US5497741A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Torque control system for internal combustion engines
Assignee: Denso Corp
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Filing: 1994-07-18
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Granted: 1996-03-12
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Expires: 2014-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A torque control system for engines reduces electric power consumption by appropriately avoiding torque application after the engine starts increasing its torque output. The system detects the ignition timing of an engine and initiates motor mode operation of a motor-generator. The motor-generator continuously applies torque to number of ignitions which occur immediately before the engine torque actually starts increasing under the torque increase command, and then initiates generator operation of the motor-generator. Since the motor operation of the motor-generator terminates almost simultaneously with the increase in engine torque, there is no overlap between torque application by the motor-generator and increase torque output of the engine, and effective torque application and savings of battery power can be achieved.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Tashiro
- 👤 Takaji Murakawa
- 👤 Toyoji Yagi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:41
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D29/00; F02D29/06; H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/14; H02J7/1446
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A torque control system for an engine in which an air-fuel mixture is increased in response to a torque increase command, said system comprising: torque applying means for applying torque to an engine; ignition detecting means for detecting ignition timings of said engine; torque applying start commanding means for issuing a torque application operation start command to said torque applying means in response to said torque increase command; and torque application stop commanding means for issuing a torque application operation stop command to said torque applying means immediately after detection of an ignition timing of the increased air-fuel mixture so that torque application by said torque applying means is stopped thereby.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A torque control system for an engine in which an air-fuel mixture is increased in response to a torque increase command, said system comprising: torque applying means for applying torque to an engine; ignition detecting means for detecting ignition timings of said engine; torque applying start commanding means for issuing a torque application operation start command to said torque applying means in response to said torque increase command; and torque application stop commanding means for issuing a torque application operation stop command to said torque applying means immediately after detection of an ignition timing of the increased air-fuel mixture so that torque application by said torque applying means is stopped thereby.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A torque control system according to claim 1, wherein said torque application start commanding means issues said torque application start command responsive to a change in an opening of a throttle valve of said engine in an acceleration direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A torque control system according to claim 1, wherein said torque application start commanding means issues said torque application start command responsive to a decrease in rotational speed of said engine under a fuel cut-off condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A torque control system according to claim 1, wherein said torque application start commanding means issues said torque application start command responsive to engagement of a compressor of an air-conditioner with said engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A torque control system according to claim 1, wherein said ignition detection means counts a number of ignitions of said engine and said torque applying stop commanding means issues said torque application operation stop command when said number reaches a predetermined number after issuance of said torque application operation start command.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A torque control system according to claim 1, wherein said torque applying means includes an electric generator-motor which performs electric power generation and electric motor operation for torque application.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
A torque control system according to claim 6 further comprising: crank angle detecting means for detecting a crank angle of said engine; condition detecting means for detecting a condition of said engine related to a phase difference between the detected crank angle and a primary component of a vehicle vibration which is a composite vector of a rotational vibration component and a vertical vibration component; operation mode setting means for setting an operation mode of said electric generator-motor to a mode capable of reducing both of said vibration components in accordance with said detected condition; and control means for controlling said electric generator-motor in accordance with said set mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A torque control system according to claim 7, wherein said condition detecting means detects an idling of said engine as said condition based on a rotational speed of said engine and an opening of said throttle valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
125 words
A torque control system for an engine, said system comprising: electric generator-motor means for performing a generator operation to generate electric power and for performing a motor operation to apply torque to an engine; detecting means for detecting a predetermined condition which requires torque increase of said engine; ignition counting means for counting a number of ignitions in said engine after detection of said predetermined condition by said detecting means; and switching means for switching said electric generator-motor means from said generator operation to said motor operation in response to said detection of said predetermined condition by said detecting means and for switching from said motor operation to said generator operation in response to counting a predetermined number of ignitions by said ignition counting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
125 words
A torque control system for an engine, said system comprising: electric generator-motor means for performing a generator operation to generate electric power and for performing a motor operation to apply torque to an engine; detecting means for detecting a predetermined condition which requires torque increase of said engine; ignition counting means for counting a number of ignitions in said engine after detection of said predetermined condition by said detecting means; and switching means for switching said electric generator-motor means from said generator operation to said motor operation in response to said detection of said predetermined condition by said detecting means and for switching from said motor operation to said generator operation in response to counting a predetermined number of ignitions by said ignition counting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A torque control system according to claim 9, wherein said detecting means is for detecting as said predetermined condition an increase of throttle opening in an engine acceleration direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A torque control system according to claim 9, wherein said detecting means is for detecting as said predetermined condition a decrease of engine rotational speed below a predetermined speed under a fuel cut-off condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A torque control system according to claim 9, wherein said detecting means is for detecting as said predetermined condition a connection of an air-conditioner compressor to said engine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
148 words
A torque control system for an engine in which an air-fuel mixture is increased in response to a torque increase command, said system comprising: torque applying means for applying torque to an engine; ignition detecting means for detecting ignition timings of said engine; and programmed control means for: issuing a torque application operation start command to said torque applying means in response to said torque increase command; and issuing a torque application operation stop command to said torque applying means immediately after detection of an ignition timing of the increased air-fuel mixture so that torque application by said torque applying means is stopped thereby; whereby operation of said torque applying means is terminated to substantially avoid overlap of torque application by said torque applying means and increased torque application by said engine responsive to said torque increase command and thereby conserve power consumption by said torque applying means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
148 words
A torque control system for an engine in which an air-fuel mixture is increased in response to a torque increase command, said system comprising: torque applying means for applying torque to an engine; ignition detecting means for detecting ignition timings of said engine; and programmed control means for: issuing a torque application operation start command to said torque applying means in response to said torque increase command; and issuing a torque application operation stop command to said torque applying means immediately after detection of an ignition timing of the increased air-fuel mixture so that torque application by said torque applying means is stopped thereby; whereby operation of said torque applying means is terminated to substantially avoid overlap of torque application by said torque applying means and increased torque application by said engine responsive to said torque increase command and thereby conserve power consumption by said torque applying means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A torque control system according to claim 13, wherein said programmed control means issues said torque application start command responsive to a change in an opening of a throttle valve of said engine in an acceleration direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A torque control system according to claim 13, wherein said programmed control means issues said torque application start command responsive to a decrease in rotational speed of said engine under a fuel cut-off condition.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A torque control system according to claim 13, wherein said programmed control means issues said torque application start command responsive to engagement of a compressor of an air-conditioner with said engine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
A torque control system according to claim 13, wherein said ignition detection means counts a number of ignitions of said engine; and said programmed control means issues said torque application operation stop command when said number reaches a predetermined number after issuance of said torque application operation start command.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A torque control system according to claim 13, wherein said torque applying means includes an electric generator-motor which performs electric power generation and electric motor operation for torque application.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
A torque control system according to claim 13, wherein: said torque applying means is further constructed and arranged to operate as a generator and is responsive, when said programmed control means issues said torque application operation stop command, to operate as a generator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
105 words
A torque control system according to claim 18, further comprising: crank angle detecting means for detecting a crank angle of said engine; wherein said programmed control means is further for detecting a condition of said engine related to a phase difference between the detected crank angle and a primary component of a vehicle vibration which is a composite vector of a rotational vibration component and a vertical vibration component, setting an operation mode of said electric generator-motor to a mode capable of reducing both of said vibration components in accordance with said detected condition, and controlling said electric generator-motor in accordance with said set mode.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
A torque control system according to claim 20, wherein said programmed microprocessor means detects an idling of said engine as said condition based on a rotational speed of said engine and an opening of said throttle valve.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
150 words
A torque control system for an engine, said system comprising: electric generator-motor means for performing a generator operation to generate electric power and for performing a motor operation to apply torque to an engine; and programmed control means for detecting a predetermined condition which requires torque increase of said engine, counting a number of ignitions in said engine after detection of said predetermined condition, and switching said electric generator-motor means from said generator operation to said motor operation in response to said detection of said predetermined condition and for switching from said motor operation to said generator operation in response to counting a predetermined number of ignitions; whereby operation of said electric motor-generator means is terminated to substantially avoid overlap of torque application by said electric motor-generator means and increased torque application by said engine responsive to said predetermined condition and thereby conserve power consumption by said electric motor-generator means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
150 words
A torque control system for an engine, said system comprising: electric generator-motor means for performing a generator operation to generate electric power and for performing a motor operation to apply torque to an engine; and programmed control means for detecting a predetermined condition which requires torque increase of said engine, counting a number of ignitions in said engine after detection of said predetermined condition, and switching said electric generator-motor means from said generator operation to said motor operation in response to said detection of said predetermined condition and for switching from said motor operation to said generator operation in response to counting a predetermined number of ignitions; whereby operation of said electric motor-generator means is terminated to substantially avoid overlap of torque application by said electric motor-generator means and increased torque application by said engine responsive to said predetermined condition and thereby conserve power consumption by said electric motor-generator means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
A torque control system according to claim 22, wherein said programmed control means is for detecting as said predetermined condition an increase of throttle opening in an engine acceleration direction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
A torque control system according to claim 22, wherein said programmed control means is for detecting as said predetermined condition a decrease of engine rotational speed below a predetermined speed under a fuel cut-off condition.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
A torque control system according to claim 22, wherein said programmed control means is for detecting as said predetermined condition a connection of an air-conditioner compressor to said engine.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of controlling a motor-generator connected to an engine, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a command for said engine to increase its torque output; operating said motor-generator as a motor to apply torque to said engine responsive to said command; detecting a predetermined engine condition indicative of an imminent increase in torque output by said engine; and terminating operation of said motor-generator as a motor responsive to said detected condition; whereby operation of said motor-generator is terminated to substantially avoid overlap of torque application by said motor-generator and increased torque application by said engine responsive to said command and thereby conserve power consumption by said motor-generator.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of controlling a motor-generator connected to an engine, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a command for said engine to increase its torque output; operating said motor-generator as a motor to apply torque to said engine responsive to said command; detecting a predetermined engine condition indicative of an imminent increase in torque output by said engine; and terminating operation of said motor-generator as a motor responsive to said detected condition; whereby operation of said motor-generator is terminated to substantially avoid overlap of torque application by said motor-generator and increased torque application by said engine responsive to said command and thereby conserve power consumption by said motor-generator.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 26, wherein said operating step comprises a step of operating said motor-generator as a motor responsive to a change in an opening of a throttle valve of said engine in an acceleration direction.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 26, wherein said operating step comprises a step of operating said motor-generator as a motor responsive to a decrease in rotational speed of said engine under a fuel cut-off condition.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 26, wherein said operating step comprises a step of operating said motor-generator as a motor responsive to engagement of a compressor of an air-conditioner with said engine.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 26, wherein: said detecting step comprises a step of counting a number of ignitions of said engine; and said terminating step comprises a step of terminating motor operation of said motor-generator when said number reaches a predetermined number after execution of said operating step.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
A torque control system according to claim 26, wherein said terminating step comprises a step of initiating generator operation of said motor-generator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-12 | 1999-09-11 | 2000-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-12 | 2003-09-11 | 2004-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-12 | 2007-09-11 | 2008-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |