Circuit Controls An Electric Throttle Operator Patents (Class 123/361)
  • Patent number: 8843296
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conditioning a throttle command so that, on average, a difference between an actual airflow rate and a commanded airflow rate is substantially zero. A commanded throttle position is modified with a correction factor to also reduce a throttle angle error. By reducing engine air disturbances, engine performance is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8807117
    Abstract: In a situation where a conventional inductive throttle sensor is used with a motor-driven throttle valve device to detect the rotation angle of a throttle shaft, plural sensor connection conductor sections for connecting a connector terminal to a circuit board terminal section are formed on the cover on one lateral surface side of a circuit board in the long-axis direction. This increases the dimension of the cover in the short-axis direction (the dimension in the direction of air flow in an intake path). Consequently, it is difficult to install the motor-driven throttle valve device and inductive throttle sensor in a narrow engine room. This problem is addressed by using a separate member to achieve electrical conduction between a stator circuit board and a conductor routed inside the cover installed over the stator circuit board in a concentrated manner on one side of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Uchiyama, Morio Kuwano, Kenji Usui
  • Patent number: 8763385
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for an engine system which includes a throttle turbine generator having a turbine which drives an auxiliary generator and disposed in a throttle bypass are described. In some examples, a throttle bypass valve is controlled to adjust airflow through the throttle bypass responsive to airflow to cylinders of the engine. In other examples, an operating parameter such as throttle position is controlled based on transient operating conditions of the engine. In still other examples, charging of a battery is coordinated between the auxiliary generator and a primary generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, John Anthony DeMarco
  • Patent number: 8744731
    Abstract: An electronic digital governor assembly includes a case, a printed circuit board housed within said case, the printed circuit board having control circuitry configured for controlling at least one parameter of an energy production device, and a user interface including a digital display for displaying a value of the at least one parameter and at least one button for selectively adjusting the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Governors America Corp.
    Inventors: Dan Wertz, Kevin A. Batson, Dae Kon Yi, Sean Lavin, Paul Cappa
  • Patent number: 8733319
    Abstract: When control to maintain a constant engine rotation number is executed, the electronic control unit constantly monitors an error of detected throttle position data with respect to a desired throttle control value, executes a first stage of a failure judgment method to judge that a failure of a throttle control system has occurred in a case where an absolute value of the error exceeds a predetermined threshold value continuously for a predetermined time or longer, and executes a second stage of the failure judgment method to judge that a serious failure has occurred in the system in a case where a detected engine rotation number exceeds a predetermined rotation number continuously for a predetermined time or longer, to perform predetermined operations in accordance with the judgment results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Nikki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Buso Takigawa, Umerujan Sawut, Tohti Gheyret, Norichika Kojima, Tsutomu Murakami
  • Patent number: 8655562
    Abstract: A method for setting a vehicle in motion: The vehicle includes a combustion engine for generating driving force for transmission to at least one powered wheel via a clutch and a gearbox. The driving force is selectively transmitted from the engine to the powered wheels by closure of the clutch. Gear changes by the gearbox are at least partly controlled by a control system. With the clutch closed and upon demand for the vehicle to be set in motion with the clutch closed, the control system activates the vehicle's starter motor with gear engaged, and uses the starter motor to accelerate the combustion engine to an initial speed which represents a speed at which the combustion engine will start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Scania CB AB
    Inventors: Peter Juhlin-Dannfelt, Richard Boström, Peter Asplund, Johan Kingstedt
  • Patent number: 8649959
    Abstract: To balance between air-fuel ratio controllability and torque response performance in a control device for an internal combustion engine performing a throttle delay control. An air quantity requirement is calculated based on torque required of an internal combustion engine. A throttle opening for achieving the air quantity requirement is calculated by using an inverse model of an intake system model that models response of a cylinder intake air quantity relative to an operation of a throttle. A throttle opening delayed by a predetermined delay time Td is outputted as an operation amount to the throttle. When, however, there is no allowance for introducing the delay time Td between the response time of the cylinder intake air quantity to a throttle operation to be achieved at a current engine speed and a torque response time requirement, the delay processing of the throttle opening is restricted by, for example, making the delay time Td zero or shortening the delay time Td.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Soejima
  • Patent number: 8612116
