U.S. patent application number 10/420739 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-28 for internal combustion engine control apparatus.
Invention is credited to Hayashi, Ryuji, Ogawa, Noriko.
Application Number | 20040211381 10/420739 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33298553 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040211381 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ogawa, Noriko ; et
al. |
October 28, 2004 |
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE CONTROL APPARATUS
Abstract
A threshold value related to an engine automatic stop
permission-prohibition device is variable in accordance with the
cabin temperature or a value related to the cabin temperature. A
width of hysteresis of the threshold value is set greater than the
width needed to prevent hunting in control.
Inventors: |
Ogawa, Noriko;
(Nishikamo-gun, JP) ; Hayashi, Ryuji;
(Nishikamo-gun, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KENYON & KENYON
1500 K STREET, N.W., SUITE 700
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
33298553 |
Appl. No.: |
10/420739 |
Filed: |
April 23, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
123/179.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02N 2200/0804 20130101;
F02N 11/003 20130101; F02N 2200/0811 20130101; Y02T 10/40 20130101;
Y02T 10/48 20130101; F02N 2200/0806 20130101; F02N 11/04 20130101;
F02N 2200/023 20130101; F02N 11/084 20130101; B60H 1/04
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
123/179.4 |
International
Class: |
F02N 017/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
comprising: engine automatic stop-startup means for automatically
stopping the internal combustion engine if a state of operation of
the internal combustion engine satisfies an automatic stop
condition, and for automatically starting the internal combustion
engine if the state of operation of the internal combustion engine
satisfies an automatic startup condition; and engine automatic stop
permission-prohibition means for permitting an automatic stop of
the internal combustion engine if a temperature of a cooling medium
of the internal combustion engine used as an air-conditioning heat
source by a cabin air-conditioner is higher than a threshold value,
and for prohibiting the automatic stop if the temperature of the
cooling medium is lower than the threshold value, wherein the
threshold value related to the engine automatic stop
permission-prohibition means is variable in accordance with at
least one of an inside-cabin temperature and values related to the
inside-cabin temperature, and wherein a hysteresis width of the
threshold value is set greater than a hysteresis width that is
needed to prevent hunting in control.
2. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 1, wherein the hysteresis width is set in such a
range that a cabin comfort is not degraded if the temperature of
the cooling medium decreases from a state where the automatic stop
is permitted by the engine automatic stop permission-prohibition
means.
3. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 1, wherein the threshold value is variable in
accordance with a needed blow-off temperature provided at a time of
automatic air-conditioning of the cabin air-conditioner which is a
value related to the inside-cabin temperature, and wherein the
threshold value rises as the needed blow-off temperature rises.
4. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 3, wherein the threshold value is
reduction-corrected as at least one of an outside-cabin air
temperature and an inside-cabin air temperature rises.
5. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 3, wherein the hysteresis width increases as the
needed blow-off temperature rises.
6. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 1, wherein the threshold value is variable in
accordance with the inside-cabin temperature, and wherein the
threshold value decreases as the inside-cabin temperature
rises.
7. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 6, wherein the hysteresis width is variable in
accordance with an outside-cabin air temperature which is a value
related to the inside-cabin temperature, and wherein the hysteresis
width increases as the outside-cabin air temperature rises.
8. A vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
comprising: engine automatic stop-startup means for automatically
stopping the internal combustion engine if a state of operation of
the internal combustion engine satisfies an automatic stop
condition, and for automatically starting the internal combustion
engine if the state of operation of the internal combustion engine
satisfies an automatic startup condition; and engine automatic stop
permission-prohibition means for permitting an automatic stop of
the internal combustion engine if a temperature of a cooling medium
of the internal combustion engine used as an air-conditioning heat
source by a cabin air-conditioner is higher than a threshold value,
and for prohibiting the automatic stop if the temperature of the
cooling medium is lower than the threshold value, wherein the
threshold value related to the engine automatic stop
permission-prohibition means and a hysteresis width of the
threshold value are variable in accordance with at least one of an
inside-cabin temperature and values related to the inside-cabin
temperature.
9. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 8, wherein the hysteresis width is set greater
than a hysteresis width that is needed to prevent hunting in
control.
10. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 8, wherein the hysteresis width is set in such a
range that a cabin comfort is not degraded if the temperature of
the cooling medium decreases from a state where the automatic stop
is permitted by the engine automatic stop permission-prohibition
means.
11. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 8, wherein the threshold value is variable in
accordance with a needed blow-off temperature provided at a time of
automatic air-conditioning of the cabin air-conditioner which is a
value related to the inside-cabin temperature, and wherein the
threshold value rises as the needed blow-off temperature rises.
12. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 11, wherein the threshold value is
reduction-corrected as at least one of an outside-cabin air
temperature and an inside-cabin air temperature rises.
13. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 11, wherein the hysteresis width of the
threshold value is expanded as at least one of an outside-cabin air
temperature and an inside-cabin air temperature rises.
14. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 11, wherein the hysteresis width of the
threshold value is expanded toward a low temperature side as at
least one of an outside-cabin air temperature and an inside-cabin
air temperature rises.
15. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 11, wherein the hysteresis width increases as
the needed blow-off temperature rises.
16. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 15, wherein the hysteresis width of the
threshold value is expanded toward a low temperature side as the
needed blow-off temperature rises.
17. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 8, wherein the threshold value is variable in
accordance with the inside-cabin temperature, and wherein the
threshold value decreases as the inside-cabin temperature
rises.
18. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 17, wherein the hysteresis width is variable in
accordance with an outside-cabin air temperature which is a value
related to the inside-cabin temperature, and wherein the hysteresis
width increases as the outside-cabin air temperature rises.
19. A vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
comprising: engine automatic stop-startup means for automatically
stopping the internal combustion engine if a state of operation of
the internal combustion engine satisfies an automatic stop
condition, and for automatically starting the internal combustion
engine if the state of operation of the internal combustion engine
satisfies an automatic startup condition; and engine automatic stop
permission-prohibition means for permitting an automatic stop of
the internal combustion engine if a temperature of a cooling medium
of the internal combustion engine used as an air-conditioning heat
source by a cabin air-conditioner is higher than a threshold value,
and for prohibiting the automatic stop if the temperature of the
cooling medium is lower than the threshold value, wherein the
threshold value is variable in accordance with a first value
selected from an inside-cabin temperature and values related to the
inside-cabin temperature, and wherein the threshold value is
increase-decrease corrected in accordance with a second value that
is different from the first value and that is selected from the
inside-cabin temperature and the values related to the inside-cabin
temperature.
20. The vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to claim 19, wherein the first value is the inside-cabin
temperature, and the second value is an outside-cabin air
temperature.
21. A vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
comprising: engine automatic stop-startup means for automatically
stopping the internal combustion engine if a state of operation of
the internal combustion engine satisfies an automatic stop
condition, and for automatically starting the internal combustion
engine if the state of operation of the internal combustion engine
satisfies an automatic startup condition; and engine automatic stop
permission-prohibition means for permitting an automatic stop of
the internal combustion engine if a temperature of a cooling medium
of the internal combustion engine used as an air-conditioning heat
source by a cabin air-conditioner is higher than a threshold value,
and for prohibiting the automatic stop if the temperature of the
cooling medium is lower than the threshold value, wherein a range
for execution of the automatic stop and an automatic startup of the
internal combustion engine is set in such a range that a cabin
temperature comfort is not degraded if the temperature of the
cooling medium decreases, in accordance with an air-conditioning
situation.
22. A method for controlling a vehicular internal combustion engine
comprising the steps of: automatically stopping the internal
combustion engine if a state of operation of the internal
combustion engine satisfies an automatic stop condition;
automatically starting the internal combustion engine if the state
of operation of the internal combustion engine satisfies an
automatic startup condition; permitting an automatic stop of the
internal combustion engine if a temperature of a cooling medium of
the internal combustion engine used as an air-conditioning heat
source by a cabin air-conditioner is higher than a threshold value;
prohibiting the automatic stop if the temperature of the cooling
medium is lower than the threshold value; changing the threshold
value in accordance with at least one of an inside-cabin
temperature and values related to the inside-cabin temperature, in
order to set a hysteresis width of the threshold value greater than
a hysteresis width that is needed to prevent hunting in control.
Description
[0001] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.
2001-006528 filed on Jan. 15, 2001, including the specification,
drawings and abstract are incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The invention relates to an internal combustion engine that
performs an automatic stop/start control of a vehicular internal
combustion engine and, more particularly, to an internal combustion
engine control apparatus that permits the aforementioned automatic
stop if the temperature of a cooling medium of the internal
combustion engine used as an air-conditioning heat source by a
cabin air-conditioner is higher than a threshold, and prohibits the
automatic stop/start if the temperature of the cooling medium is
lower than the threshold.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Automatic air-conditioners for cabin air-conditioning in
motor vehicles are known. The automatic air-conditioner is an
apparatus that automatically maintains a set temperature in the
cabin. The apparatus detects an outside air temperature and a cabin
temperature using temperature sensors, and adjusts the blow-off air
temperature and the air flow through the processing by an
electronic control unit, thereby maintaining an appropriate
air-conditioned state in the cabin. The automatic air-conditioner,
when heating, efficiently uses heat from the cooling water of the
internal combustion engine so as to adjust the blow-off air
temperature and thereby maintain a comfortable room temperature in
the cabin (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No.
5-221233).
[0006] For improvements in fuel economy, there exist vehicles
equipped with a generally-termed economy-running (hereinafter,
referred to as "eco-run") system, that is, an automatic stop/start
system capable of automatically stopping the internal combustion
engine when the vehicle has stopped running at an intersection or
the like, and allowing the vehicle to launch through automatic
start-up of the engine achieved by operating a motor-generator or
the like at the time of a launching operation performed by a
driver. If an automatic air-conditioner is used in such a vehicle,
the heating utilizing the cooling water of the internal combustion
engine may become impossible due to a drop in the cooling water
temperature during an automatic stop of the engine. To avoid this
situation, a control of prohibiting the automatic stop of the
internal combustion engine and starting the internal combustion
engine is performed in some cases.
