Engine control for a motor vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a motor vehicle including an engine, comprising the steps of:
- receiving vehicle speed information for the motor vehicle;
receiving information related to a preceding vehicle, the preceding vehicle disposed approximately in front of the motor vehicle;
determining whether the motor vehicle is going to stop using the information about the preceding vehicle and the vehicle speed information;
wherein the step of determining whether the motor vehicle is going to stop further comprises the steps of;
determining whether a distance between the motor vehicle and the preceding vehicle is less than a threshold distance;
determining whether the vehicle speed information for the motor vehicle is below a threshold speed;
wherein when the distance is less than the threshold distance and the vehicle speed information is below the threshold speed, determining that the motor vehicle is going to stop; and
controlling the engine to shut down before the motor vehicle stops, when determined that the motor vehicle is going to stop.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The control system determines if a motor vehicle is going to stop according to information about a preceding vehicle. The control system may use information about the vehicle speed of the motor vehicle, a following distance between the motor vehicle and a preceding vehicle and preceding vehicle deceleration information. When the control system determines that the motor vehicle is going to stop, the motor vehicle shuts down the engine prior to the vehicle stopping in order to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
50 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of operating a motor vehicle including an engine, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving vehicle speed information for the motor vehicle; receiving information related to a preceding vehicle, the preceding vehicle disposed approximately in front of the motor vehicle; determining whether the motor vehicle is going to stop using the information about the preceding vehicle and the vehicle speed information; wherein the step of determining whether the motor vehicle is going to stop further comprises the steps of; determining whether a distance between the motor vehicle and the preceding vehicle is less than a threshold distance; determining whether the vehicle speed information for the motor vehicle is below a threshold speed; wherein when the distance is less than the threshold distance and the vehicle speed information is below the threshold speed, determining that the motor vehicle is going to stop; and controlling the engine to shut down before the motor vehicle stops, when determined that the motor vehicle is going to stop. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of operating a motor vehicle including an engine, comprising the steps of:
-
determining a following distance to a preceding vehicle; retrieving a threshold following distance; determining a vehicle speed of the motor vehicle; retrieving a threshold vehicle speed; and controlling the engine to shut down upon determining that;
(a) the following distance is less than the threshold following distance and (b) the vehicle speed is greater than zero and less than the threshold vehicle speed. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of operating a motor vehicle including an engine, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving information related to a preceding vehicle; determining a vehicle speed of the motor vehicle; retrieving a threshold vehicle speed; determining if the preceding vehicle is decelerating; and controlling the engine to shut down upon determining that;
(a) the vehicle speed is greater than zero and less than the threshold vehicle speed and (b) the preceding vehicle is decelerating. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification