SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PREVENTING INADVERTENT CHECK ENGINE TELLTALE

• US 20120319830A1
• Filed: 07/23/2012
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Rovik, Christopher Lee
• Granted Patent: US 9,067,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/05 Inlet covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/053 with hinged connection to the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0546 Arrangements for checking the position of the inlet cover
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling

Abstract

A system for preventing the illumination of a vehicle check engine light by notifying the driver that the fuel door is not closed. The system includes an interference member, a sensor for detecting the position of a fuel door, and a processor to communicate a detectable signal to the driver. The interference member prevents the fuel door from closing if the fuel cap is not properly seated in the fuel injection port, and the sensor detects the position of the door. The sensor can communicate the position of the door to the processor which in turn can send a detectable signal to the driver that the fuel door is ajar and the fuel cap is loose. Furthermore, in vehicles equipped with power slide doors, the processor can also disable the operation of the power slide door to prevent the power slide door from colliding with the fuel door.

Claims

7. A method of preventing a vehicle check engine light from activating due to gasoline fumes escaping from a loose fuel cap while the vehicle engine is operating, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an ignition switch, and a fuel injection port housing, the fuel injection port housing having a fuel door and a fuel injection port;

providing an interference member having a contact surface displaced a predetermined distance from the inner surface of the fuel door, the predetermined distance equal to the distance from the inner surface of the fuel door and the outer surface of the fuel cap when the fuel door is closed and the fuel cap is fully seated within the fuel injection port, placing the interference member in the fuel injection port housing, the interference member preventing the fuel door from closing when the fuel cap is not fully seated within the fuel injection port by having the interference member come into contact with the fuel cap

providing a sensor configured to detect the position of the fuel door; and

sending a detectable signal to a driver, the detectable signal warning the driver to check the fuel cap when the fuel door is open and the vehicle ignition switch is on.

1. A system for use in a vehicle having an ignition switch, a check engine light and a fuel injection port housing, the fuel injection port housing having a fuel door and a fuel injection port, the system configured to prevent the check engine light from illuminating every time a fuel cap is not fully seated in the fuel injection port, the system comprising:

an interference member disposed within the fuel injection port housing, the interference member having a contact surface displaced a predetermined distance from the inner surface of the fuel door, the predetermined distance equal to the distance from the inner surface of the fuel door and the outer surface of the fuel cap when the fuel door is closed and the fuel cap is fully seated within the fuel injection port, the interference member preventing the closure of the fuel door every time the fuel cap is not fiilly seated in the fuel injection port;

a sensor detecting the position of the fuel door and communicating the position of the fuel door;

a processor in communication with the sensor, the signal providing the processor with the position of the fuel door, the processor processing the position of the fuel door and issuing a detectable signal when the sensor detects that the fuel door is open, the detectable signal indicating to the driver that the fuel cap may need to be tightened so as to prevent the check engine light from illuminating because of a loose fuel cap.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed within the fuel injection housing.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ignition switch is configured to actuate the processor.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the detectable signal indicates that the fuel cap may not be fully seated within the fuel injection port.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the detectable signal is a textual display.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the detectable signal is a pre-recorded verbal warning.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the interference member is a pad fixed to the interior of the fuel door, the pad configured to prevent the fuel door to close if the fuel cap is not fully engaged with the fuel injection port.

9. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the detectable signal is a prerecorded voice warning the driver that the fuel door is open and the fuel cap is not fully seated.

10. A method as set forth in claim 7, further including the step of providing a power sliding door on the vehicle, and wherein the sensor is in communication with the sliding door and is configured to disable the power sliding door when the fuel door is open.

8-1. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the detectable signal is a textual display notifying the driver that the fuel door is open and the fuel cap may be loose.