# US 2013/0152887 A1 · Control apparatus for internal combustion engine

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- Number: US 2013/0152887 A1
- Document ID: US20130152887A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/262,871
- Filed: 2010-08-25
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2010-08-25
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Yoshiaki Miyazato; Toshio Imamura; Yuu Yokoyama; Satoshi Yoshi; Yoshiki Endo; Yuu Ueda; Hiroyuki Ishii
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152887A1

## CPC

- F01L 1/344: changing the angular relationship between crankshaft and camshaft, e.g. using helicoidal gear
- F01L 1/3442: {using hydraulic chambers with variable volume to transmit the rotating force}
- F02N 11/0825: {related to prevention of engine restart failure, e.g. disabling automatic stop at low battery state}
- F01L 2001/34463: {Locking position intermediate between most retarded and most advanced positions}
- F01L 2001/34466: {with multiple locking devices}
- F01L 2800/03: Stopping; Stalling
- F01L 2800/11: Fault detection, diagnosis
- F01L 2800/12: Fail safe operation
- 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)}
- F02N 2200/023: Engine temperature
- F02N 2200/0802: Transmission state, e.g. gear ratio or neutral state
- F02N 2200/101: Accelerator pedal position
- Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies
- Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems
- F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
- F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- 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)
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

An IIS system that performs control related to intermittent stopping of engine operation by idling stop control is applied to an internal combustion engine including a VVT mechanism that makes the valve timing of an engine valve variable and has an intermediate lock mechanism that mechanically locks the valve timing at an intermediate lock position between a most retarded position and a most advanced position. The IIS system is configured to inhibit the engine operation from being intermittently stopped at the occurrence of a failure of the VVT mechanism to avoid the internal combustion engine from being prevented from being restarted after the intermittent stop depending on the occurrence of the failure of the VVT mechanism.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, the apparatus being applied to an internal combustion engine having a variable valve timing mechanism that makes valve timing of an engine valve variable and has an intermediate lock mechanism that mechanically locks the valve timing at an intermediate lock position excluding a most retarded position and a most advanced position, the apparatus intermittently stopping operation of the engine,
wherein the apparatus does not execute an intermittent stopping when the operation range of the variable valve timing mechanism is limited to a range on a retarded side with respect to the intermediate lock position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein even in case the operation range of the variable valve timing mechanism is limited to the range on the retarded side with respect to the intermediate lock position, the apparatus executes the intermittent stopping when engine restartability is exhibited.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein even in case the operation range of the variable valve timing mechanism is limited to the range on the retarded side with respect to the intermediate lock position, the apparatus executes the intermittent stopping depending on the type of failure, which causes the operation range being limited.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein even in case the operation range of the variable valve timing mechanism is limited to the range on the retarded side with respect to the intermediate lock position, the apparatus executes the intermittent stopping depending on the engine operation status at the time.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein even in case the operation range of the variable valve timing mechanism is limited to the range on the retarded side with respect to the intermediate lock position, the apparatus executes the intermittent stopping when the operation range being limited is caused by an unlocking failure of the intermediate lock mechanism.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein even in case the operation range of the variable valve timing mechanism is limited to the range on the retarded side with respect to the intermediate lock position, the apparatus executes the intermittent stopping when the engine temperature is higher than a specific determination value.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 6, wherein as the determination value, a temperature is set that is higher than a minimum value of an engine temperature at which the intermittent stop is permitted to be executed.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus does not execute the intermittent stopping until an elapsed time after the engine starts reaches a specific time.

### Claim 9

(canceled)