INTERFACE AND MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A VEHICLE IDLING CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20120253595A1
• Filed: 03/05/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey L. Oakes
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey L. Oakes
• Inventors: Oakes, Jeffrey L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,938,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/322 for improving the stop or idling operation of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2262 related to the period of on/off time of the heater
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/002 in which a reserve is maintained in an energy source by disconnecting non-critical loads, e.g. maintaining a reserve of charge in a vehicle battery for starting an engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An idle control system for a vehicle is provided.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by a computer perform steps, the steps comprising:

controlling an HVAC device; and

providing troubleshooting instructions to a user.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the troubleshooting instructions instruct the user in diagnosing problems.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the troubleshooting instructions instruct the user in correcting problems.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further including the step of displaying the troubleshooting instructions to the user on a display screen.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further including the step of receiving input from the user, wherein the troubleshooting instructions are interactive such that the troubleshooting instructions use the input received to determine which instructions to display.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the troubleshooting instructions include illustrations.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the illustrations include schematics.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the schematics relate to a vehicle in which the HVAC device is installed.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further including the steps of:

logging operation parameters in a storage device regarding operation of the HVAC device;

removing stored operation parameters that have aged beyond a pre-determined age; and

preventing automatic removal of stored operation parameters for a defined timeframe surrounding an indication of an operational failure.

10. The computer readable medium Of claim 9, wherein the step of providing troubleshooting instructions to a user is performed in response to the detection of the operational failure.

11. A method of monitoring vehicle operation including the steps of:

logging operation parameters regarding HVAC operation in a storage device;

removing stored operation parameters that have aged beyond a pre-determined age; and

preventing automatic removal of stored operation parameters for a defined timeframe surrounding an indication of an operational failure.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of logging operation parameters includes logging environmental conditions.

13. The method of claim 11, further including the step of manually removing the stored operation parameters for the defined timeframe surrounding the operational failure.

14. The method of claim 11, further including the step of providing troubleshooting instructions to a user upon detection of the operational failure.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of determining an amount of time that the engine would spend idling upon the introduction of at least one accessory includes the steps of:

determining an amount of time that the engine would spend idling upon the introduction of a first accessory; and

determining an amount of time that the engine would spend idling upon the introduction of a second accessory.

19. The method of claim 18, further including the step of displaying the idling times associated with the introduction of each of the first and second accessories.

15. A method of monitoring vehicle operation including the steps of:

determining an amount of time that the engine spends idling;

determining an amount of time that the engine would spend idling upon the introduction of at least one accessory.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one accessory is an HVAC accessory.

17. The method of claim 15, further including the steps of displaying the amount of time that an engine would spend idling upon the introduction of the at least one accessory.

20. The method of claim 15, further including the step of determining a fuel savings that would be generated by the introduction of the at least one accessory.

21. A method of monitoring vehicle operation including the steps of:

determining an amount of fuel consumed by following a first engine operation protocol; and

determining an amount of fuel consumed by following a second engine operation protocol.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the second engine operation protocol is constant idling.

23. The method of claim 21, further including the step of displaying the fuel savings.

24. The method of claim 21, further including the step of recommending an accessory to a user.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the first protocol is a protocol currently used by the vehicle and the second protocol is a not currently used protocol.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the second protocol includes use of accessories that are not utilized in the first protocol.