Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
Utility Patent
1997-04-15
2001-01-02
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
C701S035000, C701S102000, C060S248000
Utility Patent
active
06169942
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process for determining the time elapsed between stopping a motor vehicle engine and restarting the engine, where time information representing the time when the engine is stopped is stored, and when the engine is restarted, this information is related to the time information representing the time when the engine is started.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Knowing the time between stopping a motor vehicle engine and restarting the engine is important for various functions in engine control, especially when starting the engine, e.g., for controlling fuel delivery, ignition, etc., by an automotive controller.
A relatively accurate method of determining the time consists of determining the times corresponding to the time when the engine is stopped and the time when the engine is restarted, storing temporarily and determining the difference.
These times or the corresponding counter readings can be obtained, for example, from a software clock or a counter integrated into the automotive controller, for example.
However, using a software clock or a counter requires the automotive controller to continue running at least temporarily after the engine is stopped, which is a disadvantage in two regards. First, this could endanger the safety of the parked motor vehicle, and second, this would be a considerable burden on the battery in the vehicle, which could be a serious problem if the engine is stopped for a long time in particular.
One possible alternative to this would consist of equipping the automotive controller with a discrete clock module, the time information required to determine how long the engine has been turned off being supplied by this clock module. Although relatively little power is drained from the battery due to the comparatively low power consumption by the clock module even in continuous operation, this load cannot be disregarded completely. Even a low load on the battery can cause the battery to be discharged completely if the motor vehicle is stopped for a long period of time.
To prevent this, means can be provided to determine how much time has elapsed since the engine was shut down on the basis of the capacitor discharge. However, such a method of determining time is relatively inaccurate, and furthermore, it requires the use of components with extremely low tolerances.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a process in which the time elapsed between stopping a motor vehicle engine and restarting the engine can be determined easily, accurately and with minimal power consumption.
According to the present invention, the time information representing the respective times is obtained from an on-board clock that serves to display the time in the motor vehicle.
First, this eliminates the necessity of permanent operation of the entire automotive controller or of those parts thereof that determine time, and second, this minimizes the hardware and/or software required for the automotive controller.
The on-board clock does not require any fundamental modification for the above-mentioned support of the automotive controller. Essentially, it is merely provided with a new function.
Meanwhile, it has become possible to determine the time elapsed between stopping a motor vehicle engine and restarting the engine very easily, with a high accuracy and minimal power consumption.
The determined elapsed time is used to control the engine, for example in the ways set forth above.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4723523 (1988-02-01), Dataoka et al.
patent: 5727384 (1998-03-01), Ma
patent: 5941915 (1999-08-01), Federle et al.
Deichsel Hans
Joos Klaus
Miller Norbert
Pietsch Harald
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Donnelly Arthur D.
Kenyon & Kenyon
Robert & Bosch GmbH
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