Electronic throttle control
First Claim
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1. A recreational vehicle including:
- a chassis;
a ground engaging mechanism configured to support the chassis;
an engine supported by the chassis;
a throttle valve configured to regulate engine power;
an engine control module configured to control the throttle valve, the engine control module being programmed with geographical boundary data identifying a geographical area;
a throttle input device controllable by an operator, the throttle input device being in communication with the engine control module; and
a location detection device in communication with the engine control module and configured to detect a location of the vehicle, the location detection device being configured to provide a signal to the engine control module representative of the detected location of the vehicle, the engine control module automatically controlling the throttle valve to limit the vehicle speed to a maximum vehicle speed based on the detected location of the vehicle being in the geographical area when the throttle input device indicates a demand for a vehicle speed higher than the maximum vehicle speed, the engine control module controlling the throttle valve based on the throttle input device when the vehicle speed is less than the maximum vehicle speed and the detected location of the vehicle is in the geographical area.
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Abstract
An electronic throttle control (ETC) system is disclosed for use on a recreational or a utility vehicle. The ETC system includes a drive mode selection device for selecting between a plurality of drive modes. The ETC system provides an adjustable engine idle speed and an engine power limiting feature.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A recreational vehicle including:
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a chassis; a ground engaging mechanism configured to support the chassis; an engine supported by the chassis; a throttle valve configured to regulate engine power; an engine control module configured to control the throttle valve, the engine control module being programmed with geographical boundary data identifying a geographical area; a throttle input device controllable by an operator, the throttle input device being in communication with the engine control module; and a location detection device in communication with the engine control module and configured to detect a location of the vehicle, the location detection device being configured to provide a signal to the engine control module representative of the detected location of the vehicle, the engine control module automatically controlling the throttle valve to limit the vehicle speed to a maximum vehicle speed based on the detected location of the vehicle being in the geographical area when the throttle input device indicates a demand for a vehicle speed higher than the maximum vehicle speed, the engine control module controlling the throttle valve based on the throttle input device when the vehicle speed is less than the maximum vehicle speed and the detected location of the vehicle is in the geographical area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A recreational vehicle including:
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a chassis; a ground engaging mechanism configured to support the chassis; an engine supported by the chassis; a throttle valve configured to regulate engine power; a user interface configured to provide a security code based on operator input; an engine control module in communication with the user interface and configured to control the throttle valve, the engine control module being configured to receive the security code from the user interface, the engine control module being programmed with geographical boundary data identifying a geographical area; a throttle operator in communication with the engine control module; and a location detection device in communication with the engine control module and configured to detect a location of the vehicle, the engine control module automatically limiting a torque output of the engine to a maximum torque output in response to the security code being received at the engine control module and the detected location of the vehicle being outside the geographical area, the engine control module controlling the torque output of the engine based on the throttle operator when the torque output is less than the maximum torque output and the detected location of the vehicle is outside the geographical area. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. An electronic throttle control method for a vehicle, the method including:
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starting an engine of the vehicle, the vehicle including a throttle valve configured to control a torque output of the engine and an engine control module configured to control the throttle valve; detecting at least one of a vehicle speed and an engine speed; in response to receiving a request identifying a requested maximum vehicle speed within a predetermined time period after starting the engine, limiting, by the engine control module, the vehicle to the requested maximum vehicle speed; and limiting, by the engine control module, the vehicle to a default maximum vehicle speed in response to at least one of a failure to receive the request identifying the requested maximum vehicle speed prior to the expiration of the predetermined time period and prior to receiving the request identifying the requested maximum vehicle speed within the predetermined time period, at least one of the detected vehicle speed being greater than a threshold vehicle speed and the detected engine speed being greater than a threshold engine speed. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification