Vehicle Control System

• US 5,247,444 A
• Filed: 09/04/1991
• Issued: 09/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Systems Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Zexel Corporation
• Inventors: Arai, Kenji, Kurihara, Kazumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US07/754,666
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 364/184, 364/187, 364/131, 364/424.1, 364/424.05, 364/431.05, 123/357, 123/438, 123/448, 123/589, 74/866-868
• US Class Current: 701/107
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/107 Safety-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/227 Limping Home, i.e. taking specific engine control measures at abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/222 relating to the failure of sensors or parameter detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A vehicle control system includes a sensor for detecting an operating condition of a vehicle, and a control device. When the output of the sensor is normal, the control device controls an actuator in accordance with the output of the sensor. When the output of the sensor exceeds a limit value and therefore becomes abnormal, the control device controls the actuator using backup data. As the backup data, auxiliary backup data is first used, and thereafter predetermined main backup data is used. The auxiliary backup data gradually varies from a value of the output of said sensor, obtained immediately before the output of the sensor exceeds the limit value, toward the main backup data, so that the auxiliary back data becomes closer to the main backup data.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system comprising:

(a) an accelerator sensor for detecting the degree of depression of an accelerator pedal;

(b) control means for controlling an actuator in accordance with an output of said accelerator sensor, said actuator controlling the amount of fuel injected into an engine;

(c) judgment means for judging whether or not the output of said accelerator sensor exceeds a predetermined upper limit value and therefore abnormal, said upper limit value is a value of the output of said accelerator sensor which corresponds to the maximum degree of depression of said accelerator pedal;

(d) auxiliary backup data supply means for transiently supplying auxiliary backup data, instead of the output of said accelerator sensor, to said control means, immediately after said judgment means judges that the output of said accelerator sensor is abnormal, wherein said auxiliary backup data gradually varies from the value of the output of said accelerator sensor obtained immediately before said output exceeded said upper limit value toward a predetermined main backup data, so that said auxiliary backup data becomes closer to said main backup data; and

(e) main backup data supply means for continuously supplying said main backup data, instead of the output of said accelerator sensor, to said control means after said auxiliary backup data is supplied, wherein said main backup data represents the value that corresponds to a low level of fuel injected in order to bring a vehicle to a safe operating condition.

2. A vehicle control system according to claim 1, in which said main backup data is equal to a value of the output of said accelerator sensor corresponding to a small degree of depression of said accelerator pedal as needed for running the vehicle at low speeds.

3. A vehicle control system according to claim 1, in which said judgment means compares the output of said accelerator sensor with said upper limit value and a lower limit value, and judges that the output of said accelerator sensor is abnormal when the output of said accelerator sensor exceeds either of said upper and lower limit values, said lower limit value being smaller than a value of the output of said accelerator sensor corresponding to no depression of said accelerator pedal.

4. A vehicle control system according to claim 1, further comprising switch means for again supplying the output of said accelerator sensor to said control means when said judgment means judges during the supply of said auxiliary backup data that the output of said accelerator sensor is returned to a normal output.

5. A vehicle control system according to claim 1, further comprising switch means for again supplying the output of said accelerator sensor to said control means when said judgment means judges during the supply of said main backup data that the output of said accelerator sensor is returned to a normal output.

6. A vehicle control system according to claim 5, in which said switch means begins to supply the output of said accelerator sensor to said control means upon lapse of a predetermined time period after the output of said accelerator sensor is returned to said normal output.

7. A vehicle control system according to claim 1, in which said auxiliary backup data supply means periodically varies said auxiliary backup data by a predetermined amount so as to bring said auxiliary backup data closer to said main backup data, and stops to supply said auxiliary backup data when the difference between said auxiliary backup data and said main backup data becomes smaller than said predetermined amount.