System and method for utilizing estimated driver braking effort

• US 20050272560A1
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Li, Yonghua, Surnilla, Gopichandra, Doering, Jeff, Bidner, David, Elwart, Shane
• Granted Patent: US 7,448,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/186
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/196 acting within the driveline, e.g. retarders
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18109 Braking
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/12 for deceleration F02D41/0005, F02D41/107 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/123 the fuel injection being cut-off

Abstract

A method for controlling an engine of a vehicle operated by a driver may comprise detecting actuation of a braking device of the vehicle by the driver; calculating a parameter indicative of an actual amount of braking effort by said driver based on vehicle conditions; and adjusting an engine operating parameter based on said parameter. The method can adjust a number of cylinders carrying out combustion, fuel cut operation, a level of powertrain output torque (positive, and/or negative), and/or other engine parameters.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an engine of a vehicle operated by a driver, the method comprising:

detecting an amount of actuation of a braking device of the vehicle by the driver; and

adjusting a number of cylinders carrying out combustion as said amount of actuation varies.

2. The method of claim 1 where said amount of actuation of said braking device of the vehicle by the driver is an estimated braking level caused by the driver.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said estimate is adaptively updated when vehicle speed is above a threshold speed, and slowing adaptive updating is used below said threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting said number of cylinders carrying out combustion as said amount of actuation varies comprises enabling fuel injection cut operation based on said amount of actuation.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting said number of cylinders carrying out combustion as said amount of actuation varies comprises varying a number of cylinders in which fuel injection it cut based on said amount of actuation.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting is performed if the driver has disengaged an accelerator pedal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting said amount of actuation comprises calculating a parameter indicative of an actual amount of braking effort by said driver based on vehicle conditions.

8. A method for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle operated by a driver, the method comprising:

detecting a level of actuation of a braking device of the vehicle by the driver; and

adjusting the powertrain to transition from providing positive torque driving the vehicle to negative torque braking the vehicle as said amount of actuation varies.

9. The method of claim 8 where said level of actuation of said braking device of the vehicle by the driver is an estimated braking level caused by the driver.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said estimate is adaptively updated and an amount of adaptive updating is varied based on vehicle speed to provide reduced updating as vehicle speed decreases.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising varying an amount of powertrain braking torque as said level of actuation varies.

12. A computer readable storage medium have instruction programmed therein for controlling an engine of a vehicle operated by a driver, the medium comprising:

instructions for detecting actuation of a braking device of the vehicle by the driver;

instructions for calculating a parameter indicative of an actual amount of braking effort by said driver based on vehicle conditions; and

instructions for adjusting an engine operating parameter based on said parameter.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein said instructions for adjusting said engine comprises changing a number of cylinders carrying out combustion.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein said instructions for adjusting said engine comprises enabling and disabling fuel cut operation.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein said instructions for adjusting said engine comprises adjusting an engine braking level

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein said instructions for adjusting said engine comprises adjusting an engine braking mode.

17. A system for controlling an engine of a vehicle operated by a driver, the system comprising:

a braking device of the vehicle;

a brake sensor indicating whether the driver has actuated said braking device of the vehicle; and

a controller for calculating a parameter indicative of an actual amount of braking effort by said driver based on vehicle conditions;

updating said parameter when vehicle speed is less than a threshold valve and said actuation is detected; and

adjusting an engine operating parameter based on said updated parameter.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said sensor is a two position switch.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein said updating includes adaptively learning said parameter based on measured vehicle speed.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein said updating includes adaptively learning said parameter based on measured vehicle acceleration.