System and method for vehicle idle reduction

• US 20040055558A1
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jay Mcelroy
• Original Assignee: Jay Mcelroy
• Inventors: McElroy, Jay
• Application Number:
  US10/671,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20040055558A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/198DC
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/04 responsive to presence or absence of the driver, e.g. to weight or lack thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/186 Status of parking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0815 Vehicle door sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/106 Driver presence, e.g. detected by door lock, seat sensor or belt sensor

Abstract

A system and method for reducing idle times of a vehicle wherein circuitry determines whether a vehicle is occupied and upon detection that the vehicle is occupied, disabling a timer that generates a signal to shut off an engine of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for reducing vehicle idle time, comprising the steps of:

detecting whether there is an occupant in the vehicle; and

disabling a timer that generates a signal to shut off an engine of the vehicle if an occupant is detected in the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of

detecting that the vehicle is unoccupied;

and

enabling the timer responsive to detection that the vehicle is unoccupied if the timer is disabled.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

detecting an opening of a door of the vehicle; and

enabling the timer responsive to detection of opening of the door of the vehicle if the timer is disabled.

4. A system for reducing idling time of a vehicle, comprising:

override circuitry for providing an indication of an occupant in the vehicle, and

a controller responsive to the indication from the override circuitry for disabling a timer module for generating a signal that stops an engine of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the override circuitry further provides a second indicator that the vehicle is unoccupied.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller further enables the timer module responsive to the second indicator if the timer module is disabled.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the override circuitry further comprises at least one of an infrared device, an imaging sensor, a radar sensor, a fingerprint scanner, a retinal scanner, a weight sensor, a pressure switch, a video system, a palm print scanner, a laser system, a Pulse On system, a motion detector, or a switch.

8. The system of claim 4, further including:

circuitry for detecting an opening of a door of the vehicle; and

wherein said controller further enables said timer module responsive to detection of opening of the door of the vehicle if the time module is disabled.

9. A vehicle comprising;

an engine; and

a system for controlling an idling time of said engine, said system further comprising;

a timer module for timing a predetermined time period responsive to at least one input indicating the vehicle has stopped for activating and upon expiration of the predetermined time period for generating a signal for stopping the engine of the vehicle;

override circuitry for providing an indication of an occupant in the vehicle; and

a controller responsive to the indication from the override circuitry for disabling the timer module.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the override circuitry further provides a second indicator that the vehicle is unoccupied.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller further enables the timer module responsive to the second indicator if the timer module is disabled.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the override circuitry further comprises at least one of an infrared device, an imaging sensor, a radar sensor, a fingerprint scanner, a retinal scanner, a weight sensor, a pressure switch, a video system, a palm print scanner, a laser system, a Pulse On system, a motion detector, or a switch.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, further including:

circuitry for detecting an opening of a door of the vehicle; and

wherein said controller further enables said timer module responsive to detection of opening of the door of the vehicle if the timer module is disabled.

14. A system for reducing idling time of a vehicle, comprising:

a timer module for timing a predetermined time period responsive to at least one input indicating the vehicle has stopped for activating the timer and upon expiration of the predetermined time period for generating a signal for stopping an engine of the vehicle;

override circuitry for providing an indication of an occupant in the vehicle; and

a controller responsive to the indication from the override circuitry for disabling the timer module.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the override circuitry further comprises at least one of an infrared device, an imaging sensor, a radar sensor, a fingerprint scanner, a retinal scanner, a weight sensor, a pressure switch, a video system, a palm print scanner, a laser system, a Pulse On system, a motion detector, or a switch.

16. The system of claim 14, further including:

circuitry for detecting an opening of a door of the vehicle; and

wherein said controller further enables said timer module responsive to detection of opening of the door of the vehicle if the time module is disabled.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the override circuitry further provides a second indicator that the vehicle is unoccupied.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the controller further enables the timer module responsive to the second indicator if the timer module is disabled.