Vehicle Throttle Signal Limiting for Prime Mover Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle user input systems allow prime mover rotational speed to exceed necessary levels, leading to inefficiencies in drivetrain operation and increased fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method and architecture that limit the prime mover's rotational speed by generating a 'max point signal' based on vehicle conditions, ensuring the prime mover operates at a maximal value, thereby clipping the user input control signal when necessary to prevent excessive speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user input control signal is allowed to freely control the prime mover rotational speed, then the user can increase vehicle speed as desired, but the prime mover may rotate at excessively high speeds leading to drivetrain inefficiency and increased fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the control signal from the user input and compares it against dynamically calculated maximum permissible values based on real-time drivetrain conditions (vehicle speed, gear ratio, engine load, temperature). When the control signal exceeds the maximum permissible value, the system automatically limits the prime mover rotational speed, providing feedback control that prevents energy waste while respecting user intent within safe operational boundaries
Solution Approach 2:
The maximum permissible control signal value is not fixed but dynamically adjusted based on varying drivetrain conditions including vehicle speed, transmission gear ratio, engine temperature, and load requirements. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize fuel consumption across different operating scenarios while maintaining user control freedom when conditions permit
2Loss of energy
If the prime mover rotational speed is limited to prevent excessive speed, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the user's ability to increase vehicle speed is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The speed limitation is dynamically adjusted based on real-time drivetrain conditions rather than being a fixed constraint. The system calculates the maximum permissible rotational speed as a function of vehicle speed, gear ratio, engine load, and thermal conditions, allowing the prime mover to operate at higher speeds when conditions permit (improving vehicle speed capability) while limiting speed only when necessary for efficiency or safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the prime mover by adjusting the maximum permissible rotational speed based on multiple input parameters including vehicle speed, transmission ratio, engine temperature, and load demands. This parameter-based control allows flexible speed management that optimizes fuel consumption without unnecessarily restricting vehicle speed capability
3Productivity
If a control system is added to manage and limit the user input signal, then prime mover rotational speed can be optimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is integrated into the existing engine control unit (ECU) architecture, allowing the ECU to perform multiple functions including traditional engine management tasks plus the additional function of monitoring drivetrain conditions and limiting the user input signal. This multi-functionality approach avoids adding separate dedicated hardware and reduces overall system complexity while achieving drivetrain optimization
Data Source
AI summary
A user input signal management method for a vehicle provided with a prime mover having an output that rotates and an input for a user input signal that controls the rotating speed of the output of the prime mover. The method including the reception of a signal representative of the position of a user input of a vehicle, the reception of data representative of at least one condition of the vehicle, the modification of the received signal representative of the position of the user input as a function of the data received and the supply of the modified signal to the accelerator input of the prime mover.