[0007] For example, a threshold value of cooling water temperature
is provided. If the cooling water temperature is above the
threshold value, the automatic stop of the internal combustion
engine is permitted. If the cooling water temperature becomes lower
than the threshold value, the automatic stop of the internal
combustion engine is prohibited and the engine is started. If in
this case, the required blow-off air temperature of the automatic
air-conditioner is relatively low, no heating problem occurs
despite a reduced cooling water temperature during a stop of the
internal combustion engine. Conversely, if the required blow-off
air temperature of the automatic air-conditioner is relatively
high, a drop in the cooling water temperature will likely make it
impossible to maintain a requested heating. Therefore, if the
required blow-off air temperature is higher, the threshold value is
raised so that if the cooling water temperature decreases,
operation of the internal combustion engine is resumed at an early
stage of the decrease in cooling water temperature, whereby the
cooling water temperature is kept relatively high. In this fashion,
control is performed so that the sufficient heating by the
automatic air-conditioner is possible over a broad range.
[0008] At the time of transition of the cooling water temperature
caused by discontinuation or start of generation of heat by the
internal combustion engine due to, for example, an automatic stop
or an automatic startup of the engine, the cabin temperature
changes with a delay from the change in the cooling water
temperature. Due to this delay, after the engine has been stopped
through the automatic stop, there exists a period during which the
cabin heating using the cooling water whose temperature is
decreasing can be continued without any problem in the cabin
comfort. According to the related-art technology, however, the
automatic stop of the internal combustion engine is prohibited and
operation of the engine is restarted when the cooling water
temperature decreases to a threshold value (which may include a
hysteresis width set so as to prevent hunting in control) that is
the same as the threshold value used for the increasing cooling
water temperature. Thus, the automatic stop of the internal
combustion engine is ended when there still is no heating problem.
This indicates that the use of a threshold as in the related-art
technology does not allow full exploitation of the fuel economy
improvement advantage of the automatic stop.
[0009] In a region of low blow-off air temperatures, the threshold
value is set low. A reduced threshold value increases the length of
time consumed for the cooling water temperature to reach the
threshold value if the internal combustion engine is automatically
stopped. Therefore, in that case, the automatic stop state can be
maintained for a long time, and therefore, fuel economy can be
sufficiently improved. Conversely, in a region of high blow-off air
temperatures, the threshold value is set high due to the need for
sufficiently high blow-off air temperature. Therefore, if the
internal combustion engine is automatically stopped, the cooling
water temperature soon reaches the threshold value, and therefore,
the automatic stop ends in a short time. However, it has been found
that if the cooling water temperature decreases when the required
blow-off air temperature is within a high temperature region, the
cabin comfort can be retained for a relatively long time despite
decreasing cooling water temperature since the internal combustion
engine is automatically stopped while the cabin temperature is
sufficiently high. Thus, the related-art technology ends the
automatic stop in a short time although the comfort of
air-conditioning can be retained for a relatively long time
following an automatic stop of the internal combustion engine. The
related-art technology cannot be said to achieve sufficient
improvement in fuel economy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is an object of the invention to increase the duration of
the automatic stop of the internal combustion engine and therefore
enhance the fuel economy improving effect by reducing the region of
prohibiting the automatic stop of the internal combustion engine
corresponding to the air-conditioned state in the cabin.
[0011] Means for achieving the aforementioned object and the
operation and advantages thereof will be described below.
[0012] A vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to a first aspect of the invention includes: engine
automatic stop-startup means for automatically stopping the
internal combustion engine if a state of operation of the internal
combustion engine satisfies an automatic stop condition, and for
automatically starting the internal combustion engine if the state
of operation of the internal combustion engine satisfies an
automatic startup condition; and engine automatic stop
permission-prohibition means for permitting an automatic stop of
the internal combustion engine if a temperature of a cooling medium
of the internal combustion engine used as an air-conditioning heat
source by a cabin air-conditioner is higher than a threshold value,
and for prohibiting the automatic stop if the temperature of the
cooling medium is lower than the threshold value. The control
apparatus is characterized in that the threshold value related to
the engine automatic stop permission-prohibition means is variable
in accordance with at least one of an inside-cabin temperature and
values related to the inside-cabin temperature, and that a
hysteresis width of the threshold value is set greater than a
hysteresis width that is needed to prevent hunting in control.
[0013] Since the hysteresis width of the threshold value is set
greater than a hysteresis width that is needed to prevent hunting
in control, the threshold value for the time of decrease in the
engine cooling water temperature can be set at a sufficiently low
temperature side, in comparison with the threshold value for the
time of increase in the engine cooling water temperature. That is,
at the time of decrease in the engine cooling water temperature,
the inside-cabin temperature or a value related to the inside-cabin
temperature is in a state corresponding to an engine cooling water
temperature that is higher than the present engine cooling water
temperature due to a delay during a transitional period. Therefore,
the threshold value for the time of decrease in the engine cooling
water temperature can be set even lower than a threshold value that
is conceived factoring in the hunting in control with respect to
the threshold value for the time of increase in the engine cooling
water temperature.
[0014] Since the threshold value for the time of decrease in the
engine cooling water temperature can be set sufficiently low, the
internal combustion engine automatic stop prohibition region can be
reduced. Hence, the automatically stopped state of the internal
combustion engine can be maintained for an increased length of
time, thereby enhancing the fuel economy improvement advantage.
[0015] A vehicular internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to a second aspect of the invention includes: engine
automatic stop-startup means for automatically stopping the
internal combustion engine if a state of operation of the internal
combustion engine satisfies an automatic stop condition, and for
automatically starting the internal combustion engine if the state
of operation of the internal combustion engine satisfies an
automatic startup condition; and engine automatic stop
permission-prohibition means for permitting an automatic stop of
the internal combustion engine if a temperature of a cooling medium
of the internal combustion engine used as an air-conditioning heat
source by a cabin air-conditioner is higher than a threshold value,
and for prohibiting the automatic stop if the temperature of the
cooling medium is lower than the threshold value. The control
apparatus is characterized in that the threshold value related to
the engine automatic stop permission-prohibition means and a
hysteresis width of the threshold value are variable in accordance
with an inside-cabin temperature or a value related to the
inside-cabin temperature.
[0016] Since the threshold value related to the engine automatic
stop permission-prohibition means and the hysteresis width of the
threshold value are variable in accordance with the inside-cabin
temperature or a value related to the inside-cabin temperature, a
portion of the threshold value lower than a fixed threshold value
can be set by changing the threshold value in correspondence to the
inside-cabin temperature or the value related to the inside-cabin
temperature. Therefore, the internal combustion engine automatic
stop prohibition region can be reduced, and the automatically
stopped state of the engine can be maintained for an increased
length of time. Hence, the fuel economy improvement advantage can
be enhanced.
[0017] In addition, the hysteresis width may be expanded in
accordance with the inside-cabin temperature or a value related to
the inside-cabin temperature. Particularly in a region where the
inside-cabin temperature or the value related to the inside-cabin
temperature is high, the threshold value for the case of decreasing
engine cooling water temperature can be set low. Therefore,
particularly in the region where the inside-cabin temperature or
the value related to the inside-cabin temperature is high, the
internal combustion engine automatic stop prohibition region can be
reduced. Hence, the automatically stopped state of the internal
combustion engine can be maintained for a long time, and the fuel
economy improvement advantage can be enhanced.
[0018] In the internal combustion engine control apparatus
according to the second aspect of the invention, it is preferable
that the hysteresis width be set greater than a hysteresis width
that is needed to prevent hunting in control.
[0019] Since the hysteresis width of the threshold value is set
greater than a hysteresis width that is needed to prevent hunting
in control, the threshold value for the time of decrease in the
engine cooling water temperature can be set sufficiently lower than
the threshold value for the time of increase in the engine cooling
water temperature. That is, at the time of decrease in the engine
cooling water temperature, the inside-cabin temperature or a value
related to the inside-cabin temperature corresponds to an engine
cooling water temperature that is higher than the present engine
cooling water temperature due to a delay during a transitional
period. Therefore, the threshold value for the time of decrease in
the engine cooling water temperature can be set even lower than a
threshold value that is conceived factoring in the hunting in
control with respect to the threshold value for the time of
increase in the engine cooling water temperature.
[0020] By setting the threshold value for the time of decrease in
the engine cooling water temperature at a sufficiently low level,
the internal combustion engine automatic stop prohibition region
can be further reduced. Hence, the automatically stopped state of
the internal combustion engine can be maintained for an increased
length of time, thereby enhancing the fuel economy improvement
advantage.
[0021] In any one of the foregoing constructions, it is preferable
that the hysteresis width be set in such a range that a cabin
comfort is not degraded if the temperature of the cooling medium
decreases from a state where the automatic stop is permitted by the
engine automatic stop permission-prohibition means.
[0022] Therefore, since the hysteresis width is set in such a range
that a cabin comfort is not degraded if the temperature of the
cooling medium decreases, it is possible to sufficiently reduce the
internal combustion engine automatic stop prohibition region and
sufficiently enhance the fuel economy improvement advantage without
discomforting an occupant in terms of air-conditioning.
[0023] In any one of the above-described constructions, it is
preferable that the threshold value related to the engine automatic
stop permission-prohibition means be variable in accordance with a
needed blow-off temperature provided at a time of automatic
air-conditioning of the cabin air-conditioner which is a value
related to the inside-cabin temperature, and that the threshold
value rise as the needed blow-off temperature rises.
[0024] More specifically, the threshold value may be variable in
accordance with a needed blow-off temperature provided at a time of
automatic air-conditioning of the cabin air-conditioner, and may be
set so as to rise as the needed blow-off temperature rises.
[0025] Therefore, in the case where the needed blow-off temperature
for the time of automatic air-conditioning is set low in accordance
with the outside air temperature or an occupant's request, it is
possible to maintain the automatically stopped state for a long
time without adverse effect on air-conditioning, and enhance the
fuel economy improvement advantage, in comparison with the case
where the needed blow-off temperature is high. In the case where
the needed blow-off temperature is set high, the automatically
stopped state can be prohibited at a relatively early stage, and
therefore, adverse effect on air-conditioning can be avoided, in
comparison with the case where the needed blow-off temperature is
low. Furthermore, in the case where the needed blow-off temperature
is set high, too, the threshold value for the time of decrease in
the engine cooling water temperature can be set sufficiently low,
and the internal combustion engine automatic stop prohibition
region can be reduced, so that the automatically stopped state of
the internal combustion engine can be maintained for an increased
time. Therefore, the fuel economy improvement advantage can be
further enhanced.
