Location determinative method for controlling an engine to automatically regulate vehicle cabin temperature

• US 20080009988A1
• Filed: 07/05/2006
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William R. Metzger
• Original Assignee: William R. Metzger
• Inventors: Metzger, William R.
• Application Number:
  US11/428,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20080009988A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00771 the input being a vehicle position or surrounding, e.g. GPS-based position or tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00778 the input being a stationary vehicle position, e.g. parking or stopping
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0414 Air temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence

Abstract

A location determinative method and system for controlling an engine to automatically regulate cabin temperature within a parked vehicle that is equipped with a heating/cooling apparatus, the method including determining the current location of the vehicle using a satellite navigation system, retrieving from memory location-specific parameters of engine operation and automatically controlling idling of the engine, in compliance with locally applicable law, for the purpose of enabling the heating/cooling apparatus to maintain a desirable cabin temperature.

Claims

1. A method for automatically regulating the cabin temperature within a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining the current location of the vehicle by communicating with a navigation system;

retrieving location-specific parameters of engine operation based upon the current location of the vehicle; and

controlling an engine to automatically regulate the cabin temperature in compliance with the location-specific parameters of engine operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said navigation system is a satellite global positioning system (GPS).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of retrieving location-specific parameters comprises communicating with a memory device containing said parameters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said location-specific parameters comprise operational limits prescribed by law applicable to the current location of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said engine is the main engine of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said engine is an auxiliary power system engine.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether vehicle operating conditions are acceptable for controlling an engine.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein vehicle operating conditions acceptable for controlling an engine comprise at least one of the following conditions:

the vehicle'"'"'s ignition switch being in off or auxiliary position;

the vehicle'"'"'s parking brake being engaged;

the vehicle'"'"'s transmission being in neutral position; and

the vehicle'"'"'s hood being in closed position;

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling an engine to maintain the cabin temperature within a predetermined acceptable temperature range.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of controlling an engine to maintain the cabin temperature within a predetermined acceptable temperature range comprises starting the engine when cabin temperature is outside of said acceptable range.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said engine is an auxiliary power system engine.

12. A system for automatically regulating the cabin temperature within a vehicle, the system comprising:

a navigation system for determining the current location of the vehicle;

memory containing location-specific parameters of engine operation based upon the current location of the vehicle; and

a computer capable of communicating with the navigation system and the memory, the computer for controlling an engine to automatically regulate the cabin temperature in compliance with the location-specific parameters of engine operation.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising at least one temperature sensor for determining cabin temperature.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising an operator interface capable of communicating with said computer, the operator interface for inputting information relative to an acceptable range of cabin temperatures.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said computer controls an engine in order to maintain the cabin temperature within said acceptable range.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said computer controls the main engine of the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein said computer controls the engine for an auxiliary power system.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising at least one temperature sensor for determining ambient temperature.

19. The system of claim 12, further comprising at least one of the following:

a hood switch capable of communicating to said computer that the vehicle'"'"'s hood is in closed position;

a parking brake switch capable of communicating to said computer that the vehicle'"'"'s parking brake is engaged; and

a transmission switch capable of communicating to said computer that the vehicle'"'"'s transmission is in neutral position.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein said memory is located remote from the vehicle, whereby said computer communicates wirelessly with said memory.