    Abstract: A target TH opening degree change amount calculating unit 26 calculates a change amount of a target throttle opening degree ?THCMD. In accordance with whether or not the change amount of the target throttle opening degree ?THCMD is not less than a predetermined control start threshold, a collision prevention process determining unit 27 determines whether a throttle grip 21 has been operated to rapidly close. When the rapid closing operation of the throttle grip 21 is detected, a change-amount basic value calculating unit 28 calculates a change-amount basic value of the target throttle opening degree. A correction term calculating unit 29 inputs to a multiplying unit 30 a correction term for correcting the change-amount basic value. The multiplying unit 30 multiplies the change-amount basic value by the correction term, and outputs a change amount of the target throttle opening degree thus calculated. The correction term can be set, for example, to have a value not more than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Nakamura, Yukihiro Asada
  • Patent number: 8584649
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus includes an ISS control unit provided with an ISS determination unit for inputting at least an engine cooling water temperature, vehicle speed, and brake information, and target opening setting unit for setting a target opening in an idle stop/start control period. A throttle control unit is provided with a proportional gain correction coefficient operator for correcting a proportional gain to a value that is larger than a proportional gain outside the idle stop/start control period, a throttle opening feedback controller for performing throttle opening feedback control based on an opening deviation between a target opening and an actual opening, and a PWM driver outputting a voltage proportional to the operation amount, to a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8573181
    Abstract: A throttle control system includes a pressure comparison module and a throttle plate control module. The pressure comparison module determines an inlet pressure upstream from a throttle body and an outlet pressure downstream from the throttle body. The throttle plate control module controls a position of a throttle plate based on the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Arnett, Christopher E. Whitney, Per Andersson, Justin A. Zaydel
  • Patent number: 8544447
    Abstract: One aspect is an electronic throttle control system including an electronic control unit configured to receive actuation signals indicative of a user action and to generate an actuation signal indicative of the user action. A throttle plate motor is configured to receive the actuation signal from the electronic control unit and to move a throttle plate in response thereto. A throttle position sensor is configured to sense the actual position of the throttle plate and to generate an actual position signal indicative of the throttle plate position. A throttle modifier is coupled between the throttle position sensor and the electronic control unit and configured to modify the actual position signal into a modified position signal, and to send the modified position signal to the electronic control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: V&H Performance, LLC
    Inventors: David E. Heath, Jorge A. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 8528525
    Abstract: A fuel injection controlling system includes an accelerator manipulator. An accelerator manipulated variable detection sensor is configured to detect a manipulated variable of the accelerator manipulator. A rotation speed sensor is configured to detect a rotation speed of an engine. A throttle valve drive motor is configured to open and close the throttle valve in response to the manipulated variable. A controller is configured to control the throttle valve drive motor and to compute basic injection time (Ti) of fuel. A memory is configured to memorize, as a carbon adhesion judgment value (IXREF), a throttle opening degree (?TH) at a moment when a rotation speed (Ne) detected with the rotation speed sensor reaches a target idle rotation speed (NeIdle) by increasing the throttle opening degree (?TH). A corrector is configured to correct Ti with IXREF to correct an air-fuel ratio toward a leaner side as IXREF increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Asada, Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 8474434
    Abstract: In a situation where a conventional inductive throttle sensor is used with a motor-driven throttle valve device to detect the rotation angle of a throttle shaft, plural sensor connection conductor sections for connecting a connector terminal to a circuit board terminal section are formed on the cover on one lateral surface side of a circuit board in the long-axis direction. This increases the dimension of the cover in the short-axis direction (the dimension in the direction of air flow in an intake path). Consequently, it is difficult to install the motor-driven throttle valve device and inductive throttle sensor in a narrow engine room. This problem is addressed by using a separate member to achieve electrical conduction between a stator circuit board and a conductor routed inside the cover installed over the stator circuit board in a concentrated manner on one side of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Uchiyama, Morio Kuwano, Kenji Usui
  • Patent number: 8448627
    Abstract: An electronically-controlled throttle valve control device may include a coil spring that is engaged with a throttle body and a rotating body to bias a throttle valve in a fully opening direction and a fully closing direction, a spring guide that is provided to the rotating body and is capable of supporting the coil spring from inside, and an opener member that is provided to the rotating body and is biased by the coil spring in the fully opening direction or the fully closing direction. The coil spring includes a first coiled portion that is capable of biasing the throttle valve in a first direction, a second coiled portion that is capable of biasing the throttle valve in a second direction, and an intermediate coiled portion that is positioned between the first and second coiled portions. The coil spring is formed such that a central axis of the intermediate coiled portion is displaced radially outwardly relative to a central axis of the first coiled portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanobu Kondo, Toru Sakurai, Atsushi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8434453
