Vehicle Control System and Method of Using the Same
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a vehicle control system, comprising the steps:
- receiving a plurality of signals at a control module, the plurality of signals include speed signals that are representative of a vehicle speed, ignition signals that are representative of an ignition status, and engine signals that are representative of an engine status;
evaluating the plurality of signals with the control module in order to detect an unintended ignition event, the unintended ignition event is detected when the ignition signals indicate a transition from an active ignition status to an inactive ignition status while the speed signals indicate the vehicle is moving and the engine signals indicate the engine is running; and
preventing the engine from stopping in response to the detection of the unintended ignition event, wherein preventing the engine from stopping extends the availability of one or more vehicle systems that require engine operation.
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Abstract
A vehicle control system and a method for extending the availability of certain vehicle systems that require mechanical output from an engine, such as power-assisted steering, braking, and vehicle acceleration following an unintended ignition event. In one embodiment, the method overrides ignition signals indicating an inactive ignition status and keeps the engine running if certain conditions are met. In another embodiment, the method attempts to automatically restart the engine while the vehicle is moving if the engine stops running, so long as certain conditions are met.
11 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of operating a vehicle control system, comprising the steps:
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receiving a plurality of signals at a control module, the plurality of signals include speed signals that are representative of a vehicle speed, ignition signals that are representative of an ignition status, and engine signals that are representative of an engine status; evaluating the plurality of signals with the control module in order to detect an unintended ignition event, the unintended ignition event is detected when the ignition signals indicate a transition from an active ignition status to an inactive ignition status while the speed signals indicate the vehicle is moving and the engine signals indicate the engine is running; and preventing the engine from stopping in response to the detection of the unintended ignition event, wherein preventing the engine from stopping extends the availability of one or more vehicle systems that require engine operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a vehicle control system, comprising the steps:
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receiving a plurality of signals at a control module, the plurality of signals include speed signals that are representative of a vehicle speed, ignition signals that are representative of an ignition status, and engine signals that are representative of an engine status; evaluating the plurality of signals with the control module in order to detect an unintended ignition event, the unintended ignition event is detected when the speed signals indicate the vehicle is moving and the ignition signals indicate the ignition is active yet the engine signals indicate the engine is not running; and attempting to restart the engine while the vehicle is moving in response to the detection of the unintended ignition event, wherein restarting the engine restores the availability of one or more vehicle systems that require engine operation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a vehicle control system, comprising the steps:
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receiving a plurality of signals at a control module, the plurality of signals include speed signals that are representative of a vehicle speed, ignition signals that are representative of an ignition status, and gear signals that are representative of a gear setting; evaluating the plurality of signals with the control module; when the control module determines that the vehicle speed is greater than a threshold and the ignition status is inactive and the gear setting is in drive, then attempting to restart the engine if it is not operating or keeping the engine running if it is already operating; and when the control module determines that the vehicle speed is greater than a threshold and the ignition status is active, then attempting to restart the engine if it is not operating or keeping the engine running if it is already operating.
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Specification