IP Library Granted Patent US 8,428,836
Granted Patent B2
US 8,428,836 · App. 12/560,693 · Granted Apr 23, 2013

Driveline protection systems and methods using measured steering angle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,428,836
App. No.
12/560,693
Granted
Apr 23, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An engine control system comprises a limit determination module and a torque control module. The limit determination module selectively varies a torque limit based on a steering angle. The torque control module selectively limits torque output by an engine to the torque limit.

Claims (30)

1. An engine control system comprising:

a limit determination module that, using a mapping including torque limits indexed by steering angle, determines a torque limit based on a steering angle; and

a torque control module that selectively limits torque output by an engine to said torque limit.

2. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein said limit determination module determines said torque limit based on said steering angle and said steering angle is measured by a steering angle sensor.

3. A system comprising:

the engine control system of claim 2 ; and

the steering angle sensor.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said steering angle sensor measures said steering angle based on a position of a steering column.

5. The engine control system of claim 1 further comprising:

a transmission control module that controls transfer of torque to front and rear wheels of a vehicle; and

an enabling/disabling module that selectively disables said limit determination module when said transmission control module disables said transfer of torque to said front wheels.

6. The engine control system of claim 1 further comprising an enabling/disabling module that one of enables and disables said limit determination module based on a drive mode selected for a vehicle.

7. The engine control system of claim 6 wherein said enabling/disabling module disables said limit determination module when said drive mode is a rear wheel drive mode.

8. The engine control system of claim 6 wherein said enabling/disabling module enables said limit determination module when said drive mode is one of a four-wheel drive mode and an all-wheel drive mode.

9. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein said torque control module controls fuel supplied to said engine to limit said torque output to said torque limit.

10. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein said torque control module controls spark timing to limit said torque output to said torque limit.

11. An engine control method comprising:

using a mapping including torque limits indexed by steering angle, determining a torque limit based on a steering angle; and

selectively limiting torque output by an engine to said torque limit.

12. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising:

measuring said steering angle using a steering angle sensor.

13. The engine control method of claim 12 further comprising measuring said steering angle based on a position of a steering column.

14. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising:

controlling transfer of torque to front and rear wheels of a vehicle; and

selectively disabling said selectively limiting said torque output when said transfer of torque to said front wheels is disabled.

15. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising one of enabling and disabling said selectively limiting said torque output based on a drive mode selected for a vehicle.

16. The engine control method of claim 15 further comprising disabling said selectively limiting said torque output when said drive mode is a rear wheel drive mode.

17. The engine control method of claim 15 further comprising enabling said selectively limiting said torque output when said drive mode is one of a four-wheel drive mode and an all-wheel drive mode.

18. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising limiting an amount of fuel provided to said engine based on said torque limit.

19. The engine control method of claim 11 further comprising controlling spark timing to limit said torque output to said torque limit.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034185/0789 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0299 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0555 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0091 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025246/0234 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023990/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023989/0155 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2009
From: ANDRASKO, STEVEN J.; DEEP, BRENT T.; NEHER, SCOTT M.; HAFER, JASON P.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023310/0858 →