JP2010168909A - Control valve opening/closing control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an intake vortex generating device 1 capable of enhancing the accuracy of an intermediate opening position when driving an intake vortex control valve 3 to the intermediate opening position. <P>SOLUTION: An ECU 5 learns an output value of an opening sensor 4 as a full open sensor position when an intake vortex control valve 3 is controlled to fully open, and an output value of the opening sensor 4 as a full close sensor position by controlling the intake vortex control valve 3 to fully close when a throttle valve is controlled to fully close. After that, an intermediate opening position is calculated from the learnt full open sensor position and full close sensor position when the intake vortex control valve 3 is controlled to the intermediate opening position between the full open position and full close position. Through the opening learning, the intermediate opening position of the intake vortex control valve 3 can be accurately calculated from both learning values (full open sensor position and full close sensor position) by learning an output value of the opening sensor 4 at two points of the full open and full close positions of the intake vortex control valve 3, thereby realizing the enhancement of the accuracy in the intermediate opening position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a control valve opening / closing control device for learning an output value of an opening sensor that detects an opening position of a control valve.

As a conventional technique, an intake vortex control valve is disposed in an intake passage of an internal combustion engine, and this intake vortex control valve is driven by an electric actuator to throttle the intake passage, thereby generating a tumble flow in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. Eddy current generators that improve combustion efficiency are known. In this eddy current generator, maintaining the position detection accuracy of the opening sensor that detects the opening position of the intake vortex control valve is important for highly accurate eddy current control.
Therefore, when the ignition switch is switched from on to off, the present applicant drives the intake vortex control valve to the reference opening position (fully closed position) by the electric actuator, and then stops energizing the electric actuator. A method of learning a reference opening position from an opening value of an intake vortex control valve detected by an opening sensor has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-229238

However, in the method of the prior application (Patent Document 1), it can be corrected when the output of the opening sensor drifts (translates), but when the gain representing the inclination of the output changes, the method of the prior application is used. It is difficult to correct, and there is a limit to improving learning accuracy. For this reason, when controlling the intake vortex control valve to an intermediate opening position between the fully open position and the fully closed position, it is difficult to accurately control to the desired intermediate opening position. Improvement in accuracy is desired.
In addition, the learning condition does not include the engine coolant temperature, that is, there is no guarantee that learning will be performed when the engine is sufficiently warmed up. There is.
Furthermore, since the learning process described in the prior application is performed by driving the electric actuator after the engine is stopped, there is also a problem that the battery is burdened.

In addition, learning after the engine is stopped may cause abnormal noise. That is, the reference opening position of the intake vortex control valve is mechanically determined (for example, a stopper that rotates in conjunction with the movement of the intake vortex control valve when the intake vortex control valve is driven to the reference opening position by an electric actuator) If the rotating part is in contact with the stopper, a mechanical contact sound is generated when the stopper rotating part comes into contact with the stopper. In this case, since the contact sound is generated in a quiet state where the engine is stopped, it becomes a factor that gives an unpleasant feeling to the driver.
The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a control valve opening / closing control device capable of improving the accuracy of the intermediate opening position when the control valve is driven to the intermediate opening position. There is.

(Invention according to Claim 1)
The control valve opening / closing control device of the present invention is disposed in an air passage of an internal combustion engine, and can open and close the air passage, an electric actuator that drives the control valve, and an opening that detects the opening position of the control valve. When the degree sensor and the control valve are driven to the first opening position that is set to open the air passage, the output value of the opening sensor that detects the opening position of the control valve (first opening degree) The output of the opening sensor that detects the opening position of the control valve when the control valve is driven to the second opening position that is set to close the air passage. Sensor output learning means for learning a value (referred to as a second opening output value), and a predetermined intermediate opening position between a fully open position for fully opening the air passage and a fully closed value for fully closing the air passage. When the control valve is driven, the first opening degree output value learned by the sensor output learning means and the second output value And having an intermediate opening position calculating means for calculating an intermediate opening position and a degree output value.

