Engine control device

An engine control device in a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

• an engine for propelling the hybrid vehicle;
• a motor for propelling the hybrid vehicle;
• an engine stop determination device for determining an appropriateness of stopping the engine;
• an engine stop device for stopping the engine based on a detennination of the engine stop determination device;
• an engine start determination device for detemining an appropriateness of starting the engine;
• an engine starting device for starting the engine based on a determination of the engine start determination device;
• a vehicle forward signal state detecting device for detecting information of a traffic light directly ahead in a vehicle traveling direction by receiving an electromagnetic wave sent by the traffic light indicating a state of the traffic light;
• and
• a map matching system for determining a road or a lane on which the vehicle travels;
• wherein said engine start determination device detennines a timing to start the engine based on information received by the vehicle forward signal state detecting device and the map matching system on the vehicle, when the engine is stopped by the determination of said engine stop determination device while the vehicle is temporarily stopped in compliance with a command signal of the traffic light.

An engine control device in a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

• an engine for propelling the hybrid vehicle;
• a motor for propelling the hybrid vehicle;
• an engine stop determination device for deter an appropriateness of stopping the engine;
• an engine stop device for stopping the engine based on a determination of the engine stop determination device;
• an engine start determination device for determining an appropriateness of starting the engine;
• an engine stating device for starting the engine based on a determination of the engine start determination device;
• and
• a vehicle forward signal state detecting device for detecting information of a trafic light directly ahead in a vehicle traveling direction by receiving an electromagnetic wave emitted by the traffic light;
• an azimuth sensor for determining a road on which the vehicle travels based on the angular difference from the azimuth sensor, wherein said engine start determination device determines a timing to start the enginc based on information of the vehicle forward signal state detecting device and road information obtained based on the azimuth sensor when the engine is stopped by the determination of said engine stop determination device while the vehicle is temporarily stopped in compliance with a command signal of the traffic light.