US4964051A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for electronic control of internal combustion engine
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1987-05-29
•
Granted: 1990-10-16
•
Expires: 2007-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A system for electronically controlling an engine for a vehicle is disclosed which is of the kind electrically controlling the opening of a throttle valve controlling the quantity of intake air supplied to the engine. The electronic engine control includes setting a target acceleration of the vehicle according to an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal by the driver, comparing the target acceleration with an actual acceleration of the vehicle to find an error therebetween, setting a target value of the throttle valve opening on the basis of the acceleration error, and controlling the throttle valve opening until it attains the target value.
Inventors
- 👤 Teruji Sekozawa
- 👤 Makoto Shioya
- 👤 Motohisa Funabashi
- 👤 Mikihiko Onari
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:28
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/02; F02D41/04; F02D11/00; F02D11/06; F02D11/10; F02D41/10; F02P; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/045; F02P5/145; F02P5/1455; F02P5/15; F02P5/1502; F02P5/1514; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A system for electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle comprising: first detecting means for detecting an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal; second detecting means for detecting an actual acceleration of the vehicle with respect to the road surface; actuator means for controlling an amount of opening a throttle valve; target acceleration setting means for setting respective values of target acceleration of the vehicle according to respective values of accelerator pedal depression detected by said first detecting means; means for determining an error between the acceleration of the vehicle detected by said second detecting means and the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting means; and computing means for computing a target value of the opening of the throttle valve on the basis of said acceleration error and for applying a signal representing the computed target value of the throttle valve opening to said actuator means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
A system for electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle comprising: first detecting means for detecting an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal; second detecting means for detecting an actual acceleration of the vehicle with respect to the road surface; actuator means for controlling an amount of opening a throttle valve; target acceleration setting means for setting respective values of target acceleration of the vehicle according to respective values of accelerator pedal depression detected by said first detecting means; means for determining an error between the acceleration of the vehicle detected by said second detecting means and the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting means; and computing means for computing a target value of the opening of the throttle valve on the basis of said acceleration error and for applying a signal representing the computed target value of the throttle valve opening to said actuator means.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
193 words
A system for electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle comprising: first detecting means for detecting an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal; second detecting means for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle; actuator means for controlling an amount of opening a throttle valve; target acceleration setting means for setting a target acceleration of the vehicle according to the amount of accelerator pedal depression detected by said first detecting means; means for determining an error between the acceleration of the vehicle detected by said second detecting means and the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting means; and computing means for computing a target value of the opening of the throttle valve on the basis of said acceleration error and applying a signal representing the computed target value of the throttle valve opening to said actuator means; wherein said target acceleration setting means determines said target acceleration by estimating the load of the engine, multiplying said detected amount of accelerator pedal depression by a predetermined coefficient to compute a drive force of the engine desired by the driver, and subtracting said estimated engine load from said computed drive force.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
193 words
A system for electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle comprising: first detecting means for detecting an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal; second detecting means for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle; actuator means for controlling an amount of opening a throttle valve; target acceleration setting means for setting a target acceleration of the vehicle according to the amount of accelerator pedal depression detected by said first detecting means; means for determining an error between the acceleration of the vehicle detected by said second detecting means and the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting means; and computing means for computing a target value of the opening of the throttle valve on the basis of said acceleration error and applying a signal representing the computed target value of the throttle valve opening to said actuator means; wherein said target acceleration setting means determines said target acceleration by estimating the load of the engine, multiplying said detected amount of accelerator pedal depression by a predetermined coefficient to compute a drive force of the engine desired by the driver, and subtracting said estimated engine load from said computed drive force.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
167 words
A system for electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle comprising: first detecting means for detecting an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal; second detecting means for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle; actuator means for controlling an amount of opening a throttle valve; target acceleration setting means for setting a target acceleration of the vehicle according to the amount of accelerator pedal depression detected by said first detecting means; means for determining an error between the acceleration of the vehicle detected by said second detecting means and the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting means; and computing means for computing a target value of the opening of the throttle valve on the basis of said acceleration error and applying a signal representing the computed target value of the throttle valve opening to said actuator means; wherein said computing means includes a phase lead element and a phase lag element for carrying out serial phase-lead and phase-lag compensation for said acceleration error.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
