Accelerator pedal calibration and fault detection
First Claim
1. A calibration for use with a vehicle equipped with said throttle controlled engine and an electronic control unit having a processor for executing a predetermined set of instructions stored in a memory so as to control the engine, the vehicle also including in electronic accelerator pedal in communication with the processor for providing a signal indicative of a requested fueling level for the engine, the accelerator pedal having a range of travel between a fully released position and a fully depressed position, a method for automatically calibrating the electronic accelerator pedal comprising:
- associating a first parameter stored in the memory with a value representing the signal provided by the electronic accelerator pedal when power is first applied to the system and the signal is within a first predetermined calibration range;
altering engine fueling progression to provide a decreased engine fueling response to the range of travel of the electronic accelerator pedal so as to induce displacement of the electronic accelerator pedal to the fully depressed position; and
associating a second parameter stored in the memory with a value representing the signal provided by the electronic accelerator pedal when the signal is within a second predetermined calibration range so as to automatically calibrate the electronic accelerator pedal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for automatically calibrating an electronic accelerator pedal having an idle validation switch is disclosed. Automatic calibration accommodates variation between vehicles so that error tolerances may be reduced. The system and method utilize the idle validation switch in combination with the accelerator pedal to provide redundancy by cross-checking signals received from each component. Automatic calibration is performed throughout operation of the vehicle. An initial idle position and an initial full throttle setting are chosen to induce a vehicle operator to fully depress the accelerator pedal. The fully depressed pedal determines the new full throttle position. Thereafter, under proper conditions, a new full throttle position (and analogously a new idle position) is set when a pedal sensor indicates the current position exceeds the current full throttle set point (or is less than the current idle set point). The system and method also provide a fail-safe design which returns to idle fueling when certain fault conditions are detected.
67 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A calibration for use with a vehicle equipped with said throttle controlled engine and an electronic control unit having a processor for executing a predetermined set of instructions stored in a memory so as to control the engine, the vehicle also including in electronic accelerator pedal in communication with the processor for providing a signal indicative of a requested fueling level for the engine, the accelerator pedal having a range of travel between a fully released position and a fully depressed position, a method for automatically calibrating the electronic accelerator pedal comprising:
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associating a first parameter stored in the memory with a value representing the signal provided by the electronic accelerator pedal when power is first applied to the system and the signal is within a first predetermined calibration range; altering engine fueling progression to provide a decreased engine fueling response to the range of travel of the electronic accelerator pedal so as to induce displacement of the electronic accelerator pedal to the fully depressed position; and associating a second parameter stored in the memory with a value representing the signal provided by the electronic accelerator pedal when the signal is within a second predetermined calibration range so as to automatically calibrate the electronic accelerator pedal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electronic accelerator pedal calibration system in a vehicle comprising a throttle controlled engine and an electronic control unit having a processor for executing a predetermined set of instructions stored in a memory so as to control the engine, the vehicle also including an electronic accelerator pedal in communication with the processor for providing a signal indicative of a requested fueling level for the engine, the accelerator pedal having a range of travel between a fully, released position and a fully depressed position, said system for automatically calibrating the electronic accelerator pedal including:
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means microprocessor for associating a first parameter stored in the memory with a value representing the signal provided by the electronic accelerator pedal when power is first applied to the vehicle and the signal value is within a first predetermined calibration range; said microprocessor means further programmed to alter engine fueling progression to provide a decreased engine fueling response to the range of travel of the electronic accelerator pedal so as to induce displacement of the electronic accelerator pedal to the fully depressed position; and said microprocess means further associating a second parameter stored in the memory with a value representing the signal provided by the electronic accelerator pedal when the signal value is within a second predetermined calibration range so as to automatically calibrate the electronic accelerator pedal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electronic accelerator pedal calibration system in a vehicle comprising a throttle controlled engine and an electronic accelerator pedal for providing a signal indicative of a requested fueling level for the engine, the accelerator pedal having a range of travel between a fully released position and a fully depressed position, said system for automatically calibrating the electronic accelerator pedal including:
a microprocessor in communication with the engine and the electronic accelerator pedal, the said microprocessor being operative to execute a predetermined set of instructions stored in a memory so as to control the engine, the electronic control unit also being operative to associate a first parameter stored in the memory with a value representing the signal provided by the electronic accelerator pedal when power is first applied to the system and the signal value is within a first predetermined calibration range, to alter engine fueling progression to provide a decreased engine fueling response to the range of travel of the electronic accelerator pedal so as to induce displacement of the electronic accelerator pedal to the fully depressed position, and to associate a second parameter stored in the memory with a value representing the signal provided by the electronic accelerator pedal when the signal value is within a second predetermined calibration range so as to automatically calibrate the electronic accelerator pedal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
Specification