Patent 10414390 was granted and assigned to Toyota on September, 2019 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A control apparatus is applied to an internal combustion engine. The engine comprises a water pump, and an oil pump. The apparatus makes a second motor to drive the water pump drive the oil pump, if the first motor to drive the oil pump malfunctions. Consequently, if the first motor malfunctions, the oil pump can be driven by the second motor. Thus, the possibility of seizing of the sliding portions of the engine can be reduced. Further, if the first motor malfunctions, the friction in the engine can be reduced, since the oil pump is not driven by the crank shaft.