Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Tohru Kitamura

Akira Kato

Toshihiro Yamaki

Katsura Okubo

Shohei Okazaki

Tomio Kimura

Yasuhiro Urata

Junji Yasuda

Moriyoshi Awasaka

Takashi Kakinuma

Yoshimasa Kaneko

A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that is capable of switching between compression ignition combustion and spark ignition combustion is provided. The control apparatus is configured to perform fuel cut. The spark ignition combustion is performed over a time period after the fuel cut. The compression ignition combustion is permitted when the time period elapses. Fuel cut decreases the temperature within the combustion chamber. According to the invention, if fuel cut is performed, the temperature within the combustion chamber is raised by the spark ignition combustion. Since the compression ignition combustion is permitted after the temperature within the combustion chamber rises, engine misfire and an increase of NOx emission are prevented. The time period is preferably determined based on the temperature within the combustion chamber immediately before the fuel cut is performed.

Control apparatus for an internal combustion engine

The present invention aims at expanding an operation range for allowing a compression ignition combustion operation. The present invention provides an internal combustion engine of a compression ignition type that is capable of operating with a compression ignition combustion scheme in a given operation range. The ECU of the internal combustion engine detects an operating condition of the internal combustion engine and determines, according to the detected operating condition, which mode is to be used operate the internal combustion engine, a 4-cycle compression ignition mode or a 2-cycle compression ignition mode. The ECU controls the internal compression engine to perform the compression ignition mode determined. According to the present invention, the compression ignition combustion operation is switched from 4-cycle to 2-cycle when the operating condition of the internal combustion engine is in such state that the 4-cycle compression ignition mode cannot be performed, fro example, when the exhaust temperature is low.

Internal combustion engine of compression ignition type

Growing community of inventors

Saitama, Japan

Tohru Kitamura