Engine Response Adjustment Based on Traffic Conditions

• US 20080114521A1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Doering, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 8,352,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• 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 2200/606 Driving style, e.g. sporty or economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables

Abstract

A method for controlling an engine of a vehicle in response to an operator input, comprising of during a first non-cruise control condition and at first distance to a forward vehicle, adjusting engine output in response to said operator input with a first relationship; and during a second non-cruise control condition and at second, greater, distance to a forward vehicle, adjusting engine output in response to said operator input with a second relationship different from said first.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an engine of a vehicle in response to an operator input, comprising:

during a first non-cruise control condition and at first distance to a forward vehicle, adjusting engine output in response to said operator input with a first relationship; and

during a second non-cruise control condition and at second, greater, distance to a forward vehicle, adjusting engine output in response to said operator input with a second relationship different from said first.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said operator input is actuation of a foot pedal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said second condition includes a higher vehicle speed than said first condition.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting said first and second relationships in response to a driver selectable performance or fuel economy mode.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said engine output includes an engine torque output, and said engine output torque is adjusted by varying at least one of a fuel injection amount, valve timing, injection timing, and air-fuel ratio.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said engine output is adjusted by a throttle position of an electronically controlled throttle plate.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising during a third cruise control condition, adjusting engine output in response to an operator speed set-point.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said difference includes an increased gain between said operator input an engine output at said second distance.

9. A method for controlling an engine of a first vehicle in response to an operator pedal input, comprising:

varying a relationship between pedal position and engine output in response to distance to a second vehicle, vehicle speed of the first vehicle, and a driver selectable performance mode during non-cruise control conditions.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said relationship is varied to have a greater gain between pedal motion and engine torque during lower speed conditions where said distance is greater than a first threshold value and the driver has selected a higher performance mode.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said relationship is varied to have a smaller gain between pedal motion and engine torque during lower speed conditions where said distance is less than a second threshold value and the driver has selected a higher fuel economy mode.

12. A system for a first vehicle having a powertrain with an engine, comprising:

an intelligent cruise control system selectively controlling vehicle speed in response to an operator set-point during active cruise control conditions, said system further providing an indication of a spatial relationship between the first vehicle and the second vehicle and overriding said set-point in response to said spatial relationship;

an pedal adapted to receive a command from the vehicle operator; and

a controller for varying a response of powertrain output in response to actuation of the pedal, where said relationship is adjusted during vehicle operation in response to said spatial relationship during in-active cruise control conditions.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said spatial relationship includes a distance between the first and second vehicle.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said spatial relationship includes velocities of the first and second vehicle.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said spatial relationship includes relative velocities of the first and second vehicle

16. The system of claim 12 wherein said relationship is adjusted to a greater extent at lower pedal positions than at higher pedal positions.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein said relationship is adjusted to a greater extent at mid pedal positions.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein said relationship is adjusted at selected conditions including a closed pedal condition.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising an electronically controlled throttle plate, and where said relationship changes a response between pedal actuation and position of the engine throttle plate.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said in-active cruise control conditions include operating at vehicle speeds less than a threshold value.