The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 04, 1997
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
Nobu Takahashi, Saitama, JP;
Shinya Fukushima, Saitama, JP;
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
In an internal combustion engine in which the valve operating characteristic for intake valves can be switched, and the air-fuel ratio can be switched between a relatively lean level and a relatively rich level, the air-fuel ratio is switched in accordance with a change in engine operating condition. The valve operating characteristic for intake valves is switched substantially synchronously with the switching of the air-fuel ratio, between an operating condition-suited valve operating characteristic suited to an engine operating condition before the switching of the air-fuel ratio and an operating condition-suited valve operating characteristic suited to an engine operating condition after the switching of the air-fuel ratio, via an operating condition-unsuited valve operating characteristic which is not suited to the engine operating condition after the switching of the air-fuel ratio, so as to provide an engine output which is a middle value between engine outputs before and after the switching of the air-fuel ratio. Thus, it is possible to moderate the torque shock produced upon the switching of the air-fuel ratio, while inhibiting the generation of NOx.