EP0924417B1 - Méthode et dispositif pour commander la quantité d'injection en phase transitoire d'un moteur diesel - Google Patents

Méthode et dispositif pour commander la quantité d'injection en phase transitoire d'un moteur diesel Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0924417B1
EP0924417B1 EP98123368A EP98123368A EP0924417B1 EP 0924417 B1 EP0924417 B1 EP 0924417B1 EP 98123368 A EP98123368 A EP 98123368A EP 98123368 A EP98123368 A EP 98123368A EP 0924417 B1 EP0924417 B1 EP 0924417B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
injection quantity
fuel injection
deceleration
smoothing
acceleration
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98123368A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0924417A3 (fr
EP0924417A2 (fr
Inventor
Akira Kotani
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Toyota Motor Corp
Original Assignee
Toyota Motor Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Toyota Motor Corp filed Critical Toyota Motor Corp
Publication of EP0924417A2 publication Critical patent/EP0924417A2/fr
Publication of EP0924417A3 publication Critical patent/EP0924417A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0924417B1 publication Critical patent/EP0924417B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02DCONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D41/00Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents
    • F02D41/30Controlling fuel injection
    • F02D41/38Controlling fuel injection of the high pressure type
    • F02D41/3809Common rail control systems
    • F02D41/3827Common rail control systems for diesel engines
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02DCONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D41/00Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents
    • F02D41/02Circuit arrangements for generating control signals
    • F02D41/04Introducing corrections for particular operating conditions
    • F02D41/10Introducing corrections for particular operating conditions for acceleration
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02BINTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B3/00Engines characterised by air compression and subsequent fuel addition
    • F02B3/06Engines characterised by air compression and subsequent fuel addition with compression ignition
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02DCONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D2200/00Input parameters for engine control
    • F02D2200/02Input parameters for engine control the parameters being related to the engine
    • F02D2200/04Engine intake system parameters
    • F02D2200/0406Intake manifold pressure
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02DCONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D2200/00Input parameters for engine control
    • F02D2200/02Input parameters for engine control the parameters being related to the engine
    • F02D2200/06Fuel or fuel supply system parameters
    • F02D2200/0606Fuel temperature
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02DCONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D2250/00Engine control related to specific problems or objectives
    • F02D2250/18Control of the engine output torque
    • F02D2250/21Control of the engine output torque during a transition between engine operation modes or states
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02DCONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D2250/00Engine control related to specific problems or objectives
    • F02D2250/31Control of the fuel pressure

