System and method for enabling a user to adjust the operation of a powertrain in a vehicle, to adjust the appearance of a user interface device in the vehicle, and/or to adjust vehicle noise

• US 9,629,189 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2014
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Sczomak, David P., Levy, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alharbi, Adam
• Application Number:
  US14/543,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20160138508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• 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 37/02 one of the functions being ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0007 for control of turbo-charged or super-charged engines control of the pumps per se F02B37/12
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/064 at cold start F02D41/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/28 Interface circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a communication module and a control module. The communication module transmits a first wireless signal indicating a request from a user of a vehicle to adjust operation of a powertrain in the vehicle, a display in the vehicle, and/or a noise actuator in the vehicle. The communication module receives a second wireless signal enabling operation of the powertrain, the display, and/or the noise actuator to be adjusted according to the request. The control module controls the powertrain, the display, and/or the noise actuator based on a first set of values for a control parameter before the second wireless signal is received. The control module controls the powertrain, the display, and/or the noise actuator based on a second set of values for the control parameter after the second wireless signal is received.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a communication module that;

transmits a first wireless signal indicating a request from a user of a vehicle to adjust operation of at least one of a powertrain in the vehicle, a display in the vehicle, and a noise actuator in the vehicle; and

receives a second wireless signal enabling operation of the at least one of the powertrain, the display, and the noise actuator to be adjusted according to the request; and

a control module that;

controls the at least one of the powertrain, the display, and the noise actuator based on a first set of values for a control parameter before the second wireless signal is received; and

controls the at least one of the powertrain, the display, and the noise actuator based on a second set of values for the control parameter after the second wireless signal is received.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the control parameter affects at least one of an amount of torque produced by an engine, fuel economy of the vehicle, and an ability of the engine to start.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the control parameter includes at least one of a throttle area, fuel injection timing, an amount of fuel injected for each fuel injection, a number of fuel injections for each combustion event, spark timing, a number of active cylinders, a camshaft phaser position, an intake manifold length, a wastegate position, and a transmission shift schedule.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the control module:

controls the at least one of the powertrain, the display, and the noise actuator based on the second set of values for a first period after the second wireless signal is received; and

controls the at least one of the powertrain, the display, and the noise actuator based on the first set of values when the first period ends.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the request indicates the first period.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the control module receives the second set of values from a source other than the second wireless signal; and

the second wireless signal authorizes control of the at least one of the powertrain, the display, and the noise actuator based on the second set of values.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the control module receives the second set of values through the second wireless signal.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the control module deletes the second set of values when the first period ends.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the request from the user is a request to adjust a noise perceived within a cabin of the vehicle;

the second wireless signal enables the noise perceived within the cabin of the vehicle to be adjusted according to the request; and

the control module controls at least one of a muffler bypass valve in the vehicle and a speaker in the cabin of the vehicle according to the request when the second wireless signal is received.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the request from the user is a request to adjust the display of a user interface device in the vehicle;

the second wireless signal enables the display of the user interface device to be adjusted according to the request; and

the system further comprises a user interface device (UID) control module that adjusts the display of the user interface device according to the request when the second wireless signal is received.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication module receives a third wireless signal indicating an offer to the user to adjust operation of the at least one of the powertrain, the display, and the noise actuator.

12. A method comprising:

transmitting a first wireless signal indicating a request from a user of a vehicle to adjust operation of at least one of a powertrain in the vehicle, a display in the vehicle, and a noise actuator in the vehicle;

receiving a second wireless signal enabling operation of the at least one of the powertrain, the display, and the noise actuator to be adjusted according to the request;

controlling the at least one of the powertrain, the display, and the noise actuator based on a first set of values for a control parameter before the second wireless signal is received; and

controlling the at least one of the powertrain, the display, and the noise actuator based on a second set of values for the control parameter after the second wireless signal is received.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the control parameter affects at least one of an amount of torque produced by an engine, fuel economy of the vehicle, and an ability of the engine to start.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the control parameter includes at least one of a throttle area, fuel injection timing, an amount of fuel injected for each fuel injection, a number of fuel injections for each combustion event, spark timing, a number of active cylinders, a camshaft phaser position, an intake manifold length, a wastegate position, and a transmission shift schedule.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

controlling the at least one of the powertrain, the display, and the noise actuator based on the second set of values for a first period after the second wireless signal is received; and

controlling the at least one of the powertrain, the display, and the noise actuator based on the first set of values when the first period ends.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the request indicates the first period.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving the second set of values from a source other than the second wireless signal, wherein the second wireless signal authorizes control of the at least one of the powertrain, the display, and the noise actuator based on the second set of values.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving the second set of values through the second wireless signal.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising deleting the second set of values when the first period ends.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein:

the request from the user is a request to adjust a noise perceived within a cabin of the vehicle;

the second wireless signal enables the noise perceived within the cabin of the vehicle to be adjusted according to the request; and

the method further comprises controlling at least one of a muffler bypass valve in the vehicle and a speaker in the cabin of the vehicle according to the request when the second wireless signal is received.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein:

the request from the user is a request to adjust the display of a user interface device in the vehicle;

the second wireless signal enables the display of the user interface device to be adjusted according to the request; and

the method further comprises adjusting the display of the user interface device according to the request when the second wireless signal is received.

22. The method of claim 12 further comprising receiving a third wireless signal indicating an offer to the user to adjust operation of the at least one of the powertrain, the display, and the noise actuator.