# US 2014/0156175 A1 · Driver alert and de-rate control system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156175 A1 - Document ID: US20140156175A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/094,333 - Filed: 2013-12-02 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-01 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Henry Todd Young; Kenneth Paul Nedley; Sean Cillessen; Timothy Warren Brown - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156175A1 ## CPC - F02D 29/02: peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers - B60W 50/14: Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention - F02D 41/1461: {of the exhaust gases emitted by the engine} - F02D 41/26: using computer, e.g. microprocessor - F02D 2200/1002: Output torque - F02D 2200/1012: Engine speed gradient - F02D 2200/501: Vehicle speed - F02D 2200/701: Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal - F02D 2250/18: Control of the engine output torque - F02D 2250/26: by applying a torque limit - 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) - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT ## Abstract A driver alert and de-rate control system for a vehicle includes a sensor configured to monitor an engine operating condition, and a control unit in communication with the sensor. The control unit is configured to estimate a time until automatic de-rate of the engine based on the engine operating condition and to modify a performance parameter of the vehicle in dependence upon the estimated time until automatic de-rate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for a vehicle, comprising: a sensor configured to monitor an engine operating condition of an engine of the vehicle; and a control unit configured to communicate with the sensor; wherein the control unit is configured to determine an estimated time until automatic de-rate of the engine based on the engine operating condition; and wherein the control unit is configured to modify a performance parameter of the vehicle in dependence upon the estimated time until automatic de-rate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the control unit is further configured to receive a signal indicative of the engine operating condition, compare the signal to an allowable range of engine operation conditions, and predict a future engine performance based on the comparison. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the sensor is a NOx sensor and the engine operating condition is a concentration of NOx. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a driver alert mechanism, the driver alert mechanism being configured to issue a pre-emptive warning indicating modification of the performance parameter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein: the pre-emptive warning is one or more of lights, sounds, or vibrations. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a location tracking mechanism configured to communicate with the control unit, the location tracking mechanism being configured to relay to the control unit a signal relating to a geographic location of the vehicle, wherein the control unit is configured to modify the performance parameter based on the geographic location of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the control unit is configured to determine the estimated time until automatic de-rate based on drive system parameters of a drive system of the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the performance parameter is at least one of engine acceleration rate, traction horsepower, or vehicle speed. ### Claim 9 A method for controlling an engine of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: estimating at least one automatic de-rate characteristic; issuing a pre-emptive warning to an operator of the vehicle of the at least one automatic de-rate characteristic; and modifying a performance parameter of the vehicle to avoid automatic de-rate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein: the at least one automatic de-rate characteristic is a time until automatic de-rate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein: the at least one automatic de-rate characteristic is a location of the vehicle in a haul cycle at the time of automatic de-rate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein: the step of modifying the performance parameter of the vehicle includes at least one of limiting an engine acceleration rate, limiting fraction horsepower, or limiting a speed of the vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein: the step of modifying the performance parameter of the vehicle includes utilizing variable engine acceleration rate, traction horsepower, and speed limits based on a position of the vehicle in a haul route and at least one learned parameter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein: the at least one learned parameter is a speed of the vehicle in a previous haul cycle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of: issuing a secondary warning to the operator indicating the modified performance parameter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein: the step of estimating the at least one automatic de-rate characteristic includes receiving a signal indicative of a current engine operation, comparing the signal to an allowable range of engine operation, and predicting a future engine performance based on the comparison. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein: the signal is indicative of a NOx emissions level. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of: receiving data relating to a geographic location of the vehicle; wherein the step of modifying the performance parameter of the vehicle to avoid automatic de-rate is based on the data relating to the geographic location. ### Claim 19 A system for a vehicle, comprising: a sensor configured to monitor an engine operating condition of an engine of the vehicle; and a control unit configured to communicate with the sensor; wherein the control unit is configured to estimate a time until automatic de-rate of the engine and a location in a haul cycle where the de-rate will occur based on the engine operating condition; and wherein the control unit is configured to modify a performance parameter of the vehicle in dependence upon the estimated time until, and location of, automatic de-rate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein: the sensor is a NOx sensor and the operating condition is a concentration of NOx.