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:
Jun. 29, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 29, 1997
Koichi Nakae, Susono, JP;
Kiyoo Hirose, Susono, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota, JP;
Abstract
After an elapse of a predetermined time period or after a run of a predetermined distance, a power output system of the present invention heats a catalytic converter with a catalyst heater while enabling an engine to be driven under a driving condition suitable for checking a catalyst packed in the catalytic converter for deterioration of the catalytic function. The power output system then measures a variation in temperature of the catalyst in this state and determines whether or not the variation is within a normal range, thereby detecting the deteriorating catalytic function of the catalyst, that is, abnormality of the catalytic converter. This structure enables the power output system to realize accurate detection of abnormality of the catalytic converter at a sufficient frequency. During the measurement of the temperature change of the catalyst, an assist motor is driven and controlled to output a torque Td* corresponding to a step-on amount of an accelerator pedal to a drive shaft. This enables a desired power to be output to the drive shaft even during the course of the abnormality detection. Detection of abnormalities in an engine supercharger and exhaust gas recirculation system is also provided.