Ice control method including control schedule update

Claim 2

In a control method for an apparatus wherein the fuel consumption characteristics thereof change with use, the steps of: (a) continuously sensing at least two parameters of said apparatus, one of said parameters being related to fuel consumption; (b) maintaining a control schedule related to said sensed parameters and periodically updating said control schedule in response to the values of the parameters sensed in step (a) during both transient and non-transient modes of operation; and (c) controlling said apparatus in accordance with said control schedule so as to minimize the fuel consumption of same.

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises an automotive internal combustion engine having a speed change transmission associated therewith and wherein said step (a) comprises: sensing the engine rotational speed; sensing the torque outputted by said engine; and sensing the amount of fuel supplied to said engine.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of filtering the sensed values of said at least two parameters so as to exclude values which are non indicative of the actual state of the apparatus.

Claim 5

A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said step of filtering comprises: averaging a predetermined number of sensed parameter values.

Claim 6

A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said step of filtering comprises: maintaining a running average of a predetermined number of sensed parameter values.

Claim 7

A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said step of filtering comprises: accepting only sensed parameter values which are within a predetermined range of previous ones.

Claim 8

A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said step of filtering comprises: selecting sensed parameter values which are within a predetermined range of one and other and which frequently appear.

Claim 9

A method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the steps of: using a microprocessor to execute said steps of sensing, updating and controlling; and using a memory of said microprocessor to store said schedule in the form of a look-up table.

Claim 10

A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of updating includes updating the data included in said look-up table by extrapolation in the event that the data sensed does not extend over the full range of the data present in said table.

Claim 11

In a vehicle including an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively associated therewith, a control method comprising the steps of: (a) continuously sensing the values of a first group of operational parameters of said engine; (b) periodically updating a control schedule in response to said sensed values during both transient and non-transient modes of engine operation; (c) determining, using said control schedule, the values of a second group of operational parameters which, if achieved, cause said engine and said transmission to assume states wherein the least amount of fuel will be consumed to produce a given amount of power; and inducing said engine and said transmission to assume said states wherein said determined values of said second group of parameters are achieved and the fuel consumption of said engine is minimized.

Claim 12

In a vehicle including an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively associated therewith, a control method comprising the steps of: (a) continuously sensing the values of a first group of operational parameters of said engine; (b) periodically updating a control schedule in response to said sensed values during both transient and non-transient modes of engine operation; (c) determining, using said control schedule, the values of a second group of operational parameters which, if achieved, cause said engine and said transmission to assume states wherein the least amount of fuel will be consumed to produce a given amount of power; and inducing said engine and said transmission to assume said states wherein said determined values of said second group of parameters are achieved and the fuel consumption of said engine is minimized.

Claim 13

A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the steps of: using a microprocessor to execute said steps of sensing, updating and determining; and using a memory of said microprocessor to store said control schedule in the form of a look-up table; filtering the data obtained in said step of sensing to exclude values which do not reflect the actual condition of said engine; and using said filtered data to update said control schedule.

Claim 14

A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the steps of: separately memorizing data derived during preselected modes of vehicular operation; and separately updating said separately memorized data.

Claim 15

In an apparatus wherein fuel consumption characteristics thereof change with use, means for continuously sensing at least two parameters of said apparatus, one of said parameters being related to fuel consumption; means for maintaining a control schedule related to said sensed parameters and periodically updating said control schedule in response to the values of the parameters sensed in step (a) under both transient and non-transient conditions; and means for controlling said apparatus in accordance with said control schedule so as to minimize the fuel consumption of same.

Claim 16

In an apparatus wherein fuel consumption characteristics thereof change with use, means for continuously sensing at least two parameters of said apparatus, one of said parameters being related to fuel consumption; means for maintaining a control schedule related to said sensed parameters and periodically updating said control schedule in response to the values of the parameters sensed in step (a) under both transient and non-transient conditions; and means for controlling said apparatus in accordance with said control schedule so as to minimize the fuel consumption of same.

Claim 17

An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said apparatus comprises an automotive internal combustion engine having a speed change transmission associated therewith and wherein said continuously sensing means includes: a device for sensing the engine rotational speed; a device for sensing the torque outputted by said engine; and a device for sensing the amount of fuel supplied to said engine.

Claim 18

An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising means for filtering the sensed values of said at least two parameters so as to exclude values which are non indicative of the actual state of the apparatus.

Claim 19

An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said filtering means includes: an arrangement for averaging a predetermined number of sensed parameter values.

Claim 20

An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said filtering means includes: an arrangement for maintaining a running average of a predetermined number of sensed parameter values.

Claim 21

An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said filtering means includes: an arrangement for accepting only sensed parameter values which are within a predetermined range of previous ones.

Claim 22

An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said filtering means includes: an arrangement for selecting sensed parameter values which are within a predetermined range of one and other and which frequently appear.

Claim 23

In a vehicle including an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively associated therewith, means for continuously sensing the values of a first group of operational parameters of said engine; means for periodically updating a control schedule in response to said sensed values under both transient and non-transient conditions; means for determining, using said control schedule, the values of a second group of operational parameters which, if achieved, cause said engine and said transmission to assume states wherein the least amount of fuel will be consumed to produce a given amount of power; and means for inducing said engine and said transmission to assume said states wherein said determined values of said second group of parameters are achieved and the fuel consumption of said engine is minimized.

Claim 24

In a vehicle including an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively associated therewith, means for continuously sensing the values of a first group of operational parameters of said engine; means for periodically updating a control schedule in response to said sensed values under both transient and non-transient conditions; means for determining, using said control schedule, the values of a second group of operational parameters which, if achieved, cause said engine and said transmission to assume states wherein the least amount of fuel will be consumed to produce a given amount of power; and means for inducing said engine and said transmission to assume said states wherein said determined values of said second group of parameters are achieved and the fuel consumption of said engine is minimized.

Claim 25

A vehicle as claimed in claim 20, further comprising: means for filtering the data obtained by said sensing means so as to exclude values which do not reflect the actual condition of said engine; and means for using said filtered data to update said control schedule.

Claim 26

A vehicle as claimed in claim 21, further comprising: means for separately memorizing data derived during preselected modes of vehicular operation; and means for separately updating said separately memorized data.