Electronic throttle control
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A recreational vehicle including:
- a front portion including at least one front ground engaging member;
a rear portion including at least one rear ground engaging member;
a chassis extending between the front portion and the rear portion;
an engine supported by the chassis, the engine being configured to drive at least one of the at least one front ground engaging member and the at least one rear ground engaging member;
a suspension system coupled between the chassis and the at least one of the at least one front ground engaging member and the at least one rear ground engaging member;
at least one of a speed sensor and a position sensor, the speed sensor being configured to detect a speed of the vehicle and the position sensor being configured to detect a height of the suspension system;
a throttle valve configured to regulate engine power; and
an engine control module configured to control the throttle valve, the engine control module being configured to detect an airborne state of the vehicle and a grounded state of the vehicle based on at least one of the detected speed of the vehicle and the detected height of the suspension system, in the airborne state at least one of the front portion and the rear portion being spaced apart from the ground, in the grounded state the front portion and the rear portion being in contact with the ground, the engine control module reducing a ground engaging member speed of the vehicle to a target ground engaging member speed upon detection of the airborne state, the target ground engaging member speed being based on the detected speed of the vehicle during a transition of the vehicle between the grounded state and the airborne state.
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Accused Products
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 front portion including at least one front ground engaging member; a rear portion including at least one rear ground engaging member; a chassis extending between the front portion and the rear portion; an engine supported by the chassis, the engine being configured to drive at least one of the at least one front ground engaging member and the at least one rear ground engaging member; a suspension system coupled between the chassis and the at least one of the at least one front ground engaging member and the at least one rear ground engaging member; at least one of a speed sensor and a position sensor, the speed sensor being configured to detect a speed of the vehicle and the position sensor being configured to detect a height of the suspension system; a throttle valve configured to regulate engine power; and an engine control module configured to control the throttle valve, the engine control module being configured to detect an airborne state of the vehicle and a grounded state of the vehicle based on at least one of the detected speed of the vehicle and the detected height of the suspension system, in the airborne state at least one of the front portion and the rear portion being spaced apart from the ground, in the grounded state the front portion and the rear portion being in contact with the ground, the engine control module reducing a ground engaging member speed of the vehicle to a target ground engaging member speed upon detection of the airborne state, the target ground engaging member speed being based on the detected speed of the vehicle during a transition of the vehicle between the grounded state and the airborne state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A recreational vehicle including:
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a chassis; a plurality of ground engaging mechanisms configured to support the chassis; a drive train supported by the chassis and including an engine, a transmission, and a final drive, the engine being configured to drive at least one ground engaging mechanism; a first sensor configured to detect a parameter of the vehicle; a second sensor configured to detect an inclination angle of the vehicle; a throttle valve configured to regulate engine power; and an engine control module configured to control the throttle valve, the engine control module being configured to detect an airborne state of the vehicle based on the detected parameter of the vehicle, the engine control module adjusting the torque of the engine in response to the detection of the airborne state and the detected inclination angle of the vehicle being outside a predetermined range, the adjustment of a torque of the engine being configured to adjust the inclination angle of the vehicle to within the predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A recreational vehicle including:
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a front portion including at least one front ground engaging member; a rear portion including at least one rear ground engaging member; a chassis extending between the front portion and the rear portion; an engine supported by the chassis, the engine being configured to drive at least one of the at least one front ground engaging member and the at least one rear ground engaging member; a suspension system coupled between the chassis and the at least one of the at least one front ground engaging member and the at least one rear ground engaging member; at least one of a speed sensor and a position sensor, the speed sensor being configured to detect a speed of the vehicle and the position sensor being configured to detect a height of the suspension system; a throttle valve configured to regulate engine power; a transmission driven by the engine and having a plurality of selectable gears, an engine control module configured to control the throttle valve, the engine control module being configured to detect an airborne state of the vehicle and a grounded state of the vehicle based on at least one of the detected speed of the vehicle and the detected height of the suspension system, the engine control module detecting the airborne state based on a rotational speed of at least one ground engaging member, a torque output of the engine, and the selected gear of the transmission, in the airborne state at least one of the front portion and the rear portion being spaced apart from the ground, in the grounded state the front portion and the rear portion being in contact with the ground, the engine control module reducing a ground engaging member speed of the vehicle to a target ground engaging member speed upon detection of the airborne state, the target ground engaging member speed being a ground engaging member speed of the vehicle when the vehicle is in the grounded state prior to the detection of the airborne state. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification