System and method for real-time electronic engine control

• US 6,535,811 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Holley Performance Products Incorporated (High Performance Industries, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Holley Performance Products Incorporated (High Performance Industries, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meaney, John D., Claiborne, Jimmy D., Rowland, Zach L., Heath, David Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolinar, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US09/699,407
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 701/115
• US Class Current: 701/115
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2487 Methods for rewriting
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/263 the program execution being modifiable by physical parameters

Abstract

A method and system for controlling an engine is disclosed. The method and system accomplish engine control based on one or more defined relationships. The present invention permits a user to adjust the defined relationships that are used to control the engine. Those adjustments are rewritten to the controller in real-time without interrupting the control operation.

Claims

1. An engine control system for providing electronic control signals to an engine comprising:

one or more sensors for producing input signals in response to engine operating conditions;

one or more control apparatus responsive to the electronic control signals and operative to control engine operating conditions;

an electronic control unit operative to produce the electronic control signals in response to the input signals based on a set of defined relationships, and comprising a memory, the memory comprising;

a working storage area operative to store the set of defined relationships during operation of the electronic control unit, and

a second storage area operative to store the set of defined relationships when the electronic control unit loses power;

a user controller permitting viewing and modifying the set of defined relationships;

wherein the electronic control unit and the user controller enable selective rewriting of the set of defined relationships in real-time without interrupting control operation.

2. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein the memory comprises a non-volatile static RAM.

3. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein the set of defined relationships comprises a set of look-up tables.

4. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein the electronic control unit further comprises a microcontroller responsive to the input signal.

5. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein the electronic control unit further comprises a flash memory for storing executable code for the electronic control unit.

6. The engine control system of claim 5 wherein the flash memory comprises memory that may be rewritten to change the executable code for the electronic control unit.

7. A method of controlling an engine comprising:

providing one or more input signals in response to engine operating conditions;

producing electronic control signals in response to the input signals based on a set of defined relationships;

selectively modifying the set of defined relationships in real-time without interrupting the production of electronic control signals;

storing the set of defined relationships in a working storage area of a memory unit during operation;

storing the set of defined relationships in a second storage area of the memory unit upon power loss;

wherein the electronic control signals are used by one or more control apparatus that are operative to control engine operating conditions.

8. The engine control method of claim 7 wherein the set of defined relationships comprises a set of look-up tables.

9. The engine control method of claim 7 wherein modifying the set of defined relationships comprises modifying one or more entries in the set of look-up tables.

10. The engine control method of claim 7 further comprising storing a log of modifications that are made to the set of defined relationships.

11. The engine control system of claim 7 wherein the memory unit comprises a non-volatile static RAM.