Auto-stop control for a stop/start vehicle at a service location

• US 9,243,570 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Boesch, Mathew Alan, Sangameswaran, Sangeetha, Lockwood, John Anthony, Walley, George Edmund
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castro, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US14/053,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20140257679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.3, 123/179.4, 701/107, 701/112
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/0829 related to special engine control, e.g. giving priority to engine warming-up or learning
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0837 Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0848 with means for detecting successful engine start, e.g. to stop starter actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0801 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/101 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/102 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/12 said parameters being related to the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/123 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation systems or GPS signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A stop/start vehicle includes an engine and a stop/start system that prevents an auto stop of the engine when the speed of the vehicle is approximately zero in response to the vehicle being located at a service location or in response to the vehicle being located in a user identified geographic region.

Claims

1. A stop/start vehicle comprising:

an engine; and

a stop/start system programmed to prevent an auto stop of the engine when a speed of the vehicle is approximately zero in response to the vehicle being located within a user-identified-geographic region, the stop/start system being further programmed to auto stop the engine in response to an application of a stop/start system diagnostic tool.

2. The stop/start vehicle of claim 1, wherein the user-identified-geographic region is a service location.

3. The stop/start vehicle of claim 1, wherein the user-identified-geographic region is a vehicle-sales outlet.

4. The stop/start vehicle of claim 1, wherein the stop/start system is further programmed to detect whether the vehicle is located within the user-identified-geographic region using at least one of WiFi and cellular data communication.

5. The stop/start vehicle of claim 1, wherein the stop/start system is further programmed to detect whether the vehicle is located within the user-identified-geographic region using at least one of RFID tags, magnetic strips, and optical recognition of barcodes or other optically-detectable codes.

6. The stop/start vehicle of claim 1, wherein the stop/start system is further programmed to detect whether the vehicle is located within the user-identified-geographic region using at least one of GPS and aGPS.

7. The stop/start vehicle of claim 1, wherein the stop/start system is further programmed to compare a detected vehicle location against a user-identified geofence.

8. A method for controlling a stop/start vehicle comprising:

detecting a location of the vehicle;

preventing an auto stop of an engine of the vehicle when a speed of the vehicle is approximately zero in response to the vehicle being located at a service location; and

auto stopping the engine in response to an application of a diagnostic tool.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting a location of the vehicle includes comparing the location against a database of service locations.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting a location of the vehicle includes comparing the location against a user-identified geofence.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the user-identified geofence is defined by a user selectable radius.

12. A stop/start vehicle comprising:

an engine; and

a stop/start system programmed to compare a detected vehicle location against a user-identified geofence and prevent an auto stop of the engine when a speed of the vehicle is approximately zero in response to the vehicle being located at a service location, the stop/start system being further programmed to auto stop the engine in response to an application of a diagnostic tool.

13. The stop/start vehicle of claim 12, wherein the user-identified geofence is defined by a user selectable radius.

14. The stop/start vehicle of claim 12, wherein the stop/start system is further programmed to detect a vehicle location using at least one of GPS and aGPS.

15. The stop/start vehicle of claim 12, wherein the stop/start system is further programmed to detect a vehicle location using at least one of WiFi and cellular data communication.

16. The stop/start vehicle of claim 12, wherein the stop/start system is further programmed to detect a vehicle location using at least one of RFID tags, magnetic strips, and optical recognition of barcodes or other optically-detectable codes.