Method and apparatus for control of the start-up air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine

A method for controlling a start-up air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine comprising:

• detecting an engine start-up;
• setting a start-up fuel injection amount of a fuel injection valve installed in an engine intake system;
• supplying fuel to the engine from said fuel injection valve in an amount set by said start-up fuel injection amount setting step;
• detecting shut-down of the engine;
• estimating an amount of fuel leaked from said fuel injection valve into the intake system of the engine during the period from engine shut-down until restart;
• correcting, on the basis of the leakage amount estimated by said fuel leakage amount estimation step, a start-up intake flow rate;
• and
• supplying intake air, using an intake flow rate control means provided in the intake system of the engine, to the engine at a flow rate corrected by said correcting step.

A method for controlling a start-up air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine comprising:

• detecting an engine start-up;
• setting a start-up fuel injection amount of a fuel injection valve installed in an engine intake system;
• supplying fuel to the engine from said fuel injection valve in an amount set by said start-up fuel injection amount setting step;
• detecting shut-down of the engine;
• estimating an amount of fuel leaked from said fuel injection valve into the intake system of the engine during the period from engine shut-down until restart;
• correcting, on the basis of the leakage amount estimated by said fuel leakage amount estimation step, the start-up fuel injection amount set by said start-up fuel injection amount setting step;
• supplying fuel to the engine from said fuel injection valve in an amount corrected by said correcting step;
• correcting, on the basis of the leakage amount estimated by said fuel leakage amount estimation step, a start-up intake flow rate;
• and
• Supplying intake air, using an intake flow rate control means provided in the intake system of the engine, to the engine at a flow rate corrected by said second recited correcting stem.

An apparatus for controlling a start-up air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine comprising:

• start-up detection means for detecting engine start-up;
• start-up fuel injection amount setting means for setting a start-up fuel injection amount of a fuel injection valve installed in an engine intake system;
• fuel supply means for supplying fuel from said fuel injection valve in an amount set by said start-up fuel injection amount setting means;
• shut down detection means for detecting shut-down of the engine;
• fuel leakage amount estimation means for estimating an amount of fuel leaked from said fuel injection valve into the intake system of the engine during the period from engine shut-down until restart;
• and
• start-up fuel injection amount correction means for correcting, on the basis of the leakage amount estimated by said fuel leakage amount estimation means, the start-up fuel injection amount set by said start-up fuel injection amount setting means.

An apparatus for controlling a start-up air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine comprising:

• start-up detection means for detecting engine start-up;
• start-up fuel injection amount setting means for setting a start-up fuel injection amount of a fuel injection valve installed in an engine intake system;
• fuel supply means for supplying fuel from said fuel injection valve in an amount set by said start-up fuel injection amount setting means;
• shut down detection means for detecting shut-down of the engine;
• fuel leakage amount estimation means for estimating an amount of fuel leaked from said fuel injection valve into an intake system of the engine during the period from engine shut-down until restart;
• and
• start-up intake flow rate correction means for correcting, on the basis of the leakage amount estimated by said fuel leakage amount estimation means, a start-up intake flow rate, using an intake flow rate control means provided in an intake system of the engine.

An apparatus for controlling a start-up air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine comprising:

• start-up detection means for detecting engine start-up;
• start-up fuel injection amount setting means for setting a start-up fuel injection amount of a fuel injection valve installed in an engine intake system;
• fuel supply means for supplying fuel from said fuel injection valve in an amount set by said start-up fuel injection amount setting means;
• shut down detection means for detecting shut-down of the engine;
• fuel leakage amount estimation means for estimating an amount of fuel leaked from said fuel injection valve into the intake system of the engine during the period from engine shut-down until restart;
• start-up fuel injection amount correction means for correcting, on the basis of the leakage amount estimated by said fuel leakage amount estimation means, the start-up fuel injection amount set by said start-up fuel injection amount setting means;
• and
• start-up intake flow rate correction means for correcting, on the basis of the leakage amount estimated by said fuel leakage amount estimation step, a start-up intake flow rate, using an intake flow rate control means provided in an intake system of the engine.