Vehicle stopping system and method

• US 7,305,294 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2004
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Trucks North America Incorporated (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Trucks North America Incorporated (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Bate, John G., Blume, Christiano
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CUONG H
• Application Number:
  US10/783,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,382 Days
• Field of Search: 701/70, 340/426.12, 340/425.5, 340/426.19, 340/539.1, 340/825.72, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 180/287
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/042 operating on the fuel supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates

Abstract

A method of controlling a vehicle includes reducing a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal, monitoring at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle, determining whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing, if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, enabling the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level, and stopping the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level. A control system for a vehicle includes a processor that reduces a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal. The processor monitors at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle and determines whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing. If the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, the processor enables the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level. The processor causes the vehicle to stop the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level. In addition, a computer-readable medium containing a computer program for controlling a vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a vehicle, the method being implemented by apparatus in the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

reducing a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal,

monitoring at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle, wherein the speed monitoring is performed from the vehicle,

determining whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing,

if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, enabling the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level, and

stopping the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle shutdown signal is generated in response to a predetermined condition.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined condition is at least one of use of the vehicle by an unauthorized operator, position of the vehicle in an unauthorized location, and failure to enter a predetermined code.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle shutdown signal is transmitted to the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the reduction is initiated by at least one of actuating a brake of the vehicle, reducing the torque generated by the engine of the vehicle, interrupting a fuel supply to the engine of the vehicle, and controlling a transmission of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein after stopping the vehicle, the engine of the vehicle can be started in response to a second predetermined condition.

7. A control system for a vehicle, comprising a processor that reduces a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal, wherein the processor monitors at least one of a speed of the vehicle from the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle;

the processor determines whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing;

if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, the processor enables the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level; and

the processor causes the vehicle to stop the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level.

8. The control system of claim 7, wherein the vehicle shutdown signal is generated in response to a predetermined condition.

9. The control system of claim 8, wherein the predetermined condition is at least one of use of the vehicle by an unauthorized operator, position of the vehicle in an unauthorized location, and failure to enter a predetermined code.

10. The control system of claim 7, wherein the vehicle shutdown signal is transmitted to the vehicle.

11. The control system of claim 7, wherein the processor reduces the speed of the vehicle by causing at least one of actuation of a brake of the vehicle, reduction of the torque generated by the engine of the vehicle, interruption of a fuel supply to the engine of the vehicle, and control of a transmission of the vehicle.

12. The control system of claim 7, wherein after the vehicle has stopped, the processor enables the engine of the vehicle to be started in response to a second predetermined condition.

13. A computer-readable medium containing a computer program for controlling a vehicle, wherein the computer program performs the steps of:

reducing a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal,

monitoring at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle, wherein the speed monitoring is performed from the vehicle,

determining whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing,

if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, enabling the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level, and

stopping the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level.

14. A method of controlling a vehicle, the method being implemented by apparatus in the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

controlling the vehicle to reduce a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal;

monitoring at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle, wherein the speed monitoring is performed from the vehicle;

determining whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing;

if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing, stopping the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level;

if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, enabling the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level until the monitored at least one of the speed and torque begins to decrease; and

stopping the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level.