US 10,479,200 B2 · Throttle control system and method

Abstract

A throttle control system and method for use with a vehicle. The throttle control system receives an input voltage from a vehicle throttle controller. The throttle control system prepares a throttle signal and provides the throttle signal to the throttle to force deceleration to a selected speed or constrain acceleration to a selected value. Preparing the throttle signal may follow detection of maximum threshold values of speed or input voltage. The maximum threshold values may be specific to the location of the vehicle. The throttle signal and the maximum threshold values may be defined with reference to the input voltage, vehicle speed, vehicle location, or other parameters. The throttle signal may force deceleration or constrain acceleration incrementally to mitigate loss of vehicle throttle controller responsiveness to driver commands. The throttle signal may be an output voltage provided to a vehicle electronic control module.

Claims71

Dependent claims

A method of controlling a throttle on a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving speed data of a vehicle speed;
receiving location data of a vehicle location;
receiving an input voltage from a throttle controller;
accessing a maximum speed threshold value corresponding to the vehicle location;
comparing the vehicle speed with the maximum speed threshold value;
and
providing a throttle signal to the throttle;
wherein the throttle signal corresponds to the input voltage where the speed data is indicative of the vehicle speed being below the maximum speed threshold value;
and
the throttle signal corresponds to a lowered input voltage value for controlling vehicle deceleration where the speed data is indicative of the vehicle speed being greater than the maximum speed threshold value.

7 more elements

A system for controlling a throttle on a vehicle, the system comprising:

a speed data input for receiving speed data of a vehicle speed;
a location data input for receiving location data of a vehicle location;
a voltage input for receiving an input voltage from a throttle controller;
a throttle output for providing a throttle signal to the throttle;
a computer readable medium for storing a maximum speed threshold value corresponding to the location;
and
a processor in communication with the speed data input for receiving the speed data, with the location data input for receiving the location data, with the voltage input for receiving the input voltage, with the throttle output for controlling the throttle signal, and with the computer readable medium for accessing the maximum speed threshold value;
wherein the processor is configured and adapted to compare the speed data to the maximum speed threshold value;
the throttle signal corresponds to the input voltage where the speed data is indicative of the vehicle speed being below the maximum speed threshold value;
and
the throttle signal corresponds to a lowered input voltage value for controlling vehicle deceleration where the speed data is indicative of the vehicle speed being greater than the maximum speed threshold value.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Throttle control system and method

Life of this patent

Throttle control system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims71