Valve working angle variable system

• US 9,850,824 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Habara, Shunsuke, Nakashima, Toyokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Vilakazi, Sizo
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIRBY, BRIAN R
• Application Number:
  US13/393,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20120158267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,902 Days
• Field of Search: 701101, 701102, 701103, 701 337, 701 342, 701107, 123 9011, 123 9015- 9018, 123321, 123322, 123345-348, 123 9031, 714 11, 700 29
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/185 Overhead end-pivot rocking arms
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/2405 by means of a hydraulic adjusting device located between the cylinder head and rocker arm
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/462 Valve return spring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 13/0063 by modification of cam contact point by displacing an intermediate lever or wedge-shaped intermediate element, e.g. Tourtelot
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2305/00 Valve arrangements comprising rollers
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2800/14 Determining a position, e.g. phase or lift
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2820/032 Electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/107 Safety-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0203 Variable control of intake and exhaust valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0002 Controlling intake air
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/221 relating to the failure of actuators or electrically driven elements
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/28 Interface circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A drive circuit (203) of an actuator (2) calculates an actual working angle from an actual operation quantity with reference to a reference table used to calculate a target operation quantity, and transmits the actual working angle and the actual operation quantity to a command unit (4). The command unit (4) determines whether or not the received values of the actual working angle and the operation quantity correspond to the valve working angle and the operation quantity of the reference table stored in the command unit (4), to detect a discrepancy between the operation modes of the actuator (2) and the command unit (4).

Claims

1. A valve working angle variable system, comprising:

a command unit; and

an actuator including a first memory circuit configured to store a relationship between a valve working angle and an operation quantity of the actuator and a first processor circuit configured to calculate the operation quantity of the actuator necessary for achieving the valve working angle commanded by the command unit based on the relationship between the valve working angle and the operation quantity stored in the first memory circuit of the actuator, the first processor circuit of the actuator is configured to adjust the valve working angle according to the valve working angle commanded by the command unit by adjusting the actual operation quantity according to the calculated operation quantity, wherein

the command unit includes a second processor circuit configured to give the actuator a command for an operation mode and a second memory circuit configured to store a relationship between the valve working angle and a parameter correlated to this valve working angle for the commanded operation mode,

the parameter is any parameter that changes according to the valve working angle and is unambiguously determined, and the relationship between the parameter and the valve working angle that changes according to a change in the relationship between the valve working angle and the operation quantity of the actuator is used for the determination,

the first processor circuit of the actuator is configured to obtain an actual value of the parameter based on a detection value, and obtain a current value of the valve working angle based on the actual value of the parameter with reference to the relationship corresponding to the commanded operation mode,

the first processor circuit of the actuator is configured to transmit the actual value of the parameter and the current value of the valve working angle to the command unit, and the second processor circuit of the command unit is configured to determine an abnormality comprising a discrepancy between the operation mode of the command unit and the operation mode of the actuator based on whether or not the transmitted two values match the relationship between the two values stored in the second memory circuit of the command unit,

when a negative result is determined, the command unit is configured to perform at least one of notification of abnormality and stopping operation of the actuator is performed,

wherein the actuator is operable in a plurality of operation modes that differ in the relationship between the valve working angle and the operation quantity of the actuator, and wherein

the second processor circuit of the command unit is configured to give the first processor circuit of the actuator the command for the operation mode to change the operation mode of the actuator,

wherein the actuator is configured to support a plurality of the valve working angle ranges,

wherein the first memory circuit of the actuator is configured to store a plurality of tables and/or relational expressions of the relationship between the valve working angle and the operation quantity of the actuator corresponding to the plurality of the operation modes in advance,

wherein the valve working angle range differs according to a specification of a vehicle model to which the valve working angle variable system is applied, the actuator is applicable to both of a first vehicle model and a second vehicle model, the first processor circuit of the actuator is configured to calculate a target operation quantity of the first vehicle model using the table and/or relational expressions for the first vehicle model and to calculate a target operation quantity of the second vehicle model using the table and/or relational expressions for the second vehicle model.

2. The valve working angle variable system according to claim 1, wherein the actuator and the command unit are configured to use the operation quantity as the parameter.

3. The valve working angle variable system according to claim 1, wherein the actuator and the command unit are configured to use an upper limit value of the operation quantity of the valve working angle as the parameter.

