Vehicular performance control system and method, and vehicle incorporating same

• US 20060065239A1
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ozeki, Takashi, Kojima, Hiroyuki, Tsukada, Yoshiaki, Uchisasai, Hiroaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,475,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/396
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/105 characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/501 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/602 Pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/006 for maximum speed control

Abstract

A performance control system is provided that is adapted to regulate the output of an engine while maintaining stable combustion whereby the perceived operational feel and exhaust efficiency is improved. The performance control system includes an accelerator position sensor for detecting the position of an accelerator by a driver, an electronically controlled throttle adjuster for adjusting the opening of a throttle valve mounted in the intake pipe of an engine with a motor, and a control unit for controlling the throttle adjuster based on the output of the accelerator position sensor. When the engine output, characterized by engine speed or vehicle speed, reaches a predetermined value, the opening of the throttle valve is reduced from the standard opening of the throttle valve, based on the position of the accelerator.

Claims

1. A performance control system for a vehicle, said performance control system adapted to regulate the performance of an engine in the vehicle to ensure that at least one speed parameter, selected from engine speed and vehicle speed, does not exceed a maximum allowed value for that speed parameter,

the vehicle comprising an accelerator and the engine, wherein the engine comprises an intake pipe and a throttle valve mounted within the intake pipe,

said performance control system comprising:

an accelerator position sensor for detecting a position of the accelerator;

an electronically controlled throttle adjuster for adjusting an opening of the throttle valve, wherein the throttle adjuster is capable of setting the throttle valve at an applied opening; and

a controller for controlling operation of the throttle adjuster to vary the applied opening based on an output from the accelerator position sensor, wherein the system is configured such that

during vehicle operation, when the selected speed parameter reaches its maximum allowed value, the throttle valve opening is automatically reduced from the applied opening thereof immediately preceding the reaching of said maximum allowed value, based on the sensed position of the accelerator.

2. The performance control system according to claim 1, wherein the applied opening of the throttle valve is gradually reduced when the selected speed parameter reaches its maximum allowed value.

3. The performance control system according to claim 1, wherein the applied opening of the throttle valve is step-reduced when the selected speed parameter reaches its maximum allowed value.

4. The performance control system according to claim 1, wherein the performance control system further comprises a vehicle speed sensor, and wherein the system is constructed and arranged such that during vehicle operation, when the output of the vehicle speed sensor reaches a maximum speed value, the throttle valve opening is automatically reduced from the applied opening thereof immediately preceding the reaching of said maximum speed value, based on the sensed position of the accelerator.

5. A performance control system for use in a hybrid vehicle,

wherein the hybrid vehicle comprises an accelerator, a power unit, and a drive wheel operatively connected to the power unit,

wherein the power unit comprises an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, and a battery,

wherein the engine comprises an intake pipe and a throttle valve mounted within the intake pipe,

wherein the electric motor is adapted to supply power to the drive wheel, based on power received from the battery, and wherein

the performance control system comprises:

an accelerator position sensor for detecting a position of the accelerator;

an electronically controlled throttle adjuster for adjusting the opening of the throttle valve, wherein the throttle adjuster is capable of setting the throttle valve at an applied opening; and

a controller for controlling the operation of the throttle adjuster to vary the applied opening based on the output of the accelerator position sensor; and

wherein during vehicle operation, when at least one speed parameter, selected from engine speed and vehicle speed, reaches a maximum allowed value, the throttle valve opening is automatically reduced from the applied opening thereof immediately preceding the reaching of said maximum allowed value, based on the sensed position of the accelerator.

6. The performance control system of claim 5, wherein the system is operable to

switch the drive source of the vehicle to at least one of the engine or the electric motor,

regulate the output of the engine to ensure that the selected speed parameter does not exceed a predetermined maximum value, and

control output of the electric motor, based on the output of the accelerator position sensor.

7. The performance control system according to claim 5, wherein the opening of the throttle valve is gradually reduced when the selected speed parameter reaches the maximum allowed value.

8. The performance control system according to claim 5, wherein the opening of the throttle valve is step-reduced when the when the selected speed parameter reaches the maximum allowed value.

9. The performance control system according to claim 5, wherein the performance control system further comprises a vehicle speed sensor, and wherein the system is constructed and arranged such that during vehicle operation, when the output of the vehicle speed sensor reaches a maximum speed value, the throttle valve opening is automatically reduced from the applied opening thereof immediately preceding the reaching of said maximum speed value, based on the sensed position of the accelerator.

10. A method of regulating performance of an engine in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring engine speed using an engine speed sensor, where sensed engine speed constitutes a first speed parameter,

comparing the sensed engine speed to a first programmed value;

monitoring speed of the vehicle using a vehicle speed sensor, where sensed vehicle speed constitutes a second speed parameter;

comparing the sensed vehicle speed to a second programmed value;

monitoring a position of an accelerator using an accelerator position sensor;

an accelerator position sensor for detecting a position of the accelerator;

adjusting an opening of a throttle valve on said engine using an electronically controlled throttle adjuster, wherein the throttle adjuster is capable of setting the throttle valve at an applied opening; and

controlling operation of the throttle adjuster to vary the applied opening based on an output from the accelerator position sensor, and

reducing the applied opening of a throttle valve from the applied opening immediately preceding the reaching of said maximum allowed value, based on the sensed position of the accelerator, when a selected speed parameter matches or exceeds its respective programmed value.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the applied opening of the throttle valve is gradually reduced when the selected speed parameter reaches its respective programmed value.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the applied opening of the throttle valve is step-reduced when the selected speed parameter reaches its respective programmed value.

14. A vehicle, comprising an internal combustion engine, an accelerator, and a performance control system adapted to regulate the performance of the engine to ensure that at least one speed parameter, selected from engine speed and vehicle speed, does not exceed a maximum allowed value for that speed parameter,

wherein the engine comprises an intake pipe and a throttle valve mounted within the intake pipe,

said performance control system comprising:

an accelerator position sensor for detecting a position of the accelerator;

an electronically controlled throttle adjuster for adjusting an opening of the throttle valve, wherein the throttle adjuster is capable of setting the throttle valve at an applied opening; and

a controller for controlling operation of the throttle adjuster to vary the applied opening based on an output from the accelerator position sensor, wherein the system is configured such that

during vehicle operation, when the selected speed parameter reaches its maximum allowed value, the throttle valve opening is automatically reduced from the applied opening thereof immediately preceding the reaching of said maximum allowed value, based on the sensed position of the accelerator.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.