Patent ID: 8762022

Claim:
A method for changing controlled engine speed of a marine internal combustion engine in a marine propulsion system for propelling a marine vessel, wherein said engine is operated at an operator-selected engine speed and an engine speed control system maintains engine speed at said operator-selected engine speed, said engine having a throttle controlling engine speed according to throttle position, said method comprising: responding to said operator changing said operator-selected engine speed, from a first-selected engine speed to a second-selected engine speed, by predicting throttle position needed to provide said second-selected engine speed; providing a feed forward signal moving said throttle to the predicted throttle position; after said movement of said throttle to said predicted throttle position, using said engine, speed control system to maintain engine speed at said second-selected engine speed; responding to said operator changing said operator-selected engine speed, from said first-selected engine speed to said second-selected engine speed, by predicting throttle position needed to provide requisite engine airflow per cylinder, APC, needed to provide said second-selected engine speed; and using a normalized APC calculation to predict required throttle position to achieve said second-selected engine speed.