# US 10,767,589 B2 · Control device for internal combustion engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,589 B2 - Document ID: US10767589B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/518,663 - Filed: 2015-11-02 - Published: 2017-08-17 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-05 - Assignees: Denso Corporation - Applicants: Denso Corporation - Inventors: Masato Nodera - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767589B2 ## CPC - F02D 41/22: Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions {(in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809)} - F02D 29/02: peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers - F02D 41/009: {using means for generating position or synchronisation signals} - F02D 41/042: {for stopping the engine} - F02D 41/065: {at hot start or restart (F02D41/067 takes precedence)} - F02D 41/26: using computer, e.g. microprocessor - F02D 2041/0092: {Synchronisation of the cylinders at engine start} - F02D 2200/101: Engine speed - F02D 2250/06: Reverse rotation of engine - F02N 11/0822: {related to action of the driver} - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A crank angle sensor that outputs a crank angle signal at a predetermined crank angle by synchronizing rotation of a signal rotor fixed on a crank shaft of an internal combustion engine, an interval of the crank angle signals being longer at a specific crank angle corresponding to a position of a crank position reference part of the signal rotor, includes a backward rotation detecting function that outputs different crank angle signals in a forward rotation of the crank shaft and in a backward rotation of the crank shaft, and a control part disallows the detection of the crank position reference part when a stop request to the internal combustion engine is generated or when the backward rotation of the crank shaft is detected based on the crank angle signal, and controls the internal combustion engine by calculating the crank angle based on the crank angle of the crank position reference part detected before the detection of the crank position reference part is disallowed and the crank angle signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control device for an internal combustion engine, the control device comprising: a crank angle sensor that outputs a crank angle signal at a predetermined crank angle and a regular interval by synchronizing rotation of a signal rotor fixed on a crank shaft of the internal combustion engine in such a manner that an interval of the crank angle signals is longer at a specific crank angle corresponding to a position of a crank position reference part of the signal rotor; and in such a manner that the interval of the crank angle signals at the predetermined crank angle is the regular interval excluding the position of the crank position reference part; and at least one processor configured to detect the crank position reference part based on a time interval of the crank angle signals and controls the internal combustion engine by calculating a crank angle based on the crank angle signal corresponding to the position of the detected crank position reference part and discriminating a cylinder, wherein: the crank angle sensor includes a rotation detecting function that outputs different crank angle signals in a forward rotation of the crank shaft and in a backward rotation of the crank shaft; and the at least one processor is further configured, when a stop request to the internal combustion engine is generated or when the backward rotation of the crank shaft is detected based on the crank angle signal, to disallow the detection of the crank position reference part and to control the internal combustion engine by calculating the crank angle by adding the predetermined crank angle, in response to detection of the crank angle signal, to the crank angle of the crank position detected before the detection of the crank position reference part is disallowed, the at least one processor is further configured to execute an automatic stop of the internal combustion engine when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied, the at least one processor is further configured to execute a restart of the internal combustion engine when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied, the at least one processor is further configured to disallow the detection of the crank position reference part when an automatic stop request to the internal combustion engine is generated, the at least one processor is further configured to execute control of the internal combustion engine by calculating the crank position based on the crank position reference part detected before the detection of the crank position reference part is disallowed, and in a case in which the automatic stop request to the internal combustion engine is generated and a restart request to the internal combustion engine is generated before the internal combustion engine is completely stopped, the at least one processor is further configured to cancel the disallowance of the detection of the crank position reference part when at least one of two conditions of (i) the internal combustion engine is rotated more than a predetermined number of rotation and (ii) a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is more than a predetermined rotation speed is satisfied. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to compulsively allow the detection of the crank position reference part when an initial start request to the internal combustion engine is generated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one processor is further configured, in response to a stop request to the internal combustion engine or detection of the backward rotation of the crank shaft based on the crank angle signal, to disallow the detection of the crank position reference part, to add the predetermined crank angle, in response to detection of the crank angle signal, to the crank angle of the crank position, which is detected before the detection of the crank position reference part is disallowed, to calculate the crank angle to discriminate the cylinder of the internal combustion engine based on a calculation result of the crank angle, and to perform a control of the internal combustion engine based on a discrimination result of the cylinder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one processor is further configured, in response to a stop request to the internal combustion engine or detection of the backward rotation of the crank shaft based on the crank angle signal, to disallow the detection of the crank position reference part, to continue addition of the predetermined crank angle, in response to detection of the crank angle signal, to the crank angle of the crank position, which is detected before the detection of the crank position reference part is disallowed, to calculate the crank angle, to continue discrimination of the cylinder of the internal combustion engine based on a calculation result of the crank angle, and to continue at least one of fuel injection control or ignition control of the internal combustion engine based on a discrimination result of the cylinder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one