Interrelated power delivery controls – including engine control – Brake control – Sensed condition responsive control of engine of brake
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-10
2001-06-26
Wright, Dirk (Department: 3681)
Interrelated power delivery controls, including engine control
Brake control
Sensed condition responsive control of engine of brake
C477S205000, C701S112000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06251046
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically stopping an internal combustion engine when a vehicle equipped with the engine is stopped.
Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 8-291725 discloses an automatic engine stop and start apparatus applied to a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine and an automatic transmission.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, this conventional apparatus is arranged to decide that the vehicle speed is zero on the basis of a signal from a vehicle speed sensor. Accordingly, if a detection limit of the vehicle speed sensor is not so high, there is a possibility that the vehicle speed sensor outputs a zero-speed indicative signal even when an actual vehicle speed is not zero. Further, on the basis of this incorrect zero-speed decision of the vehicle speed, the conventional apparatus will execute an automatic engine-stop operation by stopping the supply of fuel to the engine. Accordingly, the driving force of the engine is suddenly decreased during a braking of the vehicle. Consequently, the braking force is radically increased by this sudden engine stop to increase a deceleration of the vehicle, and therefore a driver of this vehicle has discomfort. Further, the vehicle will be stopped at a point that is nearer than a point intended by the driver.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic engine stop control apparatus that is arranged to suitably solve the above-mentioned problems.
An automatic engine-stop control apparatus according to the present invention is for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The automatic engine stop control apparatus comprises a vehicle speed sensor and a brake pedal depression sensor which are coupled to a control unit. The control unit is programmed to decide that the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor is smaller than or equal to a predetermined stop expected speed when the brake pedal depression sensor detects that the brake pedal is depressed and to decide that the vehicle is stopped when a predetermined time period elapses from a moment that the vehicle speed becomes smaller than or equal to the predetermined stop expected speed and when the depression of the brake pedal is continued.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4539643 (1985-09-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 4630577 (1986-12-01), Cornacchia
patent: 8-291725 (1996-11-01), None
Nakajima Yuki
Ogane Hiroaki
Uchida Masaaki
Yoshino Takahiro
Foley & Lardner
Nissan Motor Co,. Ltd.
Wright Dirk
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