Slip suppressive drive control system for automotive vehicle with reduction of power output of internal combustion engine

Claim 2

A slip control system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: first sensor means for monitoring an engine revolution speed to produce an engine speed indicative data; second sensor means for monitoring rotation speed of a driving wheel which is driven by an output of an automotive internal combustion engine, and producing a driving wheel speed representative data; third sensor means for monitoring vehicle speed to produce a vehicle speed representative data; fourth means for detecting wheel slippage greater than a predetermined wheel slippage threshold on the basis of said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data; and fifth means for controlling an engine revolution speed based on preselected engine control parameters, said fifth means being responsive to said fourth means detecting said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data for initiating a slip control mode operation in which a target engine speed achieving a predetermined allowable wheel slippage is derived on the basis of said engine speed data, said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data and the engine speed is controlled toward the target engine speed.

Claim 3

A slip control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein fifth means controls fuel supply for the engine for controlling engine revolution speed, said fifth means controls fuel supply in said slip control mode operation to adjust the engine speed toward said target engine speed.

Claim 4

A slip control system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said fifth means periodically performs fuel cut-off in slip control mode operation for adjusting the engine speed to said target engine speed.

Claim 5

A slip control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third sensor means monitors rotation speed of a driven wheel for producing said vehicle speed representative data.

Claim 6

A slip control system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said fourth means derives said wheel slippage based on a difference between the driving wheel speed and the driven wheel speed.

Claim 7

A slip control system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said fifth means adjusts a fuel cut period in which fuel cut-off is performed, versus a fuel supply period in which fuel is supplied depending upon a difference between the engine speed data and the target engine speed indicative value.

Claim 8

A slip control system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said fifth means is operative in said slip control mode in a first mode to perform fuel cut-off for limited number of engine cylinders and in a second mode to perform fuel cut-off for all of the engine cylinders, said fifth means selects one of said first and second modes depending upon a difference between said engine speed data and the target engine speed indicative value.

Claim 9

A slip control system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said fifth means further adjusts a fuel cut period in which fuel cut-off is performed, versus a fuel supply period in which fuel is supplied depending upon a difference between the engine speed data and the target engine speed indicative value.

Claim 10

A slip control system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said fifth means compares said difference with a first criterion to select said second mode when said difference is greater than said first criterion and otherwise select said first mode.

Claim 11

A slip control system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said fifth means compares said difference with a second criterion which is smaller than said first criterion, to set said fuel cut period at a longer first period when said difference is greater than a second criterion and otherwise set said fuel cut period at a shorter second period.

Claim 12

A slip control system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said fifth means derives a ratio of said fuel cut period versus said fuel supply period in a predetermined fuel cut-off control cycle period.

Claim 13

A slip control system as set forth in claim 11, which further comprises sixth sensor means monitoring a catalytic converter temperature to produce a catalytic converter temperature indicative signal, and said fifth means adjusts said fuel cut-off control cycle period depending upon said catalytic converter temperature indicative signal value.

Claim 14

A slip control system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said fifth means adjusts a fuel cut period in which fuel cut-off is performed, versus a fuel supply period in which fuel is supplied depending upon a difference between the engine speed data and the target engine speed indicative value, within said fuel cut-off control cycle period.

Claim 15

A slip control system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said fifth means is operative in said slip control mode in a first mode to perform fuel cut-off for limited number of engine cylinders and in a second mode to perform fuel cut-off for all of the engine cylinders, said fifth means selects one of said first and second modes depending upon a difference between said engine speed data and the target engine speed indicative value.

Claim 16

A slip control system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said fifth means further adjusts a fuel cut period in which fuel cut-off is performed, versus a fuel supply period in which fuel is supplied depending upon a difference between the engine speed data and the target engine speed indicative value.

Claim 17

A slip control system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said fifth means compares said difference with a first criterion to select said second mode when said difference is greater than said first criterion and otherwise select said first mode.

Claim 18

A slip control system as set forth in claim 16, wherein said fifth means compares said difference with a second criterion to set said fuel cut period at a longer first period when said difference is greater than a second criterion and otherwise set said fuel cut period at a shorter second period.

Claim 19

A slip control system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said second criterion is set at smaller valve than said first criterion.

Claim 20

A slip control system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said fifth means compares said catalytic converter indicative signal value with a catalytic converter temperature criterion to set said fuel cut-off control period, said first period and said second period at a predetermined smaller standard values when said catalytic converter temperature indicative signal value is smaller than said catalytic converter temperature criterion, and otherwise set at longer values.

Claim 21

A slip control system as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises a seventh means for controlling gear shifting of a power transmission, said seventh means is responsive to said fifth means operating in said slip control mode to fix gear position at a gear ratio at which wheel slippage greater than said wheel slippage threshold is detected.

Claim 22

A slip control system as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises a seventh means for controlling gear shifting of a power transmission, said seventh means is responsive to said fifth means operating in said slip control mode to cause delay in gear shifting from a gear ratio at which wheel slippage greater than said wheel slippage threshold is detected to a desired gear ratio determined based on preselected transmission control parameters.

Claim 23

A slip control system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: first sensor means for monitoring an engine revolution speed to produce an engine speed indicative data; second sensor means for monitoring rotation speed of a driving wheel which is driven by an output of an automotive internal combustion engine, and producing a driving wheel speed representative data; third sensor means for monitoring vehicle speed to produce a vehicle speed representative data; fourth sensor means for monitoring catalytic converter temperature to produce a catalytic converter temperature representative data; fifth means for detecting wheel slippage greater than a predetermined wheel slippage threshold on the basis of said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data; and sixth means for controlling an engine revolution speed based on preselected engine control parameters, said fifth means being responsive to said fourth means detecting said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data for initiating a slip control mode operation in which said fifth means periodically performs fuel cut-off in slip control mode operation for adjusting the engine speed to said target engine speed, said sixth means adjusting a fuel cut period in which fuel cut-off is performed, depending upon said catalytic converter representative data.

Claim 24

A slip control system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: first sensor means for monitoring an engine revolution speed to produce an engine speed indicative data; second sensor means for monitoring rotation speed of a driving wheel which is driven by an output of an automotive internal combustion engine, and producing a driving wheel speed representative data; third sensor means for monitoring vehicle speed to produce a vehicle speed representative data; fourth sensor means for monitoring catalytic converter temperature to produce a catalytic converter temperature representative data; fifth means for detecting wheel slippage greater than a predetermined wheel slippage threshold on the basis of said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data; and sixth means for controlling an engine revolution speed based on preselected engine control parameters, said fifth means being responsive to said fourth means detecting said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data for initiating a slip control mode operation in which said fifth means periodically performs fuel cut-off in slip control mode operation for adjusting the engine speed to said target engine speed, said sixth means adjusting a fuel cut period in which fuel cut-off is performed, depending upon said catalytic converter representative data.

Claim 25

A slip control system as set forth in claim 22, wherein said sixth means derives a ratio of said fuel cut period versus said fuel supply period in a predetermined fuel cut-off control cycle period.

Claim 26

A slip control system as set forth in claim 23, wherein said sixth means adjusts a fuel cut period in which fuel cut-off is performed, versus a fuel supply period in which fuel is supplied depending upon a difference between the engine speed data and the target engine speed indicative value, within said fuel cut-off control cycle period.

Claim 27

A slip control system as set forth in claim 24, wherein said sixth means is operative in said slip control mode in a first mode to perform fuel cut-off for limited number of engine cylinders and in a second mode to perform fuel cut-off for all of the engine cylinders, said fifth means selects one of said first and second modes depending upon a difference between said engine speed data and the target engine speed indicative value.

Claim 28

A slip control system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said sixth means further adjusts a fuel cut period in which fuel cut-off is performed, versus a fuel supply period in which fuel is supplied depending upon a difference between the engine speed data and the target engine speed indicative value.

Claim 29

A slip control system as set forth in claim 26, wherein said sixth means compares said difference with a first criterion to select said second mode when said difference is greater than said first criterion and otherwise select said first mode.

Claim 30

A slip control system as set forth in claim 27, wherein said sixth means compares said difference with a second criterion to set said fuel cut period at a longer first period when said difference is greater than a second criterion and otherwise set said fuel cut period at a shorter second period.

Claim 31

A slip control system as set forth in claim 28, wherein said second criterion is set at smaller valve than said first criterion.

Claim 32

A slip control system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said sixth means compares said catalytic converter indicative signal value with a catalytic converter temperature criterion to set said fuel cut-off control period, said first period and said second period at a predetermined smaller standard values when said catalytic converter temperature indicative signal value is smaller than said catalytic converter temperature criterion, and otherwise set at longer values.

Claim 33

A slip control system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: first sensor means for monitoring an engine revolution speed to produce an engine speed indicative data; second sensor means for monitoring rotation speed of a driving wheel which is driven by an output of an automotive internal combustion engine, and producing a driving wheel speed representative data; third sensor means for monitoring vehicle speed to produce a vehicle speed representative data; fourth means for detecting wheel slippage greater than a predetermined wheel slippage threshold on the basis of said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data; fifth means for controlling an engine revolution speed based on preselected engine control parameters, said fifth means being responsive to said fourth means detecting said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data for initiating a slip control mode operation in which a target engine speed achieving a predetermined allowable wheel slippage is derived on the basis of said engine speed data, said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data and the engine speed is controlled toward the target engine speed; and sixth means for controlling gear shifting of a power transmission, said sixth means is responsive to said fifth means operating in said slip control mode to fix gear position at a gear ratio at which wheel slippage greater than said wheel slippage threshold is detected.

Claim 34

A slip control system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: first sensor means for monitoring an engine revolution speed to produce an engine speed indicative data; second sensor means for monitoring rotation speed of a driving wheel which is driven by an output of an automotive internal combustion engine, and producing a driving wheel speed representative data; third sensor means for monitoring vehicle speed to produce a vehicle speed representative data; fourth means for detecting wheel slippage greater than a predetermined wheel slippage threshold on the basis of said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data; fifth means for controlling an engine revolution speed based on preselected engine control parameters, said fifth means being responsive to said fourth means detecting said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data for initiating a slip control mode operation in which a target engine speed achieving a predetermined allowable wheel slippage is derived on the basis of said engine speed data, said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data and the engine speed is controlled toward the target engine speed; and sixth means for controlling gear shifting of a power transmission, said sixth means is responsive to said fifth means operating in said slip control mode to fix gear position at a gear ratio at which wheel slippage greater than said wheel slippage threshold is detected.

Claim 35

A slip control system as set forth in claim 31, wherein fifth means controls fuel supply for the engine for controlling engine revolution speed, said fifth means controls fuel supply in said slip control mode operation to adjust the engine speed toward said target engine speed.

Claim 36

A slip control system as set forth in claim 32, wherein said fifth means periodically performs fuel cut-off in slip control mode operation for adjusting the engine speed to said target engine speed.

Claim 37

A slip control system as set forth in claim 31, wherein said third sensor means monitors rotation speed of a driven wheel for producing said vehicle speed representative data.

Claim 38

A slip control system as set forth in claim 34, wherein said fourth means derives said wheel slippage based on a difference beween the driving wheel speed and the driven wheel speed.

Claim 39

A slip control system as set forth in claim 33, wherein said fifth means adjusts a fuel cut period in which fuel cut-off is performed, versus a fuel supply period in which fuel is supplied depending upon a difference between the engine speed data and the target engine speed indicative value.

Claim 40

A slip control system as set forth in claim 33, wherein said fifth means is operative in said slip control mode in a first mode to perform fuel cut-off for limited number of engine cylinders and in a second mode to perform fuel cut-off for all of the engine cylinders, said fifth means selects one of said first and second modes depending upon a difference between said engine speed data and the target engine speed indicative value.

Claim 41

A slip control system as set forth in claim 37, wherein said fifth means further adjusts a fuel cut period in which fuel cut-off is performed, versus a fuel supply period in which fuel is supplied depending upon a difference between the engine speed data and the target engine speed indicative value.

Claim 42

A slip control system as set forth in claim 38, wherein said fifth means compares said difference with a first criterion to select said second mode when said difference is greater than said first criterion and otherwise select said first mode.

Claim 43

A slip control system as set forth in claim 39, wherein said fifth means compares said difference with a second criterion to set said fuel cut period at a longer first period when said difference is greater than a second criterion and otherwise set said fuel cut period at a shorter second period.

Claim 44

A slip control system as set forth in claim 40, wherein said second criterion is set at smaller valve than said first criterion.

Claim 45

A slip control system as set forth in claim 33, wherein said fifth means derives a ratio of said fuel cut period versus said fuel supply period in a predetermined fuel cut-off control cycle period.

Claim 46

A slip control system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: first sensor means for monitoring an engine revolution speed to produce an engine speed indicative data; second sensor means for monitoring rotation speed of a driving wheel which is driven by an output of an automotive internal combustion engine, and producing a driving wheel speed representative data; third sensor means for monitoring vehicle speed to produce a vehicle speed representative data; fourth means for detecting wheel slippage greater than a predetermined wheel slippage threshold on the basis of said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data; fifth means for controlling an engine revolution speed based on preselected engine control parameters, said fifth means being responsive to said fourth means detecting said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data for initiating a slip control mode operation in which a target engine speed achieving a predetermined allowable wheel slippage is derived on the basis of said engine speed data, said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data and the engine speed is controlled toward the target engine speed; and sixth means for controlling gear shifting of a power transmission, said sixth means is responsive to said fifth means operating in said slip control mode to cause delay in gear shifting from a gear ratio at which wheel slippage greater than said wheel slippage threshold is detected to a desired gear ratio determined based on preselected transmission control parameters.

Claim 47

A slip control system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: first sensor means for monitoring an engine revolution speed to produce an engine speed indicative data; second sensor means for monitoring rotation speed of a driving wheel which is driven by an output of an automotive internal combustion engine, and producing a driving wheel speed representative data; third sensor means for monitoring vehicle speed to produce a vehicle speed representative data; fourth means for detecting wheel slippage greater than a predetermined wheel slippage threshold on the basis of said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data; fifth means for controlling an engine revolution speed based on preselected engine control parameters, said fifth means being responsive to said fourth means detecting said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data for initiating a slip control mode operation in which a target engine speed achieving a predetermined allowable wheel slippage is derived on the basis of said engine speed data, said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data and the engine speed is controlled toward the target engine speed; and sixth means for controlling gear shifting of a power transmission, said sixth means is responsive to said fifth means operating in said slip control mode to cause delay in gear shifting from a gear ratio at which wheel slippage greater than said wheel slippage threshold is detected to a desired gear ratio determined based on preselected transmission control parameters.

Claim 48

A slip control system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: first sensor means for monitoring an engine revolution speed to produce an engine speed indicative data; second sensor means for monitoring rotation speed of a driving wheel which is driven by an output of an automotive internal combustion engine, and producing a driving wheel speed representative data; third sensor means for monitoring vehicle speed to produce a vehicle speed representative data; fourth means for detecting wheel slippage greater than a predetermined wheel slippage threshold on the basis of said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data; fifth means for controlling engine operation, which is responsive to said fourth means detecting wheel slippage greater than said wheel slippage threshold to adjust the engine operation for adjusting the engine output; and sixth means for controlling gear shifting of a power transmission, said sixth means is responsive to said fifth means operating in said slip control mode to fix gear position at a gear ratio at which wheel slippage greater than said wheel slippage threshold is detected.

Claim 49

A slip control system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: first sensor means for monitoring an engine revolution speed to produce an engine speed indicative data; second sensor means for monitoring rotation speed of a driving wheel which is driven by an output of an automotive internal combustion engine, and producing a driving wheel speed representative data; third sensor means for monitoring vehicle speed to produce a vehicle speed representative data; fourth means for detecting wheel slippage greater than a predetermined wheel slippage threshold on the basis of said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data; fifth means for controlling engine operation, which is responsive to said fourth means detecting wheel slippage greater than said wheel slippage threshold to adjust the engine operation for adjusting the engine output; and sixth means for controlling gear shifting of a power transmission, said sixth means is responsive to said fifth means operating in said slip control mode to fix gear position at a gear ratio at which wheel slippage greater than said wheel slippage threshold is detected.

Claim 50

A slip control system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: first sensor means for monitoring an engine revolution speed to produce an engine speed indicative data; second sensor means for monitoring rotation speed of a driving wheel which is driven by an output of an automotive internal combustion engine, and producing a driving wheel speed representative data; third sensor means for monitoring vehicle speed to produce a vehicle speed representative data; fourth means for detecting wheel slippage greater than a predetermined wheel slippage threshold on the basis of said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data; fifth means for controlling engine operation, which is responsive to said fourth means detecting wheel slippage greater than said wheel slippage threshold to adjust the engine operation for adjusting the engine output; and sixth means for controlling gear shifting of a power transmission, said sixth means is responsive to said fifth means operating in said slip control mode to cause delay in gear shifting from a gear ratio at which wheel slippage greater than said wheel slippage threshold is detected to a desired gear ratio determined based on preselected transmission control parameters.

Claim 51

A slip control system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: first sensor means for monitoring an engine revolution speed to produce an engine speed indicative data; second sensor means for monitoring rotation speed of a driving wheel which is driven by an output of an automotive internal combustion engine, and producing a driving wheel speed representative data; third sensor means for monitoring vehicle speed to produce a vehicle speed representative data; fourth means for detecting wheel slippage greater than a predetermined wheel slippage threshold on the basis of said driving wheel speed representative data and said vehicle speed representative data; fifth means for controlling engine operation, which is responsive to said fourth means detecting wheel slippage greater than said wheel slippage threshold to adjust the engine operation for adjusting the engine output; and sixth means for controlling gear shifting of a power transmission, said sixth means is responsive to said fifth means operating in said slip control mode to cause delay in gear shifting from a gear ratio at which wheel slippage greater than said wheel slippage threshold is detected to a desired gear ratio determined based on preselected transmission control parameters.