IP Library Granted Patent US 7,305,295
Granted Patent B2
US 7,305,295 · App. 10/831,335 · Granted Dec 4, 2007

Throttle limiting for an internal combustion engine

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,305,295
App. No.
10/831,335
Granted
Dec 4, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A throttle limit control for an internal combustion engine throttle control is disclosed. Rate limiting is applied to prevent excessive rates of change in throttle actuation. Throttle pedal authority is continually maintained and throttle headroom is not compromised thereby. Application to various systems including conventional and adaptive cruise systems and power take-off systems is envisioned.

Claims (31)

1. Method for controlling throttle change in an internal combustion engine powered vehicle, comprising:

providing a throttle actuation limit substantially corresponding to an operator selected throttle pedal angle;

providing a requested throttle actuation corresponding to an automated throttle position control; and

limiting the rate of change of the throttle when the requested throttle actuation is above said throttle actuation limit.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said automated throttle position control comprises a vehicular cruise control.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said automated throttle position control comprises a vehicular power take-off control.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein limiting the rate of change of the throttle is effected at a rate substantially corresponding to the smaller of a predetermined rate and the rate of change of the requested throttle actuation.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the vehicular cruise control comprises controlling the vehicle speed to a set speed and wherein limiting the rate of change of the throttle is effected at a rate substantially corresponding to the smaller of a first predetermined rate and the rate of change of the requested throttle actuation when the vehicle speed is below the set speed and at a rate substantially corresponding to the smaller of a second predetermined rate and the rate of change of the requested throttle actuation when the vehicle speed is above the set speed.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein throttle changes are further limited by the throttle actuation limit when the vehicle speed is above the set speed.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein limiting the rate of change of the throttle is effected at a rate substantially corresponding to the greater of the throttle actuation limit and a predetermined rate.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the vehicular power take-off control comprises controlling the engine speed to a set speed and wherein limiting, the rate of change of the throttle is effected at a rate substantially corresponding to the greater of the throttle actuation limit and a first predetermined rate when the engine speed is below the set speed and at a rate substantially corresponding to the greater of the throttle actuation limit and a second predetermined rate when the engine speed is above the set speed.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein the vehicular power take-off control comprises controlling the engine speed to a set speed and limiting the rate of change of the set speed.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein the vehicular power take-off control comprises controlling the engine speed to a set speed and limiting the rate of change of the set speed, and wherein limiting the rate of change of the throttle is effected at a rate substantially corresponding to the greater of the throttle actuation limit and a first predetermined rate when the engine speed is below the set speed and at a rate substantially corresponding to the greater of the throttle actuation limit and a second predetermined rate when the engine speed is above the set speed.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein limiting the rate of change of the throttle is effected at a rate established as a function of engine speed and vehicle speed.

12. Method for controlling a throttle in an internal combustion engine, comprising:

providing a first throttle actuation request substantially corresponding to an operator selected throttle pedal angle;

providing a second throttle actuation request corresponding to an automated throttle position control;

effecting throttle changes substantially in accordance with said first throttle actuation request when said first throttle actuation request exceeds said second throttle actuation request; and

rate limiting throttle changes when said first throttle actuation request does not exceed said second throttle actuation request.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said automated throttle position control comprises a vehicular cruise control.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said automated throttle position control comprises a vehicular power take-off control.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein rate limiting throttle changes is effected at a rate substantially corresponding to the smaller of a predetermined rate and the rate of change of the first second throttle actuation request.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the vehicular cruise control comprises controlling the vehicle speed to a set speed and wherein rate limiting throttle changes is effected at a rate substantially corresponding to the smaller of a first predetermined rate and the rate of change of the second throttle actuation request when the vehicle speed is below the set speed and at a rate substantially corresponding to the smaller of a second predetermined rate and the rate of change of the second throttle actuation request when the vehicle speed is above the set speed.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein throttle changes are further limited by the first throttle actuation request when the vehicle speed is above the set speed.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein rate limiting throttle changes is effected at a rate substantially corresponding to the greater of the rate of change of the first throttle actuation request and a predetermined rate.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the vehicular power take-off control comprises controlling the engine speed to a set speed and wherein rate limiting throttle changes is effected at a rate in accordance with the greater of the second throttle actuation request and a first predetermined rate when the engine speed is below the set speed and at a rate in accordance with the greater of the second throttle actuation request and a second predetermined rate when the engine speed is above the set speed.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the vehicular power take-off control comprises controlling the engine speed to a set speed and limiting the rate of change of the set speed.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein the vehicular power take-off control comprises controlling the engine speed to a set speed and limiting the rate of change of the set speed, and wherein rate limiting throttle changes is effected at a rate in accordance with the greater of the second throttle actuation request and a first predetermined rate when the engine speed is below the set speed and at a rate in accordance with the greater of the second throttle actuation request and a second predetermined rate when the engine speed is above the set speed.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein rate limiting throttle changes is effected at a rate established as a function of engine speed and vehicle speed.

23. The method of claim 4 wherein said predetermined rate is determined as a function of engine speed and vehicle speed.

24. The method of claim 15 wherein said predetermined rate is determined as a function of engine speed and vehicle speed.

Assignments (14)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034371/0676 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025780/0902 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025327/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025311/0770 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0442 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0052 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023127/0468 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0429 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022553/0446 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0610 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2009
From: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022117/0022 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2004
From: BAUERLE, PAUL A.; KATRAK, KERFEGAR; SHULER, BARBARA A.; O'LEARY, PATRICK J.
To: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014888/0973 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2004
From: BAUERLE, PAUL A.; KATRAK, KERFEGAR K.; SHULER, BARBARA A.; O'LEARY, PATRICK J.
To: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014983/0459 →