Apparatus and method for calibrating an engine management system

• US 6,539,299 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Optimum Power Technology LP
• Original Assignee: Optimum Power Technology LP
• Inventors: McDowell, Philip D., Chatfield, Glen F., Houston, Roy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolinar, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US09/784,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20020052682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 701/104, 701/105, 701/114, 701/115, 123/406.64, 123/406.65, 123/480, 123/486
• US Class Current: 701/104
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/11 After-sales modification devices designed to be used to modify an engine afterwards
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/18 Packaging of the electronic circuit in a casing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/02 one of the functions being ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/263 the program execution being modifiable by physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3005 Details not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A method and control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that allows an operator to calibrate engine performance relative to an engine operating characteristic. The control apparatus comprises a base engine control map that correlates values of the characteristic with values of a base engine control, a trim control map that correlates the values of the characteristic with values of a trim control, an engine control unit that obtains from the base engine control and trim control maps the respective base engine control and trim control values that are based on the characteristic value, and a panel that is operatively coupled with the engine control unit and includes a first switch regulating a trim signal supplied to the engine control unit. The trim control map is separated from the base control map. The engine control unit calculates an engine operating control value based on the obtained values. The calculated engine operating control value is supplied to the internal combustion engine to vary the engine performance. The first switch is adapted to be manipulated by the operator. And the trim signal causes the engine control unit to modify the trim control values in the trim control map.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that allows an operator to calibrate engine performance relative to an engine operating characteristic, the control apparatus comprising:

a base engine control map correlating values of the characteristic with values of a base engine control;

a trim control map separate from the base engine control map, the trim control map correlating the values of the characteristic with values of a trim control;

an engine control unit obtaining from the base engine control and trim control maps the respective base engine control and trim control values that are based on the characteristic value, and calculating an engine operating control value based on the obtained values, the calculated engine operating control value being supplied to the internal combustion engine to vary the engine performance; and

a panel operatively coupled with the engine control unit and including a first switch regulating a trim signal supplied to the engine control unit, the first switch being adapted to be manipulated by the operator, and the trim signal causing the engine control unit to modify at least two trim control values in the trim control map each time the first switch is manipulated.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a data port operatively coupled to the engine control unit, wherein the data port is adapted to download the base control map from an external processor and is adapted to upload the trim control map to the external processor.

3. The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor detecting the characteristic and supplying to the engine control unit a sensor signal representing the characteristic.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display receiving from the engine control unit an information signal, the information signal being indicated by the display so as to be interpretable by the operator.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the panel further includes a second switch regulating a trim defeat signal supplied to the engine control unit, the second switch being adapted to be manipulated by the operator between a first configuration and a second configuration, in the first configuration of the second switch the trim defeat signal causing the engine control unit to calculate the engine operating control value equal to the base engine control value modified by the trim control value, and in the second configuration of the second switch the trim defeat signal causing the engine control unit to calculate the engine operating control value equal to the base engine control value.

6. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engine control unit comprises a processor, and the trim signal comprises an electrical signal.

7. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that allows an operator to calibrate engine performance, the control apparatus comprising:

a first sensor detecting a first engine operating characteristic of the internal combustion engine, the first sensor supplying a first sensor signal representing the first characteristic;

a second sensor detecting a second engine operating characteristic of the internal combustion engine, the second sensor supplying a second sensor signal representing the second characteristic;

a set of base control maps correlating values of the first and second characteristics with values of a base first engine control and with values of a second base engine control;

a set of trim control maps separate from the set of base control maps, the set of trim control maps correlating values of the first and second characteristics with values of a first trim control and with values of a second trim control;

an engine control unit obtaining from the base control and trim control maps the respective first base engine control, the second base engine control, the first trim control, and the second trim control values that are based on the characteristic value, calculating a first engine operating control value based on the obtained values of the first base engine control and the first trim control, and calculating a second engine operating control value based on the obtained values of the second base engine control and the second trim control, the calculated first and second engine operating control values being supplied to the internal combustion engine to vary the engine performance;

a panel operatively coupled with the engine control unit and adapted to interface with the operator, the panel including;

a first switch regulating a trim signal supplied to the engine control unit, the first switch being adapted to be manipulated by the operator, and the trim signal causing the engine control unit to modify at least one of the first and second trim control values in the set of trim control maps;

a second switch regulating a trim defeat signal supplied to the engine control unit, the second switch being adapted to be manipulated by the operator between a first configuration and a second configuration, in the first configuration of the second switch the trim defeat signal causing the engine control unit to calculate the first and second engine operating control values equal to respective ones of the first and second base engine control values modified by respective ones of the first and second trim control values, and in the second configuration of the second switch the trim defeat signal causing the engine control unit to calculate the first and second engine operating control values equal to respective ones of the first and second base engine control values; and

a display receiving from the engine control unit an information signal, the information signal being indicated by the display so as to be interpretable by the operator.

8. The control apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a platform commonly supporting the first sensor, the second sensor, the engine control unit, and the panel.

9. The control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the platform comprises one of a motorcycle, an all-terrain vehicle, a snowmobile, a boat, a personal watercraft, and an airplane.

10. The control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the platform comprises one of a land traversing vehicle, a watercraft, and a flying vehicle.

11. The control apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a data port operatively coupled to the engine control unit, wherein the data port is adapted to download the set of base control maps from an external processor and is adapted to upload the set of trim control maps to the external processor.

12. The control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first characteristic comprises engine speed and the second characteristic comprises engine load.

13. The control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first sensor comprises a tachometer and the second sensor comprises a throttle position sensor.

14. The control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first base engine control comprises fuel quantity and the second base engine control comprises ignition timing.

15. The control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each set of the base control maps comprises a base fuel map correlating engine speed and engine load with fuel quantity and comprises a base ignition map correlating engine speed and engine load with ignition timing.

16. The control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the engine control unit comprises a processor, and the first sensor signal, the second sensor signal, the trim signal, the trim defeat signal, and the information signal each comprise an electrical signal.

17. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that allows an operator to calibrate engine performance, the control apparatus comprising:

a first sensor detecting a first engine operating characteristic of the internal combustion engine, the first sensor supplying a first sensor signal representing the first characteristic;

a second sensor detecting a second engine operating characteristic of the internal combustion engine, the second sensor supplying a second sensor signal representing the second characteristic;

a first set of base control maps and a second set of base control maps, each of the first and second sets of base control maps including a first base engine control map and a second base engine control map, each of the first base engine control maps correlating values of the first and second characteristics with values of a first base engine control and each of the second base engine control maps correlating values of the first and second characteristics with values of a second base engine control;

a first set of trim control maps and a second set of trim control maps, the first and second sets of the trim control maps being separate from the first and second sets of the base control maps, each of the first and second sets of trim control maps including a first trim control map and a second trim control map, each of the first trim control maps correlating values of the first and second characteristics with values of a first trim control and each of the second trim control maps correlating values of the first and second characteristics with values of a second trim control;

an engine control unit obtaining from the first and second sets of base control and trim control maps the respective first base engine control, the second base engine control, the first trim control, and the second trim control that are based on the characteristic value, calculating a first engine operating control value based on the obtained values of the first base engine control and the first trim control, and calculating a second engine operating control value based on the obtained values of the second base engine control and the second trim control, the calculated first and second engine operating control values being supplied to the internal combustion engine to vary the engine performance;

a data port operatively coupled to the engine control unit, the data port being adapted to download the first and second sets of base control maps from an external processor and to upload the first and second sets of the trim control maps to the external processor; and

a panel operatively coupled with the engine control unit and adapted to interface with the operator, the panel including;

a first switch regulating a map selection signal supplied to the engine control unit, the first switch being adapted to be manipulated by the operator between a first arrangement and a second arrangement, in the first arrangement of the first switch the map selection signal causing the engine control unit to access the first set of base control maps and the first set of trim control maps, and in second arrangement of the first switch the map selection signal causing the engine control unit to access the second set of base control maps and the second set of trim control maps,

a second switch regulating a trim signal supplied to the engine control unit, the second switch being adapted to be manipulated by the operator, and the trim signal causing the engine control unit to modify at least one of the first and second trim control values in the set of trim control maps assessed according to the arrangement of the first switch; and

a display receiving from the engine control unit an information signal, the information signal being indicated by the display so as to be interpretable by the operator.

