EP2657493B1 - Apparatus for controlling internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Apparatus for controlling internal combustion engine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2657493B1
EP2657493B1 EP10861141.9A EP10861141A EP2657493B1 EP 2657493 B1 EP2657493 B1 EP 2657493B1 EP 10861141 A EP10861141 A EP 10861141A EP 2657493 B1 EP2657493 B1 EP 2657493B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
amount
air
value
fuel
fuel injection
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.)
Not-in-force
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EP10861141.9A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP2657493A1 (en
EP2657493A4 (en
Inventor
Shinsuke Aoyagi
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Toyota Motor Corp
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Toyota Motor Corp
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Publication of EP2657493A1 publication Critical patent/EP2657493A1/en
Publication of EP2657493A4 publication Critical patent/EP2657493A4/en
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Publication of EP2657493B1 publication Critical patent/EP2657493B1/en
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D41/00—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents
    • F02D41/02—Circuit arrangements for generating control signals
    • F02D41/14—Introducing closed-loop corrections
    • F02D41/1438—Introducing closed-loop corrections using means for determining characteristics of the combustion gases; Sensors therefor
    • F02D41/1444—Introducing closed-loop corrections using means for determining characteristics of the combustion gases; Sensors therefor characterised by the characteristics of the combustion gases
    • F02D41/1454—Introducing closed-loop corrections using means for determining characteristics of the combustion gases; Sensors therefor characterised by the characteristics of the combustion gases the characteristics being an oxygen content or concentration or the air-fuel ratio
    • F02D41/1458—Introducing closed-loop corrections using means for determining characteristics of the combustion gases; Sensors therefor characterised by the characteristics of the combustion gases the characteristics being an oxygen content or concentration or the air-fuel ratio with determination means using an estimation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D41/00—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents
    • F02D41/02—Circuit arrangements for generating control signals
    • F02D41/14—Introducing closed-loop corrections
    • F02D41/1401—Introducing closed-loop corrections characterised by the control or regulation method
    • F02D41/1402—Adaptive control
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D41/00—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents
    • F02D41/24—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents characterised by the use of digital means
    • F02D41/2406—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents characterised by the use of digital means using essentially read only memories
    • F02D41/2425—Particular ways of programming the data
    • F02D41/2429—Methods of calibrating or learning
    • F02D41/2441—Methods of calibrating or learning characterised by the learning conditions
    • F02D41/2445—Methods of calibrating or learning characterised by the learning conditions characterised by a plurality of learning conditions or ranges
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D41/00—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents
    • F02D41/24—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents characterised by the use of digital means
    • F02D41/2406—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents characterised by the use of digital means using essentially read only memories
    • F02D41/2425—Particular ways of programming the data
    • F02D41/2429—Methods of calibrating or learning
    • F02D41/2451—Methods of calibrating or learning characterised by what is learned or calibrated
    • F02D41/2454—Learning of the air-fuel ratio control
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M26/00—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding exhaust gases to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture, e.g. by exhaust gas recirculation [EGR] systems
    • F02M26/02—EGR systems specially adapted for supercharged engines
    • F02M26/04—EGR systems specially adapted for supercharged engines with a single turbocharger
    • F02M26/05—High pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is taken out from the exhaust system upstream of the turbine and reintroduced into the intake system downstream of the compressor
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D2200/00—Input parameters for engine control
    • F02D2200/02—Input parameters for engine control the parameters being related to the engine
    • F02D2200/04—Engine intake system parameters
    • F02D2200/0402—Engine intake system parameters the parameter being determined by using a model of the engine intake or its components
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D2200/00—Input parameters for engine control
    • F02D2200/02—Input parameters for engine control the parameters being related to the engine
    • F02D2200/06—Fuel or fuel supply system parameters
    • F02D2200/0614—Actual fuel mass or fuel injection amount

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a control device of an internal combustion engine.
  • An air-fuel ratio control device of an internal combustion engine is disclosed in the Patent Document 1.
  • This device controls an air-fuel ratio of a mixture gas of an air and a fuel formed in a combustion chamber of the engine.
  • the engine of the Document 1 has an intake air amount sensor (i.e. an air flow meter) for detecting an amount of an air flowing through an intake pipe and a fuel injector (i.e. a fuel injection valve) for injecting a fuel into an intake port.
  • the device of the Document 1 calculates an amount of the fuel to be injected from the injector to accomplish a target air-fuel ratio (i.e. an air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas to be targeted) by using the intake air amount (i.e. the amount of the air suctioned into the combustion chamber of the engine) detected by the intake air amount sensor.
  • the target air-fuel ratio can be accomplished by injecting the thus-calculated target fuel injection amount of the fuel from the injector.
  • the target fuel injection amount calculated by using the detected intake air amount becomes different from the fuel injection amount which can accomplish the target air-fuel ratio.
  • the target air-fuel amount is not accomplished.
  • the target air-fuel injection amount is not accomplished.
  • the device of the Document 1 accomplishes the target air-fuel ratio by the followings even when the intake air or fuel injection amount difference occurs.
  • the engine of the Document 1 has in the exhaust pipe an oxygen sensor for detecting an oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chamber (i.e. an oxygen concentration sensor).
  • an oxygen concentration sensor for detecting an oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chamber
  • the air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas is calculated by using the oxygen concentration detected by this oxygen sensor and then, a difference between this calculated ratio and the target ratio (hereinafter, this difference will be referred to as -air-fuel ratio difference-) is calculated.
  • the engine operation condition i.e. the operation condition of the engine
  • the engine speed i.e. the rotation speed of the engine
  • the engine load i.e.
  • a correction value for correcting the detected intake air amount (hereinafter, this value will be referred to as -- detected intake air amount correction value--) so as to make the calculated air-fuel ratio difference zero or reduce the same is calculated and then, is memorized as a new detected intake air amount correction value. That is, the already memorized detected intake air amount correction value is updated.
  • a correction value for correcting the target fuel injection amount (hereinafter, this value will be referred to as --target fuel injection amount correction value--) so as to make the calculated air-fuel ratio difference zero or reduce the same is calculated and then, is memorized as a new target fuel injection amount correction value. That is, the already memorized target fuel injection amount correction value is updated.
  • this target amount is calculated by using the detected intake air amount corrected by the detected intake air amount correction value
  • this calculated target amount is corrected by the target fuel injection amount correction value and then, this corrected target amount is set as the final target fuel injection amount. Accordingly, the device of the Document 1 accomplishes the target air-fuel ratio even in the case that the intake air or fuel injection amount difference occurs.
  • the device of the Document 1 when the engine operation condition is under the condition where the engine speed is relatively large and the engine load is relatively large, only the detected intake air amount correction value is updated and on the other hand, when the engine condition is under the other condition, only the target fuel injection amount correction value is updated.
  • both of the detected intake air amount correction value and target fuel injection amount correction value are used. Therefore, when the detected intake air amount correction value is used in order to determine the final target fuel injection amount, this correction value may not be the latest one, depending on the engine operation condition and similarly, when the target fuel injection amount correction value is used in order to determine the final target fuel injection amount, this correction value may not be the latest one, depending on the engines operation condition. That is, when the detected intake air amount and target fuel injection amount correction values are used in order to determine the final fuel injection amount, one of these values may not be the latest one.
  • the latest detected intake air amount correction value should be! used for the determination of the final target fuel injection amount in order to control then air-fuel ratio to the target ratio accurately
  • the air-fuel ratio is not controlled accurately to the target ratio
  • the latest target intake air amount correction value should be used for the determination of the target fuel injection amount in order to control the air-fuel ratio to the target ratio accurately, if the target fuel injection amount correction value is not the latest one, the air-fuel ratio is not controlled accurately to the target ratio.
  • the object of the invention is to control the air-fuel ratio to the target ratio by using the correction value relating to the intake air amount or the fuel injection amount.
  • the invention of this application relates to a control device of an internal combustion engine comprising: fuel supply means for supplying a fuel to a combustion chamber and means for supplying an air to the combustion chamber, wherein the device controlling a supplied fuel amount which is an amount of the fuel supplied to the combustion chamber and a supplied air amount which is an amount of the air supplied to the combustion chamber to control an air-fuel ratio of a mixture gas of the air and the fuel formed in the combustion chamber.
  • the device calculates a learned value used for setting a supplied fuel amount correction value for correcting the supplied fuel amount or a supplied air amount correction value for correcting the supplied air amount as a value which decreases the difference of the air-fuel ratio on the basis of a difference of an actual air-fuel ratio relative to a target air-fuel ratio and the device sets the supplied fuel or air amount correction value by using the learned value.
  • the device performs the calculation of the learned value every a predetermined time period has elapsed.
  • the device performs the setting of the supplied fuel amount correction value every a predetermined time period has elapsed in the case that the device sets the supplied fuel amount correction value by using the learned value.
  • the timings of the setting of the supplied fuel amount correction value and the calculation of the learned value are set such that the time period from the performance of the calculation of the learned value to the setting of the supplied fuel amount correction value first performed therebefore is shorter than that from the setting of the supplied fuel amount correction value to the calculation of the learned value first performed thereafter.
  • the device performs the setting of the supplied air amount correction value every a predetermined time has elapsed in the case that the device sets the supplied air amount correction value by using the learned value.
  • the timings of the setting of the supplied air amount correction value and the calculation of the learned value are set such that the time period from the calculation of the learned value to the setting of the supplied air amount correction value first performed thereafter is shorter than that from the setting of the supplied air amount correction value to the calculation of the learned value first performed thereafter.
  • the supplied fuel or air amount correction value is set and thereafter, the learned value is newly calculated before the supplied fuel or air amount is corrected by the set supplied fuel or air amount correction value. That is, the learned value is updated as the latest learned value. This learned value is used for setting the supplied fuel or air amount correction value. Therefore, the latest learned value is used for the setting of the supplied fuel or air amount correction value. Further, immediately before the setting of the supplied fuel or air amount correction value, the latest learned value is calculated and therefore, the current optimum learned value is used for the setting of the supplied fuel or air amount correction value. Thus, the inappropriate correction of the supplied fuel or air amount is avoided and therefore, the air-fuel ratio is accurately controlled to the target air-fuel ratio.
  • an upper limit value or a lower limit value regarding the learned value is set.
  • the upper limit value is set as the learned value
  • the lower limit value is set as the learned value.
  • the learned value is set as the upper or lower limit value, which learned value being estimated to be calculated when the supplied fuel amount difference amount, which is a difference amount of the actual supplied fuel amount relative to the estimated supplied fuel amount which is an estimated value of the supplied fuel amount, is a predetermined amount.
  • the learned value is limited to the upper limit value or when the learned value is smaller than the lower limit value, the learned value is limited to the lower limit value.
  • the use of the learned value larger than the upper limit value or smaller than the lower limit value for the setting of the supplied fuel or air amount correction value is avoided.
  • the predetermined supplied fuel amount difference amount is determined on the basis of at least one of the supplied fuel amount and the pressure of the fuel supplied from the fuel supply means.
  • the more suitable upper or lower limit value is set for limiting the learned value such that the requirements of the engine (for example, the decrease of the exhaust emission, the improvement of the fuel consumption, the avoidance of the misfiring in the combustion chamber, etc.) are surely accomplished. That is, the supplied fuel amount difference is significantly subject to the supplied fuel amount and the pressure of the fuel supplied from the fuel supply means. Further, the above-mentioned predetermined supplied fuel amount difference amount is used for the setting of the upper or lower limit value. On the other hand, the supplied fuel amount difference significantly influences the requirements of the engine.
  • the more suitable upper or lower limit value is set for limiting the learned value such that the requirements of the engine are surely accomplished.
  • the predetermined supplied fuel amount difference amount is the maximum or minimum value among the possible supplied fuel amount difference amounts.
  • the more suitable upper or lower limit value is set in order to correct the supplied fuel or air amount to the maximum extent possible as far as the requirements of the engine are accomplished. That is, in general, it is preferred that the supplied fuel or air amount is corrected to the maximum extent possible as far as the requirements of the engine are accomplished.
  • the supplied fuel amount difference amount becomes large to the maximum extent when the actual supplied fuel amount differs positively from the estimated supplied fuel amount (i.e. in the case that the supplied fuel amount difference amount is the possible maximum value) and in the case that it is expected that the supplied fuel amount difference amount becomes large to the maximum extent when the actual supplied fuel amount differs negatively from the estimated supplied fuel amount (i.e.
  • the supplied fuel amount difference amount is the possible minimum value
  • a variety of the controls in the engine are constructed such that the requirements of the engine are accomplished. That is, if the learned value is limited to the upper or lower limit value set by using the maximum or minimum value among the expected supplied fuel amount difference amounts as the above-mentioned supplied fuel amount difference amount, the learned value for correcting the supplied fuel or air amount to the maximum extent and accomplishing the requirements of the engine is obtained. Therefore, the more suitable upper or lower limit value is set in order to correct the supplied fuel or air amount to the maximum extent possible as far as the requirements of the engine are accomplished.
  • the upper or lower limit value regarding the learned value is set.
  • the learned value is set as the upper or lower limit value, which learned value is expected to be calculated when the supplied air amount difference amount which is a difference amount of the estimated supplied air amount which is an estimated value of the supplied air amount relative to the actual supplied air amount is a predetermined supplied air amount.
  • the learned value is limited to the upper limit value or when the learned value is smaller than the lower limit value, the learned value is limited to the lower limit value.
  • the use of the learned value larger than the upper limit value or smaller than the lower limit value for the setting of the supplied fuel or air amount correction value is avoided.
  • the predetermined supplied air amount difference amount is determined on the basis of the supplied air amount.
  • the more suitable upper or lower limit value is set in order to limit the learned value such that the requirements of the engine are surely accomplished. That is, the supplied air amount difference is significantly subject to the supplied air amount.
  • the predetermined supplied air amount difference amount is used for the setting of the upper or lower limit value.
  • the supplied air amount difference influences the requirements of the engine. Therefore, if the predetermined supplied air amount difference amount is determined on the basis of the supplied air amount, the more suitable upper or lower limit value is set in order to limit the learned value such that the requirements of the engine are surely accomplished.
  • the predetermined supplied air amount difference amount is the maximum or minimum value among the possible supplied air amount difference amounts.
  • the more suitable upper or lower limit value is set in order to correct the supplied fuel or air amount to the maximum extent possible as far as the requirements of the engine are accomplished. That is, in general, it is preferred that the supplied fuel or air amount is corrected to the maximum extent possible as far as the requirements of the engine are accomplished.
  • a variety of the controls in the engine are constructed such that the requirements of the engine are accomplished in the case that it is expected that the supplied air amount difference amount becomes large to the maximum extent when the estimated supplied air amount differs positively from the actual supplied air amount (i.e.
  • the learned value is limited to the upper or lower limit value set by using the maximum or minimum value of the possible supplied air amount difference amount as the above-mentioned predetermined supplied air amount difference amount, the learned value is obtained, which value corrects the supplied fuel or air amount to the maximum extent while the requirements of the engine are accomplished. Therefore, the more suitable upper or lower limit value is set in order to correct the supplied fuel or air amount to the maximum extent possible as far as the requirements of the engine are accomplished.
