In the present invention, a clogging rate is calculated using a first flow rate function when the degree of clogging of the throttle valve is in the reference state and a second flow rate function estimated based on the intake air volume. For each predetermined period, sample points, which are combinations of the second flow rate function and throttle valve position, are obtained, and the learning points are calculated by averaging a plurality of sample points for each predetermined position range. Based on the plurality of learning points, coefficients a to c of the approximate function of the second flow rate function characteristic are calculated by the least-squares method, and the clogging rate is calculated based on the second flow rate function characteristic and the first flow rate function approximated by the approximate function using the coefficients a to c.

In the present invention, a clogging rate is calculated using a first flow rate function when the degree of clogging of the throttle valve is in the reference state and a second flow rate function estimated based on the intake air volume. For each predetermined period, sample points, which are combinations of the second flow rate function and throttle valve position, are obtained, and the learning points are calculated by averaging a plurality of sample points for each predetermined position range. Based on the plurality of learning points, coefficients a to c of the approximate function of the second flow rate function characteristic are calculated by the least-squares method, and the clogging rate is calculated based on the second flow rate function characteristic and the first flow rate function approximated by the approximate function using the coefficients a to c.

An engine control apparatus includes a throttle valve, an accelerator opening detector, a throttle opening controller, and an intake air density detector. The throttle valve is configured to regulate an intake air volume of an engine. The accelerator opening detector is configured to detect an accelerator opening that is an operation amount of an accelerator operation member with which a driver operates an accelerator. The throttle opening controller is configured to increase a throttle opening of the throttle valve in accordance with an increase in the accelerator opening. The intake air density detector is configured to detect information about an intake air density of the engine. In a low intake air density state where the intake air density is a predetermined value or lower, the throttle opening controller decreases a sensitivity of the throttle opening relative to the accelerator opening in a partial range of a range where the accelerator opening is variable.

A control device of an internal combustion engine can respond to the variation of the flow reduction rate attributable to the difference in a clogging condition, and which can detect a deposit accumulation amount even if no idle condition is provided like HEV, etc. In a control device of an internal combustion engine, a map correction section determines a correction amount in accordance with an approximate line result based on an air amount at a predetermined opening degree at which the measurement of the air amount by an air flow meter is sufficiently performed with the exception of a first predetermined opening degree in the case where the measurement of the air amount by the air flow meter has not been performed sufficiently in the first predetermined opening degree in a current operation cycle.

An engine control apparatus includes a throttle valve, an accelerator opening detector, a throttle opening controller, and an intake air density detector. The throttle valve is configured to regulate an intake air volume of an engine. The accelerator opening detector is configured to detect an accelerator opening that is an operation amount of an accelerator operation member with which a driver operates an accelerator. The throttle opening controller is configured to increase a throttle opening of the throttle valve in accordance with an increase in the accelerator opening. The intake air density detector is configured to detect information about an intake air density of the engine. In a low intake air density state where the intake air density is a predetermined value or lower, the throttle opening controller decreases a sensitivity of the throttle opening relative to the accelerator opening in a partial range of a range where the accelerator opening is variable.

A control device of an internal combustion engine can respond to the variation of the flow reduction rate attributable to the difference in a clogging condition, and which can detect a deposit accumulation amount even if no idle condition is provided like HEV, etc. In a control device of an internal combustion engine, a map correction section determines a correction amount in accordance with an approximate line result based on an air amount at a predetermined opening degree at which the measurement of the air amount by an air flow meter is sufficiently performed with the exception of a first predetermined opening degree in the case where the measurement of the air amount by the air flow meter has not been performed sufficiently in the first predetermined opening degree in a current operation cycle.

A method of making a throttle body assembly, includes casting a main body portion having a passage there through and mounting features for pivotally mounting a throttle valve within the passage. An annular spigot is formed by 3-dimensional printing and is welded to the main body portion in order to provide a quicker less expensive method of prototyping.

A throttle valve assembly provided. The throttle valve assembly includes a wedge shaped valve member slidingly mounted within a throttle body defining offset inlet and outlet passages. The wedge shaped valve member is moveable towards and away from the inlet passage by an actuator mechanism to vary the air flow area in a throttle passage of the throttle valve assembly.

In a control device of an internal combustion engine, an atmospheric pressure estimation portion includes an effective opening area calculation portion calculating an effective opening area corresponding to a throttle opening, a throttle opening learning value calculation portion calculating a learning value in a relation of the effective opening area and the throttle opening, an error variation calculation portion calculating an error variation from an error from the corrected learning value, a variation range determination portion determining whether the error variation is within a predetermined range, an atmospheric pressure estimated value update portion updating an atmospheric pressure estimated value, and a target throttle opening calculation portion calculating a target throttle opening using the updated atmospheric pressure estimated value. The throttle opening is controlled to be the target throttle opening. An exact atmospheric pressure can be thus estimated even in the presence of a variation in throttle machine difference.