Idle shutdown override with defeat protection
First Claim
1. A method for controlling an engine having an electronic control module with an idle shutdown feature to automatically stop the engine after idling for a period of time, the method comprising:
- determining whether the engine is being loaded; and
overriding the idle shutdown feature to keep the engine running when the engine is being loaded.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for controlling a compression ignition internal combustion engine having an electronic control module with an idle shutdown feature to automatically stop the engine after idling for a period of time include determining whether the engine is being loaded and overriding the idle shutdown feature to keep the engine running when the engine is being loaded. In one embodiment, the present invention includes monitoring operating conditions to determine that the vehicle is stationary, monitoring the engine to determine the engine is idling, initiating a timer/counter to provide an indication of idling time, determining that the engine is operating in an auxiliary power mode, determining engine load, and automatically stopping the engine when the idling time exceeds a first threshold and the engine load is less than a second threshold. The present invention makes it more difficult for engine operators to defeat the idle shutdown feature by detecting current engine operating conditions to verify that the selected operating mode is consistent with current engine operating conditions.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method for controlling an engine having an electronic control module with an idle shutdown feature to automatically stop the engine after idling for a period of time, the method comprising:
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determining whether the engine is being loaded; and
overriding the idle shutdown feature to keep the engine running when the engine is being loaded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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14. A method for controlling an engine, the method comprising:
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determining whether the engine is idling;
determining engine load; and
automatically stopping the engine after idling for a selectable time only if the engine load is less than a corresponding threshold.
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18. A method for reducing tampering with engine features designed to improve fuel economy in an electronically controlled compression ignition internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
monitoring current engine operating conditions to determine whether an operator selected engine operating mode is consistent with current engine operating conditions.
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24. A system for controlling a compression ignition internal combustion engine, the system comprising an electronic control module having an idle shutdown feature to automatically stop the engine after idling for a period of time, wherein the electronic control module determines whether the engine is being loaded and overrides the idle shutdown feature to keep the engine running when the engine is being loaded.
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25. A system for reducing tampering with engine features designed to improve fuel economy in an electronically controlled compression ignition internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
an engine controller having program instructions for monitoring current engine operating conditions to determine whether an operator selected engine operating mode is consistent with current engine operating conditions.
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26. A computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a computer for controlling an engine having an idle shutdown feature to automatically stop the engine after idling for a period of time, the computer readable storage medium comprising:
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instructions for determining whether the engine is being loaded; and
instructions for overriding the idle shutdown feature to keep the engine running when the engine is being loaded.
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39. A system for controlling an engine having an electronic control module with an idle shutdown feature to automatically stop the engine after idling for a period of time, the system comprising:
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means for determining whether the engine is being loaded; and
means for overriding the idle shutdown feature to keep the engine running when the engine is being loaded.
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40. A system for controlling an engine, the system comprising:
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means for determining whether the engine is idling;
means for determining engine load; and
means for automatically stopping the engine after idling for a selectable time only if the engine load is less than a corresponding threshold.
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41. A system for reducing tampering with engine features designed to improve fuel economy in an electronically controlled compression ignition internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
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means for monitoring current engine operating conditions; and
means for determining whether an operator selected engine operating mode is consistent with the current engine operating conditions.
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Specification