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a transient injection quantity control apparatus of a diesel engine, and more particularly, to a transient injection quantity control apparatus of a diesel engine and method for carrying out a smoothing control such that an actual fuel injection quantity is set based on a smoothed fuel injection quantity derived from a smoothing calculation until the smoothed fuel injection quantity reaches a request fuel injection quantity calculated corresponding to an operating condition of a diesel engine for such an instance when changing the actual fuel injection quantity of the diesel engine depending on a request for acceleration or deceleration.
  • Examined Published Japanese Patent Application Nos. HEI 3-61013 and HEI 3-61014 disclose the art for suppressing sharp change in the fuel injection quantity calculated based on the accelerator opening degree so as to prevent a shock in acceleration or deceleration by smoothing the sharp change in an actual accelerator opening degree corresponding to an accelerator operation quantity in spite of a sudden operation of the accelerator pedal.
  • an accelerator opening degree is obtained by smoothing process for smoothed change (hereinafter referred to as “smoothed accelerator opening degree”) instead of the actual accelerator opening degree. Then, the fuel injection quantity is set based on the smoothed accelerator opening degree until the smoothed accelerator opening degree reaches the actual accelerator opening degree.
  • Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 7-150998 discloses the art for carrying out no smoothing processing to the actual accelerator opening degree but using the smoothed fuel injection quantity as an actual injection quantity instead of the basic fuel injection quantity upon determination of a sudden change in the basic fuel injection quantity reflecting the actual accelerator opening degree.
  • a fuel injection quantity is derived from a smoothing calculation to smooth the change (hereinafter referred to as a “smoothed fuel injection quantity”) instead of the requested fuel injection quantity, and then the fuel injection quantity is controlled based on the smoothed fuel injection quantity until the smoothed fuel injection quantity reaches the requested fuel injection quantity.
  • acceleration smoothing processing response to the accelerator pedal will be delayed after acceleration continued for a little while.
  • depression of the accelerator pedal by the driver during deceleration smoothing processing response to the accelerator pedal will be delayed after deceleration continued for a little while.
  • Document JP 60-019943 A discloses a transient injection quantity control apparatus of a diesel engine that executes acceleration smoothing control for setting an actual fuel injection quantity on the basis of an acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity derived from acceleration smoothing calculation until said acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity reaches a requested fuel injection quantity calculated depending on an operating condition of the diesel engine, when increasing the actual fuel injection quantity for acceleration. Furthermore, a deceleration smoothing control is provided for setting an actual fuel injection quantity on the basis of a deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity derived from deceleration smoothing calculation until said deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity reaches a requested fuel injection quantity calculated depending on an operating condition of the diesel engine, when decreasing the actual fuel injection quantity thereof for deceleration. Moreover, a deceleration request determining means is provided for determining the absence of presence of a deceleration request for the diesel engine, and an acceleration request determining means is provided for determining the absence or presence of an acceleration request for the diesel engine.
  • Document DE 39 30 396 A1 discloses a method for setting the actual fuel injection quantity of a multi-cylinder combustion engine. According to this method, a fuel injection control is used during acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle which takes into consideration the amount of fuel which will adhere to the wall of the combustion chamber or is adhered to the wall and will be burnt during the next combustion cycle. By this method, the amount of fuel injected to every combustion chamber shall be calculated separately with high accuracy to improve the running of the engine and the reaction of the engine to a change of the throttle valve.
  • An object of the present invention is to improve the drivability by improving the responsiveness of a diesel engine to a driver's request for acceleration or deceleration even during a smoothing processing of fuel injection.
  • the present invention provides a transient injection quantity control apparatus of a diesel engine that executes acceleration smoothing control for setting an actual fuel injection quantity on the basis of an acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity derived from acceleration smoothing calculation until the acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity reaches a requested fuel injection quantity calculated depending on an operating condition of the diesel engine when increasing the actual fuel injection quantity thereof for acceleration.
  • the transient injection quantity control apparatus of the diesel engine is characterized by including deceleration request determining means for determining absence or presence of a deceleration request for the diesel engine; and deceleration requesting time fuel injection quantity setting means for setting the actual fuel injection quantity to be smaller than the acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity derived from the acceleration smoothing calculation at a time when a deceleration request is detected by the deceleration request determining means during execution of the acceleration smoothing control.
  • the deceleration requesting time fuel injection setting means sets the actual fuel injection quantity to be smaller than the acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity calculated by the acceleration smoothing calculation if the deceleration request determining means determines that there is a request for deceleration during an execution of the acceleration smoothing control. Therefore, a quick response to a driver's request for deceleration can be realized during the acceleration smoothing control, resulting in improved drivability.
  • a degree of reduction of the fuel injection quantity may be set depending on, for example, the level of the deceleration request. If the deceleration request is at a low level, the degree of reduction is set to be lower. If the deceleration request is at a high level, the degree of reduction is set to be higher.
  • the present invention provides a transient injection quantity control apparatus of a diesel engine for injecting fuel to the diesel engine according to either an injection quantity calculated depending on an operating condition of the diesel engine or an acceleration smoothing injection quantity whichever smaller based on the basic injection quantity, and for executing acceleration smoothing injection quantity control when the injection quantity becomes larger than the last injection quantity.
  • the transient injection quantity control apparatus of the diesel engine includes a deceleration request determining means for determining absence or presence of a deceleration request for the diesel engine; and further stopping the acceleration smoothing injection quantity control when a deceleration request is detected by the deceleration request determining means during the acceleration smoothing injection quantity control.
  • the deceleration request determining means may be constructed to determine an absence or presence of the deceleration request for the diesel engine based on the accelerator opening degree or any physical quantity corresponding thereto. If an absence or presence of the deceleration request for the diesel engine is determined based on the accelerator opening degree, a driver's request is directly clarified, an excellent responsiveness can be obtained.
