Process for determining the time elapsed between stopping a motor vehicle engine and restarting the engine.

• US 6,169,942 B1
• Filed: 04/15/1997
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Miller, Norbert, Pietsch, Harald, Deichsel, Hans, Joos, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Donnelly, Arthur D.
• Application Number:
  US08/834,262
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/30, 701/35, 701/102, 701/103, 701/105, 602/48
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/04 using counting means or digital clocks

Abstract

In a process for determining the amount of time elapsed between stopping a motor vehicle engine and restarting the engine, when the engine is restarted, the time information representing the time when the engine was stopped is subtracted from the time information representing the time when the engine was restarted. The time information representing the respective times is obtained from an on-board clock that serves to display the time in the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A process for determining a time elapsed between stopping an engine of a motor vehicle and restarting the engine, the motor vehicle having an on-board clock for displaying a current time in the motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a first time when the engine was stopped from the on-board clock;

storing the first time;

obtaining a second time when the engine is restarted from the on-board clock; and

determining the elapsed time as a function of the first and second times, when the engine is restarted.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the determining step includes the step of comparing the first time with the second time.

3. The process according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

controlling the engine as a function of the determined elapsed time.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the determining step is performed in an automotive controller, and further comprising the step of controlling the motor vehicle in the automotive controller as a function of the determined elapsed time.

5. The process according to claim 4, wherein the on-board clock is arranged outside of the automotive controller and is constantly in operation regardless of an operating state of the engine and the automotive controller.

6. The process according to claim 4, wherein the automotive controller is electrically coupled to the on-board clock.

7. The process according to claim 4, wherein the first time is stored in a time information memory device inside the automotive controller.

8. The process according to claim 7, wherein the time information memory device includes a battery-backed RAM.

9. The process according to claim 1, wherein the elapsed time is determined by subtracting the first time from the second time.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the on-board clock is coupled to a controller area network (CAN),

the step of obtaining the first time is performed using the controller area network (CAN), and

the step of obtaining the second time is performed using the controller area network (CAN).

11. An apparatus for determining a time elapsed between stopping an engine of a motor vehicle and restarting the engine, the motor vehicle having an on-board clock for displaying a current time in the motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an arrangement for obtaining a first time when the engine is stopped from the on-board clock for displaying the current time in the motor vehicle;

an arrangement for storing the first time, wherein the arrangement includes at least one of a battery-backed-up RAM, an EPROM, an EEPROM and a flash EPROM;

an arrangement for obtaining a second time when the engine is started from the on-board clock for displaying the current time in the motor vehicle; and

an arrangement for controlling at least one motor vehicle function and for determining the elapsed time based on a difference between the first time and the second time when the engine is restarted, wherein the arrangement for controlling is coupled to the on-board clock;

wherein the on-board clock is arranged outside of the arrangement for controlling and the on-board clock is constantly operating regardless of an operating state of the engine and the arrangement for controlling.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the on-board clock is coupled by a controller area network (CAN) to the arrangement for controlling,

the arrangement for obtaining the first time obtains the first time using the controller area network (CAN), and

the arrangement for obtaining the second time obtains the second time using the controller area network (CAN).

13. An apparatus for determining a time elapsed between stopping an engine of a motor vehicle and restarting the engine, the motor vehicle having an on-board clock for displaying a current time in the motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining a first time when the engine is stopped from the on-board clock for displaying the current time in the motor vehicle;

means for storing the first time, wherein the means for storing includes at least one of a battery-backed-up RAM, an EPROM, an EEPROM and a flash EPROM;

means for obtaining a second time when the engine is started from the on-board clock for displaying the current time in the motor vehicle; and

means for controlling at least one motor vehicle function and for determining the elapsed time based on a difference between the first time and the second time when the engine is restarted, wherein the means for controlling is coupled to the on-board clock;

wherein the on-board clock is arranged outside of the means for controlling and the on-board clock is constantly operating regardless of an operating state of the engine and the means for controlling.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the on-board clock is coupled by a controller area network (CAN) to the means for controlling,

the means for obtaining the first time obtains the first time using the controller area network (CAN), and

the means for obtaining the second time obtains the second time using the controller area network (CAN).