POWER-ECONOMY MODE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20150112577A1
• Filed: 06/03/2013
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mahindra & Mahindra Limited
• Original Assignee: Mahindra & Mahindra Limited
• Inventors: Velusamy, Ramasamy, Shaik, Rehan
• Granted Patent: US 10,428,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/110
• 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 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 2250/18 Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3064 with special control during transition between modes
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

The present invention is related to a vehicle provided with operation selection mode. In particular, the present invention is related to a common rail electronically controlled vehicle provided with operation selection mode wherein the user can select either of the power mode and the economy mode of vehicle operation depending on the road conditions. The system of the present invention provides a system to enable selection of power mode operation for power conscious driving requirement or economy mode operation for fuel conscious driving option obviating the use of additional interface devices between engine and engine control unit.

Claims

1. A power-economy mode control system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a power train (110), an electronic control unit (103), a mode selection switch (102), an accelerator pedal input (104), a mode indication lamp (109) that is adapted to be mounted on the vehicle dashboard;

said electronic control unit (103) comprising;

an analog signal conditioner, a digital signal conditioner, a CPU, a plurality of program memories, an EPROM, an E2PROM, a power stage controller, a CAN, a diagnostics, a plurality of alarms, wherein said electronic control unit is operationally configured with an engine speed sensor (106), an engine (105), the accelerator pedal mechanism (104) and the mode selection switch (102), wherein upon selection of at least a desired mode by operating said mode selection switch (102) by a driver of the vehicle, the input from said switch is fed to said electronic control unit (103) to process to send a signal to the engine to switch over the mode.

2. The power-economy mode control system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inputs to the ECU comprises:

an engine speed, a CAM PHASE, a coolant temperature, an accelerator pedal position, an air mass flow, an air temperature, a boost pressure, a brake switch, a clutch switch, an air conditioning, a battery;

the output from the ECU comprises actuation of injector, metering unit, EGR, boost pressure, radiator fan, glow plug; and

the diagnostics comprises high coolant temperature warning, low battery voltage warning.

3. The power-economy mode control system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said EPROM is stored with a 2D Power Mode Map and 2D Economic Mode Map of the vehicle engine wherein the 2D Power map is a relationship of engine speed and maximum fueling in power mode for 100% accelerator pedal position;

the 2D Economy Map is a relationship of engine speed and maximum fueling torque in economic mode for 100% accelerator pedal position.

4. The power-economy mode control system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein system operates to enable power mode of the vehicle, said mode comprising:

activation of ignition;

allowing user selector switch operation;

receiving signal relating to the selection of power economy modes of operation based on driving requirements in the form of driver'"'"'s input through power economy switch 102;

display of the indication in the form visible display (109) on the vehicle dash board (101) according to the said input;

acquiring feedback from engine speed sensor (106) and feeding it to the said ECU;

processing the 2D Power Map in the ECU to select the predefined fueling for a particular engine speed at 100% accelerator pedal; and

sending the signal to actuate engine injector to supply the selected quantity of fuel to the engine to run in the power mode.

5. The power-economy mode control system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein system operates to enable economy mode of the vehicle said mode comprising:

activation of ignition;

allowing user selector switch operation;

receiving signal relating to the selection of power economy modes of operation based on driving requirements in the form of driver'"'"'s input through power economy switch 102;

display of the indication in the form visible display (109) on the vehicle dash board (101) according to the said input;

acquiring feedback from engine speed sensor (106) and feeding it to the said ECU;

processing the 2D Economy Map in the ECU to select the predefined fueling for a particular engine speed at 100% accelerator pedal; and

sending the signal to actuate engine injector to supply the selected quantity of fuel to the engine to run in the economy mode.

6. The power-economy mode control system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said electronic control unit (2) is configured with selector switch 3 and the main battery (4) of the vehicle, wherein a selection switch (3) is introduced in between the pin (5);

the ECU (2) is operationally connected to the various sensors and actuators; and

the said switch (3) is mounted on the vehicle dashboard and is introduced in series with the battery and ECU.

7. The power-economy mode control system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein upon activation of the said selector switch (3) in CLOSED position, the electronic control unit (2) is activated to sense that all functions are closed and allows engine of the vehicle to operate under power mode characterized by the maximum possible torque that is normalized to 100 that can be produced by an engine, wherein the system retains the existing engine torque thereby retaining the best performance.

8. The power-economy mode control system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein upon activation of the said selector switch (3) in OPEN position, the ECU (2) activates the 2D Economy Map, selects the predefined fueling/torque as set in the Map thereby enabling the engine output in accordance with engine torque options.

9. The power-economy mode control system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said operation mode control system functions in power mode to reduce engine torque at the entire speed range of the engine.

10. The power-economy mode control system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said operation mode control system functions in economy mode to reduce torque and reduce engine rated speed.

11. The power-economy mode control system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said operation mode control system functions to maintain the peak torque constant as that of the normal mode and engine speed is reduced.

12. The power-economy mode control system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein upon activation of the mode selection switch (102) by the driver of the vehicle, the system operates to send the signal to the said electronic control unit (103) to process it wherein the said electronic control unit (103) further operates to send a signal to the engine to switch over the mode;

the active mode of operation (power/economy) is indicated by the system by enabling visual indication with the aid of indication lamp (109) mounted on the dashboard of the vehicle, wherein the said electronic control unit (103) comprises of an analog signal conditioner, digital signal conditioner, CPU, program memories EPROM, E2PROM, power stage controller, CAN, diagnostics, alarms, wherein the said electronic control unit is operationally configured with the engine speed sensor (106), engine (105), accelerator pedal mechanism (104) and the mode selection switch (102) wherein EPROM is stored with a 2D Power Mode Map and 2D Economic Mode Map of the vehicle engine, the 2D Power map is a relationship of engine speed and maximum fueling in power mode for 100% accelerator pedal position; and

the 2D Economy Map is a relationship of engine speed and maximum fueling/torque in economic mode for 100% accelerator pedal position.