System for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine
First Claim
1. A system for controlling an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- means for sensing road speed of a vehicle carrying an internal combustion engine and producing a vehicle speed signal corresponding thereto;
a fuel system responsive to a fueling signal to supply fuel to said engine; and
a control computer producing said fueling signal, said control computer responsive to said fueling signal to determine an engine speed limit and to said vehicle speed signal to determine one of a vehicle acceleration limit and an engine acceleration limit, said control computer limiting said fueling signal as a function of said engine speed limit and said one of said engine and said vehicle acceleration limit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine includes a control computer responsive to a number of engine/vehicle operating conditions to control engine operation to thereby control engine speed and engine or vehicle acceleration. In one embodiment, the control computer is configured to determine an engine or vehicle acceleration limit value based on current engine or vehicle speed, and an engine speed limit value based on current engine load, and to control engine fueling and/or speed to thereby limit engine speed to the engine speed limit value and/or engine/vehicle acceleration to the engine/vehicle acceleration limit value. In another embodiment, the control computer is configured to determine a pseudo-load value, which is preferably a vehicle mass value and/or road grade value estimated from current vehicle acceleration and engine fueling conditions, determine an engine speed limit value based on the pseudo-load value and current vehicle speed, and control engine speed and/or fueling to thereby limit engine speed to the pseudo-load-based engine speed limit value. In either case, the concepts of the present invention provide for increased fuel economy by limiting engine speed and/or acceleration during shifting, while providing for additional engine speed, and correspondingly higher engine power, when there exists a legitimate need therefore.
54 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A system for controlling an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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means for sensing road speed of a vehicle carrying an internal combustion engine and producing a vehicle speed signal corresponding thereto; a fuel system responsive to a fueling signal to supply fuel to said engine; and a control computer producing said fueling signal, said control computer responsive to said fueling signal to determine an engine speed limit and to said vehicle speed signal to determine one of a vehicle acceleration limit and an engine acceleration limit, said control computer limiting said fueling signal as a function of said engine speed limit and said one of said engine and said vehicle acceleration limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for controlling an internal combustion engine carried by a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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sensing vehicle speed of a vehicle carrying an internal combustion engine; determining an acceleration value based on said vehicle speed; determining a corresponding one of an engine and a vehicle acceleration limit based on said vehicle speed; determining a current engine fueling value; determining an engine speed limit based on said current engine fueling value; and limiting fuel supplied to said engine to thereby maintain said engine speed value below said engine speed limit and said acceleration value below said corresponding one of an engine and a vehicle acceleration limit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification