Totally integrated temperature sensor

• US 8,036,816 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Oakes, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Hieu T
• Application Number:
  US11/974,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20090017986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 701/113, 701/102, 701/101, 123/339.24
• US Class Current: 701/113
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/322 for improving the stop or idling operation of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2262 related to the period of on/off time of the heater
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/002 in which a reserve is maintained in an energy source by disconnecting non-critical loads, e.g. maintaining a reserve of charge in a vehicle battery for starting an engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An idle control system for a vehicle is provided.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring engine temperature including:

activating an idle control module;

maintaining an engine control unit in a deactivated state;

powering an engine temperature sensor via the control module concurrently with the maintaining step.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

determining that the engine temperature is less then a threshold, and activating the engine control unit in response to the determining step.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the maintaining step includes the step of maintaining the engine control unit in an unpowered state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the idle control module communicates with the engine temperature sensor independently of the operation of the engine control unit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the engine control unit controls both an engine and a transmission.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the engine control unit controls the quantity of fuel injected into each cylinder of the engine each engine cycle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the idle control module controls a starter of the engine.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the maintaining step prevents the engine control unit from being a load upon a vehicle power source.

9. The method of claim 1, further including the step of activating an HVAC device concurrently with the maintaining step.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the idle control module and the engine control unit contain processors.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the idle control module further includes:

a housing;

a data storage device within the housing;

an engine temperature sensor lead extending from the housing; and

instructions for controlling an HVAC device stored on the data storage device.

12. The method of claim 11, further including instructions for controlling activation of a vehicle engine stored on the data storage device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions utilize data received from an engine temperature sensor via the engine temperature sensor lead.