System and method of fuel map selection

• US 6,950,740 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2004
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OCC Technologies LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Cook, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T.
• Application Number:
  US10/924,518
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 701/104, 701/102, 701/115, 701/29, 701/200, 701/202, 701/211, 701/213, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 701/104
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2429 Methods of calibrating or learning
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/30 Controlling fuel injection F02D41/182, F02D41/24 take precedence

Abstract

A centralized control system linked to vehicles by wireless two way communication utilizes position information reported by the vehicles to select a fuel injection limiting map for use by the vehicles and downloads the selection, or authorization to use a map already stored on the vehicle.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a vehicle;

data processing means remote to the vehicle;

a two way communications system linking the data processing means and the vehicle;

the vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a fuel injection system for the internal combustion engine and an engine controller for controlling the fuel injection system, the engine controller including memory for storing fuel injection limiting maps in the form of lookup tables and the engine controller coupled to the two way communications system;

a global positioning system location unit installed on the vehicle for determining vehicle location with the global positioning system coupled to the two way communications system for providing the remote station with the vehicle location; and

the remote station storing or having access to geographic information for comparing the vehicle location and providing to the engine controller over the two way communications system a specific fuel injection limiting map selection.

2. A method of varying operation of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of:

maintaining geographic information on a remote station;

monitoring geographic position of the motor vehicle using a global positioning system location unit installed on the vehicle;

providing a plurality of fuel injection limiting maps stored on a memory unit installed on the vehicle;

maintaining two way communication between the motor vehicle and the remote station and periodically reporting the position of the vehicle to the remote station;

comparing the reported position of the motor vehicle to the geographic information and selecting a fuel injection limiting map for the motor vehicle responsive to the result of the comparison; and

communicating the selected fuel injection limit map to the motor vehicle.

3. A control system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a data network installed on the motor vehicle;

a plurality of controllers coupled to the data network for communication of data between the plurality of controllers, the plurality of controllers including an engine controller;

a global positioning system position determination unit installed on the motor vehicle;

a remote station on which is installed a geographic information database; and

a wireless two way communication system coupling the data network and the remote station for providing vehicle position information to the remote station, the remote station including means responsive to the vehicle location information system and the geographic information for selecting a fuel injection limiting map and communicating the selection to the engine controller.