Torque control method and apparatus for internal combustion engine and motor vehicles employing the same

A torque control method for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, wherein a value of a desired drive shaft torque for said motor vehicle is determined on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke for thereby controlling a drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so as to assume said desired drive shaft torque by controlling a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of said engine to at least a drive shaft of said motor vehicle on the basis of the value of said desired drive shaft torque as determined,

• said method comprising the step of:
• (a) determining a gear ratio of said transmission gear and a flow rate of intake air fed to said internal combustion engine through different procedures in dependence on whether or not a torque transfer mechanism coupling the output shaft of said internal combustion engine to an input shaft of said transmission gear is in a lock-up state in which said output shaft and said input shaft are coupled directly without slip;
• and
• (b) controlling said drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that it assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and engine intake air flow rate such that said determined gear ratio and said determined intake air flow rate can be realized.

A torque control method for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke;
• (b) determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of said engine to at least a drive shaft of said motor vehicle and a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• (c) determining a value corresponding to an actual drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle;
• (d) correcting at least either one of said gear ratio or said intake air flow rate obtained in said step (b) with a deviation of the value determined in said step (c) from said determined desired drive shaft torque;
• and
• (e) controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that said drive shaft torque assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that said gear ratio and intake air flow rate as corrected can be realized.

A torque control method for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke;
• (b) determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of said engine to at least a drive shaft of said motor vehicle and a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• and
• (c) controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that said drive shaft torque assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that said gear ratio and intake air flow rate as determined can be realized;
• wherein said step (b) includes a sub-step in which when a current manual shift range of said transmission gear includes a plurality of gear ratios belonging thereto, a gear ratio which allows an optimal fuel cost to be realized is selected from said plurality of gear ratios.

A torque control method for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke;
• (b) determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of said engine to at least a drive shaft of said motor vehicle and a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• and
• (c) controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that said drive shaft torque assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that said gear ratio and intake air flow rate as determined can be realized;
• wherein said step (b) includes a sub-step in which when a current manual shift range of said transmission gear includes only one gear ratio, said one gear ratio is selected and fixed, and only the intake air flow rate is controlled on the basis of said determined value of the desired drive shaft torque or said accelerator pedal stroke.

A torque control method for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke;
• (b) determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of a torque converter having an input shaft coupled to an output shaft of said engine and a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• and
• (c) controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that said drive shaft torque assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that said gear ratio and intake air flow rate as determined can be realized;
• wherein said step (b) includes a sub-step (b-1) in which when said transmission gear is being manipulated for speed change, the intake air flow rate is controlled on the basis of ratio between a detected value of the output shaft rotation number of said transmission gear and the output shaft rotation number of said torque converter.

A torque control method for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke;
• (b) determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of a torque converter having an input shaft coupled to an output shaft of said engine and a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• and
• (c) controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that said drive shaft torque assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that said gear ratio and intake air flow rate as determined can be realized;
• wherein said step (b) includes the sub-steps of:
• (b-1) determining whether or not speed change operation is being performed on said transmission gear on the basis of a ratio between a detected value of the output shaft rotation number of said transmission gear and the output shaft rotation number of said torque converter;
• and
• (b-2) controlling the intake air flow rate by using a ratio between the detected value of the output shaft rotation number of said transmission gear and the output shaft rotation number said torque converter, when it is determined in said sub-step (b-1) that speed change is being carried out.

A torque control method for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least a detected value of accelerator pedal stroke outputted from an accelerator pedal stroke sensor;
• (b) determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of said engine to at least a drive shaft of said motor vehicle and a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• and
• (c) controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that said drive shaft torque assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that said gear ratio and intake air flow rate as determined can be realized;
• wherein said step (a) includes a sub-step (a-1) in which when said accelerator pedal stroke sensor is abnormal, the desired drive shaft torque is determined on the basis of a detection signal outputted from detecting means capable of outputting a detection signal equivalent to that of said accelerator pedal stroke sensor.

