Multi-function engine control and input system

1. A method of controlling operation of an engine, comprising:

providing power to a control module and/or a controller included in the control module;

providing an engine start input where the engine start input is communicated with the controller;

determining or detecting actuation of the engine start input;

sending a signal from the controller to begin an engine starting procedure to start the engine;

providing multiple engine operating mode inputs via the module;

determining or detecting actuation of one of the engine operating mode inputs;

controlling the engine in accordance with one or more predetermined engine control instructions associated with the engine operating mode that is associated with the actuated engine operating input, which also includes: a) changing the engine start input to a different input after the engine has been started to increase the utility of the input; or b) changing the multiple engine operating mode inputs to a display of one or more engine operating parameters after one engine operating mode input has been actuated.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, prior to the providing power step or providing an engine start input step, the step of determining actuation of a safety device is performed wherein if actuation of the safety device has not occurred then the engine start input is not provided.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the safety device includes a switch associated with either a brake or a seat, and wherein the switch is actuated from a first state to a second state by applying the brake or by a user sitting in the seat, and wherein the engine may be started when the switch is in the second state but not in the first state.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the engine operating mode inputs each relate to a different engine operating mode, and wherein first engine operating mode includes a lower speed operating mode than a second engine operating mode, or wherein a first engine operating mode provides a quicker engine response to user inputs that does a second engine operating mode.

5. The method of claim 1 which also comprises a tool selectively driven by the engine and wherein actuation of the tool is controlled via one or more tool actuating inputs provided by the module.

6. The method of claim 1 which also comprises memory communicated with the controller and on which the predetermined engine control instructions are stored for each engine operating mode, and wherein the step of controlling the engine is accomplished by the controller retrieving from the memory the engine control instructions for the selected engine operating mode and communicating those engine control instructions with an engine controller or with a device that controls engine operation.

7. The method of claim 6 which also includes a tool driven by the engine and wherein the engine control instructions include instructions for driving the tool in accordance with a selected engine operating mode, wherein the instructions for driving the tool in a first engine operating mode are different than the instructions for driving the tool in a second engine operating mode.

8. A method of controlling operation of an engine, comprising:

providing power to a control module and/or a controller included in the control module;

providing an engine start input where the engine start input is communicated with the controller;

determining or detecting actuation of the engine start input;

sending a signal from the controller to begin an engine starting procedure to start the engine;

providing multiple engine operating mode inputs via the module;

determining or detecting actuation of one of the engine operating mode inputs;

controlling the engine in accordance with one or more predetermined engine control instructions associated with the engine operating mode that is associated with the actuated engine operating input, which includes a power take off selectively driven by the engine and a tool driven by the power take off, and wherein the engine includes a reverse operating mode and when the reverse operating mode is selected with the power take off being driven by the engine, the controller either terminates engine operation or terminates driving the power take off by the engine.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein one of the engine operating modes includes a reverse override mode in which the engine may be operated in its reverse operating mode with the power take off being driven by the engine, and wherein, when the reverse override mode is selected the controller does not terminate engine operation or terminate driving of the power take off when the reverse operating mode is selected with the power take off being driven by the engine, but when the reverse override mode is not selected the controller terminates engine operation or driving of the power take off if the reverse operating mode is selected with the power take off being driven by the engine.

10. The method of claim 9 which includes providing a time buffer that provides a time period in which actuation of the reverse operating mode after actuation of the reverse override mode can be accomplished without the controller terminating engine operation or driving of the power take off, and after the time period expires, actuating the reverse operating mode will cause the controller to terminate engine operation.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein an additional time buffer is provided to provide an additional time period after actuating the reverse operating mode after having actuated the reverse override mode to permit a subsequent actuation of the reverse operating mode within said additional time period without causing the controller to terminate engine operation or driving of the power take off.

12. A method of controlling operation of an engine, comprising:

providing power to a control module and/or a controller included in the control module;

providing an engine start input where the engine start input is communicated with the controller;

determining or detecting actuation of the engine start input;

sending a signal from the controller to begin an engine starting procedure to start the engine;

providing multiple engine operating mode inputs via the module;

determining or detecting actuation of one of the engine operating mode inputs;

controlling the engine in accordance with one or more predetermined engine control instructions associated with the engine operating mode that is associated with the actuated engine operating input, which also includes limiting initial engine operation after starting to a predetermined initial engine operating mode including reduced maximum engine speed and load, and which also includes determining at least one of engine temperature exceeding a threshold, the engine having completed a threshold number of revolutions, a threshold time having expired since the engine was started, a minimum engine speed being exceeded, and/or a minimum number of throttle manipulations by the user is exceeded before terminating the initial engine operating mode.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein if a first threshold number of engine operating mode changes are made within a second threshold period of time, the controller may ignore a selected engine operating mode and provide different engine operating instructions.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the engine includes an electronic throttle control and wherein the controller actuates the throttle control to cause engine operation in accordance with the predetermined engine control instructions, and wherein a tool selectively driven by the engine and wherein the engine control instructions are different when the tool is being driven by the engine than when the tool is not being driven by the engine.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein, when the tool is not being driven by the engine, the engine speed is either increased or reduced prior to driving the tool with the engine, or when the tool is being driven by the engine, the engine speed is reduced prior to terminating the driving of the tool by the engine.

16. The method of claim 14 which also includes determining the tool that is coupled to the engine and selecting among different engine control instructions the engine control instructions for the particular tool coupled to the engine.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the module includes a wireless communication device and wherein a remote device includes the engine start input which, when actuated, sends an engine start signal from the remote device to the wireless communication device to cause the controller to begin the engine starting procedure to start the engine without user actuation of the engine start input.

18. A method of controlling operation of an engine, comprising:

providing power to a control module and/or a controller included in the control module;

providing an engine start input where the engine start input is communicated with the controller;

determining or detecting actuation of the engine start input;

sending a signal from the controller to begin an engine starting procedure to start the engine;

providing multiple engine operating mode inputs via the module;

determining or detecting actuation of one of the engine operating mode inputs;

controlling the engine in accordance with one or more predetermined engine control instructions associated with the engine operating mode that is associated with the actuated engine operating input, wherein one of the engine operating modes includes a start/stop strategy in which the engine operation is terminated when the device is stopped and the engine is idling.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the device includes a brake and the engine operation is terminated when the device is stopped, the brake is applied and the engine is idling.

20. The method of claim 19 which also comprises a tool selectively driven by the engine and wherein the engine operation is terminated when the device is stopped, the brake is applied, the tool is not being driven by the engine and the engine is idling or wherein the engine operation is terminated when the brake has been applied for at least a threshold period of time, or which includes determining if a user is within a seat of the device and when the engine operation has been terminated and the user leaves the seat, beginning a timer and then determining if the user returns to the seat before a threshold duration of time expires, and if the user does return to the seat before the threshold duration of time expires, permitting continued engine operation without having to separately start the engine.