Signal conditioner and user interface

• US 7,031,823 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2003
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Optimum Power Technology LP
• Original Assignee: Optimum Power Technology LP
• Inventors: Chatfield, Glen F., Houston, Roy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US10/663,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20040162664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 123/480, 123/486, 123/488, 701 29- 36, 701101-105, 701/114, 701/115, 731/182, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/439, 340/901
• US Class Current: 701/104
• 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 2200/604 Engine control mode selected by driver, e.g. to manually start particle filter regeneration or to select driving style
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/11 After-sales modification devices designed to be used to modify an engine afterwards
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/28 Interface circuits

Abstract

A signal conditioning device, user interface, and method of conditioning a signal. The signal conditioning device includes a processor, a first input coupled to the processor and an output coupled to the processor. Instructions are stored within the processor that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to provide a signal incident at the output that corresponds to a signal incident at the input.

Claims

1. A signal modifying device, comprising:

a first input to be coupled to a system operating level sensor sensing a desired system operating range;

a second input;

an output; and

a processor coupled to the first input, the second input, and the output and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to recognize at least two regions within the desired system operating range and associate a modifier with each of the regions, provide an output signal incident at the output that corresponds to a signal incident on the second input offset by the modifier for the region associated with the current sensed system operating level, and interpolate between modifiers in adjacent regions when the current system operating level approaches a system operating level defined where the regions meet.

2. A method of modifying a signal, comprising:

uncoupling a signal that controls mass of fuel injected into a cylinder from an engine control unit input;

coupling the signal to a signal conditioning device input;

modifying the signal based on a current actual engine operating level and current desired engine operating level; and

coupling the modified signal to the engine control unit input.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

a user varying a value associated with a range of engine operating level and a range of desired engine operating level; and

modifying the signal based on the value associated with the current engine operating level and the current desired engine operating level.

4. A signal conditioning device comprising:

a processor;

a first input coupled to the processor;

an output coupled to the processor;

a second input coupled to the processor and to be coupled to a second signal incident thereon;

a third input coupled to the processor and to be coupled to a third signal incident thereon; and

memory coupled to the processor containing a table indexed by the second and third signals and containing a plurality of modifiers corresponding to a levels of the second signal and levels of the third signal;

wherein the processor has instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to provide an output signal incident at the output that corresponds to a first input signal incident at the first input offset based on the modifier corresponding to a current level of the second signal and a current level of the third signal.

5. The signal conditioning device of claim 4, further comprising a user interface through which a user varies the modifier.

6. The signal conditioning device of claim 4, further comprising non-volatile memory in which the modifier is stored.

7. A unitary signal modifying device and user interface, comprising:

memory included with the signal modifying device having a control table stored thereon, the control table having a plurality of regions, each region corresponding to a system operating range, and a modifier associated with each region;

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to access the control table and provide an output signal that corresponds to a first input signal offset by the modifier corresponding to a second input signal related to current system operating range;

a first switch coupled to the processor which, when actuated, selects one region of the control table;

a second switch coupled to the processor which, when actuated, changes the modifier associated with the selected region of the control table;

an alphanumeric display coupled to the processor, which displays the selected region of the control table and the modifier associated with the selected region of the control table;

a first input coupled to the processor and to be coupled to the first input signal;

a second input coupled to the processor and to be coupled to the second input signal related to system operating range; and

an output to provide the output signal.

8. The signal modifying device of claim 7, wherein the display is an alphanumeric display that indicates numbers and letters.

9. The signal modifying device of claim 7, wherein the processor instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to interpolate between modifiers in adjacent modifier regions.

10. A signal modifying device, comprising:

memory included with the signal modifying device having a control table stored thereon, the control table having a plurality of regions, each region corresponding to a system operating range, and a modifier associated with each region;

a processor included with the signal modifying device and coupled to the memory, the processor having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to access the control table;

a switch included with the signal modifying device and coupled to the processor which, when actuated, selects one region of the control table and changes the modifier associated with the selected region; and

a numeric display included with the signal modifying device and coupled to the processor, which displays the selected region of the control table and the modifier associated with the selected region.

11. The signal modifying device of claim 10, further comprising:

a first input coupled to the processor and to be coupled to a first input signal;

a second input coupled to the processor and to be coupled to a second input signal related to system operating range; and

an output;

wherein the processor further includes instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to provide an output signal at the output that corresponds to the first input signal offset by the modifier corresponding to the current system operating range.

12. The signal modifying device of claim 10, wherein the display is an alphanumeric display that indicates numbers and letters.

13. The signal modifying device of claim 10, wherein the processor instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to interpolate between modifiers in adjacent modifier regions.

14. A signal conditioning device, comprising:

a processor;

an input coupled to the processor and to be coupled to a signal uncoupled from a control unit; and

an output coupled to the processor to have incident thereon a modified signal and to be coupled to the control unit in place of the signal;

wherein the processor has stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to provide the modified signal at the output such that the modified signal corresponds to the signal, modified to effect operation of an apparatus due to a change of a component of the apparatus.

15. The signal conditioning device of claim 14, wherein the signal is air temperature.

16. The signal conditioning device of claim 14, wherein the modified signal is a modified air temperature signal.

17. The signal conditioning device of claim 14, wherein the signal is air pressure.

18. The signal conditioning device of claim 14, wherein the modified signal is a modified air pressure signal.

19. The signal conditioning device of claim 14, wherein the modified signal corresponds to the signal and a factor.

20. The signal conditioning device of claim 14, wherein the signal is de-coupled from an actuator and the modified signal is coupled to the actuator.

21. The signal conditioning device of claim 14, wherein the signal is to be de-coupled from an engine control unit input and the modified signal is to be coupled to the engine control unit input.

22. The signal conditioning device of claim 21, wherein the engine control unit is to vary an amount of fuel to be delivered to an engine based on the level of the modified signal.

23. The signal conditioning device of claim 14, wherein the signal to be coupled to the input is an output from an engine control unit, the second signal is related to engine speed and the third signal is related to throttle position.

24. The signal conditioning device of claim 23, wherein the signal to be coupled to the input is a fuel control signal.

25. The signal conditioning device of claim 23, wherein the signal to be coupled to the input is a pulse-width modulated signal provided from an engine control unit and the modified signal is provided to a fuel actuator.

26. The signal conditioning device of claim 23, wherein the engine operating level signal includes engine speed and the desired engine operating level includes a position of a throttle.

27. The signal conditioning device of claim 14, further comprising:

a second input coupled to the processor to receive a second signal incident thereon; and

a third input coupled to the processor to receive a third signal incident thereon; and

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to offset the modified signal from the signal based on the second and third signals.

28. The signal conditioning device of claim 27, wherein the signal to be coupled to the input is related to air mass, the second signal is related to engine speed and the third signal is related to throttle position.

29. The signal conditioning device of claim 28, wherein the engine operating level signal includes engine speed and the desired engine operating level includes a position of a throttle.

30. A user interface, comprising:

a first switch causing the user interface to perform a first function when actuated for a short duration and causing the user interface to perform a second function when actuated for a long duration;

a second switch causing the user interface to perform a third function when actuated for a short duration and causing the user interface to perform a fourth function when actuated for a long duration;

a display that provides information related to the function selected by the first and second switches.

31. The user interface of claim 30, wherein the first function, the second function, the third function, and the fourth function are related to engine fueling.

32. The user interface of claim 30, wherein a short duration actuation includes depressing one of the first or second switches for less than one-half of one second and a long duration actuation includes depressing one of the first or second switches for more than one-half of one second.

33. The user interface of claim 30, wherein the first and second switches are actuated by depressing those switches.

34. The user interface of claim 30, wherein:

the first function selects a control table;

the second function selects an area of the control table;

the third function steps a value related to the selected region of the selected control table; and

the fourth function switches the third function between stepping in a positive direction and a negative direction.

35. The user interface of claim 34, wherein the control table selected immediately prior to de-energizing the user interface is active when the user interface is reenergized.

36. The user interface of claim 34, wherein the value stepped by the third function is limited to a predetermined high value.

37. The user interface of claim 34 wherein the value stepped by the third function is limited to a predetermined low value.

38. The user interface of claim 34, wherein the control table and the region may be restored to a default control table with default regional values by actuating the first switch and the second switch when the user interface is energized.

39. The user interface of claim 34, wherein the display indicates the selected region and a value associated with the selected region.

40. A signal modifying device, comprising:

memory included with the signal modifying device having a control table stored thereon, the control table having a plurality of regions, each region corresponding to a system operating range, and a modifier associated with each region;

a processor included with the signal modifying device and coupled to the memory, the processor having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to access the control table;

a first switch included with the signal modifying device and coupled to the processor which, when actuated, selects one region of the control table;

a second switch included with the signal modifying device and coupled to the processor which, when actuated, changes the modifier associated with the selected region; and

a numeric display included with the signal modifying device and coupled to the processor, which displays the selected region of the control table and the modifier associated with the selected region.

41. The signal modifying device of claim 40, wherein the device conditions the signal.

42. The signal modifying device of claim 40, further comprising:

a first input coupled to the processor and to be coupled to a first input signal;

a second input coupled to the processor and to be coupled to a second input signal related to system operating range; and

an output;

wherein the processor further includes instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to provide an output signal at the output that corresponds to the first input signal offset by the modifier corresponding to the current system operating range.

43. The signal modifying device of claim 40, wherein the display is an alphanumeric display that indicates numbers and letters.

44. The signal modifying device of claim 40, wherein the processor instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to interpolate between modifiers in adjacent modifier regions.

45. The signal modifying device of claim 40, further comprising a fuel injector control signal coupled to the first input.

46. The signal modifying device of claim 40, further comprising to an air temperature sensor coupled to the first input.

47. The signal modifying device of claim 40, further comprising an air pressure sensor coupled to the first input.

48. The signal modifying device of claim 40, further comprising an air mass sensor coupled to the first input.

49. The signal modifying device of claim 40, wherein the memory further includes a second control table having a plurality of regions, each region corresponding to a system operating range, and a modifier associated with each region;

and

further comprising a switch to select the control table or the second control table.

50. The signal modifying device of claim 49, wherein the operating ranges of the regions of the control table are not the same as the operating ranges of the regions of the second control table.

51. The signal modifying device of claim 40, wherein the system includes an engine.

52. The signal modifying device of claim 51, wherein the control table regions are indexed by engine speed and throttle position.

53. The signal modifying device of claim 52, further comprising:

a first input coupled to the processor and to be coupled to a first input signal used in determining quantity of fuel to be provided to the engine;

a second input coupled to the processor and to be coupled to a second input signal related to engine speed;

a third input coupled to the processor and to be coupled to a third input signal related to throttle position; and

an output coupled to the processor;

wherein the processor further includes instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to provide an output signal at the output that corresponds to the first input signal offset by the modifier corresponding to the current engine speed and throttle position.

54. A method of modifying a control table used in a signal modifying device, comprising:

selecting from the signal modifying device one of a plurality of regions of a control table;

inputting a modifier associated with the selected region of the control table from the signal modifying device; and

displaying the selected region of the control table and the modifier associated with the selected region on a numeric display on the signal modifying device.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the regions correspond to system operating ranges.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein inputting includes incrementing the modifier.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein the numeric display is an alphanumeric display that indicates numbers and letters.

58. The method of claim 54, further comprising providing an output signal that corresponds to an input signal offset by the modifier corresponding to a current operating range of the system.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the modifier corresponds to current engine speed and throttle position.

60. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

receiving a signal;

using the modifier to modify the signal; and

transmitting the modified signal.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein using the modifier to modify the signal includes interpolating between modifiers in adjacent modifier regions.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the signal and the modified signal are associated with an engine.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

receiving a first operating range signal corresponding to engine speed; and

selecting the modifier used to modify the signal based on the first operating range signal.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

receiving a second operating range signal corresponding to throttle position; and

selecting the modifier used to modify the signal based on the first operating range signal and the second operating range signal.