VEHICLE SHUT-DOWN FUNCTIONALITY FOR PEPS-EQUIPPED VEHICLES

• US 20140350825A1
• Filed: 08/11/2014
• Published: 11/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Tomik, Filip, Pebley, Kirk, Treharne, William David, Hille, Kevin Thomas, King, Daniel M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,002,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/112
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/04 responsive to presence or absence of the driver, e.g. to weight or lack thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/12 responsive to conditions relating to doors or doors locks, e.g. open door
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/04 Vehicle stop
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A vehicle comprises a plurality of control module structures. A first control module structure is configured for determining a current motive mode of the vehicle. A second control module structure is configured for determining information indicating that a driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in a motive-enabled mode. A third control module structure is configured for causing a secure idle mode to be implemented as a function of determining the information indicating that the driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in the motive-enabled mode. Implementing the secure idle mode can include inhibiting the vehicle from being driveable until a driver access code is successfully received and authenticated by the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising;

a first control module structure configured for determining a current motive mode of the vehicle;

a second control module structure configured for determining information indicating that a driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in a motive-enabled mode;

a third control module structure configured for causing a secure idle mode to be implemented as a function of determining said information indicating that the driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in the motive-enabled mode.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein changing the vehicle to the secure idle mode includes inhibiting the vehicle from being driveable until a driver access code is successfully received and authenticated by the vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth control module structure configured for shutting down operation of the vehicle after a vehicle shut-down delay period of time has elapsed since changing the vehicle to the secure idle mode.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein changing the vehicle to the secure idle mode includes inhibiting the vehicle from being driveable until a driver access code is successfully received and authenticated by the vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein determining said information indicating that the driver of the vehicle has tell the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in the motive-enabled mode includes:

performing an operation for determining if the driver is present in the vehicle; and

performing an operation for attempting to receive and authenticate a driver access code,

input has been detected by at least one driver input device of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim wherein determining said information indicating that the driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in the motive-enabled mode includes:

performing an operation for determining if the driver is present in the vehicle; and

performing an operation for attempting to receive and authenticate a driver access code.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein performing the operation for determining if the driver is present in the vehicle includes:

determining if the vehicle is stationary;

determining if a driver door has been open for at least a defined period of time; and

determining if input has been detected by at least one driver input device of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein changing the vehicle to the secure idle mode includes inhibiting the vehicle from being driveable until a driver access code is successfully received and authenticated by the vehicle.