AUTOMATIC SHUTDOWN SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES
First Claim
1. A vehicle status monitor and control system configured to shutdown an engine of a vehicle when a given set of conditions prevail, the system comprising:
- a control module comprising a controller in signal communication with a sensor interface;
a plurality of status sensors in signal communication with the sensor interface;
a time reference in signal communication with the controller; and
an engine control unit in signal communication with the controller and in operational communication with a vehicle'"'"'s engine ignition system;
wherein the controller operates in accordance with a series of steps directed by a control system software to provide a signal to the engine control unit to disable the vehicle'"'"'s engine ignition system when a predetermined system status prevails over a predetermined length of time T.
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Abstract
A vehicle status monitor and control system monitors a series of sensors installed within a vehicle to monitor specific functions to determine if a vehicle engine is running and there is a potential for toxic exhaust gases to accumulate, creating a toxic environment. The vehicle status monitor and control system determines if the vehicle is running and stationary over a predetermined period of time. The system additionally monitors the presence of a driver. If the predetermined conditions are met, the system terminates the operation of the vehicle'"'"'s engine. The system can optionally include an override feature to ensure the engine continues running when desired.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A vehicle status monitor and control system configured to shutdown an engine of a vehicle when a given set of conditions prevail, the system comprising:
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a control module comprising a controller in signal communication with a sensor interface; a plurality of status sensors in signal communication with the sensor interface; a time reference in signal communication with the controller; and an engine control unit in signal communication with the controller and in operational communication with a vehicle'"'"'s engine ignition system; wherein the controller operates in accordance with a series of steps directed by a control system software to provide a signal to the engine control unit to disable the vehicle'"'"'s engine ignition system when a predetermined system status prevails over a predetermined length of time T. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle status monitor and control system configured to shutdown an engine of a vehicle when a given set of conditions prevails, the system comprising:
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a control module comprising a controller in signal communication with a sensor interface; a time reference in signal communication with the controller; a plurality of status sensors in signal communication with the sensor interface; and an engine control unit in signal communication with the controller and in operational communication with a vehicle'"'"'s engine ignition system; wherein the controller operates in accordance with a series of steps directed by a control system software to provide a signal to the engine control unit to disable the vehicle'"'"'s engine ignition system when one of a plurality of predetermined system statuses prevails for a predetermined length of time, as indicated by a status of each of the plurality of status sensors; and wherein the controller queries the system for available ones of the sensors, and directs the control system software to disable the vehicle'"'"'s engine ignition system based upon inputs from only the available ones of the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. In a motor vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine and a plurality of status sensors, each of which is indicative of the status of an operational aspect of the vehicle, a method of ensuring that a decision to shut down the engine is based upon current sensor data, the method comprising:
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determining if sensor data from the plurality of sensors is current; if the sensor data is not current, obtaining current sensor data from the plurality of status sensors; parsing the current sensor data; comparing the parsed sensor data to an established suggested shutdown state with respect to each one of the plurality of sensors; determining whether the parsed sensor data corresponds to the suggested shutdown state; and if the parsed sensor data corresponds to the suggested shutdown state, setting a shutdown flag. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification