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.

A method of controlling an engine is provided, the method including the steps of injecting main fuel by a fuel injector during an intake stroke or a compression stroke, providing a mixture gas containing fuel and air inside a cylinder, applying by an ignition device a high voltage between electrodes of a spark plug at a timing when the mixture gas is not ignited, detecting a parameter related to a current value of an electric-discharge channel generated between the electrodes, determining whether the detected parameter is within a range between a first threshold and a second threshold to determine a flowing state of a vortex inside the cylinder, injecting supplemental fuel by the fuel injector after the main fuel injection when the parameter is determined to be outside the range, and igniting the mixture gas by the ignition device using the spark plug after the supplemental fuel injection.

An evaporated fuel treatment apparatus includes an abnormality determination unit that determines an abnormality of a purge passage. The abnormality determination unit changes an operating cycle of a purge control valve to a cycle longer than an initial set value while maintaining a duty ratio of the purge control valve set according to an operating state of an internal combustion engine, and determines an abnormality of the purge passage based on a first variation range and a second variation range calculated from a detection value detected by an airflow meter before and after the change of the operating cycle.

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 evaporated fuel treatment apparatus includes an abnormality determination unit that determines an abnormality of a purge passage. The abnormality determination unit changes an operating cycle of a purge control valve to a cycle longer than an initial set value while maintaining a duty ratio of the purge control valve set according to an operating state of an internal combustion engine, and determines an abnormality of the purge passage based on a first variation range and a second variation range calculated from a detection value detected by an airflow meter before and after the change of the operating cycle.

A method of controlling an engine is provided, the method including the steps of injecting main fuel by a fuel injector during an intake stroke or a compression stroke, providing a mixture gas containing fuel and air inside a cylinder, applying by an ignition device a high voltage between electrodes of a spark plug at a timing when the mixture gas is not ignited, detecting a parameter related to a current value of an electric-discharge channel generated between the electrodes, determining whether the detected parameter is within a range between a first threshold and a second threshold to determine a flowing state of a vortex inside the cylinder, injecting supplemental fuel by the fuel injector after the main fuel injection when the parameter is determined to be outside the range, and igniting the mixture gas by the ignition device using the spark plug after the supplemental fuel injection.

A flowmeter is disposed in a passage through which a fluid flows. The flowmeter includes a first passage and a second passage. The first passage defines a first opening through which at least a part of the fluid flows into the first passage from the passage. The second passage branches off from the first passage and includes a flow rate detector configured to detect a flow rate of the fluid flowing through the second passage from the first passage. The first passage includes a vortex reducer configured to restrict a vortex from generating.

A measurement control device measures an air flow rate using an output value of a sensing portion that outputs a signal according to the air flow rate, and outputs the measurement result of the air flow rate to a predetermined external device. The measurement control device includes: a pulsation state calculator that calculates a pulsation state, which is a state of pulsation generated in the air flow rate, by using the output value of the sensing portion instead of acquiring an output value from an external device; and a flow rate correcting unit that corrects the air flow rate using the pulsation state calculated by the pulsation state calculator.

A physical quantity measurement device includes a measurement channel through which the fluid flows to be measured, a physical quantity detector that detects a physical quantity of a fluid in the measurement channel, a housing forming the measurement channel, and a measurement outlet provided in the housing as a downstream end of the measurement channel. An outer peripheral surface of the housing includes an outer peripheral flat surface that extends in an arrangement direction along which an upstream end and a downstream end of the housing are arranged, and an outer peripheral inclined surface inclined with respect to the outer peripheral flat surface and provided between the upstream end and the outer peripheral flat surface in the arrangement direction. The measurement outlet is positioned upstream of the downstream end of the housing.