Engine controlling system for vehicle

• US 5,096,015 A
• Filed: 07/20/1989
• Issued: 03/17/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Shimada, Makoto, Hirako, Osamu, Akishino, Katsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric
• Application Number:
  US07/392,974
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 180/179, 180/178, 180/170, 364/426.04
• US Class Current: 180/179
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/042 where at least one electrical quantity is set by the vehicle operator
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0605 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/106 Longitudinal acceleration

Abstract

An engine controlling system for a vehicle is disclosed which is suitable for use with an automobile. When a treadled condition detection signal is developed from an accelerator pedal operated condition detector, a first control amount setting device sets a control amount of an engine output adjusting device in accordance with an operation amount detection signal. When a treadled condition cancelling detection signal is developed from the accelerator pedal operated condition detector, a second control amount setting device sets, if it receives a constant speed running designating signal from a running condition designating device in accordance with a running speed detection signal from a running speed detector, a control amount of the engine output adjusting device necessary to make the running speed of the vehicle equal to an aimed speed. However, if it receives an accelerated running designating signal from the running condition designating device, the second control amount setting device sets a control amount of the engine output adjusting device necessary for the vehicle to accomplish accelerated running.

Claims

1. An engine controlling system for an engine of a vehicle having an accelerator pedal, said system comprising:

operation amount detecting means for detecting an operation amount of the accelerator pedal to develop an operation amount detection signal,

accelerator pedal operated condition detecting means for detecting treadling and cancellation of treadling of the accelerator pedal, wherein said accelerator pedal operated condition detecting means develops a treadled condition detection signal when treadling of the accelerator pedal is detected and develops a treadled condition canceling detection signal when cancellation of treadling is detected,

engine output adjusting means for adjusting an output power of the engine,

first control amount setting means responsive to said accelerator pedal operated condition detecting means for setting, when th treadled condition detection signal has been received, a first control amount of said engine output adjusting means in accordance with the operation amount detection signal,

running condition selecting means responsive to said accelerator pedal operated condition detecting means for selecting, when the treadled condition canceling detection signal is received, one of constant speed running and accelerated running as an aimed running condition of the vehicle, and for developing a constant speed running designating signal when constant speed running is selected and developing an accelerated running designating signal when accelerated running is selected,

running speed detecting means for detecting a running speed of the vehicle and developing a running speed detection signal,

aimed speed setting means responsive to said running condition selecting means for setting, when the constant speed running designating signal is received, an aimed speed for constant speed running of said vehicle, wherein said aimed speed is set to the running speed detected when the treadled condition canceling detection signal is developed,

second control amount setting means responsive to said running condition selecting means and said running speed detecting means for setting, when the constant speed running designating signal is received, a control amount of said engine output adjusting means necessary to make the running speed of said vehicle equal to the aimed speed and for setting, when the accelerated running designating signal is received, a control amount of said engine output adjusting means necessary for accelerated running of the vehicle, and

output controlling means for controlling said engine output adjusting means in accordance with the control amount set by said first control amount setting means or said second control amount setting means.

2. An engine controlling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second control amount setting means includes a first aimed acceleration setting section for setting, when the constant speed running designating signal is received, in accordance with the running speed detection signal, an aimed acceleration of said vehicle for making the running speed of said vehicle equal to the aimed speed, a second aimed acceleration setting section for setting, when the accelerated running designating signal is received, an aimed acceleration when said vehicle is to accomplish accelerated running, an aimed output setting section for calculating an aimed output power of said engine in accordance with an aimed acceleration set either by said first aimed acceleration setting section or by said second aimed acceleration setting section, and a control amount setting section for setting a control amount of said engine output adjusting means in accordance with the aimed output power of said engine.

10. An engine controlling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first aimed acceleration setting section sets an aimed acceleration of said vehicle in accordance with a deviation between the running speed of said vehicle and the aimed speed.

11. A engine controlling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first aimed acceleration setting section includes an aimed acceleration limiting section for limiting the aimed acceleration to a value smaller than a predetermined upper limit value.

12. An engine controlling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first control amount setting means includes an aimed acceleration setting section for setting, when the treadled condition detection signal is received, in accordance with the operation amount detection signal, an aimed acceleration in response to an amount of operation of said accelerator pedal and a changing rate of the amount of operation, an aimed output calculating section for calculating an aimed output power of said engine in accordance with the aimed acceleration set by said aimed acceleration setting section, and a control amount of calculating section for calculating a control amount of said engine output adjusting means in accordance with the aimed engine output power calculated by said aimed output calculating section.

13. An engine controlling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engine output adjusting means includes a throttle valve for changing an amount of air sucked into said engine.

3. An engine controlling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second aimed acceleration setting section includes a final aimed speed setting section for setting, when the accelerated running designating signal is received, a final aimed speed of said vehicle for accelerated running, a constant acceleration setting section for setting, when the accelerated running designating signal is received, an acceleration having a fixed avalue, a variable acceleration setting section for setting an acceleration which varies toward the acceleration set by said constant acceleration setting section in accordance with a time elapsed after reception of the acclerated running designating signal, and an aimed acceleration selecting setting section for selectively setting that one of the accelerations set by said constant acceleration setting section and said variable acceleration setting section which is smaller in absolute value as an aimed value of an acceleration for accelerated running of said vehicle.

4. An engine controlling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said constant acceleration setting section sets, when the accelerated running designating signal is received, an acceleration having a fixed negative value.

5. An engine controlling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said variable acceleration setting section includes a time responding acceleration setting section for setting an acceleration which varies toward the acceleration set by said constant acceleration setting section in accordance with a time elapsed after reception of the accelerated running designating signal, a speed responding acceleration setting section for setting, in accordance with the running speed detection signal, an acceleration which decreases in absolute value as the running speed of said vehicle approaches the final aimed speed, and a variable acceleration selecting setting section for comparing an absolute value of the acceleration set by said time responding acceleration setting section and another absolute value of the acceleration set by said speed responding acceleration setting section to selectively set that one of the accelerations which is smaller in absolute value.

6. An engine controlling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein said speed responding acceleration setting section includes an automatic running condition changing over section for changing over, in accordance with the running speed detection signal, the selection of said running condition designating section from accelerated running to constant speed running when the absolute value of a deviation between the running speed of said vehicle and the final aimed speed becomes smaller than a predetermined value.

7. An engine controlling system for a vehicle as claimed forth in claim 3, wherein said final aimed speed setting section includes a manually operated section, and a final aimed speed modifying section for changing, when said manually operated section enters a predetermined condition, the final aimed speed by a predetermined amount.

8. An engine controlling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein said final aimed speed setting section changes, when said manually operated section continuously remains in the predetermined condition, the final aimed speed in accordance with an interval of time for which the same condition continues.

9. An engine controlling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said variable acceleration setting section sets, in accordance with the running speed detection signal, an acceleration which decreases in absolute value as the running speed of said vehicle approaches the final aimed speed.