  • the present invention provides a transient injection quantity control apparatus of a diesel engine that executes deceleration smoothing control for setting an actual fuel injection quantity on the basis of a deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity derived from deceleration smoothing calculation until the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity reaches a requested fuel injection quantity calculated depending on an operating condition of the diesel engine (1) when decreasing the actual fuel injection quantity thereof for deceleration.
  • the transient injection quantity control apparatus of the diesel engine includes an acceleration request determining means for determining absence or presence of an acceleration request for the diesel engine; and acceleration requesting time fuel injection quantity setting means for setting the actual fuel injection quantity to be larger than the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity derived from the deceleration smoothing calculation at a time when an acceleration request is detected by the acceleration request determining means during execution of the deceleration smoothing control.
  • the acceleration requesting time fuel injection setting means sets the actual fuel injection quantity to be larger than that of the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity calculated by the deceleration smoothing calculation. This makes it possible to respond to the driver's request for the acceleration immediately during the deceleration smoothing control, resulting in improved drivability.
  • a degree of increase of the fuel injection quantity may be set depending on, for example, the level of the acceleration request. If the acceleration request is at a low level, the degree of increase is set to be lower. If the acceleration request is at a high level, the degree of increase is set to be higher.
  • the present invention provides a transient injection quantity control apparatus of a diesel engine for injecting fuel to a diesel engine according to either an injection quantity calculated depending on an operating condition of the diesel engine or an deceleration smoothing injection quantity whichever smaller based on the basic injection quantity, and for executing deceleration smoothing injection quantity control when the injection quantity becomes smaller than the last injection quantity.
  • the transient injection quantity control apparatus of the diesel engine includes a deceleration request determining means for determining absence or presence of a deceleration request for the diesel engine; and further stopping the acceleration smoothing injection quantity control when a deceleration request is detected by the deceleration request determining means during the acceleration smoothing injection quantity control.
  • the acceleration request determining means may determine absence or presence of an acceleration request for the diesel engine based on an accelerator opening degree or a physical quantity corresponding thereto. If the absence or presence of the acceleration request for the diesel engine is determined based on the accelerator opening degree, a driver's request is directly clarified, thus providing an excellent response.
  • the requested fuel injection quantity calculated depending on the operating condition of the diesel engine can be used.
  • the driver's request for acceleration or deceleration reflects the operating condition of the diesel engine
  • the request for acceleration or deceleration is represented by the requested fuel injection quantity. Therefore, if the absence or presence of the acceleration request is determined by the requested fuel injection quantity, an excellent response can also be obtained.
  • the operating condition of the diesel engine for example, a combination of the accelerator opening degree and diesel revolution can be used. That is, the requested fuel injection quantity may be derived from the accelerator opening degree and diesel revolution.
  • the actual fuel injection quantity is identical to the requested fuel injection quantity. Therefore in such a case, it is permissible to use the actual fuel injection quantity as the physical quantity corresponding to the accelerator opening degree. If the aforementioned diesel engine is used, for example, for driving a vehicle, the transient injection quantity control apparatus of the diesel engine is capable of providing the above described effect in driving the vehicle.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a transient injection quantity control apparatus of an accumulator type diesel engine (common-rail diesel engine) to which the present invention is applied.
  • the accumulator type diesel engine 1 is mounted on a vehicle and used as a driving power source for driving the vehicle.
  • the diesel engine 1 has a plurality of cylinders (four cylinders in this embodiment) #1, #2, #3, #4.
  • An injector 2 constituting a fuel injection means is disposed for a fuel chamber of each of the cylinders #1-#4. Injection of fuel from the injector 2 to each of the cylinders #1-#4 of the diesel engine 1 is controlled by ON/OFF of an electromagnetic valve 3 for injection control.
  • the injector 2 is connected to a common rail 4 serving as an accumulator pipe common to the respective cylinders, such that fuel in the common rail 4 is injected to each of the cylinders #1-#4 through the injector 2 when the electromagnetic valve 3 for injection control is opened.
  • a relatively high pressure equivalent to fuel injection pressure is accumulated continuously in the common rail 4.
  • the common rail 4 is connected to an outlet port 6a of a supply pump 6 through a supply pipe 5 for such accumulation.
  • the supply pipe 5 is provided with a check valve 7 at an intermediate portion thereof. This check valve 7 permits fuel supply from the supply pump 6 to the common rail 4 and restricts a counter flow of the fuel from the common rail 4 to the supply pump 6.
  • the aforementioned supply pump 6 is connected to a fuel tank 8 through an intake port 6b and provided with a filter 9 at an intermediate portion thereof.
  • the supply pump 6 induces fuel from the fuel tank 8 through the filter 9. Further, the supply pump 6 raises a fuel pressure to a requested predetermined pressure level by reciprocating a plunger by means of a cam (not shown) in synchronization with a rotation of the diesel engine 1. Then, the supply pump 6 supplies high pressure fuel to the common rail 4.
  • a pressure control valve 10 is provided in the vicinity of the outlet port 6a of the supply pump 6. This pressure control valve 10 controls the pressure of fuel (or discharge quantity) to be discharged from the outlet port 6a to the common rail 4. If the pressure control valve 10 is opened, excessive fuel that has not been discharged from the outlet port 6a is returned to the fuel tank 8 from a return port 6c provided in the supply pump 6 through a return pipe 11.
  • An intake path 13 and an exhaust path 14 are connected to a combustion chamber of the diesel engine 1.
  • the intake path 13 is provided with a throttle valve (not shown) that is opened or closed depending on the operating condition so as to adjust the flow rate of intake air introduced to the combustion chamber.
  • a glow plug 16 is disposed in the combustion chamber of the diesel engine 1.
  • the glow plug 16 is an auxiliary device for starting the engine for accelerating fuel combustion, which is heated by applying current thereto just before the start of the diesel engine 1 and ignites the fuel by spraying a part of injected fuel thereto.
  • the diesel engine 1 contains various sensors for detecting the aforementioned condition, i.e., the operating condition of the diesel engine 1 of this embodiment. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, an accelerator sensor 21 for detecting an accelerator opening degree ACCPF is provided in the vicinity of an accelerator pedal 15. A full-close switch 22 is provided in the vicinity of the accelerator sensor 21 for outputting a full-close signal when a depression quantity of the accelerator pedal 15 is zero.
  • An intake pressure sensor 23 is provided in the intake path 13 via a filter 17 and a vacuum switching valve (VSV) 18. This intake pressure sensor 23 detects an intake pressure (intake air pressure PM) inside the intake path 13.
