Vehicle idling stop control apparatus

• US 6,675,088 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Miki, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T.
• Application Number:
  US10/192,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20030014178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 701/112, 701/102, 123/198.D, 123/198.DB, 123/179.4, 123/339.1, 123/339.16
• US Class Current: 701/112
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/065 at hot start or restart F02D41/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/08 for idling F02D41/06, F02D41/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/18 by measuring intake air flow
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0818 Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/023 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/123 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation systems or GPS signals
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/2006 using prediction of future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

As a vehicle runs, current load q(t) is calculated every given time. The current load q(t) can be calculated by multiplying the amount of air taken into an engine of the vehicle by the engine speed. Added-up load Q(t) can be found by adding up the current load q(t) according to expression of Q(t)=Q(t−1)+((q(t)−Q(t−1))/a). If the added-up load Q(t) exceeds an inhibition determination value Z, idling stop is inhibited, so that overheating of the engine can be prevented appropriately.

Claims

1. A vehicle idling stop control apparatus for controlling whether or not idling stop of an engine of a vehicle is to be inhibited, the vehicle idling stop control apparatus comprising:

a load monitor unit for monitoring run load of the engine and calculating a run load history; and

a control unit for adding up the run load based on the run load history calculated by the load monitor unit and inhibiting idling stop when the added-up value exceeds a predetermined inhibition determination value.

2. The vehicle idling stop control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an inhibition indication unit for indicating that idling stop is being inhibited when operation of the engine is continued in a state in which idling stop is inhibited by the control unit.

3. The vehicle idling stop control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of a cooling fluid of the engine,

wherein the control unit is inputted the temperature of the cooling fluid detected by the temperature sensor and inhibits idling stop of the engine when it is predicted that the temperature will rise exceeding a preset upper limit temperature.

4. The vehicle idling stop control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of a cooling fluid of the engine,

wherein the control unit is inputted the temperature of the cooling fluid detected by the temperature sensor and inhibits idling stop of the engine when it is predicted that the temperature will rise exceeding a preset upper limit temperature.