Engine control system with user-commanded engine speed adjustments in varying increments

• US 7,343,897 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2006
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Eveleth, Donald A., Katrak, Kerfegar K., Shuler, Barbara A.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARGENBRIGHT, TONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/387,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20070221168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 123350-356, 123/361, 180/179
• US Class Current: 123/352
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/00 Auxiliary drives B60K16/00 takes precedence; arrangements of tyre-inflating pumps mounted on vehicles B60C23/10; driving tyre-inflating pumps B60C; driving engine auxiliaries F02B
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• 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 31/001 Electric control of rotation speed

Abstract

An engine control system includes an engine with an output shaft. A power take-off device interfaces with the output shaft and provides rotational power to an auxiliary device. A user input device includes a first engine speed control that commands an increase in engine speed by a first amount to increase the rotational power to the auxiliary device when a user selects the first engine speed control. A second engine speed control commands an increase in engine speed by a second amount that is greater than the first amount to increase the rotational power to the auxiliary device when the user selects the second engine speed control. The user input device includes a speed cancellation control that commands a reversal of a net increase in the speed of the engine that is commanded via the user input device when the user selects the speed cancellation control.

Claims

1. An engine control system, comprising:

an engine that includes an output shaft;

a power take-off (PTO) device that interfaces with said output shaft and that provides rotational power to an auxiliary device; and

a user input device that includes;

a first engine speed control that commands an increase in a speed of said engine by a first amount in order to increase said rotational power to said auxiliary device when a user selects said first engine speed control; and

a second engine speed control that commands an increase in said speed of said engine by a second amount that is greater than said first amount in order to increase said rotational power to said auxiliary device when said user selects said second engine speed control.

2. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein said user input device further includes:

a third engine speed control that commands a decrease in said speed of said engine by a third amount in order to decrease said rotational power to said auxiliary device when said user selects said third engine speed control; and

a fourth engine speed control that commands a decrease in said speed of said engine by a fourth amount that is greater than said third amount in order to decrease said rotational power to said auxiliary device when said user selects said fourth engine speed control.

3. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein said user input device includes a speed cancellation control that commands a reversal of a net increase in said speed of said engine that is commanded via said user input device when said user selects said speed cancellation control.

4. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein said user input device includes a user input activation control, wherein said first and second engine speed controls are initially disabled when said user input device is activated, and wherein said user input activation device enables said first and second engine speed controls when said user selects said user input activation control.

5. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein said user input device includes a user input deactivation control and wherein said user input deactivation control disables said first and second engine speed controls when said user selects said user input deactivation control.

6. The engine control system of claim 5 wherein said user input deactivation control commands a reversal of a net increase in said speed of said engine that is commanded via said user input device when said user selects said user input deactivation control.

7. A vehicle comprising the engine control system of claim 1 wherein said user input device is operable at least one of when the vehicle is moving and/or when the vehicle is stationary.

8. A vehicle comprising the engine control system of claim 1 wherein said user input device is located external to said vehicle.

9. A vehicle comprising the engine control system of claim 1 wherein said user input device is located on an instrument panel inside of said vehicle.

10. The engine control system of claim 1 further comprising an engine control module that communicates with said user input device and that adjusts said speed of said engine in response to user interaction with said user input device.

11. The engine control system of claim 10 wherein said user input device communicates with said engine control module via a single conductor and wherein said user input device communicates a first operating state to said engine control module by outputting a voltage value that is greater than a first voltage, communicates a second operating state to said engine control module by outputting a voltage value that is less than a second voltage, and communicates a third operating state to said engine control module by outputting a voltage value that is less than or equal to said first voltage and greater than or equal to said second voltage.

12. The engine control system of claim 10 wherein said engine control module disables said user input device when said user input device transmits an invalid signal to said engine control module.

