IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,352,287
Granted Patent B2
US 10,352,287 · App. 15/686,907 · Granted Jul 16, 2019

Controlling engine of vehicle

Inventors: Tao Chen (Beijing, CN); Mingyong Tang (Beijing, CN); Huayijun Liu (Beijing, CN)
Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
F02N11/0837B60R16/0231F02N11/101G01F23/241B60G17/019B60G17/0165B60G2300/07F02N2200/12Y02T10/48
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,352,287
App. No.
15/686,907
Granted
Jul 16, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to controlling engine of a vehicle. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, when it is determined that the vehicle has entered a deep water area, an engine start-stop function of the vehicle is disabled. The deep water area has a water depth which allows water to enter the engine of the vehicle or causes the engine of the vehicle to be susceptible to water inflow.

Claims (56)

1. A method of controlling engine, comprising:

determining, by a processor, whether a vehicle has entered a deep water area according to a detection result of a plurality of water detection sensors, wherein the deep water area has a water depth which allows water to enter an engine of the vehicle or causes the engine of the vehicle to be susceptible to water inflow; and

disabling, by the processor, an engine start-stop function of the vehicle when determining that the vehicle has entered the deep water area and the engine start-stop function is currently enabled,

wherein the plurality of water detection sensors are arranged at different preset positions of the vehicle;

wherein each water detection sensor independently generates a signal only when a water immersion height of a probe of the each water detection sensor exceeds a threshold; and

wherein determining whether the vehicle has entered the deep water area according to the detection result of the plurality of water detection sensors comprises:

evaluating, by the processor, a number of water detection sensors generating alarm signals; and

determining, by the processor, that the vehicle has entered the deep water area when the number of the water detection sensors generating signals is greater than or equal to a preset number threshold.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining whether the vehicle has entered the deep water area according to the detection result of the plurality of water detection sensors comprises:

receiving, by the processor, the signals generated by the plurality of water detection sensors;

recording, by the processor, duration of the signals; and

determining, by the processor, that the vehicle has entered the deep water area when the duration of the signals is greater than or equal to a preset duration threshold.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the processor, whether the vehicle has moved out of the deep water area after the engine start-stop function is disabled; and

enabling, by the processor, the engine start-stop function when the processor determines that the vehicle has moved out of the deep water area.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of water detection sensors comprise a water immersion sensor that includes a bipolar probe insulated by air under normal circumstances.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the preset positions comprise at least one of an exhaust and a chassis of the vehicle.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is an electronic controller of the vehicle.

7. An apparatus for controlling engine, comprising:

a processor; and

a machine-readable storage medium configured to store machine-executable instructions executable by the processor;

wherein by executing the machine-executable instructions, the processor is configured to:

determine whether a vehicle has entered a deep water area according to a detection result of a plurality of water detection sensors, wherein the deep water area has a water depth which allows water to enter an engine of the vehicle or causes the engine of the vehicle to be susceptible to water inflow; and

disable an engine start-stop function of the vehicle when determining that the vehicle has entered the deep water area and the engine start-stop function is currently enabled;

wherein the plurality of water detection sensors are arranged at different preset positions of the vehicle;

wherein each water detection sensor independently generates a signal only when a water immersion height of a probe of the each water detection sensor exceeds a threshold; and

wherein determining whether the vehicle has entered the deep water area according to the detection result of the plurality of water detection sensors comprises:

evaluating, by the processor, a number of water detection sensors generating alarm signals; and

determining, by the processor, that the vehicle has entered the deep water area when the number of the water detection sensors generating signals is greater than or equal to a preset number threshold.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein when the processor determines whether the vehicle has entered the deep water area according to the plurality of detection result of the water detection sensors, the machine-executable instructions cause the processor to:

receive the signals generated by the plurality of water detection sensors;

record duration of the signals; and

determine that the vehicle has entered the deep water area when the duration of the signals is greater than or equal to a preset duration threshold.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the machine-executable instructions further cause the processor to:

determine whether the vehicle has moved out of the deep water area after the engine start-stop function is disabled; and

enable the engine start-stop function when the processor determines that the vehicle has moved out of the deep water area.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the plurality of water detection sensors comprise a water immersion sensor and the preset positions comprise at least one of an exhaust and a chassis of the vehicle.

11. A vehicle, comprising:

a processor; and

a machine-readable storage medium configured to store machine-executable instructions executable by the processor;

wherein by executing the machine-executable instructions, the processor is configured to:

determine whether the vehicle has entered a deep water area according to a detection result of a plurality of water detection sensors, wherein the deep water area has a water depth which allows water to enter an engine of the vehicle or causes the engine of the vehicle to be susceptible to water inflow; and

disable an engine start-stop function of the vehicle when determining that the vehicle has entered the deep water area and the engine start-stop function is currently enabled,

wherein the plurality of water detection sensors are arranged at different preset positions of the vehicle;

wherein each water detection sensor independently generates a signal only when a water immersion height of a probe of the each water detection sensor exceeds a threshold; and

wherein determining whether the vehicle has entered the deep water area according to the detection result of the plurality of water detection sensors comprises:

evaluating, by the processor, a number of water detection sensors generating signals; and

determining, by the processor, that the vehicle has entered the deep water area when the number of the water detection sensors generating signals is greater than or equal to a preset number threshold.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein when the processor determines that the vehicle has entered the deep water area according to the detection result of the plurality of water detection sensors, the machine-executable instructions cause the processor to:

receive the signals generated by the plurality of water detection sensors;

record duration of the signals; and

determine that the vehicle has entered the deep water area when the duration of the signals is greater than or equal to a preset duration threshold.

13. The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the machine-executable instructions further cause the processor to:

determine whether the vehicle has moved out of the deep water area after the engine start-stop function is disabled; and

enable the engine start-stop function when the processor determines that the vehicle has moved out of the deep water area.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 25, 2017
From: CHEN, TAO; TANG, MINGYONG; LIU, HUAYIJUN
To: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 043406/0406 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 2016 1 0792508 · Aug 31, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180058408A1 · Mar 1, 2018