[0026] In the above-described construction, the threshold value may
be reduced for correction as an outside-cabin air temperature or an
inside-cabin air temperature rises. Furthermore, the hysteresis
width of the threshold value may be expanded as an outside-cabin
air temperature or an inside-cabin air temperature rises. In this
case, it is also preferable to expand the hysteresis width of the
threshold value toward a low temperature side.
[0027] In the above-described construction, it is preferable that
the hysteresis width of the threshold value related to the engine
automatic stop permission-prohibition means increase as the needed
blow-off temperature rises.
[0028] The degree of delay of decrease in the inside-cabin
temperature with respect to decrease in the engine cooling water
temperature is greater if the needed blow-off temperature is
higher. That is, in the case where the needed blow-off temperature
is relatively high, air-conditioning comfort is more likely to be
maintained despite a decrease in the engine cooling water
temperature, and therefore the hysteresis width can be set greater
than in the case where the needed blow-off temperature is
relatively low. Therefore, the automatically stopped state of the
internal combustion engine can be maintained for an increased
length of time, and the fuel economy improvement advantage can be
further enhanced.
[0029] In the above-described construction, it is preferable that
the threshold value related to the engine automatic stop
permission-prohibition means be variable in accordance with the
inside-cabin temperature, and that the threshold value decrease as
the inside-cabin temperature rises.
[0030] More specifically, the threshold value is variable in
accordance with the inside-cabin temperature, is set so as to
decrease as the inside-cabin temperature rises. In the case where
the inside-cabin temperature is relatively high, the degree of
delay of degradation in the air-conditioning comfort with respect
to decrease in the engine cooling water temperature is greater and
therefore the threshold value can be set lower, in comparison with
the case where the inside-cabin temperature is relatively low.
Therefore, the automatically stopped state of the internal
combustion engine can be maintained for-an increased length of
time, and the fuel economy improvement advantage can be further
enhanced.
[0031] Furthermore, the hysteresis width of the threshold value may
be expanded toward a low temperature side as the needed blow-off
temperature rises.
[0032] In the above-described construction, it is preferable that
the hysteresis width of the threshold value related to the engine
automatic stop permission-prohibition means be variable in
accordance with an outside-cabin air temperature which is a value
related to the inside-cabin temperature, and that the hysteresis
width increase as the outside-cabin air temperature rises.
[0033] More specifically, the hysteresis width of the threshold
value is variable in accordance with the outside-cabin air
temperature, and is set so as to decrease as the outside-cabin air
temperature rises. In the case where the outside-cabin air
temperature is relatively high, the degree of delay of degradation
in the air-conditioning comfort with respect to decrease in the
engine cooling water temperature is less and therefore the
hysteresis width can be set greater, in comparison with the case
where the outside-cabin air temperature is relatively low.
Therefore, the automatically stopped state of the internal
combustion engine can be maintained for an increased length of
time, and the fuel economy improvement advantage can be further
enhanced.
[0034] An internal combustion engine control apparatus in
accordance with a third aspect of the invention includes: engine
automatic stop-startup means for automatically stopping the
internal combustion engine if a state of operation of the internal
combustion engine satisfies an automatic stop condition, and for
automatically starting the internal combustion engine if the state
of operation of the internal combustion engine satisfies an
automatic startup condition; and engine automatic stop
permission-prohibition means for permitting an automatic stop of
the internal combustion engine if a temperature of a cooling medium
of the internal combustion engine used as an air-conditioning heat
source by a cabin air-conditioner is higher than a threshold value,
and for prohibiting the automatic stop if the temperature of the
cooling medium is lower than the threshold value. The control
apparatus is characterized in that the threshold value is variable
in accordance with a first value selected from an inside-cabin
temperature and values related to the inside-cabin temperature, and
that the threshold value is increase-decrease corrected in
accordance with a second value that is different from the first
value and that is selected from the inside-cabin temperature and
the values related to the inside-cabin temperature.
[0035] Thus, the threshold value related to the engine automatic
stop permission-prohibition means is variable in accordance with
the first value selected from the group consisting of the
inside-cabin temperature and values related to the inside-cabin
temperature. Therefore, the threshold value can be set sufficiently
low in accordance with a situation of air-conditioning indicated by
the first value. For example, the threshold value can be set low in
the case of a decrease in the engine cooling water temperature
depending on the state of the first value. Therefore, the internal
combustion engine automatic stop prohibition region can be
reduced.
[0036] Furthermore, the threshold value is increase-decrease
corrected in accordance with a second value that is different from
the first value and that is selected from the group consisting of
the inside-cabin temperature and the values related to the
inside-cabin temperature. In this case, the threshold value can be
set further low in accordance with a situation of air-conditioning
indicated by the second value. Therefore, the internal combustion
engine automatic stop prohibition region can be sufficiently
reduced. Hence, the automatically stopped state of the internal
combustion engine can be maintained for a long time, and the fuel
economy improvement advantage can be further enhanced.
[0037] In the above-described construction, it is preferable that
the first value be the inside-cabin temperature, and the second
value be an outside-cabin air temperature.
[0038] More specifically, the inside-cabin temperature may be
adopted as the first value, and the threshold value may be variable
in accordance with the inside-cabin temperature. The outside-cabin
air temperature may be adopted as the second value, and the
threshold value may be increased or decreased for correction in
accordance with the outside-cabin air temperature.
[0039] At a high inside-cabin temperature side, the threshold value
may be set low if the engine cooling water temperature decreases.
Therefore, particularly in a region where the inside-cabin
temperature is high, the internal combustion engine automatic stop
prohibition region can be reduced. Furthermore, at a high
outside-cabin air temperature side, the threshold value can be
corrected so as to reduce. Therefore, particularly in a region
where the outside-cabin air temperature is high, the internal
combustion engine automatic stop prohibition region can be further
reduced.
[0040] Hence, the automatically stopped state of the internal
combustion engine can be maintained for a long time, and the fuel
economy improvement advantage can be further enhanced.
[0041] In addition to the above-described construction, the
invention further includes the following constructions.
[0042] (i) An internal combustion engine control apparatus which
executes an automatic stop-startup mode of automatically stopping a
vehicular internal combustion engine if a state of operation of the
internal combustion engine satisfies an automatic stop condition,
and of automatically starting the internal combustion engine if the
state of operation of the internal combustion engine satisfies an
automatic startup condition, and which executes prohibition of the
automatic stop-startup mode in accordance with decrease in the
temperature of a cooling medium of the internal combustion engine
used as an air-conditioning heat source by a cabin air-conditioner,
the control apparatus being characterized in that a range for
execution of the automatic stop-startup mode is set in such a range
that a cabin temperature comfort is not degraded if the temperature
of the cooling medium decreases.
[0043] (ii) An internal combustion engine control apparatus which
executes an automatic stop-startup mode of automatically stopping a
vehicular internal combustion engine if a state of operation of the
internal combustion engine satisfies an automatic stop condition,
and of automatically starting the internal combustion engine if the
state of operation of the internal combustion engine satisfies an
automatic startup condition, and which executes prohibition of the
automatic stop-startup mode in accordance with decrease in the
temperature of a cooling medium of the internal combustion engine
used as an air-conditioning heat source by a cabin air-conditioner,
the control apparatus being characterized in that a range for
execution of the automatic stop-startup mode is set in such a range
that a cabin temperature comfort is not degraded in accordance with
an air-conditioning situation if the temperature of the cooling
medium decreases.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0044] The foregoing and/or further objects, features and
advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the
following description of preferred embodiments with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals are used to
represent like elements and wherein:
[0045] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the construction
of an internal combustion engine control apparatus in accordance
with a first embodiment applied to an internal combustion
engine;
[0046] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the construction of an
air-conditioner unit that performs the air-conditioning of the
cabin of a motor vehicle in accordance with the first
embodiment;
[0047] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic stop process
executed by an engine ECU in the first embodiment;
[0048] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic startup
process executed by the engine ECU in the first embodiment;
[0049] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an eco-run execution
permission-prohibition determining process executed by the engine
ECU in the first embodiment;
[0050] FIG. 6 is a graph indicating engine automatic stop
permission and prohibition regions that represent states of
threshold values used in the eco-run execution
permission-prohibition determining process in the first
embodiment;
[0051] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an eco-run execution
permission-prohibition determining process executed by an
air-conditioner ECU in a second embodiment;
[0052] FIG. 8 is a graph indicating engine automatic stop
permission and prohibition regions that represent states of
threshold values used in the eco-run execution
permission-prohibition determining process in the second
embodiment;
[0053] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an eco-run execution
permission-prohibition determining process executed by an
air-conditioner ECU in a third embodiment;
[0054] FIG. 10 is a graph indicating engine automatic stop
permission and prohibition regions that represent states of
threshold values used in the eco-run execution
permission-prohibition determining process in the third
embodiment;
[0055] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the construction of a
threshold value correction map used in the eco-run execution
permission-prohibition determining process in the third
embodiment;
[0056] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an eco-run execution
permission-prohibition determining process executed by an
air-conditioner ECU in a fourth embodiment;
[0057] FIG. 13 is a graph indicating engine automatic stop
permission and prohibition regions that represent states of
threshold values used in the eco-run execution
permission-prohibition determining process in the fourth
embodiment;
[0058] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the construction a
hysteresis width map used in the eco-run execution
permission-prohibition determining process in the fourth
embodiment; and
[0059] FIG. 15 is a diagram indicating engine automatic stop
permission and prohibition regions that represent states of
threshold values in accordance with a modification of the first
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0060] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the
construction of an internal combustion engine control apparatus in
accordance with a first embodiment of the invention which is
applied to an internal combustion engine. An internal combustion
engine (hereinafter, referred to as "engine") 10 is a spark
ignition direct injection type gasoline engine installed in a
vehicle. A fuel injection valve 14 is provided in a cylinder head
12 of the engine 10, whereby fuel can be directly injected into a
combustion chamber 20 defined by a cylinder block 16, a piston 18
and the cylinder head 12. An ignition plug 22 is disposed in a
ceiling portion of the combustion chamber 20, so as to ignite a
mixture formed by fuel injected from the fuel injection valve 14.
The fuel injection valve 14 is supplied with high-pressure fuel
from a high-pressure fuel pump (not shown) via a delivery pipe 14a.
Therefore, fuel can be injected from the fuel injection valve 14
into the combustion chamber 20 even during a late period of the
compression stroke. The fuel pressure in the delivery pipe 14a is
detected by a fuel pressure sensor 14b.
[0061] An intake port 24 formed in the cylinder head 12 is opened
and closed by an intake valve 26. Intake air is supplied to the
intake port 24 via an intake passage 28. The intake passage 28 is
provided with a surge tank 30. A throttle valve 32 is provided
upstream of the surge tank 30. The degree of opening of the
throttle valve 32 (throttle opening TA) is adjusted by an electric
motor 34. The throttle opening TA is detected by a throttle opening
sensor 36.
[0062] An exhaust port 38 formed in the cylinder head 12 is opened
and closed by an exhaust valve 40. Exhaust gas discharged from the
combustion chamber 20 into the exhaust port 38 is let out to the
outside via an exhaust passage 42, an emissions control catalyst
(not shown), etc.
[0063] Reciprocating movements of the piston 18 caused by
combustion of air-fuel mixture within the combustion chamber 20 are
converted into rotational motion of a crankshaft 46 via a
connecting rod 44. The crankshaft 46 transfers drive power to
wheels via a torque converter, a transmission, etc., (which are not
shown).
[0064] Separately from the power transmission system, an end of the
crankshaft 46 is connected to a pulley 50 via an electromagnetic
clutch 48. The pulley 50 is able to perform power transfer with
respect to other four pulleys 53, 54, 56, 58 via a belt 52. Among
the pulleys, the pulley 53 allows the driving of a water pump 59,
and the pulley 54 allows the driving of an air-conditioner
compressor 60, and the pulley 56 allows the driving of a power
steering pump 62.
[0065] The pulley 58 is connected to a motor-generator 64. The
motor-generator 64 performs both the function as a generator that
generates electric power from engine-generated power transferred
from the side of the pulley 58, and the function as an electric
motor that supplies drive power generated by the motor-generator 64
to the side of the pulley 58. When the motor-generator 64 functions
as a generator, electric power generated thereby is sent to a
battery 68 via an inverter 66. The amount of electric power
generated by the motor-generator 64 is adjusted by adjusting the
power supplied to the battery 68 through a phase control of the
inverter 66. When the motor-generator 64 functions as a motor,
electric power stored in the battery 68 is supplied to the
motor-generator 64 via the inverter 66. The drive control of the
motor-generator 64 is performed by the phase control of the
inverter 66.
[0066] An engine controlling electronic control unit (hereinafter,
referred to as "engine ECU") 70 formed by a microcomputer as a
central component detects the fuel pressure from the fuel pressure
sensor 14b, the throttle opening TA from the throttle opening
sensor 36, the motor-generator rotation speed from a rotation speed
sensor provided in the motor-generator 64, the voltage of the
battery 68 or the quantity of current at the time of charge and
discharge thereof, the switch state of an ignition switch 72, the
vehicle speed SPD from a vehicle speed sensor 74, the amount of
depression of an accelerator pedal (accelerator operation amount
ACCP) from an accelerator operation amount sensor 76, the
operation/non-operation of a brake pedal from a brake switch 78,
the rotation speed of the crankshaft 46 (engine rotation speed NE)
from an engine rotation speed sensor 80, the amount of intake air
GA from an air flow meter 82, the engine cooling water temperature
THW (which corresponds to the cooing medium temperature) from a
cooling water temperature sensor 84, the depressed/undepressed
state of the accelerator pedal from an idle switch 86, and a
detected air-fuel ratio value Vox from an air-fuel ratio sensor 88
provided in the exhaust passage 42.
[0067] On the basis of data acquired as mentioned above, the engine
ECU 70 adjusts the throttle opening TA by driving the electric
motor 34. Furthermore, by adjusting the timing of fuel injection
from the fuel injection valve 14, the engine ECU 70 causes fuel to
be injected into the combustion chamber 2 during the intake stroke
so as to conduct a uniform combustion, and causes fuel to be
injected into the combustion chamber 20 during a later period of
the compression stroke so as to conduct a stratified charge
combustion. Furthermore, as described below, if an automatic stop
condition is fulfilled, the engine ECU 70 stops the fuel injection
from the fuel injection valve 14, thereby automatically stopping
operation of the engine 10. If an automatic startup condition is
fulfilled as described below, the engine ECU 70 causes the
crankshaft 46 to be turned by drive force from the motor-generator
64 via the pulley 58, the belt 52, the pulley 50, and the
currently-engaged electromagnetic clutch 48, so as to start the
engine 10. Besides the aforementioned operations, the engine ECU 70
executes an ignition timing control, and various other controls
needed for operations of the internal combustion engine.
[0068] FIG. 2 illustrates the construction of an air-conditioner
unit 106 that performs the air-conditioning of the cabin of a motor
vehicle. The air-conditioner unit 106 is an automatic
air-conditioner designed to perform an automatic control of
maintaining a set temperature in the cabin through control by an
air-conditioner controlling electronic control unit (hereinafter,
referred to as "air-conditioner ECU") 107 formed mainly by a
microcomputer as a central component. The air-conditioner unit 106
is made up of an air-condition duct 110 that forms an air passage
for conducting air-conditioned air into the cabin, a centrifugal
blower 130 that produces an air stream within the air-condition
duct 110, a refrigeration cycle 140 for cooling the cabin by
cooling the air flowing in the air-condition duct 110, a cooling
water circuit 150 that introduces the cooling water from the engine
10 (which corresponds to a cooling medium) in order to heat the
cabin by heating the air flowing in the air-condition duct 110,
etc.
[0069] The air-condition duct 110 is disposed at a forward side in
the cabin. An upstream-most side (upwind side) of the air-condition
duct 110 has an inside air inlet opening 111 for taking in air from
the inside of the cabin (hereinafter, referred to as "inside air"),
and an outside air inlet opening 112 for taking in air from the
outside of the cabin (hereinafter, referred to as "outside
air").
[0070] An inside-outside air switching damper 113 is pivotably
disposed inside the inside air inlet opening 111 and the outside
air inlet opening 112. The inside-outside air switching damper 113
is driven by an actuator 114 formed by a servo-motor or the like so
as to change the inlet opening mode among an inside air circulation
mode, an outside air introduction mode, etc.
[0071] Portions forming an outlet switching box, that is, a
defroster opening portion, a face opening portion, and a foot
opening portion, are formed at a downstream-most side (downwind
side) of the air-condition duct 110. A defroster duct 115 is
connected to the defroster opening portion. A downstream-most side
end of the defroster duct 115 has a defroster outlet opening 118
that lets out mainly warm air toward the inside surface of a
windshield of the vehicle.
[0072] A face duct 116 is connected to the face opening portion. A
downstream-most side end of the face duct 116 has a face outlet
opening 119 that lets out mainly cold air toward a head-chest
portion of an occupant. A foot duct 117 is connected to the foot
opening portion. A downstream-most side end of the foot duct 117
has a foot outlet opening 120 that lets out mainly warm air toward
a foot portion of an occupant.
[0073] Two outlet switching dampers 121, 122 are pivotably disposed
inside the aforementioned outlet openings. The two outlet switching
dampers 121, 122 are driven by actuators 123, 124 formed by
servo-motors or the like, respectively, so as to change the outlet
mode among a face mode, a high-level mode, a foot mode, a
foot/defroster mode, and a defroster mode.
[0074] The centrifugal blower 130 has a centrifugal fan 131 that is
rotatably contained in a scroll case formed integrally with the
air-condition duct 110, and a blow motor 132 that rotates the
centrifugal fan 131. The amount of air flow caused by the blow
motor 132 (rotation speed of the centrifugal fan 131) is controlled
on the basis of a blow terminal voltage applied thereto via a blow
drive circuit 133.
[0075] The refrigeration cycle 140 is made up of the compressor 60
that compresses a coolant when driven by the engine 10 or the
motor-generator 64, a condenser 142 that condenses and liquefies
the compressed coolant, a receiver 143 that separates the condensed
and liquefied coolant into gas and liquid parts, and lets only the
liquid coolant flow downstream, an expansion valve 144 that
decompresses and expands the liquid coolant, an evaporator 145 that
evaporates the decompressed and expanded coolant, a coolant piping
that connects the components in a circuit manner, etc.
[0076] The compressor 60 is connected with an electromagnetic
clutch 146 that connects and disconnects transfer of drive power
from the engine 10 or the motor-generator 64 to the compressor 60.
The electromagnetic clutch 146 is controlled by a clutch drive
circuit 147. When the electromagnetic clutch 146 is turned on,
drive power from the engine 10 or the motor-generator 64 is
transferred to the compressor 60, so that an air cooling operation
by the evaporator 145 is performed. When the electromagnetic clutch
146 is turned off, the compressor 60 is disconnected from the
engine 10 or the motor-generator 64, thereby stopping the air
cooling operation performed by the evaporator 145. The condenser
142 is an outside-cabin heat exchanger that is located such that it
can easily receive wind caused by the running of the vehicle
(hereinafter, referred to as "run wind"), and that conducts heat
exchange between the coolant flowing inside and the run wind and/or
the outside air sent by a cooling fan 148.
[0077] The cooling water circuit 150 is a circuit for circulating
the cooling water subjected to heat exchange in the water jacket of
the engine 10 via the water pump 59 driven by the engine 10 or the
motor-generator 64, and has a radiator, a thermostat (which are not
shown), and a heater core 151. The heater core 151, which
corresponds to a heating heat exchanger, allows the cooling water
warmed in exchange for cooling the engine 10 to flow therein, and
heats cold air using the cooling water as a heat source.
[0078] The heater core 151 is disposed in the air-condition duct
110 downstream of the evaporator 145 so as to partially close the
air passage. An air mix damper 152 is pivotably disposed upstream
of the heater core 151. The air mix damper 152 is driven by an
actuator 153 formed by a servo-motor or the like, and adjusts the
blow-off temperature of air blown out into the cabin by adjusting
the proportion between the amount of air that passes through the
heater core 151 and the amount of air that bypasses the heater core
151 in accordance with the stopped position of the damper.
[0079] The air-conditioner ECU 107 and the engine ECU 70 are
interconnected for communication, and exchange data needed for
controls. The air-conditioner ECU 107 is connected with a control
panel P provided at the front side of the cabin, an inside air
temperature sensor 171 for detecting the air temperature in the
cabin, an outside air temperature sensor 172 for detecting the air
temperature outside the cabin, a solar radiation sensor 173 for
detecting the intensity of solar radiation into the cabin, an
evaporator outlet temperature sensor 174 for detecting the cooled
air temperature at the outlet of the evaporator 145, etc.
