SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY TURNING OFF A VEHICLE

• US 20090312940A1
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geothentic inc.
• Original Assignee: Geothentic inc.
• Inventors: POUDRIER, Pascal, POUDRIER, Guillaume
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,096 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/112
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/04 responsive to presence or absence of the driver, e.g. to weight or lack thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0881 Seat occupation; Driver or passenger presence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/192 Mitigating problems related to power-up or power-down of the driveline, e.g. start-up of a cold engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/04 rendering engines inoperative or idling, e.g. caused by abnormal conditions dependent on lubricating conditions F01M1/22; dependent on cooling F01P5/14
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0818 Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0801 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/106 Driver presence, e.g. detected by door lock, seat sensor or belt sensor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state. The system comprises a stationary state detector for detecting a stationary state of the vehicle and a timer for measuring a period during which a stationary state is detected. In addition to this, the system further comprises a presence sensor for sensing the presence of a driver in the vehicle and an engine cutoff for turning off the fuel engine. Moreover, the system comprises a controller for processing an input from the stationary state detector, an input from the timer and an input from the presence sensor. The controller is adapted to activate the engine cutoff when the stationary state is detected for a period of time that is greater than a period threshold and when the presence sensor senses that the driver is present.

Claims

1. A system for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state comprising:

a stationary state detector for detecting a stationary state of the vehicle;

a timer for measuring a period during which a stationary state is detected;

a presence sensor for sensing the presence of a driver in the vehicle;

an engine cutoff for turning off the fuel engine; and

a controller for processing an input from the stationary state detector, an input from the timer and an input from the presence sensor, the controller being adapted to activate the engine cutoff when the stationary state is detected for a period of time that is greater than a period threshold and when the presence sensor senses that the driver is present.

2. The system for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state of claim 1 wherein the stationary state detector is a speed reader for measuring the speed of the vehicle.

3. The system for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state of claim 2 wherein the stationary state detector detects a stationary state when the speed of the vehicle is below a speed threshold.

4. The system for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state of claim 1 wherein the stationary state detector is a hand-brake sensor for detecting an activated hand-brake.

5. The system for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state of claim 1 wherein the presence detector is for detecting the presence of a driver by a weight sensor for a seat.

6. The system for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state of claim 1 wherein the driver presence detector is for detecting the presence of a driver by a fastened seat belt sensor.

7. The system for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state of claim 1 wherein the driver presence detector is for detecting the presence of a driver by an activated brake sensor.

8. The system for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state of claim 1 wherein the driver presence detector is for detecting the presence of a driver by an unengaged door sensor.

9. The system for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state of claim 2 wherein the speed reader is a speedometer.

10. The system for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state of claim 2 wherein the speed reader is a GPS (Global Positioning System).

11. A method for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state comprising:

detecting a stationary state of the vehicle;

sensing a presence of a driver in the vehicle;

identifying a stationary state period; and

activating an engine cutoff.

12. The method for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state of claim 11 wherein detecting the stationary state comprises monitoring a speed of the vehicle.

13. The method for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state of claim 12 wherein detecting the stationary state further comprises indicating the speed of the vehicle that is below a speed threshold.

14. The method for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state of claim 11 wherein identifying the stationary state period comprises measuring the stationary state period.

15. The method for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state of claim 14 wherein identifying the stationary state period further comprises comparing the stationary state period to a period threshold.