Electronic air-fuel ratio control apparatus in internal combustion engine

Abstract

An electronic air-fuel ratio control apparatus in an internal combustion engine provided with an oxygen sensor emitting an output voltage in response to an oxygen concentration including the same in nitrogen oxides in an exhaust gas from the engine which controls an air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture by a feedback correction-control based on a oxygen sensor having the nitrogen oxides-reducing catalytic layer, the detection of a theoretical air-fuel ratio is performed on a richer side comparing with the output on the detection of a theoretical air-fuel ratio by an oxygen sensor without the nitrogen oxides-reducing function and is not changed even though the nitrogen oxides concentration changes. Accordingly the feedback air-fuel ratio control operates to decrease the amount of nitrogen oxides and to stabilize the air-fuel ratio control. A first target air-fuel ratio for the air-fuel ratio feedback control is changed to a second target air-fuel ratio which is richer than the first target air-fuel ratio at least when the high nitrogen oxide concentration in the exhaust gas is detected thereby changing of the controlled air-fuel ratio to the too much lean side is avoided.