Vehicle cruise control

• US 7,530,345 B1
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Incorporated (Bombardier Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Incorporated (Bombardier Incorporated)
• Inventors: Daunais, Jean, Plante, Renald, Dagenais, Dominic
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwon; John T
• Application Number:
  US11/627,797
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 123/361, 123/396, 123/399, 180175-179, 364/426.04
• US Class Current: 123/361
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/00 Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator fittings acting on two or more sub-units B60W30/14; speedometers G01P; systems or devices for controlling speed in general G05D13/00 ; in traffic anti-collision system for road vehicles G08G1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/10 Power-driven personal watercraft, e.g. water scooters water jet propulsion B63H11/00; jet steering B63H25/46; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2011/102 at least one throttle being moved only by an electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/501 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/602 Pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0002 Controlling intake air

Abstract

A vehicle having a vehicle body, a seat, an engine, a throttle body, a throttle valve, a throttle valve actuator, a throttle operator, a throttle operator position sensor, a cruise control switch, and a vehicle speed sensor. An ECU controls operation of the engine in one of a normal operation mode and a cruise control operation mode. When in the normal operation mode, the ECU sends a first control signal to the throttle valve actuator based on the throttle operator position signal. When the cruise control switch engages the cruise control operation mode, the ECU sends a second control signal to the throttle valve actuator based on the vehicle speed signal such that the vehicle speed is maintained at a vehicle cruising speed. The ECU returns to the normal operation mode when the throttle operator position becomes less than or equal to a reference throttle operator position.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body;

a seat for a driver associated with the vehicle body;

an engine associated with the vehicle body for powering the vehicle, the engine having at least one combustion chamber;

an electronic control unit (ECU) on the vehicle for controlling operation of the engine in one of a normal operation mode and a cruise control operation mode;

a throttle body in fluid communication with the at least one combustion chamber;

a throttle valve disposed in the throttle body for controlling an amount of air supplied to the at least one combustion chamber;

a throttle valve actuator operatively connected to the throttle valve and in electronic communication with the ECU;

a throttle operator disposed on the vehicle in proximity to the seat;

a throttle operator position sensor for sensing a throttle operator position and in electronic communication with the ECU for sending a signal representative of a throttle operator position to the ECU;

a cruise control switch disposed on the vehicle in proximity to the seat and in electronic communication with the ECU for engaging and disengaging the cruise control operation mode; and

a vehicle speed sensor for sensing a vehicle speed and in electronic communication with the ECU for sending a signal representative of a vehicle speed to the ECU,

when in the normal operation mode, the ECU sends a first control signal to the throttle valve actuator based on the throttle operator position signal,

when the cruise control switch engages the cruise control operation mode, the ECU sends a second control signal to the throttle valve actuator based on the vehicle speed signal such that the vehicle speed is maintained at a vehicle cruising speed;

the throttle valve actuator adjusting a degree of opening of the throttle valve in response to the first and second control signals,

the ECU returning to the normal operation mode when the throttle operator position becomes less than or equal to a reference throttle operator position.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle cruising speed is defined as the vehicle speed at an instant when the cruise control operation mode is engaged.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle cruising speed is equal to a predetermined vehicle cruising speed.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle cruising speed is manually selected.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the ECU returns to the normal operation mode when the throttle operator position becomes less than the reference throttle operator position;

and

wherein the reference throttle operator position is defined as the throttle operator position at an instant when the cruise control operation mode is engaged.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the reference throttle operator position is a predetermined throttle operator position.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the ECU returns to the normal operation mode when the throttle operator position becomes equal to the reference throttle operator position;

and

wherein the reference throttle operator position is defined as a released position of the throttle operator.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first control signal causes the throttle valve actuator to decrease the degree of opening of the throttle valve as the throttle operator position decreases and to increase the degree of opening of the throttle valve as the throttle operator position increases;

and

wherein the second control signal causes the throttle valve actuator to decrease the degree of opening of the throttle valve when the vehicle speed is higher than the vehicle cruising speed and to increase the degree of opening of the throttle valve when the vehicle speed is lower than the vehicle cruising speed.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a handlebar for steering the vehicle disposed forwardly of the seat;

wherein the seat is a straddle seat; and

wherein the throttle operator is mounted on the handlebar.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the throttle operator is selected from a group consisting of a thumb-actuated throttle lever, a finger-actuated throttle lever, and a twist grip.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a jet propulsion unit operatively connected to the engine;

wherein the vehicle body has a hull and a deck disposed on the hull; and

wherein the engine is disposed between the hull and the deck.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the vehicle speed sensor is selected from a group consisting of a paddle wheel and a pitot tube.

13. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a steering sensor in electronic communication with the ECU for sensing a turning of the handlebar;

and

wherein the ECU further controls the operation of the engine in an off-throttle steering mode when a speed of the engine is below a predetermined engine speed,

when in the off-throttle steering mode, the ECU causing the throttle valve actuator to increase the degree of opening of the throttle valve if the steering sensor senses that the handlebar has been turned.

14. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle speed sensor includes a GPS unit.

15. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle speed sensor senses a rotational speed of a shaft of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a fuel injection system for injecting fluid in the at least one combustion chamber;

an ignition system for igniting a mixture of fuel and air in the at least one combustion chamber; and

a throttle valve position sensor for sensing the degree of opening of the throttle valve and in electronic communication with the ECU for sending a signal representative of a throttle valve position to the ECU,

the ECU controlling at least one of the fuel injection system and the ignition system based on the throttle valve position signal.

17. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein, when a variation in the vehicle speed signal occurs which is greater than a predetermined maximum acceptable variation, the ECU ignores the variation in the vehicle speed signal for a predetermined time delay.

18. A method of controlling an engine of a vehicle, the engine having at least one combustion chamber, the vehicle having a throttle operator, a throttle body in fluid communication with the at least one combustion chamber, a throttle valve disposed in the throttle body for controlling an amount of air supplied to the at least one combustion chamber, and a throttle valve actuator operatively connected to the throttle valve for adjusting a degree of opening of the throttle valve, the method comprising:

sensing a throttle operator position;

operating the engine in a normal operation mode wherein the degree of opening of the throttle valve is adjusted based on the throttle operator position;

engaging a cruise control operation mode;

sensing a vehicle speed;

operating the engine in the cruise control operation mode wherein the degree of opening of the throttle valve is adjusted based on the vehicle speed such that the vehicle speed is maintained at a vehicle cruising speed; and

disengaging the cruise control operation mode when the throttle operator position becomes less than or equal to a reference throttle operator position.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the vehicle cruising speed is defined as the vehicle speed at an instant when the cruise control operation mode is engaged.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the vehicle cruising speed is defined as a predetermined vehicle cruising speed.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising manually selecting a vehicle cruising speed.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the cruise control operation mode is disengaged when the throttle operator position becomes less than the reference throttle operator position;

and

wherein the reference throttle operator position is defined as the throttle operator position at an instant when the cruise control operation mode is engaged.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the reference throttle operator position is a predetermined throttle operator position.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the cruise control operation mode is disengaged when the throttle operator position becomes equal to the reference throttle operator position;

and

wherein the reference throttle operator position is defined as a released position of the throttle operator.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of operating the engine in a normal operation mode includes causing the throttle valve actuator to decrease the degree of opening of the throttle valve as the throttle operator position decreases and to increase the degree of opening of the throttle valve as the throttle operator position increases;

and

wherein the step of operating the engine in a cruise control operation mode includes causing the throttle valve actuator to decrease the degree of opening of the throttle valve when the vehicle speed is higher than the vehicle cruising speed and to increase the degree of opening of the throttle valve when the vehicle speed is lower than the vehicle cruising speed.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein sensing the vehicle speed includes sensing one of a rotational speed of a paddle wheel mounted to the vehicle, a rotational speed of a shaft of the vehicle, and a pressure of a fluid in which the vehicle is used.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein sensing the vehicle speed includes determining a change in position of the vehicle over a period of time based on information obtained from a GPS unit.

28. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

sensing the degree of opening of the throttle valve; and

controlling at least one of a fuel injection system and an ignition system based on the degree of opening of the throttle valve.

29. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

ignoring a variation in the vehicle speed which is greater than a predetermined maximum acceptable variation for a predetermined time delay when sensing the vehicle speed; and

using the vehicle speed prior to the variation in the vehicle speed when operating the engine in the cruise control operation mode during the predetermined time delay.

30. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

sensing a turning of a handlebar of the vehicle; and

increasing the degree of opening of the throttle valve if the handlebar is turned and the engine speed is below a predetermined engine speed.

