A control apparatus for the internal combustion engine has a multicore processor mounted with a plurality of the cores, calculates various tasks regarding an operation of the internal combustion engine, and distributes the tasks to the plurality of the cores respectively to perform a calculation, and a controller that makes the number of cores for use in the calculation smaller while fuel cutoff is carried out than before the fuel cutoff is carried out. The controller selects, as a designated core, at least one of the cores for use in a specific calculation associated with combustion of the internal combustion engine. The controller stops the designated core from being used while fuel cutoff is carried out. As the specific calculation associated with combustion, for example, it is possible to mention a combustion forecasting calculation of a cylinder model, a temperature forecasting calculation of a catalyst temperature estimation model, and a fuel adhesion amount forecasting calculation of a fuel adhesion model.

A device executes a power limiting process when the number of pressure sensors determined to be normal in a second determination process made by a second processing unit is smaller than or equal to one. When only one pressure sensor is determined to be normal through the second determination process, and when that pressure sensor and a pressure sensor connected to only a first processing unit are determined to be normal in a first determination process made by the first processing unit, a process associated with fuel injection based on a detected value of the pressure sensor determined to be normal in the second determination process is executed, and a degree of limiting engine power through the power limiting process is reduced as compared with when both the pressure sensors are determined to be abnormal in the first determination process.

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine, wherein a first engine control device generates a control signal to actuate a function of the engine. A switchover device transmits the control signal of the first control device to the engine to actuate the function of the engine. The first control device transmits a sign-of-life signal which indicates functionality of the control device to the switchover device. The first engine control device does not transmit the sign-of-life signal or transmits the signal incorrectly if a fault occurs which endangers proper actuation of the function of the engine by the first engine control device. If the sign-of-life signal of the first engine control device is not or is incorrectly received by the switchover device, the switchover device stops transmitting the control signals of the first engine control device and starts transmitting a control signal generated by a second engine control device to the engine to actuate the function of the engine.

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine, wherein a first engine control device generates a control signal to actuate a function of the engine. A switchover device transmits the control signal of the first control device to the engine to actuate the function of the engine. The first control device transmits a sign-of-life signal which indicates functionality of the control device to the switchover device. The first engine control device does not transmit the sign-of-life signal or transmits the signal incorrectly if a fault occurs which endangers proper actuation of the function of the engine by the first engine control device. If the sign-of-life signal of the first engine control device is not or is incorrectly received by the switchover device, the switchover device stops transmitting the control signals of the first engine control device and starts transmitting a control signal generated by a second engine control device to the engine to actuate the function of the engine.

The invention, while reducing noise, suppresses a load increase in a processor and a delay in drive control. An engine control unit includes a processor, a driving circuit including a switching element to drive a load such as a fuel injector and an ignition device, and a communication circuit that transmits control signals from the processor to the driving circuit via serial communication. The control signals each include a command frame for controlling the driving circuit and a data frame for driving the load. If a predetermined bits in each of the data frames received from the processor at predetermined time intervals are determined to be the same twice in succession, the engine control unit changes a state of a driving signal ‘Drive’ for driving the load and thereby changes an operating state of the switching element.

The invention, while reducing noise, suppresses a load increase in a processor and a delay in drive control. An engine control unit includes a processor, a driving circuit including a switching element to drive a load such as a fuel injector and an ignition device, and a communication circuit that transmits control signals from the processor to the driving circuit via serial communication. The control signals each include a command frame for controlling the driving circuit and a data frame for driving the load. If a predetermined bits in each of the data frames received from the processor at predetermined time intervals are determined to be the same twice in succession, the engine control unit changes a state of a driving signal ‘Drive’ for driving the load and thereby changes an operating state of the switching element.

An engine including having a frame structure with a central longitudinal space containing a gear train in which end gears drive end crankshafts and a central gear drives a central crankshaft, a pair of dual piston and cylinder assembly are connected between each end crankshaft and central crankshaft on opposite side of the central space. The combustion chambers of cylinders on each side of the central are intercommunicated by passages extending through the hubs of gears in the gear train, a controller for the fuel injectors of the cylinders selectively causes the double pistons of each pair of passage connected to have either simultaneous internally fired power drive strokes in one mode or simultaneous internally fired and shared power drive strokes in another mode.

An engine including having a frame structure with a central longitudinal space containing a gear train in which end gears drive end crankshafts and a central gear drives a central crankshaft, a pair of dual piston and cylinder assembly are connected between each end crankshaft and central crankshaft on opposite side of the central space. The combustion chambers of cylinders on each side of the central are intercommunicated by passages extending through the hubs of gears in the gear train, a controller for the fuel injectors of the cylinders selectively causes the double pistons of each pair of passage connected to have either simultaneous internally fired power drive strokes in one mode or simultaneous internally fired and shared power drive strokes in another mode.

A misfire detecting system for an engine of a vehicle that detects a misfire of the engine is provided, which includes a processor. The processor determines whether a misfire has occurred by examining whether a fluctuation of a crank angle of the engine is equal to or greater than a determination reference value, acquires a value relating to a density of intake air introduced into the engine, and adjusts the determination reference value according to the value related to the density.

A misfire detecting system for an engine of a vehicle that detects a misfire of the engine is provided, which includes a processor. The processor determines whether a misfire has occurred by examining whether a fluctuation of a crank angle of the engine is equal to or greater than a determination reference value, acquires a value relating to a density of intake air introduced into the engine, and adjusts the determination reference value according to the value related to the density.