According to the above configuration, the output value of the opening sensor is learned both when the control valve is driven to the first opening position and when the control valve is driven to the second opening position. Even when the opening position accuracy at the angle position (the first opening position and the second opening position) is improved and the output gain of the opening sensor changes, the gain can be corrected easily and accurately. it can.
Further, by learning the output value of the opening sensor at two points of the first opening position and the second opening position, the intermediate opening position of the control valve can be accurately calculated from both learning values. The accuracy of the intermediate opening position can be improved.

(Invention according to Claim 2)
2. The control valve opening / closing control device according to claim 1, wherein when the control valve is driven to rotate in a direction to open the air passage, one end of the stopper rotation unit is a machine. And a second stopper that mechanically abuts the other end of the stopper rotating portion when the control valve is driven to rotate in a direction to close the air passage. The control valve is held at the first opening position by one end abutting against the first stopper, and the control valve is moved to the second opening degree by the other end of the stopper rotating unit abutting against the second stopper. It is held in position.
In the present invention, since the position (first opening position and second opening position) where the opening degree of the control valve is mechanically determined is the learning position, the learning accuracy is improved.

(Invention according to claim 3)
3. The control valve opening / closing control device according to claim 1, wherein the first opening position is a fully opened position where the control valve fully opens the air passage, and the second opening position is that the control valve opens the air passage. It is a fully closed position that is fully closed.
In the present invention, the control valve learns the output value of the opening sensor both at the fully open position where the air passage is fully opened and at the fully closed position where the control valve fully closes the air passage. The intermediate opening position can be calculated with high accuracy, and the accuracy of the intermediate opening position can be improved.

(Invention of Claim 4)
The control valve opening / closing control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sensor output learning means learns an output value of the opening sensor in a state where the internal combustion engine is operated.
Since the present invention does not learn sensor output when the internal combustion engine is stopped, the burden on the battery can be reduced. In the invention according to claim 2, since the opening degree of the control valve is mechanically determined by the first opening position and the second opening position, for example, learning is performed when the internal combustion engine is stopped. Then, when the control valve is driven to the first opening position, a contact sound is generated when one end of the stopper rotating portion contacts the first stopper. Similarly, when the control valve is driven to the second opening position, a contact sound is generated when the other end of the stopper rotating portion contacts the second stopper. When the contact noise is generated in a quiet state in which the internal combustion engine is stopped, it becomes a factor that gives an unpleasant feeling to the driver. In contrast, in the present invention, since the output value of the opening sensor is learned when the internal combustion engine is operated, there is little concern that the driver will feel uncomfortable feeling even if the contact noise is generated.

(Invention according to claim 5)
The control valve opening / closing control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sensor output learning means learns an output value of the opening sensor in a state where the internal combustion engine is warmed up.
In the present invention, for example, even when the outside air temperature is below zero, learning is performed while the internal combustion engine is warmed up, so that it is possible to prevent a decrease in learning accuracy due to a shift in temperature characteristics.
The state where the internal combustion engine is warmed up is a case where the temperature of the cooling water of the internal combustion engine is 40 degrees or higher, or the outside air temperature is normal temperature (for example, 20 degrees) or higher.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an intake eddy current generator. (A) It is a front view which shows the structure of a mechanical stopper part, (b) It is a perspective view of a stopper rotation part. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of opening degree learning processing according to the first embodiment. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of opening degree learning processing according to the second embodiment.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail by the following examples.

