DRIVE MODE SWITCHING DEVICE FOR MOTORCYCLE

• US 20080115761A1
• Filed: 11/15/2007
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: WATANABE, Hideaki, DEGUCHI, Hiromi, TODA, Takayuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,523,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/336
• 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 2011/103 at least one throttle being alternatively mechanically linked to the pedal or moved by an electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/604 Engine control mode selected by driver, e.g. to manually start particle filter regeneration or to select driving style
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3011 according to or using specific or several modes of combustion

Abstract

A motorcycle includes a throttle, a main throttle valve controlled to be opened or closed by an operation of the throttle and a sub throttle valve controlled to be opened or closed in response to an opening degree of the main throttle valve. A memory a plurality of sub-throttle valve opening degree maps, each of which has unique sub throttle valve opening degree characteristics, fuel injection amount maps each of which has unique fuel injection amount characteristics and corresponds to each of the sub throttle valve opening degree maps respectively, and ignition timing maps, each of which has unique ignition timing characteristics and corresponds to each of the sub throttle valve opening degree maps respectively. A drive mode selecting switch is operable to select an intended drive mode from a plurality of drive modes so as to select a sub throttle valve opening degree map from the stored sub throttle valve opening degree maps. An engine control unit is operable to control an engine based on the selected sub throttle valve opening degree map, one of the stored fuel injection amount maps and one of the stored ignition timing maps which correspond to the selected sub throttle valve opening degree map.

Claims

1. A drive mode switching device for a motorcycle including a throttle, a main throttle valve controlled to be opened or closed by an operation of the throttle and a sub throttle valve controlled to be opened or closed in response to an opening degree of the main throttle valve, the drive mode switching device comprising:

a memory storing a plurality of sub-throttle valve opening degree maps, each of which has unique sub throttle valve opening degree characteristics, fuel injection amount maps each of which has unique fuel injection amount characteristics and corresponds to each of the sub throttle valve opening degree maps respectively, and ignition timing maps, each of which has unique ignition timing characteristics and corresponds to each of the sub throttle valve opening degree maps respectively;

a drive mode selecting switch operable to select an intended drive mode from a plurality of drive modes so as to select a sub throttle valve opening degree map from the stored sub throttle valve opening degree maps; and

an engine control unit operable to control an engine based on the selected sub throttle valve opening degree map, one of the stored fuel injection amount maps and one of the stored ignition timing maps which correspond to the selected sub throttle valve opening degree map.

2. The drive mode switching device according to claim 1, wherein the stored sub throttle valve opening maps include maps respectively corresponding to a high power drive mode having an area for opening the sub throttle valve to the maximum opening degree, a low power drive mode for regulating the sub throttle valve to a low opening degree under the operating condition of fully opening the main throttle valve, and an intermediate power drive mode having an intermediate power characteristic between the high power drive mode and the low power drive mode.

3. The drive mode switching device according to claim 1, wherein each of the sub throttle valve opening maps includes a three dimensional map depending upon the opening degree of the main throttle valve and a revolution speed of the engine.

4. The drive mode switching device according to claim 1, wherein a drive mode selectable state where the sub throttle valve opening degree maps are selectable by the drive mode selecting switch is obtained when the drive mode selecting switch is continuously operated for a predetermined period or more.

5. The drive mode switching device according to claim 4, wherein:

when the opening degree of the main throttle valve is less than a predetermined value in the drive mode selectable state, the selecting operation for the drive mode selecting switch become valid; and

when the opening degree of the main throttle valve is more than or equal to the predetermined value in the drive mode selectable state, the selecting operation become invalid.

6. The drive mode switching device according to claim 4, wherein the drive mode selectable state is maintained until an ignition switch is turned off.