# US 9,435,269 B2 · Vehicle and intake amount control device

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- Number: US 9,435,269 B2
- Document ID: US9435269B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/377,543
- Filed: 2013-01-18
- Published: 2015-01-29
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-02-10
- Assignees: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Manabu Fujito
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435269B2

## CPC

- F02D 9/02: concerning induction conduits (throttle valves, or arrangements thereof in conduits F02D9/08)
- F02D 11/105: {characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque}
- F02D 41/0005: {during deceleration}
- F02D 41/023: {in relation with the gear ratio shifting (conjoint control for improving gear change B60W30/19)}
- F02D 41/022: {in relation with the clutch status}
- F02D 41/222: {relating to the failure of sensors or parameter detection devices}
- F02D 2009/0201: {Arrangements; Control features; Details thereof}
- F02D 2009/0213: {Electronic or electric governor}
- F02D 2009/0235: {Throttle control functions}
- F02D 2041/228: {Warning displays}
- F02D 2200/101: Engine speed
- F02D 2200/501: Vehicle speed
- F02D 2200/602: Pedal position
- F02D 2250/18: Control of the engine output torque
- Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems
- 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)
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

In a vehicle, a CPU of an ECU calculates a rotation speed of an engine based on an assumption that a clutch is in a connected state based on a speed of a vehicle detected by a vehicle speed sensor as a hypothetical engine rotation speed. Subsequently, the CPU acquires a target degree of opening of a throttle valve based on the calculated hypothetical engine rotation speed and a set target engine torque. Then, the CPU controls a throttle drive device such that an actual degree of opening of the throttle valve is the acquired degree of opening.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle comprising:
a main body;
an engine that generates a torque to move the main body;
a drive wheel driven by the engine;
a clutch that switches between a connected state in which the torque is transmitted between the engine and the drive wheel, and a disconnected state in which the torque is not transmitted between the engine and the drive wheel;
an intake amount adjustor that adjusts an intake amount of the engine by changing a control parameter corresponding to the intake amount of the engine;
a movement speed detector that detects a movement speed of the main body; and
a controller programmed or configured to, during deceleration of the vehicle and at least when the clutch is in the disconnected state:
calculate a hypothetical engine rotation speed, the hypothetical engine rotation speed being a rotation speed of the engine calculated based on the movement speed detected by the movement speed detector and an assumption that the clutch is in the connected state; and
acquire a target value of the control parameter as a first value based on the hypothetical engine rotation speed and a set target engine torque, and to set the control parameter of the intake amount adjustor to the first value.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a gear ratio detector that detects a gear ratio between the engine and the drive wheel; wherein
the controller is programmed or configured to calculate the hypothetical engine rotation speed based on the movement speed detected by the movement speed detector, the gear ratio detected by the gear ratio detector, and a peripheral length of the drive wheel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed or configured to store in advance a relationship among the torque generated by the engine, the rotation speed of the engine, and the control parameter, and to acquire a value of the control parameter corresponding to the hypothetical engine rotation speed and the set target engine torque as the first value based on the stored relationship.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the intake amount adjustor includes at least one intake path that leads air to the engine and at least one valve provided in the at least one intake path, and the control parameter includes a degree of opening of the at least one valve.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the at least one valve is a throttle valve, and the degree of opening of the at least one valve is a degree of opening of the throttle valve.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:
an operation element operated by a rider in order to adjust the control parameter corresponding to the intake amount of the engine; and
an operation amount detector that detects an operation amount of the operation element by the rider; wherein
the controller is programmed or configured to acquire a value of the control parameter corresponding to the operation amount detected by the operation amount detector as a second value, to set the control parameter of the intake amount adjustor to the first value when the acquired second value is smaller than the acquired first value, and to set the control parameter of the intake amount adjustor to the second value when the acquired second value is not less than the acquired first value.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the controller is programmed or configured to determine whether or not the operation amount detector is normal, and to set the control parameter of the intake amount adjustor to the first value when the operation amount detector is not normal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of values are set in advance as the target engine torque; and the vehicle further comprises an engine torque switch that is operated by a rider in order to select one value of the plurality of values.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a roll angle detector that detects a roll angle of the main body, wherein the controller is programmed or configured to correct the set target engine torque based on the roll angle detected by the roll angle detector, and to acquire the first value based on the corrected target engine torque.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a steering angle detector that detects a steering angle defined by a moving direction of the main body with respect to a front-to-rear direction of the main body, wherein the controller is programmed or configured to correct the set target engine torque based on the steering angle detected by the steering angle detector and to acquire the first value based on the corrected target engine torque.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a friction coefficient acquirer that acquires a friction coefficient between the drive wheel and a ground surface, wherein the controller is programmed or configured to correct the set target engine torque based on the friction coefficient acquired by the friction coefficient acquirer and to acquire the first value based on the corrected target engine torque.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of wheels that include at least the drive wheel, wherein the movement speed detector detects the movement speed of the main body based on a rotation speed of at least one wheel of the plurality of wheels.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of wheels include a non-drive wheel that is not driven by the engine, and the movement speed detector detects the movement speed of the main body based on a rotation speed of the non-drive wheel.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of wheels include a front wheel and a rear wheel, and the movement speed detector detects the movement speed of the main body based on a rotation speed of the front wheel.

### Claim 15

An intake amount control device for controlling an intake amount of an engine on a vehicle including the engine, a clutch, and an intake amount adjustor, the intake amount adjustor adjusts an intake amount of the engine by changing a control parameter corresponding to the intake amount of the engine, the intake amount control device comprising:
a movement speed detector that detects a movement speed of the vehicle; and
a controller programmed or configured to, during deceleration of the vehicle and at least when the clutch is in a disconnected state:
calculate a hypothetical engine rotation speed, the hypothetical engine rotation speed being a rotation speed of the engine based on the movement speed detected by the movement speed detector and an assumption that the clutch is in the connected state; and
acquire a target value of a control parameter as a first value based on the hypothetical engine rotation speed and a set target engine torque, and to set a control parameter of the intake amount adjustor to the first value.