# US 2024/0200501 A1 · Controller and control method 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 2024/0200501 A1 - Document ID: US20240200501A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/542,049 - Filed: 2023-12-15 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-20 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yuto IKEDA; Koji UMEZAWA; Makoto YAMAZAKI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240200501A1 ## CPC - F02D 41/0027: {the fuel being gaseous (non-electrical control F02D19/02)} - F02D 19/021: {Control of components of the fuel supply system} - F02D 37/02: one of the functions being ignition - F02D 41/0002: {Controlling intake air} - F02D 41/024: {to increase temperature of the exhaust gas treating apparatus} - F02D 41/30: Controlling fuel injection {(F02D41/182, F02D41/24 take precedence)} - F02D 43/04: using only digital means - F02D 41/1475: {Regulating the air fuel ratio at a value other than stoichiometry} - 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) ## Abstract A first condition is set to such a condition of a fuel injection amount of a fuel injection valve and an opening degree of a throttle valve that an air excess ratio in a cylinder becomes greater than or equal to a prescribed value set as a value greater than 1.2 while satisfying a target output of an internal combustion engine. A second condition is set to such a condition of the fuel injection amount and the opening degree of the throttle valve that the air excess ratio in the cylinder becomes 1 or less while satisfying the target output of the internal combustion engine. A controller of the internal combustion engine is configured to obtain the first and second operating conditions that correspond to the target output, and select one of the operating conditions in accordance with the operating situation of the internal combustion engine. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A controller for an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine includes a cylinder, a fuel injection valve that supplies hydrogen gas into the cylinder, and a throttle valve that adjusts an intake air amount, a first operating condition is set to such a condition of a fuel injection amount of the fuel injection valve and an opening degree of the throttle valve that an air excess ratio in the cylinder becomes greater than or equal to a prescribed value predetermined as a value greater than 1.2 while satisfying a target output of the internal combustion engine, a second operating condition is set to such a condition of the fuel injection amount and the opening degree that the air excess ratio in the cylinder becomes 1 or less while satisfying the target output, and the controller is configured to execute an obtaining process of obtaining the first operating condition and the second operating condition that correspond to the target output, and a selecting process of selecting one of the first operating condition and the second operating condition obtained in the obtaining process according to an operating situation of the internal combustion engine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The controller for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to, in the selecting process, select the first operating condition when the target output is less than or equal to a predetermined determination value, and select the second operating condition when the target output is greater than the determination value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The controller for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to select the second operating condition in the selecting process when a first specific condition is satisfied that requires limiting of a rotational speed of an output shaft of the internal combustion engine to be less than a prescribed rotational speed, and the target output can be achieved under both the first operating condition and the second operating condition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The controller for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to select the first operating condition in the selecting process when a second specific condition is satisfied that requires limiting of a torque of the internal combustion engine to be less than a prescribed torque, and the target output can be achieved under both the first operating condition and the second operating condition. ### Claim 5 A control method for an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine includes a cylinder, a fuel injection valve that supplies hydrogen gas into the cylinder, and a throttle valve that adjusts an intake air amount, a first operating condition is set to such a condition of a fuel injection amount of the fuel injection valve and an opening degree of the throttle valve that an air excess ratio in the cylinder becomes greater than or equal to a prescribed value predetermined as a value greater than 1.2 while satisfying a target output of the internal combustion engine, a second operating condition is set to such a condition of the fuel injection amount and the opening degree that the air excess ratio in the cylinder becomes 1 or less while satisfying the target output, and the control method comprises: obtaining the first operating condition and the second operating condition that correspond to the target output; and selecting one of the first operating condition and the second operating condition obtained in the obtaining in accordance with an operating situation of the internal combustion engine.