Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Vehicle mounted systems – Automobile
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-22
2002-08-06
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2836)
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Vehicle mounted systems
Automobile
C200S061530
Reexamination Certificate
active
06429545
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power supply system of an automotive vehicle that is capable of preventing the vehicle from suddenly accelerating regardless of a driver's intention so as to insure the vehicle's stability and the driver's safety.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Generally, an automatic torque converter consists of a torque converter, a gear train connected to the torque converter for achieving a wide range of speeds and loads, and a hydraulic control system for selecting a necessary gear ratio by applying or releasing pressure to or from desired friction elements.
Thus, in a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, gear shifting is performed by an electric control unit (ECU), which sends electric control signals to a plurality of solenoid valves for controlling hydraulic flows, a medium for operating friction elements.
Recently, traffic accidents caused by sudden acceleration without relation to the driver's intention have been reported and one reason of these sudden accelerations is thought to be malfunctions of the solenoid valves caused by electromagnetic waves.
However, in a normal running state of the vehicle, such an uncontrolled sudden acceleration can not theoretically occur because the hydraulic flow control is ultimately performed by the driver's shift lever manipulation. Furthermore, even when there is a malfunction, the gear ratio is locked in third gear.
Other possible causes of uncontrolled accelerations of these vehicles are thought to be as follows:
first, a speed range shift due to select lever manipulation while the accelerator is depressed;
second, a speed range shift when the idle rpm of the engine is above normal due to an insufficient warm up of the engine;
third, a malfunction of the ECU caused by the driver's habitual tapping on the acceleration pedal, which temporarily increases the engine rpm;
and finally, a speed range shift that occurs if the vehicle is started without depressing the brake pedal, a situation in which the engine rpm rises temporally to compensate for the load generated during a speed range shift.
Recently, various technologies for preventing the vehicle's uncontrolled acceleration have been proposed. Most of the uncontrolled acceleration preventing technologies adapt a method for the analysis of the vehicle speed, the gear ratio of the transmission, and the engine rpm so as to adjust the engine performance if any unbalance is detected.
However, electrical analysis technologies for adjusting engine rpm use electrical circuit devices for detecting a failure. Hence, such devices are also susceptible to the effects of electromagnetic waves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above problems of the prior art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an power supply system for preventing an uncontrolled acceleration which is mechanical in nature so as not to be affected by outside electromagnetic waves, and acts such that the power supply system stops the engine when the vehicle achieves an abnormal acceleration.
To achieve the above object, an automotive power supply system for preventing uncontrolled acceleration comprises a battery, an ignition switch electrically connected to the battery, and an acceleration response switch provided between the battery and the ignition switch.
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Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Hyundai Motor Company
Rios Roberto
Sircus Brian
LandOfFree
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