13. The engine control system of claim 2 further comprising an engine control module that communicates with said user input device and that adjusts said speed of said engine in response to user interaction with said user input device, wherein said engine control module disables said first and second engine speed controls and at least one of said third and/or fourth engine speed controls remain enabled when said engine control module detects a short-circuit condition in said user input device.

14. An engine control system for a vehicle, comprising:

an engine;

an auxiliary device that is driven by the engine; and

a user input device that includes;

a first engine speed control that commands an increase in a speed of said engine by a first amount in order to increase an output to said auxiliary device when a user selects said first engine speed control;

a second engine speed control that commands an increase in said speed of said engine by a second amount that is greater than said first amount in order to increase said output to said auxiliary device when said user selects said second engine speed control;

a third engine speed control that commands a decrease in said speed of said engine by a third amount in order to decrease said output to said auxiliary device when said user selects said third engine speed control; and

a fourth engine speed control that commands a decrease in said speed of said engine by a fourth amount that is greater than said third amount in order to decrease said output to said auxiliary device when said user selects said fourth engine speed control.

15. A method for operating an engine control system, comprising:

providing a power take-off (PTO) device that interfaces with an output shaft of an engine and that provides rotational power to an auxiliary device;

commanding an increase in a speed of said engine by a first amount in order to increase said rotational power to said auxiliary device when a user selects a first engine speed control; and

commanding an increase in said speed of said engine by a second amount that is greater than said first amount in order to increase said rotational power to said auxiliary device when said user selects a second engine speed control.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

commanding a decrease in said speed of said engine by a third amount in order to decrease said rotational power to said auxiliary device when said user selects a third engine speed control; and

commanding a decrease in said speed of said engine by a fourth amount that is greater than said third amount in order to decrease said rotational power to said auxiliary device when said user selects a fourth engine speed control.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising reversing a net increase in said speed of said engine that is commanded via at least one of said first engine speed control and/or said second engine speed control when said user selects a speed cancellation control.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

initially disabling said first and second engine speed controls; and

enabling said first and second engine speed controls when said user selects a user input activation control.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising disabling said first and second engine speed controls when said user selects a user input deactivation control.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising reversing a net increase in said speed of said engine that is commanded via at least one of said first engine speed control and/or said second engine speed control when said user selects said user input deactivation control.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

implementing said first and second engine speed controls in a vehicle; and

operating said first and second engine speed controls at least one of when said vehicle is moving and/or when said vehicle is stationary.

22. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

implementing said first and second engine speed controls in a vehicle; and

locating said first and second engine speed controls external to said vehicle.

23. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

implementing said first and second engine speed controls in a vehicle; and

locating said first and second engine speed controls on an instrument panel inside of said vehicle.

24. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

outputting a voltage value that is greater than a first voltage in order to communicate a first operating state of the engine control system;

outputting a voltage value that is less than a second voltage in order to communicate a second operating state of the engine control system; and

outputting a voltage value that is less than or equal to said first voltage and greater than or equal to said second voltage in order to communicate a third operating state of the engine control system.

25. The method of claim 15 further comprising disabling said first and second engine speed controls in response to an invalid signal.

26. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

disabling said first and second engine speed controls when a short-circuit condition is detected; and

maintaining at least one of said third engine speed control and/or said fourth engine speed control in an enabled state in response to said short-circuit condition.

27. A method for operating an engine control system for a vehicle, comprising:

providing an auxiliary device that interfaces with an output shaft of an engine;

commanding an increase in a speed of said engine of said vehicle by a first amount in order to increase an output to said auxiliary device when a user selects a first engine speed control;

commanding an increase in said speed of said engine by a second amount that is greater than said first amount in order to increase said output to said auxiliary device when said user selects a second engine speed control;

commanding a decrease in said speed of said engine by a third amount in order to decrease said output to said auxiliary device when said user selects a third engine speed control; and

commanding a decrease in said speed of said engine by a fourth amount that is greater than said third amount in order to decrease said output to said auxiliary device when said user selects a fourth engine speed control.