Throttle / Pae
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USOO8544447B2 (12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 8,544.447 B2 Heath et al. (45) Date of Patent: Oct. 1, 2013 (54) THROTTLE RESPONSE MODIFICATION (56) References Cited DEVICE AND METHOD FORVEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC THROTTLE U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS CONTROL 5,983,861. A * 1 1/1999 Nishio et al. .................. 123,399 6,499.461 B2 * 12/2002 Kubota et al. .. ... 123,361 7,017,550 B2 * 3/2006 Hata et al. .......... ... 123,399 (75) Inventors: David E. Heath, Cypress, CA (US); 7,036,486 B2 * 5/2006 Kamimura et al. ... 123,399 Jorge A. Rodriguez, Los Angeles, CA 7,171,946 B1* 2/2007 Watanabe .......... 123,399 (US) 7,240,665 B2 * 7/2007 Hoshino et al. ............... 123,399 2009/0204301 A1 8, 2009 Boulekos et al. (73) Assignee: V&H Performance, LLC, Santa Fe Springs, CA (US) OTHER PUBLICATIONS Blitz PowerUSA.com, “Throttle Controller Performance & ECO. (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this pp. 3, (2009). <http://www.blitzpowerusa.com/products/throcon? patent is extended or adjusted under 35 throcon.html.>. U.S.C. 154(b) by 270 days. * cited by examiner (21) Appl. No.: 13/177,755 Primary Examiner — Hai Huynh (22) Filed: Jul. 7, 2011 (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Dicke, Billig & Czaja, PLLC (65) Prior Publication Data (57) ABSTRACT US 2012/OO42851 A1 Feb. 23, 2012 One aspect is an electronic throttle control system including an electronic control unit configured to receive actuation sig Related U.S. Application Data nals indicative of a user action and to generate an actuation signal indicative of the user action. A throttle plate motor is (60) Provisional application No. 61/402,054, filed on Aug. configured to receive the actuation signal from the electronic 23, 2010. control unit and to move a throttle plate in response thereto. A throttle position sensor is configured to sense the actual posi (51) Int. C. tion of the throttle plate and to generate an actual position F02D 4I/02 (2006.01) signal indicative of the throttle plate position. A throttle modi (52) U.S. C. fier is coupled between the throttle position sensor and the USPC ........................................... 123/399; 123/361 electronic control unit and configured to modify the actual (58) Field of Classification Search position signal into a modified position signal, and to send the USPC .............. 123/361,399; 701/110; 73/114.25, modified position signal to the electronic control unit. 73/114.26, 114.36 See application file for complete search history. 15 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets 22 24 USER EECTRonic THROTTLE ACE ATION be CONRC. PAE SENSOR UN MOTOR THROTTLE / PAE THROTLE THROTE POS is iODFR SENSORS U.S. Patent Oct. 1, 2013 Sheet 1 of 4 US 8,544.447 B2 I'51) U.S. Patent Oct. 1, 2013 Sheet 2 of 4 US 8,544.447 B2 „V|=1108H1 z'51) U.S. Patent Oct. 1, 2013 Sheet 3 of 4 US 8,544.447 B2 GNES U.S. Patent Oct. 1, 2013 Sheet 4 of 4 US 8,544.447 B2 US 8,544.447 B2 1. 2 THROTTLE RESPONSE MODIFICATION out departing from the scope of the present invention. The DEVICE AND METHOD FORVEHICLES following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC THROTTLE a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is CONTROL defined by the appended claims. FIG. 1 illustrates electronic throttle control (ETC) system CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED 10. ETC system 10 includes user actuation sensor 12, elec APPLICATIONS tronic control unit 14, throttle plate motor 16, throttle plate 17 and throttle position sensors 18. In many instances, ETC This Non-Provisional patent application claims the benefit system 10 is used to facilitate signals between a user actuation of the filing dates of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. 10 sensor 12 and a throttle plate motor 16 and throttle plate 17 in No. 61/402,054, filed Aug. 23, 2010, entitled “THROTTLE a motor vehicle. ETC system 10 can be used in conjunction RESPONSE MODIFICATION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES with a variety of motorized vehicles, such as cars, trucks, EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CON motorcycles and off-road vehicles. TROL' which is herein incorporated by reference. In operation of ETC system 10, a user manipulates an 15 accelerator pedal (such as on an automobile) or a twist grip BACKGROUND (such as on an motorcycle) or the like, thereby producing a signal to actuation sensor 12. Actuation sensor 12 then pro One aspect relates to a device that plugs in between an duces an input signal to electronic control unit 14, which in electronic throttle body and the throttle body controller in turn controls throttle plate motor 16. Throttle plate motor 16 order to provide an improved throttle response. In vehicles is coupled to and controls throttle plate 17 in the engine of the equipped with electronic throttle control, or throttle-by-wire, vehicle. Such that signals from electronic control unit 14 sent there are often issues with the responsiveness of the engine. In to throttle plate motor 16 control acceleration in the vehicle many cases, there is a factory-programmed electronic lag by controlling the rotation of throttle plate 17. integrated in the system such that the engine does not imme For example, when a user has not yet pushed the accelera diately accelerate when the user actuates the pedal (in the case 25 torpetal or twisted the grip, throttle plate 17 is rotated sub of a car or truck) or twist grip (in the case of a motorcycle). For stantially perpendicular to direction of airflow, such that it is these and other reasons, there is a need for the present inven in a “closed position” or “idle position.” When a user has tion. pushed the accelerator down or twisted the grip all the way to its maximum, throttle plate 17 is rotated substantially parallel BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 30 to direction of airflow, such that it is in an “open position” or “wide-open throttle position.” Throttle plate 17 can then be The accompanying drawings are included to provide a rotated to various positions between these two extremes further understanding of the present invention and are incor responsive to the user's actuation. porated in and constitute a part of this specification. The Electronic control unit 14 sends the signals to throttle plate drawings illustrate the embodiments of the present invention 35 motor 16 to rotate plate 17, and then throttle position sensors and together with the description serve to explain the prin 18 monitor throttle plate 17. Throttle position sensors 18 then ciples of the invention. Other embodiments of the present provide a feedback signal to electronic control unit 14 as to invention and many of the intended advantages of the present the position of throttle plate 17 so that electronic control unit invention will be readily appreciated as they become better 14 is able to verify that plate 17 was moved to the correct understood by reference to the following detailed description. 40 position. If it is not, the position is adjusted. Once it is verified The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale that plate 17 is in the correct position, electronic control unit relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate cor 14 waits for actuation sensor 12 to send new signals repre responding similar parts. senting further actuation from the user. In some examples, FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an electronic throttle throttle position sensors 18 are connected to a shaft of throttle control system for a vehicle. 45 plate 17 in order to provide electronic control unit 14 with FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an electronic throttle information on whether throttle plate 17 is in the idle position, control system with a throttle modifier in accordance with one the wide-open throttle position, or at Some position in embodiment. between these extremes. FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a throttle modifier in Prior systems used a mechanical linkage between an accel accordance with one embodiment. 50 erator pedal on an automobile, or twist grip on a motorcycle, FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of a throttle modifier and a throttle plate. ETC system 10 avoids such a mechanical in accordance with one embodiment. linkage and relies instead on electronic signals that are pro cessed and controlled in electronic control unit 14. ETC sys DETAILED DESCRIPTION tem 10 can take advantage of other on-board electronics to 55 precisely control a vehicle's engine and ensure that the engine In the following Detailed Description, reference is made to receives the correct amount of throttle plate opening for any the accompanying drawings, which form a parthereof, and in given situation and ensure that harmful exhaust emissions are which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments kept to a minimum. in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, direc In some situations, however, vehicles equipped with ETC tional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom.” “front.” “back.” 60 system 10, can have a lack of responsiveness of the engine “leading.” “trailing.” etc., is used with reference to the orien relative to the throttle actuation. In some cases, there is a tation of the Figure(s) being described. Because components factory-programmed electronic lag integrated in ETC system of embodiments of the present invention can be positioned in 10. Such that the engine does not immediately accelerate a number of different orientations, the directional terminol when the user actuates the pedal (in the case of a car or truck) ogy is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way 65 or twist grip (in the case of a motorcycle).