    Abstract: An electronic throttle control system and method are provided. The system includes a throttle valve, a motor configured to drive the throttle valve, and a throttle position sensor configured to detect an angle of the throttle valve. The system further includes an engine rotating speed detector, and a controller. The controller is configured to drive the motor to control the angle of the throttle valve. The controller is configured to initially set a lower limit value of the angle to an angle which is greater than a full closure angle of the throttle valve by a predetermined amount. The controller is further configured to, when a rise in an engine rotating speed is detected, re-set the lower limit value to reduce it by a predetermined amount to control the engine rotating speed to within a predetermined value from the preset idle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Okoshi, Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 8381702
    Abstract: A load adjustment device for an actuator that determines the power of an internal combustion engine, designed as a throttle valve and is disposed on an actuator shaft in a housing, the actuator shaft being pivotally drivable about the rotary axis of the actuator shaft between a minimal load setting defined by a minimal load stop and a full load setting defined by a full load stop by means of a reversibly drivable actuating drive via an actuating part rotationally fixed to said shaft. The actuator shaft is subject to a load in the minimum load direction by a restoring spring. The actuating part can be subjected to a load by a leg of a torsion spring disposed radially outside the pivoting range of the part, the leg of the torsion spring extending into the pivoting range of the actuating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Ulrich Vogler
  • Patent number: 8375921
    Abstract: In a situation where a conventional inductive throttle sensor is used with a motor-driven throttle valve device to detect the rotation angle of a throttle shaft, plural sensor connection conductor sections for connecting a connector terminal to a circuit board terminal section are formed on the cover on one lateral surface side of a circuit board in the long-axis direction. This increases the dimension of the cover in the short-axis direction (the dimension in the direction of air flow in an intake path). Consequently, it is difficult to install the motor-driven throttle valve device and inductive throttle sensor in a narrow engine room. This problem is addressed by using a separate member to achieve electrical conduction between a stator circuit board and a conductor routed inside the cover installed over the stator circuit board in a concentrated manner on one side of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Uchiyama, Morio Kuwano, Kenji Usui
  • Patent number: 8353271
    Abstract: An engine speed control system for a work vehicle is disclosed. Storage means (56) stores a predetermined engine speed. A manually operated input device (37, 38) issues an instruction to retrieve the engine speed from the storage means (56). Engine speed control means (50) executes a constant speed control, whereby the engine speed stored in the storage means (56) is set as a target speed on the basis of a first input operation made using the input device (37, 38). The engine speed control means (50) further executes a stored speed change control for allowing the setting of the engine speed stored in the storage means (56) to be changed based on a second, different input operation performed using the input device (37, 38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Nishi, Nobuyuki Okabe, Kenji Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 8336522
    Abstract: An engine revolution speed control system for a construction machine is disclosed. The engine revolution speed control system includes an input unit that sets an engine revolution speed by a user, outputs a setting process as a set signal, and determines whether or not an engine is driven at a set engine revolution speed; a control unit that receives the set signal and stores the set engine revolution speed, receives the set signal and an ON/OFF signal to output an output signal corresponding to the received set signal and the ON/OFF signal, and controls operation of the engine at the set engine revolution speed in accordance with the ON/OFF signal; and a display that receives the output signal to visually output the setting process or whether or not the engine is driven at the set engine revolution speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment Holding Sweden AB
    Inventor: Young Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 8316822
    Abstract: A vehicle speed limiter is described, for use with, and for example fitted to, a vehicle throttle system (1) comprising a mechanically actuatable throttle member (3), an engine (10) speed controller (7), and a throttle signal unit in data communication with an engine speed controller and operably coupled to the throttle member so as to generate an electronic throttle signal in functional response to the degree of actuation of the throttle member, and to transmit a throttle signal to the engine speed controller whereby the engine speed is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Autokontrol Limited
    Inventor: George Malcolm Gray
  • Patent number: 8306725