167 words
A system for electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle comprising: first detecting means for detecting an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal; second detecting means for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle; actuator means for controlling an amount of opening a throttle valve; target acceleration setting means for setting a target acceleration of the vehicle according to the amount of accelerator pedal depression detected by said first detecting means; means for determining an error between the acceleration of the vehicle detected by said second detecting means and the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting means; and computing means for computing a target value of the opening of the throttle valve on the basis of said acceleration error and applying a signal representing the computed target value of the throttle valve opening to said actuator means; wherein said computing means includes a phase lead element and a phase lag element for carrying out serial phase-lead and phase-lag compensation for said acceleration error.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electronic engine control system according to claim 3, wherein said phase lead element has a transfer function given by ##EQU9## where 0<α<1, and the phase of its output signal is advanced relative to that of its input signal at a frequency in the vicinity of ##EQU10## where T L is a period of time required until acceleration attains a predetermined percentage of target acceleration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
An electronic engine control system according to claim 3, wherein said phase lag element has a transfer function given by ##EQU11## where the value of β is determined so that 1/β of said acceleration error lies within a range of required accuracy, and the value of T D is determined so that the product obtained by multiplying an accelerating surge frequency of the vehicle by T D is 1 (unity).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic engine control system according to claim 3, wherein said computing means further includes a gain adjusting element for adjusting the gain of serial compensation.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle having first detecting means for detecting an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal, second detecting means for detecting an actual acceleration of the vehicle with respect to the road surface and actuator means for controlling an amount of opening of a throttle valve, said method comprising: a first step of setting respective values of target acceleration of the vehicle according to respective values of accelerator pedal depression detected by said first detecting means; a second step of determining an error between the acceleration of the vehicle detected by said second detecting means and the target acceleration set by said first step; a third step of computing a target value of the opening of the throttle valve on the basis of said acceleration error; and a fourth step of applying a signal representing the computed target value of the throttle valve opening to said actuator means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle having first detecting means for detecting an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal, second detecting means for detecting an actual acceleration of the vehicle with respect to the road surface and actuator means for controlling an amount of opening of a throttle valve, said method comprising: a first step of setting respective values of target acceleration of the vehicle according to respective values of accelerator pedal depression detected by said first detecting means; a second step of determining an error between the acceleration of the vehicle detected by said second detecting means and the target acceleration set by said first step; a third step of computing a target value of the opening of the throttle valve on the basis of said acceleration error; and a fourth step of applying a signal representing the computed target value of the throttle valve opening to said actuator means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
199 words
A method of electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle having first detecting means for detecting an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal, second detecting means for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle and actuator means for controlling an amount of opening of a throttle valve, said method comprising: a first step of setting a target acceleration of the vehicle according to the amount of accelerator pedal depression detected by said first detecting means; a second step of determining an error between the acceleration of the vehicle detected by said second detecting means and the target acceleration set by said first step; a third step of computing a target value of the opening of the throttle valve on the basis of said acceleration error; and a fourth step of applying a signal representing the computed target value of the throttle valve opening to said actuator means; wherein said second step determines said target acceleration by estimating the load of the engine, multiplying said detected amount of accelerator pedal depression by a predetermined coefficient to compute a drive force of the engine desired by the driver, and subtracting said estimated engine load from said computed drive force.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
199 words
A method of electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle having first detecting means for detecting an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal, second detecting means for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle and actuator means for controlling an amount of opening of a throttle valve, said method comprising: a first step of setting a target acceleration of the vehicle according to the amount of accelerator pedal depression detected by said first detecting means; a second step of determining an error between the acceleration of the vehicle detected by said second detecting means and the target acceleration set by said first step; a third step of computing a target value of the opening of the throttle valve on the basis of said acceleration error; and a fourth step of applying a signal representing the computed target value of the throttle valve opening to said actuator means; wherein said second step determines said target acceleration by estimating the load of the engine, multiplying said detected amount of accelerator pedal depression by a predetermined coefficient to compute a drive force of the engine desired by the driver, and subtracting said estimated engine load from said computed drive force.