Control apparatus and a control method for a vehicle

• US 5,724,944 A
• Filed: 03/13/1997
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Minowa, Toshimichi, Ishii, Junichi, Kuragaki, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US08/816,703
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 123/416, 123/417, 123/419, 123/436, 123/478, 123/480, 123/486, 123/399, 477/107, 477/110, 477/111, 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 180/170, 180/178, 180/179, 180/69.4, 340/901, 340/903, 340/905, 340/435
• US Class Current: 123/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0236 for economical driving
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/105 characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/501 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/602 Pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/702 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/12 Engine control specially adapted for a transmission comprising a torque converter or for continuously variable transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/0015 using exhaust gas sensors F02D41/14 takes precedence
• 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 41/023 in relation with the gear ratio shifting conjoint control for improving gear change B60W30/19
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/14 Introducing closed-loop corrections
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1479 Using a comparator with variable reference
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1486 with correction for particular operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2406 using essentially read only memories
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A control device and a control method capable of eliminating a torque variation in changing an air/fuel ratio and establishing a compatibility of promotion in fuel economy with promotion in drivability is provided. The device includes an outer environment detector for detecting an outer environment in running a vehicle, a running environment determining device for predicting a current running environment in accordance with the outer environment, a data storage device for storing data for changing a driving characteristic, a selecting device for selecting the data, a control quantity calculator for calculating a control quantity based on the data, and a control actuator for controlling a control object. The engine output is efficiently utilized since the air/fuel ratio is changed in accordance with the change in the running environment, and the fuel cost reduction and the promotion of the drivability can be achieved since the selecting of the air/fuel ratio is performed in accordance with the running environment.

Claims

1. A control device for a power train of a vehicle which controls at least one of an air flow quantity supplied into an engine of said vehicle, a fuel quantity supplied into said engine of said vehicle, an ignition timing of said engine, and a transmission speed change ratio, comprising:

at least one outer environment receiver for receiving the outer environment of the vehicle;

a running condition determining means for determining a current running condition of the vehicle;

a calculating means for calculating a targeted torque of one of an output torque of said engine and an output torque of said transmission corresponding to a value of said outer environment and a value of said running condition;

means for outputting control data in response to said calculated target torque; and

at least one of control actuators which control at least one of said air flow quantity, fuel quantity, ignition timing, and transmission speed change ratio in accordance with said control data.