Electronic Throttle Control Remedial Action Desensitization

• US 20080288153A1
• Filed: 05/14/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Bauerle, Paul A., Bogden, Dennis M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/101
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/107 Safety-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/227 Limping Home, i.e. taking specific engine control measures at abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/602 Pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/187 using a hot wire flow sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/221 relating to the failure of actuators or electrically driven elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A control system for an engine comprises a fault determination module and a remedial action control module. The fault determination module generates a fault signal after detecting an infrastructure fault. The remedial action control module directs a throttle valve of the engine to a default position after receiving the fault signal, determines when the throttle valve is moving to the default position, and directs engine shutdown when the throttle valve is not moving to the default position.

Claims

1. A control system for an engine, comprising:

a fault determination module that generates a fault signal after detecting an infrastructure fault; and

a remedial action control module that directs a throttle valve of the engine to a default position after receiving the fault signal, that determines when the throttle valve is moving to the default position, and that directs engine shutdown when the throttle valve is not moving to the default position.

2. The control system of claim 1 further comprising:

a throttle position module that generates a position signal based upon a current position of the throttle valve; and

a throttle prediction module that generates a prediction signal based upon a predicted position of the throttle valve,

wherein the remedial action control module directs engine shutdown based upon deviation between the position signal and the prediction signal.

3. The control system of claim 2 wherein the throttle prediction module determines the predicted position based upon an original position of the throttle valve when the remedial action control module directed the throttle valve to the default position and a predetermined throttle valve speed.

4. The control system of claim 2 wherein the remedial action control module directs engine shutdown when the position signal has deviated from the prediction signal by a predetermined amount for a predetermined period.

5. The control system of claim 2 wherein the throttle position module generates the position signal based upon signals from a throttle position sensor.

6. The control system of claim 5 wherein the throttle position module generates the position signal based upon signals from at least one of a manifold absolute pressure sensor and a mass air flow sensor when the signals from the throttle position sensor are unreliable.

7. The control system of claim 1 wherein the remedial action control module reduces power output of the engine while the throttle valve is moving to the default position based upon a position of an accelerator pedal.

8. The control system of claim 7 wherein the remedial action control module reduces power output by at least one of deactivating a cylinder of the engine, limiting fuel provision to the engine, and retarding spark to the engine.

9. The control system of claim 1 wherein the remedial action control module checks the position of the throttle valve periodically once the throttle valve has reached the default position and directs engine shutdown based upon deviation of the throttle valve from the default position.

10. The control system of claim 1 wherein the default position comprises a high idle position.

11. The control system of claim 1 wherein the infrastructure fault includes at least one of a memory fault, an arithmetic logic unit fault, and a process sequence fault.

12. A method comprising:

directing a throttle valve of the engine to a default position after detecting an infrastructure fault;

determining when the throttle valve is moving to the default position; and

directing engine shutdown when the throttle valve is not moving to the default position.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

generating a position signal based upon a current position of the throttle valve;

generating a prediction signal based upon a predicted position of the throttle valve; and

directing engine shutdown based upon deviation between the position signal and the prediction signal.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining the predicted position based upon an original position of the throttle valve and a predetermined throttle valve speed.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising directing engine shutdown when the position signal has deviated from the prediction signal by a predetermined amount for a predetermined period.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising generating the position signal based upon signals from a throttle position sensor.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising generating the position signal based upon signals from at least one of a manifold absolute pressure sensor and a mass air flow sensor when the signals from the throttle position sensor are unreliable.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising reducing power output of the engine while the throttle valve is moving to the default position based upon a position of an accelerator pedal.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising reducing power output by at least one of deactivating a cylinder of the engine, limiting fuel provision to the engine, and retarding spark to the engine.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

checking the position of the throttle valve periodically once the throttle valve has reached the default position; and

directing engine shutdown based upon deviation of the throttle valve from the default position.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the default position comprises a high idle position.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein the infrastructure fault includes at least one of a memory fault, an arithmetic logic unit fault, and a process sequence fault.