ELECTRIC THROTTLE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR A MOTORCYCLE

• US 20100282210A1
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Itagaki, Katsuhiko
• Application Number:
  US12/775,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20100282210A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/399
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2011/102 at least one throttle being moved only by an electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position
• 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 31/002 controlling air supply
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/02 one of the functions being ignition
• 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

There are provided an accelerator position sensor, an engine speed sensor, an electric motor, and a control unit. The accelerator position sensor detects an amount of operation of an accelerator grip. The engine speed sensor detects an engine rotational speed. The electric motor rotates a throttle valve so as to be opened and closed an intake passage. The throttle valve is opened and closed by the electric motor. The control unit drives the electric motor depending upon an output value of the accelerator position sensor and the engine speed sensor. The control unit includes a map storage section storing a plurality of throttle valve opening maps. Each of the plurality of throttle valve opening maps contains unique throttle valve opening characteristics respectively. The control unit drives the electric motor based on one of selected the throttle valve opening maps.

Claims

1. An electric throttle control apparatus for a motorcycle comprising:

an accelerator position sensor for detecting an amount of operation of an accelerator grip;

an engine speed sensor for detecting an engine rotational speed;

an electric motor for rotating a throttle valve so as to be opened and closed an intake passage; and

a control unit for driving the electric motor depending upon an output value of the accelerator position sensor and the engine speed sensor,

wherein the control unit includes a map storage section storing a plurality of throttle valve opening maps, each of the plurality of throttle valve opening maps contains unique throttle valve opening characteristics respectively, and the control unit drives the electric motor based on one of selected the throttle valve opening maps.

2. The electric throttle control apparatus for the motorcycle according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit determines fuel injection quantity based on an opening of the throttle valve and the engine rotational speed.

3. The electric throttle control apparatus for the motorcycle according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit determines ignition timing based on an opening of the throttle valve and the engine rotational speed.

4. The electric throttle control apparatus for the motorcycle according to claim 1,

wherein the throttle valve opening maps are formed of at least three throttle valve opening maps containing the throttle valve opening characteristics different from one another.

5. The electric throttle control apparatus for the motorcycle according to claim 4,

wherein one of the throttle valve opening maps contains reference characteristics,

another one of the throttle valve opening maps contains high-output characteristics in which an opening of the throttle valve used when the amount of operation of the accelerator grip is small is set to be larger than that in the reference characteristics, and

another one of the throttle valve opening maps contains low-output characteristics in which a maximum opening of the throttle valve is limited to be lower than or equal to a predetermined opening that is lower than a maximum opening in the reference characteristics.

6. The electric throttle control apparatus for the motorcycle according to claims 1,

further comprising a map selector disposed in the vicinity of the accelerator grip, the map selector instructing the control unit to select one of the throttle valve opening maps from the map storage section.