VEHICLE COUNTDOWN TIMER AND USER INTERFACE

• US 20080291001A1
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Inventors: Ressa, Andrew Joseph, O'Connor, Ian David, Crowe, Paul Stephen, Caspe-Detzer, Martin Jay, Tran, Phu Vi, Espinosa, John William
• Granted Patent: US 7,898,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/604 Engine control mode selected by driver, e.g. to manually start particle filter regeneration or to select driving style
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention are directed at allowing a vehicle to idle for a predetermined amount of time before shutdown. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided that accepts input from the vehicle operator to initiate a countdown to vehicle shutdown. When the input is received, a countdown is initiated that is regularly updated to reflect the passage of time. During the countdown, a vehicle ignition bus is maintained in an active state and a countdown value that reflects the time remaining before shutdown is presented on a graphical display. Then, in response to expiration of the countdown, the method allows the vehicle ignition bus to transition into an inactive state.

Claims

1. In a vehicle that includes a display for presenting information to a vehicle operator, a method of providing a countdown to vehicle shutdown, the method comprising:

receiving input from the vehicle operator to initiate the countdown;

maintaining a countdown value to reflect the passage of time, wherein a vehicle ignition bus is maintained in an active state before expiration of the countdown value;

presenting the current countdown value on a graphical display; and

in response to expiration of the countdown, allowing the vehicle ignition bus to transition into an inactive state; and

wherein the countdown value may be modified before shutdown.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein countdown information is presented on the graphical display in a first color when the countdown value is above a threshold value and in a color different than the first color once the countdown value intersects the threshold value.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein maintaining the ignition bus in the active state before the countdown value expires includes overriding other vehicle systems that are capable of transitioning the ignition bus into an inactive state.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the countdown value is depicted in both a numeric and graphical form on the graphical display.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein presenting the countdown value on the graphical display includes creating a bar chart with a slider that visually depicts the current countdown value.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a vehicle operator is not required to provide additional input to shutdown the vehicle when the countdown value expires.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein maintaining a countdown value to reflect the passage of time includes receiving input from a vehicle operator to modify the countdown value and modifying the countdown value based on the input.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the countdown value is modified in one minute intervals.

9. An ignition-bus timer for managing activation of an ignition bus in a vehicle, comprising:

an interface operative to;

receive input from the vehicle operator to initiate a countdown to vehicle shutdown; and

display a countdown value that reflects the time remaining until vehicle shutdown;

an electronic control unit coupled to the interface that is configured to;

maintain an ignition bus in an active state in response to receiving operator input to initiate a countdown to vehicle shutdown;

maintain a countdown value in memory that reflects the time remaining before vehicle shutdown; and

cause the ignition bus to transition into an inactive state in response to expiration of the countdown value.

10. The ignition-bus timer as recited in claim 9, wherein to display a countdown value that reflects the time remaining until vehicle shutdown includes providing a visual indicator when the countdown value is close to expiring.

11. The ignition-bus timer as recited in claim 10, wherein the visual indicator is causing information to be displayed on a graphical display in a first color when the countdown value is above a threshold value and in a color different than the first color once the countdown value intersects the threshold value.

12. The ignition-bus timer as recited in claim 9, wherein to display a countdown value that reflects the time remaining until vehicle shutdown includes presenting the countdown value in both a numeric in graphical form on the interface.

13. The ignition-bus timer as recited in claim 9, wherein to maintain an ignition bus in an active state includes overriding other vehicle systems that are capable of transitioning the ignition bus into an inactive state.

14. The ignition-bus timer as recited in claim 9, wherein communications between the interface and electronic control unit do not utilize a wireless network.

15. The ignition-bus timer as recited in claim 9, wherein to maintain a countdown value in memory that reflects the time remaining before vehicle shutdown includes allowing the countdown value to be modified before expiration.

16. The ignition-bus timer as recited in claim 9, wherein to maintain a countdown value in memory that reflects the time remaining before vehicle shutdown includes decrementing the countdown value to reflect the passage of time.

17. A system for maintaining an ignition-bus timer in a vehicle, the system comprising:

an ignition bus for supplying signals to the vehicle'"'"'s engine;

an interface for receiving operator input to initiate a countdown of time remaining before the ignition-bus will be transitioned into an inactive state;

a display for displaying the countdown information; and

an electronic control unit for;

causing the display to present the time remaining until the countdown expires;

maintaining the ignition bus in an active state before expiration; and

in response to expiration of the countdown, transitioning the ignition bus into an inactive state.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to determine when the countdown value intersects a threshold value and wherein the interface is configured to present information on the display in a first color when the countdown value is above the threshold value and in a color different than the first color once countdown value intersects below the threshold value.

19. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the interface is further configured to obtain operator input to modify the countdown value and wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to modify the countdown value in accordance with the operator input.

20. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the countdown value may be modified by the operator in one minute intervals.