IP Library Granted Patent US 12,228,087
Granted Patent B2
US 12,228,087 · App. 18/280,409 · Granted Feb 18, 2025

System for controlling an electronic throttle body

Inventors: Andreas D. Dixon (Cass City, MI); Bradley J. Roche (Millington, MI)
Assignee: Walbro LLC
F02D41/1401F02D41/20F02D2041/1432F02D2041/202
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,228,087
App. No.
18/280,409
Filed
Sep 5, 2023
Granted
Feb 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3747
USPC
701/101
Abstract

A system for controlling an electronic throttle body includes an engine speed setting device having a first terminal coupled to a source for a reference voltage, a second terminal coupled to a first end of a conductor and means for varying a level of resistance between the first and second terminals. The level of resistance is indicative of a desired engine speed. The second terminal outputs an analog engine speed signal indicative of the desired engine speed on the conductor. An electronic control module includes an engine speed signal processing circuit including a resistor coupled between a node located between the first and second ends of the conductor and one of a voltage supply and a voltage return. A controller coupled to the second end of the conductor is configured to generate a control signal for the electronic throttle body responsive to the engine speed signal.

Claims (33)

1. A system for controlling an electronic throttle body, comprising:

an engine speed setting device, comprising

a first terminal coupled to a source for a reference voltage;

a second terminal coupled to a first end of a conductor; and

means for varying a level of resistance between the first and second terminals, the level of resistance indicative of a desired engine speed and the second terminal outputting an analog engine speed signal indicative of the desired engine speed on the conductor; and,

an electronic control module, comprising

an engine speed signal processing circuit including a first resistor coupled between a first node located between the first end and a second end of the conductor and one of a voltage supply and a voltage return; and,

a controller coupled to the second end of the conductor and configured to generate a control signal for the electronic throttle body responsive to the engine speed signal, wherein the engine speed signal processing circuit includes a second resistor coupled between the first node and the other of the voltage supply and the voltage return, and wherein the engine speed signal processing circuit includes a first activation circuit for the first resistor configured to control current flow from the one of the voltage supply and the voltage return through the first resistor and a second activation circuit for the second resistor configured to control current flow from the other of the voltage supply and the voltage return through the second resistor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the engine speed signal processing circuit includes a second resistor coupled between a second node located between the first and second ends of the conductor and the one of the voltage supply and the voltage return.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the second resistor has a resistance that differs from the resistance of the first resistor.

4. A system for controlling an electronic throttle body, comprising:

an engine speed setting device, comprising

a first terminal coupled to a source for a reference voltage;

a second terminal coupled to a first part of a conductor; and

means for varying a level of resistance between the first and second terminals, the level of resistance indicative of a desired engine speed and the second terminal outputting an analog engine speed signal indicative of the desired engine speed on the conductor; and,

an electronic control module, comprising

an engine speed signal processing circuit including a first resistor coupled between a first node located between the first part and a second part of the conductor and one of a voltage supply and a voltage return; and

a controller coupled to the second part of the conductor, the controller configured to measure a voltage of the engine speed signal and a voltage of the voltage supply and to generate a control signal for the electronic throttle body responsive to a ratio of the voltage of the engine speed signal and the voltage of the voltage supply, wherein the engine speed signal processing circuit includes a second resistor coupled between the first node and the other of the voltage supply and the voltage return, and wherein the engine speed signal processing circuit includes a first activation circuit for the first resistor configured to control current flow from the one of the voltage supply and the voltage return through the first resistor, and a second activation circuit for the second resistor configured to control current flow from the other of the voltage supply and the voltage return through the second resistor.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the engine speed signal processing circuit includes a second resistor coupled between a second node located between the first and second parts of the conductor and the one of the voltage supply and the voltage return.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the second resistor has a resistance that differs from the resistance of the first resistor.

7. A system for controlling a motor, comprising:

an input device, comprising

a first terminal coupled to a source for a reference voltage;

a second terminal coupled to a conductor; and

means for varying a level of resistance between the first and second terminals, the level of resistance indicative of a desired speed or position of the motor and the second terminal outputting an analog signal indicative of the desired speed or position of the motor on the conductor; and,

an electronic control module, comprising

a signal processing circuit including a first resistor coupled between a first node located between the connection of the second terminal and the conductor and a second portion of the conductor and one of a voltage supply and a voltage return; and,

a controller coupled to the second portion of the conductor and configured to generate a control signal for the motor responsive to the analog signal, wherein the signal processing circuit includes a second resistor coupled between the first node and the other of the voltage supply and the voltage return, and wherein the signal processing circuit includes a first activation circuit for the first resistor configured to control current flow from the one of the voltage supply and the voltage return through the first resistor and a second activation circuit for the second resistor configured to control current flow from the other of the voltage supply and the voltage return through the second resistor.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the signal processing circuit includes a second resistor coupled between a second node located between the first and second ends of the conductor and the one of the voltage supply and the voltage return.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the second resistor has a resistance that differs from the resistance of the first resistor.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for varying a level of resistance includes one or more potentiometers, one or more resistors and corresponding switches, or both.

