Engine state detection device
First Claim
1. A device for detecting a state of a vehicle'"'"'s engine using vehicle on-board diagnostics (OBD) data, the device comprising:
- a connector for connecting the device to a vehicle OBD port to receive OBD data and power; and
a processor arranged to determine a vehicle engine state by monitoring a voltage at the connector, the processor;
(i) detecting an engine ‘
on’
state from a temporary voltage drop of at least a predetermined magnitude; and
(ii) detecting an engine ‘
off’
state by;
detecting a pending engine ‘
off’
state from a voltage value that is less than a threshold;
confirming the pending engine ‘
off’
state from the OBD data indicating at least one of vehicle speed and engine revolutions are at a constant non-zero value for a first predetermined time period; and
detecting a final engine ‘
off’
state after a second predetermined time period; and
based on detecting the engine ‘
off’
state, changing a level of operation of the device from a running mode to a sleep mode, wherein, in the sleep mode, no power is drawn by the device from the ODB port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for collecting vehicle on-board diagnostics (OBO) data is disclosed, together with an associated method of collecting OBD data in such devices. In embodiments, the OBO data collection device includes a connector for connecting the device to a vehicle OBO port to receive OBO data and power and a processor for controlling collection of the OBO data. The processor is arranged to determine a vehicle engine state by monitoring a voltage at the connector, taken in combination with OBO data relating to vehicle speed and/or engine revolutions. Such devices are able to reliably detect both engine ‘on’ and ‘off’ states in modern vehicles that use “smart charging” technology.
15 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device for detecting a state of a vehicle'"'"'s engine using vehicle on-board diagnostics (OBD) data, the device comprising:
-
a connector for connecting the device to a vehicle OBD port to receive OBD data and power; and a processor arranged to determine a vehicle engine state by monitoring a voltage at the connector, the processor; (i) detecting an engine ‘
on’
state from a temporary voltage drop of at least a predetermined magnitude; and(ii) detecting an engine ‘
off’
state by;detecting a pending engine ‘
off’
state from a voltage value that is less than a threshold;confirming the pending engine ‘
off’
state from the OBD data indicating at least one of vehicle speed and engine revolutions are at a constant non-zero value for a first predetermined time period; anddetecting a final engine ‘
off’
state after a second predetermined time period; andbased on detecting the engine ‘
off’
state, changing a level of operation of the device from a running mode to a sleep mode, wherein, in the sleep mode, no power is drawn by the device from the ODB port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a device having a connector for connecting the device to a vehicle OBD port, causes the device to perform a method comprising:
-
receiving OBD data and power from the vehicle OBD port; determining a vehicle engine state by monitoring a voltage at the connector, said determining comprising; (i) detecting an engine ‘
on’
state from a temporary voltage drop of at least a predetermined magnitude; and(ii) detecting an engine ‘
off’
state by;detecting a pending engine ‘
off’
state from a voltage value that is less than a threshold;confirming the pending engine ‘
off’
state from the OBD data indicating at least one of vehicle speed and engine revolutions are at a constant non-zero value for a first predetermined time period; anddetecting a final engine ‘
off’
state after a second predetermined time period; andbased on detecting the engine ‘
off’
state, changing a level of operation of the device from a running mode to a sleep mode, wherein, in the sleep mode, no power is drawn by the device from the ODB port. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of detecting a state of a vehicle'"'"'s engine from vehicle on-board diagnostics (OBD) data using a device having a connector for connecting the device to a vehicle OBD port, the method comprising:
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receiving OBD data and power from the vehicle OBD port; determining a vehicle engine state by monitoring a voltage at the connector, said determining comprising; (i) detecting an engine ‘
on’
state from a temporary voltage drop of at least a predetermined magnitude; and(ii) detecting an engine ‘
off’
state by;detecting a pending engine ‘
off’
state from a voltage value that is less than a threshold;confirming the pending engine ‘
off’
state from the OBD data indicating at least one of vehicle speed and engine revolutions are at a constant non-zero value for a first predetermined time period; anddetecting a final engine ‘
off’
state after a second predetermined time period; andbased on detecting the engine ‘
off’
state, changing a level of operation of the device from a running mode to a sleep mode, wherein, in the sleep mode, no power is drawn by the device from the ODB port.
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Specification