Analog controller for electronic throttle body
AssigneeDiscovery Energy, LLC
InventorsTerrence M. Rotter, Jonathan T. Bykowski, William D. Koenigs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A throttle assembly for an engine may include a remote throttle lever, a sensor, and a terminal. The remote throttle lever may be coupled physically to a user input device and operable to be moved under control of the user input device. The sensor is configured to detect a position of the remote throttle lever and generate an output signal indicative of the position of the remote throttle lever. The terminal configured to provide the output signal to a controller of the engine.
Claims21
A throttle control device for an engine, the throttle control device comprising:
- a throttle lever configured to receive user input, wherein the throttle lever is movable within a range of positions including a first position and a second position in response to the user input;
- a sensor configured to detect the position of the throttle lever in the range of positions and generate an output signal indicative of the position of the throttle lever;
- a terminal configured to provide the output signal to a controller of the engine;
- and
- a calibration input configured to reset a reference position of the sensor relative to the throttle lever to the second position when the calibration input is actuated by a user after moving the throttle lever to the second position.
An engine comprising:
- an electronic control unit;
- a throttle control device comprising:
- a throttle lever configured to receive user input, wherein the throttle lever is movable within a range of positions including a first position and a second position in response to the user input;
- a sensor configured to detect the position of the throttle lever in the range of positions and generate an output signal indicative of the position of the throttle lever;
- a terminal configured to provide the output signal to the electronic control unit of the engine;
- and
- a calibration input configured to reset a reference position of the sensor relative to the throttle lever to the second position as a result of a user moving the throttle lever from the first position to the second position and actuating the calibration input;
- and
- an actuator configured to operate a throttle of the engine in response to a throttle position signal from the electronic control unit.
A method for operating a throttle of an engine, the method comprising:
- receiving a user input at a throttle lever of a throttle control device;
- detecting a position of the throttle lever via a sensor of the throttle control device;
- generating an output signal indicative of the position of the throttle lever;
- calibrating the throttle lever via a calibration input of the throttle control device, the calibration input configured to reset a reference position of the sensor relative to the throttle lever in response to the throttle lever being moved to a new reference position and the calibration input being actuated;
- and
- controlling the throttle, via an actuator, according to the output signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.