  • the supplied fuel amount correction value is a value for decreasing the difference of the actual supplied fuel amount relative to the estimated supplied fuel amount which is an estimated value of the supplied fuel amount.
  • the supplied air amount correction value is a value for decreasing the difference of the estimated supplied air amount, which is an estimated value of the supplied air amount, relative to the actual supplied air amount.
  • another invention of this application relates to a control device of an internal combustion engine, comprising means for acquiring an estimated value of a supplied fuel amount, which is an amount of a fuel supplied to a combustion chamber, as an estimated supplied fuel amount, means for acquiring an estimated value of a supplied air amount, which is an amount of an air supplied to the combustion chamber, as an estimated supplied air amount, means for calculating an air-fuel ratio of a mixture gas formed in the combustion chamber as an estimated air-fuel ratio on the basis of the estimated supplied fuel and air amounts, means for acquiring an actual air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas formed in the combustion chamber as an actual air-fuel ratio, correction value calculation means for calculating a correction value for correcting the supplied air amount so as to decrease an air-fuel ratio difference which is a difference of the actual air-fuel ratio relative to the estimated air-fuel ratio, and learning means for calculating a learned value of the correction value by integrating the correction values calculated by the correction value calculation means and memorizing the learned value, wherein when no air-fuel ratio difference occurs, the supplied air amount
  • the learned value is obtained as a maximum lean-side learned value due to the supplied fuel amount difference, which learned value is obtained when the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero in the case that a supplied fuel amount difference in which the actual supplied fuel amount is larger than the estimated supplied air amount occurs and this supplied fuel amount difference is largest among the possible differences under the condition where the estimated supplied air amount corresponds to the actual supplied air amount.
  • the learned value is obtained as a maximum rich-side learned value due to the supplied fuel amount difference, which learned value is obtained when the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero in the case that a supplied fuel amount difference in which the actual supplied fuel amount is smaller than the estimated supplied fuel amount occurs and this supplied fuel amount is largest among the possible differences under the condition where the estimated supplied air amount corresponds to the actual supplied air amount.
  • the learned value is obtained as a maximum lean-side learned value due to the supplied air amount difference, which learned value is obtained when the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero in the case that a supplied air amount difference in which the estimated supplied air amount is larger than the actual supplied air amount occurs and this supplied air amount difference is largest among the possible differences under the condition where the estimated supplied fuel amount corresponds to the actual supplied fuel amount.
  • the learned value is obtained as a maximum rich-side learned value due to the supplied air amount difference, which learned value is obtained when the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero in the case that a supplied air amount difference in which the estimated supplied air amount is smaller than the actual supplied air amount occurs and this supplied air amount difference is largest among the possible differences under the condition where the estimated supplied fuel amount corresponds to the actual supplied fuel amount.
  • the larger one of the maximum lean-side learned values due to the supplied fuel and air amount differences is set as an upper limit lean-side learned value.
  • the larger one of the maximum rich-side learned values due to the supplied fuel and air amount differences is set as an upper limit rich-side learned value.
  • the learned value is limited to the upper limit lean-side learned value when the learned value calculated by the learning means is a value for increasing the supplied air amount and is larger than the upper limit lean-side learned value.
  • the learned value is limited to the upper rich-side learned value when the learned value calculated by the learning means is a value for decreasing the supplied air amount and is larger than the upper limit rich-side learned value.
  • the more suitable upper limit lean-side or rich-side learned value is set in order to correct the supplied fuel or air amount to the maximum extent possible as far as the requirements of the engine are accomplished. That is, in general, it is preferred that the supplied fuel or air amount is corrected to the maximum extent possible as far as the requirements of the engine are accomplished.
  • a variety of the controls in the engine are structured such that the requirements of the engine are accomplished in the case that it is expected that the supplied fuel amount difference amount becomes large to the maximum extent when the actual supplied fuel amount differs positively from the estimated supplied fuel amount and in the case that it is expected that the supplied fuel amount difference amount becomes large to the maximum extent when the actual supplied fuel amount differs negatively from the estimated supplied fuel amount.
  • the learned value in the case that the supplied fuel amount difference is largest among the possible differences i.e. the maximum lean-side and rich-side learned values due to the supplied fuel amount difference
  • the learned value in the case that the supplied air amount difference is largest among the possible differences i.e. the maximum lean-side and rich-side learned values due to the supplied air amount difference
  • the larger one of these learned values is set as the upper limit lean-side or rich-side learned value
  • the learned value is limited to the upper limit lean-side or rich-side learned value
  • the learned value is obtained, which learned value corrects the supplied fuel or air amount to the maximum extent while the requirements of the engine are accomplished. Therefore, the more suitable upper limit lean-side or rich-side learned value is set in order to correct the supplied fuel or air amount to the maximum extent possible as far as the requirements of the engine are accomplished.
  • the maximum lean-side and rich-side learned values due to the supplied fuel amount difference are ones defined by at least one of the estimated supplied fuel amount and the pressure of a fuel supplied from fuel supply means.
  • the more suitable upper limit lean-side or rich-side learned value is set in order to limit the learned value such that the requirements of the engine are accomplished. That is, the supplied fuel amount difference is subject to the supplied fuel amount and the pressure of a fuel supplied from fuel supply means.
  • the maximum lean-side and rich-side learned values due to the supplied fuel amount difference are used for the setting of the upper limit lean-side and rich-side learned values, respectively.
  • the supplied fuel amount difference influences the requirements of the engine.
  • the more suitable upper limit lean-side or rich-side learned value is set in order to limit the learned value such that the requirements of the engine are surely accomplished.
  • the maximum rich-side and lean-side learned values due to the supplied air amount difference are defined by the estimated supplied air amount.
  • the more suitable upper limit lean-side or rich-side learned value is set in order to limit the learned value such that the requirements of the engine are surely accomplished. That is, the supplied air amount difference is subject to the intake air amount.
  • the maximum lean-side and rich-side learned values due to the supplied air amount difference are used for the setting of the upper limit lean-side and rich-side learned values, respectively.
  • the supplied air amount influences the requirements of the engine. Therefore, when the maximum lean-side and rich-side learned values due to the supplied air amount are defined on the basis of the supplied air amount, the more suitable upper limit lean-side or rich-side learned value is set in order to limit the learned value such that the requirements of the engine are surely accomplished.
  • a control device of an internal combustion engine comprising means for acquiring an estimated value of a supplied fuel amount, which is an amount of a fuel supplied to a combustion chamber, as an estimated supplied fuel amount, means for acquiring an estimated value of a supplied air amount, which is an amount of an air supplied to the combustion chamber, as an estimated supplied air amount, means for calculating an air-fuel ratio of a mixture gas formed in the combustion chamber as an estimated air-fuel ratio on the basis of the estimated supplied fuel and air amounts, means for acquiring an actual air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas formed in the combustion chamber as an actual air-fuel ratio, correction value calculation means for calculating a correction value for correcting the supplied air amount so as to decrease an air-fuel ratio difference which is a difference of the actual air-fuel ratio relative to the estimated air-fuel ratio, and learning means for calculating a learned value of the correction value by integrating the correction value calculated by the correction value calculation means and memorizing the learned value, wherein when no air-fuel ratio difference occurs, the supplied air amount is
  • the learned value is set to an upper limit lean-side learned value, which learned value is obtained when the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero in the case that a supplied fuel amount difference in which the actual supplied fuel amount is larger than the estimated supplied fuel amount occurs, this supplied fuel amount difference is largest among the possible differences, a supplied air amount difference in which the estimated supplied air amount is larger than the actual supplied air amount, and this supplied air amount difference is largest among the possible differences.
  • the learned value is set to an upper limit rich-side learned value, which learned value is obtained when the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero in the case that a supplied fuel amount difference in which the actual supplied fuel amount is smaller than the estimated supplied fuel amount occurs, this difference is largest among the possible differences, a supplied air amount difference in which the estimated supplied air amount is smaller than the actual supplied air amount occurs, and this difference is largest among the possible differences.
  • the learned value calculated by the learning means is a value for increasing the supplied air amount and is larger than the upper limit lean-side learned value
  • the learned value is limited to the upper limit lean-side learned value.
  • the learned value calculated by the learning means is a value for decreasing the supplied air amount and is larger than the upper limit rich-side learned value
  • the learned value is limited to this upper limit value.
  • the suitable upper lean-side and rich-side learned values are set in order to correct the supplied fuel or air amount to the maximum extent possible as far as the requirements of the engine are accomplished. That is, in general, it is preferred that the supplied fuel or air amount is corrected to the maximum extent possible as far as the requirements of the engine are accomplished.
  • the various controls of the engine are structured such that the requirements of the engine are accomplished in the case of expecting that the supplied fuel amount difference amount is the largest one when the actual supplied fuel amount is different from the estimated supplied fuel amount positively and the supplied air amount difference amount is the largest one when the estimated supplied air amount is different from the actual supplied air amount positively and in the case of expecting that the supplied fuel amount difference amount is the largest one when the actual supplied fuel amount is different from the estimated supplied fuel amount negatively and the supplied air amount difference amount is the largest one when the estimated supplied air amount is different from the actual supplied air amount negatively.
  • the learned value in the case that the supplied fuel and air amount difference are the largest ones to the expected extent are set to the upper limit lean-side or rich-side learned value and when the learned value is limited to the upper limit value, the learned value for correcting the supplied fuel or air amount to the maximum extent while the requirements of the engine are accomplished can be obtained. Therefore, the more suitable upper limit lean-side or rich-side learned value is set in order to correct the supplied fuel or air amount to the maximum extent possible as far as the requirements of the engine are accomplished.
  • the upper limit rich-side and lean-side learned values are those defined by at least one of the estimated supplied fuel amount and the fuel pressure when the fuel is supplied from the fuel supply means.
  • the more suitable upper limit lean-side or rich-side learned value is set in order to limit the learned value so as to surely accomplish the requirements of the engine. That is, the supplied fuel amount difference is subject to the supplied fuel amount and the pressure of a fuel supplied from fuel supply means. The supplied air amount difference is subject to the intake air amount. The supplied fuel and air amounts influence the requirements of the engine. Therefore, when the upper limit lean-side and rich-side learned values are defined on the basis of the estimated supplied air amount and at leans one of the supplied fuel amount and the fuel pressure, the more suitable upper limit lean-side or rich-side learned value for limiting the learned value so as to surely accomplish the requirements of the engine is set.
  • the device further comprises exhaust gas recirculation means for introducing into an intake passage an exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chamber to an exhaust passage.
  • the correction value calculated by the correction value calculation means is the correction value for correcting an exhaust gas recirculation amount which is an amount of the exhaust gas introduced into the intake passage by the exhaust gas recirculation means.
  • the engine 10 of Fig.1 comprises a body 20 of the engine (hereinafter, this body will be referred to as --engine body--), fuel injectors 21 each positioned to corresponding one of four combustion chambers of the body and a fuel pump 22 for supplying a fuel to the injectors 21 via a fuel supply pipe 23.
  • the engine 10 comprises an intake system 30 for supplying an air to the combustion chambers from the atmosphere and an exhaust system 40 for discharging an exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chamber to the atmosphere.
  • the engine 10 is a compression self ignition type internal combustion engine (a so-called diesel engine).
  • the intake system 30 has an intake manifold 31 and an intake pipe 32.
  • the intake system 30 may be referred to as --intake passage--.
  • One end of the intake manifold 31 i.e. the branch portions
  • intake ports (not shown) formed in the body 20 corresponding to each combustion chamber.
  • the other end of the intake manifold 31 is connected to the intake pipe 32.
  • a throttle valve 33 for controlling an amount of an air flowing through the intake pipe is positioned in the intake pipe 32.
  • An intercooler 34 for cooling the air flowing through the intake pipe is positioned on the intake pipe 32.
  • An air cleaner 36 is positioned in the end of the intake pipe 32 facing the atmosphere.
  • the throttle valve 33 can variably control an amount of a gas suctioned into the combustion chambers by its operation condition (in particular, its opening degree and hereinafter, this degree will be referred to as --throttle valve opening degree--) being controlled.
  • the exhaust system 40 has an exhaust manifold 41 and an exhaust pipe 42.
  • the exhaust system 40 may be referred to as --exhaust passage--.
  • One end of the exhaust manifold 41 i.e. the branch portions
  • exhaust ports (now shown) formed in the body 20 corresponding to each combustion chamber.
  • the other end of the exhaust manifold 41 is connected to the exhaust pipe 42.
  • a catalytic converter 43 incorporating an exhaust purification catalyst 43A for purifying specific components in the exhaust gas is positioned in the exhaust pipe 42.
  • An oxygen concentration sensor 76U for outputting a signal depending on an oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chamber (hereinafter, this sensor will be referred to as --upstream oxygen concentration sensor--) is positioned on the exhaust pipe 42 upstream of the catalyst 43A.
  • An oxygen concentration sensor 76D for outputting a signal depending on the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas discharged from the catalyst 43A (hereinafter, this sensor will be referred to as --downstream oxygen concentration sensor) is positioned on the exhaust pipe 42 downstream of the catalyst 43A.
  • An air flow meter 71 for outputting a signal depending on a flow rate of the air flowing through the intake pipe (therefore, the flow rate of the air suctioned into the combustion chamber and hereinafter, this rate will be referred to as --intake air amount--) is positioned on the intake pipe 32 downstream of the air cleaner 36 and upstream of a compressor 35A.
  • a pressure sensor for outputting a signal depending on a pressure of the gas in the intake manifold (i.e. an intake pressure) 72 is positioned on the intake manifold 31.
  • a crank position sensor 74 for outputting a signal depending on a rotation phase of a crank shaft is positioned on the body 20.
  • the engine 10 comprises an exhaust gas recirculation device (hereinafter, this will be referred to as --EGR device--) 50.
  • the device 50 has an exhaust gas recirculation pipe (hereinafter, this will be referred to as --EGR passage--) 51.
  • One end of the passage 51 is connected to the exhaust manifold 41. That is, one end of the passage 51 is connected to the portion of the exhaust passage 40 upstream of an exhaust turbine 35B.
  • the other end of the passage 51 is connected to the intake manifold 31. That is, the other end of the passage 51 is connected to the portion of the intake passage downstream of the compressor 35A.
  • An exhaust gas recirculation control valve (hereinafter, this will be referred to as --EGR control valve) 52 for controlling a flow rate of an exhaust gas flowing through the EGR passage is positioned on the passage 51.
  • an opening degree of the valve 52 hereinafter, this degree will be referred to as --EGR control valve opening degree--
  • the flow rate of the exhaust gas flowing through the EGR passage 51 is large.
  • An exhaust gas recirculation cooler 53 for cooling the exhaust gas flowing through the EGR passage is positioned in the passage 51.
