Starting control apparatus for internal combustion engine

In a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine, which is connected via a damper with a rotating shaft of a motor driven by a battery, a method of rotating said internal combustion engine with a positive torque of said motor so as to start said internal combustion engine with said motor, said method comprising the steps of:

• controlling an output torque of said motor, based on a relationship between an output torque of said internal combustion engine and a torque required for said drive shaft;
• detecting whether the output torque of said motor has a negative value while said motor cranks said internal combustion engine;
• and
• cutting off a supply of electricity from a battery to said motor based upon a determination that the output torque of said motor does not have a negative value.

A staffing control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, which starts an internal combustion engine in a hybrid vehicle that takes out power of said internal combustion engine in an electrical form and outputs power of a motor at least to a drive shaft of said vehicle, said starting control apparatus comprising:

• a motor that produces a positive torque to crank said internal combustion engine at a start of said internal combustion engine;
• a starting-time fuel supply unit that controls a supply of fuel to said internal combustion engine, simultaneously with cranking of said internal combustion engine by said motor;
• a torque control unit that controls an output torque of said motor, based on a relationship between an output torque of said internal combustion engine and a torque required for said drive shaft;
• a torque detection unit for detecting that the output torque of said motor has a negative value;
• and
• an electricity cut-off unit that causes said torque detection unit to carry out the determination while said motor cranks said internal combustion engine, and cuts off a supply of electricity from a battery to said motor when the output torque of said motor does not have a negative value.

In a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine, which is connected with a rotating shaft of a motor driven by a battery, a starting control apparatus that starts said internal combustion engine with a positive torque of said motor, said starting control apparatus comprising:

• a torque control unit that controls an output torque of said motor, based on a relationship between an output torque of said internal combustion engine and a torque required for said drive shaft;
• a torque detection unit for detecting that the output torque of said motor has a negative value;
• and
• a supply of electricity limiting unit that causes said torque detection unit to carry out the determination while said motor cranks said internal combustion engine, and limits a supply of electricity from said battery to said motor when the output torque of said motor does not have a negative value.