Watercraft throttle control systems and methods

• US 8,989,928 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2011
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Clever, Timothy J., Cansiani, Kevin A., Gaskins, Ronald E., Payne, Martin, Koches, Christopher A., Norris, Lance
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Assistant Examiner(s): KLEINMAN, LAIL A
• Application Number:
  US13/165,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20120191276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 701/21, 701/99, 701/101, 701/104, 701/110, 701/55, 701/56, 717/168, 717/169, 717/171, 707/758
• US Class Current: 701/21
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/21 Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/602 Pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0002 Controlling intake air
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A system for a watercraft includes memory, a communications module, and a throttle control module. The memory includes a first mapping of measured accelerator position to desired throttle opening. The communications module selectively downloads a second mapping of the measured accelerator position to the desired throttle opening to the memory. The throttle control module generates the desired throttle opening based on the measured accelerator position and a selected one of the first and second mappings. A throttle actuator module opens a throttle valve based on the desired throttle opening.

Claims

1. A system for a watercraft, comprising:

memory that includes a first mapping of measured accelerator position to desired throttle opening;

a first electronic circuit that selectively downloads a second mapping of the measured accelerator position to the desired throttle opening to the memory;

a second electronic circuit that compares an actual number of data points in the second mapping with a predetermined number of data points for the second mapping, each of the data points relating a measured accelerator position to a desired throttle opening;

a third electronic circuit that selects one of the first and second mappings, wherein the third electronic circuit selects the second mapping when the measured accelerator position is equal to a predetermined engine idling position and the predetermined and actual numbers are equal; and

a fourth electronic circuit that generates the desired throttle opening based on the measured accelerator position and the selected one of the first and second mappings,

wherein a fifth electronic circuit opens a throttle valve based on the desired throttle opening.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the third electronic circuit selects the first mapping when the accelerator position is greater than the predetermined engine idling position.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the second electronic circuit further compares a predetermined identifier of the second mapping with a second identifier of the second mapping stored with the second mapping in the memory, and

wherein the third electronic circuit selectively selects the second mapping when the predetermined identifier and the second identifier are equal.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the third electronic circuit selectively selects the second mapping when the actual number of data points is within a predetermined range.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the second electronic circuit further compares a slope of the second mapping with a predetermined maximum slope,

wherein the third electronic circuit selectively selects the second mapping when the slope is less than the predetermined maximum slope.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the second electronic circuit further calculates a first checksum value based on the second mapping,

wherein the third electronic circuit selectively selects the second mapping based on a comparison of the first checksum value and a second checksum value for the second mapping stored in the memory.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sixth electronic circuit that selectively sets a selection signal to a first state when a user verifies use of the second mapping,

wherein the third electronic circuit selects the second mapping when the selection signal is in the first state.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth electronic circuits include at least one of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a processor, and a combinational logic circuit.

8. A method for a watercraft, comprising:

providing a first module with memory that includes a first mapping of measured accelerator position to desired throttle opening;

selectively downloading a second mapping of the measured accelerator position to the desired throttle opening to the memory;

comparing an actual number of data points in the second mapping with a predetermined number of data points for the second mapping, each of the data points relating a measured accelerator position to a desired throttle opening;

selecting one of the first and second mappings, the selecting including selecting the second mapping when the measured accelerator position is equal to a predetermined engine idling position and the predetermined and actual numbers are equal;

generating the desired throttle opening based on the measured accelerator position and the selected one of the first and second mappings; and

opening a throttle valve based on the desired throttle opening.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising selecting the first mapping when the accelerator position is greater than the predetermined engine idling position.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

comparing a predetermined identifier of the second mapping with a second identifier of the second mapping stored with the second mapping in the memory; and

selectively selecting the second mapping when the predetermined identifier and the second identifier are equal.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising selectively selecting the second mapping when the actual number of data points is within a predetermined range.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

comparing a slope of the second mapping with a predetermined maximum slope; and

selectively selecting the second mapping when the slope is less than the predetermined maximum slope.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

calculating a first checksum value based on the second mapping; and

selectively selecting the second mapping based on a comparison of the first checksum value and a second checksum value for the second mapping stored in the memory.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

selectively setting a selection signal to a first state when a user verifies use of the second mapping; and

selecting the second mapping when the selection signal is in the first state.