Therefore, the air-conditioner ECU 107 receives inputs of switch
signals from various switches provided on the control panel P, and
sensor signals from various sensors. The switches on the control
panel P include, for example, an air-conditioner switch for
commanding the activation and stop of the compressor 60 by engaging
and disengaging the electromagnetic clutch 146, an inlet changing
switch for changing the inlet mode, a temperature setting lever for
setting the inside-cabin temperature at a desired temperature, an
air volume changing lever for changing the amount of air blown by
the centrifugal fan 131, an outlet changing switch for changing the
outlet mode, etc.
[0080] Next described will be an automatic stop process and an
automatic startup process performed by the engine ECU 70. FIG. 3 is
a flowchart illustrating an automatic stop process. FIG. 4 is a
flowchart illustrating an automatic startup process. These
processes are repeatedly executed in short-time cycles.
[0081] When the automatic stop process (FIG. 3) begins, the engine
ECU 70 reads an operation state for determining whether to execute
the automatic stop (S410). For example, the engine ECU 70 inputs,
the engine cooling water temperature THW detected by the cooling
water temperature sensor 84, the operation/non-operation of the
accelerator pedal detected via the idle switch 86, the amount of
charges stored in the battery 68, the operation/non-operation of
the brake pedal detected via the brake saitch 78, the vehicle speed
SPD detected via the vehicle speed sensor 74, etc., into work areas
of the RAM provided in the engine ECU 70.
[0082] Next, it is determined whether an automatic stop condition
is fulfilled on the basis of the aforementioned vehicle operation
state (S420). The engine ECU 70 determines that the automatic stop
condition is met, for example, if all the following conditions (1)
to (5) are fulfilled: (1) a condition that the engine 10 has
already been warmed up, and is not overheated (the engine cooling
water temperature THW is lower than a water temperature upper limit
value THWmax, and is higher than a water temperature lower limit
value THWmin); (2) a condition that the accelerator pedal is not
depressed (the idle switch 86 is on); (3) a condition that the
amount of charges stored in the battery 86 is greater than or equal
to a certain amount; (4) a condition that the brake pedal is
depressed (the brake switch 78 is on); and (5) a condition that the
vehicle is stopped (the vehicle speed SPD is 0 km/h).
[0083] If any one of the conditions (1) to (5) is unfulfilled, it
is determined that the automatic stop condition is not met (NO at
S420), and the process temporarily ends. Conversely, if the
automatic stop condition is met as a driving person stops the
vehicle at an intersection or the like (YES at S420), it is
subsequently determined whether an eco-run execution permission
flag execook is "ON" (S430). The eco-run execution permission flag
execook is a flag set in an eco-run execution
permission-prohibition determining process in which it is
determined whether to permit or prohibit an eco-run stop of the
engine 10 in association with air-conditioning as described below.
If execook="OFF" (NO at S430), indicating that the automatic stop
of the engine 10 is prohibited, the process temporarily ends. That
is, although the automatic stop condition is met, the automatic
stop of the engine 10 is not executed.
[0084] Conversely, if execook="ON", indicating that the automatic
stop of the engine 10 is permitted, an engine stopping process is
executed (S440). For example, the fuel injection from the fuel
injection valve 14 is stopped, and the control of igniting the
mixture in the combustion chamber 20 via the ignition plug 22 is
also stopped. As a result, the fuel injection and the ignition
stop, and the engine 10 immediately stops operating. After that,
the process temporarily ends. In this manner, the automatic stop
process can be executed.
[0085] The automatic startup process (FIG. 4) will next be
described. When the automatic startup process begins, the engine
ECU 70 first reads a state of vehicle operation for determining
whether to execute the automatic startup (S510). For example, the
engine ECU 70 inputs the same data as in S410, that is, the engine
cooling water temperature THW, the operation/non-operation of the
accelerator pedal, the amount of charges stored in the battery 86,
the operation/non-operation of the brake pedal, the vehicle speed
SPD, etc., into work areas of the RAM.
[0086] Subsequently, it is determined whether the engine 10 is in
an automatically stopped state (S520). If the engine 10 is not in
the automatically stopped state (NO at S520), the process
temporarily ends.
[0087] Conversely, if the engine 10 is in the automatically stopped
state (YES at S520), it is subsequently determined whether an
automatic startup condition is met on the basis of the
aforementioned vehicle operation state input in step S510 (S530).
The engine ECU 70 determines that the automatic startup condition
is met, for example, if any one of the following conditions (1) to
(5) is unfulfilled: (1) a condition that the engine 10 has already
been warmed up, and is not overheated (the engine cooling water
temperature THW is lower than the water temperature upper limit
value THWmax, and is higher than the water temperature lower limit
value THWmin); (2) a condition that the accelerator pedal is not
depressed (the idle switch 86 is on); (3) a condition that the
amount of charges stored in the battery 86 is greater than or equal
to a certain amount: (4) a condition that the brake pedal is
depressed (the brake switch 78 is on); and (5) a condition that the
vehicle is stopped (the vehicle speed SPD is 0 km/h). Although the
aforementioned automatic startup conditions (1) to (5) are the same
as those used for determination regarding the automatic stop
condition, the aforementioned conditions are not restrictive, and
conditions other than the conditions (1) to (5) may also be set. It
is also possible to adopt sleeted one or more of the conditions (1)
to (5).
[0088] If any one of the conditions (1) to (5) becomes unfulfilled,
it is determined that the automatic startup condition is met (YES
at S530). Then, the engine ECU 70 performs a setting for starting
an engine startup process (S540), after which the process
temporarily ends. Due to the setting for starting the engine
startup process in step S540, the engine ECU 70 brings the
electromagnetic clutch 48 into an engaged state, and drives the
motor-generator 64. Therefore, the crankshaft 46 of the engine 10
is rotated. Furthermore, a fuel injection process and an ignition
timing control process for the startup time are executed, whereby
the engine 10 is automatically started up. After the engine startup
is completed, a normal fuel injection control process, a normal
ignition timing control process and other processes needed to
operate the engine are started.
[0089] Conversely, if all the conditions (1) to (5) are fulfilled,
it is determined that the automatic startup condition is not met
(NO at S530). Subsequently, it is determined whether the eco-run
execution permission flag execook is "OFF" (S550). If execook="OFF"
(YES at S550), indicating that the automatic stop of the engine 10
is prohibited, then the engine ECU 70 goes to step S540, in which
the engine ECU 70 makes the setting for starting the engine startup
process as mentioned above.
[0090] Conversely, if execook="ON" (NO at S550), indicating that
the automatic stop of the engine 10 is permitted, the engine ECU 70
temporarily ends the process.
[0091] Next described will be the eco-run execution
permission-prohibition determining process executed by the
air-conditioner ECU 107. The eco-run execution
permission-prohibition determining process is illustrated by the
flowchart of FIG. 5. This process is repeatedly executed in a short
time cycle.
[0092] When the eco-run execution permission-prohibition
determining process begins, a needed blow-off temperature TAO and
the engine cooling water temperature THW are first input (S610).
The needed blow-off temperature TAO is a value calculated in the
eco-run control process executed by the air-conditioner ECU 107,
and corresponds to a target blow-off temperature of the air blown
out into the cabin. For example, the needed blow-off temperature
TAO is calculated as a target blow-off temperature of the air blown
out into the cabin, from a set temperature and detected values
obtained via the inside air temperature sensor 171, the outside air
temperature sensor 172, the solar radiation sensor 173, and the
evaporator outlet temperature sensor 174, as in mathematical
expression 1 pre-stored in the ROM.
TAO.rarw.KSET.times.TSET-KR.times.TR-KAM.times.TAM-KS.times.TS+C
[1]
[0093] where TSET is the set temperature set by the temperature
setting lever provided on the control panel P; TR is the inside air
temperature detected by the inside air temperature sensor 171; TAM
is the outside air temperature detected by the outside air
temperature sensor 172; and TS is the amount of solar radiation
detected by the solar radiation sensor 173. Furthermore, in
mathematical expression 1, KSET, KR, KAM and KS are gains, and C is
a constant for correction. As can be understood from mathematical
expression 1, the needed blow-off temperature TAO tends to increase
with decreases in the inside air temperature TR and the outside air
temperature TAM. The needed blow-off temperature TAO also tends to
increase with decreases in the solar radiation TS.
[0094] Subsequently, it is determined whether the needed blow-of
temperature TAO is greater than or equal to a reference temperature
T1 (S620). The reference temperature T1 represents a boundary of
the engine automatic stop prohibition region where the engine
automatic stop is prohibited, as indicated in the graph of FIG. 6.
If TAO<T1 (NO at S620), indicating that the needed blow-off
temperature TAO is within the engine automatic stop permission
region where the engine automatic stop is permitted, the eco-run
execution permission flag execook is then set to "ON" (S609), and
the process temporarily ends without further processing. That is,
if TAO<T1, the engine automatic stop is permitted in view of
heating.
[0095] Conversely, if TAO.gtoreq.T1 (YES at S620), a rising
temperature threshold value Tx is computed from a rising
temperature threshold map based on the value of needed blow-off
temperature TAO (S630). The rising temperature threshold map
corresponds to a line LU of the rising temperature threshold value
within the region of TAO.gtoreq.T1 indicated in FIG. 6. That is,
the value of the rising temperature threshold map increases with
rises in the needed blow-off temperature TAO, and stabilizes at a
substantially constant value at a side of high needed blow-off
temperature TAO.
[0096] The reference temperature T1 used in step S620 is provided
with a hysteresis so as to avoid hunting in control. Subsequently,
a decreasing temperature threshold value Ty is computed from a
decreasing temperature threshold map on the basis of the value of
needed blow-off temperature TAO (S640). The decreasing temperature
threshold map corresponds to a line LD of the decreasing
temperature threshold value in the region of TAO.gtoreq.T1
indicated in FIG. 6. That is, the value of the decreasing
temperature threshold map increases in accordance with rises in the
needed blow-off temperature TAO, and stabilizes at a substantially
constant value at the side of high needed blow-off temperature TAO,
in a state where the value of the decreasing temperature threshold
is less than the value of the rising temperature threshold map.
