Automatic control apparatus for engine

An automatic control apparatus for an engine, comprising:

• an operation position detection portion that is equipped on a vehicle with a mechanical shift lever, which is operated by a driver to switch shift stages of a transmission between a plurality of shift ranges, to detect an operation position of the mechanical shift lever;
• an idling stop control portion that performs an idling stop function to automatically stop the engine when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the case where the operation position of the mechanical shift lever is located at a first specific range as a part of all the shift ranges, and that performs an idling start function to automatically restart the engine in the case where, after the operation position of the mechanical shift lever is switched from the first specific range to a second specific range different from the first specific range while the engine is stopped by the idling stop function, the operation position of the mechanical shift lever is maintained at the second specific range for a predetermined time;
• an operation speed detection portion that detects an operation speed of the mechanical shift lever when the operation position of the mechanical shift lever is switched from the first specific range to the second specific range while the engine is stopped by the idling stop function;
• and
• a time variation portion that varies the predetermined time according to the operation speed detected by the operation speed detection portion.

An automatic control apparatus for an engine, comprising:

• an operation position sensor that is equipped on a vehicle with a mechanical shift lever, which is operated by a driver to switch shift stages of a transmission between a plurality of shift ranges, to detect an operation position of the mechanical shift lever;
• and
• an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to:
• perform an idling stop function to automatically stop the engine when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the case where the operation position of the mechanical shift lever is located at a first specific range as a part of all the shift ranges;
• perform an idling start function to automatically restart the engine in the case where, after the operation position of the mechanical shift lever is switched from the first specific range to a second specific range different from the first specific range while the engine is stopped by the idling stop function, the operation position of the mechanical shift lever is maintained at the second specific range for a predetermined time;
• determine whether or not the driver has an intention to start the vehicle when the operation position of the mechanical shift lever is switched from the first specific range to the second specific range while the engine is stopped by the idling stop function;
• set the predetermined time to be shorter in the case where the start intention determination portion determines that the driver has the intention to start the vehicle than when it is determined that there is no intention to start the vehicle;
• and
• determine whether or not the driver has the intention to start the vehicle based on whether or not a hazard warning lamp switch is turned on, whether or not a steering operation of a predetermined amount or above is performed, or whether or not a parking brake is operated.