Engine stoppage notification apparatus

• US 20050199209A1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keihin Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Keihin Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Shinichi, Tokugawa, Kazuhito, Shimokawa, Tomoo, Chida, Satoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,210,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/179.4
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/228 Warning displays
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0822 related to action of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0844 with means for restarting the engine directly after an engine stop request, e.g. caused by change of driver mind
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/10 Safety devices F02N11/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

The present invention provides an engine stoppage notification apparatus with which, due to its compatibility with and good correspondence to the intention of a driver to start off a vehicle and to stop and idle the vehicle, it is possible to anticipate the possibility of enhancement of product quality along with alleviation of the burden upon the driver. This engine stoppage notification apparatus notifies the driver that the engine is about to stop when the engine has satisfied certain predetermined stoppage permission conditions, and includes a notification device which, from when the stoppage permission conditions are satisfied until the engine stops, issues a notification of the engine stoppage.

Claims

1. An engine stoppage notification apparatus, fitted to a vehicle comprising an engine, which stops the engine when predetermined stoppage permission conditions are satisfied and starts the engine when predetermined restart permission conditions are satisfied, comprising a notification device which, from when the stoppage permission conditions are satisfied until the engine stops, issues a notification of the engine stoppage.

4. An engine stoppage notification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification device is a display device which informs that the engine stoppage is imminent, from when the stoppage permission conditions are satisfied until the engine stops.

5. An engine stoppage notification apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a stoppage cancellation device which, from when the stoppage permission conditions are satisfied until the engine stops, is capable of cancellation of the engine stoppage.

2. An engine stoppage notification apparatus, fitted to a vehicle comprising an engine, which stops the engine when predetermined stoppage permission conditions are satisfied and starts the engine when predetermined restart permission conditions are satisfied, comprising:

a sensor which detects the operational state of the vehicle;

a stop permission determination device which determines whether or not the engine stoppage is permitted, based upon the detection signal from the sensor;

a measurement device which measures a predetermined time period from the time point at which the stop permission determination device has determined that the engine stoppage is permitted; and

a notification device which issues a notification of the engine stoppage, while the measurement device is measuring the predetermined time period.

3. An engine stoppage notification apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, after the engine has stopped, restarting of the engine is prohibited while the predetermined time period is elapsing, irrespective of the presence or absence of the restart permission.