    Abstract: Provided is directed to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption due to unnecessary rapid acceleration when a vehicle drives between intersections, and it is an object to allow for economical driving by reducing the fuel cost, and minimize environmental pollution by minimizing the exhaust gas of vehicle, by providing an economical speed for drivers such that vehicles that have passed through an intersection in accordance with the present traffic light economically drives to the next intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Myunghee Son, Haesook Jeon
  • Patent number: 8245689
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a control loop or a regulating loop in a system, in particular in an engine system in a motor vehicle, is described. A characteristic value is ascertained from a preset value and a system variable of the regulating loop or the control loop during one or more state changes, and an error is detected as a function of the ascertained characteristic value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Wagner, Daniel Kuhn, Stefan Michael, Wilhelm Blumendeller
  • Patent number: 8240289
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine. It is an object of the present invention to prevent an excessive reaction of a throttle valve when the throttle valve is driven on the basis of a throttle opening calculated from a plurality of required torques. Step 100 is performed to consolidate the plurality of required torques. Step 102 is then performed to judge whether the sensitivity of throttle opening variation corresponding to torque variation is high. When the sensitivity is judged to be high, step 106 is performed to convert only a fluctuating required torque to a throttle opening. Step 108 is then performed to consolidate the remaining required torques and convert the resulting consolidated required torque to a throttle opening. Next, the required throttle opening calculated in step 106 and the required throttle opening calculated in step 108 are consolidated to calculate a final throttle opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8181628
    Abstract: A throttle valve controller for an internal combustion engine has a throttle valve driven by a motor. The target opening of the throttle valve is determined based on the operating state of the vehicle or internal combustion engine. A first lower limit is determined beforehand as the minimum target opening, and a second lower limit is set which is smaller than the first lower limit if the determined target opening is smaller than a predetermined opening and/or if the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is lower than a predetermined speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Akagi, Hidefumi Iwaki, Kenji Ono
  • Patent number: 8181627
    Abstract: An engine system includes a throttle actuator module and a torque control module. The throttle actuator module controls a throttle actuator based on a desired throttle area. The torque control module determines an actuator torque. The torque control module determines a rate limited torque, a maximum torque, and a minimum torque based on the actuator torque and a predetermined rate of change. The torque control module determines the desired throttle area based on the actuator torque when the rate limited torque is greater than the maximum torque. The torque control module determines the desired throttle area based on the actuator torque when the rate limited torque is less than the minimum torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin T. Sharples, Mark H. Costin, Timothy J. Hartrey, Christopher E. Whitney, Bahram Younessi, Weixin Yan, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Richard B. Jess, Joseph M. Stempnik, John A. Jacobs, Jinchun Peng, Leonard G. Wozniak, Vivek Mehta, Bruce A. Rogers
  • Patent number: 8037866
    Abstract: A method device for controlling a suction pressure of an internal combustion engine, particularly a diesel engine having an exhaust gas turbocharger. The compressor is connected to a suction line of the internal combustion engine via an actuating section having an actuating element for changing a cross-section of the actuating section. In the first step, the current suction pressure in the suction line of the internal combustion engine is determined. A compressor pressure of the compressor is determined by pressure sensors and compared to the suction pressure. Values corresponding to current operating data of the internal combustion engine are identified and an actuation signal is generated using a controller, based on the comparison; and changing the cross-section of the actuating section is adjusted by adjusting the actuating element using the actuating signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Eduard Gerum
  • Patent number: 8033266
    Abstract: A throttle valve controller for an internal combustion engine has a throttle valve driven by a motor. The target opening of the throttle valve is determined based on the operating state of the vehicle or internal combustion engine. A first lower limit is determined beforehand as the minimum target opening, and a second lower limit is set which is smaller than the first lower limit if the determined target opening is smaller than a predetermined opening and/or if the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is lower than a predetermined speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Akagi, Hidefumi Iwaki, Kenji Ono
  • Publication number: 20110180036
    Abstract: An air inlet system of an engine includes a throttle, a fan, a motor, and a throttle sensor. The fan is connected to the throttle. The motor is for driving the fan to force air into at least one intake manifold of the engine through the throttle. The throttle sensor is for controlling the rotational speed of the fan according to the motion of a throttle pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: TZU-NAN CHUANG
    Inventor: Tzu-Nan CHUANG
  • Patent number: 7912621