A torque control method for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke;
• (b) determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of said engine to at least a drive shaft of said motor vehicle and a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• and
• (c) controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that said drive shaft torque assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that said gear ratio and intake air flow rate as determined can be realized;
• wherein said step (b) includes the sub-steps of:
• (b-1) selecting the gear ratio at which an optimal fuel cost can be achieved on the basis of at least said determined desired drive shaft torque;
• and
• (b-2) when an absolute value of difference between a fuel consumption at the current gear ratio and a fuel consumption at the gear ratio selected in said sub-step (b-1) exceeds a predetermined value, the current gear ratio is changed over to the gear ratio selected in said sub-step (b-1).

A torque control method for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke;
• (b) determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• (c) selecting a gear ratio allowing an optimal fuel cost to be realized on the basis of at least said desired drive shaft torque as determined, when a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of said engine to a drive shaft of said motor vehicle is shifted upward;
• (d) selecting a gear ratio by searching a map prescribing relations among the accelerator pedal strokes, the vehicle speeds or the engine rotation numbers and the gear ratios on the basis of the accelerator pedal stroke and said vehicle speed or said engine rotation number, when said transmission gear is being shifted downward;
• and
• (e) controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that it assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate such that the gear ratio selected in said step (c) or (d) and the intake air flow rate determined in said step (b) can be realized.

A torque control method for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke;
• (b) determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• (c) selecting a gear ratio allowing an optimal fuel cost to be realized at least on the basis of said desired drive shaft torque as determined;
• and
• (d) controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that it assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that the gear ratio selected in said step (c) or (d) and the intake air flow rate determined in said step (b) can be realized;
• wherein said gear ratio is selected with at least said accelerator pedal stroke as a parameter, when said transmission gear is being shifted downward, while in upward shifting of said transmission gear, said gear ratio is selected at least with the opening degree of the throttle valve being used as a parameter.

A torque control apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, in which a value of a desired drive shaft torque for said motor vehicle is determined on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke for thereby controlling a drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so as to assume said desired drive shaft torque by controlling a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of said engine to at least a drive shaft of said motor vehicle on the basis of the value of said desired drive shaft torque as determined,

• said apparatus comprising:
• decision means for deciding whether or not a torque transfer mechanism coupling an output shaft of said engine and an input shaft of said transmission gear is in a lock-up state in which said input shaft and said output shaft are directly coupled without slip;
• first arithmetic means responsive to the decision that said torque transfer mechanism is in said lock-up state, to thereby arithmetically determine a gear ratio of said transmission gear and a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine on the basis of a value of said desired drive shaft torque as determined through a first procedure;
• second arithmetic means responsive to the decision that said torque transfer mechanism is not in said lock-up state, to thereby arithmetically determine a gear ratio of said transmission gear and a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine on the basis of a value of said desired drive shaft torque as determined through a second procedure which differs from said first procedure;
• and
• control means for controlling said drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that it assumes the value of said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said engine intake air flow rate such that said gear ratio and said intake air flow rate as determined can be realized.

A torque control apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:

• means for determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke;
• means for determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of said engine and at least a drive shaft of said motor vehicle and a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• means for determining a value corresponding to an actual drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle;
• means for correcting at least either one of said gear ratio or said intake air flow rate with a deviation of said determined value of the actual drive shaft torque from said determined desired drive shaft torque;
• and
• means for controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that said drive shaft torque assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that said gear ratio and intake air flow rate as corrected can be realized.

A torque control apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:

• desired drive shaft torque determining means for determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke;
• gear ratio/intake air flow rate determining means for determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of said engine to at least a drive shaft of said motor vehicle and a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• and
• drive shaft torque control means for controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that said drive shaft torque assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that said gear ratio and intake air flow rate as determined can be realized;
• wherein said gear ratio/intake air flow rate determining means includes gear ratio selecting means for selecting a gear ratio which allows an optimal fuel cost to be realized from said plurality of gear ratios when a current manual shift range of said transmission gear includes a plurality of gear ratios belonging thereto.

A torque control apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:

• means for determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke;
• gear ratio/intake air flow rate determining means for determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of said engine and at least a drive shaft of said motor vehicle and a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• and
• means for controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that said drive shaft torque assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that said gear ratio and intake air flow rate as determined can be realized;
• wherein said gear ratio/intake air flow rate determining means includes:
• control means for controlling only the intake air flow rate on the basis of said determined value of the desired drive shaft torque or said accelerator pedal stroke when a current manual shift range of said transmission gear includes only one gear ratio, while said one gear ratio is set fixedly.

