Electronic engine control and method of operating same

• US 5,978,729 A
• Filed: 10/15/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Landes, James W., Rettig, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Willis R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T.
• Application Number:
  US08/950,576
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 701/115, 701/110, 701/102, 123/350, 123/351, 123/352
• US Class Current: 701/115
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/047 the memory being digital
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour

Abstract

An electronic control for a compression ignition engine preferably includes engine sensors and vehicle sensors connected to the control. The control inputs signals produced by the sensor and responsively calculates a plurality of rating factors. The control weights the rating factors according to owner programmed weighting and also calculates a driver performance factor as the sum of the weighted rating factors. A modified vehicle speed limit is calculated in response to the driver performance score exceeding a minimum incentive value.

Claims

1. An electronic engine control for use with a compression ignition engine for on-highway vehicles, said engine control comprising:

an electronic control module;

a plurality of sensors associated with said engine, said sensors producing signals indicative of operating states of said engine, said engine sensors connected to said electronic control module;

a plurality of vehicle sensors producing vehicle signals indicative of operating states of said vehicle, said vehicle sensors connected to said electronic control module;

wherein said electronic control module calculates a rating factor associated with each of said sensor signals and said vehicle sensor signals;

weighting factors associated with each of said plurality of rating factors;

a vehicle speed limit;

wherein said electronic controller calculates a driver performance score as a function of said rating factors and associated weighting factors, compares said driver performance score to a minimum incentive score, calculates a vehicle speed limit incentive and a modified vehicle speed limit.

2. An electronic engine control according to claim 1, wherein said weighting factors are programmable values between a predetermined minimum and a predetermined maximum.

3. An electronic engine control according to claim 1, wherein said sensors include an engine speed sensor and a throttle position sensor, and said electronic control module calculates a load demand rating.

4. A method of controlling a compression ignition engine for use in on-highway vehicles, said method comprising:

computing a driver performance score;

comparing said driver performance score to a minimum incentive score;

calculating a modified vehicle speed limit in response to said step of comparing.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein computing a driver performance score includes:

reading an signal produced by a sensor associated with said engine;

computing a first rating factor based on said step of reading;

reading a first weighting factor associated with said signal; and

calculating a first weighted rating factor from said first rating factor and said first weighting factor.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said step of computing a driver score includes:

reading a vehicle sensor signal;

computing a second rating factor based on said step of reading said vehicle sensor;

reading a second weighting factor;

calculating a second weighted rating factor from said second rating factor and said second weighting factor; and

summing said first and second weighted rating factors.