Electronic throttle control having throttle sensor failure detecting function and fail-safe function
First Claim
1. An electronic throttle control system for an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve, an accelerator, throttle sensor means for detecting a throttle opening of the throttle valve, control means for feedback controlling the throttle opening electronically by calculating an electronic control quantity for matching the throttle opening with a target throttle opening set according to a depression of the accelerator, and driving means for driving the throttle valve in response to the calculated control quantity, the control system comprising:
- failure detecting means for detecting a sensor failure of the throttle sensor means;
temporary failure control means for setting the control quantity to a fixed specified value when the failure detecting means detects the sensor failure indicative of disability of the throttle opening, the specified value being used by the driving means to drive the throttle valve; and
control stopping means for stopping an electronic throttle control of the control means when the failure detecting means keeps detecting the sensor failure for a specified determination delay time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an electronic throttle control for an engine, two throttle sensors are used to detect a throttle opening. When a sensor failure is detected in either of those throttle sensors, a feedback control is executed according to the output of the other normal sensor if any. If both throttle sensors fail or it cannot be determined whether there is any normal sensor, the feedback is stopped and the feedback variables are initialized and a motor control duty is set to -30% or 0% according to the existing accelerator depression. Thereafter, if the throttle sensors are not restored even after a preset determination delay time is over, an electromagnetic clutch and a DC motor are turned off to stop the electronic throttle control. A throttle valve is controlled mechanically for a limp-home running.
50 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An electronic throttle control system for an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve, an accelerator, throttle sensor means for detecting a throttle opening of the throttle valve, control means for feedback controlling the throttle opening electronically by calculating an electronic control quantity for matching the throttle opening with a target throttle opening set according to a depression of the accelerator, and driving means for driving the throttle valve in response to the calculated control quantity, the control system comprising:
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failure detecting means for detecting a sensor failure of the throttle sensor means; temporary failure control means for setting the control quantity to a fixed specified value when the failure detecting means detects the sensor failure indicative of disability of the throttle opening, the specified value being used by the driving means to drive the throttle valve; and control stopping means for stopping an electronic throttle control of the control means when the failure detecting means keeps detecting the sensor failure for a specified determination delay time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11)
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5. An electronic throttle control method for an internal combustion engine having a throttle valve, an accelerator, throttle sensor means for detecting a throttle opening of the throttle valve, and driving means including a motor and a clutch for electrically driving the throttle valve in accordance with a depression of the accelerator, the control method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a sensor failure of the throttle sensor means, the sensor failure indicating disability of detecting the throttle opening; controlling the driving means by a specified control quantity different from changes in the accelerator depression when the sensor failure is detected; and stopping an electronic throttle control of the driving means after the sensor failure continues for a specified determination delay time. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 12)
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13. An electronic throttle control system comprising:
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a detector operatively connectable to a sensor of an engine throttle to detect failure of the sensor; temporary failure control means for generating a signal to drive the throttle independently of the sensor; and control stopping means for stopping electronic control of the throttle when the detector continuously detects failure of the sensor for a given period of time. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of electronic throttle control comprising:
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detecting a failure of a sensor of an engine throttle; driving the throttle independently of the sensor responsive to the sensor failure detection; and terminating electronic control of the throttle when the sensor failure is detected for a period of time. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification