Engine output controller

A throttleless internal combustion engine system comprising:

• a plurality of cylinders each of which include a spark plug responsive to a spark advance value and at least one valve variably operable between open and closed positions and responsive to a valve timing signal, each cylinder being in fluid communication with a fuel injector responsive to a fueling rate command;
• a driver demand controller for generating a driver demanded engine speed value corresponding to an operator input;
• a speed control system for permitting vehicle operation at a constant speed and for generating a corresponding speed control system engine speed value;
• an arbitration mechanism for deriving a first desired engine speed value as a function of said driver demanded engine speed value and said speed control system engine speed value;
• a controller in operative communication with said spark plug, valve and fuel injector and containing logic for limiting said first desired engine speed value by a vehicle speed limit value, engine speed limit value, and transmission speed limit value to generate a second desired engine speed value and generating said spark advance value, valve timing signal and fueling rate command as a function of said second desired engine speed value and an actual engine speed value.

A computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by an engine controller to control a throttleless internal combustion engine having variable valve timing to provide transient engine speed control, the computer readable storage medium comprising:

• instructions for generating a driver demanded engine speed value corresponding to an operator input;
• instructions for generating a speed control system engine speed value corresponding to a predetermined speed value to permit vehicle operation at a constant speed by a speed control system;
• instructions for arbitrating between said driver demanded engine speed value and said speed control system engine speed value to derive a first desired engine speed value;
• instructions for limiting said first desired engine speed value by a vehicle speed limit value, engine speed limit value, and transmission speed limit value to generate a second desired engine speed value;
• and
• instructions for controlling said engine output by modifying at least one of a valve timing value, spark advance value, or fuel flow value as a function of said second desired engine speed value and an actual engine speed value.

A computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by an engine controller to control a throttleless internal combustion engine having variable valve timing to provide transient engine speed control, the computer readable storage medium comprising:

• instructions for generating a driver demanded vehicle speed value corresponding to an operator input;
• instructions for generating a speed control system value corresponding to a predetermined speed value to permit vehicle operation at a constant speed by a speed control system;
• instructions for arbitrating between said driver demanded vehicle speed value, said speed control system value, and a vehicle speed limit value to derive a first desired vehicle speed value;
• instructions for converting said first desired vehicle speed value to a first desired engine speed value;
• instructions for limiting said first desired engine speed value by an engine speed limit value, and transmission speed limit value to generate a second desired engine speed value;
• and
• instructions for controlling said engine output by modifying at least one of a valve timing value, spark advance value, or fuel flow value as a function of said second desired engine speed value and an actual engine speed value.