ENGINE IDLE PROTECTION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An engine idle shutdown system for a vehicle having a passive keyless entry and start system;
- the engine idle shutdown system comprising;
a. a data processing apparatus in digital communication with the data bus system of a vehicle having a passive keyless entry and start system, a horn and lights;
b. a memory capable of receiving from an external source programming for a plurality of vehicle makes and models having a set of data messages associated with the passive keyless entry and start system, motion parameters, horn and lights;
c. a communications link between said data bus system, said data processing apparatus and said memory;
wherein said data processing apparatus retrieves data messages associated with a particular vehicle make and model from said memory, monitors data messages communicated on the data bus, compares the data messages communicated on the data bus with the data messages retrieved from memory, and if the data messages match that are indicative that the passive keyless entry and start system fob is absent from the vehicle and that the engine is idling, the system will start a timer to shut down the vehicle after a specified time and a timer to provide a vehicle shutdown warning message to the vehicle driver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated vehicle shutdown and user notification method and device for shutting down an engine in a vehicle having a passive keyless entry and start ignition system where the engine has unintentionally been left running by the user is disclosed. In one aftermarket embodiment, the method is implemented in an aftermarket remote start interface module. The module comprises a micro-controller, a memory, a vehicle data bus connector that provides for interface through the vehicles onboard diagnostic (OBDII) port to the vehicle data bus. The system includes a remote start module having a radio frequency transceiver and a cellular telephone transceiver, and provides audible, visual and electronic notifications that the vehicle has been left running and that the engine will be shut off unless the shutdown sequence is deactivated. If the shutdown fails by any malfunction, the system will go into an alternative notice mode.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An engine idle shutdown system for a vehicle having a passive keyless entry and start system;
- the engine idle shutdown system comprising;
a. a data processing apparatus in digital communication with the data bus system of a vehicle having a passive keyless entry and start system, a horn and lights; b. a memory capable of receiving from an external source programming for a plurality of vehicle makes and models having a set of data messages associated with the passive keyless entry and start system, motion parameters, horn and lights; c. a communications link between said data bus system, said data processing apparatus and said memory;
wherein said data processing apparatus retrieves data messages associated with a particular vehicle make and model from said memory, monitors data messages communicated on the data bus, compares the data messages communicated on the data bus with the data messages retrieved from memory, and if the data messages match that are indicative that the passive keyless entry and start system fob is absent from the vehicle and that the engine is idling, the system will start a timer to shut down the vehicle after a specified time and a timer to provide a vehicle shutdown warning message to the vehicle driver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- the engine idle shutdown system comprising;
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5. A method of automated engine shut down in a vehicle having a passive keyless entry and start system comprising the steps of:
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a. monitoring the on/off status of said vehicle; b. monitoring whether the vehicle is moving; c. monitoring for the present of the a passive keyless entry and start system fob associated with said vehicle; d. setting an idle run timer when the passive keyless entry and start system fob is not present; e. setting a user notification timer to provide, when the timer expires, an engine run notice to a user when said passive keyless entry and start system fob is not present; f. monitoring an idle run timer and a user notification timer; g. providing a digital engine shutdown message to the vehicle if no fob is present, no motion is detected and the idle run timer has expired; h. providing a user notification of vehicle idling if no fob is present and the user notification timer has expired. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method of driver notification of failed engine shut down for an engine in a vehicle having a passive keyless entry and start system comprising the steps of:
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a. monitoring the on off status of a vehicle engine in a vehicle having a passive keyless entry and start system; b. monitoring whether the vehicle is moving; c. monitoring for the present of a passive keyless entry and start system fob; d. setting an idle run timer when the passive keyless entry and start system fob is not present; e. setting a user notification timer to provide, when the timer expires, an engine run notice to a user when the passive keyless entry and start system fob is not present; f. monitoring an idle run timer and a user notification timer; g. providing a digital engine shutdown message to the vehicle if no fob is present, no motion is detected and the idle run timer has expired. Step eight consists of confirming engine shutdown; h. providing a user notification of failure to shut down the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method of shutting down an engine in a vehicle having a passive keyless entry and start system comprising the steps of:
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a. monitoring the on off status of a vehicle engine in a vehicle having a passive keyless entry and start system; b. monitoring whether the vehicle is moving; c. monitoring for the present of a passive keyless entry and start system fob; d. setting an idle run timer when the passive keyless entry and start system fob is not present; e. setting a user notification timer to provide, when the timer expires, an engine run notice to a user when the passive keyless entry and start system fob is not present; f. cancelling an idle run timer and a user notification timer when passive keyless entry and start system fob is not present; g. providing a digital engine shutdown message to a vehicle through the data bus if no motion is detected.
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Specification