METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING THE FUEL ECONOMY OF A VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT ENGINE
First Claim
1. An electronic device comprising:
- a housing;
a processor and a memory disposed within the housing;
an interface that allows the processor and the memory to communicate with a vehicle having an engine control unit;
wherein the processor is configured to
1) receive from the engine control unit, power train state data characterizing a current operational state of the vehicle,
2) based upon the power train state data, determine whether to send a control command recognized by the vehicle wherein the control command effects operation of the vehicle while it is being driven; and
3) when the control command is sent, receive a message from the vehicle indicating whether the control command has been implemented or rejected by the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A secondary controller for controlling the performance of a moving automobile is described. The secondary controller can be configured to communicate with one or more vehicle controllers, such as the engine control unit, while the automobile is being driven. The secondary controller can send control commands, such as self-test or diagnostic commands to the vehicle controller to effect the operation of the vehicle'"'"'s power train. The secondary controller can receive power train related data from the engine control unit and based upon the received power train data determine when to send the control commands. In one embodiment, the secondary controller communicates with the vehicle controller via the vehicle'"'"'s diagnostic port, such as an OBD-II port. In another embodiment, the secondary controller can be configured to control a variable displacement engine in a vehicle to improve the fuel efficiency of the vehicle while it is driven.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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a housing; a processor and a memory disposed within the housing; an interface that allows the processor and the memory to communicate with a vehicle having an engine control unit; wherein the processor is configured to
1) receive from the engine control unit, power train state data characterizing a current operational state of the vehicle,
2) based upon the power train state data, determine whether to send a control command recognized by the vehicle wherein the control command effects operation of the vehicle while it is being driven; and
3) when the control command is sent, receive a message from the vehicle indicating whether the control command has been implemented or rejected by the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method in a controller for controlling an automobile including an a variable displacement engine comprising:
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receiving from power train state data including a calculated engine load data and an accelerator pedal position data; applying a data smoothing algorithm to at least the calculated engine load and the accelerator pedal position and storing the smoothed data; based upon the smoothed calculated engine load data and the smoothed accelerator pedal position data, determining one or more of
1) whether the vehicle is in a cruise state,
2) an accelerator pedal position has decreased more than a first threshold amount over a first time period,
3) a calculated engine load has decreased more than a second threshold amount over a second time period,
4) the calculated engine load is below a third threshold value or combinations thereof.based upon the determination, determining a determining a desired displacement mode of the variable displacement mode engine; and when the desired displacement mode is different from a current displacement mode, sending one or more control commands configured to cause the variable displacement mode engine to operate in the desired displacement mode. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer readable medium including computer code for controlling an automobile including an a variable displacement engine comprising:
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computer code for receiving from power train state data including a calculated engine load data and an accelerator pedal position data; computer code for applying a data smoothing algorithm to at least the calculated engine load and the accelerator pedal position and storing the smoothed data; computer code for, based upon the smoothed calculated engine load data and the smoothed accelerator pedal position data, determining one or more of
1) whether the vehicle is in a cruise state,
2) an accelerator pedal position has decreased more than a first threshold amount over a first time period,
3) a calculated engine load has decreased more than a second threshold amount over a second time period,
4) the calculated engine load is below a third threshold value or combinations thereof.computer code for, based upon the determination, determining a determining a desired displacement mode of the variable displacement mode engine; and computer code for, when the desired displacement mode is different from a current displacement mode, sending one or more control commands to cause the variable displacement mode engine to operate in the desired displacement mode.
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Specification