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle having first detecting means for detecting an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal, second detecting means for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle and actuator means for controlling an amount of opening of a throttle valve, said method comprising: a first step of setting a target acceleration of the vehicle according to the amount of accelerator pedal depression detected by said first detecting means; a second step of determining an error between the acceleration of the vehicle detected by said second detecting means and the target acceleration set by said first step; a third step of computing a target value of the opening of the throttle valve on the basis of said acceleration error; and a fourth step of applying a signal representing the computed target value of the throttle valve opening to said actuator means; wherein said third step carries out serial phase-lead and phase-lad compensation for said acceleration error by computing means including a phase-lead element and a phase-lag element.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle having first detecting means for detecting an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal, second detecting means for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle and actuator means for controlling an amount of opening of a throttle valve, said method comprising: a first step of setting a target acceleration of the vehicle according to the amount of accelerator pedal depression detected by said first detecting means; a second step of determining an error between the acceleration of the vehicle detected by said second detecting means and the target acceleration set by said first step; a third step of computing a target value of the opening of the throttle valve on the basis of said acceleration error; and a fourth step of applying a signal representing the computed target value of the throttle valve opening to said actuator means; wherein said third step carries out serial phase-lead and phase-lad compensation for said acceleration error by computing means including a phase-lead element and a phase-lag element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
An electronic engine control method according to claim 9, wherein said phase-lag element has a transfer function given by ##EQU12## where 0<α<1, and the phase of its output signal is advanced relative to that of its input signal at a frequency in the vicinity of ##EQU13## where T L is a period of time required until acceleration attains a predetermined percentage of target acceleration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
68 words
An electronic engine control method according to claim 9, wherein said phase-lag element has a transfer function given ##EQU14## where the value of β is determined so that 1/β of said acceleration error lies within a range of required accuracy, and the value of T D is determined so that the product obtained by multiplying an accelerating surge frequency of the vehicle by T D is 1 (unity).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic engine control method according to claim 9, wherein said computing means further includes a gain adjusting element for adjusting the gain of serial compensation.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
180 words
A system for electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle comprising: first detecting means for detecting a load of the engine; second detecting means for detecting a value corresponding to an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal; means for computing a rate of change of the value corresponding to the amount of accelerator pedal depression detected by said second detecting means; an ignition system applying an ignition signal to the engine; means for computing a basic value of ignition timing advance on the basis of the engine load detected by said first detecting means; means for computing a first correction value of ignition timing advance on the basis of said computed change rate of the accelerator pedal depression and said detected engine load; means for adding said first correction value of ignition timing advance to said basic value of ignition timing advance; and means for applying a signal representing the result of addition by said adding means to said ignition system to produce said ignition signal with the ignition timing advance corresponding to the result of addition.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
180 words
A system for electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle comprising: first detecting means for detecting a load of the engine; second detecting means for detecting a value corresponding to an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal; means for computing a rate of change of the value corresponding to the amount of accelerator pedal depression detected by said second detecting means; an ignition system applying an ignition signal to the engine; means for computing a basic value of ignition timing advance on the basis of the engine load detected by said first detecting means; means for computing a first correction value of ignition timing advance on the basis of said computed change rate of the accelerator pedal depression and said detected engine load; means for adding said first correction value of ignition timing advance to said basic value of ignition timing advance; and means for applying a signal representing the result of addition by said adding means to said ignition system to produce said ignition signal with the ignition timing advance corresponding to the result of addition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
An electronic engine control system according to claim 13, wherein said value corresponding to the amount of accelerator pedal depression is represented by an amount of opening of the throttle valve, and said engine load is represented by the rotational speed of the engine and the quantity of intake air supplied per revolution of the engine.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
97 words
An electronic engine control system according to claim 13, further comprising: third detecting means for detecting whether the throttle valve is in its full-closed position or not; and means for computing a second correction value of ignition timing advance on the basis of the engine load detected by said first detecting means, when said third detecting means detects that the throttle valve has been opened from its full-closed position, said adding means applying a signal representing the sum of said basic value and said first and second correction values of ignition timing advance to said ignition system.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
193 words