  • VSV vacuum switching valve
  • a water temperature sensor 24 for detecting a temperature of cooling water (cooling water temperature THW) is provided in the cylinder block of the diesel engine 1.
  • the diesel engine 1 is provided with a starter 19 for the start thereof.
  • the starter 19 contains a starter switch 25 for detecting its operating condition.
  • the starter switch 25 is operated by a driver from a position in which an ignition switch (not shown) is OFF position to its start position when starting the diesel engine 1.
  • a starter signal STA ON is output.
  • the aforementioned return pipe 11 is provided with a fuel temperature sensor 26 for detecting a fuel temperature THF.
  • the common rail 4 contains a fuel pressure sensor 27 as a fuel pressure detecting means for detecting the fuel pressure PC inside the common rail 4.
  • an NE sensor 28 is provided in the vicinity of a pulser disposed in a crank shaft (not shown) of the diesel engine 1.
  • a rotation of the crank shaft is transmitted to a cam shaft (not shown) for opening or closing an intake valve 31 and outlet valve 32 via a timing belt or the like.
  • This cam shaft is set to rotate at a rotation speed lower than that of the crankshaft by 1/2.
  • a G sensor 29 is provided in the vicinity of the pulser provided in this cam shaft.
  • revolution NE, crank angle CA and top dead center (TDC) of each of the cylinders #1-#4 are calculated according to the pulse signal output from both the sensors 28, 29.
  • an electronic control unit (ECU) 51 for performing various controls of the diesel engine 1 is provided.
  • the ECU 51 executes processing for controlling the diesel engine 1 such as fuel injection quantity control.
  • the ECU 51 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 52, a read-only memory (ROM) 53 containing a predetermined program, map or the like preliminarily memorized therein, a random access memory (RAM) 54 for temporarily memorizing a result of computation executed by the CPU 52, a backup RAM 55 for storing preliminarily memorized data, a timer counter 56, and further contains an input interface 57 and an output interface 58.
  • the respective components 52 to 56 are connected to the input interface 57 and output interface 58 through a bus 59.
  • the aforementioned accelerator sensor 21, intake pressure sensor 23, water temperature sensor 24, fuel temperature sensor 26, fuel pressure sensor 27 and the like are connected to the input interface 57 through a buffer, multiplexer and A/D converter (not shown), respectively.
  • the NE sensor 28 and G sensor 29 are connected to the input interface 57 through a waveform shaping circuit (not shown).
  • the full-close switch 22 and starter switch 25 are directly connected to the input interface 57.
  • the CPU 52 reads a signal applied from each of the aforementioned sensors 21 to 29 through the input interface 57.
  • the electromagnetic valve 3, pressure control valve 10 and VSV 18 are connected to the output interface 58 through each driving circuit (not shown).
  • the CPU 52 controls the electromagnetic valve 3, pressure control valve 10, VSV 18 and the like based on input values read through the input interface 57 in a preferred manner via the output interface 58.
  • FIGs. 3 and 4 are flow charts showing a basic injection quantity calculation routine executed by the ECU 51. This routine is executed by interruption at each crank angle of 180° (each explosion step). Each step of the flow chart corresponding to the respective processing is expressed by "S".
  • a governor injection quantity QGOV (equivalent to a requested fuel injection quantity and also a physical quantity corresponding to accelerator opening degree ACCPF) is obtained (S100).
  • This governor injection quantity QGOV can be derived from the revolution NE of the diesel engine 1 detected by the NE sensor 28 and accelerator opening degree ACCPF detected by the accelerator sensor 21.
  • the governor injection quantity QGOV is calculated by the following equation (1).
  • QGOV A+BxACCPF-CxNE where A is a constant, B is a positive constant, and C is a positive value derived from Table indicating a tendency thereof in a graph shown in FIG. 5 depending on the accelerator opening degree ACCPF.
  • the value of C may be obtained based on the accelerator opening degree ACCPF using an equation for calculating the value C so as to have the same tendency as indicated by FIG. 5.
  • step S100 it is determined whether or not the governor injection quantity QGOV obtained in step S100 is equal to or more than the last basic fuel injection quantity QBASEOL (S110).
  • step S100 For example, if the governor injection quantity QGOV calculated in step S100 is equal to or more than the last basic fuel injection quantity QBSEOL through depression of the accelerator pedal 15 by a driver ("YES" at S110), it is determined whether or not any positive value is set to the governor injection quantity QGOV (S140).
  • governor injection quantity QGOV 0 ⁇ 0 (NO" in S140)
  • the governor injection quantity QGOV is set to the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE (corresponding to the actual fuel injection quantity) (S150).
  • the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE is set as the value of the last basic fuel injection quantity QBASEOL (S160).
  • an accelerator opening degree ACCPF presently detected is set (S162). The processing is terminated.
  • step S140 is executed for the purpose of eliminating the waste fuel injection.
  • step S140 if it is determined QGOV>0 ("YES" in S140), that is, the presence of a request for acceleration is assumed, it is determined whether or not the governor injection quantity QGOV exceeds a road load injection quantity QRL (S170).
  • the road load injection quantity QRL used herein stands for a fuel injection quantity capable of achieving a current revolution NE under no load condition.
  • the road load injection quantity QRL is calculated from a table having the revolution NE as a parameter as shown in FIG. 6.
  • the road load injection quantity QRL is set as the acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMA (S180).
  • the tolerance width ⁇ is a positive value and set to detect whether or not the accelerator opening degree ACCPF has been changed enough to its decreasing side. If the acceleration is being operated or the acceleration is terminated, that is, the driver is depressing the accelerator pedal 15 or the depressing is stopped under a stabilized condition, the accelerator opening degree ACCPF is increased or maintained, resulting in "NO" in step S200.
  • the governor injection quantity QGOV exceeds the acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMA (S220).
  • the road load injection quantity QRL is set as the acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMA while maintaining QRL ⁇ QGOV ("NO" in S220)
  • the governor injection quantity QGOV is set as the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE (S150).
  • the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE is set as the last basic fuel injection quantity QBASEOL (S160), then the accelerator opening degree ACCPF presently detected is set as the last accelerator opening degree ACCPFOL (S162). The processing is terminated.
  • step S100, S110, S140, S170, S180, S200, S220, S150, S160, S162 are continued. That is, each time when the basic injection quantity calculation routine is executed, the governor injection quantity QGOV is always set as the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE by the processing executed in step S150.
  • step S170 the acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMA is calculated by the acceleration smoothing calculation as shown in the equation (2) (S190).
  • QSMA QBASEOL + QSMA1
  • the first acceleration smoothing quantity QSMA 1 is a positive value and derived from a map or equation using the accelerator opening degree ACCPF, revolution NE and shift position as the parameter. This map or equation is set such that the first acceleration smoothing quantity QSMA1 increases as the increase in the accelerator opening degree ACCPF.
  • the value of the first acceleration smoothing quantity QSMA1 corresponding to the revolution NE and shift position is set so as to achieve an appropriate operation of the diesel engine 1 corresponding to the measure for emission control or other functional design with respect to the diesel engine 1.
  • step S220 determination is executed in step S220.
  • the governor injection quantity QGOV has sharply increased to be larger than the acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMA ("YES" in S220)
  • the acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMA is set as the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE (S230) and the processing passes through steps S160, S162, and is terminated.
  • the purpose of the above described processing of steps is to prevent the acceleration shock. Specifically, if the governor injection quantity QGOV exceeds the road load injection quantity QRL to increase the fuel injection quantity sharply, the acceleration shock occurs owing to a sharp increase in the engine torque.
  • the acceleration shock can be prevented by restricting an increase in the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE below the acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMA.
  • a governor injection quantity QGOV is set as the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE (S150) such that the acceleration smoothing control is not executed.
  • the acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMA may reach the governor injection quantity QGOV in the course of executing the above described processing (S100, S110, S140, S170, S190,S200, S220, S230, S160, S162). That is, the determination in step S220 becomes "NO" and the process is returned to a condition where the governor injection quantity QGOV is set as the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE (S150). Then the acceleration smoothing processing is terminated.
  • step S200 a determination in step S200 becomes "YES”. Then, a value derived from the following equation (3) is set as the acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMA (S210).
  • QSMA QBASEOL + QSMA2 where the second acceleration smoothing quantity QSMA2 is a predetermined positive value and smaller than a value which can be taken by the aforementioned first acceleration smoothing quantity QSMA1.
  • step S230 an acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMA to which the second acceleration smoothing quantity QSMA2 is added is set as the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE. Namely, the acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMA having reduced change rate is set as the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE.
  • step S210 is executed based on the determination "YES" in step S200.
  • the increase in the fuel injection quantity can be restrained.
  • step S300 it is determined whether or not the last basic fuel injection quantity QBASEOL exceeds the road load injection quantity QRL.
  • the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMD is set by the deceleration smoothing calculation as shown in the following equation (4) (S310).
  • QSMD QBASEOL - QSMD1
  • the first deceleration smoothing quantity QSMD1 is a positive value, which can be derived from a map or equation using the accelerator opening degree ACCPF, revolution NE and shift position as a parameter.
  • This map or equation is set such that the first deceleration smoothing quantity QSMD1 increases as the accelerator opening degree ACCPF increases.
  • the revolution NE and the first deceleration smoothing quantity QSMD1 with respect to a shift position are set such that an appropriate operation of the diesel engine 1 is achieved corresponding to emission control of the diesel engine 1 and other functional design.
  • the tolerance ⁇ is a positive value and set to detect whether or not the accelerator opening degree ACCPF has been changed sufficiently to the increase side.
  • the tolerance ⁇ may be the same value as the tolerance ⁇ used for the acceleration smoothing control or a different value. Like the tolerance ⁇ , the tolerance ⁇ is appropriately set in the process of control design.
  • step S320 determines "NO".
  • the governor injection quantity QGOV exceeds the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMD (S340). If the driver is quickly releasing the accelerator pedal 15 and the decrease in the governor injection quantity QGOV is faster than the decrease in the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMD set in step S310, the relationship becomes QSMD>QGOV ("NO" in S340).
  • the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMD is set as the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE (S360). If the driver is releasing the accelerator pedal 15 slowly and the decrease in the governor injection quantity QGOV is slower than the decrease in the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMD set in step S310, the relationship becomes QSMD ⁇ QGOV ("YES" in S340).
  • the governor injection quantity QGOV is set as the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE (S350).
  • the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE is set as the last basic fuel injection quantity QBASEOL (S160), and an accelerator opening degree ACCPF currently detected is set as the last accelerator opening degree ACCPFOL (S162) and then the processing is terminated.
  • step S100, S110, S300, S310, S340, S350 (or S360), S160, S162 will be continued. That is, each time when the basic injection quantity calculation routine is executed, either the governor injection quantity QGOV or deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QAMD which is larger fuel injection quantity is set as the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE by execution in step S350 or step S360.
  • step S340 If the fuel injection quantity is reduced sharply in a fuel injection quantity range exceeding the road load injection quantity QRL, a deceleration shock is caused by the quick drop of a driving torque. Therefore, this may restrict the decrease in the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE to be the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMD or less. That is, determination of "NO" in step S340 and execution of step S360 carries out the deceleration smoothing processing, thus preventing the deceleration shock.
  • step S340 determination is executed in step S340. If it is determined that the governor injection quantity QGOV has been set to the value exceeding 0, the relationship becomes QSMD ⁇ QGOV ("YES" in step 340). Therefore the governor injection quantity QGOV is set as the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE (S350).
  • the governor injection quantity QGOV has become smaller than the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMD at the time of processing the basic injection quantity calculation routine just before the quick release of the accelerator pedal 15. Therefore, if the governor injection quantity QGOV is set as the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE in step S350, the fuel injection quantity will decrease stepwise. However, such stepwise decrease occurs only in a state where the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE has become equal to or less than the road load injection quantity QRL. Therefore torque substantially affecting the vehicle speed is not changed by the decrease in the fuel injection quantity, resulting in no deceleration shock.
  • the governor injection quantity QGOV is returned to a state reflecting the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE.
  • the relationship becomes QSMD ⁇ QGOV ("YES" in S340).
  • the governor injection quantity QGOV is set as the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE (S350).
  • the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMD is set as the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE , i.e., the deceleration smoothing control is being executed upon quick release of the accelerator pedal 15, if the driver depresses the accelerator pedal 15 for acceleration, the following process will be carried out.
  • step S100 a series of the processing in step S100, S110, S300, S310, S320, S340, S360, S160, S162 is repeated.
  • the driver has accelerated in accordance with the relationship of accelerator opening degree ACCPF > last accelerator opening degree ACCPFOL + ⁇ .
  • the governor injection quantity QGOV is far smaller than the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMD. Therefore, the governor injection quantity QGOV is smaller than the last basic fuel injection quantity QBASEOL as the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMD.
  • step S110 the determination becomes "NO" such that the deceleration processing (S300 to S360) will be continued.
  • step S330 the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMD is set as expressed in the following equation (5).
  • QSMD QBASEOL - QSMD2 where the second deceleration smoothing quantity QSMD2 is a predetermined positive value and smaller than a value taken by the aforementioned first deceleration smoothing quantity QSMD1.
  • step S360 the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMD having the second deceleration smoothing quantity QSMD2 decreased is set as the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE. That is, the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMD having increased change rate (i.e., an absolute value of the change rate as a negative value becomes a small value) is set as the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE.
  • the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE (indicated by a solid line) is set based on the governor injection quantity QGOV. Even if the governor injection quantity QGOV increases sharply, the vehicle is not accelerated until the road load injection quantity QRL is reached, resulting in no acceleration shock. Further, as the fuel injection quantity increases sharply up to the road load injection quantity QRL in accordance with the accelerating operation, excellent response to the accelerating operation can be obtained.
  • the acceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMA is switched to be increased by an quantity equivalent to the second acceleration smoothing quantity QSMA2 at every processing cycle (S210).
  • the governor injection quantity QGOV is still larger than the last basic fuel injection quantity QBASEOL and, according to the conventional art, the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE is expected to keep the increase by an quantity equivalent to the first deceleration smoothing quantity QSMA1 (indicated by a broken line).
  • the increase in the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE is switched to the smaller increase equivalent to the second deceleration smoothing quantity QSMA2.
  • the driver's request for acceleration can be satisfied even at a time for the deceleration smoothing control. That is, according to the conventional art, if the driver switches the operation from deceleration to acceleration, the driver may have uncomfortable feeling because the acceleration is continued for a while. However, according to this embodiment, acceleration is immediately suppressed in response to decelerating operation, resulting in quick response to the driver's request for deceleration. Therefore, this embodiment provides excellent derivability without giving uncomfortable feeling to the driver.
  • the sharp decrease in the governor injection quantity QGOV (indicated by a chain line) is faster than the decrease in the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMD, the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE is suppressed to be decreased by a quantity equivalent to the first deceleration smoothing quantity QSMD, i.e., the deceleration smoothing control starts at the time T4 onward.
  • the deceleration smoothing fuel injection quantity QSMD is switched to be decreased by a quantity equivalent to the second deceleration smoothing quantity QSMD at every cycle of processing (S330).
  • the governor injection quantity QGOV is still smaller than the last basic fuel injection quantity QBASEOL, the decreased quantity equivalent to the first deceleration smoothing quantity QSMD1 (indicated by a broken line) is kept in the conventional art.
  • the decrease in the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE is switched to the quantity equivalent to the second deceleration smoothing quantity QSMD2 having a smaller change rate in response to the driver's request for acceleration. That is, the change rate of the basic fuel injection quantity QBASE is increased.
  • the driver's request for acceleration can be satisfied even at a time of the deceleration smoothing control.
  • the driver may have uncomfortable feeling because deceleration is continued for a while even after switching the operation.
  • the deceleration can be suppressed in quick response to the driver's request for acceleration.
  • the driver does not have uncomfortable feeling, resulting in improved drivability.
  • acceleration or deceleration can be changed immediately responding to the change of the driver's request, thus achieving excellent drivability over an entire range of driving operation.
  • the ECU 51 corresponds to the deceleration request determining means, deceleration requesting time fuel injection quantity setting means, acceleration request determining means and acceleration requesting time fuel injection quantity setting means
  • step S200 corresponds to a processing executed by deceleration request determining means
  • step S210 corresponds to a processing by deceleration requesting time fuel injection quantity setting means
  • step S320 corresponds to a processing by acceleration request determining means
  • step S330 corresponds to a processing by acceleration requesting time fuel injection quantity setting means.
  • "0" or a negative value may be set as the second acceleration smoothing quantity QSMA2. Further, the value of the second acceleration smoothing quantity QSMA2 may be determined depending on a level of the decelerating operation (difference between the accelerator opening degree ACCPF and the last accelerator opening degree ACCPFOL).
  • "0" or a positive value may be set as the second deceleration smoothing quantity QSMD2.
  • the value of the second deceleration smoothing quantity QSMD2 may be determined depending on a level of the decelerating operation (difference between the accelerator opening degree ACCPF and last accelerator opening degree ACCPFOL).
  • a deceleration request or an acceleration request during the smoothing control is detected by the change in the accelerator opening degree ACCPF
  • arbitrary physical quantity data corresponding to the accelerator opening degree ACCPF may be used as far as the absence or presence of deceleration request for the diesel engine can be determined.
  • the governor injection quantity QGOV can be used as physical quantity data corresponding to the accelerator opening degree ACCPF as it is derived from the revolution NE of the diesel engine detected by the NE sensor 28 and the accelerator opening degree ACCPF detected by the accelerator sensor 21.
  • the governor injection quantity QGOV is derived from the equation(1) based on the revolution NE of the diesel engine 1 and accelerator opening degree ACCPF, it can be derived from a map based on the revolution NE and accelerator opening degree ACCPF.
  • first acceleration smoothing quantity QSMA1 used in step S190 of the above embodiment and the first deceleration smoothing quantity QSMD1 used in step S310 are obtained based on the accelerator opening degree ACCPF, the revolution NE and shift position as the parameter, constants may be used.
  • the transient injection quantity control apparatus of the diesel engine according to the present invention is not restricted to the common rail type diesel engine, but can be applied to all diesel engines including distribution type and other fuel injection quantity control types.
  • the increase in a basic fuel injection quantity is switched to the increased quantity having a smaller increase rate depending on an accelerator opening degree and a driver's request for deceleration so as to improve drivability by intensifying the response to the driver's request for acceleration.
  • the acceleration can be suppressed in quick response to the driver's request for deceleration to be immediately satisfied, resulting in excellent drivability.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Electrical Control Of Air Or Fuel Supplied To Internal-Combustion Engine (AREA)

