Engine output control apparatus

An engine output control apparatus for use in a vehicle having an engine, said apparatus comprising:

• first means for setting as a first target drive torque a target value of torque, which is to be transmitted to a vehicle drive shaft, in accordance with an amount of operation of a manually operated member;
• second means for detecting wheel slippage and for setting, based on the wheel slippage, a second target drive torque of the vehicle drive shaft, said second target drive torque being required to reduce the wheel slippage;
• third means for setting a third target drive torque of the vehicle drive shaft, said third target drive torque being required to permit constant-speed running of the vehicle in a state that the manually operated member is not actuated;
• selection control means for setting as an operation mode of the vehicle one of three operation modes consisting of a first operation mode, a second operation mode and a third operation mode;
• selecting means for selecting said first target drive torque set by said first target drive torque setting means when said first operation mode is set by said selection control means, said second target drive torque set by said second target drive torque setting means when said second operation mode is set by said selection control means, or said third target drive torque set by said third target drive setting means when said third operation mode is set by said selection control means;
• engine output adjusting means for adjusting an output of the engine;
• setting means for setting as an engine output control amount a control amount, which is required for the engine output adjusting means to allow the engine to output to the vehicle drive shaft a torque equal to the target drive torque selected by the selecting means, on the basis of the target drive torque and a gear ratio of a speed stage which is in use in a transmission of said vehicle;
• and
• control means for controlling the engine output adjusting means based on the engine output control amount set by the engine output control amount setting means.

A method for controlling output of a vehicle engine, said method comprising the steps of:

• setting a first target engine control amount in accordance with an amount of operation of a manually operated member;
• detecting wheel slippage;
• setting a second target engine control amount, based on the wheel slippage, said second target engine control amount being required to reduce slippage;
• detecting whether the manually operated member has been actuated;
• setting a third target engine control amount required to permit constant-speed running of the vehicle when the manually operated member has not been actuated;
• setting as an operation mode of the vehicle one of three operation modes consisting of a first operation mode, a second operation mode and a third operation mode;
• selecting said first target engine control amount when said first operation mode is set, said second target engine control amount when said second operation mode is set, or said third target engine control amount when said third operation mode is set;
• setting as an engine output control amount a control amount required for an engine output adjusting means to allow the engine to output a torque equal to the selected target engine control amount;
• and
• controlling the engine output adjusting means based on the set engine output control amount.

A method for controlling output of a vehicle engine, said method comprising the steps of:

• setting a first target amount of engine output torque in accordance with an amount of operation of a manually operated member;
• detecting wheel slippage;
• setting, based on the wheel slippage, a second target engine output torque, said second target engine output torque being required to reduce slippage;
• detecting whether the manually operated member has been actuated;
• setting a third target engine output torque required to permit constant-speed running of the vehicle when the manually operated member has not been actuated;
• setting as an operation mode of the vehicle one of three operation modes consisting of a first operation mode, a second operation mode and a third operation modes;
• selecting said first target engine control amount when said first operation mode is set, said second target engine control amount when said second operation mode is set, or said third target engine control amount when said third operation mode is set;
• setting as an engine output control amount a control amount required for an engine output adjusting means to allow the engine to output a torque equal to the selected target engine output torque;
• and
• controlling the engine output adjusting means based on the set engine output control amount.