Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles

• US 9,217,380 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Inventors: Braunberger, Alfred S., Braunberger, Beau M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alharbi, Adam
• Application Number:
  US13/802,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20130275005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/447 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing the shape or intensity of the indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18054 at stand still, e.g. engine in idling state hill holding B60W30/18118
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/04 rendering engines inoperative or idling, e.g. caused by abnormal conditions dependent on lubricating conditions F01M1/22; dependent on cooling F01P5/14
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence

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.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle comprising:

a. a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect that the vehicle has stopped;

b. a transmission status detector for detecting a non-drive 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. an idling timer that is activated when the vehicle is stopped and the vehicle transmission is moved to the non-drive position, wherein the idling timer sends a de-activation signal upon expiration and the engine of the vehicle is turned off.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is only turned off if an emergency brake of the vehicle is engaged.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is only turned off if a temperature of an external operating environment is above a programmed value.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the idling timer is programmed to expire after a predetermined period of time.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the de-activation signal further turns off a lighting system of the vehicle or other accessory equipment.