[0097] The region between the line LU of the rising temperature
threshold value and the line LD of the decreasing temperature
threshold value is a hysteresis region. That is, if the engine
cooling water temperature THW is rising during the state of the
eco-run execution permission flag execook="OFF", the line LU of the
rising temperature threshold value becomes a threshold value for
changing the eco-run execution permission flag execook to the "ON"
state. Conversely, if the engine cooling water temperature THW is
decreasing during the state of the eco-run execution permission
flag execook="ON", the line LD of the decreasing temperature
threshold value becomes a threshold value for changing the eco-run
execution permission flag execook to the "OFF" state.
[0098] The aforementioned line LU of the rising temperature
threshold value is set, taking into consideration the delay of
cabin temperature with respect to increase in the engine cooling
water temperature THW, and is set so that once the line LU is
reached as temperature rises, a blow-off temperature that does not
discomfort an occupant is achieved. After the line LU is reached,
the cabin temperature rises with a delay relative to the engine
cooling water temperature THW. Therefore, if the engine 10 is
automatically stopped and the engine cooling water temperature THW
begins to drop from the line LU of the rising temperature threshold
value, the decreasing blow-off temperature does not discomfort an
occupant for a certain time.
[0099] The line LD of the decreasing temperature threshold value is
set, taking into consideration the delay of the cabin temperature
with respect to decrease in the engine cooling water temperature
THW. Therefore, the width of hysteresis set between the line LU of
the rising temperature threshold value and the line LD of the
decreasing temperature threshold value is considerably greater than
the width of hysteresis to be set for the purpose of preventing
hunting in control (which, in this case, means frequent changing
between the prohibition and permission of execution of the eco-run)
(the width being, for example, 1.degree. C.). For example, in FIG.
6, the width Tu1-Td1 at the side of high needed blow-off
temperature TAO is set at about 15.degree. C., and the width
Tu2-Td2 at the side of low needed blow-off temperature TAO is set
at about 5.degree. C.
[0100] Subsequently, it is determined whether the present state of
the eco-run execution permission flag execook="OFF" (S650). If the
eco-run execution permission flag execook="ON" (NO at S650), it is
subsequently determined whether the engine cooling water
temperature THW is less than or equal to the decreasing temperature
threshold value Ty (S660). If THW>Ty (NO at S660), the process
temporarily ends without further processing.
[0101] For example, a case where operation of the engine 10 is
stopped due to execution of step S440 in response to fulfillment of
the automatic stop condition during the state of execook="ON" in
the automatic stop process (FIG. 3), and therefore the engine
cooling water temperature THW is decreasing, will be considered
below. If the engine cooling water temperature THW drops from a
point Ad to a point Bd, the eco-run execution permission flag
execook="ON" is maintained because THW>Ty at the point Bd.
Therefore, if it is determined in step S530 in the automatic
startup process (FIG. 4) that the automatic startup condition is
not met (NO at S530), a determination of "NO" is made at step S550,
and the automatically stopped state is maintained.
[0102] Then, as the automatic stop of the engine 10 continues and
the engine cooling water temperature THW gradually decreases to the
state of THW.ltoreq.Ty (YES at S660) as indicated at a point Cd in
FIG. 6, the eco-run execution permission flag execook is set to the
"OFF" state (S670). Therefore, since a determination of "YES" is
made in step S550 in the automatic startup process (FIG. 4)
although it is determined in step S530 that the automatic startup
condition is not met (NO at S530), step S540 is executed, thereby
starting to operate the engine 10. In the automatic stop process,
too, since the eco-run execution permission flag execook is "OFF"
although it is determined in step S420 that the automatic stop
condition is met (YES at S420), the answer to step S430 is "NO", so
that the operating state of the engine 10 is maintained.
[0103] If the eco-run execution permission flag execook="OFF" is
set, a determination of "YES" is made in step S650 in the next
control cycle of the eco-run execution permission-prohibition
determining process (FIG. 5). Subsequently, it is determined
whether the engine cooling water temperature THW is higher than or
equal to the rising temperature threshold value Tx (S680). As long
as THW<Tx (NO at S680), the process temporarily ends without
further processing.
[0104] If operation of the engine 10 is started in response to the
eco-run execution permission flag execook="OFF" as described above,
the engine cooling water temperature THW starts to gradually rise.
For example, if the engine cooling water temperature THW rises from
a point Au to a point Bu as indicated in FIG. 6, the eco-run
execution permission flag execook="OFF" is maintained since
THW<Tx at a point Bu. Therefore, even if it is determined in
step S420 in the automatic stop process (FIG. 3) that the automatic
stop condition is met (YES at S420), a determination of "NO" is
made in step S430, so that the operating state of the engine 10
continues.
[0105] Then, as the engine 10 continues operating and the engine
cooling water temperature THW gradually rises to the state of
THW.gtoreq.Tx (YES at S680) as indicated at a point Cu in FIG. 6,
the eco-run execution permission flag execook is set to the "ON"
state (S690). Therefore, since a determination of "YES" is made in
step S430 in the automatic stop process (FIG. 3) if it is
determined in step S420 that the automatic stop condition is met
(YES at S420), step S440 is executed. Thus, the automatic stop of
the engine 10 can be executed. In the automatic startup process
(FIG. 4), too, a determination of "NO" is made at step S550 if it
is determined that the automatic startup condition is not met (NO
at S530). Therefore, the engine 10 is not forcibly started up. In
this manner, the automatic stop and automatic startup by the normal
eco-run control can be executed.
[0106] Although the setting of the eco-run execution permission
flag execook is carried out in the eco-run execution
permission-prohibition determining process (FIG. 5), the setting of
the eco-run execution permission flag execook may also be carried
out on the basis of other conditions in accordance with needs. For
example, if the inside air temperature TR is considerably low
(e.g., 15.degree. C. or lower), the eco-run execution permission
flag execook may be set to the "OFF" state so as to prohibit the
eco-run control.
[0107] In the above-described construction of the first embodiment,
steps s410, S420 and S440 in the automatic stop process (FIG. 3)
and steps S510 to S540 in the automatic startup process (FIG. 4)
correspond to processes as engine automatic stop-startup means.
Furthermore, step S430 in the automatic stop process (FIG. 3), step
S550 in the automatic startup process (FIG. 4), and the eco-run
execution permission-prohibition determining process (FIG. 5)
correspond to processes as engine automatic stop
permission-prohibition means.
[0108] The above-described first embodiment of the invention
achieves the following advantages.
[0109] (I) Since the width of hysteresis between the threshold
values Tx and Ty of the engine cooling water temperature THW is set
greater than the width needed to prevent hunting in control, the
threshold value Ty for the time of decrease in the engine cooling
water temperature THW is set at a sufficiently low-temperature side
in comparison with the threshold value Tx for the time of increase
in the engine cooling water temperature THW. That is, when the
engine cooling water temperature THW is decreasing due to the
automatic stop of the engine 10, the cabin temperature corresponds
to a state where the engine cooling water temperature THW is higher
than the present engine cooling water temperature THW, due to a
delay during a transitional period. Therefore, the threshold value
Ty for the time of decrease in the engine cooling water temperature
THW can be set even lower than a threshold value that is conceived
factoring in a width for preventing hunting in control with respect
to the threshold value Tx for the time of increase in the engine
cooling water temperature THW.
[0110] Since the threshold value Ty for the time of decrease in the
engine cooling water temperature THW can be set sufficiently low,
the engine automatic stop prohibition region can be reduced as
indicated in FIG. 6. Hence, the automatically stopped state of the
engine 10 can be maintained for an increased length of time,
thereby enhancing the fuel economy improvement advantage.
[0111] (II) As indicated in FIG. 6, the threshold values Tx, Ty are
variable in accordance with the needed blow-off temperature TAO of
the air-conditioner unit 106, and is set so as to increase with
increases in the needed blow-off temperature TAO. Therefore, in the
case where the needed blow-off temperature TAO is set low in
accordance with the outside air temperature TAM or an occupant's
request, the automatically stopped state can be maintained for a
longer time without adverse effect on air-conditioning, and the
fuel economy improvement advantage can be increased, in comparison
with the case where the needed blow-off temperature TAO is high. In
the case where the needed blow-off temperature TAO is set high, the
automatically stopped state can be prohibited at a relatively early
stage, and therefore, adverse effect on air-conditioning can be
avoided, in comparison with the case where the needed blow-off
temperature TAO is low. In the case where the needed blow-off
temperature TAO is set high, too, the threshold value Ty for the
time of decrease in the engine cooling water temperature THW can be
set sufficiently low, and the engine automatic stop prohibition
region can be reduced, so that the automatically stopped state of
the engine 10 can be maintained for an increased time. Therefore,
the fuel economy improvement advantage can be further enhanced.
[0112] (III) The width of hysteresis between the threshold values
Tx and Ty is set greater for higher needed blow-off temperatures
TAO. In the case where the needed blow-off temperature TAO is high,
the extent of delay of degradation in the air-conditioning comfort
relative to decrease in the engine cooling water temperature THW is
greater than in the case where the needed blow-off temperature TAO
is low. Therefore the width of hysteresis can be set greater in the
case of higher needed blow-off temperature TAO. Therefore, the fuel
economy improvement advantage can be further enhanced.
[0113] (IV) The hysteresis width is set within a range such that
the cabin comfort is not degraded, if the engine cooling water
temperature THW decreases from a state where the automatic stop of
the engine 10 is permitted. Due to the setting of the hysteresis
width within such a range that the cabin comfort is not degraded in
the case of decrease in the engine cooling water temperature THW,
it becomes possible to avoid discomforting an occupant in terms of
air-conditioning and further reduce the engine automatic stop
prohibition region and therefore further enhance the fuel economy
improvement.
[0114] [Second Embodiment]
[0115] A second embodiment of the invention differs from the first
embodiment in that an eco-run execution permission-prohibition
determining process illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 7 is
executed instead of the eco-run execution permission-prohibition
determining process (FIG. 5). In relation to this, the second
embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a rising
temperature threshold map and a decreasing temperature threshold
map indicated in FIG. 8 are used instead of the rising temperature
threshold map and the decreasing temperature threshold map
indicated in FIG. 6. Other constructions are substantially the same
as those in the first embodiment, unless otherwise mentioned.
[0116] When the eco-run execution permission-prohibition
determining process begins, the inside air temperature TR and the
engine cooling water temperature THW are input (S710).
Subsequently, a rising temperature threshold value TRx is computed
from a rising temperature threshold map on the basis of the value
of inside air temperature TR (S720). The rising temperature
threshold map corresponds to a line LRU of the rising temperature
threshold value indicated in FIG. 8. That is, the value of the
rising temperature threshold map tends to decrease with increases
in the inside air temperature TR.
[0117] Subsequently, a decreasing temperature threshold value TRy
is computed from a decreasing temperature threshold map on the
basis of the value of inside air temperature TR (S730). The
decreasing temperature threshold map corresponds to a line LRD of
the decreasing temperature threshold value indicated in FIG. 8.
That is, the value of the decreasing temperature threshold map,
which is lower than the value of the rising temperature threshold
map, tends to decrease with increases in the inside air temperature
TR.
[0118] A region between the line LRU of the rising temperature
threshold value and the line LRD of the decreasing temperature
threshold value is a hysteresis region. That is, if the engine
cooling water temperature THW is rising during the state of the
eco-run execution permission flag execook="OFF", the line LRU of
the decreasing temperature threshold value becomes a threshold
value for setting the eco-run execution permission flag execook to
the "ON" state. Conversely, if the engine cooling water temperature
THW is decreasing while the eco-run execution permission flag
execook="ON", the line LRD of the decreasing temperature threshold
value becomes a threshold value for setting the eco-run execution
permission flag execook to the "OFF" state.
[0119] The line LRU of the rising temperature threshold value is
set, taking into consideration the delay of cabin temperature with
respect to increase in the engine cooling water temperature THW,
and is set so that once the line LRU is reached as temperature
rises, a blow-off temperature that does not discomfort an occupant
is achieved. After the line LRU is reached, the cabin temperature
rises with a delay relative to the engine cooling water temperature
THW. Therefore, even if the engine 10 is automatically stopped and
the engine cooling water temperature THW begins to drop from the
line LRU of the rising temperature threshold value, the decreasing
blow-off temperature does not discomfort an occupant for a certain
time.
[0120] The line LRD of the decreasing temperature threshold value
is set, taking into consideration the delay of the cabin
temperature with respect to decrease in the engine cooling water
temperature THW. Therefore, the width of hysteresis set between the
line LRU of the rising temperature threshold value and the line LRD
of the decreasing temperature threshold value is considerably
greater than the width of hysteresis that is needed for the purpose
of preventing hunting in control (the width being, for example,
1.degree. C.) as mentioned above in conjunction with the first
embodiment. For example, in FIG. 8, the hysteresis width is set in
the range of about 5 to about 15.degree. C.
[0121] Subsequently, it is determined whether the present state of
the eco-run execution permission flag execook is "OFF" (S740). If
the eco-run execution permission flag execook="ON" (NO at S740) and
the engine cooling water temperature THW is decreasing as a result
of execution of the automatic stop (S440 in FIG. 3), it is then
determined whether the engine cooling water temperature THW is
lower than or equal to the decreasing temperature threshold value
TRy (S750). As long as THW>TRy (NO at S750), the process
temporarily ends without further processing. Therefore, if it is
determined in step S530 in the automatic startup process (FIG. 4)
that the automatic startup condition is not met (NO at S530) while
the state of the eco-run execution permission flag execook="ON" is
maintained, the answer to step S550 is "NO", so that the
automatically stopped state is maintained.
[0122] Then, as the automatic stop of the engine 10 continues and
the engine cooling water temperature THW gradually decreases to the
state of THW.ltoreq.TRy (YES at S750), the eco-run execution
permission flag execook is set to the "OFF" state (S760).
Therefore, since a determination of "YES" is made in step S550 in
the automatic startup process (FIG. 4) although it is determined in
step S530 that the automatic startup condition is not met (NO at
S530), step S540 is executed, thereby starting to operate the
engine 10. In the automatic stop process (FIG. 3), since the
eco-run execution permission flag execook is "OFF" (NO at S430)
although it is determined that the automatic stop condition is met
(YES at S420), the operating state of the engine 10 continues.
[0123] If the eco-run execution permission flag execook="OFF" is
set, a determination of "YES" is made in step S740 in the next
control cycle of the eco-run execution permission-prohibition
determining process (FIG. 7). Subsequently, it is determined
whether the engine cooling water temperature THW is higher than or
equal to the rising temperature threshold value TRx (S770). As long
as THW<TRx (NO at S770), the process temporarily ends without
further processing.
[0124] That is, if operation of the engine 10 is started in
response to the eco-run execution permission flag execook="OFF" as
described above, the engine cooling water temperature THW starts to
gradually rise. However, since THW<TRx, the eco-run execution
permission flag execook="OFF" is maintained for an early period.
Therefore, even if it is determined in step S420 in the automatic
stop process (FIG. 3) that the automatic stop condition is met (YES
at S420), a determination of "NO" is made in step S430, so that the
operating state of the engine 10 continues.
[0125] Then, as the engine 10 continues operating and the engine
cooling water temperature THW gradually rises to the state of
THW.gtoreq.TRx (YES at S770), the eco-run execution permission flag
execook is set to the "ON" state (S780). Therefore, since a
determination of "YES" is made in step S430 in the automatic stop
process (FIG. 3) if it is determined in step S420 that the
automatic stop condition is met (YES at S420), the automatic stop
of the engine 10 (S440) can be executed. In the automatic startup
process (FIG. 4), too, a determination of "NO" is made at step S550
if it is determined that the automatic startup condition is not met
(NO at S530). Therefore, the engine 10 is not forcibly started up.
In this manner, the normal eco-run control can be executed.
[0126] In the above-described construction of the second
embodiment, steps s410, S420 and S440 in the automatic stop process
(FIG. 3) and steps S510 to S540 in the automatic startup process
(FIG. 4) correspond to processes as engine automatic stop-startup
means. Furthermore, step S430 in the automatic stop process (FIG.
3), step S550 in the automatic startup process (FIG. 4), and the
eco-run execution permission-prohibition determining process (FIG.
7) correspond to processes as engine automatic stop
permission-prohibition means.
[0127] The above-described second embodiment of the invention
achieves the following advantages.
[0128] (I) As stated above in the advantage (I) of the first
embodiment, since the width of hysteresis between the threshold
values TRx and TRy of the engine cooling water temperature THW is
set greater than the width needed to prevent hunting in control,
the threshold value TRy for the time of decrease in the engine
cooling water temperature THW is set at a sufficiently
low-temperature side in comparison with the threshold value TRx for
the time of increase in the engine cooling water temperature THW.
That is, when the engine cooling water temperature THW is
decreasing, the inside air temperature TR corresponds to the engine
cooling water temperature THW which is higher than its present
actual value, resulting from a delay during a transitional period.
Therefore, the threshold value TRy for the time of decrease in the
engine cooling water temperature THW can be set even lower than a
threshold value that is conceived factoring in a width for
preventing hunting in control with respect to the threshold value
TRx for the time of increase in the engine cooling water
temperature THW.
[0129] Since the threshold value TRy for the time of decrease in
the engine cooling water temperature can be set sufficiently low,
the engine automatic stop prohibition region can be reduced as
indicated in FIG. 8. Hence, the automatically stopped state of the
engine 10 can be maintained for an increased length of time,
thereby enhancing the fuel economy improvement advantage.
[0130] (II) The hysteresis width is set within a range such that
the cabin comfort is not degraded, if the engine cooling water
temperature THW decreases from a state where the automatic stop of
the engine 10 is permitted. Due to the setting of the hysteresis
width within such a range that the cabin comfort is not degraded in
the case of decrease in the engine cooling water temperature THW,
it becomes possible to avoid discomforting an occupant in terms of
air-conditioning and further reduce the engine automatic stop
prohibition region and therefore further enhance the fuel economy
improvement.
[0131] (III) As indicated in FIG. 8, the threshold values TRx, TRy
are variable in accordance with the inside air temperature TR, and
are set so as to decrease with the increases in the inside air
temperature TR. Therefore, in the case where the inside air
temperature TR is high, the automatically stopped state can be
maintained for a longer time without adverse effect on
air-conditioning, and the fuel economy improvement advantage can be
further increased, in comparison with the case where the inside TR
is low. In the case where the inside air temperature TR is low, the
automatically stopped state can be prohibited at a relatively early
stage, and therefore, adverse effect on air-conditioning can be
avoided, in comparison with the case where the inside air
temperature TR is high. Furthermore, in the case where the inside
air temperature TR is low, the threshold value TRy for the time of
decrease in the engine cooling water temperature THW is
sufficiently low. Therefore, the engine automatic stop prohibition
region can be sufficiently reduced, so that the automatically
stopped state of the engine 10 can be maintained for an increased
time. Therefore, the fuel economy improvement advantage can be
further enhanced.
[0132] [Third Embodiment]
[0133] A third embodiment of the invention differs from the first
embodiment in that an eco-run execution permission-prohibition
determining process illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 9 is
executed instead of the eco-run execution permission-prohibition
determining process illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 5. In
relation to this difference, the third embodiment also differs from
the first embodiment in that a rising temperature threshold map
indicated in FIG. 10 and a threshold value correction map indicated
in FIG. 11 are used instead of the rising temperature threshold map
and the decreasing temperature threshold map indicated in the
engine automatic stop permission-prohibition illustrating diagram
of FIG. 6. Other constructions are substantially the same as those
in the first embodiment, unless otherwise mentioned.
[0134] When the eco-run execution permission-prohibition
determining process begins, the inside air temperature TR, the
outside air temperature TAM and the engine cooling water
temperature THW are input (S800). Subsequently, a pre-correction
rising temperature threshold value TRs is computed from a rising
temperature threshold map on the basis of the value of inside air
temperature TR (S810). The rising temperature threshold map
corresponds to a line LRU of the rising temperature threshold value
indicated in FIG. 10. That is, the value of the rising temperature
threshold map tends to decrease with increases in the inside air
temperature TR.
[0135] Subsequently, a threshold value correction amount dTR is
computed from the threshold value correction map on the basis of
the outside air temperature TAM (S820). The threshold value
correction map, as indicated in FIG. 11, tends to increase with
rises in the outside air temperature TAM.
[0136] Then, a rising temperature threshold value TRx is computed
from the pre-correction rising temperature threshold value TRs and
the threshold value correction amount dTR as in mathematical
expression 2 (S830).
TRx.rarw.TRs-dTR [2]
[0137] Expression 2 indicates that the rising temperature threshold
value TRx is set progressively lower as the outside air temperature
TAM rises.
[0138] Subsequently, a decreasing temperature threshold value TRy
is computed from the rising temperature threshold value TRx and a
hysteresis width dH set for preventing hunting in control as in
mathematical expression 3 (S840).
TRy.rarw.TRx-dH [3]
[0139] The hysteresis width dH in expression 3 is a mere hysteresis
width that is needed for preventing hunting in control, and that is
considerably smaller than the widths adopted in the first
embodiment. For example, the hysteresis width dH=1.degree. C. is
set in the third embodiment.
[0140] Subsequently, it is determined whether the present state of
the eco-run execution permission flag execook is "OFF" (S850). The
processes of steps S850 to S890 are substantially the same as the
processes of steps S740 to S780 in the second embodiment. That is,
if the eco-run execution permission flag execook="ON" (NO at S850),
the eco-run execution permission flag execook="ON" is maintained
and the engine automatic stop permitted state continues while the
engine cooling water temperature THW>TRy (NO at S860). However,
when the state of THW.ltoreq.TRy is reached (YES at S860), the
eco-run execution permission flag execook is changed to the "OFF"
state (S870), thus prohibiting the automatic stop of the engine 10.
Therefore, if the engine 10 is in the automatically stopped state,
the engine 10 is forcibly started up.
[0141] If the eco-run execution permission flag execook="OFF" (YES
at S850), the eco-run execution permission flag execook="OFF" is
maintained and the engine automatic stop prohibited state continues
while THW<TRx (NO at S880). However, when the state of
THW.gtoreq.TRx is reached (YES at S880), the eco-run execution
permission flag execook is changed to the "ON" state (S890), thus
permitting execution of the automatic stop of the engine 10.
[0142] In the above-described construction of the third embodiment,
steps s410, S420 and S440 in the automatic stop process (FIG. 3)
and steps S510 to S540 in the automatic startup process (FIG. 4)
correspond to processes as engine automatic stop-startup means.
Furthermore, step S430 in the automatic stop process (FIG. 3), step
S550 in the automatic startup process (FIG. 4), and the eco-run
execution permission-prohibition determining process (FIG. 9)
correspond to processes as engine automatic stop
permission-prohibition means.
[0143] The above-described third embodiment of the invention
achieves the following advantages.
[0144] (I) The threshold values TRx, TRy are variable in accordance
with the inside air temperature TR. Therefore, the threshold values
TRx, TRy can be set at sufficiently low levels in accordance with
the air-conditioning situation indicated by the inside air
temperature TR. That is, at a side of high inside air temperature
TR, the threshold values TRx, TRy can be set low if the engine
cooling water temperature THW decreases. Therefore, particularly in
a region of high inside air temperature TR, the engine automatic
stop prohibition region can be reduced.
[0145] Furthermore, the threshold values TRx, TRy are subjected to
an increasing or decreasing correction, in this embodiment, only a
decreasing correction, in accordance with the outside air
temperature TAM, which is different from the inside air temperature
TR. Therefore, the threshold values TRx, TRy can be set at even
lower levels in accordance with the air-conditioning situation
indicated by the outside air temperature TAM. That is, at a side of
high outside air temperature TAM, the threshold value correction
amount dTR becomes great, so that the threshold values TRx, TRy can
be corrected so as to reduce in magnitude. Hence, particularly in a
region of high outside air temperature TAM, the engine automatic
stop prohibition region can be further reduced.
[0146] Therefore, the automatically stopped state of the engine 10
can be maintained for a long time, and the fuel economy improvement
can be enhanced.
[0147] [Fourth Embodiment]
[0148] A fourth embodiment of the invention differs from the first
embodiment in that an eco-run execution permission-prohibition
determining process illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 12 is
executed instead of the eco-run execution permission-prohibition
determining process illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 5. In
relation to this difference, the fourth embodiment also differs
from the first embodiment in that a rising temperature threshold
map indicated in FIG. 13 and a hysteresis width map indicated in
FIG. 14 are used instead of the rising temperature threshold map
and the decreasing temperature threshold map indicated in the
engine automatic stop permission-prohibition illustrating diagram
of FIG. 6. Other constructions are substantially the same as those
in the first embodiment, unless otherwise mentioned.
[0149] When the eco-run execution permission-prohibition
determining process begins, the inside air temperature TR, the
outside air temperature TAM and the engine cooling water
temperature THW are input (S900). Subsequently, a rising
temperature threshold value TRx is computed from the rising
temperature threshold map on the basis of the value of inside air
temperature TR (S910). The rising temperature threshold map
corresponds to a line LRU of the rising temperature threshold value
indicated in FIG. 13. That is, the value of the rising temperature
threshold map tends to decrease with rises in the inside air
temperature TR.
[0150] Subsequently, a hysteresis width dHis is computed from a
hysteresis width map on the basis of the value of outside air
temperature TAM (S920). The hysteresis width map is indicated in
FIG. 14. The hysteresis width dHis tends to increase with rises in
the external temperature TAM.
[0151] Then, a decreasing temperature threshold value TRy is
calculated as in mathematical expression 4 (S930).
TRy.rarw.TRx-dHis [4]
[0152] Expression 4 indicates that the decreasing temperature
threshold value TRy is set lower as the outside air temperature TAM
rises.
[0153] Subsequently, it is determined whether the present state of
the eco-run execution permission flag execook is "OFF" (S940). The
processes of steps S940 to S980 are substantially the same as the
processes of steps S740 to S780 in the second embodiment. That is,
if the eco-run execution permission flag execook="ON" (NO at S940),
the eco-run execution permission flag execook="ON" is maintained
and the permission for automatic stop of the engine 10 continues
while the engine cooling water temperature THW>TRy (NO at S950).
However, when the state of THW.ltoreq.TRy is reached (YES at S950),
the eco-run execution permission flag execook is changed to the
"OFF" state (S960), thus prohibiting the automatic stop of the
engine 10. Therefore, if the engine 10 is in the automatically
stopped state, the engine 10 is forcibly started up.
[0154] If the eco-run execution permission flag execook="OFF" (YES
at S940), the eco-run execution permission flag execook="OFF" is
maintained and the prohibition of automatic stop continues while
THW<TRx (NO at S970). However, when the state of THW.gtoreq.TRx
is reached (YES at S970), the eco-run execution permission flag
execook is changed to the "ON" state (S980), thus permitting
execution of the automatic stop process.
[0155] In the above-described construction of the fourth
embodiment, steps s410, S420 and S440 in the automatic stop process
(FIG. 3) and steps S510 to S540 in the automatic startup process
(FIG. 4) correspond to processes as engine automatic stop-startup
means. Furthermore, step S430 in the automatic stop process (FIG.
3), step S550 in the automatic startup process (FIG. 4), and the
eco-run execution permission-prohibition determining process (FIG.
12) correspond to processes as engine automatic stop
permission-prohibition means.
[0156] The above-described fourth embodiment achieves the following
advantages.
[0157] (I) The rising temperature threshold value TRx is variable
in accordance with the inside air temperature TR. Therefore, the
rising temperature threshold value TRx can be set at a sufficiently
low level in accordance with the air-conditioning situation
indicated by the inside air temperature TR. That is, at a side of
high inside air temperature TR, the rising temperature threshold
value TRx can be set low if the engine cooling water temperature
THW increases. Therefore, particularly in a region of high inside
air temperature TR, the engine automatic stop prohibition region
can be reduced. Hence, particularly in a region of high outside air
temperature TAM, the engine automatic stop prohibition region can
be reduced, and therefore the fuel economy improvement advantage
can be enhanced.
[0158] (II) Furthermore, the decreasing temperature threshold value
TRy is set below the rising temperature threshold value TRx due to
the hysteresis width dHis set in accordance with the outside air
temperature TAM. The hysteresis width dHis is variable in
accordance with the outside air temperature TAM, and is set
progressively greater as the outside air temperature TAM becomes
higher. A reason for this setting is that in a case where the
outside air temperature TAM is higher, the degree of degradation of
the air-conditioning comfort relative to a decrease in the engine
cooling water temperature THW is less and therefore the hysteresis
width dHis can be set greater than in a case where the outside air
temperature TAM is lower. Therefore, the automatically stopped
state of the engine 10 can be maintained for an increased length of
time, and the fuel economy improvement advantage can be further
enhanced.
[0159] Modifications of the embodiments of the internal combustion
engine control apparatus of the invention will be mentioned
below.
[0160] (a) Although in the foregoing embodiments, the threshold
values, the threshold value correction amount and the hysteresis
width are computed by using maps, those values and amounts may be
determined through calculations based on functions.
[0161] (b) Although the rising temperature threshold map and the
decreasing temperature threshold map in the first embodiment are
formed as linear maps as indicated in FIG. 6, the maps may also be
formed with higher precision as indicated in FIG. 15. This allows
more appropriate control of the automatic stop-automatic startup
process, and further enhances the fuel economy improvement
advantage without degrading the air-conditioning state.
[0162] (c) In each of the foregoing embodiments, the threshold
values or the hysteresis width is set on the basis of the needed
blow-off temperature TAO, the inside air temperature TR or the
outside air temperature TAM. Among these temperature values, the
needed blow-off temperature TAO and the outside air temperature TAM
are values that are related to the cabin temperature. Other values
related to the cabin temperature, for example, values related to
the needed blow-off temperature TAO or the outside air temperature
TAM, may also be used to set threshold values or a hysteresis
width.
[0163] (d) Although in the foregoing embodiments, the
motor-generator 64 is disposed outside the power transmission path
from the engine 10 to the driving wheels, the invention is also
applicable to an internal combustion engine in a hybrid-type system
in which a motor-generator is disposed in a power transmission path
from the engine to driving wheels
[0164] (e) Although in the foregoing embodiments, the engine 10 is
a direct injection type gasoline engine, the invention is also
applicable to other types of engines, such as port injection type
gasoline engines, diesel engines, etc.
[0165] While the invention has been described with reference to
preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments or
constructions. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover
various modifications and equivalent arrangements. In addition,
while the various elements of the preferred embodiments are shown
in various combinations and configurations, which are exemplary,
other combinations and configurations, including more, less or only
a single element, are also within the spirit and scope of the
invention.
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