Method and device for controlling the idle speed of an engine

(19)

(11)

EP 0 965 741 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	05.12.2001 Bulletin 2001/49

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	22.12.1999 Bulletin 1999/51

(21)	Application number: 99107971.6

(22)	Date of filing: 22.04.1999

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: F02D 41/16, F02D 41/08

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30)

Priority:

19.06.1998 IT MI981409

(71)	Applicant: DUCATI ENERGIA S.p.A.
	40132 Bologna (IT)

(72)	Inventors:
	Regazzi, Gianni 40128 Bologna (IT) Calabri, Pierluigi 40068 San Lazzaro di Savena (BO) (IT) Bianco, Sergio 40068 San Lazzaro di Savena (BO) (IT)

(74)	Representative: Coloberti, Luigi
	Via E. de Amicis No. 25 20123 Milano 20123 Milano (IT)

(54)	Method and device for controlling the idle speed of an engine

(57) A method and an apparatus for controlling the idle operating conditions of an internal-combustion engine of a motor vehicle, upon variation in the power drawn from the voltage generator (W4) by the electric circuit (L-BA). The running speed of the engine is detected by a logic control unit (ME), for example a microcontroller, in relation to the frequency of the generator voltage within a predefined running speed range; by the same logic control unit (ME) the connected or disconnected state of the alternating-current electric load (L) of the vehicle is detected and, depending on the information received regarding the connected or disconnected state of the electric load (L) to the voltage generator (W4) and the running speed of the engine, the logic control unit (ME) causes activation or deactivation of an electronic control switch (SCR3 - figure 4) to connect the voltage generator (W4) to earth.

Search report