Adaptive system for controlling an engine according to conditions categorized by driver's intent

Claim 2

An automatic adaptive control method for controlling an engine of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: maintaining in storage a plurality of different engine control conditions, each having at least one unique parameter for engine control; detecting a driver's action to the vehicle; detecting a vehicle operating condition; discriminating a current engine control condition from among the engine control conditions in accordance with the detected driver's action and vehicle operation condition; judging whether the current discriminated engine control condition is different from the previous discriminated engine control condition to show a transition between different engine control conditions; adjusting the parameter associated with the current discriminated engine control condition in accordance with said judging; and storing the current discriminated engine control condition and its parameter in memory to become the next previous discriminated engine control condition.

Claim 3

An adaptive control method according to claim 1, wherein said maintaining provides an air-fuel ratio engine control condition, acceleration engine control condition, deceleration engine control condition and idle engine control condition.

Claim 4

An adaptive control method according to claim 1, including, when there is a transition, determining a ratio of a number corresponding to the time required for a smooth transition and the time that has elapsed since the start of the transition.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3, wherein said determining determines the ratio as a ratio of a number corresponding to the number of combustion required for a smooth transition and the number of engine combustion that have occured since the start of the transition.

Claim 6

An adaptive control method according to claim 4, wherein said maintaining provides an air-fuel ratio engine control condition, acceleration engine control condition, deceleration engine control condition and idle engine control condition.

Claim 7

An adaptive control method according to claim 1, wherein said judging judges whether the current discriminated engine control condition is a continuation of the same previous discriminated engine control condition, and produces the correlated judgement signal.

Claim 8

An adaptive control method according to claim 6, wherein said maintaining provides an air-fuel ratio engine control condition, acceleration engine control condition, deceleration engine control condition and idle engine control condition.

Claim 9

An adaptive control method according to claim 6, including, when there is a transition, determining a ratio of a number corresponding to the time required for a smooth transition and the time that has elapsed since the start of the transition.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8, wherein said determining determines the ratio as a ratio of a number corresponding to the number of combustion required for a smooth transition and the number of engine combustions that have occured since the start of the transition.

Claim 11

An adaptive control method according to claim 9, wherein said maintaining provides an air-fuel ratio engine control condition, acceleration engine control condition, deceleration engine control condition and idle engine control condition.

Claim 12

An automatic adaptive control method for controlling an engine of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: maintaining in storage a plurality of engine control conditions, each having a parameter for engine control; detecting a driver's action to the vehicle; detecting a vehicle operation condition; discriminating a current engine control condition from among the engine control conditions in accordance with the detected driver's action and vehicle operation condition; judging whether the current discriminated engine control condition is a continuation of the same previous discriminated engine control condition or different from the previous discriminated engine control condition to show a transition between different engine control conditions; when there is a transition, determining a ratio of a number corresponding to the duration required for a smooth transition and the duration since the start of the transition; calculating an adjusted value for the control parameter associated with the current discriminated engine control condition in response to said judging indicating a transition, with said calculating being weighted by the ratio; and storing the current discriminated engine control condition and it's adjusted parameter in memory to become the next previous discriminated engine control condition.

Claim 13

An automatic adaptive control method for controlling an engine of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: maintaining in storage a plurality of engine control conditions, each having a parameter for engine control; detecting a driver's action to the vehicle; detecting a vehicle operation condition; discriminating a current engine control condition from among the engine control conditions in accordance with the detected driver's action and vehicle operation condition; judging whether the current discriminated engine control condition is a continuation of the same previous discriminated engine control condition or different from the previous discriminated engine control condition to show a transition between different engine control conditions; when there is a transition, determining a ratio of a number corresponding to the duration required for a smooth transition and the duration since the start of the transition; calculating an adjusted value for the control parameter associated with the current discriminated engine control condition in response to said judging indicating a transition, with said calculating being weighted by the ratio; and storing the current discriminated engine control condition and it's adjusted parameter in memory to become the next previous discriminated engine control condition.

Claim 14

The method of claim 11, wherein said determining determines the ratio as a ratio of a number corresponding to the number of combustion required for a smooth transition and the number of engine combustion that have occured since the start of the transition.

Claim 15

The method of claim 11, including adjusting the air/fuel ratio with the parameter of the current discriminated engine control condition.

Claim 16

The method of claim 13, wherein said step of detecting a vehicle operating condition includes measuring the amount of oxygen in the engine exhaust gas with a linear oxygen sensor to produce an oxygen detection signal.

