Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles
DCFirst Claim
1. A monitoring system for a vehicle located within the vehicle, comprising:
- a. a vehicle speed sensor configured to emit a periodic function with a frequency correlated to a stationary motion status of the vehicle;
b. a transmission status detector to detect a transmission status of the vehicle;
c. a control device coupled to the vehicle speed sensor and the transmission status detector, wherein the vehicle speed sensor and the transmission status detector send a signal to the control device and the control device operates in a manner dependent on the separate stationary motion status signal from the vehicle speed sensor and the signal from the transmission status detector; and
d. idling timer which is activated after receiving a frequency correlated to a stationary status of the vehicle and configured to send a de-activation signal once the timer has expired, wherein the de-activation signal is sent to the control device, and in response to the de-activation signal, the control device turns off the vehicle'"'"'s engine.
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Abstract
A vehicle monitoring system for turning off an idling engine comprises a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect a lack of motion, or “stationary status” of a vehicle and emit a parameter correlated to the motion status of the vehicle, a transmission status detector configured to detect a transmission status of the vehicle, an alerting device capable of warning other drivers of a stationary status of the vehicle and a control device. The control device is coupled to the vehicle speed sensor, the transmission status detector and the alerting device, wherein the vehicle speed sensor and the transmission status detector send a signal to the control device and the control device operates in a manner dependent on the motion status of the vehicle and the transmission status of the vehicle.
121 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A monitoring system for a vehicle located within the vehicle, comprising:
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a. a vehicle speed sensor configured to emit a periodic function with a frequency correlated to a stationary motion status of the vehicle; b. a transmission status detector to detect a transmission status of the vehicle; c. a control device coupled to the vehicle speed sensor and the transmission status detector, wherein the vehicle speed sensor and the transmission status detector send a signal to the control device and the control device operates in a manner dependent on the separate stationary motion status signal from the vehicle speed sensor and the signal from the transmission status detector; and d. idling timer which is activated after receiving a frequency correlated to a stationary status of the vehicle and configured to send a de-activation signal once the timer has expired, wherein the de-activation signal is sent to the control device, and in response to the de-activation signal, the control device turns off the vehicle'"'"'s engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of automatically turning off an idling engine of a vehicle, comprising:
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a. sensing a stationary status of the vehicle; b. activating an idling timer, with a deactivation time window; and c. detecting a transmission park-status of the vehicle; wherein if the vehicle is stationary the idling timer is activated, wherein the idling timer is configured to send a de-activation signal to turn off the engine once the deactivation time window has expired and the transmission park-status of the vehicle is confirmed, further wherein the idling timer is programmed to expire after a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system located within a vehicle to automatically turn off an idling engine, comprising:
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a. a vehicle speed sensor configured to emit a periodic function with a frequency correlated to a stationary status of the vehicle; b. a transmission status detector to detect a transmission status of the vehicle; c. an emergency brake engagement detector to detect engagement of the emergency brake; d. an external temperature sensor to detect temperature of the external operating environment; e. an alerting device capable of warning other drivers of a stationary status of the vehicle; f. an idling timer which is activated after receiving a frequency correlated to the stationary status of the vehicle and programmed to send a de-activation signal once the timer has reached the end of its pre-programmed period; and g. a control device coupled to the vehicle speed sensor, the transmission status detector, the emergency brake engagement detector, the external temperature sensor, the alerting device and the idling timer, wherein the vehicle speed sensor, the transmission status detector, the emergency brake engagement detector, the external temperature sensor and the idling timer send a signal to the control device and the control device operates in a manner dependent on the stationary status of the vehicle, the transmission status of the vehicle, the emergency brake status of the vehicle, the temperature of the external operating environment and the expiration of the idling timer. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification