Fuel saving method and device for vehicle
First Claim
1. A system for controlling a vehicle having a combustible fuel powered engine, the system comprising:
- i. means for sensing a first parameter proportional to power and for sensing a second parameter proportional to fuel flow;
ii. a controller for receiving the first and second parameters and dynamically determining a power to fuel ratio (P/F) by dividing the first parameter by the second parameter, and for comparing the P/F ratio to a previously determined P/F ratio;
iii. means for selectively adjusting, by selecting one of maintaining, increasing and decreasing, throttle to maximize the P/F ratio at any given moment up to a predetermined speed, wherein the controller increases throttle in response to the P/F ratio being greater than the previously determined P/F ratio when the previous action was to increase throttle, wherein the controller increases throttle in response to the P/F ratio being less than the previously determined P/F ratio when the previous action was to decrease throttle, wherein the controller decreases throttle in response to the P/F ratio being greater than the previously determined P/F ratio when the previous action was to decrease throttle, and wherein the controller decreases throttle in response to the P/F ratio being less than the previously determined P/F ratio when the previous action was to increase throttle; and
iv. means for allowing the vehicle to coast upon reaching the predetermined speed, and when vehicle speed has dropped a predetermined amount, enabling the means for selectively adjusting to increase vehicle speed again.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for maximizing a vehicle'"'"'s fuel efficiency preferably without inconveniencing the driver, includes maximizing a ratio of a real-time parameter proportional to engine load or engine power to fuel flow or air flow rate referred to herein as the P/F ratio. This ratio is calculated to evaluate engine fuel efficiency. With the system and method, the throttle is operated incrementally to increase or decrease the throttle in a manner to maximize the P/F ratio, thus maximizing fuel efficiency, in a pulse phase. The system and method implement an on and off pulse width modulation (“PWM”) style of control to modulate engine power and acceleration to achieve the speed that the driver desires, based on the position of the accelerator pedal. When the desired speed is achieved, the throttle is released and when the speed drops a sufficient amount, the throttle is re-engaged to reach the desired speed again. When the throttle is disengaged or when the driver releases the accelerator pedal, the system and method implement a glide phase, where the vehicle coasts without use of fuel or in neutral with very limited use of fuel and minimum engine drag.
61 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A system for controlling a vehicle having a combustible fuel powered engine, the system comprising:
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i. means for sensing a first parameter proportional to power and for sensing a second parameter proportional to fuel flow; ii. a controller for receiving the first and second parameters and dynamically determining a power to fuel ratio (P/F) by dividing the first parameter by the second parameter, and for comparing the P/F ratio to a previously determined P/F ratio; iii. means for selectively adjusting, by selecting one of maintaining, increasing and decreasing, throttle to maximize the P/F ratio at any given moment up to a predetermined speed, wherein the controller increases throttle in response to the P/F ratio being greater than the previously determined P/F ratio when the previous action was to increase throttle, wherein the controller increases throttle in response to the P/F ratio being less than the previously determined P/F ratio when the previous action was to decrease throttle, wherein the controller decreases throttle in response to the P/F ratio being greater than the previously determined P/F ratio when the previous action was to decrease throttle, and wherein the controller decreases throttle in response to the P/F ratio being less than the previously determined P/F ratio when the previous action was to increase throttle; and iv. means for allowing the vehicle to coast upon reaching the predetermined speed, and when vehicle speed has dropped a predetermined amount, enabling the means for selectively adjusting to increase vehicle speed again. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for controlling a vehicle having a combustible fuel powered engine, the method comprising the steps of:
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i. sensing a first parameter (P) proportional to power; ii. sensing a second parameter (F) proportional to fuel flow; iii. dynamically determining a power to fuel ratio (P/F);
comparing the P/F ratio to a previously determined P/F ratio;iv. incrementally increasing or decreasing throttle in response to an increasing or decreasing P/F ratio; and v. allowing the vehicle to coast upon reaching a predetermined speed; and
when vehicle speed has dropped by a predetermined amount, repeating the steps (i) to (iv). - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for controlling a vehicle having a combustible fuel powered engine, the system comprising:
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i. means for sensing during operation of the vehicle by an operator at predetermined intervals a first real time parameter proportional to power and for sensing during operation of the vehicle by the operator at the predetermined intervals a second real time parameter proportional to fuel flow; ii. a controller for receiving the first and second real time parameters and dynamically determining a real time current power to fuel ratio (P/F) during operation of the vehicle by the operator at the predetermined intervals and comparing the real time current P/F ratio to a previously determined real time current P/F ratio during operation of the vehicle by the operator determined at a previous last one of the predetermined intervals; iii. means for providing an indication to a driver of the vehicle for increasing throttle to maximize the P/F ratio based on the comparison of the real time current P/F ratio and the previously determined real time current P/F ratio at the previous last one of the predetermined intervals, and iv. means for providing another indication to the driver of the vehicle for reducing throttle to maximize the P/F ratio based on the comparison of the real time current P/F ratio and the previously determined real time current P/F ratio at the previous last one of the predetermined intervals.
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27. A method for controlling a vehicle having a combustible fuel powered engine, the method comprising the steps of:
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i. sensing during operation of the vehicle by an operator at predetermined intervals a first real time parameter proportional to power; ii. sensing during operation of the vehicle by the operator at the predetermined intervals a second real time parameter (f) proportional to fuel flow; iii. dynamically determining a real time current power to fuel ratio (P/F) during operation of the vehicle by the operator at the predetermined intervals; iv. comparing the real time current P/F ratio to a previously determined real time current P/F ratio during operation of the vehicle by the operator determined at a previous last one of the predetermined intervals; v. providing a first indication to a driver of the vehicle for increasing throttle to maximize the real time current P/F ratio based on the comparison of the real time current P/F ratio and the previously determined real time current P/F ratio at the previous last one of the predetermined intervals; vi. providing a second indication to a driver of the vehicle for maintaining the throttle in the same position to maximize the real time current P/F ratio based on the comparison of the real time current P/F ratio and the previously determined real time current P/F ratio at the previous last one of the predetermined intervals; and vii. providing a third indication to the driver of the vehicle for decreasing throttle to maximize the real time current P/F ratio based on the comparison of the real time current P/F ratio and the previously determined real time current P/F ratio.
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28. A system for controlling a vehicle having a combustible fuel powered engine, the system comprising:
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i. means for sensing during operation of the vehicle by an operator at predetermined intervals a first real time parameter proportional to power and for sensing during operation of the vehicle by the operator at the predetermined intervals a second real time parameter proportional to fuel flow; ii. a controller for receiving the first and second real time parameters and dynamically determining a real time current power to fuel ratio (P/F) during operation of the vehicle by the operator at the predetermined intervals, and comparing the real time current P/F ratio to a previously determined real time current P/F ratio during operation of the vehicle by the operator determined at a previous one of the predetermined intervals; iii. the controller further comprising means for generating signals to an operator of the throttle as to whether the throttle should be increased, decreased, or maintained in order to maximize the P/F ratio and thus maintain the engine running at optimal efficiency based on the comparison of the real time current P/F ratio and the previously determined real time current P/F ratio.
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29. A system for controlling a vehicle having a combustible fuel powered engine, the system comprising:
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means for sensing a first parameter proportional to power and for sensing a second parameter proportional to fuel flow; a controller for receiving the first and second parameters and dynamically determining a power to fuel ratio (P/F), and comparing the current P/F ratio to a previously determined P/F ratio; the controller further comprising means for generating signals to an operator of the throttle as to whether the throttle should be increased, decreased, or maintained in order to maximize the P/F ratio and thus maintain the engine running at optimal efficiency, wherein the operator of the throttle is a throttle actuator and the throttle is increased, decreased, or maintained automatically to operate the engine at optimal efficiency by maximizing the P/F ratio. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for controlling a vehicle having a combustible fuel powered engine, the system comprising:
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i. means for detecting engine efficiency; ii. means for increasing and decreasing throttle to induce and maintain the engine at optimal efficiency; iii. a controller for initiating adjustments to the throttle to maintain the engine working at optimal efficiency for a certain period of time, and for initiating a complete release of the throttle to allow the vehicle to coast in between periods of inducing the engine to work at optimal efficiency; iv. a sensor for detecting an accelerator pedal position, and wherein the controller translates the accelerator pedal position into a drivers'"'"' desired speed, wherein until the driver'"'"'s desired speed is reached, the controller maintains the engine working at optimal efficiency and when the driver'"'"'s desired speed is reached, the controller initiates a complete release of the throttle to allow the vehicle to coast. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for controlling a vehicle having a combustible fuel powered engine, the method comprising the steps of:
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i. sensing the engine'"'"'s efficiency or state in real time; ii. determining how to induce the engine to run or maintain the engine running at optimal efficiency from the current engine state; iii. selectively increasing and decreasing throttle to induce the engine to run or maintain the engine running at optimal efficiency; iv. repeating steps (i) to (iii) until a predetermined speed or a predetermined duration of time has been reached; v. allowing the vehicle to coast upon reaching a predetermined speed or a predetermined duration of time; vi. when either the vehicle speed has dropped by a predetermined amount, or another predetermined duration of time has passed, repeat steps (i) to (v) above. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification