Fuel conservation systems and methods

A method, of conserving fuel used by a combustion engine, comprising:

• receiving as an input to an engine power module a first function comprising a user-specified power output of a combustion engine over a time duration;
• processing the first function into a second function comprising a directive power output of the engine over the time duration;
• wherein the second function has at least one region of equal or increased engine power output relative to the user-specified engine power output;
• wherein the second function has at least one region of decreased engine power output relative to the user-specified engine power output;
• wherein, when the engine outputs power equal to the directive power output of the engine over the time duration, the engine consumes less fuel than the engine would have consumed if the engine outputted power equal to the user-specified power output of the engine over the time duration;
• wherein the engine performs substantially the same amount of work under the directive power output over the time duration as the engine would perform under the user-specified power output over the time duration;
• and
• outputting, to an engine control module, the second function, such that the engine outputs power according to the directive power output of the engine over the time duration;
• wherein the processing of the first function into the second function comprises application of a transform T, such that F2(n)=T F1(n), where
• F2 is the second function;
• F1 is the first function;
• and
• n is an ordered index number of an nth discrete sample, where n ε {0, 1,2, . . . ∞};
• and
• wherein T comprises ke−2πiΩ(n-d)−Z, where
• k is a constant;
• e is an exponential;
• i is the imaginary number √{square root over (−1)};
• Ω is a frequency in cycles per sample interval;
• Z is a constant;
• and
• d is a delay constant.

An engine control system, comprising:

• a processing module that couples to a combustion engine powering a vehicle, the processing module configured to:
• receive a first function comprising a user-specified power output of the engine over a time duration;
• process the first function into a second function comprising a directive power output of the engine over the time duration, wherein the second function has at least one region of equal or increased engine power output and at least one region of decreased engine power output, relative to the user-specified engine power output;
• wherein, when the engine outputs power equal to the directive power output of the engine over the time duration, the engine consumes less fuel than the engine would have consumed if the engine outputted power equal to the user-specified power output of the engine over the time duration;
• wherein the engine performs substantially the same amount of work under the directive power output over the time duration as the engine would perform under the user-specified power output over the time duration;
• and
• output the second function to an engine control module, such that the engine outputs power according to the directive power output of the engine over the time duration;
• wherein the vehicle travels continuously at substantially the same speed under the directive power output as it would under the user-specified power output.

An engine control system, comprising:

• a processing module that couples to a combustion engine, the processing module configured to:
• receive a first function comprising a user-specified power output of the engine over a time duration;
• process the first function into a second function comprising a directive power output of the engine over the time duration, wherein the second function has at least one region of equal or increased engine power output and at least one region of decreased engine power output, relative to the user-specified engine power output;
• wherein, when the engine outputs power equal to the directive power output of the engine over the time duration, the engine consumes less fuel than the engine would have consumed if the engine outputted power equal to the user-specified power output of the engine over the time duration;
• wherein the engine performs substantially the same amount of work under the directive power output over the time duration as the engine would perform under the user-specified power output over the time duration;
• and
• output the second function to an engine control module, such that the engine outputs power according to the directive power output of the engine over the time duration;
• wherein the processing of the first function into the second function comprises application of a transform T, such that F2(n)=T F1(n), where
• F2 is the second function;
• F1 is the first function;
• and
• n is an ordered index number of an nth discrete sample, where n ε {0, 1,2, . . . ∞};
• and
• wherein T comprises ke−2πiΩ(n-d)−Z, where
• k is a constant;
• e is an exponential;
• i is the imaginary number √{square root over (−1)};
• Ω is a frequency in cycles per sample interval;
• Z is a constant;
• and
• d is a delay constant.

A method of conserving energy used by a device, comprising:

• receiving as an input to a power controller a first function comprising a first power output of a device powering a vehicle over a time period, the device consisting essentially of a combustion engine;
• processing by a processor the first function into a second function comprising a second power output of the device over the time period;
• wherein the second function has at least one region of equal or increased power output relative to the first power output;
• wherein the second function has at least one region of decreased power output relative to the first power output;
• wherein, when the device outputs power equal to the second power output over the time period, the device consumes less energy than the device would have consumed if the device outputted power equal to the first power output over the time period;
• wherein the device performs substantially the same amount of work under the second power output over the time period as the device would perform under the first power output over the time period;
• and
• directing the device to output power according to the second power output over the time period;
• wherein the vehicle travels continuously at substantially the same speed under the second power output as it would under the first power output.

A method of conserving energy used by a device, comprising:

• receiving as an input to a power controller a first function comprising a first power output of a device over a time period, the device consisting essentially of a combustion engine;
• processing by a processor the first function into a second function comprising a second power output of the device over the time period;
• wherein the second function has at least one region of equal or increased power output relative to the first power output;
• wherein the second function has at least one region of decreased power output relative to the first power output;
• wherein, when the device outputs power equal to the second power output over the time period, the device consumes less energy than the device would have consumed if the device outputted power equal to the first power output over the time period;
• wherein the device performs substantially the same amount of work under the second power output over the time period as the device would perform under the first power output over the time period;
• and
• directing the device to output power according to the second power output over the time period;
• wherein the processing of the first function into the second function comprises application of a transform T, such that F2(n)=T F1(n), where
• F2 is the second function;
• F1 is the first function;
• and
• n is an ordered index number of an nth discrete sample, where n ε {0, 1,2, . . . ∞};
• and
• wherein T comprises ke−2πiΩ(n-d)−Z, where
• k is a constant;
• e is an exponential;
• i is the imaginary number √{square root over (−1)};
• Ω is a frequency in cycles per sample interval;
• Z is a constant;
• and
• d is a delay constant.