Automatic reactivation of passenger-activated functions for short engine run cycle times

• US 6,856,867 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Odell, Thomas W., Bauerle, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US10/463,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 701/48, 701/36, 701/49, 340/426.11, 340/425.12, 340438-439, 340/457, 340/457.1, 340459-462, 340/517, 340/521, 340/527, 340/540, 340/428, 340/426.13, 340/426.36, 340/426.24, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.3, 307/10.6, 307/10.7, 307/10.8, 307/116, 307/117
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5678 characterised by electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for automatically reactivating passenger-activated functions in an automobile, upon restart of the automobile engine, following an engine shutdown. The functional status of each passenger-activated function that is activated when the engine is shut off is stored. An activation time of each passenger-activated function, which corresponds to the time that the passenger-activated function was activated prior to the engine being shut off, is also stored. Upon engine restart, each passenger-activated function that was previously activated is reactivated to its stored functional status, if its stored activation time is less than a predetermined calibration time.

Claims

1. In an automobile having an engine and one or more passenger-activated functions each having a functional status, a method of reactivating a passenger-activated function that was previously activated by an automobile passenger, the method comprising:

storing the functional status of each passenger-activated function that is activated when the engine is shut off;

storing an activation time of each passenger-activated function, the activation time corresponding to a time that the passenger-activated function was activated prior to the engine being shut off;

reactivating upon engine restart, each passenger-activated function that was previously activated to its stored functional status, if its stored activation time is less than a predetermined calibration time;

determining an engine shut-off time, which corresponds to a time that the engine has been shut-off; and

wherein each passenger-activated function is reactivated to its stored functional status if (i) its stored activation time is less than a predetermined calibration time and (ii) the engine shut-off time is less than a predetermined soak time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the passenger-activated function is reactivated to its stored functional status if (i) its stored activation time is less than a predetermined calibration time and (ii) the engine is re-stated remotely.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a driver notification upon the reactivation of each passenger-activated function.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if a capability to reactivate a passenger-activated function upon engine restart has been activated by the automobile passenger.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the passenger-activated function is a seat healer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the passenger-activated function is a mirror heater.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the passenger-activated function is a window defogger.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the passenger-activated function includes one or more lights.

9. In an automobile having an engine, a system for reactivating previously activated functions, comprising:

a controller operable to at least monitor one or more passenger-activated functions, each passenger-activated function having a functional status;

a timer circuit in operable communication with the controller and operable to determine an activation time of each passenger-activated function, the activation time corresponding to a time that the passenger activated function was activated prior to the engine being shut off; and

a memory coupled to receive and store, upon engine shut-off, both the functional status and the activation time of each passenger-activated function that is activated when the engine is shut off;

wherein the controller is further operable, upon engine restart, to reactivate, to its stored functional status, each passenger-activated function that was activated when the engine was shut off, if its stored activation time is less than a predetermined calibration time;

wherein the timer circuit is further operable to determine an engine shut-off time, which corresponds to a time that the engine has been shut; and

wherein the controller is operable, upon engine restart, to reactivate each passenger-activated function to its stored functional status if (i) its stored activation time is less than a predetermined calibration time and (ii) the engine shut-off time is less than a predetermined soak time.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is operable, upon engine restart, to reactivate each passenger-activated function to its stored functional status if (i) its stored activation time is less than a predetermined calibration time and (ii) the engine is re-started remotely.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further operable to generate one or move driver notification signals, each signal be generated upon the reactivation of each passenger-activated function.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a reactivation functional selector coupled to the contoller, the reactivation function selector having at least an on position and an off position,

wherein the controller is operable to reactivate a passenger-activated function upon engine restart, if the reactivation function selector is in the on position.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the passenger-activated function is a seat heater.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the passenger-activated function is a mirror heater.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the passenger-activated function is a window defogger.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the passenger-activated function includes one or more lights.

17. An automobile comprising:

an engine;

a controller operable to at least monitor one or more passenger-activated functions, each passenger-activated function having a functional status;

a timer circuit in operable communication with the contoller and operable to determine an activation time of each passenger-activated function, the activation time corresponding to a time that the passenger activated function was activated prior to the engine being shut off; and

a memory coupled to receive and store, upon engine shut-off, both the functional status and the activation time of each passenger-activated function that is activated when the engine is shut off;

wherein the controller is further operable, upon engine restart, to reactivate, to its stored functional status each passenger-activated function that was activated when the engine was shut off, if its stored activation time is less than a predetermined calibration time;

wherein the timer circuit is further operable to determine an engine shut-off time, which corresponds to a time that the engine has been shutoff; and

wherein the controller is operable, upon engine restart, upon to reactivate each passenger-activated function to its stored functional status if (i) its stored activation time is less than a predetermined calibration time and (ii) the engine shut-off time is less than a predetermined soak time.

18. The automobile of claim 17 wherein the controller is operable, upon engine restart, to reactivate each passenger-activated function to its stored functional status if (i) its stored activation time is less than a predetermined calibration time and (ii) the engine is re-started remotely.