In the first embodiment, an example in which the control valve opening / closing control device of the present invention is applied to an intake vortex generator 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the intake vortex generator 1.
The intake vortex generator 1 is an apparatus for improving combustion efficiency by generating a vertical swirling flow called a tumble flow in a combustion chamber of an engine.
As shown in FIG. 1, the intake vortex generator 1 includes a cylindrical body 2 that forms a part of an intake passage, an intake vortex control valve 3 that is disposed inside the cylindrical body 2, and the intake air. An electric actuator (described below) that drives the vortex control valve 3, an opening sensor 4 that detects the opening of the intake vortex control valve 3, and the electric actuator is controlled based on the detection result of the opening sensor 4. An electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as ECU 5) is configured.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cylindrical body 2 is disposed inside an intake manifold 7 coupled to an engine cylinder head 6 and communicates with an intake port (not shown) formed in the cylinder head 6. Yes.
The intake vortex control valve 3 includes a valve body 3a that can open and close the inside of the cylindrical body 2, and a shaft 3b that is provided at one end of the valve body 3a and supports the valve body 3a in a cantilever manner.
The valve body 3a has a fully opened position (a position indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1) for fully opening the intake passage formed inside the cylindrical body 2, and a fully closed position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 1) for fully closing the intake passage. (Position) is provided so as to be rotatable integrally with the shaft 3b.
The shaft 3b has both ends in the axial direction penetrating the tubular body 2 and taken out of the intake manifold 7, one end is connected to the electric actuator, and the other end is a stopper. A rotating unit 8 (see FIG. 2B) is provided.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the stopper rotating portion 8 is provided in a fan shape on the outer periphery of the disk portion connected to the end of the shaft 3b, and as shown in FIG. It can be rotated between a fully open stopper 9 for restricting the fully open position of the intake vortex control valve 3 and a fully closed stopper 10 for restricting the fully closed position of the intake vortex control valve 3. That is, when the intake vortex control valve 3 is driven in a direction to fully open the intake passage, one end of the stopper rotating portion 8 comes into contact with the fully open stopper 9, whereby the fully open position of the intake vortex control valve 3 is mechanically determined. A structure in which the fully closed position of the intake vortex control valve 3 is mechanically determined by the other end of the stopper rotating portion 8 coming into contact with the fully closed stopper 10 when the vortex flow control valve 3 is driven in a direction to fully close the intake passage. It is.

The electric actuator is, for example, an electric motor 11 that generates a rotational force, and the rotation of the electric motor 11 is transmitted to the shaft 3 b via the power transmission mechanism 12. The power transmission mechanism 12 is configured by, for example, a gear reduction mechanism that reduces the rotational speed of the electric motor 11. As the opening sensor 4, a contact type using a potentiometer or a non-contact type using a magnet and a Hall IC can be used.
The ECU 5 sets the target opening degree of the intake vortex control valve 3 based on the engine operating state (for example, accelerator opening degree, engine speed, etc.) and opens the intake vortex control valve 3 detected by the opening degree sensor 4. The electric motor 11 is controlled so that the degree value (sensor output value) becomes the target opening degree. For controlling the electric motor 11, for example, there is a method of duty-controlling the current supplied to the electric motor 11.

Further, the ECU 5 performs an opening degree learning process for learning the opening position of the intake vortex flow control valve 3 when the engine is operated in order to maintain the position detection accuracy of the opening degree sensor 4. The procedure of the opening degree learning process will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
Note that S11 to S17 described in the following description are numbers added corresponding to the processing procedure of the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, it is determined whether or not the intake vortex control valve 3 is controlled to the fully open position (S11). The process of S11 can be determined based on the target opening degree of the intake vortex control valve 3 set based on the operating state of the engine. The relationship between the engine operating state and the target opening degree of the intake vortex control valve 3 is incorporated in advance in the control map and stored in a memory built in the ECU 5. If the determination result is NO, that is, if the intake vortex control valve 3 is not fully opened, the process jumps to S12 and proceeds to S13.

When the intake vortex control valve 3 is fully opened in the process of S11 (determination result YES), the output value of the opening sensor 4 is learned as the fully opened sensor position (S12).
Next, it is determined whether or not a throttle valve (not shown) is fully closed (S13). The process of S13 can be determined based on, for example, a control map that commands the throttle opening in accordance with the accelerator opening. When the throttle valve is fully closed, fuel cut control is performed in which an injection signal to an injector (not shown) that injects fuel into the engine is stopped. If the determination result is NO, that is, if the throttle valve is not fully closed, the process jumps from S14 to S16 and proceeds to S17.

