Control system for outboard motor
First Claim
1. An outboard motor comprising an engine and a propulsion unit, said engine having an output shaft and said propulsion unit comprising a propeller shaft, a shiftable transmission being interposed between said output shaft and said propulsion unit, said shiftable transmission being adapted to move between a neutral state and a drive state whereby movement of said output shaft is removed from said propeller shaft when said shiftable transmission is in said neutral state and movement of said output shaft is transferred to said propeller shaft when said shiftable transmission is in said drive state, said outboard motor further comprising a control unit adapted to control at least one operating parameter of said engine, a shift detector being in electrical communication with said control unit and being adapted to output a signal indicative of a shift state of said shiftable transmission, an engine speed sensor being in electrical communication with said control unit and being adapted to output a signal indicative of an engine speed, a throttle angle sensor being in electrical communication with said control unit and being adapted to output a signal indicative of a throttle angle, said control outputting a first signal if a first input condition is satisfied and outputting a second signal if a second input condition is satisfied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An outboard motor includes the direct fuel injection system. The outboard motor also includes an ECU that monitors various engine operating conditions and controls various engine operating parameters that are at least partially dependent on the positioning of the transmission. In instances in which the transmission is positioned in a neutral location, the load is decreased and therefore the ECU outputs one set of parameters. In similar low-speed operations, when the transmission is placed in a drive arrangement, the ECU outputs a second set of parameters due to the increased load. Several control routines are disclosed which facilitate low-speed operation, over-rev limiting, and engine warm-up.
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Citations
74 Claims
- 1. An outboard motor comprising an engine and a propulsion unit, said engine having an output shaft and said propulsion unit comprising a propeller shaft, a shiftable transmission being interposed between said output shaft and said propulsion unit, said shiftable transmission being adapted to move between a neutral state and a drive state whereby movement of said output shaft is removed from said propeller shaft when said shiftable transmission is in said neutral state and movement of said output shaft is transferred to said propeller shaft when said shiftable transmission is in said drive state, said outboard motor further comprising a control unit adapted to control at least one operating parameter of said engine, a shift detector being in electrical communication with said control unit and being adapted to output a signal indicative of a shift state of said shiftable transmission, an engine speed sensor being in electrical communication with said control unit and being adapted to output a signal indicative of an engine speed, a throttle angle sensor being in electrical communication with said control unit and being adapted to output a signal indicative of a throttle angle, said control outputting a first signal if a first input condition is satisfied and outputting a second signal if a second input condition is satisfied.
- 33. A method of controlling a direct injected engine with a controller comprising sensing a shift position, sensing an engine speed, comparing said sensed engine speed to a preset engine speed, sensing a throttle position, comparing said sensed throttle position to a preset throttle position and taking a first action depending upon said sensed shift position if said sensed engine speed is lower than said preset engine speed and said sensed throttle position is lower than said preset throttle position.
- 56. A method of controlling a direct injected engine with a controller comprising an over revolution limiting routine comprising sensing an engine speed, comparing said sensed engine speed with a first preset speed, taking a first evasive action if said sensed engine speed exceeds said first preset speed, comparing said sensed engine speed with a second preset engine speed, taking a second evasive action if said sensed engine speed exceeds said second preset speed.
- 64. A method of controlling a direct injected engine with a controller comprising advancing an ignition timing of said engine a first preset advance amount, sensing an engine speed and starting a counter, comparing said sensed engine speed to a first preset speed and said counter value to a preset value, changing said ignition timing to a second preset advance amount when said sensed engine speed exceeds said first preset speed or said counter value exceeds said preset value.
- 68. An engine comprising at least one cylinder, a piston mounted for reciprocation within said cylinder, a cylinder head mounted to said cylinder and cooperating with said piston and said cylinder to define a variable volume combustion chamber, a fuel injector disposed to supply a fuel charge to said combustion chamber, a fuel supply system communicating with said fuel injector, said fuel supply system comprising a high pressure portion and a low pressure portion, said fuel injector being positioned along said high pressure portion, a bypass line connecting said high pressure portion and said low pressure portion, a valve being positioned along said bypass line, and a controller adapted to control said valve such that a flow rate through said bypass line can be controlled.
Specification