Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A system for controlling throttle position in a vehicular internal combustion engine, including: first means for detecting operating condition of the engine including the degree of depression of an accelerator pedal provided on the vehicle floor; second means for determining a target position of a throttle valve provided in an engine air intake passage in accordance with the detected degree of depression of the accelerator pedal; control means for determining a command value in accordance with the determined target position; and actuator means connected to the throttle valve for moving the valve in response to the command value; wherein the second means further determines an idle throttle position when the engine operation enters or is in an idle region and a cruise throttle position when the engine operation enters or is in a cruise control region; and the control means calculates the command value by selecting the largest among the throttle positions determined by the second means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
157 words
A system for controlling throttle position in a vehicular internal combustion engine, including: first means for detecting operating condition of the engine including the degree of depression of an accelerator pedal provided on the vehicle floor; second means for determining a target position of a throttle valve provided in an engine air intake passage in accordance with the detected degree of depression of the accelerator pedal; control means for determining a command value in accordance with the determined target position; and actuator means connected to the throttle valve for moving the valve in response to the command value; wherein the second means further determines an idle throttle position when the engine operation enters or is in an idle region and a cruise throttle position when the engine operation enters or is in a cruise control region; and the control means calculates the command value by selecting the largest among the throttle positions determined by the second means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is a stepper motor and said control means periodically calculates the command value and outputs the same to the actuator at the beginning of the next calculation period.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein said control means calculates the command value such that the command value can be output within the calculation period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said control means calculates the command value such that the throttle valve is capable of moving in accordance with the command value.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
68 words
A system according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said first means detects engine speed and said second means determines a target engine speed when the engine operation is found to enter the idle control region upon receipt of an output signal from said first means, said second means determining the target throttle position such that deviation between the target and detected engine speeds is decreased.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 5, wherein said target engine speed is varied in accordance with a selected gear range.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said target engine speed is varied in accordance with a detected coolant temperature.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
54 words
A system according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein said actuator is a stepper motor and said control means calculates the command value such that the throttle valve moves by a distance corresponding to a fraction of the distance between motor step angles when the deviation decreases to within a predetermined range.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein said control means calculates the command value such that the throttle valve vibrates back and forth by switching the energization direction of the motor at predetermined time intervals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein the length of the predetermined time interval is varied in accordance with the engine operating condition.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
41 words
A system according to any of claims 5 to 10, wherein said control means periodically calculates the command value in accordance with the determined target throttle position and the length of the calculation period is varied in accordance with the deviation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 11, wherein the length of said calculation period is varied in inverse proportion to the deviation.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
66 words
A system according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein said actuator is a stepper motor whose chopping duty can be varied and said control means receives the output signal of the first means and calculates the command value to change the pulse rate of signals to the stepper motor and the chopping duty, solely or in combination, in accordance with the engine operating condition.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
55 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein said actuator is a stepper motor and said first means detects engine cranking, and wherein said control means receives the output signals of the first means and calculates the command value for changing the pulse rate of signals to the stepper motor when engine cranking is detected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 14, wherein said control means continues to change the pulse rate for a predetermined interval after cranking has been completed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said chopping duty of said stepper motor can be varied and said control means calculates the command value such that the pulse rate and the chopping duty are varied when engine cranking is detected.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
25 words
A system according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein said first means detects engine cranking based on activation of an engine starter motor.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
86 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein said actuator is a stepper motor and said control means receives the output signals of the first means, said control means determining whether the engine operation has entered a region where the stepper motor is to be slewed up and, when the result of the determination is affirmative, calculating the command value for slewing up the motor after confirming that the number of angular steps to the target position exceeds that for finishing slewing up and slewing down.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 18, wherein said region is the region of vehicle acceleration during cruise control.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 18 or 19, wherein said confirmation is assigned priority over all other confirmations.