When it is determined in the process of S13 that the throttle valve is fully closed (determination result YES), the intake vortex control valve 3 is fully closed (S14). Here, the intake vortex control valve 3 is disposed on the intake downstream side of the throttle valve. However, since the throttle valve is fully closed, the engine operating state is maintained even if the intake vortex control valve 3 is fully closed. Has no effect.
Next, the output value of the opening sensor 4 is learned as the fully closed sensor position (S15).
Subsequently, when the intake vortex control valve 3 is controlled to an intermediate opening position between the fully open position and the fully closed position, the intermediate open position is determined from the fully open sensor position learned in S12 and the fully closed sensor position learned in S15. The degree position is calculated (S16).

Next, it is determined whether or not the IG switch (ignition switch) is turned off in S17. If the determination result is NO, that is, if the IG switch is not turned off, the process returns to S11 and learning is performed again. As a result, even when the output value of the opening sensor 4 cannot be learned in at least one of the fully closed position and the fully open position of the intake vortex control valve 3, the engine is running from when the IG switch is turned on to when it is turned off (hereinafter referred to as “the engine opening”). If one engine operation from turning on the IG switch to turning it off is referred to as one trip), the learning can be performed again.
If the determination result in S17 is YES, that is, if the IG switch is turned off, this process ends.

  In addition, the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 shows only an example of the opening degree learning process according to the present invention, and is not limited to this procedure. For example, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, even when the output value of the opening degree sensor 4 can be learned from the fully closed position and the fully opened position of the intake vortex control valve 3, if the determination result in S17 is NO, repeated learning is performed. However, the learning value hardly changes during one trip. Therefore, when learning of the fully open sensor position and the fully closed sensor position is completed during one trip, regardless of the determination result of S17. This process may be terminated. In addition, the number of learnings can be limited to one during one trip. In this case, when there is no opportunity to learn in one trip, learning may be performed after turning off the IG switch.

(Effect of Example 1)
The intake vortex generator 1 of the present embodiment learns the output value of the opening sensor 4 both when the intake vortex control valve 3 is driven to the fully open position and when it is driven to the fully closed position. The opening position accuracy at the opening position (fully opened position and fully closed position) is improved. As a result, correction can be performed easily and accurately not only when the output of the opening sensor 4 drifts but also when the output gain changes.
Further, by learning the output value of the opening degree sensor 4 at two points of the fully open position and the fully closed position of the intake vortex flow control valve 3, the intake vortex flow control valve is obtained from both learning values (full open sensor position and fully closed sensor position). Since the intermediate opening position 3 can be calculated with high accuracy, the accuracy of the intermediate opening position can be improved. In addition, learning accuracy is improved by learning the sensor output at the fully open position and the fully closed position where the opening degree of the intake vortex control valve 3 is mechanically determined.

Furthermore, since the opening degree learning process of the present embodiment is basically performed during engine operation (during one trip), the load on the battery can be reduced, and mechanical noise generated during learning can be reduced by the driver. There is little concern about giving unpleasant emotions. The mechanical abnormal noise refers to a contact sound generated when one end of the stopper rotating portion 8 contacts the fully open stopper 9 when the intake vortex control valve 3 is driven to the fully open position, and an intake vortex control valve. 3 is a contact sound generated when the other end of the stopper rotating portion 8 contacts the fully closed stopper 10 when driven to the fully closed position.
Further, when the intake vortex control valve 3 is driven to the fully open position and the fully closed position, the impact when one end of the stopper rotating portion 8 comes into contact with the fully open stopper 9 and the other end of the stopper rotating portion 8 is the fully closed stopper. In order to reduce the impact when contacting 10, the duty ratio for controlling the energization current of the electric motor 11 may be changed, or the learning time (stopper abutting time) may be limited. Thereby, the gear etc. which are used for the stopper rotation part 8 and the power transmission mechanism 12 can be protected from an impact.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the opening degree learning process.
The second embodiment is characterized in that the opening degree learning process described in the first embodiment is performed while the engine is warmed up.
Specifically, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, when the opening degree learning process is started, it is first determined whether or not the engine is warmed up (S10). If the determination result is NO, the same processing (S10) is continued until the engine is warmed up. After it is determined that the engine is in a warmed-up state, S11 and subsequent steps described in the first embodiment are similarly performed.

