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US 10,086,698 B2Granted
Electronic throttle control
AssigneePolaris Industries Inc.
InventorsKarl J. Grajkowski, Amber P. Malone, Eric P. Nault, Steven C. Erickson, Brian R. Gillingham, Ryan D. Carlson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A recreational vehicle includes a seatbelt sensor configured to detect when a seatbelt is in an engaged position or a disengaged position and an engine control module in communication with the seatbelt sensor to automatically limit a maximum speed of the vehicle to a reduced maximum speed limit upon detection of the seatbelt is in the disengaged position.
Claims18
A recreational vehicle comprising:
- a chassis;
- a plurality of wheels;
- a suspension coupled between the plurality of wheels and the chassis to support the chassis;
- an engine supported by the chassis;
- a seat supported by the chassis;
- a seatbelt to secure a driver within the seat;
- a seatbelt sensor configured to detect when the seatbelt is in an engaged position or a disengaged position;
- a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the vehicle;
- a throttle valve configured to regulate engine power;
- a throttle input device configured to control the throttle valve;
- a user input to permit a user to set a maximum speed limit for the vehicle;
- an engine control module in communication with the throttle valve, the seatbelt sensor, and the vehicle speed sensor, the engine control module automatically limiting the maximum speed limit to a reduced maximum speed limit upon detection of the seatbelt in the disengaged position, the engine control module automatically maintains a speed of the vehicle below the reduced maximum speed limit based on a detected engine speed and detecting an error in the vehicle speed sensor;
- and
- a GPS device coupled to the engine control module for tracking a location of vehicle and communicating the tracked location to the engine control module.
11 more elements
A recreational vehicle comprising:
- a chassis;
- a plurality of wheels;
- a suspension coupled between the plurality of wheels and the chassis to support the chassis;
- an engine supported by the chassis;
- a seat supported by the chassis;
- a seatbelt to secure a driver within the seat;
- a seatbelt sensor configured to detect when the seatbelt is in an engaged position or a disengaged position;
- a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the vehicle;
- a throttle valve configured to regulate engine power;
- a throttle input device configured to control the throttle valve;
- an engine control module in communication with the throttle valve, the seatbelt sensor, and the vehicle speed sensor, the engine control module automatically limiting a maximum speed of the vehicle to a reduced maximum speed limit upon detection of the seatbelt in the disengaged position, the engine control module automatically maintains a speed of the vehicle below the reduced maximum speed limit based on a detected engine speed and detecting an error in the vehicle speed sensor;
- the throttle valve configured to regulate engine power and air intake into the engine, the engine control module being configured to control the throttle valve;
- a user input device in communication with the engine control module for controlling a position of the throttle valve;
- and
- a drive mode selection device in communication with the engine control module for selecting one of a plurality of drive modes, the plurality of drive modes each providing differing variable movement of the throttle valve in response to actuation of the user input device.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.