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:
Jan. 16, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 20, 1999
Masaki Kusada, Susono, JP;
Katsuhiko Hirose, Susono, JP;
Hiroshi Kanai, Susono, JP;
Toshifumi Takaoka, Susono, JP;
Toshio Inoue, Gotenba, JP;
Takahiro Nishigaki, Susono, JP;
Masakiyo Kojima, Susono, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota, JP;
Abstract
A catalyst deterioration detecting apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as power sources includes an air-fuel ratio sensor downstream of a catalyst disposed in an exhaust passage of the engine. An amount of oxygen stored in the catalyst is estimated and, based on the estimated amount of oxygen and an output produced by the air-fuel ratio sensor after the engine is restarted after having been temporarily stopped, it is determined whether the catalyst has excessively deteriorated.