A method of electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle having first detecting means for detecting a load of the engine, second detecting means for detecting a value corresponding to an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal; and an ignition system applying an ignition signal to the engine, said method comprising: a first step of computing a rate of change of the value corresponding to the amount of accelerator pedal depression detected by said second detecting means; a second step of computing a basic value of ignition timing advance on the basis of the engine load detected by said first detecting means; a third step of computing a first correction value of ignition timing advance on the basis of said computed change rate of the accelerator pedal depression and said detected engine load; a fourth step of adding said first correction value of ignition timing advance to said basic value of ignition timing advance; and a fifth step of applying a signal representing the result of addition by said adding means to said ignition system to ignite the engine with the ignition timing advance corresponding to the result of addition.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
193 words
A method of electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle having first detecting means for detecting a load of the engine, second detecting means for detecting a value corresponding to an amount of depression of an accelerator pedal; and an ignition system applying an ignition signal to the engine, said method comprising: a first step of computing a rate of change of the value corresponding to the amount of accelerator pedal depression detected by said second detecting means; a second step of computing a basic value of ignition timing advance on the basis of the engine load detected by said first detecting means; a third step of computing a first correction value of ignition timing advance on the basis of said computed change rate of the accelerator pedal depression and said detected engine load; a fourth step of adding said first correction value of ignition timing advance to said basic value of ignition timing advance; and a fifth step of applying a signal representing the result of addition by said adding means to said ignition system to ignite the engine with the ignition timing advance corresponding to the result of addition.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
56 words
An electronic engine control method according to claim 16, wherein said value corresponding to the amount of accelerator pedal depression is represented by an amount of opening of the throttle valve, and said engine load is represented by the rotational speed of the engine and the quantity of intake air supplied per revolution of the engine.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
108 words
An electronic engine control method according to claim 16, wherein said engine is further provided with third detecting means for detecting whether the throttle valve is in its full-closed position or not, and said method further comprises a sixth step of computing a second correction value of ignition timing advance on the basis of the engine load detected by said first detecting means, when said third detecting means detects that the throttle valve has been opened from its full-closed position, said fourth step applying a signal representing the sum of said basic value and said first and second correction values of ignition timing advance to said ignition system.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
219 words
A system for electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle comprising: first detecting means for detecting operating conditions of the engine; second detecting means for detecting a load of the engine; third detecting means for detecting an idling state of the engine; igniting means for applying an ignition signal to the engine; fuel supply control means for controlling flow of fuel supplied to the engine; valve means for controlling flow of intake air supplied to the engine; and computing means for computing an amount of ignition timing advance, a quantity of fuel to be supplied and an amount of opening of said valve means in response to output signals from said first, second and third detecting means and applying signals representing the computed variables to said igniting means, said fuel supply control means and said valve means respectively, said computing means normally generating signals representing a basic value of said ignition timing advance, a basic value of said quantity of fuel to be supplied and a basic value of said valve opening when said third detecting means detects that the engine is idling without any change in its load, but said computing means generating signals representing corrected basic values of said variables respectively when said second detecting means detects a change in the load of the engine.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
219 words
A system for electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle comprising: first detecting means for detecting operating conditions of the engine; second detecting means for detecting a load of the engine; third detecting means for detecting an idling state of the engine; igniting means for applying an ignition signal to the engine; fuel supply control means for controlling flow of fuel supplied to the engine; valve means for controlling flow of intake air supplied to the engine; and computing means for computing an amount of ignition timing advance, a quantity of fuel to be supplied and an amount of opening of said valve means in response to output signals from said first, second and third detecting means and applying signals representing the computed variables to said igniting means, said fuel supply control means and said valve means respectively, said computing means normally generating signals representing a basic value of said ignition timing advance, a basic value of said quantity of fuel to be supplied and a basic value of said valve opening when said third detecting means detects that the engine is idling without any change in its load, but said computing means generating signals representing corrected basic values of said variables respectively when said second detecting means detects a change in the load of the engine.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electronic engine control system according to claim 19, wherein said second detecting means detects the rotation speed of the engine and detects a change in the load of the engine by detecting a change in the rotation speed of the engine.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electronic engine control system according to claim 19, wherein said second detecting means detects whether an air-conditioner is operating or not.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
57 words
An electronic engine control system according to claim 19, wherein, when an increase in the load of the engine is detected while the engine is idling, said computing means generates signals representing the sums of correction values and basic values of said ignition timing advance, said quantity of fuel to be supplied and said valve opening respectively.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electronic engine control system according to claim 22, wherein, prior to generation of the signal representing the sum of the correction value and the basic value of said quantity of fuel to be supplied, said computing means generates the signals representing the sums of the correction values and the basic values of said ignition timing advance and said valve opening respectively.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic engine control system according to claim 23, wherein each of said correction values is initially constant but starts to gradually decrease after a predetermined period of time.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electronic engine control system according to claim 19, wherein said valve means includes a bypass valve located in a bypass passage disposed in parallel to an intake air passage having a throttle valve therein, so as to control the quantity of air flowing through said bypass passage.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
263 words
A method of electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle having first detecting means for detecting operating conditions of the engine, second detecting means for detecting a load of the engine, third detecting means for detecting an idling state of the engine, igniting means for applying an ignition signal to the engine, fuel supply control means for controlling flow of fuel supplied to the engine, valve means for controlling flow of intake air supplied to the engine, and computing means for computing an amount of ignition timing advance, a quantity of fuel to be supplied and an amount of opening of said valve means in response to output signals from said first, second and third detecting means and applying signals representing the computed variables to said igniting means, said fuel supply control means and said valve means respectively, said method comprising: a first step of detecting whether the engine is idling or not; a second step of detecting whether the load of the engine has changed or not; a third step of computing a basic value of said ignition timing advance, a basic value of said quantity of fuel to be supplied and a basic value of said valve opening when the idling of the engine is detected in said first step; and a fourth step of correcting the basic values computed in said third step, when a change in the engine load is detected in said second step, and applying signals representing the corrected basic values to said igniting means, said fuel supply control means and said valve means respectively.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
263 words
A method of electronically controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle having first detecting means for detecting operating conditions of the engine, second detecting means for detecting a load of the engine, third detecting means for detecting an idling state of the engine, igniting means for applying an ignition signal to the engine, fuel supply control means for controlling flow of fuel supplied to the engine, valve means for controlling flow of intake air supplied to the engine, and computing means for computing an amount of ignition timing advance, a quantity of fuel to be supplied and an amount of opening of said valve means in response to output signals from said first, second and third detecting means and applying signals representing the computed variables to said igniting means, said fuel supply control means and said valve means respectively, said method comprising: a first step of detecting whether the engine is idling or not; a second step of detecting whether the load of the engine has changed or not; a third step of computing a basic value of said ignition timing advance, a basic value of said quantity of fuel to be supplied and a basic value of said valve opening when the idling of the engine is detected in said first step; and a fourth step of correcting the basic values computed in said third step, when a change in the engine load is detected in said second step, and applying signals representing the corrected basic values to said igniting means, said fuel supply control means and said valve means respectively.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electronic engine control method according to claim 26, wherein said second step detects the rotational speed of the engine and detects a change in the load of the engine by detecting a change in the rotational speed of the engine.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electronic engine control method according to claim 26, wherein said second step detects whether an air-conditioner is operating or not.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
61 words
An electronic engine control method according to claim 26, wherein, when an increase in the load of the engine is detected while the engine is idling, said computing means generates signals representing the sums of correction values and basic values of said ignition timing advance, said quantity of fuel to be supplied and said valve opening respectively in said fourth step.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
66 words
An electronic engine control method according to claim 29, wherein, prior to generation of the signal representing the sum of the correction value and the basic value of said quantity of fuel to be supplied, said computing means generates the signals representing the sums of the correction values and the basic values of said ignition timing advance and said valve opening respectively in said fourth step.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic engine control method according to claim 30, wherein each of said correction values is initially constant but starts to gradually decrease after a predetermined period of time.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electronic engine control method according to claim 26, wherein said valve means includes a bypass valve located in a bypass passage disposed in parallel to an intake air passage having a throttle valve therein, so as to control the quantity of air flowing through said bypass passage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR2245501A1
Cited
US4232642A
Cited
DE2829894A1
Cited
DE3341622A1
Cited
FR2538855A1
Cited
US4590912A
Cited
US4582032A
Cited
FR2557041A1
Cited
US4615409A
Cited
US4727838A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-10-15 | 1994-04-16 | 1994-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-15 | 1998-04-16 | 1998-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-15 | 2002-04-16 | 2002-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |