Method and system for controlling an engine to maintain a comfortable cabin temperature within a vehicle
First Claim
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1. A system for controlling an engine to maintain a comfortable cabin temperature within a vehicle having an engine, a battery and a heating/cooling apparatus, the system comprising:
- an operator interface receiving input regarding an acceptable range of temperatures from a vehicle operator and producing signals indicative of said acceptable range;
a system switch which includes on and off positions, the system switch producing a signal indicating that the engine may be automatically started or stopped when said system switch is in an on position;
an ignition switch which includes on and off positions, the ignition switch producing a signal indicating that the ignition is off;
a plurality of temperature sensors, the temperature sensors producing signals indicative of ambient temperature and cabin temperature; and
a computer in communication with the engine, the temperature sensors, the system switch, the operator interface and the ignition switch, the computer;
determining an acceptable range of cabin temperatures based upon signals received from the operator interface;
determining whether the engine may be automatically started or stopped; and
controlling automatic starting and stopping of the engine.
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Abstract
A method and system for controlling an engine in order to maintain a comfortable cabin temperature within a vehicle that is equipped with an engine, a battery and a heating/cooling apparatus including determining an acceptable range of cabin temperatures, monitoring cabin and outside air temperatures, controlling automatic starting of the vehicle engine when both temperatures are outside of the acceptable range and running the engine only as is minimally necessary to maintain the cabin temperature within the acceptable range.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for controlling an engine to maintain a comfortable cabin temperature within a vehicle having an engine, a battery and a heating/cooling apparatus, the system comprising:
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an operator interface receiving input regarding an acceptable range of temperatures from a vehicle operator and producing signals indicative of said acceptable range; a system switch which includes on and off positions, the system switch producing a signal indicating that the engine may be automatically started or stopped when said system switch is in an on position; an ignition switch which includes on and off positions, the ignition switch producing a signal indicating that the ignition is off; a plurality of temperature sensors, the temperature sensors producing signals indicative of ambient temperature and cabin temperature; and a computer in communication with the engine, the temperature sensors, the system switch, the operator interface and the ignition switch, the computer; determining an acceptable range of cabin temperatures based upon signals received from the operator interface; determining whether the engine may be automatically started or stopped; and controlling automatic starting and stopping of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for controlling an engine to maintain a comfortable cabin temperature within a vehicle having an engine, a battery and a heating/cooling apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining an acceptable range of temperatures based on input from a vehicle operator; monitoring temperature sensors to determine current ambient and cabin temperatures; determining whether current ambient and cabin temperatures are both above or below the acceptable range; determining whether current operating conditions are acceptable for automatic engine starting; determining whether current operating conditions are acceptable for automatic engine stopping; automatically starting the engine when both ambient temperature and cabin temperature are both above or both below said acceptable range and operating conditions acceptable for automatic engine starting are present; automatically stopping the engine when ambient temperature is within said acceptable range and operating conditions acceptable for automatic engine stopping are present; automatically stopping the engine when cabin temperature is at an upper limit of said acceptable range and operating conditions acceptable for automatic engine stopping are present, if the engine was automatically started in response to ambient and cabin temperatures having been both below said acceptable range; and automatically stopping the engine when cabin temperature is at a lower limit of said acceptable range and operating conditions acceptable for automatic engine stopping are present, if the engine was automatically started in response to ambient and cabin temperatures having been both above said acceptable range. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for controlling an engine to maintain a comfortable cabin temperature within a vehicle having an engine, a battery and a heating/cooling apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining an acceptable range of temperatures based on input from a vehicle operator; monitoring temperature sensors to determine current ambient and cabin temperatures; determining whether current ambient and cabin temperatures are both above or below the acceptable range; determining whether current operating conditions are acceptable for automatic engine starting; determining whether current operating conditions are acceptable for automatic engine stopping; automatically starting the engine when both ambient temperature and cabin temperature are both above or both below said acceptable range and operating conditions acceptable for automatic engine starting are present; automatically stopping the engine when ambient temperature is within said acceptable range and operating conditions acceptable for automatic engine stopping are present; automatically stopping the engine when cabin temperature is at an upper limit of said acceptable range and operating conditions acceptable for automatic engine stopping are present, if the engine was automatically started in response to ambient and cabin temperatures having been both below said acceptable range; automatically stopping the engine when cabin temperature is at a lower limit of said acceptable range and operating conditions acceptable for automatic engine stopping are present, if the engine was automatically started in response to ambient and cabin temperatures having been both above said acceptable range; and automatically stopping the engine when at least one of a plurality of critical shutdown events occurs and operating conditions acceptable for automatic engine stopping are present. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification