Field of the invention:

The present invention relates to a device and method for controlling engine operation parameters. Particularly the invention relates to device and method for controlling engine operation parameters from a mobile device.

Background of the invention:

Most of the four wheelers available in the market today have advanced electronic control units for controlling engine operations. However similar electronic control units are still not common for two wheelers available in most of the emerging markets. At the moment majority of the two wheelers in India are equipped with carburetors. There is generally a high variation in performance and fuel economy of the two wheelers and the user normally has to approach a service station for any adjustment to the engine operation. The typical requirements from the user with respect to adjusting of the engine performance is improving the "pickup" that is engine output power and improving the mileage or the fuel economy. The mechanic needs to adjust the carburetor settings for achieving the same.

A regular user of a two wheeler may not have a complete understanding of the operation of the vehicle to make adjustments to these settings in the present two wheelers. Thus, there is a requirement for a device which allows a regular user to adjust the engine operation as and when required without help of an expert or a mechanic.

Brief description of the invention:

The object of the present invention is to provide a device for adjusting engine operation parameters as desired by a user without the help of an expert or a mechanic. Further it is an object of the invention to provide a method for adjusting engine operation parameters using a mobile device.

In accordance with the present invention an apparatus for controlling engine operation parameters is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a mobile device provided with an interface means for receiving user inputs corresponding to the desired engine performance characteristics. The mobile device communicates with an engine control unit (ECU) on board a vehicle, and is adapted to transmit signals corresponding to the user input to the ECU. The ECU receives the signals from a mobile device corresponding to user input for desired engine performance parameters and adjusts the engine operation based on the user inputs based on pre stored calibration maps.

The present invention obviates the need to visit a service centre for minor adjustments to the engine operation. Any user with a mobile device that can communicate with the engine ECU can vary certain parameters as per his or her requirement whenever they want. A user can achieve desired performance from the vehicle in terms of higher output power when driving terrain or surface demands higher power and high fuel efficiency can be achieved in case the user is concerned about the fuel consumption.

Brief description of the drawings:

The present invention is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 illustrates an apparatus for controlling engine operation parameters in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a mobile device with an interface for controlling engine operation parameters in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 3 illustrates a mobile device with an interface for controlling engine operation parameters in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the drawings:

Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates an apparatus for controlling engine operation parameters. The apparatus (10) for controlling engine operation parameters includes a mobile device (12) adapted to communicate with an engine control unit (ECU) (16) onboard a vehicle. The mobile device (12) is provided with an interface means (14) for receiving user inputs corresponding to the desired engine performance characteristics. The mobile device (12) transmits signals corresponding to the user input to the ECU (16). The ECU (16) is adapted to receive signals from a mobile device (12). The communication between the ECU (16) and the mobile device (12) can be using wired means or by wireless means like Bluetooth, WiFi and the like. The user inputs to the mobile device (12) the desired engine performance which is transmitted to the ECU (16). The ECU (16) includes stored calibration maps (18) for varying the engine operation based on the inputs from user. Typical engine operation parameters that a user can vary are the engine fuel efficiency, engine power output and the like.

In one embodiment of the invention, the user provides input regarding the desired engine power output via the interface of the mobile device (12). The ECU (16) receives the signals corresponding to the user input and controls the actuators in the vehicle to achieve the desired engine performance.

In another embodiment of the invention, the user provides input regarding the desired engine fuel efficiency via the interface of the mobile device. The ECU (16) receives the signals corresponding to the user input and controls the actuators (20) in the vehicle to achieve the desired engine efficiency.

In another embodiment of the invention, the user provides input corresponding to a combination of the desired engine fuel efficiency the desired engine performance via the interface of the mobile device (12). The ECU (16) receives the signals corresponding to the user input and controls the actuators (20) in the vehicle to achieve the desired engine fuel efficiency the desired engine performance. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings illustrate two embodiments of a mobile device (12) as claimed in this invention. The mobile device (12) is adapted to control the engine operation parameters. The mobile device (12) has an interface means (14) to receive inputs from a user corresponding to the desired engine performance characteristics and communicate the same to an engine control unit (ECU) (16) of a vehicle by a transmitter. Fig. 2 illustrates a mobile device (12) with interface for controlling the engine operation parameters. In a preferred embodiment the interface means (14) is in form of separate sliders displayed for controlling engine operation parameters like engine fuel efficiency and engine power output. Fig. 3 illustrates a mobile device (12) with an interface showing a common slider for controlling the engine performance such that the slider moves between the extreme values for the two parameters, engine fuel efficiency and the engine power output. X and Y can be any engine performance parameters that the user is allowed to adjust in accordance with the present invention.

In another embodiment the interface means (14) on the mobile device (12) for varying the engine operation parameters is in form of rotary knobs.

In one embodiment of the invention the interface means (14) allows varying the values of the engine operation parameters in predetermined steps. In another embodiment the interface means (14) allows varying the values of the engine operation parameters smoothly over continuous values. The engine control unit (ECU) (16) for controlling engine operation parameters comprises a receiver to receive signals from a mobile device (12) corresponding to the engine operation parameters. Calibration maps (18) are stored in the ECU (16) corresponding to the engine operation parameters of fuel efficiency, engine output power and also a combination of both. A memory element in the ECU (16) is adapted to store calibration maps (18) for the at least one engine operation parameter corresponding to the signal received from a mobile device (12). The ECU (12) is adapted to control actuators (20) of the vehicle to achieve the engine operation as demanded by a user using the mobile device (12). The ECU (16) adjusts the air fuel ratio based on user inputs and said calibration maps (18) for achieving the desired engine performance.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mobile device (12) is a smartphone and the interface (18) for controlling the engine operation is provided in form of a mobile phone application. The application is downloaded from the internet and installed on the smartphone. The communication between the mobile device and the ECU of the vehicle can be established typically by wireless means, like Bluetooth, WiFi, and the like. The communication between the smartphone and the ECU (16) is secured and established only after authentication of the user and the smartphone. The ECU (16) can establish communication with only one smartphone at a time to allow control of the engine operation parameters. Thus, using a smartphone application a user can set desired values for engine operation parameters like engine fuel efficiency and engine power output. These engine operation parameter values as set by the user are transmitted to the ECU (16) and the ECU (16) controls the actuators (20) in the vehicle such that the air fuel ratio in adjusted to achieve the desired engine performance. In case the user demands more power output for driving, then the desired power output on the smartphone application is set high and similarly in case the fuel efficiency required is high then the same is set accordingly. The engine fuel efficiency and the engine power output are inversely related to each other. As the engine power output increases the fuel efficiency teds to decrease. To adjust the engine fuel efficiency or the engine power output, the ECU (16) adjusts the air-fuel ratio of the engine and achieves the desired performance.

The method for controlling engine operation parameters communication includes the following steps. Communication is established between a mobile device (12) and an engine control unit (ECU) (16) onboard a vehicle. The user inputs for desired engine performance are received via an interface means (14) provided to the mobile device (12) which transmits to the ECU (16). The ECU (16) retrieves the values of said engine operation parameters corresponding to the user inputs from the calibration maps (18) stored in the ECU (16). The ECU (16) controls the vehicle actuators (20) to achieve the desired engine performance.

It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.

WE CLAIM:

1. An apparatus (10) for controlling engine operation parameters, said apparatus comprising a mobile device (12) provided with an interface means (14) for receiving user inputs corresponding to the desired engine performance characteristics; said mobile device (12) in communication with an engine control unit (ECU) (16) on board a vehicle; and said mobile device (12) adapted to transmit signals corresponding to the user input to said ECU (16); said ECU (16) adapted to receive signals from a mobile device (12) corresponding to user input for desired engine performance parameters; said ECU (16) having calibration maps (18) stored in said ECU (16) for varying the value of said engine operation parameter based on the user inputs.

2. A mobile device (12) for controlling engine operation parameters, said mobile device having an interface means (14) to receive inputs from a user corresponding to the desired engine performance characteristics and communicate the same to an engine control unit (ECU) (16) of a vehicle by a transmitting means.

3. A mobile device as claimed in claim (2) wherein said interface means (14) allows the user to set a desired engine power output.

4. A mobile device as claimed in claim (2) wherein said interface means (14) allows the user to set a desired fuel efficiency.

5. A mobile device as claimed in claim (2) wherein said interface means (14) allows the user to set engine operation conditions between maximum engine output power and maximum engine fuel efficiency.

6. A mobile device as claimed in claim (2) wherein said interface means (14) allows varying the values of the engine operation parameters in predetermined steps.

7. A mobile device as claimed in claim (2) wherein said interface means (14) allows varying the values of the engine operation parameters over continuous values.

8. A mobile device as claimed in claim (2) wherein said mobile device is a smart phone and said interface means is in form of a mobile phone application.

9. An engine control unit (ECU) (16) for controlling engine operation parameters, said ECU (16) comprising, a receiver to receive signals from a mobile device (12); said ECU (16) adapted to store calibration maps (18) for the at least one predetermined engine operation parameter corresponding to said received signal;
wherein said ECU (16) is adapted to control said engine operation based on the signals received from said mobile device (12).

10. An ECU (16) as claimed in claim (9) wherein said calibration maps (18) stored in the ECU (16) correspond to the engine operation parameter of fuel efficiency.

11. An ECU (16) as claimed in claim (9) wherein said calibration maps (18) stored in the ECU (16) correspond to the engine operation parameter of engine output power.

12. An ECU (16) as claimed in claim (9) wherein said calibration maps (18) stored in said ECU (16) give relation between the user inputs and engine output power and engine efficiency combined.

13. An ECU as claimed in claim (9) wherein based on user inputs plurality of vehicle actuators can be controlled by the ECU (16) to achieve the desired engine operation.

14. An ECU as claimed in claim (9) wherein based on user inputs and said calibration maps (18) the ECU (16) adjusts the air-fuel ratio for the engine operation.

15. A method for controlling engine operation parameters, said method comprising, establishing communication between a mobile device and an engine control unit (ECU) onboard a vehicle; receiving user inputs for desired engine performance via an interface provided to the mobile device;

transmitting the user inputs for desired engine performance to the ECU; retrieving the values of said engine operation parameters corresponding to the user inputs from the calibration maps stored in the ECU; and controlling the vehicle actuators to achieve the desired engine performance.