VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTDOWN PREVENTION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A vehicle engine shutdown prevention system comprising:
- a position determination module adapted to be connected to a transmission of the engine for determining if the transmission is engaged in a position included in a first group of transmission positions or in a second group of transmission positions, the second group including at least one position for which the vehicle remains stationary when the engine is shut down, and the first group including all the transmission positions which are not included in the second group, the position determination module emitting a block signal when the transmission is engaged in one of the first group of positions; and
a blocking unit adapted to interconnect a user actuated switch and an engine control unit and to define the only path through which a stop engine signal for turning off the engine may circulate from the user actuated switch and the engine control unit, the blocking unit receiving the block signal from the position determination module, the blocking unit blocking the path between the user actuated switch and the engine control unit when said blocking unit receives the block signal, such as to prevent the stop engine signal from circulating from the user actuated switch to the engine control unit when the transmission is engaged in one of the first group of positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle engine shutdown prevention system with a position determination module and a blocking unit. The module is adapted to be connected to the transmission for determining if it is engaged in a position included in a first or a second group of positions, the second group including at least one position for which the vehicle remains stationary when the engine is shut down, and the first group including the remaining positions. The module emits a block signal when the transmission is engaged in one of the first group of positions. The blocking unit is adapted to define the only path through which a stop engine signal may circulate from the switch to the engine control unit. The blocking unit blocks the path between the switch and the engine control unit when it receives the block signal.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A vehicle engine shutdown prevention system comprising:
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a position determination module adapted to be connected to a transmission of the engine for determining if the transmission is engaged in a position included in a first group of transmission positions or in a second group of transmission positions, the second group including at least one position for which the vehicle remains stationary when the engine is shut down, and the first group including all the transmission positions which are not included in the second group, the position determination module emitting a block signal when the transmission is engaged in one of the first group of positions; and a blocking unit adapted to interconnect a user actuated switch and an engine control unit and to define the only path through which a stop engine signal for turning off the engine may circulate from the user actuated switch and the engine control unit, the blocking unit receiving the block signal from the position determination module, the blocking unit blocking the path between the user actuated switch and the engine control unit when said blocking unit receives the block signal, such as to prevent the stop engine signal from circulating from the user actuated switch to the engine control unit when the transmission is engaged in one of the first group of positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for selectively preventing an engine of a vehicle from being turned off, the method comprising:
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receiving a signal indicative of a position of a transmission of the engine; determining if the position of the transmission is part of a first or second group of transmission positions, the second group including at least one position for which the vehicle remains stationary when the engine is shut down, the first group including all the transmission positions which are not included in the second group, activating a blocking unit when the transmission is engaged in a position which is included in the first group, and with the activated blocking unit, preventing a stop engine signal from being transmitted from a user actuated switch to an engine control unit, such as to prevent the switch from actuating the engine control unit to turn off the engine when the transmission is engaged in one of the first group of transmission positions. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification