Internal combustion engine start control device and control method

• US 9,803,569 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2013
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ohmura, Yasushi, Arakawa, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivera, Carlos A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Staubach, Carl
• Application Number:
  US14/372,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20140379239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 701103, 701113, 12317916, 12317918, 1233391, 12333912, 12333914-33916, 12333919-33921, 123376, 123403, 123683, 123685
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/4825 Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0088 Adaptive recalibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0002 Controlling intake air
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/062 for starting F02D41/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/08 for idling F02D41/06, F02D41/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/18 by measuring intake air flow
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2451 characterised by what is learned or calibrated
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/022 the starter comprising an intermediate clutch
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

An internal combustion engine 2 is started by being cranked by an electric motor. An internal combustion engine start control device performs a feedback-control of an intake air amount of the internal combustion engine to a target idle intake air amount, learns a feedback correction amount applied in a feedback control, and performs a learning control using a learnt value in parallel with the feedback control. An engine rotation speed is converged to a target idle rotation speed in an early stage by setting an allowable correction range of a feedback correction amount applied before a start of learning of the intake air amount wider than the allowable correction range of the feedback correction amount applied after the start of the learning of the intake air amount.

Claims

1. An internal combustion engine start control device for starting an internal combustion engine by cranking the internal combustion engine by an electric motor, comprising:

a programmable controller programmed to;

perform a feedback-control of an intake air amount of the internal combustion engine to a target idle intake air amount;

learn a feedback correction amount applied in the feedback control; and

perform a learning control of the intake air amount using a learnt value in parallel with the feedback control;

wherein the feedback correction amount is limited within an allowable correction range set by the programmable controller, and

wherein setting the allowable correction range comprises;

responsive to determining that the learning has not yet started, setting a first allowable correction range;

responsive to determining that the learning is being performed, setting a second allowable correction range; and

responsive to determining that the learning is complete, setting a third allowable correction range,

wherein the second allowable correction range is wider than the first allowable correction range, and the first allowable correction range is wider than the third allowable correction range.

2. The internal combustion engine start control device according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor and the internal combustion engine constitute a drive system for a hybrid drive vehicle.

3. The internal combustion engine start control device according to claim 2, wherein the programmable controller is provided independently of the drive system.

4. The internal combustion engine start control device according to claim 2, wherein the drive system further includes a clutch for connecting the electric motor to the internal combustion engine, and the programmable controller is further programmed to crank the internal combustion engine by the electric motor in an engaged state of the clutch and disengage the clutch at a predetermined timing after the start of the internal combustion engine.

5. The internal combustion engine start control device according to claim 1, wherein the programmable controller is further programmed to:

when the internal combustion engine start control device is in an initial state, apply an increased value as an initial value of the learnt value prior to the start of the learning of the intake air amount and the first allowable correction range is set to decrease the intake air amount during a period from a start of cranking until the start of learning.

6. An internal combustion engine start control device for starting an internal combustion engine by cranking the internal combustion engine by an electric motor, comprising:

means for performing a feedback-control of an intake air amount of the internal combustion engine to a target idle intake air amount;

means for learning a feedback correction amount applied in a feedback control; and

means for performing a learning control of the intake air amount using a learnt value in parallel with the feedback control;

wherein the feedback correction amount is limited by an allowable correction range, and

wherein,

before a start of learning, a first allowable correction range is set as the allowable correction range,

while the learning is being performed, a second allowable correction range is set as the allowable correction range, and

after the learning is completed, a third allowable correction range is set as the allowable correction range,

wherein the second allowable correction range is wider than the first allowable correction range, and the first allowable correction range is wider than the third allowable correction range.

7. An internal combustion engine start control method for starting an internal combustion engine by cranking the internal combustion engine by an electric motor, comprising:

performing a feedback-control of an intake air amount of the internal combustion engine to a target idle intake air amount;

learning a feedback correction amount applied in the feedback control; and

performing a learning control of the intake air amount using a learnt value in parallel with the feedback control;

wherein the feedback correction amount is limited by an allowable correction range, and

wherein,

before a start of learning, a first allowable correction range is set as the allowable correction range,

while the learning is being performed, a second allowable correction range is set as the allowable correction range, and

after the learning is completed, a third allowable correction range is set as the allowable correction range,

wherein the second allowable correction range is wider than the first allowable correction range, and the first allowable correction range is wider than the third allowable correction range.