Patent ID: 7308962
Filing Date: 2007-12-18
Classification: B60K,F02D

Abstract:
1. A system for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and mounted on a vehicle, comprising: an engine operation controller that conducts a switching control of engine operation based on a load of the engine between a full-cylinder operation in which all of the cylinders are operative and a cut-off cylinder operation in which some of the cylinders are inoperative; and a running controller that conducts a running control of the vehicle including at least one of a cruise control in which the vehicle runs at a desired vehicle velocity and a preceding vehicle follow-up control in which the vehicle runs at a desired vehicle velocity to maintain a desired inter-vehicle distance from a preceding vehicle; wherein the engine operation controller switches engine operation to the full-cylinder operation if it is determined that deceleration is required by the running controller when the running controller conducts at least one of the cruise control and the preceding vehicle follow-up control, and wherein the engine operation controller switches engine operation to the full-cylinder operation if deceleration is required by the running controller when a supply of fuel to the engine is cut off.