4. The valve working angle variable system according to claim 1,

wherein the second processor circuit of the command unit performs the determination by calculating one of the value of the valve working angle and the value of the parameter received from the actuator using the other of the values based on the relationship between the two values stored in the command unit, and checking whether or not the calculated value matches with the received value.

5. A valve working angle variable system, comprising:

a command unit; and

an actuator including a first memory circuit configured to store a relationship between a valve working angle and an operation quantity of the actuator and a first processor circuit configured to calculate the operation quantity of the actuator necessary for achieving the valve working angle commanded by the command unit based on the relationship between the valve working angle and the operation quantity stored in the first memory circuit of the actuator, the first processor circuit of the actuator is configured to adjust the valve working angle according to the valve working angle commanded by the command unit by adjusting the actual operation quantity according to the calculated operation quantity, wherein

the command unit including a second processor circuit configured to give the actuator a command for an operation mode and a second memory circuit configured to store a relationship between the valve working angle and the operation quantity for the commanded operation mode,

the first processor circuit of the actuator is configured to obtain an actual value of the operation quantity based on a detection value, and calculate a current value of the valve working angle using the actual value of the operation quantity based on the relationship stored in the actuator corresponding to the commanded operation mode, and is configured to transmit the value of the operation quantity used for the calculation and the calculated value of the valve working angle to the command unit,

the second processor circuit of the command unit is configured to determine an abnormality comprising a discrepancy between the operation mode of the command unit and the operation mode of the actuator based on whether or not the values of the valve working angle and the operation quantity received from the actuator match the relationship between the two values stored in the command unit, and

when a negative result is determined, the command unit is configured to perform at least one of notification of abnormality and stopping operation of the actuator is performed,

wherein the actuator is operable in a plurality of operation modes that differ in the relationship between the valve working angle and the operation quantity of the actuator, and wherein

the second processor circuit of the command unit is configured to give the first processor circuit of the actuator the command for the operation mode to change the operation mode of the actuator,

wherein the actuator is configured to support a plurality of valve working angle ranges,

wherein the first memory circuit of the actuator is configured to store a plurality of tables and/or relational expressions of the relationship between the valve working angle and the operation quantity of the actuator corresponding to the plurality of the operation modes in advance,

wherein the valve working angle range differs according to a specification of a vehicle model to which the valve working angle variable system is applied, the actuator is applicable to both of a first vehicle model and a second vehicle model, the first processor circuit of the actuator is configured to calculate a target operation quantity of the first vehicle model using the table and/or relational expressions for the first vehicle model and to calculate a target operation quantity of the second vehicle model using the table and/or relational expressions for the second vehicle model.

6. The valve working angle variable system according to claim 5, wherein

the second memory circuit of the command unit is configured to store a relationship between the valve working angle and an upper limit value of the operation quantity of this valve working angle for an operation mode commanded of the actuator,

the first memory circuit of the actuator is configured to store a relationship between the valve working angle and the upper limit value of the operation quantity for an operation mode used by the actuator,

the first processor circuit of the actuator is configured to calculate the upper limit value using the value of the valve working angle based on the relationship between the two values stored in the first memory circuit of the actuator, and transmit the two values to the command unit, and

the second processor circuit of the command unit is configured to determine whether or not the value of the valve working angle and the upper limit value received from the actuator match the relationship between the two values stored in the second memory circuit of the command unit.

7. The valve working angle variable system according to claim 5, wherein the second processor circuit of the command unit is configured to determine the negative result by calculating one of the value of the valve working angle and the value of the operation quantity received from the actuator using the other of the values based on the relationship between the two values stored in the second memory circuit of the command unit, and check whether or not the calculated value matches with the received value.

8. A valve working angle variable system, comprising:

a command unit; and

an actuator including a first memory circuit configured to store a relationship between a valve working angle and an operation quantity of the actuator and a first processor circuit configured to calculate the operation quantity of the actuator necessary for achieving the valve working angle commanded by the command unit based on the relationship between the valve working angle and the operation quantity stored in the first memory circuit of the actuator, the first processor circuit of the actuator is configured to adjust the valve working angle according to the valve working angle commanded by the command unit by adjusting the actual operation quantity according to the calculated operation quantity, wherein

the command unit including a second processor circuit configured to give the actuator a command for an operation mode and a second memory circuit configured to store a relationship between the valve working angle and the operation quantity for the commanded operation mode,

