System and method for determining smart torque curve optimizing user performance

• US 9,586,573 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2014
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Sujan, Vivek A., Proctor, Timothy J., Hodzen, Edmund P., Li, Guoqiang
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, EDWIN
• Application Number:
  US14/302,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20150361915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0026 Lookup tables or parameter maps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/10 Change speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/305 Power absorbed by auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/10 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/16 Driving resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/106 Rate of change
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/165 Rate of change
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1882 characterised by the working point of the engine, e.g. by using engine output chart
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/50 said parameters being related to the vehicle or its components
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/60 said parameters being related to the driver demands or status
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/604 Engine control mode selected by driver, e.g. to manually start particle filter regeneration or to select driving style
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/606 Driving style, e.g. sporty or economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/70 said parameters being related to the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/702 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/26 by applying a torque limit
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 : peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0002 : Controlling intake air
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0225 : in relation with the gear ratio or shift lever position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2412 : One-parameter addressing technique
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2432 : Methods of calibration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/26 : using computer, e.g. microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/02 : concerning induction conduits throttle valves, or arrangements thereof in conduits F02D9/08
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 : Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling performance characteristics of a vehicle are provided. A system for controlling performance characteristics of a vehicle includes a memory storage device including at least one torque curve profile stored thereon. The at least one torque curve profile includes a mapping of accessible torque for the vehicle with respect to an engine speed of an engine coupled to the vehicle. The system also includes an electronic control unit operatively coupled to the memory storage device, the electronic control unit configured to re-map the at least one torque curve profile in response to receipt by the electronic control unit of an electronic signal indicating a change in a vehicle condition.

Claims

1. A system for controlling performance characteristics of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a memory storage device including at least one torque curve profile stored thereon, the at least one torque curve profile including a mapping of accessible torque for the vehicle with respect to an engine speed of an engine of the vehicle; and

an electronic control unit operatively coupled to the memory storage device, the electronic control unit configured to;

re-map the at least one torque curve profile in response to receipt by the electronic control unit of an electronic signal indicating a change in a vehicle condition, wherein the remapped at least one torque curve profile is remapped based on a predetermined peak power for the engine; and

control operation of the engine based on the remapped at least one torque curve profile.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to re-map the at least one torque curve profile to increase the fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor operatively coupled to the electronic control unit, the at least one sensor configured to generate the electronic signal in response to a change in grade along a path of travel of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor operatively coupled to the electronic control unit, the at least one sensor configured to generate the electronic signal in response to a change in a mass of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor operatively coupled to the electronic control unit, the at least one sensor configured to generate the electronic signal in response to a change in a gear of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle condition includes a drag coefficient of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle condition includes a change in a throttle request.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle condition includes a rate of change in torque of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle condition includes an electrical load of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to re-map the at least one torque curve profile to obtain an identified time for the vehicle to accelerate from a first speed to a second speed.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to re-map the at least one torque curve profile to maintain the vehicle below an imposed torque limit, the imposed torque limit set at a predetermined safety factor below an actual torque limit of the engine of the vehicle.

12. A system for controlling performance characteristics of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a memory storage device including a plurality of torque curve profiles stored thereon, the plurality of torque curve profiles including a mapping of accessible torque for the vehicle with respect to an engine speed of an engine of the vehicle; and

an electronic control unit operatively coupled to the memory storage device, the electronic control unit configured to select at least one torque curve profile from the plurality of torque curve profiles in response to receipt by the electronic control unit of a signal corresponding to a change in a vehicle condition, wherein the selected at least one torque curve profile is selected based on a predetermined peak power for the engine, the electronic control unit further configured to cause the engine coupled to the vehicle to perform based on the selected at least one torque curve profile.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising at least one sensor operatively coupled to the electronic control unit, the at least one sensor configured to generate the electronic signal in response to a change in one or more of a grade along a path of travel of the vehicle, a mass of the vehicle, and a gear of the vehicle.

14. A method of controlling performance characteristics of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by an electronic control unit of the vehicle, an electronic signal corresponding to a value for a change in a vehicle condition;

remapping, by the electronic control unit, a torque curve profile of the vehicle in response to receipt by the electronic control unit of the electronic signal corresponding to the value for the change in the vehicle condition, wherein the torque curve profile includes a mapping of accessible torque for the vehicle with respect to an engine speed of an engine of the vehicle, wherein the remapping includes changing at least one value of the accessible torque with respect to the engine speed, and wherein the remapped torque curve profile is remapped based on a predetermined peak power for the engine; and

causing the vehicle to perform based on the re-mapped torque curve profile.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle condition includes a grade of a path upon which the vehicle is traveling.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle condition includes a mass of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle condition includes a gear of a transmission coupled to the engine of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein causing the vehicle to perform based on the re-mapped torque curve profile includes changing at least one gear shift point of a transmission operatively coupled to the engine.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the torque curve profile is remapped to increase fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein causing the vehicle to perform based on the re-mapped torque curve profile includes reducing the accessible torque at a particular engine speed.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein causing the vehicle to perform based on the re-mapped torque curve profile includes reducing the engine speed in response to a particular torque request.

22. An engine system for controlling performance characteristics of a vehicle, the engine system comprising:

an engine;

a memory storage device, the memory storage device including at least one torque curve profile stored thereon, the at least one torque curve profile including a mapping of accessible torque for the vehicle with respect to an engine speed of the engine; and

an electronic control unit operatively coupled to the memory storage device, the electronic control unit configured to re-map the at least one torque curve profile in response to receipt by the electronic control unit of an electronic signal indicating a change in a vehicle condition, wherein the remapped at least one torque curve profile is remapped based on a predetermined peak power for the engine; and

the electronic control unit is further configured to control operation of the engine based on the remapped at least one torque curve profile.

23. The engine system of claim 22, wherein the vehicle condition includes one of a grade of the vehicle, a mass of the vehicle, and a gear of the vehicle.