Smart driver presence strategy for police and commercial vehicles to increase auto-stop engine availability

• US 10,363,933 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2016
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Khafagy, Hafiz Shafeek, Boesch, Mathew Alan, Zyskowski, Mark Edward, Hakeem, Mohannad, Magolan, Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Bishop, Erin D
• Application Number:
  US15/059,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20170253245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/04 responsive to presence or absence of the driver, e.g. to weight or lack thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/182 including control of parking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0881 Seat occupation; Driver or passenger presence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/186 Status of parking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/305 target power to auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18018 Start-stop drive, e.g. in a traffic jam
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1886 Controlling power supply to auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0818 Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/106 Driver presence, e.g. detected by door lock, seat sensor or belt sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A method of controlling a stop-start vehicle includes, in response to an engine being in an auto-stopped condition and a signal indicative of a driver exiting the vehicle, maintaining the engine in the auto-stopped condition. The method additionally includes securing vehicle wheels against rotation and reducing a convenience feature power consumption.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising:

responsive to an engine being auto-stopped and a signal indicating a driver exiting the vehicle, securing traction wheels against rotation, modifying a convenience feature power consumption from a first state to a decreased second state, and maintaining the engine in an auto-stopped condition; and

responsive to a signal indicating the driver returning to the vehicle, returning the convenience feature power consumption to the first state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the convenience feature power consumption is a climate blower cooling fan power consumption.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the convenience feature power consumption is a heated seat system power consumption.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal indicating the driver exiting the vehicle includes a signal from a seat belt sensor indicating that a driver seat belt has been disengaged.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal indicating the driver exiting the vehicle includes a signal from a door sensor indicating that a driver door has been opened.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the securing includes commanding a transmission to shift into PARK.

7. The method claim 1, wherein the securing includes commanding a parking brake to engage.

8. A vehicle comprising:

an engine; and

a controller configured to

responsive to the engine being auto-stopped and a signal indicating a driver exiting the vehicle, prevent wheel rotation, modifying a convenience feature power consumption from a first state to a decreased second state, and maintain the engine in an auto-stopped condition; and

responsive to a signal indicating the driver returning to the vehicle, return power consumption of the convenience feature to the first state.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the convenience feature power consumption is a climate blower cooling fan power consumption.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the convenience feature power consumption is a heated seat system power consumption.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the signal indicating the driver exiting the vehicle includes a signal from a seat belt sensor indicating that a driver seat belt has been disengaged.

12. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the signal indicating the driver exiting the vehicle includes a signal from a door sensor indicating that a driver door has been opened.

13. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the controller configured to prevent wheel rotation includes commanding a transmission to shift into PARK.

14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the controller configured to prevent wheel rotation includes commanding a parking brake to engage.