Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Indication or control of braking – acceleration – or deceleration
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-06
2001-10-16
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Indication or control of braking, acceleration, or deceleration
C701S110000, C701S079000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304806
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a control system for adjusting a throttle progression curve to compensate for different vehicle loads.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The nature of a small truck platform allows for significant changes in vehicle weight and load from cargo carrying and towing. This results in significant differences in vehicle response as the engine operates with no knowledge of additional loads or towing situations. Currently, some production packages offer a trailering mode that can modify the transmission shift patterns without influencing engine output. These packages require the driver to turn on a switch to enable the trailering mode. Modifying the shift patterns of the transmission does not change the relationship between engine output and the driver request signal received from the accelerator pedal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It would be desirable to provide a control system for adjusting a throttle progression curve to compensate for different vehicle loads. The present invention takes advantage of the electronic throttle control system to adjust the engine output when the vehicle is operating in a loaded environment. The present invention uses the ratio of current vehicle acceleration to expected acceleration. When the vehicle is accelerating slower than expected, the desired throttle is increased to return the vehicle to the expected performance level. This control system is self contained and it does not require manual operation of a switch to indicate that the vehicle is in a trailering mode. The present invention allows the powertrain control package to learn when the vehicle is operating under loaded conditions and then the throttle control response will be adjusted to account for the performance differences encountered when the vehicle is operating in these conditions. The control system reduces variation that is perceived by the driver when the loading in the vehicle is changed from a normal condition.
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Bauerle Paul A.
Colby Stephen E.
Stockbridge John N.
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
General Motors Corporation
Hernandez Olga
Simon Anthony Luke
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