Patent ID: 6715453
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: B60K,B60W,F01L,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of controlling an engine-operating-characteristic changing device that changes a compression ratio of an intake air of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, the engine-operating-characteristic changing device being operable between a first operating state that provides a first compression ratio and a second operating state that provides a second compression ratio that is lower than the first compression ratio, the engine-operating-characteristic changing device including a locking unit for locking the engine-operating-characteristic changing device in the first operating state; the method comprising the steps of:determining whether there is a possibility that the engine-operating-characteristic changing device is locked in the first operating state by the locking unit when the engine-operating-characteristic changing device is not to be placed in the first operating state; and when it is determined that there is the possibility, preventing the locking unit from locking the engine-operating-characteristic changing device in the first operating state.