    Abstract: A system includes an out of correlation (OOC) detection module that detects an OOC error between a first throttle position sensor (TPS) and a second TPS. An out of range (OOR) detection module that detects first and second OOR errors for the first and second TPS, respectively. An OOC counter sets an OOC error when an OOC count is greater than or equal to a first OOC value. An OOR counter sets first and second OOR errors when first and second OOR counts, respectively, are greater than or equal to a second OOR value that is less than the first OOC value. A control module increments the counters when the respective errors occur and sets at least one of the first and second OOR counts equal to the OOC count when at least one of the first and second OOR errors occur after the OOC error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventors: Paul A. Bauerle, Marco J. Gatti, Joseph M. Stempnik, Jonathan Packard, Anne M. Lemoigne, Pahngroc Oh, Daniel G. Bolstrum
  • Patent number: 7905213
    Abstract: In an adaptive positioning method for an actuator, in particular, for a throttle butterfly on an internal combustion engine, during the adaptive positioning method, after a request for a set position and selection of a pilot value a corresponding pilot position for the actuator is adopted. The pilot position is adjusted until said position corresponds to the requested set position. The control value actually required or this set position is subsequently measured and recorded as corrected pilot value for the corresponding set position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Joris Fokkelman, Dirk Schneider
  • Patent number: 7891335
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and a cylinder halting mechanism for halting operation of at least one of the plurality of cylinders by stopping operation of at lease one intake valve of the at least one cylinder. The control system includes an intake air control valve for controlling an amount of air supplied to the engine. An opening of the intake air control valve is changed when performing an increase in a number of operating cylinders in an idling condition of the engine. A basic opening of the intake air control valve is switched from a first basic opening corresponding to the number of operating cylinders before the increase in the number of operating cylinders to a second basic opening corresponding to the number of operating cylinders after the increase in the number of the operating cylinders. The basic opening is corrected in the closing direction during a predetermined time period when increasing the number of operating cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaaki Fukusako
  • Publication number: 20100229828
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a status determination module that determines states of first and second throttle position sensors (TPSs), wherein a fault state includes when one of the first and second TPSs is one of outside of a predetermined range and out of correlation with the other of the first and second TPSs, for greater than a first predetermined period. A throttle actuation module opens a throttle when an engine manifold absolute pressure (MAP) is less than a predetermined MAP threshold, at least one of the first and second TPSs is in the fault state, and the other one of the first and second TPSs is within a second predetermined period from transitioning to the fault state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul A. Bauerle, Jonathan Packard, Joseph M. Stempnik
  • Patent number: 7789067
    Abstract: Control method in the case of a fault in an internal combustion engine; the control method provides for the phases of: cyclically checking the correct functioning of a connection between an electronic control unit and an electric drive of an electric actuator coupled to a butterfly valve to control the position of the same butterfly valve, switching off the electric drive in the case of interruption in the connection between the electronic control unit and the electric drive so that the butterfly valve sets itself in a predefined limp-home position, and piloting the engine in the case of interruption in the connection between the electronic control unit and the electric drive to keep the number of revs constant and equal to a predefined emergency value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Daniele Benassi, Stefano Sgatti, Loris Lambertini
  • Patent number: 7747378
    Abstract: An integrative control method and device for controlling gas engines is proposed which is improved load responsivity of the engine while maintaining air fuel ratio control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Shiraishi, Yoshitaka Kakuhama, Kei Sakai, Yosuke Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7721707
    Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the step of controlling a driver motor which operates a TCV (tumble control valve) such that the TCV in the full-open state closes to a predetermined opening position (S106), the step of detecting the electric current value of the driver motor (S108), and the step of determining that the TCV is abnormal (S112) in a case where the electric current value of the driver motor is smaller than a determination value S (I) (YES in S110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuo Yagihashi
  • Patent number: 7721708
    Abstract: In a system for controlling a general-purpose air-cooled internal combustion engine having two cylinders each equipped with a throttle valve and a fuel injector, and a cooling fan that selectively directs air onto the cylinders, a throttle driver selectively drives the respective throttle valve of each cylinder to open or close. The system also includes an injector driver that selectively drives the respective injector of each cylinder to open, and a controller that controls operation of the throttle driver and injector driver in such a way that the throttle opening and an amount of fuel to be injected are different for each cylinder, such that an engine speed becomes substantially constant, thereby enabling the engine to obtain desired output characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Matsuda, Tomoki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 7703436
    Abstract: A control device of an internal combustion engine determining a target throttle opening degree based on a target intake air amount which can simply and reliably detect any control abnormality is provided. The control device of an internal combustion engine determining a target throttle opening degree based on a target intake amount compares the target intake air amount and an intake air amount measured by an air flow meter to detect a control abnormality. By this control device, it is possible to simply and reliably detect a control abnormality in the process of determination of the target throttle opening degree or control of the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Harufumi Muto, Yuichiro Ido
  • Patent number: 7673612
    Abstract: A target engine torque after an environmental correction is calculated by interpolating it between an environmentally corrected maximum engine torque and an environmentally corrected minimum engine torque such that a ratio of a nominal target engine torque between a nominal maximum engine torque and a nominal minimum engine torque under a predetermined environmental condition becomes essentially equal to a ratio of the target engine torque between the environmentally corrected maximum engine torque and the environmentally corrected minimum engine torque. The environmentally corrected maximum engine torque is obtained by multiplying the nominal maximum engine torque and a correction coefficient according to the environmental condition together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Honda, Masaharu Tanaka, Masami Kondo
  • Patent number: 7640093
    Abstract: In order to obtain an electronic throttle control apparatus capable of forcibly turning a throttle valve from a full-close position toward an opening side by a predetermined opening degree to place the throttle valve in a desired opening degree position, the electronic throttle control apparatus includes: a throttle opening degree sensor for detecting an opening degree position of a throttle valve; a throttle actuator that opens and closes the throttle valve; a first target opening degree position setting unit for setting a first target opening degree position; throttle opening degree feedback control unit that performs feedback control on the throttle valve; a throttle valve full-close position judgment unit for judging whether or not the throttle valve is being urged in a direction to be closed at a full-close position; a second target opening degree position setting unit for setting a second target opening degree position; and a target opening degree position switching unit that switches a signal to be inp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Watanabe, Takayuki Yano, Akihiro Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 7571711
    Abstract: When a throttle is fully open, a maximum torque set value is corrected based on the ratio between the maximum air volume set value under fully-open throttle conditions and the actual maximum air volume detected by an intake air volume meter such as an air flow sensor. Based on the corrected maximum torque set value, both the relation between the degree of accelerator opening and target torque and the relation between the target torque (target air volume) and the degree target throttle opening are corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Sato, Shinji Nakagawa, Hiromu Kakuya, Toshimichi Minowa, Mamoru Nemoto
  • Patent number: 7571710
    Abstract: A throttle valve controller configured to control opening and closing of a throttle valve disposed in an air-intake passage of a throttle body coupled to an engine, including an input member that is rotatable in association with a rider's hand operation, a power transmission device with an input part thereof coupled to the input member, an output member that is coupled to an output part of the power transmission device and causes the throttle valve to rotate in association therewith, an actuator configured to drive the power transmission device to cause the output member to rotate relative to the input member to change a rotational ratio of the output member to the input member independently of the hand operation, and a movable stopper configured to change and restrict a rotational range of the input member in a closing direction of the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoji Fukami, Satoru Sakanaka, Tatsuya Hirokami, Mitsuhiro Yazaki
  • Patent number: 7549407
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling the positioning of a movable member of a valve device by an electric actuator. A model is used to generate estimates for the position and velocity of the movable valve member that result from an actuator control signal being applied to drive the electric actuator. The actuator control signal comprises a feedback control signal combined with a feedforward control signal. The feedback control signal is generated based upon a difference between the estimated and actual positions of the movable valve member, while the feedforward control signal is generated based upon the desired position, the estimated position, and the estimated velocity. The feedforward signal is adjusted to cause the estimated velocity to approximately follow a defined maximum deceleration velocity trajectory as the estimated position of the movable valve member moves to the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Ashish S. Krupadanam
  • Patent number: 7546829
    Abstract: A straddle type vehicle includes a protrusion which is displaced together with a throttle valve, a lever pulley which is displaced in response to the rotation of a throttle grip, a spring and a control device. The spring generates elastic force to return the protrusion to a first original position when the lever pulley is in a second original position. The spring maintains the lever pulley in the second original position by being elastically deformed until the protrusion reaches a predetermined position in which the protrusion is displaced from the first original position in such a direction that the throttle valve opens when the lever pulley is in the second original position. The control device opens the throttle valve by displacing the protrusion until the protrusion reaches the predetermined position in a gear shift change when the throttle grip is fully closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruhiko Samoto, Hirokazu Fujita, Harutomo Tozuka, Takeshi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7536993
    Abstract: A throttle device for an internal combustion engine includes a throttle body, a transmission mechanism and an opener. A relief spring is interleaved between the throttle body and the opener. A back spring is interleaved between a final stage gear of the transmission mechanism and the opener. Each of the relief spring and the back spring is formed of a torsion coil spring. One or each of the terminal ends of the relief spring or the back spring is bent in a radial direction with respect to an axis of a coil portion. The opener or the final stage gear has at least one spring support portion with an engaging recess. The engaging recess is configured to permit insertion of the radially bent terminal end and to permit movement of the radially bent terminal end relative to the engaging recess in a circumferential direction with respect to an axis of the coil portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Tsukiji, Hiroyasu Kariya, Yoshiki Ito
  • Patent number: 7530345
    Abstract: A vehicle having a vehicle body, a seat, an engine, a throttle body, a throttle valve, a throttle valve actuator, a throttle operator, a throttle operator position sensor, a cruise control switch, and a vehicle speed sensor. An ECU controls operation of the engine in one of a normal operation mode and a cruise control operation mode. When in the normal operation mode, the ECU sends a first control signal to the throttle valve actuator based on the throttle operator position signal. When the cruise control switch engages the cruise control operation mode, the ECU sends a second control signal to the throttle valve actuator based on the vehicle speed signal such that the vehicle speed is maintained at a vehicle cruising speed. The ECU returns to the normal operation mode when the throttle operator position becomes less than or equal to a reference throttle operator position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.
    Inventors: Renald Plante, Dominic Dagenais, Jean Daunais
  • Patent number: 7529615
    Abstract: A method for setting a mass flow rate of air to be provided in a charging mode; in the charging mode (where a throttle valve is open), the pressure prevailing in an induction pipe only being set via an adjustable mass flow rate of supplied air; a requested torque corresponding to a mass flow rate of air into a cylinder, the mass flow rate of air into the cylinder being adjustable via the pressure in the induction pipe; to set the mass flow rate of air into the cylinder, the pressure in the induction pipe being adjusted by a control system in accordance with a specifiable dynamic charge response characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Kristina Milos, Lutz Reuschenbach, Sabine Wegener, Lanouar Chouk, Patrick Menold
  • Patent number: 7503311
    Abstract: An electronic throttle control system and method for detecting a throttle plate obstruction when the ignition key is on and the engine is either not running or running, and for clearing the throttle plate obstruction before a fault setting is set by the ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Nichols, Daniel L. McKay
  • Patent number: 7490590
    Abstract: A throttle having: a housing having an airflow passage therein; a throttle plate rotatably mounted to the housing and disposed within the passage; a motor disposed outside the passage for rotating the throttle plate within the passage between an open position and a closed position in accordance with demanded torque signals; a spring coupled to the throttle plate for urging the throttle plate to a closed position in the absence of a demanded torque signal; and, an actuator assembly operative to place a stop, disposed outside the passage, in a position to limit rotation of the throttle plate to a predetermined minimum closed position in the absence of a demanded torque signal and for removing the stop when the motor receives a demanded torque signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Patent number: 7464692
    Abstract: An intake air control valve has a bore defining member and a butterfly-type valve member that includes a shaft and a valve body. The valve body has a pair of valve portions joined to the shaft and rotatable between a fully closed position and a fully opened position; Each of the valve portions has a central portion and opposite end portions along a direction of the rotational axis of the valve member. The thickness of each of the valve portions gradually increases from the central portion toward the end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignees: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tomiharu Isogai, Takuji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20080295801
    Abstract: A method for detecting the angular position of a gas knob of a motorcycle; the method presents the steps of: detecting simultaneously four mutually redundant measurements of the angular position of the gas knob by means of two mutually independent angular-position sensors forming part of an acquisition system; making a cross comparison two by two between the four measurements for diagnosing any possible malfunctioning of the angular-position sensors; and determining the angular position of the gas knob, using at least one measurement supplied by an angular-position sensor operating properly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Massimo Zanotti, Claudio Grossi, Loris Lambertini