AUTO-STOP CONTROL FOR A STOP/START VEHICLE NEAR WATER

• US 20140257678A1
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Boesch, Mathew Alan, Walley, George Edmund, Lockwood, John Anthony, Sangameswaran, Sangeetha
• Granted Patent: US 9,664,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/112
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 45/00 Electrical control not provided for in groups F02D41/00 - F02D43/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0837 Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0801 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/123 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation systems or GPS signals
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/124 Information about road conditions, e.g. road inclination or surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A stop/start vehicle includes an engine and a stop/start system that prevents an auto stop of the engine when a speed of the vehicle is approximately zero in response to the vehicle being located within a specified distance from a body of water or in response to the vehicle being located in a user identified geographic region.

Claims

1. A stop/start vehicle comprising:

an engine; and

a stop/start system programmed to prevent an auto stop of the engine when a speed of the vehicle is approximately zero in response to the vehicle being located within a specified distance from a body of water.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the specified distance is the length of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the stop/start system is further programmed to prevent an auto stop of the engine if a trailer is connected to the vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the stop/start system is further programmed to prevent an auto stop of the engine in response to a drive surface gradient under the vehicle exceeding a threshold value.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the specified distance is a user-selectable distance.

6. A method for controlling a stop/start vehicle comprising preventing an auto stop of an engine when a speed of the vehicle is approximately zero in response to the vehicle being located within a user identified geographic region.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the user identified geographic region includes a boat ramp.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of preventing is performed if a trailer is connected to the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of preventing is performed if a drive surface gradient under the vehicle exceeds a threshold value.

10. A stop/start vehicle comprising:

an engine; and

a stop/start system programmed to prevent an auto stop of the engine when a speed of the vehicle is approximately zero in response to the vehicle being located within a user identified geographic region if a trailer is attached to the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the user identified geographic region includes a boat ramp.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the stop/start system is further programmed to prevent an auto stop of the engine if a drive surface gradient under the vehicle exceeds a threshold value.