Patent ID: 7665558
Filing Date: 2010-02-23
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,F02N,G01M,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An engine misfire detection apparatus for detection of a misfire in an internal combustion engine included in a power output apparatus, where the power output apparatus includes the internal combustion engine, a power generation unit that is connected with an output shaft of the internal combustion engine and utilizes at least part of output power from the internal combustion engine to generate electric power, and a motor that is capable of outputting power to a driveshaft, the engine misfire detection apparatus comprising: a rotational position detection unit that detects a rotational position of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine; a unit angle rotation time computation module that computes a unit angle rotation time, which is required for rotation of every preset unit rotational angle of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine, from the detected rotational position; a damping control execution module that performs damping control upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition, where the damping control drives at least one of the power generation unit and the motor to reduce vibration of the internal combustion engine caused by operation of the internal combustion engine; and an engine misfire detection module that detects an engine misfire based on the computed unit angle rotation time and a preset first threshold value during execution of the damping control by the damping control execution module, while detecting an engine misfire based on the computed unit angle rotation time and a preset second threshold value that is different from the first threshold value during non-execution of the damping control by the damping control execution module, wherein the engine misfire detection module detects a misfire of the internal combustion engine in response to a predetermined angle difference of the computed unit angle rotation time exceeding the preset first threshold value during execution of the damping control by the damping control execution module, and the engine misfire detection module detects a misfire of the internal combustion engine in response to the predetermined angle difference of the computed unit angle rotation time exceeding the preset second threshold value during non-execution of the damping control by the damping control execution module.