Drive-by-wire throttle control apparatus

US7798122B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC. · US

Inventors

• Anand Chandran · Dunlap, US
• Al Cable · Springfield, US
• Bindu Philip · Savanuru, IN
• Rick Holzmacher · Springfield, US
• Gangl Rajula Reddy · Bengaluru, IN
• Shakil Moonamkandy · Savanuru, IN
• Ravindra Gudi · Mumbai, IN

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 4, 2008
• Grant date: Sep 21, 2010
• Expiry date: Dec 18, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B62K23/06
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A drive-by-wire throttle control apparatus and method includes a variable resistance sensor. A contact arm can be mechanically connected between a thumb lever and a variable resistance sensor. The variable resistance sensor possesses a resistive film that includes a fixed resistor and a variable resistor configured from a carbon film. As the thumb lever rotates, the contact arm traverses the resistive film, thereby altering the resistance of the variable resistor, determining the position of the thumb lever and thereafter generating a signal based on the sensed position. The signal can be sent to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) in the form of a varying voltage, which in turn controls the throttle of a vehicle.