Catalytic converter warm-up control apparatus for hybrid vehicle

• US 9,046,015 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2013
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Shikama, Mahito, Habu, Ikue
• Primary Examiner(s): BOGUE, JESSE SAMUEL
• Application Number:
  US13/910,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20140007561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 60272-324
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/16 for reducing engine exhaust emissions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/474 Catalyst warm up
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 11/002 the diagnostic devices measuring or estimating temperature or pressure in, or downstream of the exhaust apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 9/00 Electrical control of exhaust gas treating apparatus monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus F01N11/00; conjoint electrical control of two or more combustion engine functions F02D43/00
• 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 41/0255 to accelerate the warming-up of the exhaust gas treating apparatus at engine start
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/123 the fuel injection being cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A catalytic converter warm-up control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes a catalytic converter warm-up controller, a temperature parameter acquisition device, a warm-up control parameter setting device, and a motoring execution device. The catalytic converter warm-up controller is configured to execute warm-up control to warm up a catalytic converter of the hybrid vehicle for activating the catalytic converter upon start-up of an internal combustion engine provided in the hybrid vehicle. The warm-up control parameter setting device is configured to set warm-up control parameters used in the warm-up control in accordance with the temperature parameter acquired by the temperature parameter acquisition device. The motoring execution device is configured to execute motoring of the internal combustion engine by a first electric motor in a predetermined operation state. The catalytic converter warm-up controller is configured to execute the warm-up control in accordance with an execution state of the motoring.

Claims

1. A catalytic converter warm-up control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a catalytic converter warm-up controller configured to execute warm-up control to warm up a catalytic converter of the hybrid vehicle for activating the catalytic converter upon start-up of an internal combustion engine provided in the hybrid vehicle, the catalytic converter being provided to purify an exhaust gas discharged from the internal combustion engine;

a temperature parameter acquisition device configured to acquire a temperature parameter indicating a temperature of the internal combustion engine;

a warm-up control parameter setting device configured to set warm-up control parameters used in the warm-up control in accordance with the temperature parameter acquired by the temperature parameter acquisition device; and

a motoring execution device configured to execute motoring of the internal combustion engine by a first electric motor in a predetermined operation state, the first electric motor being provided to supply and receive motive power to and from the internal combustion engine and a drive wheel of the hybrid vehicle, the catalytic converter warm-up controller being configured to execute the warm-up control in accordance with an execution state of the motoring,

wherein the motoring comprises fuel cut to stop supply of fuel to the internal combustion engine while motoring the internal combustion engine by the first electric motor in a predetermined deceleration operation state,

wherein the catalytic converter warm-up controller is configured to suspend the warm-up control during execution of the fuel cut and configured to execute the warm-up control at completion of the fuel cut,

wherein the warm-up control parameters include a first parameter depending on a temperature of the catalytic converter and a second parameter depending on the temperature of the internal combustion engine, and

wherein if the fuel cut is requested before the warm-up control is started upon start-up of the internal combustion engine, the catalytic converter warm-up controller executes the warm-up control at completion of the fuel cut and the warm-up control parameter setting device sets the first parameter in accordance with the temperature parameter acquired by the temperature parameter acquisition device upon start of the fuel cut.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the warm-up control parameter setting device is configured to set the second parameter in accordance with the temperature parameter acquired by the temperature parameter acquisition device during execution of the warm-up control, regardless of whether the fuel cut has already been executed.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the catalytic converter warm-up controller terminates the warm-up control if the fuel cut is requested during execution of the warm-up control, and again executes the warm-up control at completion of the fuel cut.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

an inactive-state determination device configured to determine whether the catalytic converter has changed from an active state to an inactive state as a stopped state of the internal combustion engine including the fuel cut is continued after completion of the warm-up control,

wherein if it is determined that the catalytic converter has changed to the inactive state, the catalytic converter warm-up controller again executes the warm-up control upon next start-up of the internal combustion engine.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the hybrid vehicle further includes a second electric motor provided to supply and receive electric power to and from the first electric motor and provided to supply and receive motive power to and from the drive wheel.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the catalytic converter warm-up controller terminates the warm-up control if the fuel cut is requested during execution of the warm-up control, and again executes the warm-up control at completion of the fuel cut.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

an inactive-state determination device configured to determine whether the catalytic converter has changed from an active state to an inactive state as a stopped state of the internal combustion engine including the fuel cut is continued after completion of the warm-up control,

wherein if it is determined that the catalytic converter has changed to the inactive state, the catalytic converter warm-up controller again executes the warm-up control upon next start-up of the internal combustion engine.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the hybrid vehicle further includes a second electric motor provided to supply and receive electric power to and from the first electric motor and provided to supply and receive motive power to and from the drive wheel.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an inactive-state determination device configured to determine whether the catalytic converter has changed from an active state to an inactive state as a stopped state of the internal combustion engine including the fuel cut is continued after completion of the warm-up control,

wherein if it is determined that the catalytic converter has changed to the inactive state, the catalytic converter warm-up controller again executes the warm-up control upon next start-up of the internal combustion engine.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hybrid vehicle further includes a second electric motor provided to supply and receive electric power to and from the first electric motor and provided to supply and receive motive power to and from the drive wheel.

11. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

an inactive-state determination device configured to determine whether the catalytic converter has changed from an active state to an inactive state as a stopped state of the internal combustion engine including the fuel cut is continued after completion of the warm-up control,

wherein if it is determined that the catalytic converter has changed to the inactive state, the catalytic converter warm-up controller again executes the warm-up control upon next start-up of the internal combustion engine.

12. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the hybrid vehicle further includes a second electric motor provided to supply and receive electric power to and from the first electric motor and provided to supply and receive motive power to and from the drive wheel.

13. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the hybrid vehicle further includes a second electric motor provided to supply and receive electric power to and from the first electric motor and provided to supply and receive motive power to and from the drive wheel.