Vehicle countdown timer and user interface
First Claim
1. In a vehicle that includes a display for presenting information to a vehicle operator, a method of providing a countdown to shutdown of power-consuming devices, the method comprising:
- receiving input from the vehicle operator to initiate the countdown, wherein the input is a manually-activated hardware-based control to initiate the countdown, and wherein initiating the countdown allows a vehicle ignition system to transition to an inactive state while a vehicle ignition bus is in an active state;
maintaining a countdown value to reflect the passage of time, wherein the vehicle ignition bus is maintained in the active state before expiration of the countdown value;
presenting the current countdown value that reflects the time to shutdown of the power-consuming devices on a graphical display;
in response to expiration of the countdown, allowing the vehicle ignition bus to transition into an inactive state; and
wherein the countdown value is modifiable both incrementally and decrementally in time, after initiation, by a user anytime prior to expiration of the countdown value without being required to actuate the vehicle ignition.
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Abstract
Aspects of the present invention are directed at allowing a vehicle to idle for a predetermined amount of time before shutdown. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided that accepts input from the vehicle operator to initiate a countdown to vehicle shutdown. When the input is received, a countdown is initiated that is regularly updated to reflect the passage of time. During the countdown, a vehicle ignition bus is maintained in an active state and a countdown value that reflects the time remaining before shutdown is presented on a graphical display. Then, in response to expiration of the countdown, the method allows the vehicle ignition bus to transition into an inactive state.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a vehicle that includes a display for presenting information to a vehicle operator, a method of providing a countdown to shutdown of power-consuming devices, the method comprising:
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receiving input from the vehicle operator to initiate the countdown, wherein the input is a manually-activated hardware-based control to initiate the countdown, and wherein initiating the countdown allows a vehicle ignition system to transition to an inactive state while a vehicle ignition bus is in an active state; maintaining a countdown value to reflect the passage of time, wherein the vehicle ignition bus is maintained in the active state before expiration of the countdown value; presenting the current countdown value that reflects the time to shutdown of the power-consuming devices on a graphical display; in response to expiration of the countdown, allowing the vehicle ignition bus to transition into an inactive state; and wherein the countdown value is modifiable both incrementally and decrementally in time, after initiation, by a user anytime prior to expiration of the countdown value without being required to actuate the vehicle ignition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An ignition-bus timer for managing activation of an ignition bus in a vehicle, comprising:
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an interface operative to; receive input from the vehicle operator to initiate a countdown, wherein the input is a manually-activated hardware-based control to initiate the countdown; and display a countdown value that reflects the time remaining until shutdown to power-consuming devices; an electronic control unit coupled to the interface that is configured to; maintain an ignition bus in an active state in response to receiving operator input to initiate a countdown to vehicle shutdown, while allowing a vehicle engine ignition system to transition to an inactive state; maintain a countdown value in memory that reflects the time remaining before shutdown to the power-consuming devices, wherein the countdown value is modifiable both incrementally and decrementally in time, after initiation, by a user from the interface anytime prior to expiration of the countdown value without being required to actuate the vehicle ignition; and cause the ignition bus to transition into an inactive state in response to expiration of the countdown value, wherein the vehicle'"'"'s engine may be shut down before the ignition bus transitions to an inactive state. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for maintaining an ignition-bus timer in a vehicle, the system comprising:
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an ignition bus for supplying signals to the vehicle'"'"'s engine; an interface for receiving operator input to initiate a countdown to shutdown of power-consuming devices, wherein the input is a manually-activated hardware-based control to initiate the countdown; a display for displaying the countdown information; and an electronic control unit for; causing the display to present the time remaining until the countdown expires; maintaining the ignition bus in an active state before expiration of the countdown while allowing a vehicle engine ignition system to transition to an inactive state, wherein the countdown value is modifiable both incrementally and decrementally in time, after initiation, by the user anytime prior to the expiration of the countdown value without being required to actuate the vehicle ignition; and in response to expiration of the countdown, transitioning the ignition bus into an inactive state. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification