Patent ID: 9500146
Filing Date: 2016-11-22
CPC Classification: F02D

Claim Text:
1. A method for controlling an engine in a vehicle to allOw a driver to obtain a working range of the engine in excess of a base working range thereof, the method comprising establisbing a base working range, which limits are defined by a base torque versus enine speed curve, establishing an excess working range, which limits are defined between the base torque versus engine speed curve and an excess torque versus engine speed curve, the excess torque versus engine speed curve displaying a higher maximum torque level and/or a higher end engine speed as compared to the base torque versus engine speed curve, estiblishing an excess availability limit, defining the maximum duration or maximum distance travelled by the vehicle of access to the excess working range per unit time or unit distance travelled by the vehicle, calculating a cumulative consumed excess value per unit time or unit distance travelled by the vehicle by summating any time periods or distances travelled by the vehicle during which the excess working range is accessed within the unit time or unit distance travelled by the vehicle; and controlling the engine in response to driver input to allow aceess to the excess working range only when the cumulative consumed excess value is less than the excess availability limit, wherein the excess availability limit is temporarily ncreased following a time period or distance travelled by the vehicle during which a preferred driving pattern was used and where the preferred driving pattern is defined by driving in a predefined reward area of the base torque versus engine speed curve.