18. The control apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the engine control unit processes trim control signals and supplies information signals according to at least one map trim definition selected from a group consisting of:

parceling one of the trim control maps with respect to at least one of the first and second characteristics to enable trimming within a first parcel and to disable trimming within a second parcel,

limiting a range of trim control values that can be stored in a trim control map, and

parceling one of the trim control maps with respect to at least one of the first and second characteristics to enable the engine control unit to supply the information signal within a first parcel and to disable the engine control unit from supplying the information signal within a second parcel;

and wherein the data port is adapted to download the at least one map trim definition from the external processor.

19. The control apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the panel further comprises:

a third switch regulating a trim defeat signal supplied to the engine control unit, the third switch being adapted to be manipulated by the operator between a first configuration and a second configuration, in the first configuration of the third switch the trim defeat signal causing the engine control unit to calculate the first and second engine operating control values equal to respective ones of the first and second base engine control values modified by respective ones of the first and second trim control values, and in the second configuration of the third switch the trim defeat signal causing the engine control unit to calculate the first and second engine operating control values equal to respective ones of the first and second base engine control values.

20. The control apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the panel comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion comprising the first switch, an on/off switch, and the display, and the second portion being detachable with respect to the first part and comprising the second and third switches.

21. The control apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the engine control unit supplies information signals according to at least one map trim definition selected from a group consisting of:

indicating a limit of the range of the trim control values that can be stored in the trim control map,

indicating the first characteristic,

indicating the second characteristic, and

indicating a third characteristic representing the engine performance of the internal combustion engine.

22. The control apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the engine control unit comprises a processor, and the first sensor signal, the second sensor signal, that map selection signal, the trim signal, and the information signal each comprise an electrical signal.

23. A method for allowing an operator to calibrate engine performance relative to first and second operating characteristics of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

providing to an engine control unit a set of base control maps and a set of trim control maps, the set of base control maps including a first base engine control map and a second base engine control map, the first base engine control map correlating values of the first and second characteristics with values of a first base engine control, and the second base engine control map correlating values of the first and second characteristics with values of a second base engine control, the set of trim control maps including a first trim control map and a second trim control map, the first trim control map correlating values of the first and second characteristics with values of a first trim control, and the second trim control map correlating values of the first and second characteristics with values of a second trim control, the engine control unit obtaining from the base control and trim control maps the respective first base engine control, second base engine control, first trim control, and second trim control values that are based on the characteristic values, calculating a first engine operating control value based on the obtained values of the first base engine control and the first trim control, and calculating a second engine operating control value based on the obtained values of the second base engine control and the second trim control, the calculated first and second engine operating control values being supplied to the internal combustion engine to vary the engine performance;

modifying with each trim signal change at least two of the first and second trim control values in a corresponding one of the first and second trim control maps, the trim signal being regulated by a first switch adapted to be manipulated by the operator.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising:

downloading the set of base control maps from an external processor via a data port operatively coupled to the engine control unit; and

uploading the set of trim control maps from the engine control unit via the data port to the external processor.

25. The method according to claim 23, further comprising:

sensing the first and second characteristics with respective first and second sensors.

26. The method according to claim 23, further comprising:

displaying to the operator information about at least one of the engine characteristics of the internal combustion engine and the trim signals.

27. The method according to claim 23, further comprising:

processing trim control signals in the engine control unit and supplying information signals from the engine control unit according to at least one map trim definition selected from a group consisting of;

parceling one of the trim control maps with respect to at least one of the first and second characteristics to enable trimming within a first parcel and to disable trimming within a second parcel,

limiting a range of trim control values that can be stored in a trim control map, and

parceling one of the trim control maps with respect to at least one of the first and second characteristics to enable the engine control unit to supply the information signal within a first parcel and to disable the engine control unit from supplying the information signal within a second parcel;

and wherein the data port is adapted to download the at least one map trim definition from the external processor.