The engine is warmed up when the engine coolant temperature is 40 degrees or higher, or the outside air temperature is normal temperature (for example, 20 degrees) or higher. Therefore, in the process of S10, whether or not the engine is warmed up may be determined based on the temperature of the engine cooling water, or may be determined based on the outside air temperature.
In the case of the present embodiment, for example, even when the outside air temperature is below zero, by performing the opening degree learning while the engine is warmed up, a deviation due to the temperature characteristics of the opening degree sensor 4 can be avoided, so that the learning accuracy decreases. Can be prevented.

(Modification)
In the above embodiment, an example in which the control valve of the present invention is used for the intake vortex control valve 3 has been described. However, in addition to the intake vortex control valve 3, for example, it can be applied to a throttle valve, an EGR valve, and the like.
In the first embodiment, an example is described in which the output value of the opening degree sensor 4 is learned when the intake vortex control valve 3 is driven to the fully open position and when it is driven to the fully closed position. It is also possible to learn by appropriately setting an opening position other than the position. For example, a first opening position different from the fully opened position is set on the side where the intake vortex control valve 3 opens the intake passage, and a second opening position different from the fully closed position on the side where the intake vortex control valve 3 closes the intake passage. The opening position may be set and the output value of the opening sensor may be learned when the intake vortex control valve 3 is driven to the first opening position and the second opening position. In this case, when the intake vortex flow control valve 3 is driven to the first opening position, one end of the stopper rotating portion 8 is brought into contact with the fully open stopper 9, and the intake vortex flow control valve 3 is moved to the second opening position. When driven, the other end of the stopper rotating part 8 is in contact with the fully closed stopper 10 so that the opening degree of the intake vortex control valve 3 is changed between the first opening position and the second opening position. Can be determined mechanically.

1 Intake vortex generator (control valve opening / closing controller)
3 Inlet vortex flow control valve (control valve)
4 Opening sensor 5 ECU (sensor output learning means, intermediate opening position calculating means)
8 Stopper rotating part 9 Fully open stopper (first stopper)
10 Fully closed stopper (second stopper)
11 Electric motor (electric actuator)

Claims (5)

A control valve disposed in the air passage of the internal combustion engine and capable of opening and closing the air passage;
An electric actuator that drives the control valve;
An opening sensor for detecting an opening position of the control valve;
When the control valve is driven to a first opening position that is set to open the air passage, an output value of the opening sensor that detects the opening position of the control valve (first opening output) The opening degree sensor which detects the opening position of the control valve when the control valve is driven to the second opening position which is set to close the air passage. Sensor output learning means for learning the output value (referred to as the second opening output value),
When the control valve is driven to a predetermined intermediate opening position between a fully open position for fully opening the air passage and a fully closed position for fully closing the air passage, the first learned by the sensor output learning means is used. A control valve opening / closing control device, comprising: an intermediate opening position calculating means for calculating the intermediate opening position from the opening output value of the first opening and the second opening output value. In the control valve opening and closing control device according to claim 1,
A stopper rotating part that rotates in conjunction with the movement of the control valve;
A first stopper with which one end of the stopper rotating part mechanically contacts when the control valve is driven to rotate in a direction to open the air passage;
A second stopper that mechanically abuts the other end of the stopper rotating portion when the control valve is rotationally driven in a direction to close the air passage;
One end of the stopper rotating part comes into contact with the first stopper, so that the control valve is held at the first opening position,
The control valve opening / closing control device characterized in that the control valve is held at the second opening position by the other end of the stopper rotating part coming into contact with the second stopper. In the control valve opening and closing control device according to claim 1 or 2,
The first opening position is a fully open position where the control valve fully opens the air passage, and the second opening position is a fully closed position where the control valve fully closes the air passage. Control valve opening and closing control device characterized by. In any one of the control valve opening / closing control devices described in claims 1 to 3,
The control valve opening / closing control device, wherein the sensor output learning means learns an output value of the opening sensor while the internal combustion engine is operating. In any one of the control valve opening / closing control devices according to claim 1,
The control valve opening / closing control device, wherein the sensor output learning means learns an output value of the opening sensor in a state where the internal combustion engine is warmed up.

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