Throttle behaviour

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9249739-B2
Application number	US-201314010203-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2013
Priority date	Feb 26, 2013
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

A controller for controlling a power source in response to a throttle input, the throttle input representing the status of a throttle control in a range from a minimum state to a maximum state, the controller being configured to control the power source in dependence on both the current status of the throttle control and the current direction of change of that status between the maximum state and the minimum state.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A controller for controlling a power source in response to a throttle input, the throttle input representing a status of a throttle control in a range from a minimum state of the throttle control to a maximum state of the throttle control, the controller being configured to control the power source in dependence on both the current status of the throttle control and the current direction of change of that status between the maximum state of the throttle control and the minimum state of the throttle control, wherein:
the controller controls the power source by generating one or more outputs to the power source calculated to cause the power source to adopt a determined drive state in a range from a drive state of minimum output to a drive state of maximum output;
the controller implements a first relationship between status of the throttle control and determined drive state when the current status of the throttle control is moving towards the maximum state and a second, different relationship between status of the throttle control and determined drive state when the current status of the throttle control is moving towards the minimum state; and
the controller implements the first and second relationships so that the rate of change of determined drive state with the status of the throttle input is less in the second relationship than the first relationship.

2. A controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller implements the first relationship in a manner that, whilst the determined drive state is below the state of maximum output, a change of a certain amount in the status of the throttle input causes a change of a certain amount in the determined drive state irrespective of the absolute value of the status of the throttle input.

3. A controller as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the controller implements the first relationship in a manner that the rate of change of determined drive state with the status of the throttle input is such that the controller can cause the power source to adopt the drive state of maximum output when the status of the throttle input has not reached the maximum state.

4. A controller as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the controller implements the first relationship in a manner that the rate of change of determined drive state with the status of the throttle input is constant.

5. A controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller implements the second relationship in a manner that a change of a certain amount in the status of the throttle input causes a change of an amount in the determined drive state that is dependent on of the absolute value of the status of the throttle input.

6. A controller as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the controller implements the second relationship in a manner that the rate of change of determined drive state with the status of the throttle input is such that the controller cannot cause the power source to adopt a drive state of minimum output until the status of the throttle input has reached the minimum state.

7. A controller as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the controller implements the second relationship in a manner that the rate of change of determined drive state with the status of the throttle input is constant for a given combination of determined drive state and status of the throttle input at the time when the status of the throttle control began to move towards the minimum state.

8. A controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the determined drive state is a torque demand state.

9. A vehicle comprising:
a power source;
a throttle control; and
a controller for controlling the power source in response to the throttle input, wherein:
the throttle input represents the status of a throttle control in a range from a minimum state of the throttle control to a maximum state of the throttle control;
the controller controls the power source in dependence on both the current status of the throttle control and the current direction of change of that status between the maximum state and the minimum state;
the controller controls the power source by generating one or more outputs to the power source calculated to cause the power source to adopt a determined drive state in a range from a drive state of minimum output to a drive state of maximum output;
the controller implements a first relationship between status of the throttle control and determined drive state when the current status of the throttle control is moving towards the maximum state and a second, different relationship between status of the throttle control and determined drive state when the current status of the throttle control is moving towards the minimum state; and
the controller implements the first and second relationships so that the rate of change of determined drive state with the status of the throttle input is less in the second relationship than the first relationship.

10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the throttle control is operable by a driver of the vehicle to adopt its status.

11. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the throttle control is a pedal.

12. A vehicle as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the power source includes one or more of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor and the power source is arranged for providing motive power to the vehicle.

13. A method of controlling a power source, the method comprising:
receiving a throttle input, the throttle input representing a status of a throttle control in a range from a minimum state of the throttle control to a maximum state of the throttle control;
determining based on the throttle input a power source control signal, the power source control signal being determined in dependence on both the current status of the throttle control as indicated by the throttle input and the current direction of change of that status between the maximum state of the throttle control and the minimum state of the throttle control; and
providing the power source control signal to a power source so as to control the drive state of the power source,
wherein:
said determining step comprises determining the control signal so as to implement a first relationship between status of the throttle control and drive state of the power source when the current status of the throttle control is moving towards the maximum state and a second, different relationship between status of the throttle control and drive state of the power source when the current status of the throttle control is moving towards the minimum state; and
the first and second relationships are implemented so that the rate of change of drive state of the power source with the status of the throttle input is less in the second relationship that the first relationship.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the controller implements the first relationship in a manner that whilst the drive state of the power source is below a state of maximum output of the power source a change of a certain amount in the status of the throttle control causes a change of a certain amount in the drive state of the power source irrespective of the absolute value of the status of the throttle control.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the controller implements the first relationship in a manner that the rate of change of drive state of the power source with the status of the throttle control is such that the power source adopts the drive state of maximum output when the status of the throttle control has not reached the maximum state.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the controller implements the firs

Assignees

• Mclaren Automotive Ltd

Inventors

• Smith Jonathan
• Bizzarri Davide
• Montosi Davide

Classifications

• B60W2540/106

  Rate of change · CPC title

• F02D11/00 Primary

  Arrangements for, or adaptations to, non-automatic engine control initiation means, e.g. operator initiated (specially for reversing F02D27/00) · CPC title

• B60W10/06

  including control of combustion engines · CPC title

• B60K26/04

  of means connecting initiating means or elements to propulsion unit · CPC title

• B60W2540/10

  Accelerator pedal position · CPC title