28. The method according to claim 23, further comprising:

defeating the trim controls with a second switch adapted to be manipulated by the operator between a first configuration and a second configuration, in the first configuration of the second switch the engine control unit calculating the first and second engine operating control values equal to respective ones of the first and second base engine control values modified by respective ones of the first and second trim control values, and in the second configuration of the second switch the engine control unit calculating the first and second engine operating control values equal to respective ones of the first and second base engine control values.

29. An engine controller, comprising:

a single processor having an input and an output;

memory accessible to the processor, wherein the memory contains;

a base engine control table containing a plurality of base map values that correlate to at least one engine operating characteristic to produce a base control value;

a trim control table containing a plurality of trim map values that correlate to the at least one engine operating characteristic to produce a trim value; and

instructions; and

a switch coupled to the input, whereby the switch varies at least one of the plurality of trim map values when manipulated by the operator;

whereby the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

select a base value from the base engine control table that corresponds to a current level of the engine operating characteristic;

select a trim value from the trim control table that corresponds to the current level of the engine operating characteristic;

calculate a control value based on the base value and the trim value; and

provide a signal at the output corresponding to the calculated control value.

30. The engine controller of claim 29, wherein the base engine control table has a range and the trim control table has a range that is a subset of the base engine control table range, such that the trim value has an effect on the control value when the engine operating characteristic is within the trim control table range and the trim value does not have an effect on the control value when the engine operating characteristic is outside the trim control table range and within the base engine control table range.

31. The engine controller of claim 29, wherein the switch varies at least two trim values in the trim control table.

32. The engine controller of claim 31, wherein the switch varies all trim values in the trim control table.

33. An engine controller comprising:

a processor;

a first input coupled to the processor;

a second input coupled to the processor;

an output coupled to the processor;

memory accessible to the processor, wherein the memory contains;

a base engine control table containing a plurality of base map values that correlate to at least one engine operating characteristic to produce a base control value;

a trim control table containing a plurality of trim map values that correlate to the at least one engine operating characteristic to produce a trim value; and

instructions;

a trim switch coupled to the first input that varies at least one of the plurality of trim map values when manipulated by an operator; and

a trim defeat switch coupled to the second input that disables the trim control table when the trim defeat switch is in a disable position such that the trim control table has no effect on a signal incident at the output and enables the trim control table when the trim defeat switch is in an enable position such that the trim control table has an effect on the signal incident at the output.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein when the trim control table is disabled, the processor:

selects a base value from the base engine control table that corresponds to the current level of the engine operating characteristic;

calculates a control value based on the selected base value; and

provides a signal at the output corresponding to the calculated control value.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein when the trim control table is enabled, the processor:

selects a base value from the base engine control table that corresponds to the current level of the engine operating characteristic;

selects a trim value from the trim control table that corresponds to the current level of the engine operating characteristic;

calculates a control value based on the base value and the trim value; and

provides a signal at the output corresponding to the calculated control value.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein when the trim defeat switch is disabled, the processor does not recognize adjustments made at the trim switch.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein when the trim defeat switch is enabled, the processor recognizes adjustments made at the trim switch.

38. An engine controller comprising:

a processor;

a first input coupled to the processor;

a second input coupled to the processor;

an output coupled to the processor;

memory accessible to the processor, wherein the memory contains;

a first base engine control table containing a plurality of first base map values that correlate to at least one engine operating characteristic to produce a base control value;

a first trim control table containing a plurality of first trim map values that correlate to the at least one engine operating characteristic to produce a trim value;

a second base engine control table containing a plurality of second base map values that vary from the first base map values and that correlate to the at least one engine operating characteristic to produce a base control value;

a second trim control table containing a plurality of second trim map values that vary from the first trim map values and that correlate to the at least one engine operating characteristic to produce a trim value; and

instructions;

a trim switch coupled to the first input that varies at least one of the trim map values when manipulated by an operator; and

a map set selection switch coupled to the second input that selects the base control value of the first base engine control table and the trim value of the first trim control table that correspond to a current level of the engine operating characteristic in a first position and that selects the base control value of the second base engine control table and the trim value of the second trim control table that correspond to the current level of the engine operating characteristic in a second position;

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

calculate a control value based on the selected base control value and the selected trim value; and

provide a signal at the output corresponding to the calculated control value.