Speed control management systems and methods
AssigneePACCAR Inc
InventorsChristopher Balton, Zachary Slaton, Nathan Paul, Ethan A. Ott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for controlling an amount of torque generated by an engine of a vehicle. The amount of torque may be controlled by limiting an amount of fuel or air or a combination thereof being provided to the engine. In some situations, controlling the amount of torque generated by the engine may be utilized to gradually limit the vehicle's acceleration, which in turn, may influence driver shifting strategies.
Claims20
A method of controlling an amount of torque being generated by an engine of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- determining whether a speed of the engine exceeds an engine speed control target;
- when the speed of the engine exceeds the engine speed control target, identifying a starting speed, the starting speed being indicative of the rotational speed of the engine at a time in which the rotation speed of the engine exceeded the speed control target;
- increasing the engine speed control target over time;
- and
- limiting the amount of torque generated by the engine to produce a fuel powered rotational speed of the engine that is equal to or less than the engine speed control target at any given point in time.
An electronic control unit comprising:
- a data store configured to store a current starting engine speed and a plurality of speed control targets, each speed control target being a function of gear ratio;
- an engine speed limit generator configured to obtain a predetermined speed control target for the current vehicle transmission gear ratio and to determine dynamic engine speed targets as a function of time, gear ratio, and current starting engine speed;
- and
- a torque governor coupled to the engine speed limit generator and configured to generate a signal indicative of a torque limit to be supplied to one or more devices associated with the engine.
A system for reducing acceleration of a vehicle having a current transmission gear ratio, the system comprising:
- an engine;
- a fuel control device coupled to the engine and configured to control an amount of fuel supplied to the engine in response to signals;
- and
- a speed control electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the fuel control device, the speed control ECU configured to:
- i. obtain the current transmission gear ratio and identify a speed control target as a function thereof;
- ii. determine dynamic engine speed targets as a function of the current transmission gear ratio and of time;
- iii. generate a signal indicative of an amount to limit fuel supplied to the engine based on the determined dynamic engine speed targets at a given point in time;
- and
- iv. provide the signal to the fuel control device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.