Claim 17

The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of said steps of calculating calculates according to the oxygen detection signal.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13, wherein said step of detecting a vehicle operating condition includes measuring engine speed, vehicle speed and air flow into the engine.

Claim 19

The method of claim 13, wherein said step of calculating when there is a transition calculates the parameter to be used for said step of adjusting from the air/fuel ratio according to the intended operating signal and the air/fuel ratio parameter of the previous discriminated engine control condition.

Claim 20

The method of claim 17, including adjusting the injection timing of the engine fuel injection with the parameter of the current discriminated engine control condition.

Claim 21

The method of claim 11, including adjusting the injection timing of the engine fuel injection with the parameter of the current discriminated engine control condition.

Claim 22

The method of claim 11 wherein said step of detecting a driver's action detects separately the acceleration pedal depression, brake pedal depression and torque interruption.

Claim 23

An automatic adaptive control system for controlling an engine of a vehicle, comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of engine control conditions, each having parameters; first sensor means for detecting a driver's action to the vehicle and producing a correlated intended operation signal; second sensor means for detecting a vehicle operating condition and producing a correlated actual operation signal; means for discriminating one of the engine control conditions in accordance with the intended operation signal and the actual operation signal; means for storing the current discriminated engine control condition in said memory means; means for retrieving the previous discriminated engine control condition from said memory means; means for judging whether the current discriminated engine control condition is different from the previous discriminated engine control condition to show a transition between different engine control conditions, and producing a correlated judgement signal; and means for adjusting the control parameter associated with the current discriminated engine control condition in accordance with the judgement signal.

Claim 24

An automatic adaptive control system for controlling an engine of a vehicle, comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of engine control conditions, each having parameters; first sensor means for detecting a driver's action to the vehicle and producing a correlated intended operation signal; second sensor means for detecting a vehicle operating condition and producing a correlated actual operation signal; means for discriminating one of the engine control conditions in accordance with the intended operation signal and the actual operation signal; means for storing the current discriminated engine control condition in said memory means; means for retrieving the previous discriminated engine control condition from said memory means; means for judging whether the current discriminated engine control condition is different from the previous discriminated engine control condition to show a transition between different engine control conditions, and producing a correlated judgement signal; and means for adjusting the control parameter associated with the current discriminated engine control condition in accordance with the judgement signal.

Claim 25

An adaptive control system according to claim 21, wherein said memory means stores the engine control conditions including an air-fuel ratio engine control condition, acceleration engine control condition, deceleration engine control condition and idle engine control condition.

Claim 26

An adaptive control system according to claim 21 wherein said means for judging judges whether the current discriminated engine control condition is a continuation of the same previous discriminated engine control condition, and produces the correlated judgement signal.

Claim 27

An adaptive control system according to claim 23, wherein said memory means stores the engine control conditions including an air-fuel ratio engine control condition, acceleration engine control condition, deceleration engine control condition and idle engine control condition.

Claim 28

An adaptive control system according to claim 24, including, means for determining a ratio of a number corresponding to the time required for a smooth transition and the time that has elapsed since the start of the transition, when there is a transition.

Claim 29

The system of claim 25, wherein said determining means determines the ratio as a ratio of a number corresponding to the number of combustion required for a smooth transition and the number of engine combustion that have occured since the start of the transition.

Claim 30

An adaptive control system according to claim 21, including, means for determining a ratio of a number corresponding to the time required for a smooth transition and the time that has elapsed since the start of the transition, when there is a transition.

Claim 31

The system of claim 27, wherein said determining means determines the ratio as a ratio of a number corresponding to the number of combustion required for a smooth transition and the number of engine combustion that have occured since the start of the transition.

Claim 32

An adaptive control system according to claim 28, wherein said memory means stores the engine control conditions including an air-fuel ratio engine control condition, acceleration engine control condition, deceleration engine control condition and idle engine control condition.

Claim 33

An adaptive control system according to claim 27, wherein said memory means stores the engine control conditions including an air-fuel ratio engine control condition, acceleration engine control condition, deceleration engine control condition and idle engine control condition.

Claim 34

An automatic adaptive control system for controlling an engine of a vehicle, comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of engine control conditions, each having parameters; first sensor means for detecting a driver's action to the vehicle and producing a correlated intended operation signal; second sensor means for detecting a vehicle operating condition and producing a correlated actual operation signal; means for discriminating one of the engine control conditions in accordance with the intended operation signal and the actual operation signal; means for storing the current discriminated engine control condition in said memory means; means for retrieving the previous discriminated engine control condition from said memory means; means for judging whether the current discriminated engine control condition is different from the previous discriminated engine control condition to show a transition between different engine control conditions, and producing a correlated judgement signal; means for determining a ratio of time required for a smooth transition and time since the start of the transition; means for calculating a value for the parameter of the current discriminated engine control condition in response to the judgement signal and being weighted by the ratio; and means for adjusting the engine with the calculated value for the parameter.

Claim 35

An automatic adaptive control system for controlling an engine of a vehicle, comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of engine control conditions, each having parameters; first sensor means for detecting a driver's action to the vehicle and producing a correlated intended operation signal; second sensor means for detecting a vehicle operating condition and producing a correlated actual operation signal; means for discriminating one of the engine control conditions in accordance with the intended operation signal and the actual operation signal; means for storing the current discriminated engine control condition in said memory means; means for retrieving the previous discriminated engine control condition from said memory means; means for judging whether the current discriminated engine control condition is different from the previous discriminated engine control condition to show a transition between different engine control conditions, and producing a correlated judgement signal; means for determining a ratio of time required for a smooth transition and time since the start of the transition; means for calculating a value for the parameter of the current discriminated engine control condition in response to the judgement signal and being weighted by the ratio; and means for adjusting the engine with the calculated value for the parameter.

Claim 36

The system of claim 31, wherein said means for judging judges whether the current discriminated engine control condition is a continuation of the same previous discriminated engine control condition, and produces a correlated judgement signal.

Claim 37

The system of claim 32, including means for calculating a value for the parameter associated with the current discriminated engine control condition in response to the judgement signal indicating that the current discriminated engine control condition is a continuation.

Claim 38

The system of claim 31, wherein said means for determining a ratio determines a ratio of a number corresponding to the number of combustion required for a smooth transition and the number of engine combustion that have occured since the start of the transition, when there is a transition.

Claim 39

The system of claim 31, including means for adjusting the air/fuel ratio with the control parameter of the current discriminated engine control condition.

Claim 40

The system of claim 35, wherein said means for calculating when there is a transition calculates the parameter to be used by said means for adjusting from the parameter according to the intended operating signal and the parameter of the previous discriminated engine control condition.

Claim 41

The system of claim 31, including means for adjusting the injection timing of the engine fuel injection with the control parameter of the current discriminated engine control condition.

Claim 42

The system of claim 31, wherein said second sensor means includes a linear oxygen sensor that measures the amount of oxygen in the engine exhaust gas to produce an oxygen detection signal.

Claim 43

The system of claim 38, wherein at least one of said means for calculating calculates according to the oxygen detection signal.

Claim 44

The system of claim 31, wherein said first sensor means detects separately the acceleration pedal depression, brake pedal depression and torque interruption, and produces corresponding separate operation signals.

Claim 45

The system of claim 31, wherein said second sensor means separately measures engine speed, vehicle speed and air flow into the engine, and produces corresponding separate operation signals.

Claim 46

An automatic adaptive control system for controlling an engine of a vehicle, comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of engine control conditions, each having parameters; a first plurality of sensor means for detecting a driver's actions to the vehicle and producing correlated intended operation signals; a second plurality of sensor means for detecting vehicle operating conditions and producing correlated actual operation signals; means for discriminating a discriminated engine control condition from among the engine control conditions in accordance with the intended operation signals and the actual operation signals; history file means for storing at least one previous discriminated engine control condition; means for retrieving the previous discriminated engine control condition from said history file means; history judgement means for judging whether the current discriminated engine control condition is different from the previous discriminated engine control condition to show a transition between different engine control conditions, and producing a correlated judgement signal; means for calculating an adaptive value for the parameter associated with the current discriminated engine control condition in response to the judgement signal indicating that there is a transition; said history file means storing the adaptive value in association with the current engine control condition as the new previous discriminated engine control condition; and means for adjusting the engine with the calculated adaptive value for the parameter associated with the current discriminated engine control condition.

Claim 47

An automatic adaptive control system for controlling an engine of a vehicle, comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of engine control conditions, each having parameters; a first plurality of sensor means for detecting a driver's actions to the vehicle and producing correlated intended operation signals; a second plurality of sensor means for detecting vehicle operating conditions and producing correlated actual operation signals; means for discriminating a discriminated engine control condition from among the engine control conditions in accordance with the intended operation signals and the actual operation signals; history file means for storing at least one previous discriminated engine control condition; means for retrieving the previous discriminated engine control condition from said history file means; history judgement means for judging whether the current discriminated engine control condition is different from the previous discriminated engine control condition to show a transition between different engine control conditions, and producing a correlated judgement signal; means for calculating an adaptive value for the parameter associated with the current discriminated engine control condition in response to the judgement signal indicating that there is a transition; said history file means storing the adaptive value in association with the current engine control condition as the new previous discriminated engine control condition; and means for adjusting the engine with the calculated adaptive value for the parameter associated with the current discriminated engine control condition.

Claim 48

The system of claim 42, including said means for calculating weighting the calculation according to a ratio of time required for a smooth transition and time that has occured since the start of the transition, when there is a transition.

Claim 49

The system of claim 43, including a plurality of separate actuator means corresponding respectively to the different engine control conditions for controlling the engine according to corresponding parameters.

Claim 50

The system of claim 42, including a plurality of separate actuator means corresponding respectively to the different engine control conditions for controlling the engine according to corresponding parameters.

Claim 51

An adaptive control system for a vehicle having a plurality of engine operation control conditions, for automatically controlling the vehicle performance characteristics in a transition between different ones of the engine operation control conditions according to the intent of an operator, comprising: memory means for storing data of values for vehicle engine control as functions of an operator dependent condition and a non-operator dependent condition; means for automatically and repeatedly (A) sensing operator dependent conditions and non-operator dependent conditions, (B) retrieving from said memory means the stored value that is a function of at least one of the sensed operator dependent conditions and at least one of the sensed non-operator dependent conditions, (C) determining from the retrieved value and at least one of the sensed values of the operator dependent conditions an adapted value of the retrieved value and a dynamic characteristic representing the intent of the operator, and (D) updating the retrieved value for vehicle engine control in said memory means with the adapted value; and means for automatically adjusting the vehicle performance characteristics in accordance with the determined dynamic characteristic.

Claim 52

An adaptive control system for a vehicle having a plurality of engine operation control conditions, for automatically controlling the vehicle performance characteristics in a transition between different ones of the engine operation control conditions according to the intent of an operator, comprising: memory means for storing data of values for vehicle engine control as functions of an operator dependent condition and a non-operator dependent condition; means for automatically and repeatedly (A) sensing operator dependent conditions and non-operator dependent conditions, (B) retrieving from said memory means the stored value that is a function of at least one of the sensed operator dependent conditions and at least one of the sensed non-operator dependent conditions, (C) determining from the retrieved value and at least one of the sensed values of the operator dependent conditions an adapted value of the retrieved value and a dynamic characteristic representing the intent of the operator, and (D) updating the retrieved value for vehicle engine control in said memory means with the adapted value; and means for automatically adjusting the vehicle performance characteristics in accordance with the determined dynamic characteristic.

Claim 53

An automatic method for controlling an engine of a vehicle, comprising: maintaining in storage a plurality of different smoothing duration values for each of at least a plurality of transitions between different engine control conditions; detecting a driver's action; detecting a vehicle operating condition; discriminating a current engine control condition from among the engine control conditions in accordance with the detected driver's action and vehicle operating condition; repeating said steps to obtain both a previous and a current discriminated engine control condition; judging whether the current and previous discriminated engine control conditions are different to indicate one of said plurality of transitions; measuring engine operation duration since the start of the transition; calculating a value for an engine control parameter associated with the current discriminated engine control condition in response to said judging indicating a transition; and said calculating weighting the calculation according to a function of the smoothing duration value of the transition indicated by said judging and the duration that has occured since the start of the transition.

Claim 54

An automatic method for controlling an engine of a vehicle, comprising: maintaining in storage a plurality of different smoothing duration values for each of at least a plurality of transitions between different engine control conditions; detecting a driver's action; detecting a vehicle operating condition; discriminating a current engine control condition from among the engine control conditions in accordance with the detected driver's action and vehicle operating condition; repeating said steps to obtain both a previous and a current discriminated engine control condition; judging whether the current and previous discriminated engine control conditions are different to indicate one of said plurality of transitions; measuring engine operation duration since the start of the transition; calculating a value for an engine control parameter associated with the current discriminated engine control condition in response to said judging indicating a transition; and said calculating weighting the calculation according to a function of the smoothing duration value of the transition indicated by said judging and the duration that has occured since the start of the transition.