selection section selects, as a control mode of said internal combustion engine, said idle state when said estimated stop time is less than or equal to said first reference time, said idle assist state when said estimated stop time is longer than said first reference time and less than or equal to said second reference time, and said stop and restart state when said estimated stop time is longer than said second reference time.