31. A method of controlling an engine of a vehicle, the engine having at least one combustion chamber, the vehicle having a throttle operator, a throttle body in fluid communication with the at least one combustion chamber, a throttle valve disposed in the throttle body for controlling an amount of air supplied to the at least one combustion chamber, and a throttle valve actuator operatively connected to the throttle valve for adjusting a degree of opening of the throttle valve, the method comprising:

sensing a throttle operator position;

operating the engine in a normal operation mode wherein the degree of opening of the throttle valve is adjusted based on the throttle operator position;

engaging a cruise control operation mode;

sensing a vehicle speed;

operating the engine in the cruise control operation mode wherein the degree of opening of the throttle valve is adjusted based on the vehicle speed such that the vehicle speed is maintained at a vehicle cruising speed;

releasing the throttle operator to a fully released position after the cruise control operation mode has been engaged; and

disengaging the cruise control operation mode when the throttle operator position is actuated after it has been released to the fully released position.

32. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body;

a seat for a driver associated with the vehicle body;

an engine associated with the vehicle body for powering the vehicle, the engine having at least one combustion chamber;

an electronic control unit (ECU) on the vehicle for controlling operation of the engine in one of a normal operation mode and a cruise control operation mode;

a throttle body in fluid communication with the at least one combustion chamber;

a throttle valve disposed in the throttle body for controlling an amount of air supplied to the at least one combustion chamber;

a throttle valve actuator operatively connected to the throttle valve and in electronic communication with the ECU;

a throttle operator disposed on the vehicle in proximity to the seat;

a throttle operator position sensor for sensing a throttle operator position and in electronic communication with the ECU for sending a signal representative of a throttle operator position to the ECU;

a cruise control switch disposed on the vehicle in proximity to the seat and in electronic communication with the ECU for engaging and disengaging the cruise control operation mode; and

a vehicle speed sensor for sensing a vehicle speed and in electronic communication with the ECU for sending a signal representative of a vehicle speed to the ECU,

when in the normal operation mode, the ECU sends a first control signal to the throttle valve actuator based on the throttle operator position signal, and the throttle valve actuator adjusting a degree of opening of the throttle valve in response to the first control signal;

when the cruise control switch engages the cruise control operation mode, the ECU sends a second control signal to the throttle valve actuator based on the vehicle speed signal, the throttle valve actuator adjusting a degree of opening of the throttle valve in response to the second control signal, if the vehicle speed is lower than a vehicle cruising speed, the second control signal causing the throttle valve actuator to adjust the degree of opening of the throttle valve based on the throttle operator position signal, and if the vehicle speed is higher than the vehicle cruising speed, the second control signal causing the throttle valve actuator to reduce the degree of opening of the throttle valve such that the vehicle speed is maintained at the vehicle cruising speed.

33. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the vehicle cruising speed is defined as the vehicle speed at an instant when the cruise control operation mode is engaged.

34. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the vehicle cruising speed is equal to a predetermined vehicle cruising speed.

35. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the vehicle cruising speed is manually selected.

36. The vehicle of claim 32, wherein the first control signal causes the throttle valve actuator to decrease the degree of opening of the throttle valve as the throttle operator position decreases and to increase the degree of opening of the throttle valve as the throttle operator position increases;

and

wherein the second control signal causes the throttle valve actuator to decrease the degree of opening of the throttle valve as the throttle operator position decreases and to increase the degree of opening of the throttle valve as the throttle operator position increases when the vehicle speed is below the vehicle cruising speed.

37. A method of controlling an engine of a vehicle, the engine having at least one combustion chamber, the vehicle having a throttle operator, a throttle body in fluid communication with the at least one combustion chamber, a throttle valve disposed in the throttle body for controlling an amount of air supplied to the at least one combustion chamber, and a throttle valve actuator operatively connected to the throttle valve for adjusting a degree of opening of the throttle valve, the method comprising:

sensing a throttle operator position;

operating the engine in a normal operation mode wherein the degree of opening of the throttle valve is adjusted based on the throttle operator position;

engaging a cruise control operation mode;

while in the cruise control operation mode;

sensing a vehicle speed;

comparing the vehicle speed to a vehicle cruising speed;

if the vehicle speed is lower than the vehicle cruising speed, adjusting the degree of opening of the throttle valve based on the throttle operator position; and

if the vehicle speed is higher than the vehicle cruising speed, reducing the degree of opening of the throttle valve until the vehicle speed is at the vehicle cruising speed.