Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide proper catalyst warm-up control when forced charging is required in a state of low SOC.SOLUTION: A hybrid vehicle 10 includes: an internal combustion engine 20 in which a catalyst 27 flows through an exhaust passage; a first motor/generator MG1; a second motor/generator GM2; a battery (power storage device) 63; and power transmitting mechanisms (30, 50). When the temperature of cooling water in the internal combustion engine 20 is equal to or lower than a given temperature correlation threshold, the internal combustion engine 20 is started to execute a catalyst warm-up operation by which ignition timing is delayed by a given retardation amount. When the remaining capacity of the battery 63 is equal to or less than a given remaining capacity correlation threshold, the internal combustion engine 20 is started to execute a forced charging operation by which the first motor/generator MG1 is driven to charge the battery 63. During the forced charging operation, a load which the internal combustion engine 20 is required to bear is changed according to the remaining capacity of the battery 63. When the catalyst warm-up operation is executed during the forced charging operation, the retardation amount for accelerating warm-up of the catalyst is put under control so that the retardation amount gets smaller as the load of the internal combustion engine 20 gets larger.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the accuracy of detecting an air-fuel ratio imbalance between cylinders while securing a reduction effect of an emission amount.SOLUTION: An imbalance index value representing the size of a difference between the cylindrical air-fuel ratios (air-fuel ratio imbalance between cylinders) is obtained based on the output values of air-fuel sensors arranged upstream of catalysts. When the size of the imbalance between the cylinder air-fuel ratios, represented by the imbalance index, is large, as a delay time until EGR gas by a EGR control, the delay time which becomes larger compared with an ordinary delay time, as the air-fuel ratio imbalance between cylinders becomes larger, is set. Then, in the set delay time, the imbalance value free from an effect due to EGR gas introduction is acquired.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly control a vale phase in idle operation of an internal combustion engine, in a variable valve timing mechanism of a structure changing the change ratio (the reduction gear ratio) of the valve phase to an operation quantity of an actuator in response to the valve phase. SOLUTION: An idle time target phase setting part 130 variably sets a target phase CAr in response to an idle target engine speed NIr set by an idle target engine speed setting part 110. The idle time target phase setting part 130 particularly sets the target phase CAr so that the idle target engine speed NIr is lower than a predetermined engine speed and a change range of the valve phase is restricted in a phase area where the reduction gear ratio is large and an operation sound is relatively restrained, in a state of easily sensing the operation sound of the variable valve timing mechanism by a driver. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To positively change opening/closing timing of an intake valve to the latest phase lag timing upon stopping operation of an internal combustion engine and to improve startability of the engine when starting next. SOLUTION: When a cooling water temperature Tw of the engine is determined to be in an engine stoppable state due to a low water temperature wherein the engine operation may be stopped by ignition-off in a state of the engine being cold-started based on a vehicle speed V and request power Pe* under a condition of the cooling water temperature Tw being less than a threshold value T1 (S420), target opening/closing timing VT* of an intake valve is restricted by predetermined timing VT2 and a VVT motor is driven (S430, S440), and the VVT motor is driven so that when operation stop of the engine is instructed, the opening/closing timing of the intake valve is changed toward a latest phase lag timing VT1. Thereby, opening/closing timing VT of the intake valve can be positively changed toward the latest phase lag timing VT1 and the startability of the engine when starting next can be improved. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the starting characteristics of an internal-combustion engine when it is restarted. SOLUTION: When the operation stop conditions are established (S130) where the ignition is put off and the temperature Tw of the engine cooling water is below the reference value Tref, the first motor is controlled so that the engine is put in motoring at the prescribed engine speed Nidl for a prescribed period of time in the condition that the fuel to engine is cut off (S140, S150). Thereupon a VVT motor able to operate only while an intake cam shaft is rotating in association with the rotation of a crank shaft of the engine is put in the operable condition, and the VVT motor is operated so that the opening/closing timing VT of a suction valve is altered toward the most delayed angle timing VT1 (S110). This reduces the energy required to make the compression stroke when the engine is started next, so that the starting characteristics when the engine is restarted can be enhanced. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power output device, a vehicle mounted with the device and a control method of the power output device, capable of further protecting a purification means for purifying exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine of starting by delaying the ignition timing. SOLUTION: A hybrid automobile 20 starts an engine 22 by igniting in the ignition timing set on the more ignition timing delay side than the ignition timing set in operation after starting the engine 22 when a starting condition is realized when stopping the engine 22. The engine 22 is stopped when the temperature of a purification device 134 is a threshold value or less after a stopping condition is realized, and operation of the engine 22 is continued by igniting in the ignition timing after starting when the temperature of the purification device 134 is higher than the threshold value after the stopping condition is realized. Thus, restarting of the engine 22 is prevented by continuing the operation of the engine 22 when the temperature of the purification device 134 exceeds the threshold value, to prevent high temperature exhaust gas generated when starting in the ignition timing on the ignition timing delay side from flowing in the purification device 134. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the occurrence of vibration during the idling operation of an internal combustion engine in which the opening and closing timing of an intake valve is variable. SOLUTION: A hybrid automobile 20 comprises a variable valve timing mechanism 150 and a lock pin 154 for fixing the variable valve timing mechanism 150 at the most retard angle position. When the requirements for idling are fulfilled and the fixing of the lock pin 154 at the most retard angle position at which a compression pressure in a cylinder is low is released, the engine 22 is idle-controlled at a position advanced from the most retard angle position. When the requirements for idling are fulfilled and the locking of the lock pin 154 at the most retard angle is not released, a control different from idling control is performed. Specifically, the controllable charging of a battery 50 or the stoppage of the engine 22 is selectively performed based on the remaining capacity SOC of the battery 50. Consequently, the idle control of the engine 22 when the compression pressure in the cylinder is low can be avoided. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the vibration of an internal combustion engine on startup, and to secure combustion stability on initial explosion. SOLUTION: In response to a request to start an engine, torque commands Tm1* and Tm2* are transmitted to motors MG1 and MG2 in such a state that intake air quantity is reduced until a surge tank internal pressure STP is turned to be a threshold STPref or less to carry out the motoring of the engine. Then, a compression force in a compression process is reduced, and vibration on startup is reduced, and inhalation air quantity is reduced, so that the torque on initial explosion is reduced, and that the vibration on initial explosion is reduced (S100 to S170). On the other hand, air is circulated in the engine in such a state that fuel is cut during motoring, and when the motoring time is prolonged, a section which should be originally gotten wet due to fuel is dried. Then, an increase value originated from motoring is set based on the motoring time so that fuel which should be supplied to combustion can be prevented from running out due to the attachment of fuel to the dried section, and combustion can be stably carried out on initial explosion as a result (S200 to S240). COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make effective use of the regenerative power of a motor and enhance the energy efficiency of an entire vehicle in an automobile provided with the motor capable of generating power by power from an axle. SOLUTION: The automobile is provided with the motor MG2 connected with driving wheels 39a and 39b. When the regenerative power of the motor MG2 exceeds a limit value on the power with which a battery 50 can be charged, the excess power is consumed at an electric heater 66 and is stored as heat in a heat accumulation tank 65. When a request is made to start an engine 22, the setting of a three-way valve 68 is changed so that the heat exchange medium in the heat accumulation tank 65 is supplied to the engine 22 until the engine water temperature becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. Thus, the regenerative power of the motor MG2 can be utilized without wastage as required, and the energy efficiency of the vehicle can be further enhanced. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI