Communication interface for start-stop systems and methods
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- an engine control unit (“
ECU”
), the ECU structured to control the operation of an internal combustion engine structured to drive a vehicle and provide power to other components of the vehicle, the other components of the vehicle structured to receive an operator input and generate signals based on the operator input, the ECU including;
a processor,memory,a start-stop control module including programming and circuitry to allow the ECU to implement a start-stop feature that stops the internal combustion engine during periods of expected extended idling to conserve fuel, andan original equipment manufacturer (“
OEM”
) hardware interface module that allows the ECU to send signals to and receive signals from the other components of the vehicle such that the other components can provide input into the start-stop control module to affect when the internal combustion engine is stopped and restarted, wherein the input comprises an engine shutdown inhibit signal generated based on the operator input, the engine shutdown inhibit signal structured to prevent the ECU from automatically stopping the internal combustion engine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for implementing a start-stop feature on a vehicle powered at least in part by an internal combustion engine include receiving, at an electronic control unit (“ECU”) of the vehicle, an indication that the vehicle is in line at a drive-thru; determining, by the ECU, a number of startstop events anticipated during the drive-thru; determining, by the ECU, an approximate stop time for each of the number of start-stop events; determining, by the ECU, that a battery of the vehicle has enough remaining charge to power a plurality of vehicle components during implementation of the start-stop feature; implementing, by the ECU, the start-stop feature in which the internal combustion engine is turned off for at least a portion of the time when the vehicle is stopped
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
-
an engine control unit (“
ECU”
), the ECU structured to control the operation of an internal combustion engine structured to drive a vehicle and provide power to other components of the vehicle, the other components of the vehicle structured to receive an operator input and generate signals based on the operator input, the ECU including;a processor, memory, a start-stop control module including programming and circuitry to allow the ECU to implement a start-stop feature that stops the internal combustion engine during periods of expected extended idling to conserve fuel, and an original equipment manufacturer (“
OEM”
) hardware interface module that allows the ECU to send signals to and receive signals from the other components of the vehicle such that the other components can provide input into the start-stop control module to affect when the internal combustion engine is stopped and restarted, wherein the input comprises an engine shutdown inhibit signal generated based on the operator input, the engine shutdown inhibit signal structured to prevent the ECU from automatically stopping the internal combustion engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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an engine control unit (“
ECU”
) structured to control operation of an internal combustion engine structured to drive a vehicle and provide power to other components of the vehicle, the other components of the vehicle including a fluid sensor structured to receive data indicative of a characteristic of a fluid received in at least one of the other components, the ECU including;a processor, memory, a start-stop control module including programming and circuitry to allow the ECU to implement a start-stop feature that stops the internal combustion engine during periods of expected extended idling to conserve fuel, and an original equipment manufacturer (“
OEM”
) hardware interface module that allows the ECU to send signals to and receive signals from the other components of the vehicle such that the other components can provide input into the start-stop control module to affect when the internal combustion engine is stopped and restarted, wherein the input comprises an engine shutdown inhibit signal generated based on the data indicative of the characteristic of the fluid, the engine shutdown inhibit signal structured to prevent the ECU from automatically stopping the internal combustion engine. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system structured to control operation of an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine structured to drive a vehicle and to provide power to a fluid sensor and to an engine control unit (“
- ECU”
) structured to control the operation of the internal combustion engine and to implement a start-stop feature structured to stop the internal combustion engine during periods of expected extended idling to conserve fuel, the system comprising;an original equipment manufacturer (“
OEM”
) hardware interface module structured to enable the ECU to send signals to and receive signals from the fluid sensor such that the start-stop control module receives input from the fluid sensor that affects when the internal combustion engine is stopped and restarted, wherein the input comprises an engine shutdown inhibit signal generated based on a characteristic of a fluid of the vehicle, and wherein the engine shutdown inhibit signal is structured to prevent the ECU from automatically stopping the internal combustion engine. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
- ECU”
Specification