11. The system of claim 4 wherein the means for varying a level of resistance includes one or more potentiometers, one or more resistors and corresponding switches, or both.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the means for varying a level of resistance includes one or more potentiometers, one or more resistors and corresponding switches, or both.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2026
From: OVERDRIVE ACQUISITION, LLC
To: POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC.
Reel/Frame 075242/0950 →
STATEMENT REGARDING RELEASE OF LIENS IN PATENTS, INCLUDING LIEN IN FAVOR OF GLAS USA LLC RECORDED AT R/F 071674/0688 Recorded Mar 25, 2026
From: FIRST BRANDS GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC
To: WALBRO LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS WALBRO ENGINE MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.)
Reel/Frame 075247/0779 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 18, 2025
From: AIRTEX INDUSTRIES, LLC; AIRTEX PRODUCTS, LP; APC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC; APC PARENT, LLC; ASC INDUSTRIES, INC.; AUTOLITE OPERATIONS LLC; AVM EXPORT, INC.; BPI ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC; BPI EC, LLC; BPI HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL, LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC CHINA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC INDIA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC LLC; CARDONE INDUSTRIES, INC.; CARRAND COMPANIES, INC.; CARTER CARBURETOR HOLDINGS, LLC; CARTER CARBURETOR, LLC; CARTER FUEL EXPORT, INC.; CARTER FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC; CHAMPION LABORATORIES, INC.; CWD HOLDING, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS I, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II, LLC; CWD, LLC; DALTON CORPORATION; DALTON CORPORATION, KENDALLVILLE; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, ASHLAND; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, STRYKER MACHINING FACILITY CO.; DALTON CORPORATION, WARSAW MANUFACTURING FACILITY; EAGLE CASTING, LLC; EAGLE MACHINING, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP INTERMEDIATE, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP, LLC; FRAM GROUP IP LLC; FRAM GROUP OPERATIONS LLC; FRAMAUTO HOLDINGS, LLC; FUEL FILTER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GLOBAL REMAN VENTURES, LLC; HEATHERTON HOLDINGS, LLC; HOPKINS ACQUISITION, INC.; HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION; HORIZON EURO FINANCE LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL COMPANY LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; HORIZON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; IBI INTERNATIONAL HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; INTERNATIONAL BRAKE INDUSTRIES, INC.; JASPER ACQUISITION CORP.; JASPER RUBBER PRODUCTS, INC.; KTRI HOLDINGS, INC.; KTRI OFFSHORE HOLDINGS, LLC; LONGMAN ENTERPRISES, INC.; PHNX ACQUISITION CORP.; PREMIER MARKETING GROUP, LLC; PYLON MANUFACTURING CORP.; PYLON SOUTH BEND, INC.; QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE, L.L.C.; QUALIS ENTERPRISES, LLC; QUALITOR ACQUISITION INC.; QUALITOR AUTOMOTIVE, LLC; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY H, INC.; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY S, INC.; QUALITOR, INC.; REMAN MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC; SDC TX, LLC; SMART CHOICE, LLC; SPECIALTY PUMPS GROUP, INC.; STRONGARM, LLC; TAE BRAKES, LLC; TAE CHINA HOLDINGS, INC.; TMD INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; TMD MEXICO LLC; TOLEDO MOLDING & DIE, LLC; TRANSPORTATION AFTERMARKET ENTERPRISE, LLC; TRICO HOLDING CORPORATION; TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION; TRICO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; TRIDONEX USA LLC; UCI ACQUISITION HOLDINGS (NO. 4) LLC; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS PARENT, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL, LLC; UCI PENNSYLVANIA, INC.; UCI-AIRTEX HOLDINGS, INC.; UNITED COMPONENTS, LLC; UNIVERSAL AUTO FILTER LLC; VIPER ACQUISITION I, INC.; VIPER ACQUISITION, INC.; WALBRO LLC; WALBRO MIDCO LLC; WEM US CO.
To: GLAS USA LLC
Reel/Frame 071674/0688 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2023
From: DIXON, ANDREAS D.; ROCHE, BRADLEY J.
To: WALBRO LLC
Reel/Frame 064802/0237 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63166668 · Mar 26, 2021
Related Publication 20240301837A1 · Sep 12, 2024
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