processor is further configured to add, to the crank angle, a crank angle corresponding to the crank position reference part, after the detection of the crank position reference part is disallowed. ### Claim 6 A control device for an internal combustion engine, the control device comprising: a crank angle sensor that outputs a crank angle signal at a predetermined crank angle by synchronizing rotation of a signal rotor fixed on a crank shaft of the internal combustion engine in such a manner that an interval of the crank angle signals is longer at a specific crank angle corresponding to a position of a crank position reference part of the signal rotor and in such a manner that the interval of the crank angle signals at the predetermined crank angle is a regular interval excluding the position of the crank position reference part; and at least one processor configured to detect the crank position reference part based on a time interval of the crank angle signals and controls the internal combustion engine by calculating a crank angle based on the crank angle signal corresponding to the position of the detected crank position reference part and discriminating a cylinder, wherein: the crank angle sensor includes a rotation detecting function that outputs different crank angle signals in a forward rotation of the crank shaft and in a backward rotation of the crank shaft; and the at least one processor is further configured, when a stop request to the internal combustion engine is generated or when the backward rotation of the crank shaft is detected based on the crank angle signal, to disallow the detection of the crank position reference part and to control the internal combustion engine by calculating the crank angle by adding the predetermined crank angle, in response to detection of the crank angle signal, to the crank angle of the crank position detected before the detection of the crank position reference part is disallowed, the at least one processor is further configured to execute an automatic stop of the internal combustion engine when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied, the at least one processor is further configured to execute a restart of the internal combustion engine when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied, the at least one processor is further configured to disallow the detection of the crank position reference part when an automatic stop request to the internal combustion engine is generated, the at least one processor is further configured to execute control of the internal combustion engine by calculating the crank position based on the crank position reference part detected before the detection of the crank position reference part is disallowed, and in a case in which the automatic stop request to the internal combustion engine is generated and a restart request to the internal combustion engine is generated before the internal combustion engine is completely stopped, the at least one processor is further configured to cancel the disallowance of the detection of the crank position reference part when at least one of two conditions of (i) the internal combustion engine is rotated more than a predetermined number of rotation and (ii) a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is more than a predetermined rotation speed is satisfied. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The control device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein: the predetermined crank angle is an angle between two protrusions that are disposed on an outer peripheral part of a signal rotor and are adjacent to each other. ### Claim 8 A control device for an internal combustion engine, the control device comprising: a crank angle sensor that outputs a crank angle signal at a predetermined crank angle and a regular interval by synchronizing rotation of a signal rotor fixed on a crank shaft of the internal combustion engine in such a manner that an interval of the crank angle signals is longer at a specific crank angle corresponding to a position of a crank position reference part of the signal rotor; and in such a manner that the interval of the crank angle signals at the predetermined crank angle is the regular interval excluding the position of the crank position reference part; and at least one processor configured to detect the crank position reference part based on a time interval of the crank angle signals and controls the internal combustion engine by calculating a crank angle based on the crank angle signal corresponding to the position of the detected crank position reference part and discriminating a cylinder, wherein: the crank angle sensor includes a rotation detecting function that outputs different crank angle signals in a forward rotation of the crank shaft and in a backward rotation of the crank shaft; and the at least one processor is further configured, when a stop request to the internal combustion engine is generated or when the backward rotation of the crank shaft is detected based on the crank angle signal, to disallow the detection of the crank position reference part, and to control the internal combustion engine by calculating the crank angle based on the crank angle of the crank position reference part, which is detected before the detection of the crank position reference part is disallowed, and the crank angle signal, the at least one processor is further configured, when the crank angle is matched with a crank angle corresponding to the crank position reference part after the detection of the crank position reference part is disallowed, to add a reference crank angle, which corresponds to crank angle signals of the crank position reference part, to the crank angle, and to subsequently calculate the crank angle by adding the crank angle signal, in response to detection of the crank angle signal, to the crank angle, the at least one processor is further configured to execute an automatic stop of the internal combustion engine when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied, the at least one processor is further configured to execute a restart of the internal combustion engine when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied, the at least one processor is further configured to disallow the detection of the crank position reference part when an automatic stop request to the internal combustion engine is generated, the at least one processor is further configured to execute control of the internal combustion engine by calculating the crank position based on the crank position reference part detected before the detection of the crank position reference part is disallowed, and in a case in which the automatic stop request to the internal combustion engine is generated and a restart request to the internal combustion engine is generated before the internal combustion engine is completely stopped, the at least one processor is further configured to cancel the disallowance of the detection of the crank position reference part when at least one of two conditions of (i) the internal combustion engine is rotated more than a predetermined number of rotation and (ii) a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is more than a predetermined rotation speed is satisfied.