Engine Control Device Transient Acceleration Shock Suppression

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing engine control devices fail to accurately detect transient acceleration states in engines, leading to excessive ignition timing advancement and resulting in acceleration shocks, particularly in two-wheeled vehicles where slight engine output variations cause discomfort due to quicker vehicle response and drive chain extension/shortening.

Innovation Solution

An engine control device with an electronically-controlled throttle unit, ignition-timing control unit, transient-state determination-processing unit, and transient-state correction-processing unit that calculates a target throttle opening degree and retards ignition timing based on the deviation between actual and target throttle opening degrees to prevent acceleration shocks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If ignition timing is advanced during acceleration state to increase engine power output, then engine power is improved, but acceleration shock occurs due to excessive timing advancement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine power outputVSAvoidacceleration shock
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control device determines transient state in advance based on throttle valve opening degree changes before full acceleration occurs. By detecting the transient state early (when throttle opening increases by a predetermined amount or more), the system can preemptively adjust ignition timing to prevent excessive advancement and resulting acceleration shocks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the throttle valve opening degree and compares it with reference values to determine whether the engine is in a transient state. This feedback mechanism allows real-time adjustment of ignition timing based on actual operating conditions, preventing both over-advancement (acceleration shock) and under-advancement (power loss).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If ignition timing is retarded during transient state to suppress acceleration shock, then acceleration shock is reduced, but engine power output decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacceleration shockVSAvoidengine power output
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The ignition timing control is made dynamic by adjusting the timing based on real-time detection of transient states. During transient states (when throttle opening changes rapidly), the system retards ignition timing to suppress acceleration shock. During steady-state acceleration, the system allows normal or advanced timing to maintain power output. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between shock suppression and power maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the ignition timing parameter based on the detected operating state. When transient state is detected (throttle opening degree change exceeds threshold), the timing parameter is adjusted to retard the ignition timing. When in steady state, the timing parameter returns to normal values. This parameter change strategy allows the system to optimize for different operational priorities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If ignition timing control is simplified to reduce computational complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but transient state detection precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidtransient state detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control system extracts only the essential parameter (throttle valve opening degree) needed to detect transient states, rather than monitoring multiple parameters simultaneously. By focusing on the throttle opening degree and comparing it with reference values, the system achieves precise transient state detection without requiring complex multi-parameter analysis or additional sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2711539B1Engine control device
Publication Date: 2024.01.17 ASTEMO LTD
  • EP2711539B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2711539B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

To provide an engine control device including a transient-state determination-processing unit 24a that determines whether an operating state of an engine is in a transient state of shifting to an acceleration state based on a change amount of a target throttle opening degree, and a transient-state correction-processing unit 24b that retards an ignition timing by a predetermined amount set by the change amount when the transient-state determination-processing unit determines that the operating state of the engine is in the transient state.