Method and apparatus for controlling an engine to achieve a boosted performance for a limited time
First Claim
1. A method for controlling an engine in a vehicle to allOw a driver to obtain a working range of the engine in excess of a base working range thereof, the method comprisingestablisbing a base working range, which limits are defined by a base torque versus enine speed curve,establishing an excess working range, which limits are defined between the base torque versus engine speed curve and an excess torque versus engine speed curve, the excess torque versus engine speed curve displaying a higher maximum torque level and/or a higher end engine speed as compared to the base torque versus engine speed curve,estiblishing an excess availability limit, defining the maximum duration or maximum distance travelled by the vehicle of access to the excess working range per unit time or unit distance travelled by the vehicle,calculating a cumulative consumed excess value per unit time or unit distance travelled by the vehicle by summating any time periods or distances travelled by the vehicle during which the excess working range is accessed within the unit time or unit distance travelled by the vehicle;
- andcontrolling the engine in response to driver input to allow aceess to the excess working range only when the cumulative consumed excess value is less than the excess availability limit, wherein the excess availability limit is temporarily ncreased following a time period or distance travelled by the vehicle during which a preferred driving pattern was used and where the preferred driving pattern is defined by driving in a predefined reward area of the base torque versus engine speed curve.
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Abstract
A method is provided for controlling an engine to allow a driver to obtain a working range of the engine in excess a base working range thereof The method includes establishing a base working range, which limits are defined by a base torque versus engine speed curve, establishing an excess working range, which limits are defined between the base torque versus engine speed curve and an excess torque versus engine speed curve, the excess torque versus engine speed curve displaying a higher maximum torque level and/or a higher end engine speed as compared to the base torque versus engine speed curve, establishing an excess availability limit, defining the maximum duration or maximum distance of access to the excess working range per unit time or unit distance, calculating a cumulative consumed excess value per unit time or unit distance by summating any time periods or distances during which the excess working range is accessed within the unit time or unit distance, and controlling the engine in response to driver input to allow access to the excess working range only when the cumulative consumed excess value is less than the excess availability limit.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for controlling an engine in a vehicle to allOw a driver to obtain a working range of the engine in excess of a base working range thereof, the method comprising
establisbing a base working range, which limits are defined by a base torque versus enine speed curve, establishing an excess working range, which limits are defined between the base torque versus engine speed curve and an excess torque versus engine speed curve, the excess torque versus engine speed curve displaying a higher maximum torque level and/or a higher end engine speed as compared to the base torque versus engine speed curve, estiblishing an excess availability limit, defining the maximum duration or maximum distance travelled by the vehicle of access to the excess working range per unit time or unit distance travelled by the vehicle, calculating a cumulative consumed excess value per unit time or unit distance travelled by the vehicle by summating any time periods or distances travelled by the vehicle during which the excess working range is accessed within the unit time or unit distance travelled by the vehicle; - and
controlling the engine in response to driver input to allow aceess to the excess working range only when the cumulative consumed excess value is less than the excess availability limit, wherein the excess availability limit is temporarily ncreased following a time period or distance travelled by the vehicle during which a preferred driving pattern was used and where the preferred driving pattern is defined by driving in a predefined reward area of the base torque versus engine speed curve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17)
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14. An engine control system for controlling an engine in a vehicle to allow a driver to obtain a working range of the engine in excess of a base working range thereof, the system comprising a memory for storing
the base working range which limits are defined by a base torque versus engine speed curve, the excess working range, which limits are defined between the base torque versus engine speed curve and an excess torque versus engine speed curve, the excess torque versus engine speed curve displaying a higher maximum torque level and/or a higher end engine speed as compared to the base static torque versus engine speed curve, an excess availability limit, defining the maximum duration of access to the excess working range per unit time or unit distance travelled by the vehicle; - and a processor unit for
calculating a cumulative consumed excess value per unit time or unit distance travelled by the vehicle by summating any time periods or distances travelled by the vehicle during which the excess working range is accessed within the unit time or unit distance travelled by the vehicle; and controlling the engine in response to driver input to allow access to the excess working range only when the cumulative consumed excess value is less than the excess availability limit and where the excess availability limit is temporatily increased following a time period or distance travelled by the vehicle during which a preferred driving pattern was used and where the preferred driving pattern is defined by driving in a predefined reward area of the base torque versus engine speed curve.
- and a processor unit for
Specification