Engine Control Unit Target Speed Determination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Engine control systems face inefficiencies due to mismatched desired and instantaneous engine speeds, leading to lugging and resource wastage, as they reactively adjust fuel output without accounting for changing load conditions.

Innovation Solution

An electronic control unit (ECU) determines a target engine speed based on power command information from load monitoring devices, adjusting engine operation to match the total power demand, thereby proactively managing engine speed and reducing lugging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the ECM increases fuel output to compensate for unexpected speed differences, then the instantaneous engine speed can be maintained, but fuel consumption increases and resource wastage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstantaneous engine speedVSAvoidfuel consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by proactively determining target engine speed based on power command information before the load change causes engine lugging. The ECU receives power command information from load monitoring devices and adjusts the target engine speed in advance, preventing the speed discrepancy that would otherwise require increased fuel output to correct.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If the ECM waits to recognize load changes and then adjusts fuel output, then fuel injection control remains simple, but response time increases and engine performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel injection control complexityVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring power command information from load monitoring devices and using this information to dynamically adjust the target engine speed. The ECU receives real-time power command information and modifies the target speed accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that responds quickly to load changes without requiring complex fuel injection adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of energy

If the engine operates in cylinder deactivation mode or low-lift mode to improve fuel economy, then fuel consumption decreases, but engine power output and responsiveness are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel economyVSAvoidengine power output

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies dynamics by making the target engine speed adjustable and adaptive rather than fixed. The ECU dynamically modifies the target engine speed based on real-time power command information from load monitoring devices, allowing the engine to operate optimally across varying load conditions without being constrained to fixed operating modes like cylinder deactivation or low-lift modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11066074B2Control of an engine of a machine based on detected load requirements of the machine

Publication Date: 2021.07.20 CATERPILLAR INC

AI summary

An electronic control unit to control an engine control module of an engine is disclosed. The electronic control unit may receive, from a load monitoring device, power command information associated with a load of an engine. The electronic control unit may determine, based on the power command information, a total power command of the engine. The electronic control unit may determine, based on the total power command, a target engine speed for the engine. The electronic control unit may cause an engine control module to control the engine to operate in association with the target engine speed.