ENGINE IDLING CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HYBRID VEHICLE

• US 20090299549A1
• Filed: 05/28/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Albertson, William C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,074,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18018 Start-stop drive, e.g. in a traffic jam
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18054 at stand still, e.g. engine in idling state hill holding B60W30/18118
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0837 Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/125 Information about other vehicles, traffic lights or traffic congestion
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/306 with external senders or receivers, e.g. receiving signals from traffic lights, other vehicles or base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

An engine idling control system includes a receiver module and a timing module. The receiver module receives a signal indicative of a traffic light status. The timing module communicates with an engine and the receiver module and selectively starts and stops the engine based on the signal.

Claims

1. An engine idling control system comprising:

a receiver module that receives a signal indicative of a traffic light status; and

a timing module that communicates with an engine and the receiver module and that selectively starts and stops the engine based on the signal.

2. The engine idling control system of claim 1 wherein the timing module selectively starts and stops the engine further based on a status of the engine.

3. The engine idling control system of claim 2 wherein the timing module starts the engine upon receipt of the signal when the engine is off.

4. The engine idling control system of claim 2 wherein the timing module keeps the engine running upon receipt of the signal when the engine is running.

5. The engine idling control system of claim 1 wherein the timing module stops the engine upon receipt of a stop request when the receiver module does not receive the signal.

6. The engine idling control system of claim 1 wherein the signal includes a light signal from a traffic light.

7. The engine idling control system of claim 1 wherein the signal indicates a traffic light change from red to green after a predetermined period of time.

8. The engine idling control system of claim 1 wherein the signal includes frequency signals from a light-emitting diode (LED).

9. The engine idling control system of claim 1 wherein the receiver module includes a light sensor.

10. A method of controlling an engine during idling comprising:

receiving a signal indicating a status of a traffic light; and

selectively starting and stopping the engine based on the signal.

11. The method of claim 10 further wherein the signal is a light signal from the traffic light.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the signal indicates a traffic light change from red to green after a predetermined period of time.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising selectively starting and stopping the engine further based on a status of the engine.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising starting the engine upon receipt of the signal when the engine is off.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising stopping the engine upon receipt of a stop request if the signal is not received.