Nippondenso Co., Ltd.

Hiroyuki Aoto

Hiroshi Tashiro

A system for controlling an excess air ratio of an internal combustion engine for an automotive vehicle is provided which includes a battery, a generator-motor, an air/fuel sensor, and a controller. The generator-motor is mechanically connected to the engine to establish transmission of torque therebetween, and operates in motor and generator modes. In the motor mode, the generator-motor serves as a motor to provide a given amount of torque to the engine under power supply of the battery. In the generator mode, the generator-motor works as a generator to convert engine torque into electric power for charging the battery. The air/fuel sensor determines an excess air ratio of the engine. The controller activates the generator-motor in the motor mode to control the amount of torque to be supplied to the engine based on the excess air ratio so that an air/fuel ratio falls within a preselected range suitable for purification of exhaust gas of the engine.

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Kariya, Japan

Hiroyuki Aoto