the first processor circuit of the actuator is configured to calculate a value of the operation quantity using a value of the commanded valve working angle based on the relationship stored in the first memory circuit of the actuator, and transmit the calculated value of the operation quantity to the command unit,

the second processor circuit of the command unit is configured to calculate a value of the operation quantity using the value of the valve working angle commanded of the actuator based on the relationship between the two values stored in the second memory circuit of the command unit, and determine an abnormality comprising a discrepancy between the operation mode of the command unit and the operation mode of the actuator based on whether or not the calculated value of the operation quantity matches with the value of the operation quantity received from the actuator, and

when a negative result is determined, the command unit is configured to perform at least one of notification of abnormality and operation stop of the actuator is performed,

wherein the actuator is operable in a plurality of operation modes that differ in the relationship between the valve working angle and the operation quantity of the actuator, and wherein

the second processor circuit of the command unit is configured to give the first processor circuit of the actuator the command for the operation mode to change the operation mode of the actuator,

wherein the actuator is configured to support a plurality of valve working angle ranges,

wherein the first memory circuit of the actuator is configured to store a plurality of tables and/or relational expressions of the relationship between the valve working angle and the operation quantity of the actuator corresponding to the plurality of the operation modes in advance,

wherein the valve working angle range differs according to a specification of a vehicle model to which the valve working angle variable system is applied, the actuator is applicable to both of a first vehicle model and a second vehicle model, the first processor circuit of the actuator is configured to calculate a target operation quantity of the first vehicle model using the table and/or relational expressions for the first vehicle model and to calculate a target operation quantity of the second vehicle model using the table and/or relational expressions for the second vehicle model.

9. The valve working angle variable system according to claim 8, wherein

the second memory circuit of the command unit is configured to store a relationship between the valve working angle and an upper limit value of the operation quantity of this valve working angle for the operation mode commanded of the actuator,

the first memory circuit of the actuator is configured to store a relationship between the valve working angle and the upper limit value for the operation mode used by the actuator,

the first processor circuit of the actuator is configured to calculate the upper limit value using the value of the valve working angle commanded from the command unit based on the relationship between the two values stored in the first memory circuit of the actuator, and transmit the calculated value to the command unit, and

the second processor circuit of the command unit is configured to calculate the upper limit value using a value of the valve working angle commanded of the actuator based on the relationship between the two values stored in the second memory circuit of the command unit, and determine whether or not the calculated value matches with the change speed upper limit value received from the actuator.

10. A valve working angle variable system, comprising:

a command unit; and

an actuator including a first memory circuit configured to store a relationship between a valve working angle and an operation quantity of the actuator and a first processor circuit configured to calculate the operation quantity necessary for achieving the valve working angle commanded by the command unit based on the relationship between the valve working angle and the operation quantity stored in the first memory circuit of the actuator, the first processor circuit of the actuator is configured to adjust the valve working angle according to the valve working angle commanded by the command unit by adjusting an actual operation quantity according to a calculated operation quantity, wherein

the command unit including a second processor circuit configured to give the actuator a command for an operation mode and a second memory circuit configured to store a relationship between the valve working angle and the operation quantity,

the first processor circuit of the actuator is configured to transmit an operation mode set according to the command to the command unit,

the second processor circuit of the command unit is configured to determine an abnormality comprising a discrepancy between the operation mode of the command unit and the operation mode of the actuator based on whether or not the operation mode received from the actuator matches with the operation mode commanded of this actuator, and

when a negative result is determined, the command unit is configured to perform at least one of notification of abnormality and stopping operation of the actuator is performed,

wherein the actuator is operable in a plurality of operation modes that differ in the relationship between the valve working angle and the operation quantity of the actuator, and wherein

the second processor circuit of the command unit is configured to give the first processor circuit of the actuator the command for the operation mode to change the operation mode of the actuator,

wherein the actuator is configured to support a plurality of valve working angle ranges,

wherein the first memory circuit of the actuator is configured to store a plurality of tables and/or relational expressions of the relationship between the valve working angle and the operation quantity of the actuator corresponding to the plurality of the operation modes in advance,

wherein the valve working angle range differs according to a specification of a vehicle model to which the valve working angle variable system is applied, the actuator is applicable to both of a first vehicle model and a second vehicle model, the first processor circuit of the actuator is configured to calculate a target operation quantity of the first vehicle model using the table and/or relational expressions for the first vehicle model and to calculate a target operation quantity of the second vehicle model using the table and/or relational expressions for the second vehicle model.