Supplementing engine control via a diagnostics port
First Claim
1. An electronic device comprising:
- a housing;
a connector that allows the electronic device to be coupled to a network port associated with a vehicle having a factory engine control unit (ECU) arranged to direct operation of the vehicle, wherein the factory ECU is arranged to at least sometimes implement a start/stop feature in which an engine is automatically turned off in selected circumstances during normal operation of the vehicle; and
a processor and a memory disposed within the housing, wherein the processor is configured to send a control command message to the factory ECU through the network port as the vehicle is being driven, wherein the control command is configured to direct the factory ECU not to utilize the start/stop feature to automatically turn off the engine in the selected circumstances during normal operation of the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A secondary controller for controlling the performance of a vehicle is described. The secondary controller sends control commands to a vehicle controller while the vehicle is being driven to effect the operation of the vehicle'"'"'s power train without requiring any modification of the vehicle controller and without falsifying any information sent to the vehicle controller. In some embodiments, the secondary controller communicates with the vehicle controller via the vehicle'"'"'s diagnostic port, such as an OBD-II port. In one aspect, the secondary controller is used to direct the vehicle controller not to utilize a start/stop feature to automatically turn off the engine in the selected circumstances during normal operation of the vehicle. As such, the control command causes the vehicle controller to operate the vehicle in the selected operating mode in manner dictated by the engine controller.
18 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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a housing; a connector that allows the electronic device to be coupled to a network port associated with a vehicle having a factory engine control unit (ECU) arranged to direct operation of the vehicle, wherein the factory ECU is arranged to at least sometimes implement a start/stop feature in which an engine is automatically turned off in selected circumstances during normal operation of the vehicle; and a processor and a memory disposed within the housing, wherein the processor is configured to send a control command message to the factory ECU through the network port as the vehicle is being driven, wherein the control command is configured to direct the factory ECU not to utilize the start/stop feature to automatically turn off the engine in the selected circumstances during normal operation of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A non-transitory computer readable medium suitable for use in conjunction with a vehicle having a factory engine control unit (ECU) arranged to direct operation of the vehicle, wherein the factory ECU is arranged to at least sometimes implement a start/stop feature in which an engine is automatically turned off in selected circumstances during normal operation of the vehicle, the computer readable medium comprising programmed instructions configured to:
send a control command message to the factory ECU through a diagnostics port as the vehicle is being driven, wherein the control command is configured to direct the factory ECU not to utilize the start/stop feature to automatically turn off the engine in the selected circumstances during normal operation of the vehicle.
Specification