System and method for controlling an operational position of a throttle valve in an engine

• US 6,691,679 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2001
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pallett, Tobias John, Pursifull, Ross Dykstra
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwon, John
• Application Number:
  US09/997,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20030098013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 123/399, 123/361, 123/395, 123/396, 123/319, 123/323, 123/327, 123/339.1
• US Class Current: 123/399
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/105 characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/106 Detection of demand or actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2011/102 at least one throttle being moved only by an electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position

Abstract

A control system (10) and method for controlling an operational position of a throttle valve in an engine. The system includes a position sensor (16) operably connected to the throttle valve that generates a first signal. A controller is operably connected to the position sensor. The controller (18) is configured to determine a current position of the throttle valve using a transfer function defining a curve with no breakpoints and the signal from the position sensor. The controller (18) is further configured to change the operational position of the throttle valve based on the current position and a desired position of the throttle valve.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an operational position of a throttle valve in an engine, said system comprising:

a position sensor operably connected to said throttle valve generating a first signal; and

a controller operably connected to said position sensor, said controller configured to determine a current position of said throttle valve using a non-linear transfer function defining a curve with no breakpoints and said signal from said position sensor, said controller further configured to change said operational position of said throttle valve based on said current position and a desired position of said throttle valve.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said throttle valve is operably disposed in an intake manifold of said engine.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said transfer function is a logarithmic-type transfer function.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said linear transfer function is a square root type transfer function.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein said non-linear transfer function is a divider-type transfer function.

6. A method for determining an operational position of a throttle valve in an engine, said method comprising:

receiving a signal from a position sensor operably connected to said throttle valve; and

,

determining a current position of said throttle valve using a non-linear transfer function that defines a curve with no breakpoints and said signal from said position sensor.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said transfer function comprises a monotonic continuous curve transfer function.

8. A method as in claim 6 wherein said transfer function is selected from the group consisting of:

a logarithmic-type transfer function, a square root type transfer function, and a divider-type transfer function.

9. A method as in claim 6 wherein said transfer function comprises:

a high resolution range;

a medium resolution range; and

a low resolution range.

10. A method as in claim 6 wherein said transfer function has a continuous varying slope distribution.