A torque control apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:

• means for determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke;
• gear ratio/intake air flow rate determining means for determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of a torque converter having an input shaft coupled to an output shaft of said engine and a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• and
• control means for controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that said drive shaft torque assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that said gear ratio and intake air flow rate as determined can be realized;
• wherein said gear ratio/intake air flow rate determining means includes means for controlling said intake air flow rate on the basis of ratio between a detected value of the output shaft rotation number of said transmission gear and the output shaft rotation number of said torque converter, when said transmission gear is being manipulated for speed change.

A torque control apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:

• means for determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke;
• gear ratio/intake air flow rate determining means for determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of a torque converter having an input shaft to an output shaft of said engine and a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• and
• control means for controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that said drive shaft torque assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that said gear ratio and intake air flow rate as determined can be realized;
• wherein said gear ratio/intake air flow rate determining means includes:
• means for determining whether or not speed change operation is being performed on said transmission gear on the basis of a ratio between a detected value of the output shaft rotation number of said transmission gear and the output shaft rotation number of said torque converter;
• and
• means for controlling the intake air flow rate by using a ratio between the detected value of the output shaft rotation number of said transmission gear and the output shaft rotation number said torque converter when it is determined that speed change is being carried out.

A torque control apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:

• desired drive shaft torque determining means for determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least a detected value of accelerator pedal stroke outputted from an accelerator pedal stroke sensor;
• gear ratio/intake air flow rate determining means for determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of said engine to at least a drive shaft of said motor vehicle and a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• and
• control means for controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that said drive shaft torque assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that said gear ratio and intake air flow rate as determined can be realized;
• wherein said desired drive shaft torque determining means includes means for determining said desired drive shaft torque on the basis of a detection signal outputted from detecting means capable of outputting a detection signal equivalent to that of said accelerator pedal stroke sensor, when said accelerator pedal stroke sensor is abnormal.

A torque control apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:

• means for determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke;
• gear ratio/intake air flow rate determining means for determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of said engine to at least a drive shaft of said motor vehicle and a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• and
• means for controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that said drive shaft torque assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that said gear ratio and intake air flow rate as determined can be realized;
• wherein said gear ratio/intake air flow rate determining means includes:
• gear ratio selecting means for selecting the gear ratio at which an optimal fuel cost can be achieved on the basis of at least said determined desired drive shaft torque;
• means for determining an absolute value of difference between a fuel consumption at the current gear ratio and a fuel consumption at the gear ratio selected by said gear ratio selecting means;
• and
• means for changing over the current gear ratio to the gear ratio selected by said gear ratio selecting means when said absolute value is not smaller than a predetermined value.

A torque control apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:

• means for determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke;
• intake air flow rate determining means for determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• first selecting means for selecting a gear ratio allowing an optimal fuel cost to be realized on the basis of at least said desired drive shaft torque as determined, when a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of said engine to a drive shaft of said motor vehicle is shifted upward;
• second selecting means for selecting a gear ratio by searching a map prescribing relations among the accelerator pedal strokes, the vehicle speeds or the engine rotation numbers and the gear ratios on the basis of the accelerator pedal stroke and said vehicle speed or said engine rotation number, when said transmission gear is being shifted downwardly;
• and
• means for controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that it assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that the gear ratio selected by said first or second selecting means and the intake air flow rate determined by said intake air flow rate determining means can be realized.

A torque control apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:

• means for determining a value of a desired drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke;
• intake air flow rate determining means for determining on the basis of the determined value of said desired drive shaft torque a flow rate of intake air fed to said engine;
• gear ratio selecting means for selecting a gear ratio allowing an optimal fuel cost to be realized on the basis of at least said desired drive shaft torque as determined;
• and
• means for controlling the drive shaft torque of said motor vehicle so that it assumes said desired drive shaft torque by controlling said transmission gear and said intake air flow rate so that the gear ratio selected by said gear ratio selecting means and the intake air flow rate determined by said intake air flow rate determining means can be realized;
• wherein said gear ratio selecting means includes:
• means for selecting said gear ratio with at least said accelerator pedal stroke as a parameter, when said transmission gear is shifted downward;
• and means for selecting said gear ratio at least with the opening degree of the throttle valve being used as a parameter, when said transmission gear is shifted upward.