Interface and monitoring system and method for a vehicle idling control system

• US 10,162,372 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2015
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Oakes, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Li, Ce Li
• Application Number:
  US14/590,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20150177749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/322 for improving the stop or idling operation of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2262 related to the period of on/off time of the heater
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/002 in which a reserve is maintained in an energy source by disconnecting non-critical loads, e.g. maintaining a reserve of charge in a vehicle battery for starting an engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An idle control system for a vehicle is provided.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring vehicle operation including the steps of:

determining an amount of fuel consumed by an engine following a first engine operation protocol over a first time period by logging an engine on time and an engine off time;

determining an amount of fuel consumed by the engine following a second engine operation protocol over a second time period by logging the engine on time and the engine off time; and

limiting a number of engine starts over at least one of the first and second time periods to a maximum number of engine starts over the time period, wherein a minimum cycle time for the time period is determined by dividing the time period by the maximum number of engine starts in the time period, and further comprising tracking the engine off time at the start of the time period and subtracting the engine off time from the minimum cycle time to determine a minimum on time for the engine and running the engine for at least the minimum on time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second engine operation protocol is constant idling.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the step of displaying the engine on time and the engine off time.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the step of recommending an accessory to a user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the accessories include an HVAC accessory.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first engine operation protocol is a protocol currently used by the vehicle and the second engine operation protocol is a not currently used protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second engine operation protocol includes use of accessories that are not utilized in the first engine operation protocol.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first engine operation protocol and the second engine operation protocol each include determining an amount of time that the engine spends idling.

9. The method of claim 8, further including the steps of displaying the amount of time that the engine spends idling.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of determining an amount of time that the engine spends idling upon the operation of the at least one accessory includes the steps of:

determining an amount of time that the engine spends idling upon the operation of a first accessory; and

determining an amount of time that the engine spends idling upon the operation of a second accessory.

11. The method of claim 10, further including the step of displaying t idling times associated with the operation of each of the first and second accessories.

12. The method of claim 11, further including the step of recommending an accessory to a user.