  • the EGR device 50 can variably control the amount of the exhaust gas introduced into the intake passage 30 via the EGR passage 51 (hereinafter, this gas will be referred to as --EGR gas--) by controlling the operation condition of the EGR control valve 52 (in particular, the opening degree of the valve 52 and hereinafter, this will be referred to as-EGR control valve opening degree--).
  • the engine 10 comprises an electronic control nit 60.
  • the unit 60 has a microprocessor (CPU) 61, a read only memory (ROM) 62, a random access memory (RAM) 63, a back-up RAM 64 and an interface 65.
  • the injectors 21, the pump 22, the throttle valve 33 and the EGR control valve 52 are connected to the interface 65 and the control signals for controlling their operations are given from the unit 60 via the interface 65, respectively.
  • the air flow meter 71, the intake pressure sensor 72, the crank position sensor 74, an accelerator pedal opening degree sensor 75 for outputting a signal depending on an opening degree of an accelerator pedal AP (i.e.
  • --accelerator pedal opening degree-- the oxygen concentration sensors 76U and 76D are connected to the interface 65 and the signals output from the meter 71 and the sensors 72, 74, 75, 76U and 76D are input to the interface 65.
  • the intake air amount is calculated by the unit 60 on the basis of the signal output from the air flow meter 71
  • the intake pressure is calculated by the unit 60 on the basis of the signal output from the intake pressure sensor 72
  • the engine speed i.e. the rotation speed of the engine 10
  • the accelerator pedal opening degree is calculated by the unit 60 on the basis of the signal output from the accelerator pedal opening degree sensor 75
  • the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chamber is calculated by the unit 60 on the basis of the signal output from the upstream oxygen concentration sensor 76U
  • the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing out from the catalyst 43A is calculated by the unit 60 on the basis of the signal output from the downstream oxygen concentration sensor 76D.
  • the air flow meter 71 functions as means for detecting the intake air amount
  • the intake pressure sensor 72 functions as means for detecting the intake air pressure
  • the crank position sensor 74 functions as means for detecting the engine speed
  • the accelerator pedal opening degree sensor 75 functions as means for detecting the accelerator pedal opening degree
  • the upstream oxygen concentration sensor 76U functions as means for detecting the oxygen concentration of the exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chamber
  • the downstream oxygen concentration sensor 76D functions as means for detecting the oxygen concentration of the exhaust gas flowing out from the catalyst 43A.
  • the intake pressure sensor 72 functions as means for detecting the intake pressure and therefore, the amount of the gas suctioned into the combustion chamber can be known on the basis of the intake pressure detected by the sensor 72. Therefore, in the first embodiment, substantially, the sensor 72 functions as means for detecting the amount of the gas suctioned into the combustion chamber.
  • the oxygen concentration of the burned gas produced by the combustion of the mixture gas formed in the combustion chamber is large and as the air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas is small, the oxygen concentration is small.
  • the oxygen concentration of the burned gas produced by the combustion when the mixture gas having the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio burns in the combustion chamber is referred to as base oxygen concentration
  • the oxygen concentration of the burned gas produced by the combustion of the mixture gas formed in the combustion chamber is higher than the base oxygen concentration when the air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas is larger than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio and the oxygen concentration is lower than the base oxygen concentration when the air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas is smaller than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
  • the upstream oxygen concentration sensor 76U functions as means for detecting the oxygen concentration of the exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chamber and therefore, the air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas can be known on the basis of the oxygen concentration detected by the sensor 76U. Therefore, in the first embodiment, substantially, the sensor 76U functions as means for detecting the air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas.
  • suitable fuel injection amounts i.e. amounts of the fuel injected from the fuel injector
  • TQ target fuel injection amounts
  • the target amount TQ is acquired from the map of Fig.2(A) on the basis of the degree Dac.
  • a fuel injector opening time i.e.
  • a time for opening the fuel injector for injecting the fuel from the fuel injector) necessary to make the injector inject the fuel having the acquired target amount TQ is calculated on the basis of the target amount TQ.
  • the opening time of the injector is controlled in each intake stroke such that the injector is opened for the calculated time.
  • suitable throttle valve opening degrees i.e. opening degrees of the throttle valve
  • the engine speed i.e. the rotation speed of the engine
  • these obtained degrees are memorized as target throttle valve opening degrees TDth as shown in Fig.2(B) in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N.
  • the target degree TDth is acquired from the map of Fig.2 on the basis of the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N.
  • the opening degree of the throttle valve is controlled such that the throttle vale opens by this acquired target degree TDth.
  • the target fuel injection amount TQ (i.e. the target amount TQ acquired from the map of Fig.2(A) ) is employed.
  • suitable EGR rates i.e. the mass rates of the exhaust gas included in the gas suctioned into the combustion chamber
  • these obtained EGR rates are memorized as target EGR rates TRegr as shown in Fig.2(C) in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N.
  • the target rate TRegr is acquired from the map of Fig.2(C) on the basis of the amount Q and the speed N.
  • the EGR control valve opening degree i.e.
  • the opening degree of the EGR control valve) for accomplishing this acquired target rate TRegr is calculated as the target EGR control valve opening degree TDegr according to a predetermined calculation law.
  • the opening degree of the EGR control valve is controlled such that the EGR control valve opens by this calculated target degree TDegr.
  • learned values KG are memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N.
  • the learned value KG depending on the amount Q and the speed N is acquired from the map of Fig.3 .
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by adding this acquired learned value to the target fuel injection amount is used as the fuel injection amount for the target EGR rate acquisition (i.e. the fuel injection amount used for acquiring the target EGR rate TRegr from the map of Fig.2(C) ) and as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation (i.e. the fuel injection amount used for calculating the estimated value of the air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas).
  • the learned values KG are memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N.
  • the initial values of all learned values KG are set as "1".
  • a correction value is calculated every a predetermined condition is satisfied and new learned value KG obtained by adding this calculated correction value to the learned value KG of the map of Fig.3 corresponding to the current fuel injection amount Q (the current target fuel injection amount TQ is used as this amount Q) and the current engine speed N is memorized in the map of Fig.3 as the learned value corresponding to the current amount Q and the current speed N. That is, during the engine operation, the learned value KG of the map of Fig.3 corresponding to the current amount Q and the current speed N is updated by the correction value every the predetermined condition is satisfied.
  • the detected air-fuel ratio i.e. the air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas calculated from the output value of the upstream oxygen concentration sensor
  • the estimated air-fuel ratio is an estimated value of the air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas and is an air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas calculated by using the detected intake air amount (i.e. the intake air amount calculated from the output value of the air flow meter) and the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value KG acquired from the map of Fig.3 on the basis of the amount Q and the speed N to the target fuel injection amount TQ.
  • a difference of the detected air-fuel ratio relative to the estimated air-fuel ratio hereinafter, this difference will be referred to as --air-fuel ratio difference--) is calculated.
  • the correction value is calculated on the basis of this calculated air-fuel ratio difference.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is larger than zero is positive and is calculated as a suitable value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become larger than the estimated air-fuel ratio when the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value updated by the correction value in question is used as the fuel injection amount for the target EGR rate acquisition and as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is smaller than zero i.e.
  • the detected air-fuel ratio when the detected air-fuel ratio is larger than the estimated air-fuel ratio) is negative and is calculated as a suitable value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become smaller than the estimated air-fuel ratio when the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value updated by the correction value in question to the target fuel injection amount is used as the fuel injection amount for the target EGR rate acquisition and as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation.
  • the air-fuel ratio difference becomes small and finally, the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero.
  • the reason thereof will be explained. Below, for facilitating the understanding, the reason will be explained assuming that there is no change of the target fuel injection amount and the engine speed.
  • the detected air-fuel ratio corresponds to the air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas calculated by using the target fuel injection amount and the detected intake air amount (i.e. the estimated air-fuel ratio).
  • the detected air-fuel ratio may correspond to the estimated air-fuel ratio, however, in general, the detected air-fuel ratio does not correspond to the estimated air-fuel ratio.
  • the positive correction value is calculated.
  • This calculated value is added to the learned value KG of the map of Fig.3 corresponding to the current fuel injection amount Q and the current engine speed N.
  • the correction value is positive and therefore, the learned value KG becomes large.
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value KG to the target fuel injection amount TQ is used as the fuel injection amount for the target EGR rate acquisition and therefore, the fuel injection amount for this acquisition becomes large. Therefore, the target EGR rate acquired from the map of Fig.2(C) becomes small and as a result, the intake air amount increases. Therefore, the detected air-fuel ratio becomes large.
  • the intake air amount increases and therefore, the detected intake air amount becomes large. Therefore, when the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation does not change, the estimated air-fuel ratio becomes large.
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value to the target fuel injection amount TQ is used as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation and the learned value becomes large by the addition of the correction value thereto and therefore, the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation becomes large. Therefore, even when the detected intake air amount becomes large, the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation becomes large and therefore, the increase degree of the estimated air-fuel ratio due to the increase of the detected intake air amount becomes small or zero (i.e. the estimated air-fuel ratio does not change) or the estimated air-fuel ratio becomes small.
  • the air-fuel ratio difference becomes small.
  • the update of the learned value is repeatedly performed (i.e. the learned value continues to become large).
  • the air-fuel ratio difference finally becomes zero.
  • the negative correction value is calculated.
  • This calculated correction value is added to the learned value KG of the map of Fig.3 corresponding to the current amount Q and the current speed N.
  • the correction value is negative and therefore, the learned value KG becomes small.
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value KG in question to the target fuel injection amount TQ is used as the fuel injection amount for target EGR rate acquisition and therefore, the fuel injection amount for this acquisition becomes small. Therefore, the target EGR rate acquired from the map of Fig.2(C) becomes large and as a result, the intake air amount decreases. Therefore, detected air-fuel ratio becomes small.
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value to the target fuel injection amount TQ is used as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation and the learned value in question has become small by adding the correction value thereto and therefore, the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation becomes small. Therefore, even when the detected intake air amount decreases, the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation also becomes small, the decrease degree of the estimated air-fuel ratio due to the decrease of the detected intake air amount becomes small or zero (i.e. the estimated air-fuel ratio does not change) or the estimated air-fuel ratio becomes large.
  • the detected air-fuel ratio becomes larger than the estimated ratio
  • the update of the learned value is performed repeatedly (i.e. the learned value continues to become small).
  • the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero.
  • the control logic for updating the learned value when the air-fuel ratio difference is not zero may be used. That is, when the air-fuel ratio difference is zero, the correction value is calculated as zero and new learned value KG obtained by adding this calculated correction value to the learned value KG of the map of Fig.3 corresponding to the current amount Q and the current speed N may be memorized in the map of Fig.3 as the learned value corresponding to the current amount Q and the current speed N.
  • the air-fuel ratio difference may occur.
  • the learned value becomes large excessively.
  • the target fuel injection amount is corrected excessively by the learned value and as a result, the target EGR rate is corrected excessively, however, this is not preferred.
  • a suitable value as an upper limit of the learned value (this is positive and hereinafter, will be referred to as --upper limit learned value--) and a suitable value as a lower limit of the learned value (hereinafter, this is negative and hereinafter, will be referred to as --lower limit learned value--) are set.
  • the learned value corrected by the correction value is positive and is larger than the upper limit learned value
  • the learned value is limited to the upper limit learned value.
  • the learned value corrected by the correction value is negative and is smaller than the lower limit learned value (i.e. the learned value and the lower limit learned value are negative and therefore, the absolute value of the learned value is larger than that of the lower limit learned value)
  • the learned value is limited to the lower limit learned value.
  • the setting of the upper and lower limit learned values in the first embodiment will be explained.
  • the fuel injection amount difference where the actual fuel injection amount becomes larger than the target amount the fuel injection amount difference where the difference of the actual fuel injection amount relative to the target amount becomes large to the maximum extent (hereinafter, this difference will be referred to as --maximum fuel injection amount increase difference--) occurs
  • the learned values obtained eventually by the update according to the above-explained process i.e. the learned values when the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero
  • the fuel pressure i.e. the pressure of the fuel supplied to the fuel injectors
  • the learned values eventually obtained by the update according to the above-explained process are previously obtained depending on the target fuel injection amount and the fuel pressure.
  • These obtained learned values are memorized in the unit 60 as minimum learned values MinF due to the fuel injection amount difference in the form of a map as a function of the fuel injection amount Q and the fuel pressure Pf as shown in Fig.4(B) .
  • These minimum learned values due to the fuel injection amount difference are negative.
  • the learned values eventually obtained by the update according to the above-explained process are previously obtained. These obtained learned values are memorized as maximum learned values MaxA due to the intake air amount difference in the form of a map as a function of the intake air amount Ga as shown in Fig.4(C) . These maximum learned values due to the intake air amount difference are positive.
  • the learned values eventually obtained by the update according to the above-explained process are previously obtained depending on the intake air amount.
  • These obtained learned values are memorized in the unit 60 as minimum learned values MinA due to the intake air amount difference in the form of a map as a function of the intake air amount Ga as shown in Fig.4(D) .
  • These minimum learned values due to the intake air amount difference are negative.
  • the maximum and minimum learned values MaxF and MinF due to the fuel injection amount difference are acquired from the maps of Figs.4(A) and 4(B) on the basis of the current amount Q and the pressure Pf, while the maximum and minimum learned values MaxA and MinA due to the intake air amount difference are acquired from the maps of Figs.4(C) and 4(D) on the basis of the current amount Ga.
  • the maximum learned values MaxF and MaxA due to the acquired fuel injection amount and intake air amount differences, respectively, are compared with each other and the larger maximum learned value among them is set as the current upper limit learned value.
  • the minimum learned values MinF and MinA due to the acquired fuel injection amount and intake air amount differences, respectively are compared with each other.
  • the smaller minimum learned value among them i.e. these minimum learned values are negative, the minimum learned value having a larger absolute value among them) is set as the lower limit learned value.
  • one learned value is used as the learned value to be added to the target fuel injection amount for calculating the fuel injection amount for the target EGR rate acquisition and as the learned value subtracted from the target fuel injection amount for calculating the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation. That is, the learned value used for the calculation of the fuel injection amount for the target EGR rate acquisition and the learned value used for the calculation of the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation are the same as each other. However, these learned values may be different from each other. In this case, as similar to the first embodiment, the upper and lower limit learned values regarding the learned values, respectively are set.
  • FIG.5 An example of the routine for performing the control of the fuel injectors of the first embodiment will be explained.
  • This example of the routine is shown in Fig.5 .
  • the routine of Fig. 5 is performed every a predetermined time has elapsed.
  • the accelerator pedal opening degree Dac is acquired.
  • the target fuel injection amount TQ is acquired from the map of Fig.2(A) on the basis of the degree Dac acquired at step 10.
  • the fuel injector opening time TO for making the fuel injector inject the fuel of the target amount TQ acquired at step 11 is calculated.
  • the command value for making the fuel injector open for the time TO calculated at step 12 is output to the fuel injector and then, the routine is terminated.
  • Fig.6 This example of the routine is shown in Fig.6 .
  • the routine of Fig.6 is performed every a predetermined time has elapsed.
  • the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N are acquired.
  • the amount Q acquired at step 20 is the target amount TQ acquired at step 11 of the routine of Fig.5 .
  • the target throttle valve opening degree TDth is acquired from the map of Fig.2(B) on the basis of the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 20.
  • the command value for accomplishing the target degree TDth acquired at step 21 is the command value for accomplishing the target degree TDth acquired at step 21.
  • FIG.7 An example of the routine for performing the control of the EGR control valve of the first embodiment will be explained.
  • This example of the routine is shown in Fig.7 .
  • the routine of Fig.7 is performed every a predetermined time has elapsed.
  • the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N are acquired.
  • the amount Q acquired at step 30 is the target amount TQ acquired at step 11 of the routine of Fig.5 .
  • the learned value KG corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 30 among the learned values KG memorized in the unit 60 is acquired.
  • the amount Q acquired at step 30 is corrected by adding the learned value KG acquired at step 31 to the amount Q acquired at step 30.
  • the target EGR rate TRegr is acquired from the map of Fig.2(C) on the basis of the amount Q corrected at step 32 and the speed N acquired at step 30.
  • the command value for accomplishing the target rate TRegr acquired at step 33 is output to the EGR control valve and then, the routine is terminated.
  • FIG.8 An example of the routine for performing the update of the learned value of the first embodiment will be explained.
  • This example of the routine is shown in Fig.8 .
  • the routine of Fig.8 is performed every a predetermined time has elapsed.
  • the routine of Fig.8 starts, first, at step 100, the fuel injection amount Q, the engine speed N, the intake air amount Ga, the detected air-fuel ratio A/F and the fuel pressure Pf are acquired.
  • the acquired amount Q is the target amount TQ acquired at step 11 of the routine of Fig.5 and the acquired amount Ga is the detected intake air amount.
  • the learned value KG corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 100 is acquired from the map of Fig.3
  • the maximum and minimum learned values MaxF and MinF due to the fuel injection amount difference corresponding to the amount Q and the pressure Pf acquired at step 100 are acquired from the map of Figs.4(A) and 4(B) , respectively
  • the maximum and minimum learned values MaxA and MinA due to the intake air amount difference corresponding to the amount Ga acquired at step 100 is acquired from the map of Figs.4(C) and 4(D) , respectively.
  • step 102 the larger maximum learned value among the maximum learned value MaxF due to the fuel injection amount difference and the maximum learned value MaxA due to the intake air amount difference acquired at step 101 is set as the upper limit learned value Max and the smaller minimum learned value among the minimum learned value MinF daue to the fuel injection amount difference and the minimum learned value MinA due to the intake air amount difference acquired at step 101 is set as the lower limit learned value Min.
  • the fuel injection amount Q is corrected by adding the learned value KG acquired at step 101 to the amount Q acquired at step 100.
  • the estimated air-fuel ratio A/Fest is calculated on the basis of the amount Q corrected at step 103 and the amount Ga acquired at step 100.
  • the air-fuel ratio difference ⁇ A/F is calculated by subtracting the detected ratio A/F acquired at step 100 from the estimated ratio A/Fest calculated at step 104.
  • the correction value K is calculated on the basis of the difference ⁇ A/F calculated at step 105.
  • the calculated correction value K is positive when the difference ⁇ A/F is positive, the calculated correction value K is negative when the difference ⁇ A/F is negative and the calculated correction value is zero when the difference ⁇ A/F is zero.
  • a provisional learned value KGn is calculated by adding the correction value K calculated at step 106 to the learned value KG acquired at step 101.
  • step 108 it is judged if the provisional value KGn calculated at step 107 is smaller than the lower limit value Min set at step 102 (KGn ⁇ Min).
  • the routine proceeds to step 109.
  • KGn ⁇ Min the routine proceeds to step 110.
  • the routine proceeds to step 109, the learned value KG is updated by replacing the learned value KG of the map of Fig.3 corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 100 with the lower limit value Min and then, the routine is terminated. That is, when the provisional learned value KGn is smaller than the lower limit value Min, the learned value KG is limited to the lower limit value Min.
  • step 110 it is judged if the provisional value KGn calculated at step 107 is larger than the upper limit value Max set at step 102 (KGn > Max).
  • step 111 it is judged that KGn > Max.
  • the routine proceeds to step 111, the learned value KG is updated by replacing the learned value KG of the map of Fig.3 corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 100 with the upper limit value Max and then, the routine is terminated. That is, when the provisional value KGn is larger than the upper limit value Max, the learned value KG is limited to the upper limit value Max.
  • the routine proceeds to step 112, the learned value KG is updated by replacing the learned value KG of the map of Fig.3 corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 100 with the provisional value KGn calculated at step 107 and then, the routine is terminated. That is, when the provisional value KGn is equal to or larger than the lower limit value Min and is equal to or smaller than the upper limit value Max, the provisional value KGn is set as the learned value KG.
  • the second embodiment of the invention will be explained.
  • the constitution other than the setting of the upper and lower limit learned values is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, below, only the setting of the upper and lower limit learned values of the second embodiment will be explained.
  • the learned values calculated according to the same process as that of the first embodiment are previously obtained depending on the fuel injection amount, the fuel pressure and the intake air amount and these learned values are memorized in the unit 60 as the maximum learned values Max in the form of a map as a function of the fuel injection amount Q, the fuel pressure Pf and the intake air amount Ga as shown in Fig.9(A) .
  • the learned values calculated according to the same process as that of the first embodiment are previously obtained depending on the fuel injection amount, the fuel pressure and the intake air amount and these learned values are memorized in the unit 60 as the minimum learned values Min in the form of a map as a function of the fuel injection amount Q, the fuel pressure Pf and the intake air amount Ga as shown in Fig.9(B) .
  • the maximum and minimum learned values Max and Min are acquired from the maps of Figs.9(A) and 9(B) on the basis of the current fuel injection amount, the fuel pressure and the intake air amount every a predetermined timing has come and these maxmum and minimum learned values Max and Min are set as the upper and lower limit learned values, respectively.
  • the controls of the fuel injector, the throttle valve and the EGR control valve are performed by the routines of Figs. 5 , 6 and 7 , respectively.
  • FIG.10 An example of the routine for performing the update of the learned value of the second embodiment will be explained.
  • This example of the routine is shown in Fig.10 .
  • the routine of Fig.10 is performed every a predetermined time has elapsed.
  • the routine of Fig.10 starts, first, at step 200, the fuel injection amount Q, the engine speed N, the intake air amount Ga, the detected air-fuel ratio A/F and the fuel pressure Pf are acquired.
  • the acquired amount Q is the target amount TQ acquired at step 11 of the routine of Fig. 5 and the acquired amount Ga is the detected intake air amount.
  • the learned value KG corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 200 is acquired from the map of Fig.3 and the maximum and minimum learned values Max and Min corresponding to the amount Q, the pressure Pf and the amount Ga acquired at step 100 are acquired from the maps of Figs.9(A) and 9(B) , respectively.
  • the maximum and minimum learned values Max and Min acquired at step 201 are set to the upper and lower limit learned values Max and Min, respectively.
  • the fuel injection amount Q is corrected by adding the learned value KG acquired at step 201 to the amount Q acquired at step 200.
  • the estimated air-fuel ratio A/Fest is calculated on the basis of the amount Q corrected at step 203 and the amount Ga acquired at step 200.
  • the air-fuel ratio difference ⁇ A/F is calculated by subtracting the detected ratio A/F acquired at step 200 from the estimated ratio A/Fest calculated at step 204.
  • the correction value K is calculated on the basis of the difference ⁇ A/F calculated at step 205.
  • the calculated correction value K is positive when the difference ⁇ A/F is positive, the calculated correction value is negative when the difference ⁇ A/F is negative and the calculated correction value K is zero when the difference ⁇ A/F is zero.
  • the provisional learned value KGn is calculated by adding the correction value K calculated at step 206 to the learned value KG acquired at step 201.
  • the routine proceeds to step 209.
  • the routine proceed to step 210.
  • the routine proceeds to step 209, the learned value K is updated by replacing the learned value KG of the map of Fig.3 corresponding to the amount Q and the speeds N acquired at step 200 with the minimum limit value Min and then, the routine is terminated. That is, when the provisional value KGn is smaller than the minimum limit value Min, the learned value KG is limited to the lower limit value Min.
  • step 210 it is judged if the provisional value KGn calculated at step 207 is larger than the upper limit value Max set at step 202 (KGn > Max).
  • KGn >Max the routine proceeds to step 211.
  • KGn ⁇ Max the routine proceeds to step 212.
  • the routine proceeds to step 211, the learned value KG is updated by replacing the learned value KG of the map of Fig.3 corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 200 with the upper limit value Max and then, the routine is terminated. That is, when the provisional value KGn is larger than the upper limit value Max, the learned value KG is limited to the upper limit value Max.
  • the routine proceeds to step 212, the learned value KG is updated by replacing the learned value KG of the map of Fig.3 corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 200 with the provisional value KGn calculated at step 207 and then, the routine is terminated. That is, when the provisional value KGn is equal to or larger than the lower limit value Min and is equal to or smaller than the upper limit value Max, the provisional value KG is set as the learned value KG.
  • the above-explained embodiment is one in the case that the invention is applied to the engine comprising the EGR device.
  • the invention can be applied to the engine not comprising the EGR device.
  • this embodiment in the case that the invention is applied to the engine not comprising the EGR device hereinafter, this embodiment will be referred to as --third embodiment--
  • the engine of the third embodiment is shown in Fig.11 . Except that the engine does not comprise the EGR device, the constitution of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment and therefore, the explanation thereof will be omitted.
  • suitable fuel injection amounts corresponding to the accelerator pedal opening degrees in the engine of Fig.11 are previously obtained by the experiment, etc. and these obtained amounts are momorized as the targe fuel injection amounts TQ in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the accelerator pedal opening degree Dac as shown in Fig.12(A) .
  • the target amount TQ is acquired from the map of Fig.12(A) on the basis of the degree Dac.
  • the fuel injector opening time necessary to inject the fuel of the acquired target amount TQ from the fuel injector is calculated on the basis of the target amount TQ.
  • the opening time of the fuel injector is controlled at each intake stroke such that the injector opens for the calculated opening time.
  • suitable throttle valve opening degrees depending on the fuel injection amount and the engine speed in the engine of Fig.11 are previously obtained by the experiment, etc. and these obtained opening degrees are memorized as target throttle valve opening degrees TDth in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N as shown in Fig.12(B) .
  • the target degree TDth is acquired from the map of Fig.12(B) on the basis of the amount Q and the speed N.
  • the opening degree of the throttle valve is controlled such that the throttle valve opens by the acquired target degree TDth.
  • the learned values KG are memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N.
  • the learned value KG corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N is acquired from the map of Fig. 13 .
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by adding this acquired learned value to the target fuel injectino amount is used as the fuel injection amount for the target throttle valve opening degree acquisition (i.e. the fuel injection amount used for acquireing the target degree TDth from the map of Fig.12(B) ) and as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation.
  • the update of the learned value and the calculation of the correction value are performed according the same processes as those of the first embodiment.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is larger than zero i.e. when the detected air-fuel ratio is smaller than the estimated ratio
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is smaller than zero is calculated as a suitable positive value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become larger than the estimated ratio when the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value updated by the correction value to the target fuel injection amount is used as the fuel injection amounts for the target throttle valve opening degree acquisition and the target throttle valve opening degree acquisition.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is smaller than zero (i.e.
  • the air-fuel ratio difference becomes small and eventually, the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero.
  • the reason will be explained. Below, for facilitating the understanding, the reason will be explained assuming that the target fuel injection amount and the engine speed do not change.
  • the update of the learned value and the calculation of the correction value are performed according to the same processes as those of the first embodiment and therefore, the positive correction value is calculated when the detected air-fuel ratio is smaller than the estmated ratio (i.e. when the detected air-fuel ratio is richer than the estimated ratio).
  • This calculated correction value is added to the learned value KG of the map of Fig.13 corresponding to the current amount Q and the current speed N.
  • the correction value is positive and therefore, the learned value KG becomes large.
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value KG to the target amount TQ is used as the fuel injection amount for the target throttle valve opening degree acquisition and therefore, the fuel injection amount for this acquisition becomes large. Therefore, the target throttle valve opening degree acquired from the map of Fig.12(B) becomes large and as a result, the intake air amount increases. Therefore, the detected air-fuel ratio becomes large.
  • the intake air amount increases and therefore, the detected intake air amount becomes large. Therefore, if the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation does not change, the estimated air-fuel ratio becomes large.
  • the fuel injection amount acquired by adding the learned value to the target amount TQ is used as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation and the learned value has become large by adding the correction value thereto and therefore, the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation becomes large. Therefore, even if the detected intake air amount becomes large, the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation becomes large and therefore, the increase degree of the estimated air-fuel ratio due to the increase of the detected intake air amount becomes small or zero (i.e. the estimated air-fuel ratio does not change) or the estimated air-fuel ratio becomes small.
  • the air-fuel ratio difference becomes small.
  • the update of the learned value is repeatedly performed (i.e. the learned value continues to become large).
  • the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero eventually.
  • the negative correction value is calculated.
  • This calculated value is added to the learned value KG of the map of Fig.13 corresponding to the current amount Q and the current speed N.
  • the correction value is negative and therefore, the learned value KG becomes small.
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value KG to the target fuel injection amount TQ is used as the fuel injection amount for the target throttle valve opening degree acquisition and therefore, the fuel injection amount for this acquisition becomes small. Therefore, the target throttle valve opening degree acquired from the map of Fig.12(B) becomes small and as a result, the intake air amount decreases. Therefore, the detected air-fuel ratio becomes small.
  • the intake air amount decreases and therefore, the detected intake air amount becomes small. Therefore, if the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation does not change, the estimated air-fuel ratio becomes small.
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value to the target amount TQ is used as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation and the learned value has become small by adding the learned value thereto and therefore, the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation becomes small. Therefore, even if the detected intake air amount becomes small, the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation becomes small and therefore, the decrease degree of the estimated air-fuel ratio due to the decrease of the detected intake air amount becomes small or zero (i.e. the estimated air-fuel ratio does not change) or the estimated air-fuel ratio becomes large.
  • the air-fuel ratio difference becomes small.
  • the update of the learned value is repeatedly performed (i.e. the learned value continues to become small).
  • the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero eventually.
  • the target fuel injection amount is corrected excessively by the learned value and as a result, the target throttle valve opening degree is corrected excessively and this is not preferred.
  • a value suitable as the upper limit of the learned value (this value is positive and hereinafter, will be referred to as --upper limit learned value--) is set and a value suitable as the lower limit of the learned value (this value is negative and hereinafter, will be referred to as --lower limit learned value--) is set.
  • the learned value corrected by the correction value is positive and is larger than the upper limit learned value
  • the learned value is limited to the upper limit learned value.
  • the learned value corrected by the correction value is negative and is smaller than the lower limit learned value (i.e. when the absolute value of the learned value is larger than that of the lower limit learned value, since the learned value and the lower limit learned value are negative)
  • the learned value is limited to the lower limit learned value.
  • the setting of the upper and lower limit learned values of the third embodiment is performed according to the same processes as that of the first embodiment.
  • the maximum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference of the third embodiment is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the third embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the fuel injection amount and the fuel pressure.
  • the minimum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference of the third embodiment is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the third embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the fuel injection amount and the fuel pressure.
  • the maximum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the third embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the intake air amount.
  • the minimum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the third embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the intake air amount.
  • the setting of the upper and lower limit learned values of the third embodiment may be performed according to the same processes as those of the second embodiment.
  • the maximum learned value is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the third embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the target fuel injection amount, the fuel pressure and the intake air amount.
  • the minimum value is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the third embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the target fuel injection amount, the fuel pressure and the intake air amount.
  • one learned value is used as the learned values to be added to the target fuel injection amount for calculating the fuel injection amounts for the target throttle valve opening degree acquisition and the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation, respectively. That is, the learned values used for the calculation of the fuel injection amounts for the target throttle valve opening degree acquisition and the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation, respectively are the same as each other. However, these learned values may be different from each other. In this case, the upper and lower limit learned values regarding the learned values are set similar to the first embodiment.
  • the control of the fuel injector of the third embodiment is, for example, performed by the routine of Fig.5 .
  • the routine of Fig.5 is used for the control of the injector of the third embodiment, at step 11, the fuel injection amount TQ is acquired from the map of Fig.12(A) .
  • FIG.14 An example of the routine for performing the control of the throttle valve of the third embodiment will be explained.
  • This example of the routine is shown in Fig.14 .
  • the routine of Fig. 14 is performed every a predetermined time has elapsed.
  • the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N are acquired.
  • the amount Q acquired at step 40 is the target amount TQ acquired at step 11 of the routine of Fig.5 .
  • the learned value KG corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 40 is acquired.
  • the amount Q acquired at step 40 is corrected by adding the learned value KG acquired at step 41 to the amount Q acquired at step 40.
  • the target throttle valve opening degree TDth is acquired from the map of Fig.2(B) on the basis of the amount Q corrected at step 42 and the speed N acquired at step 40.
  • the command value for accomplishing the target degree TDth acquired at step 43 is output to the throttle valve and then, the routine is terminated.
  • the update of the learned value of the third embodiment is, for example, performed by the routines of Figs.8 and 10 .
  • the learned value KG acquired at step 101 of Fig.8 is the learned value of the map of Fig.13 corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 100
  • the maximum and minimum learned values MaxF and MinF acquired at step 101 of Fig.8 are the above-explained maximum and minimum learned values due to the fuel injection amount difference of the third embodiment, respectively
  • the maximum and minimum learned values MaxA and MinA acquired at step 101 of Fig.8 are the above-explained maximum and minimum learned values due to the intake air amount difference of the third embodiment, respectively.
  • the learned value KG acquired at step 201 is the learned value of the map of Fig.13 corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 200 and the maximum and minimum learned values Max and Min acquired at step 201 of Fig.10 are the above-explained maximum and minimum learned values of the third embodiment.
  • the engine of the fourth embodiment is shown in Fig. 15 .
  • the constitution of the engine of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the engine comprises a supercharger 33 and does not comprise the EGR device.
  • the engine 10 shown in Fig.15 comprises the supercharger 35.
  • the supercharger 35 has a compressor 35A positioned in the intake pipe 32 upstream of the intercooler 34 and an exhaust turbine 35 positioned upstream of the catalytic converter 43.
  • the exhaust turbine 35B has an exhaust turbine body 35C and a plurality of vanes 35D.
  • the turbine 35B (in particular, the turbine body 35C) is connected to the compressor 35A by a shaft (not shown).
  • the turbine body 35C is rotated by the exhaust gas, the rotation thereof is transmitted to the compressor 35A via the shaft and thereby, the compressor 35A is rotated.
  • the gas in the intake pipe 32 downstream of the compressor is compressed by the rotation of the compressor 35A and as a result, the pressure of the gas (hereinafter, this pressure will be referred to as --supercharged pressure--) increases.
  • the vanes 35D are positioned radially at the constant angular intervals about the rotation centeral axis R1 of the turbine body such that they surround the turbine body 35C.
  • Each vane 35D is positioned such that it can rotate about a corresponding axis shown by the symbol R2 in Fig.16 .
  • the direction of the extending of each vane 35D i.e. the direction shown by the symbol E in Fig.16
  • --extending direction--- and the line connecting the rotation central axis R1 of the turbine body 35C to the rotation axis R2 of the vane 35D i.e.
  • each vane 35D is rotated such that regarding all vanes 35D, the angles, each of which is defined between the extending direction thereof and the corresponding base line A, are the same as one another.
  • the pressure in the exhaust passage 40 hereinafter, this pressure will be referred to as --exhaust pressure--
  • --exhaust pressure-- the pressure in the exhaust passage 40 upstream of the turbine body 35C increases and as a result, the flow velocity of the exhaust gas supplied to the turbine body 35C increases.
  • the supercharger 35 can control the supercharged pressure variably by controlling the operation condition (in particular, the vane opening degree) of the vane 35D.
  • the vanes 35D are connected to the interface 65 of the unit 60 and the control signal for controlling the operation of the vanes 35D is given thereto from the unit 60 via the interface 65.
  • suitable fuel injection amounts depending on the accelerator pedal opening degrees are previously obtained by the experiment, etc. and these obtained amounts are memorized as target fuel injection amounts TQ in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the accelerator pedal opening degree Dac as shown in Fig.17(A) .
  • the target amount TQ is acquired from the map of Fig.17(A) on the basis of the degree Dac.
  • the fuel injector opening time necessary to inject the fuel of the acquired target amount TQ from the injector is calculated on the basis of the target amount TQ.
  • the opening time of the injector is controlled at each intake stroke such that the fuel injector opens for the calculated fuel injector opening time.
  • suitable throttle valve opening degrees depending on the fuel injection amount and the engine speed are previously obtained by the experiment, etc. and these obtained degrees are memorized as target throttle valve opening degrees TDth in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N as shown in Fig.17(B) .
  • the target degree TDth is acquired from the map of Fig.17(B) on the basis of the amount Q and the speed N.
  • the opening degree of the throttle valve is controlled such that the throttle valve opens by the acquired degree TDth.
  • the target amount TQ (i.e. the target amount TQ acquired from the map of Fig.17(A) ) is employed as the fuel injection amount used for acquiring the target degree TDth from the map of Fig.17(B) .
  • suitable vane opening degrees i.e. the opening degrees of the vane
  • these obtained degrees are memorized as target vane opening degrees TDv in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N.
  • the target degree TDv is acquired from the map of Fig.17(C) on the basis of the amount Q and the speed N.
  • the opening degrees of the vanes are controlled such that the vanes open by the acquired target degree TDv.
  • the learned values KG are memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N. Then, during the engine operation, the learned value KG corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N is acquired from the map of Fig.18 . Then, fuel injection amount obtained by adding this acquired learned value to the target fuel injection amount is used as the fuel injection amount for the target vane opening degree acquisition (i.e. the fuel injection amount used for acquiring the target vane opening degree TDv from the map of Fig.17(C) ) and as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation.
  • the update of the learned value and the calculation of the correction value are performed according to the same processes as those of the first embodiment.
  • the correction value when the air-fuel ratio difference is larger than zero i.e. when the detected air-fuel ratio is smaller than the estimated ratio
  • the correction value when the air-fuel ratio difference is larger than zero is calculated as a suitable positive value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become larger than the estimated ratio when the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value updated by the correction value to the target fuel injection amount is used as the fuel injection amounts for the target vane opening degree acquisition and for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is smaller than zero is calculated as a suitable negative value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become smaller than the estimated ratio when the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value updated by the correction value to the target fuel injection amount is used as the fuel injection amounts for the target vane opening degree acquisition and for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation.
  • the air-fuel ratio difference becomes small and eventually, the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero.
  • the reason will be explained. Below, for facilitating the understanding, the reason will be explained assuming that the target fuel injection amount and the engine speed do not change.
  • the update of the learned value and the calculation of the correction value are performed according to the same processes as those of the first embodiment and therefore, the positive correction value is calculated when the detected air-fuel ratio is smaller than the estimated ratio (i.e. when the detected air-fuel ratio is richer than the estimated ratio). Then, this calculated correction value is added to the learned value KG of the map of Fig.18 corresponding to the current fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N. The correction value is positive and therefore, the learned value KG becomes large.
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value KG to the target fuel injection amount TQ is used as the fuel injection amount for the target vane opening degree acquisition and therefore, the fuel injection amount for this acquisition becomes large. Therefore, the target vane opening degree acquired from the map of Fig.17(C) becomes small and as a result, the intake air amount increases. Therefore, the detected air-fuel ratio becomes large.
  • the intake air amount increases and therefore, the detected intake air amount becomes large. Therefore, if the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation does not change, the estimated air-fuel ratio becomes large.
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value to the target fuel injection amount TQ is used as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation and the learned value becomes large by adding the correction value thereto and therefore, the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation becomes large. Therefore, even when the detected intake air amount becomes large, the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation becomes large and therefore, the increase degree of the estimated air-fuel ratio due to the increase of the detected intake air amount becomes small or zero (i.e. the estimated air-fuel ratio does not change) or the estimated air-fuel ratio becomes small.
  • the air-fuel ratio difference becomes small.
  • the update of the learned value is performed repeatedly (i.e. the learned value continues to become large).
  • the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero eventually.
  • the negative correction value is calculated. Then, this calculated correction value is added to the learned value KG of the map of Fig.18 corresponding to the current amount Q and the speed N. The correction value is negative and therefore, the learned value KG becomes small. Then, the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value KG to the target fuel injection amount TQ is used as the fuel injection amount for the target vane opening degree acquisition and therefore, the fuel injection amount for this acquisition becomes small. Therefore, the target vane opening degree acquired from the map of Fig.17(C) becomes large and as a result, the intake air amount decreases. Therefore, the detected air-fuel ratio becomes small.
  • the intake air amount decreases and therefore, the detected intake air amount becomes small. Therefore, if the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation does not change, the estimated air-fuel ratio becomes small.
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value to the target fuel injection amount TQ is used as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation and the learned value becomes small by adding the correction value thereto and therefore, the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation becomes small. Therefore, even when the detected intake air amount becomes small, the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation becomes small and therefore, the decrease degree of the estimated air-fuel ratio due to the decrease of the detected intake air amount becomes small or zero (i.e. the estimated air-fuel ratio does not change) or the estimated air-fuel ratio becomes large.
  • the detected air-fuel ratio when the detected air-fuel ratio is larger than the estimated ratio, by the update of the learned value, the detected air-fuel ratio becomes small and the estimated air-fuel ratio becomes large (or does not change or becomes small by the relatively small degree) and therefore, the air-fuel ratio difference becomes small.
  • the update of the learned value is performed repeatedly (i.e. the learned value continues to become small).
  • the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero eventually.
  • the target fuel injection amount is corrected excessively by the learned value and as a result, the target vane opening degree is corrected excessively, however, this is not preferred.
  • a value suitable as the upper limit of the learned value (this suitable value is positive and hereinafter, will be referred to as --upper limit learned value--) and a value suitable as the lower limit of the learned value (this suitable value is negative and hereinafter, will be referred to as --lower limit learned value--) are set.
  • the learned value corrected by the correction value is positive and is larger than the upper limit learned value
  • the learned value is limited to the upper limit learned value.
  • the learned value corrected by the correction value is negative and is smaller than the lower limit learned value (i.e. when the absolute value of the learned value is larger than that of the lower limit learned value, since the learned value and lower limit learned value are negative)
  • the learned value is limited to the lower limit learned value.
  • the setting of the upper and lower limit learned values of the fourth embodiment is performed according to the same process as that of the first embodiment.
  • the maximum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference of the fourth embodiment is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the first embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the target fuel injection amount and the fuel pressure.
  • the minimum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference of the fourth embodiment is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the forth embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the target fuel injection amount and the fuel pressure.
  • the maximum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the fourth embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the actual intake air amount.
  • the setting of the upper and lower limit learned values of the fourth embodiment may be performed according to the same process as that of the second embodiment.
  • the maximum learned value is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the fourth embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the target fuel injection amount and the fuel pressure.
  • the minimum learned value is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the fourth embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the target fuel injection amount, the fuel pressure and the intake air amount.
  • one learned value is used as the learned value to be added to the target fuel injection amount for calculating the fuel injection amount for the target vane opening degree acquisition and as the learned value to be subtracted from the target fuel injection amount for calculating the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation. That is, the learned values used for the calculation of the fuel injection amounts for the target vane opening degree acquisition and for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation are the same as each other. However, these learned values may be different from each other. In this case, the upper and lower limit learned values regarding the learned values are set similar to the first embodiment.
  • the control of the fuel injector of the fourth embodiment is, for example, performed by the routine of Fig.5 .
  • the routine of Fig.5 is used for the control of the fuel injector of the fourth embodiment, at step 11, the target fuel injection amount TQ is acquired from the map of Fig.17(A) .
  • the control of the throttle valve of the fourth embodiment is, for example, performed by the routine of Fig.6 .
  • the routine of Fig.6 is used for the control of the throttle valve of the fourth embodiment, at step 21, the target throttle valve opening degree TDth is acquired from the map of Fig.17(B) .
  • FIG.19 An example of the routine for performing the control of the vane of the fourth embodiment will be explained.
  • This example of the routine is shown in Fig.19 .
  • the routine of Fig. 19 is performed every a predetermined time has elapsed.
  • the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N are acquired.
  • the amount Q acquired at step 50 is the target amount TQ acquired at step 11 of the routine of Fig.5 .
  • the learned value KG corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 50 is acquired.
  • the amount Q acquired at step 50 is corrected by adding the value KG acquired at step 51 to the amount Q acquired at step 50.
  • the target vane opening degree TDv is acquired from the map of Fig.2(C) on the basis of the amount Q corrected at step 52 and the speed N acquired at step 50.
  • the command value for accomplishing the target degree TDv acquired at step 53 is output to the vanes and then, the routine is terminated.
  • the update of the learned value of the fourth embodiment is, for example, performed by the routine of Fig.8 or 10 .
  • the learned value KG acquired at step 101 of Fig.8 is the learned value of the map of Fig.18 corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 100
  • the maximum and minimum learned values MaxF and MinF acquired at step 101 of Fig.8 are the above-explained maximum and minimum learned values due to the fuel injection amount difference of the fourth embodiment, respectively
  • the maximum and minimum learned values MaxA and MinA acquired at step 101 of Fig.8 are the above-explained maximum and minimum learned values due to the intake air amount difference of the fourth embodiment, respectively.
  • the learned value KG acquired at step 201 is the learned value of the map of Fig.18 corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 200 and the maximum and minimum learned values Max and Min acquired at step 201 of Fig.10 are the above-explained maximum and minimum learned values of the forth embodiment, respectively.
  • the above-explained embodiments are those in the case that the invention is applied to the control device which corrects the intake air amount eventually by the learned value.
  • the invention can be applied to the control device which corrects the fuel injection amount eventually by the learned value.
  • the embodiment in the case that the invention is applied to such a control device hereinafter, this embodiment will be referred to as --fifth embodiment--
  • the engine of the fifth embodiment is the above-explained engine shown in Fig.1 and therefore, the explanation of the constitution thereof will be omitted.
  • the learned values KG are memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N.
  • the target fuel injection amount TQ is acquired from the map of Fig.2(A) on the basis of the accelerator pedal opening degree Dac. Then, the learned value KG corresponding to the amount Q (the target amount TQ is used as this amount Q) and the speed N is acquired from the map of Fig.20 .
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by subtracting the above-mentioned learned value KG from the acquired target amount (hereinafter, this amount will be referred to asinitial target fuel injection amount--) TQ is set as the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation (i.e. the target fuel injection amount used for calculating the fuel injector opening time).
  • the fuel injector opening time necessary to inject the fuel of the set target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time from the injector is calculated on the basis of the target fuel injection amount. Then, the opening time of the fuel injector is controlled such that the injector opens for the calculated fuel injector opening time.
  • the control of the throttle valve of the fifth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment and therefore, the explanation thereof will be omitted.
  • the target EGR rate TRegr is acquired from the map of Fig.2(C) on the basis of the amount Q and the speed N. Then, the EGR control valve opening degree for accomplishing the acquired target rate TRegr is calculated as the target EGR control valve opening degree TDegr according to a predetermined calculation rule. Then, the opening degree of the EGR control valve is controlled such that the EGR control valve opens by this calculated target degree TDegr.
  • the initial target fuel injection amount TQ (i.e. the target amount TQ acquired from the map of Fig.2(A) ) is used as the fuel injection amount for the target EGR rate acquisition).
  • the initial target fuel injection amount TQ (i.e. the target amount TQ acquired from the map of Fig.2(A) ) is used as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation.
  • the update of the learned value and the calculation of the correction value are performed according to the same processes as those of the first embodiment.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is larger than zero i.e. when the detected air-fuel ratio is smaller than the estimated ratio
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is smaller than zero is calculated as a suitable positive value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not becomes larger than the estimated ratio when the fuel injection amount obtained by subtracting the learned value updated by the correction value from the initial target fuel injection amount is used as the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is smaller than zero i.e.
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by subtracting the learned value updated as explained above from the initial target fuel injection amount the air-fuel ratio difference becomes small and eventually becomes zero.
  • the reason thereof will be explained. Below, for facilitating the understanding, the reason will be explained assuming that the initial target fuel injection amount and the engine speed do not change.
  • the update of the learned value and the calculation of the correction value are performed according to the same processes as those of the first embodiment and therefore, when the detected air-fuel ratio is smaller than the estimated ratio (i.e. when the detected air-fuel ratio is richer than the estimated ratio), the positive correction value is calculated. Then, this calculated value is added to the learned value KG of the map of Fig.20 corresponding to the current amount Q (the initial target fuel injection amount TQ is used as this amount Q) and the current speed N. The correction value is positive and therefore, the learned value KG becomes large.
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by subtracting the learned value KG from the initial target fuel injection amount TQ is used as the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation and therefore, the target fuel injection amount for this calculation becomes small. As a result, the fuel injection amount becomes small. Therefore, the detected air-fuel ratio becomes large.
  • the initial target fuel injection amount TQ is used as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation and the initial amount TQ does not change and therefore, the estimated air-fuel ratio does not change.
  • the detected air-fuel ratio when the detected air-fuel ratio is smaller than the estimated ratio, by the update of the learned value, the detected air-fuel ratio becomes large and the estimated air-fuel ratio does not change and therefore, the air-fuel ratio difference becomes small.
  • the update of the learned value is performed repeatedly (i.e. the learned value continues to become large).
  • the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero eventually.
  • the negative correction value is calculated. Then, this calculated correction value is added to the learned value KG of the map of Fig.20 corresponding to the current amount Q (the initial target fuel injection amount TQ is used as this amount Q) and the current speed N. The correction value is negative and therefore, the learned value KG becomes small. Then, the fuel injection amount obtained by subtracting the learned value KG from the initial target fuel injection amount TQ is used as the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation and therefore, the target fuel injection amount for this calculation becomes large. As a result, the fuel injection amount becomes large. Therefore, the detected air-fuel ratio becomes small.
  • the initial target fuel injection amount TQ is used as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation and the initial amount TQ does not change and therefore, the estimated air-fuel ratio does not change.
  • the update of the learned value when the detected air-fuel ratio is larger than the estimated ratio, by the update of the learned value, the detected air-fuel ratio becomes small and the estimated air-fuel ratio does not change and therefore, the air-fuel ratio difference becomes small.
  • the update of the learned value is performed repeatedly (i.e. the learned value continues to become large).
  • the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero eventually.
  • the initial target fuel injection amount is corrected excessively by the learned value and as a result, the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation is corrected excessively, however, this is not preferred.
  • a value suitable as the upper limit of the learned value (this is positive and hereinafter, will be referred to as -- upper limit learned value--) and a value suitable as the lower limit of the learned value (this is negative and hereinafter, will be referred to as --lower limit learned value--) are set. Then, when the learned value corrected by the correction value is positive and is larger than the upper limit learned value, the learned value is limited to the upper limit learned value. On the other hand, when the learned value corrected by the correction value is negative and is smaller than the lower limit learned value (i.e. when the absolute value of the learned value is larger than that of the lower limit learned value, since the learned value and the lower limit learned value are negative), the learned value is limited to the lower limit learned value.
  • the setting of the upper and lower limit learned values of the fifth embodiment is performed according the same process as that of the first embodiment.
  • the maximum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference of the fifth embodiment is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the fifth embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the initial target fuel injection amount and the fuel pressure.
  • the minimum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the fifth embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the initial target fuel injection amount and the fuel pressure.
  • the maximum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the fifth embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the intake air amount.
  • the minimum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the fifth embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the intake air amount.
  • the setting of the upper and lower limit learned values of the fifth embodiment may be performed according to the same process as that of the second embodiment.
  • the maximum learned value is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the fifth embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the initial target fuel injection amount and the fuel pressure.
  • the minimum learned value is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the fifth embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the initial target fuel injection amount, the fuel pressure and the intake air amount.
  • FIG.21 An example of the routine for performing the control of the fuel injector of the fifth embodiment will be explained.
  • This example of the routine is shown in Fig.21 .
  • the routine of Fig.21 is performed every a predetermined time has elapsed.
  • the routine of Fig.21 starts, first, at step 60, the accelerator pedal Dac and the engine speed N are acquired. Next, at step 61, the target fuel injection amount TQ is acquired from the map of Fig.2(A) on the basis of the degree Dac acquired at step 60. Next, at step 62, among the learned values KG memorized in the unit 60, the learned value KG corresponding to the target amount TQ acquired at step 61 and the speed N acquired at step 60 is acquired. Next, at step 63, the target amount TQ acquired at step 61 is corrected by subtracting the value KG acquired at step 62 from the target amount TQ acquired at step 61.
  • step 64 the fuel injector opening time TO for injecting the fuel of the target amount TQ corrected at step 63 from the injector is calculated.
  • step 65 the command value for opening the injector for the time TO calculated at step 64 is output to the fuel injector and then, the routine is terminated.
  • the control of the throttle valve of the fifth embodiment is, for example, performed by the routine of Fig.6 .
  • the fuel injection amount Q acquired at step 20 is the target fuel injection amount TQ acquired at step 61 of Fig.21 .
  • FIG.22 An example of the routine for performing the control of the EGR control valve of the fifth embodiment will be explained.
  • This example of the routine is shown in Fig.22 .
  • the routine of Fig.22 is performed every a predetermined time has elapsed.
  • the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N are acquired.
  • the amount Q acquired at step 70 is the target amount TQ acquired at step 61 of Fig.21 .
  • the target EGR rate TRegr is acquired from the map of Fig.2(C) on the basis of the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 70.
  • the command value for accomplishing the target rate TRegr acquired at step 71 is output to the EGR control valve and then, the routine is terminated.
  • the update of the learned value of the fifth embodiment is, for example, performed by the routine of Fig.8 or 10 .
  • the learned value KG acquired at step 101 is the learned value of the map of Fig.20 corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 100
  • the maximum and minimum learned values MaxF and MinF acquired at step 101 of Fig.8 are the above-explained maximum and minimum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference of the fifth embodiment, respectively
  • the maximum and minimum learned values MaxA and MinA acquired at step 101 of Fig.8 are the above-explained maximum and minimum learned values due to the intake air amount difference of the fifth embodiment, respectively.
  • the learned value KG acquired at step 201 of Fig.10 is the learned value of the map of Fig.20 corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 200 and the maximum and minimum learned values Max and Min acquired at step 201 of Fig.10 are the above-explained maximum and minimum learned values of the fifth embodiment, respectively.
  • the fifth embodiment is one in the case that the invention is applied to the control device which corrects only the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation by the learned value.
  • the invention can be applied to the control device which corrects the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation as well as the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation by the learned value.
  • this embodiment in the case that the invention is applied to such a control device (hereinafter, this embodiment will be referred to as --sixth embodiment--) will be explained.
  • the engine of the sixth embodiment is the above-explained engine shown in Fig.1 and therefore, the explanation of the constitution thereof will be omitted.
  • the learned values KG are memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the fuel injection amount Q and the engine speed N.
  • the target amount TQ is acquired from the map of Fig.2(A) on the basis of the accelerator pedal opening degree Dac. Then, the learned value KG corresponding to the amount Q (the target fuel injection amount TQ is used as this amount Q) and the engine speed N is acquired from the map of Fig.23 . Then, the fuel injection amount obtained by subtracting the learned value KG from the acquired target amount (hereinafter, this amount will be referred to as -- initial target fuel injection amount--) TQ is set as the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation.
  • the fuel injector opening time necessary to inject the fuel of the set target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation from the injector is calculated on the basis of the target fuel injection amount. Then, the opening time of the injector is controlled at each intake stroke such that the injector opens for the calculated fuel injector opening time.
  • the controls of the opening degrees of the throttle valve and the EGR control valve of the sixth embodiment are the same as those of the fifth embodiment and therefore, the explanation thereof will be omitted.
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value to the initial target fuel injection amount TQ (i.e. the target amount TQ acquired from the map of Fig.2(A) ) is used as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation.
  • the update of the learned value and the calculation of the correction value are performed according to the same processes as those of the first embodiment.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is larger than zero i.e. when the detected air-fuel ratio is smaller than the estimated ratio
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is larger than zero is calculated as a suitable positive value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become larger than the estimated ratio when the fuel injection amount obtained by subtracting the learned value updated by the correction value from the initial target fuel injection amount is used as the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation and the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value updated by the correction value is used as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is smaller than zero is calculated as a suitable negative value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become smaller than the estimated ratio when the fuel injection amount obtained by subtracting the learned value updated by the correction value from the initial target fuel injection amount is used as the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation and the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value updated by the correction value to the initial target fuel injection amount is used as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation.
  • the reason thereof will be explained. Below, for facilitating the understanding, the reason will be explained assuming that the initial target fuel injection amount and the engine speed do not change.
  • the update of the learned value and the calculation of the correction value are performed according to the same processes as those of the first embodiment and therefore, when the detected air-fuel ratio is smaller than the estimated ratio (i.e. when the detected air-fuel ratio is richer than the estimated ratio), the positive correction value is calculated. Then, this calculated correction value is added to the learned value KG of the map of Fig.23 corresponding to the current amount Q (the initial target fuel injection amount TQ is used as this amount Q) and the current speed N. The correction value is positive and therefore, the learned value KG becomes large.
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by subtracting the learned value KG from the initial target fuel injection amount TQ is used as the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation and therefore, the target fuel injection amount for this calculation becomes small. As a result, the fuel injection amount becomes small. Therefore, the detected air-fuel ratio becomes large.
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value to the initial target fuel injection amount TQ is used as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation and the learned value KG is increased by the correction value and therefore, the estimated air-fuel ratio becomes small.
  • the update of the learned value As explained above, when the detected air-fuel ratio is smaller than the estimated ratio, by the update of the learned value, the detected air-fuel ratio becomes large and the estimated air-fuel ratio becomes small and therefore, the air-fuel ratio difference becomes small. As far as the detected air-fuel ratio is smaller than the estimated ratio (i.e. as far as the air-fuel ratio difference is larger than zero), the update of the learned value is performed repeatedly (i.e. the learned value continues to become large). Thus, the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero eventually.
  • the negative correction value is calculated. Then, this calculated correction value is added to the learned value KG of the map of Fig.23 corresponding to the current amount Q (the initial target fuel injection amount TQ is used as this amount Q) and the current speed N. The correction value is negative and therefore, the learned value KG becomes small. Then, the fuel injection amount obtained by subtracting the learned value KG from the initial target fuel injection amount TQ is used as the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation and therefore, the target fuel injection amount for this calculation becomes large. As a result, the fuel injection amount becomes large. Therefore, the detected air-fuel ratio becomes small.
  • the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value to the initial target fuel injection amount is used as the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation and the learned value KG is decreased by the learned value KG and therefore, the estimated air-fuel ratio becomes large.
  • the update of the learned value when the detected air-fuel ratio is larger than the estimated ratio, by the update of the learned value, the detected air-fuel ratio becomes small and the estimated air-fuel ratio becomes large and therefore, the air-fuel ratio difference becomes small.
  • the update of the learned value is performed repeatedly (i.e. the learned value continues to become large).
  • the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero eventually.
  • the initial target fuel injection amount is corrected excessively by the learned value and as a result, the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation and the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation are corrected excessively, however, this is not preferred.
  • a value suitable as the upper limit of the learned value (this value is positive and hereinafter, will be referred to as --upper limit learned value--) and a value suitable as the lower limit of the learned value (this value is negative and hereinafter, this value will be referred to as --lower limit learned value--) are set.
  • the learned value corrected by the correction value is positive and is larger than the upper limit learned value
  • the learned value is limited to the upper limit learned value.
  • the learned value corrected by the correction value is negative and is smaller than the lower limit learned value (i.e. when the absolute value of the learned value is larger than that of the lower limit learned value, since the learned value and the lower limit learned value are negative)
  • the learned value is limited to the lower limit learned value.
  • the setting of the upper and lower limit learned values of the sixth embodiment are performed according to the same processes as those of the first embodiment.
  • the maximum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the sixth embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the initial target fuel injection amount and the fuel pressure.
  • the minimum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the sixth embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the initial target fuel injection amount and the fuel pressure.
  • the maximum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the sixth embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the intake air amount.
  • the minimum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the six embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the intake air amount.
  • the setting of the upper and lower limit learned values of the sixth embodiment may be performed according to the same process as that of the second embodiment.
  • the maximum learned value is a value calculated and updated by the correction value calculated within the specific constraint of the sixth embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the initial target fuel injection amount, the fuel pressure and the intake air amount.
  • the minimum learned value is a value calculated and updated by the correction value calculated within the specific constraint of the sixth embodiment and is memorized in the unit 60 in the form of a map as a function of the initial target fuel injection amount, the fuel pressure and the intake air amount.
  • one learned value is used as the learned value to be subtracted from the initial target fuel injection amount for calculating the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation and as the learned value to be added to the initial target fuel injection amount for calculating the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation. That is, the learned value subtracted from the initial target fuel injection amount for calculating the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation and the learned value added to the initial target fuel injection amount for calculating the fuel injection amount for the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation are the same as each other. However, these learned values may be different from each other. In this case, the upper and lower limit learned values regarding each learned value are set similar to the first embodiment.
  • the control of the fuel injector of the sixth embodiment is, for example, performed by the routine of Fig.21 .
  • the routine of Fig.21 is used for the control of the fuel injector of the sixth embodiment
  • the learned value KG acquired at step 62 is a value obtained eventually by the update according to the sixth embodiment.
  • the control of the throttle valve of the sixth embodiment is, for example, performed by the routine of Fig.6 .
  • the fuel injection amount Q acquired at step 20 is the target fuel injection amount TQ acquired at step 61 of Fig.21 .
  • the control of the EGR control valve of the sixth embodiment is, for example, performed by the routine of Fig.22 .
  • the update of the learned value of the sixth embodiment is, for example, performed by the routine of Fig.8 or 10 .
  • the learned value KG acquired at step 10 is the learned value of the map of Fig.23 corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 100
  • the maximum and minimum learned values MaxF and MinF acquired at step 101 of Fig.8 are the above-explained maximum and minimum learned values due to the fuel injection amount difference of the sixth embodiment, respectively
  • the maximum and minimum learned values MaxA and MinA acquired at step 101 of Fig.8 are the above-explained maximum and minimum values due to the intake air amount difference of the sixth embodiment, respectively.
  • the learned value KG acquired at step 201 is the learned value of the map of Fig.23 corresponding to the amount Q and the speed N acquired at step 200 and the maximum and minimum learned values Max and Min acquired at step 201 of Fig.10 are the above-explained maximum and minimum learned values of the sixth embodiment, respectively.
  • the learned value before the learned value is added to or subtracted from the target fuel injection amount (i.e. before the target fuel injection amount is corrected by the learned value), the learned value is newly calculated. That is, the learned value is updated to the latest learned value. Therefore, the latest learned value is added to or subtracted from the target fuel injection amount. Further, immediately before the learned value is added to or subtracted from the target fuel injection amount (i.e. immediately before the target fuel injection amount is corrected by the learned value), the latest learned value is calculated and therefore, the optimum learned value at that time is added to or subtracted from the target fuel injection amount. Thus, the unsuitable correction of the target fuel injection amount is avoided and therefore, the detected air-fuel ratio corresponds to the estimated ratio exactly.
  • the more suitable upper and lower limit learned values are set. That is, in general, it is preferred that the intake air amount or the fuel injection amount is corrected to the maximum extent possible as far as the requirements of the engine are accomplished.
  • the various controls in the engine are established such that the requirements of the engine are accomplished even in the case that it is expected that the fuel injection amount difference amount becomes large to the maximum extent when the actual fuel injection amount differs positively from the target fuel injection amount, even in the case that it is expected that the fuel injection amount difference amount becomes large to the maximum extent when the actual fuel injection amount differs negatively from the target fuel injection amount, even in the case that it is expected that the intake air amount difference amount becomes large to the maximum extent when the detected intake air amount differs positively from the actual intake air amount and even in the case that it is expected that the detected intake air amount differs negatively from the actual intake air amount. That is, the learned value in the case that the fuel injection amount difference is largest among the possible differences (i.e.
  • the larger maximum learned value among the maximum learned values is set as the upper limit learned value and the smaller minimum value among the minimum learned value is set as the lower limit learned value and if the learned value is limited to the upper and lower limit learned values, the learned value which corrects the intake air amount or the fuel injection amount to the maximum extent while accomplishing the requirements of the engine can be obtained. Therefore, in order to correct the intake air amount or the fuel injection amount to the maximum extent possible as far as the requirements of the engine are accomplished, the more suitable upper and lower limit learned values are set.
  • the more suitable upper and lower limit learned values are set. That is, in general, it is preferred that the intake air amount or the fuel injection amount is corrected to the maximum extent possible as far as the requirements of the engine are accomplished.
  • the various controls in the engine are established such that the requirements of the engine are accomplished even in the case that it is expected that the fuel injection amount difference amount becomes large to the maximum extent when the actual fuel injection amount differs positively from the target fuel injection amount and the intake air amount difference amount becomes large to the maximum extent when the detected intake air amount differs positively from the actual intake air amount and even in the case that it is expected that the fuel injection amount becomes large to the maximum extent when the actual fuel injection amount differs negatively from the target fuel injection amount and the intake air amount becomes large to the maximum extent when the detected intake air amount differs negatively from the actual intake air amount.
  • the learned value in the case that the fuel injection amount difference is largest among the possible differences and the intake air amount difference is largest among the possible differences is set as the upper or lower limit learned value and if the learned value is limited to the upper or lower limit learned value, the learned value which corrects the intake air amount or the fuel injection amount to the maximum extent while accomplishing the requirements of the engine can be obtained. Therefore, in order to correct the intake air amount or the fuel injection amount to the maximum extent possible as far as the requirements of the engine are accomplished, the more suitable upper or lower limit learned value is set.
  • the concept of the above-explained embodiments can be applied to the engine wherein the fuel is supplied to the combustion chamber by means other than the fuel injector. Therefore, the invention can be applied to the engine comprising means for supplying the fuel to the combustion chamber.
  • the concept of the above-explained embodiments can be applied to the engine wherein the amount of the air supplied to the combustion chamber is detected by means other than the air flow meter.
  • the detected intake air amount can be understood as the estimated value of the amount of the air supplied to the combustion chamber. Therefore, the invention can be applied to the engine comprising means for acquiring the estimated value of the amount of the air supplied to the combustion chamber.
  • the concept of the above-explained embodiments can be applied to the engine where the actual air-fuel ratio is acquired by means other than the oxygen concentration sensor means. Therefore, the invention can be applied to the engine comprising means for acquiring the actual air-fuel ratio.
  • the concept of the above-explained embodiments can be applied to the engine where the estimated value of the fuel injection amount other than the target fuel injection amount or the parameter corresponding thereto is used for the acquisition of the target EGR rate or the target throttle valve opening degree or the target vane opening degree and the calculation of the estimated air-fuel ratio.
  • the target fuel injection amount can be understood as the estimated value of the amount of the fuel supplied to the combustion chamber (i.e. the estimated supplied fuel amount). Therefore, the invention can be applied to the engine where the estimated supplied fuel amount or the parameter corresponding thereto is used for the acquisition of the target EGR rate or the target throttle valve opening degree or the target vane opening degree and the calculation of the estimated air-fuel ratio.
  • the concept of the above-explained embodiments can be applied to the engine where the estimated value of the intake air amount other then the detected intake air amount or the parameter corresponding thereto is used for the calculation of the estimated air-fuel ratio.
  • the detected intake air amount can be understood the estimated value of the amount of the air supplied to the combustion chamber (i.e. the estimated supplied air amount). Therefore, the invention can be applied to the engine where the estimated supplied air amount or the parameter corresponding thereto is used for the calculation of the estimated air-fuel ratio.
  • the first and second embodiments are those in the case that the invention is applied to the case where the target fuel injection amount acquired from the map of Fig.2(A) is corrected by the learned value, the target EGR rate is acquired from the map of Fig.2(C) on the basis of the corrected target fuel injection amount and the engine speed and this acquired target EGR rate is used as the target EGR rate for the EGR rate control.
  • the invention can be applied to the control device where the target EGR rate is acquired from the map of Fig.2(C) on the basis of the target fuel injection amount acquired from the map of Fig.2(A) and the engine speed, this acquired target EGR rate is corrected by the learned value and this corrected target EGR rate is used as the target EGR rate for the EGR rate control (in particular, for example, the control device where the target EGR rate is corrected by subtracting the learned value from the target EGR rate acquired from the map and this corrected target EGR rate is used as the target EGR rate for the EGR rate control).
  • the third embodiment is one in the case that the invention is applied to the case where the target fuel injection amount acquired from the map of Fig.12(A) is corrected by the learned value, the target throttle valve opening degree is acquired from the map of Fig.12(B) on the basis of the corrected target fuel injection and the engine speed and this acquired degree is used as the target throttle valve opening degree for the throttle valve opening degree control.
  • the invention can be applied to the control device where the target throttle valve opening degree is acquired from the map of Fig.12(B) on the basis of the target fuel injection amount acquired from the map of Fig.12(A) and the engine speed, this acquired target throttle valve opening degree is corrected by the learned value and this corrected degree is used as the target throttle valve opening degree for the throttle valve opening degree control (in particular, for example, the control device where the target throttle valve opening degree is corrected by adding the learned value to the target throttle valve opening degree acquired from the map and this corrected degree is used for the target throttle valve opening degree for the throttle valve opening degree control).
  • the fourth embodiment is one in the case that the invention is applied to the case where the target fuel injection amount acquired from the map of Fig.17(A) is corrected by the learned value, the target vane opening degree is acquired from the map of Fig.17(C) on the basis of this corrected target amount and the engine speed and this acquired target vane opening degree is used for the target vane opening degree for the vane opening degree control.
  • the invention can be applied to the control device where the target vane opening degree is acquired from the map of Fig.17(C) on the basis of the target fuel injection amount acquired from the map of Fig.17(A) and the engine speed, this acquired target vane opening degree is corrected by the learned value and this corrected degree is used for the target vane opening degree for the vane opening degree control (in particular, for example, the control device where the target vane opening degree is corrected by subtracting the learned value from the target vane opening degree acquired from the map and this corrected degree is used as the target vane opening degree for the vane opening degree control).
  • the first and second embodiment are those in the case that the invention is applied to the case where the target EGR rate is acquired from the map of Fig.2(C) on the basis of the fuel injection amount and the engine speed.
  • the invention can be applied to the control device where the target EGR rate is acquired on the basis of only the fuel injection amount or the control device where the target EGR rate is acquired on the basis of three parameter or more including the fuel injection amount and the engine speed or the control device where the target EGR rate is acquired on the basis of one or more parameters other than the fuel injection amount and the engine speed.
  • the third embodiment is one in the case that the invention is applied to the case where the target throttle valve opening degree is acquired from the map of Fig.12(B) on the basis of the fuel injection amount and the engine speed.
  • the invention can be applied to the control device where the target throttle valve opening degree is acquired on the basis of only the fuel injection amount or the control device where the target throttle valve opening degree is acquired on the basis of three or more parameters including the fuel injection amount and the engine speed or the control device where the target throttle valve opening degree is acquired on the basis of one or more parameters other than the fuel injection amount and the engine speed.
  • the fourth embodiment is one in the case that the invention is applied to the control device where the target vane opening degree is acquired from the map of Fig.17(C) on the basis of the fuel injection amount and the engine speed.
  • the invention can be applied to the control device where the target vane opening degree on the basis of only the fuel injection amount or the control device where the target vane opening degree is acquired on the basis of three or more parameters including the fuel injection amount and the engine speed or the control device where the target vane opening degree is acquired on the basis of one or more parameters other than the fuel injection amount and the engine speed.
  • the above-explained embodiments are those in the case that the invention is applied to the control device where only the target fuel injection is corrected by the learned value in order to obtain the fuel injection amount for the acquisition of the target value (i.e. the target EGR rate or throttle valve opening degree or vane opening degree).
  • the invention can be applied to the control device where only the engine speed is corrected by the learned value in order to obtain the engine speed for the acquisition of the target value or the control device where both of the target fuel injection amount and the engine speed are corrected by the learned value in order to obtain the fuel injection amount and the engine speed for the acquisition of the target value.
  • the above-explained embodiments are those in the case that the fuel injection amount and the engine speed are used for the acquisition of the target value (i.e. the target EGR rate or throttle valve opening degree or vane opening degree).
  • the invention can be applied to the control device where three or more parameters including the fuel injection amount and the engine speed are used for the acquisition of the target value or the control device where one or more parameters other than the fuel injection amount and the engine speed are used for the acquisition of the target value.
  • at least one parameter is corrected by the learned value and this corrected parameter is used for the acquisition of the target value.
  • the EGR rate is corrected on the basis of the air-fuel ratio difference. Therefore, in these embodiments, it can be understood that the EGR gas amount is corrected on the basis of the air-fuel ratio difference.
  • the embodiments using the routine of Fig.8 among the above-explained embodiments are those in the case that the invention is applied to the control device where the maximum and minimum learned values due to the fuel injection amount difference are acquired depending on the fuel injection amount and the fuel pressure.
  • the invention can be applied to the control device where the maximum and minimum learned values are acquired depending on only the fuel injection amount.
  • the EGR rate is corrected by the learned value.
  • the intake air amount changes and therefore, it can be understood that the intake air amount is corrected by the learned value.
  • the estimated air-fuel ratio is calculated on the basis of the detected intake air amount and the target fuel injection amount at a particular timing. However, a certain time is necessary until the exhaust gas reaches the oxygen concentration sensor after the mixture gas of the air of the detected intake air amount at the particular timing and the fuel of the target fuel injection amount at the particular timing burns and the combustion gas is discharged as the exhaust gas from the combustion chamber.
  • the air-fuel ratio may be calculated by subtracting the detected air-fuel ratio from the estimated air-fuel ratio which is first-order-smoothed.
  • the maximum and minimum learned values due to the fuel injection amount difference may be obtained by a method other than those of the above-explained embodiments.
  • a method for acquiring the sufficient number of the learned values calculated in the case that the fuel injection amount difference in which the actual fuel injection amount differs from the target fuel injection amount i.e this fuel injection amount difference includes the fuel injection amount difference in which the actual injection amount becomes larger than the target fuel injection amount and the fuel injection amount difference in which the actual fuel injection amount becomes smaller than the target fuel injection amount
  • processing these acquired learned values by a statistical method to obtain a value suitable as the maximum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference and a value suitable as the minimum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference as the maximum and minimum learned values due to the fuel injection amount difference, respectively can be employed.
  • the maximum and minimum learned values due to the intake air amount difference may be obtained by a method other than those of the above-explained embodiments.
  • a method for acquiring the sufficient number of the learned values calculated in the case that the intake air amount difference in which the detected intake air amount differs from the actual intake air amount i.e.
  • this intake air amount difference includes the intake air amount difference in which the detected intake air amount becomes larger than the actual intake air amount and the intake air amount difference in which the detected intake air amount becomes smaller than the actual intake amount) occurs and processing these acquired learned values by a statistical method to obtain a value suitable as the maximum learned value due to the intake air amount difference and a value suitable as the minimum learned value due to the intake air amount difference as the maximum and minimum learned values due to the intake air amount difference, respectively can be employed.
  • the drawings tolerance i.e. the nominal error
  • the eventually-obtained learned value may be set as the maximum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference and in the case that the actual fuel injection amount becomes smaller than the target fuel injection amount to the maximum extent within the drawings tolerance of the fuel injector, the eventually-obtained learned value may be set as the minimum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference.
  • the drawings tolerance i.e. the nominal error
  • the eventually-obtained learned value may be set as the maximum learned value due to the intake air amount difference and in the case that the detected intake air amount becomes smaller than the actual intake air amount to the maximum extent within the drawings tolerance of the air flow meter, the eventually-obtained learned value may be set as the minimum learned value due to the intake air difference.
  • the drawings tolerance i.e. the nominal error
  • the drawings tolerance i.e. the nominal error of the air flow meter regarding the detected intake air amount
  • the eventually-obtained learned value may be set as the maximum learned value and in the case that the actual fuel injection amount becomes smaller than the target fuel injection amount to the maximum extent within the drawings tolerance of the fuel injector and the detected intake air amount becomes smaller than the actual intake air amount to the maximum extent within the drawings tolerance of the air flow meter, the eventually-obtained learned value may be set as the minimum learned value.
  • the invention can be applied to the control device using the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value to the target fuel injection amount as the fuel injection amounts for the target EGR rate acquisition, the target throttle valve opening degree acquisition and the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation. That is, the concept of the third embodiment may be combined with the concept of the first or second embodiment.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is larger than zero is a suitable positive value such that the detected air fuel ratio does not become larger than the estimated air-fuel ratio when the control of the engine using the learned value updated by the correction value is performed.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is smaller than zero is a suitable negative value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become smaller than the estimated air-fuel ratio when the control of the engine using the learned value updated by the correction value is performed.
  • the maximum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference is a value eventually obtained when the update of the learned value and the control of the engine using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount increase difference occurs and the maximum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value similarly eventually obtained in the case that the maximum intake air amount increase difference occurs.
  • the minimum learned value due to the fuel injection amount is a value eventually obtained when the update of the learned value and the control of the engine using the learned value are repeatedly performed in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount decrease difference occurs and the minimum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value similarly eventually obtained in the case that the maximum intake air amount decrease difference occurs.
  • the maximum learned value is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the control of the engine using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount increase and intake air amount increase differences occur and the minimum learned value is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount and intake air amount decrease differences occur.
  • this invention can be applied to the control device in which the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value to the target fuel injection amount is used as the fuel injection amounts for the target EGR rate acquisition, the target vane opening degree acquisition and the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation. That is, the concept of the fourth embodiment may be combined with that of the first or second embodiment.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is larger than zero is calculated as a suitable positive value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become larger than the estimated air-fuel ratio when the engine control using the learned value updated by the correction value is performed.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is smaller than zero is calculated as a suitable negative value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become the estimated air-fuel ratio when the engine control using the learned value updated by the correction value is performed.
  • the maximum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount increase difference occurs and the maximum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum intake air amount increase difference occurs.
  • the minimum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount decrease difference occurs and the minimum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum intake air amount decrease difference occurs.
  • the maximum learned value is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount and intake air amount increase differences occur and the minimum learned value is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount and intake air amount decrease differences occur.
  • this invention can be applied to the control device in which the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value to the target fuel injection amount is used as the fuel injection amounts for the target EGR rate acquisition and the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation and the fuel injection amount obtained by subtracting the learned value from the target fuel injection amount is used as the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation. That is, the concept of the fifth or sixth embodiment may be combined with that of the first or second embodiment.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is larger than zero is calculated as a suitable positive value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become larger than the estimated air-fuel ratio when the engine control using the learned value updated by the correction value is performed.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is smaller than zero is calculated as a suitable negative value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become smaller than the estimated air-fuel ratio when the engine control using the learned value updated by the correction value is performed.
  • the maximum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount increase difference occurs and the maximum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum intake air amount increase difference occurs.
  • the minimum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount decrease difference occurs and the minimum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained similarly in the case that the maximum intake air amount decrease difference occurs.
  • the maximum learned value is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount and intake air amount increase differences occur and the minimum learned value is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount and intake air amount decrease differences occur.
  • this invention can be applied to the control device in which the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value to the target fuel injection amount is used as the fuel injection amounts for the target throttle valve opening degree acquisition, the target vane opening degree acquisition and the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation. That is, the concepts of the third and fourth embodiments may be combined with the concept of the first or second embodiment.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is larger than zero is calculated as a suitable positive value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become larger than the estimated air-fuel ratio when the engine control using the learned value updated by the correction value is performed.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is smaller than zero is calculated as a suitable negative value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become smaller than the estimated air-fuel ratio when the engine control using the learned value updated by the correction value is performed.
  • the maximum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount increase difference occurs and the maximum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum intake air amount increase difference occurs.
  • the minimum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount decrease difference occurs and the minimum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum intake air amount decrease difference occurs.
  • the maximum learned value is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount and intake air amount increase differences occur and the minimum learned value is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount and intake air amount decrease differences occur.
  • this invention can be applied to the control device in which the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value to the target fuel injection amount is used as the fuel injection amounts for the target EGR rate acquisition, the target throttle valve opening degree acquisition and the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation and the fuel injection amount obtained by subtracting the learned value from the target fuel injection amount is used as the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation. That is, the concept of the fifth or sixth embodiment may be combined with that of the first or second embodiment.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is larger than zero is calculated as a suitable positive value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become larger than the estimated air-fuel ratio when the engine control using the learned value updated by the correction value is performed.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is smaller than zero is calculated as a suitable negative value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become smaller than the estimated air-fuel ratio when the engine control using the learned value updated by the correction value is performed.
  • the maximum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount increase difference occurs and the maximum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum intake air amount increase difference occurs.
  • the minimum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount decrease difference occurs and the minimum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum intake air amount decrease difference occurs.
  • the maximum learned value is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount and intake air amount increase differences occur and the minimum learned value is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount and intake air amount decrease differences occur.
  • this invention can be applied to the control device in which the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value to the target fuel injection amount is used as the fuel injection amounts for the target EGR rate acquisition, the target vane opening degree acquisition and the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation and the fuel injection amount obtained by subtracting the learned value from the target fuel injection amount is used as the target fuel injection amount for the the fuel injector opening time calculation. That is, the concepts of the fourth embodiment and the fifth or sixth embodiment may be combined with the concept of the first or second embodiment.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is larger than zero is calculated as a suitable positive value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become larger than the estimated air-fuel ratio when the engine control using the learned value updated by the correction value is performed.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is smaller than zero is calculated as a suitable negative value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become smaller than the estimated air-fuel ratio when the engine control using the learned value updated by the correction value is performed.
  • the maximum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount increase difference occurs and the maximum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum intake air amount increase difference occurs.
  • the minimum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount decrease difference occurs and the minimum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum intake air amount decrease difference occurs.
  • the maximum learned value is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount and intake air amount increase differences occur and the minimum learned value is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount and intake air amount decrease differences occur.
  • this invention can be applied to the control device in which the fuel injection amount obtained by adding the learned value to the target fuel injection amount is used as the fuel injection amounts for the target EGR rate acquisition, the target throttle valve opening degree acquisition, the target vane opening degree acquisition and the estimated air-fuel ratio calculation and the fuel injection amount obtained by subtracting the learned value from the target fuel injection amount is used as the target fuel injection amount for the fuel injector opening time calculation. That is, the concepts of the third and fourth embodiments and the fifth or sixth embodiment may be combined with the concept of the first or second embodiment.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is larger than zero is calculated as a suitable positive value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become larger than the estimated air-fuel ratio when the engine control using the learned value updated by the correction value is performed.
  • the correction value calculated when the air-fuel ratio difference is smaller than zero is calculated as a suitable negative value such that the detected air-fuel ratio does not become smaller than the estimated air-fuel ratio when the engine control using the learned value updated by the correction value is performed.
  • the maximum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount increase difference occurs and the maximum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum intake air amount increase difference occurs.
  • the minimum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount decrease difference occurs and the minimum learned value due to the intake air amount difference is a value obtained eventually similarly in the case that the maximum intake air amount decrease difference occurs.
  • the maximum learned value is a value obtained eventually when the update of the learned value and the engine control using the learned value are performed repeatedly in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount and intake air amount increase differences occur and the minimum learned value is a value obtained eventually in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount and intake air amount decrease differences occur.
  • the above-explained embodiment is one obtained by applying this invention to the control device in which the learned value itself is used as the correction value for correcting the target fuel injection amount.
  • this invention can be applied to the control device in which in place of the learned value itself, a value calculated on the basis of the learned value is used as the correction value for correcting the target fuel injection amount.
  • the engine control is performed while the correction value is calculated on the basis of the air-fuel ratio difference, then the learned value is updated by adding the calculated correction value to the learned value corresponding to the current fuel injection amount and the current engine speed and then, this updated learned value is added to or subtracted from the target fuel injection amount, but the calculated correction value and the learned value corresponding to the current fuel injection amount and the current engine speed are added to or subtracted from the target fuel injection amount. That is, in the case that the acquisition of the learned value to be added to or subtracted from the target fuel injection amount is understood as the setting of the correction value for correcting the target fuel injection amount, in the above-explained embodiments, it can be understood that the learned value is updated (i.e. calculated) immediately before the correction value for correcting the target fuel injection amount is set and the correction value for correcting the target fuel injection amount is set by using this updated learned value.
  • the control device introduced from the above-explained embodiment comprises fuel supply means (for example, the fuel injector) and air supply means (for example, the intake passage) and controls the air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas by controlling the supplied fuel and air amounts, the learned value used for setting a supplied fuel or air amount correction value which is a correction value for correcting the supplied fuel or air amount (in the above-explained embodiments, the learned value itself is used as the supplied fuel or air amount correction value) being calculated on the basis of the difference (for example, the air-fuel ratio difference) of the actual air-fuel ratio (for example, the detected air-fuel ratio) relative to the target air-fuel ratio (for example, the estimated air-fuel ratio) as a value for decreasing the difference of the air-fuel ratio and the supplied fuel or air amount correction value being set by using the learned value, wherein the learned value is calculated immediately before the setting of the supplied fuel or air amount correction value and the supplied fuel or air amount correction value is set by using the
  • the acquisition of the learned value to be added to or subtracted from the target fuel injection amount is understood as the setting of the correction value for correcting the target fuel injection amount
  • the updated (i.e. the calculation) of the learned value is performed and the setting of the correction value for correcting the target fuel injection amount is performed according to the above-mentioned determination after the update of this learned value is completed.
  • the above-explained embodiment is one obtained by applying this invention to the control device in which the update and usage of the learned value are performed sequentially.
  • this invention can be applied to the control device in which the update and usage of the learned value are performed separately. In this case, it is preferred that the update (i.e.
  • the calculation) of the learned value is performed every a predetermined time has elapsed while the usage of the learned value is performed every the predetermined time has elapsed and the performance timings of the usage and the update of the learned value are set such that the period between the performance timing of the usage of the learned value and the performance timing of the update of the learned value immediately before the usage is shorter than that between the performance timing of the usage of the learned value and the performance timing of the update of the learned value immediately after the usage. That is, in the case that the acquisition of the learned value to be added to or subtracted from the target fuel injection amount is understood as the setting of the correction for correcting the target fuel injection amount, it is preferred that the update (i.e.
  • the calculation) of the learned value is performed every a predetermined time has elapsed while the setting of the correction value for correcting the target fuel injection amount is performed every the predetermined time has elapsed and the performance timings of the setting of the correction value and the update of the learned value are set such that the period between the performance timing of the setting of the correction value and the performance timing of the update of the learned value immediately before the setting is shorter than that between the performance timing of the setting of the correction value and the performance timing of the update of the learned value immediately after the setting.
  • control device introduced from the above-explained embodiment comprises; means for acquiring an estimated value of a supplied fuel amount as an estimated supplied fuel amount (in the above-explained embodiments, the fuel injection amount acquired by adding the learned value to the target fuel injection amount), means for acquiring an estimated value of a supplied air amount as an estimated supplied air amount (in the above-explained embodiments, the detected intake air amount), means for calculating an air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas as an estimated air-fuel ratio on the basis of the estimated supplied fuel and air amounts, means for acquiring an actual air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas as an actual air-fuel ratio (in the above-explained embodiments, the detected air-fuel ratio), means for calculating a correction value for correcting the supplied air amount such that an air-fuel ratio difference, which is a difference of the actual air-fuel ratio relative to the estimated air-fuel ratio, becomes small, and means for integrating the correction values to calculate a learned value of
  • this control device can be understood as the device wherein the learned value is obtained as a maximum lean-side learned value due to the supplied fuel amount difference (in the above-explained embodiments, the maximum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference) when the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero in the case that a supplied fuel amount difference in which the actual supplied fuel amount is larger than the estimated supplied fuel amount occurs and this difference is largest among the possible differences under the condition that the estimated supplied air amount corresponds to the actual supplied air amount (in the above-explained embodiments, in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount increase difference occurs), the learned value is obtained as a maximum rich-side learned value due to the supplied fuel amount difference (in the above-explained embodiments, the minimum learned value due to the fuel injection amount difference) when the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero in the case that a supplied fuel amount difference in which the actual supplied fuel amount is smaller than the estimated supplied fuel amount occurs and this difference is largest among the possible differences under the condition that the estimated supplied air amount corresponds to the actual supplied air amount (in the above
  • this control device can be understood as the device wherein the learned value, which is a value obtained when the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero in the case that the supplied fuel amount difference in which the actual supplied fuel amount is larger than the estimated supplied fuel amount occurs, this fuel supplied amount difference is largest among the possible differences, the supplied air amount difference in which the estimated supplied air amount is larger than the actual supplied air amount occurs and this supplied air amount difference is largest among the possible differences (in the above-explained embodiments, in the case that the maximum fuel injection amount and intake air amount increase differences occur), is set as an upper limit lean-side learned value (in the above-explained embodiments, the upper limit learned value) the learned value, which is a value obtained when the air-fuel ratio difference becomes zero in the case that the supplied fuel amount difference in which the actual supplied fuel amount is smaller than the estimated supplied fuel amount occurs, this supplied fuel amount difference is largest among the possible differences, the supplied air amount difference in which the estimated supplied air amount is smaller than the actual supplied air amount occurs and this supplied air amount difference is largest among the possible differences (in the
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JP6328918B2 (ja) * 2013-11-29 2018-05-23 トヨタ自動車株式会社 燃料噴射制御装置
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US11754013B1 (en) * 2022-02-18 2023-09-12 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Enhanced minimum mass limit for direct injection engines

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JP2003120381A (ja) * 2001-10-15 2003-04-23 Nissan Motor Co Ltd 内燃機関の空燃比制御装置
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JPWO2012086025A1 (ja) 2014-05-22

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