Configuring an engine control module

• US 20090204308A1
• Filed: 02/07/2008
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Manan, Adnan A., Bartlett, Mark R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,945,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/102
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/2027 Control of the current by pulse width modulation or duty cycle control
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/001 Electric control of rotation speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2432 Methods of calibration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 43/02 using only analogue means

Abstract

Method and systems are provided for configuring operations of an engine control module. In one implementation, a method is provided. According to the method, configuration parameters defining an operational range of an engine are received. Furthermore, data specifying performance requirements of the engine is received from the engine control module. The method determines whether the configuration parameters meet the performance requirements.

Claims

1. A method for configuring operations of an engine control module, comprising:

receiving configuration parameters, the configuration parameters defining an operational range of an engine;

receiving, from the engine control module, data specifying performance requirements of the engine; and

determining whether the configuration parameters meet the performance requirements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration parameters are received from configuration hardware in communication with a machine comprising the engine.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration parameters are received by an off-board communication component of a machine comprising the engine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance requirements received from the engine control module include requirements of a governor, the governor in communication with the engine control module and specifying at least one of a maximum rotational speed of the engine and a maximum speed of a machine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the operational range specified by the configuration parameters comprises a minimum value and a maximum value of an operational range of the engine.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the minimum value and the maximum value are duty cycle percentages.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the minimum value and the maximum value are fuel injection amounts.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the configuration parameters to the engine control module when the configuration parameters meet the performance requirements.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuration parameters are transmitted from configuration hardware in communication with a machine, the machine comprising the engine.

10. A system for configuring operations of an engine control module, comprising:

an engine control module providing data specifying performance requirements of an engine; and

configuration hardware, the configuration hardware receiving the data specifying performance requirements and configuration parameters from a user, the configuration parameters defining an operational range of the engine, wherein the configuration hardware further determines whether the configuration parameters meet the performance requirements.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the performance requirements received from the engine control module include requirements of a governor, the governor being in communication with the engine control module and specifying at least one of a maximum rotational speed of the engine and a maximum speed of a machine.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the operational range specified by the configuration parameters comprises a minimum and a maximum operational range of the engine.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the minimum value and the maximum value are duty cycle percentages.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the minimum value and the maximum value are duty cycle percentages.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the configuration hardware transmits the configuration parameters to the engine control module when the configuration parameters meet the performance requirements.

16. A computer-readable storage medium tangibly storing program instructions for configuring operations of an engine control module according to a method, the method comprising:

receiving configuration parameters, the configuration parameters defining an operational range of an engine;

receiving, from the engine control module, data specifying performance requirements of the engine; and

determining whether the configuration parameters meet the performance requirements.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the configuration parameters are received from configuration hardware in communication with a machine comprising the engine.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the configuration parameters are received by an off-board communication component of a machine comprising the engine.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the performance requirements received from the engine control module include requirements of a governor, the governor in communication with the engine control module and specifying at least one of a maximum rotational speed of the engine and a maximum speed of a machine.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, the method further comprising:

transmitting the configuration parameters to the engine control module when the configuration parameters meet the performance requirements.