Systems and methods to regulate dynamic settings for engine speed control management
First Claim
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1. A vehicle, comprising:
- an engine that includes an engine electronic control unit (engine ECU);
a set of sensors that include an engine speed sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and a throttle position sensor; and
an electronic control unit (ECU) communicatively coupled to the engine ECU and the sensors;
wherein the ECU is configured to calculate and provide engine speed limit values to the engine ECU;
wherein calculating engine speed limit values includes;
detecting that an engine speed has increased beyond a governor activation threshold value;
determining a dynamic engine speed limit;
determining whether conditions for applying the dynamic engine speed limit are met; and
while the conditions for applying the dynamic engine speed limit are met, repeatedly updating the dynamic engine speed limit to a subsequent dynamic engine speed limit; and
wherein updating the dynamic engine speed limit includes;
determining a current engine speed value;
using a previous dynamic engine speed limit as the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit in response to determining that the current engine speed value is between the governor activation threshold value and an offset dynamic engine speed limit;
using a new dynamic engine speed limit as the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit in response to determining that the current engine speed value is between the previous dynamic engine speed limit and the offset dynamic engine speed limit; and
transmitting the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit to the engine ECU of the engine for implementation.
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Abstract
In some embodiments, a vehicle is provided having improved fuel economy by using gradual engine speed control. Once a governor activation threshold is crossed, a dynamic engine speed limit that gradually increases over time is implemented. In some embodiments, if the engine speed does not continue to rise over time, increases in the dynamic engine speed limit may be paused. In some embodiments, if the engine speed increases at too great of a rate for too long of a time, the dynamic engine speed limit may be reset. In some embodiments, increasing, pausing, and/or resetting the dynamic engine speed limit allows gradual acceleration while also avoiding torque lock.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle, comprising:
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an engine that includes an engine electronic control unit (engine ECU); a set of sensors that include an engine speed sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and a throttle position sensor; and an electronic control unit (ECU) communicatively coupled to the engine ECU and the sensors; wherein the ECU is configured to calculate and provide engine speed limit values to the engine ECU; wherein calculating engine speed limit values includes; detecting that an engine speed has increased beyond a governor activation threshold value; determining a dynamic engine speed limit; determining whether conditions for applying the dynamic engine speed limit are met; and while the conditions for applying the dynamic engine speed limit are met, repeatedly updating the dynamic engine speed limit to a subsequent dynamic engine speed limit; and wherein updating the dynamic engine speed limit includes; determining a current engine speed value; using a previous dynamic engine speed limit as the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit in response to determining that the current engine speed value is between the governor activation threshold value and an offset dynamic engine speed limit; using a new dynamic engine speed limit as the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit in response to determining that the current engine speed value is between the previous dynamic engine speed limit and the offset dynamic engine speed limit; and transmitting the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit to the engine ECU of the engine for implementation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method, executed by an electronic control unit (ECU), of adjusting an engine speed limit for an engine of a vehicle, the method comprising:
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detecting that an engine speed has increased beyond a governor activation threshold value; determining a dynamic engine speed limit; determining whether conditions for applying the dynamic engine speed limit are met; and while the conditions for applying the dynamic engine speed limit are met, repeatedly updating the dynamic engine speed limit to a subsequent dynamic engine speed limit, wherein updating the dynamic engine speed limit includes; determining a current engine speed value; using a previous dynamic engine speed limit as the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit in response to determining that the current engine speed value is between the governor activation threshold value and an offset dynamic engine speed limit; using a new dynamic engine speed limit as the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit in response to determining that the current engine speed value is between the previous dynamic engine speed limit and the offset dynamic engine speed limit; and transmitting the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit to an engine electronic control unit (engine ECU) of the engine for implementation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification