# US 10,371,077 B2 · Systems and methods to regulate dynamic settings for engine speed control management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,077 B2 - Document ID: US10371077B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/669,657 - Filed: 2017-08-04 - Published: 2019-02-07 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-04 - Assignees: PACCAR Inc - Applicants: Dylan Scott Kleist; Victor Luis Perez; Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart - Inventors: Dylan Scott Kleist; Victor Luis Perez; Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371077B2 ## CPC - F02D 41/22: Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions {(in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809)} - F02D 9/105: {having a throttle position sensor (detection of actuation F02D11/106)} - F02D 31/009: {for maximum speed control} - F02D 41/0097: {using means for generating speed signals} - F02D 41/18: by measuring intake air flow - F02D 2200/0625: Fuel consumption, e.g. measured in fuel liters per 100 kms or miles per gallon - F02D 2200/101: Engine speed - F02D 2200/1012: Engine speed gradient - F02D 2200/501: Vehicle speed - F02D 2200/606: Driving style, e.g. sporty or economic driving - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) ## Abstract In some embodiments, a vehicle is provided having improved fuel economy by using gradual engine speed control. Once a governor activation threshold is crossed, a dynamic engine speed limit that gradually increases over time is implemented. In some embodiments, if the engine speed does not continue to rise over time, increases in the dynamic engine speed limit may be paused. In some embodiments, if the engine speed increases at too great of a rate for too long of a time, the dynamic engine speed limit may be reset. In some embodiments, increasing, pausing, and/or resetting the dynamic engine speed limit allows gradual acceleration while also avoiding torque lock. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle, comprising: an engine that includes an engine electronic control unit (engine ECU); a set of sensors that include an engine speed sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and a throttle position sensor; and an electronic control unit (ECU) communicatively coupled to the engine ECU and the sensors; wherein the ECU is configured to calculate and provide engine speed limit values to the engine ECU; wherein calculating engine speed limit values includes: detecting that an engine speed has increased beyond a governor activation threshold value; determining a dynamic engine speed limit; determining whether conditions for applying the dynamic engine speed limit are met; and while the conditions for applying the dynamic engine speed limit are met, repeatedly updating the dynamic engine speed limit to a subsequent dynamic engine speed limit; and wherein updating the dynamic engine speed limit includes: determining a current engine speed value; using a previous dynamic engine speed limit as the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit in response to determining that the current engine speed value is between the governor activation threshold value and an offset dynamic engine speed limit; using a new dynamic engine speed limit as the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit in response to determining that the current engine speed value is between the previous dynamic engine speed limit and the offset dynamic engine speed limit; and transmitting the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit to the engine ECU of the engine for implementation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein updating the dynamic engine speed limit includes checking that the conditions for applying the dynamic engine speed limit are still met; and wherein checking that the conditions for applying the dynamic engine speed limit are still met includes at least one of: detecting whether a shift has occurred; detecting that a driveline is open; and measuring an amount of time for which the current engine speed value has been below the governor activation threshold value, and determining whether the amount of time is greater than a low speed deactivation period value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein determining that the current engine speed value is between the governor activation threshold value and the offset dynamic engine speed limit includes: measuring an amount of time for which the current engine speed value has been between the governor activation threshold value and the offset dynamic engine speed limit; and determining whether the amount of time is greater than a pause activation period value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein updating the dynamic engine speed limit includes: measuring an amount of time for which a rate of change of the current engine speed value has been greater than a rate of change threshold; and in response to determining that the amount of time is greater than a rate threshold period value, using a reset dynamic engine speed limit as the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising, once the conditions for applying the dynamic engine speed limit are no longer met, transmitting a signal to the engine ECU to clear the engine speed limit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the signal to the engine to clear the engine speed limit indicates an engine speed limit that is out of bounds of normal engine speed limit settings. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein transmitting the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit to the engine for implementation comprises transmitting a TSC1 engine speed limit via a J1939-71 signal from the ECU to the engine to set an engine speed limit to be implemented by the engine. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein determining a dynamic engine speed limit includes: detecting a transmission ratio; and determining the dynamic engine speed limit based on the detected transmission ratio. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein using a new dynamic engine speed limit includes calculating the new dynamic engine speed limit by increasing the previous dynamic engine speed limit by an amount based on the detected transmission ratio. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the amount by which the previous dynamic engine speed limit is increased is further based on the current engine speed. ### Claim 11 A method, executed by an electronic control unit (ECU), of adjusting an engine speed limit for an engine of a vehicle, the method comprising: detecting that an engine speed has increased beyond a governor activation threshold value; determining a dynamic engine speed limit; determining whether conditions for applying the dynamic engine speed limit are met; and while the conditions for applying the dynamic engine speed limit are met, repeatedly updating the dynamic engine speed limit to a subsequent dynamic engine speed limit, wherein updating the dynamic engine speed limit includes: determining a current engine speed value; using a previous dynamic engine speed limit as the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit in response to determining that the current engine speed value is between the governor activation threshold value and an offset dynamic engine speed limit; using a new dynamic engine speed limit as the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit in response to determining that the current engine speed value is between the previous dynamic engine speed limit and the offset dynamic engine speed limit; and transmitting the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit to an engine electronic control unit (engine ECU) of the engine for implementation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein updating the dynamic engine speed limit includes checking that the conditions for applying the dynamic engine speed limit are still met, and wherein checking that the conditions for applying the dynamic engine speed limit are still met includes at least one of: detecting whether a shift has occurred; detecting that a driveline is open; and measuring an amount of time for which the current engine speed value has been below the governor activation threshold value, and determining whether the amount of time is greater than a low speed deactivation period value. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein determining that the current engine speed value is between the governor activation threshold value and the offset dynamic engine speed limit includes: measuring an amount of time for which the current engine speed value has been between the governor activation threshold value and the offset dynamic engine speed limit; and determining whether the amount of time is greater than a pause activation period value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein updating the dynamic engine speed limit includes: measuring an amount of time for which a rate of change of the current engine speed value has been greater than a rate of change threshold; and in response to determining that the amount of time is greater than a rate threshold period value, using a reset dynamic engine speed limit as the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising, once the conditions for applying the dynamic engine speed limit are no longer met, transmitting a signal to the engine ECU to clear the engine speed limit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the signal to the engine to clear the engine speed limit indicates an engine speed limit that is out of bounds of normal engine speed limit settings. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting the subsequent dynamic engine speed limit to the engine for implementation comprises transmitting a TSC1 engine speed limit via a J1939-71 signal from the ECU to the engine to set an engine speed limit to be implemented by the engine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein determining a dynamic engine speed limit includes: detecting a transmission ratio; and determining the dynamic engine speed limit based on the detected transmission ratio. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein using a new dynamic engine speed limit includes calculating the new dynamic engine speed limit by increasing the previous dynamic engine speed limit by an amount based on the detected transmission ratio. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the amount by which the previous dynamic engine speed limit is increased is further based on the current engine speed.