Supplementing engine control via a diagnostics port
First Claim
1. An electronic device comprising:
- a housing;
a processor and a memory disposed within the housing;
a connector arranged to couple the electronic device to a diagnostic port associated with a vehicle having a factory engine control unit (factory ECU) that includes ECU memory and ECU control algorithms, the factory ECU being arranged to direct operation of an engine in a plurality of different displacement modes; and
an interface that allows the processor and the memory to communicate messages to the factory ECU through the diagnostics port;
wherein the processor is configured to send a control command message to the factory ECU while the vehicle is being driven, wherein the control command causes the factory ECU to direct operation of the vehicle in a selected one of the plurality of different displacement modes that is different than the displacement mode that the factory ECU would otherwise direct operation of the vehicle in, without requiring any modification of the factory ECU.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A secondary controller for controlling the performance of a moving automobile is described. The secondary controller can be configured to communicate with one or more vehicle controllers, such as the engine control unit, while the automobile is being driven. The secondary controller can send control commands to the vehicle controller to effect the operation of the vehicle'"'"'s power train. The secondary controller can receive power train related data from the engine control unit and based upon the received power train data determine when to send the control commands. In one embodiment, the secondary controller communicates with the vehicle controller via the vehicle'"'"'s diagnostic port, such as an OBD-II port. In another embodiment, the secondary controller can be configured to control the operational displacement of a variable displacement engine while the vehicle is driven.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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a housing; a processor and a memory disposed within the housing; a connector arranged to couple the electronic device to a diagnostic port associated with a vehicle having a factory engine control unit (factory ECU) that includes ECU memory and ECU control algorithms, the factory ECU being arranged to direct operation of an engine in a plurality of different displacement modes; and an interface that allows the processor and the memory to communicate messages to the factory ECU through the diagnostics port; wherein the processor is configured to send a control command message to the factory ECU while the vehicle is being driven, wherein the control command causes the factory ECU to direct operation of the vehicle in a selected one of the plurality of different displacement modes that is different than the displacement mode that the factory ECU would otherwise direct operation of the vehicle in, without requiring any modification of the factory ECU. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electronic device comprising:
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a dongle style housing; a processor and a memory disposed within the housing; a connector arranged to couple the electronic device to an OBD-II diagnostic port associated with a vehicle having a factory engine control unit (factory ECU) that includes factory ECU memory and factory ECU control algorithms, the OBD-II diagnostics port being coupled to a CAN compliant vehicle communications bus; an interface that allows the processor and the memory to communicate messages to the factory ECU through the diagnostics port and the CAN compliant vehicle communications bus; a CAN-controller; and a CAN transceiver for sending and receiving messages on a CAN compliant vehicle communication bus through the diagnostics port; and wherein the processor is configured to communicate using a CAN communication protocol and to send a control command to the factory ECU via the diagnostic port while the vehicle is being driven, the control command being arranged to sometimes instruct the factory ECU to direct operation of the vehicle in a first displacement mode different than a second displacement mode that the factory ECU would otherwise direct operation in at that time without requiring any modification of the factory ECU memory and without requiring any modification of the factory ECU control algorithms, and wherein both the first and second displacement modes are supported by the factory ECU.
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11. A method of directing the displacement of a vehicle having a variable displacement engine and a factory engine control unit (factory ECU), the method comprising:
sending a displacement control command from a device coupled to a diagnostic port associated with the variable displacement engine to the factory engine control unit while the vehicle is being driven, wherein the displacement control command directs the factory engine control unit to cause the engine to operate at a designated displacement that is at least sometimes different than a second displacement that the factory ECU would otherwise direct operation of the vehicle in at the time the displacement control command is sent, and wherein no modification of the factory ECU are required to enable the factory ECU to direct operation at the designated displacement, and wherein both the designated displacement and the second displacement are displacements supported by the factory ECU. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A non-transitory computer readable medium suitable for use in conjunction with an automobile having a variable displacement engine and a factory engine control unit (factory ECU), the computer readable medium comprising programmed instructions configured to:
send a displacement control command from a device coupled to a diagnostic port associated with the variable displacement engine to a factory ECU while the vehicle is being driven, wherein the displacement control command directs the factory ECU to cause the engine to operate at a designated displacement that is at least sometimes different than a second displacement that the factory ECU would otherwise direct operation of the vehicle in at the time the displacement control command is sent, and wherein no modification of the factory ECU are required to enable the factory ECU to direct operation at the designated displacement, and wherein both the designated displacement and the second displacement are displacements supported by the factory ECU. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
Specification