Granted Patent B2

US 12,297,785 · App. 16/409,831 · Granted May 13, 2025

Inventors: Alfred S. Braunberger (Sequim, WA); Beau M. Braunberger (Upland, CA)

Assignee: Vision Works IP Corporation

F02D17/04B60W10/04B60W10/06B60W10/30B60W30/18054F02N11/0803B60G2400/104B60Q1/447

Abstract

Claims (25)

1. A method of shutting down an engine of a vehicle comprising:

detecting that the vehicle has stopped with one or more sensors based on a speed of the vehicle and acceleration of the vehicle;

detecting a non-drive transmission status of the vehicle with the one or more sensors; and

based on the stopping of the vehicle and the non-drive transmission status of the vehicle, shutting down the engine after a specified amount of time with a control device of the vehicle coupled with the one or more sensors.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising activating an alerting device to alert other drivers that the vehicle has stopped.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the alerting device is a rear facing amber light.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting an engagement of an emergency brake.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a temperature of air outside of the vehicle, wherein the engine is not shutdown unless the temperature is above a programmed value.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein shutting down the engine further turns off a lighting system of the vehicle and other accessory equipment.

7. A system for shutting down an engine of a vehicle comprising:

a. a first sensor for detecting that the vehicle has stopped based on a speed of the vehicle and acceleration of the vehicle;

b. a second sensor for detecting a non-drive status of the vehicle; and

c. a control device coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein the control device receives a signal from the first sensor that the vehicle has stopped and receives a signal from the second sensor based on the non-drive status of the vehicle, wherein based on the stopping of the vehicle and the non-drive transmission status of the vehicle, the control device is configured to shut down the engine after a specified amount of time.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising an alerting device capable of warning other drivers of a stationary status of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein upon receiving a signal that the vehicle has stopped, the control device activates the alerting device to warn following drivers that the vehicle is stationary.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the alerting device is a rear facing amber light.

11. The system of claim 7 further comprising an emergency brake engagement detector to detect engagement of the emergency brake.

12. The system of claim 7 further comprising an external temperature sensor to detect a temperature outside the vehicle, wherein the control device does not shutdown unless the temperature is above a programmed value.

13. A system for a vehicle comprising:

a. a first sensor for detecting that the vehicle has stopped based on a speed of the vehicle and acceleration of the vehicle;

b. a second sensor for detecting a non-drive status of the vehicle;

c. an alerting device that is activated based on a stopping of the vehicle and the non-drive status of the vehicle, wherein based on the stopping of the vehicle and the non-drive transmission status of the vehicle, shutting down an engine of the vehicle after a specified amount of time; and

d. a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature outside of the vehicle, wherein the engine is not shutdown unless the temperature is above a programmed value.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the alerting device comprises a rear facing amber light.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising an emergency brake engagement detector to detect engagement of the emergency brake.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (9)

References Cited (386)