Claims (7)

  1. Appareil de commande de quantité d'injection en phase transitoire d'un moteur diesel (1) qui exécute une commande de lissage d'accélération destinée à établir une quantité d'injection de carburant réelle sur la base d'une quantité d'injection de carburant de lissage d'accélération dérivée du calcul de lissage d'accélération jusqu'à ce que ladite quantité d'injection de carburant de lissage d'accélération atteigne une quantité d'injection de carburant demandée calculée selon une condition de fonctionnement du moteur diesel (1) lors de l'augmentation de sa quantité d'injection de carburant réelle pour l'accélération et qui exécute une commande de lissage de décélération destinée à établir une quantité d'injection de carburant réelle sur la base d'une quantité d'injection de carburant de lissage de décélération jusqu'à ce que ladite quantité d'injection de carburant de lissage de décélération atteigne une quantité d'injection de carburant demandée calculée selon une condition de fonctionnement du moteur diesel (1) lors de la diminution de sa quantité d'injection de carburant réelle pour la décélération, dans lequel ledit appareil de commande de quantité d'injection en phase transitoire du moteur diesel (1) comprend :
    un moyen de détermination de demande de décélération (51) destiné à déterminer l'absence ou la présence d'une demande de décélération pour le moteur diesel (1) ;
    un moyen de détermination de demande d'accélération (51) destiné à déterminer l'absence ou la présence d'une demande d'accélération pour le moteur diesel (1) ;
    et caractérisé par :
    un moyen d'établissement de quantité d'injection de carburant au moment de la demande de décélération (51) destiné à établir un taux de changement de ladite quantité d'injection de carburant réelle pour être inférieur au taux de changement de la quantité d'injection de carburant de lissage d'accélération dérivée dudit calcul de lissage d'accélération à un moment auquel une décélération est détectée par ledit moyen de détermination de demande de décélération pendant l'exécution de ladite commande de lissage d'accélération ; et
    un moyen d'établissement de quantité d'injection de carburant au moment de la demande d'accélération (51) destiné à établir un taux de changement de ladite quantité d'injection de carburant réelle pour être supérieur au taux de changement de la quantité d'injection de carburant de lissage de décélération dérivée dudit calcul de lissage de décélération à un moment auquel une demande d'accélération est détectée par ledit moyen de détermination de demande d'accélération pendant l'exécution de ladite commande de lissage de décélération.
  2. Appareil de commande de quantité d'injection en phase transitoire d'un moteur diesel (1) selon la revendication 1,
       caractérisé en ce que
       le moyen de détermination de demande d'accélération et/ou de décélération (51) arrête la commande de lissage lorsqu'une demande d'accélération ou de décélération est déterminée.
  3. Appareil de commande de quantité d'injection en phase transitoire d'un moteur diesel (1) selon la revendication 2,
       caractérisé en ce que
       le moyen de détermination de demande de décélération (51) arrête la commande de lissage lorsqu'une demande de décélération est détectée par le moyen de détermination de demande de décélération (51) pendant une commande de quantité d'injection de lissage d'accélération.
  4. Appareil de commande de quantité d'injection en phase transitoire d'un moteur diesel (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3,
       caractérisé en ce que
       le moyen de détermination de demande de décélération (51) détermine l'absence ou la présence d'une demande de décélération pour le moteur diesel (1) sur la base d'un paramètre différent d'un paramètre de début de la commande de quantité d'injection de lissage d'accélération.
  5. Appareil de commande de quantité d'injection en phase transitoire d'un moteur diesel (1) selon la revendication 4,
       caractérisé en ce que
       le moyen de détermination de demande de décélération (51) détermine l'absence ou la présence d'une demande de décélération pour le moteur diesel (1) sur la base d'un degré d'ouverture d'accélérateur d'une quantité physique correspondant à celui-ci.
  6. Appareil de commande de quantité d'injection en phase transitoire d'un moteur diesel (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5,
       caractérisé en ce que
       la quantité d'injection est calculée sur la base de la quantité d'injection de base en fonction d'une condition de fonctionnement du moteur diesel (1) ou d'une quantité d'injection de lissage de décélération même si elle est plus petite, dans lequel la commande de quantité d'injection de lissage de décélération est exécutée lorsque la quantité d'injection devient inférieure à la dernière quantité d'injection.
  7. Appareil de commande de quantité d'injection en phase transitoire d'un moteur diesel (1) selon la revendication 5,
       caractérisé en ce que
       ladite quantité physique correspondant au degré d'ouverture d'accélérateur est la quantité d'injection de carburant demandée.
EP98123368A 1997-12-22 1998-12-08 Méthode et dispositif pour commander la quantité d'injection en phase transitoire d'un moteur diesel Expired - Lifetime EP0924417B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP35368197A JP3341665B2 (ja) 1997-12-22 1997-12-22 ディーゼルエンジンの過渡時噴射量制御装置
JP35368197 1997-12-22

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0924417A2 EP0924417A2 (fr) 1999-06-23
EP0924417A3 EP0924417A3 (fr) 2000-10-18
EP0924417B1 true EP0924417B1 (fr) 2004-08-18

Family

ID=18432500

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98123368A Expired - Lifetime EP0924417B1 (fr) 1997-12-22 1998-12-08 Méthode et dispositif pour commander la quantité d'injection en phase transitoire d'un moteur diesel

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0924417B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP3341665B2 (fr)
DE (1) DE69825714T2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6556457B1 (en) 2002-01-03 2003-04-29 Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd. Method of controlling inverter power generation apparatus
JP4349258B2 (ja) 2004-10-20 2009-10-21 株式会社デンソー 車両用トルク制御装置
JP4713147B2 (ja) * 2004-12-27 2011-06-29 日産自動車株式会社 エンジンの制御装置
JP4466510B2 (ja) * 2005-08-25 2010-05-26 株式会社デンソー 車両用トルク制御装置
JP4981743B2 (ja) 2008-05-08 2012-07-25 三菱重工業株式会社 ディーゼルエンジンの燃料制御装置
JP2019167868A (ja) * 2018-03-23 2019-10-03 いすゞ自動車株式会社 駆動制御装置および車両

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3930396A1 (de) * 1989-09-12 1991-03-21 Bosch Gmbh Robert Verfahren zum einstellen von luft- und kraftstoffmengen fuer eine mehrzylindrige brennkraftmaschine

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS59119030A (ja) * 1982-12-24 1984-07-10 Toyota Motor Corp デイ−ゼルエンジンの燃料噴射量制御方法
JPS6019943A (ja) * 1983-07-11 1985-02-01 Toyota Motor Corp デイ−ゼルエンジンの燃料噴射量なまし制御方法
JPS6032961A (ja) * 1983-08-03 1985-02-20 Toyota Motor Corp デイ−ゼルエンジンの燃料噴射量なまし制御方法
DE3834234C2 (de) * 1987-10-07 1994-08-11 Honda Motor Co Ltd Kraftstoffzufuhrregler für einen Verbrennungsmotor
JPH0361014A (ja) 1989-07-28 1991-03-15 Sekisui Chem Co Ltd 射出成形金型
JPH0361013A (ja) 1989-07-28 1991-03-15 Sekisui Chem Co Ltd 成形金型
JPH03194152A (ja) * 1989-12-22 1991-08-23 Toyota Motor Corp 内燃機関の燃料噴射制御装置
JP2819937B2 (ja) * 1992-04-30 1998-11-05 日産自動車株式会社 内燃機関の燃料噴射量演算装置
JP3026336B2 (ja) 1993-11-30 2000-03-27 トヨタ自動車株式会社 ディーゼルエンジンの燃料噴射量制御方法
US5931136A (en) * 1997-01-27 1999-08-03 Denso Corporation Throttle control device and control method for internal combustion engine

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3930396A1 (de) * 1989-09-12 1991-03-21 Bosch Gmbh Robert Verfahren zum einstellen von luft- und kraftstoffmengen fuer eine mehrzylindrige brennkraftmaschine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH11182294A (ja) 1999-07-06
EP0924417A3 (fr) 2000-10-18
DE69825714T2 (de) 2005-08-11
DE69825714D1 (de) 2004-09-23
JP3341665B2 (ja) 2002-11-05
EP0924417A2 (fr) 1999-06-23

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0899443A2 (fr) Procédé et dispositif d'injection de carburant d'un moteur à combustion
US7121233B2 (en) Control apparatus for an internal combustion engine
US4491115A (en) Method for controlling fuel supply to an internal combustion engine at deceleration
EP1555412A1 (fr) Système de commande d'un moteur à combustion interne à allumage commandé et injection directe
EP1052400B1 (fr) Dispositif d'arrêt et de redémarrage automatique pour moteur à combustion interne pour véhicule
US6332450B1 (en) Throttle control apparatus of internal combustion engine and throttle control method
EP0924417B1 (fr) Méthode et dispositif pour commander la quantité d'injection en phase transitoire d'un moteur diesel
EP2222945A1 (fr) Dispositif de commande pour moteur à combustion interne
EP1148224B1 (fr) Dispositif et procédé de commande de papillon pour un moteur à combustion interne à injection directe
JPH0530981B2 (fr)
US4502448A (en) Method for controlling control systems for internal combustion engines immediately after termination of fuel cut
JP4075644B2 (ja) 内燃機関出力制御装置
EP1321668B1 (fr) Appareil détecteur d'anomalie de bougies de préchauffage
JP2002180870A (ja) 車両の制御装置
JP4643127B2 (ja) 内燃機関出力制御装置
JPH10159627A (ja) 内燃機関の減速制御装置
JP2861507B2 (ja) 内燃機関のアイドル回転数制御装置
EP0922845B1 (fr) Dispositif et méthode de commande de la quantité d'injection d'un moteur diesel
KR100454320B1 (ko) 엔진의 제어장치 및 제어방법
JP3680257B2 (ja) ディーゼルエンジンの燃料噴射量制御装置
WO2022264158A1 (fr) Système de commande d'arrêt/de démarrage au ralenti d'un véhicule et procédé associé
EP1234969B1 (fr) Procédé et dispositif pour la détermination de la quantité de carburant à fournir à un moteur à combustion interne
JPH1193737A (ja) 内燃機関の吸入空気量制御装置
JP2022176619A (ja) 内燃機関の制御装置
JP2002039004A (ja) 内燃機関のフェールセーフ装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19981210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

AKX Designation fees paid

Free format text: DE FR GB

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20030408

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69825714

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20040923

Kind code of ref document: P

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20050519

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20051201

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20051207

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20051208

Year of fee payment: 8

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20070703

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20061208

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20070831

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20061208

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20070102