Method of controlling an engine of a vehicle

Abstract

A simple and effective control method is disclosed for starting and stopping a vehicle's engine and automatic lighting of position lamps to show the vehicle's location. The method uses brake and gear shift lever of the vehicle to generate selection signals, and a button switch can be pressed to stop or start the engine of the vehicle according to the selection signals, which can provide vehicle drivers a simple and secure way to control their vehicles while waiting at a stoplight.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an engine of a vehicle, the method comprising: obtaining at least one first selection signal according to a first braking signal and a first gear position signal of the vehicle when a gear lever of the vehicle is not in P (Park) and is not in N (Neutral) position during an idling period of the vehicle after the vehicle is stopped; generating a first confirmation signal after the at least one first selection signal is obtained, wherein the first confirmation signal is generated through manually pressing a button switch located on the head of the gear lever of the vehicle during the idling period of the vehicle; generating a stopping signal to stop the engine during the idling period of the vehicle according to the at least one first selection signal when the first confirmation signal is activated; obtaining at least one second selection signal according to a second braking signal and a second gear position signal when the gear lever of the vehicle is in P (Park) or N (Neutral) position after the engine is stopped; generating a second confirmation signal after the at least one second selection signal is obtained, wherein the second confirmation signal is generated through manually pressing said button switch again; and generating a starting signal to start the engine according to the at least one second selection signal when the second confirmation signal is activated; wherein the starting signal and the stopping signal are generated by a control circuit, wherein the control circuit receives the at least one first and the at least one second selection signals, and the first and the second confirmation signals, wherein once each of the first and the second confirmation signals is activated, the control circuit outputs either the stopping signal or the starting signal according to said obtained selection signals only.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a manual-transmission type, wherein said at least one first selection signal is obtained according to the first braking signal, the first gear position signal and a clutch signal of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a shut-down signal to turn off a front lamp of the vehicle when the stopping signal is generated.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a shut-down signal to turn off the power supply of a powered device of the vehicle when the stopping signal is generated and generating a restoration signal to restore the power supply of the powered device of the vehicle when the starting signal is generated.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a lighting-on signal to light on at least one low-power lamp when a parameter value of an environment illuminance sensor is in a pre-defined range.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principle of the invention.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of existing circuit technology in motorcycles.

(3) FIG. 2 is a diagram of the circuitry in the integrated controller

(4) FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting the controlling of the position light of a vehicle with a rechargeable battery

(5) FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting the integration of the whole technology

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(6) Hereinafter, this invention will be applied to motorcycles and scooter as an example to illustrate the creative connotations of the present invention; conventionally, there are two brake levers (left and right) on the motorcycle/scooter handle bars. The left side brake lever controls the rear wheel brake. The right brake lever controls the front wheel brake, and both produce brake signals.

(7) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of existing circuit technology in motorcycles; the left (21) and right (22) brake levers switches are in parallel, and the brake lights (43) will be turned on when any one brake lever is pressed; when the start button switch (31) is pressed, the ground signal will be conducted, enabling the start relay (51) and starting the engine. When the vehicle's key switch (11) is turned off, the CDI electronic ignition system (61) obtains a grounded signal and turns off the power or oil supply, thus stopping the engine.

(8) FIG. 2 is a diagram of the circuitry in the integrated controller. In existing circuitry in motorcycles, parallel circuit of the left (21) and right (22) brake lever electrical switch, to form for individual independent of controlling device signals source, and respectively electrical connection to the integration controller (01), to become the two selection signals source in the present invention; and the vehicle's brake lights (43) are also electrically connected to the integration controller (01), in order to maintain the original functionality of the motorcycle.

(9) Define the two selection signals: the selection signal generated by the left brake lever switch (21), whose purpose is starting the engine; the selection signal generated by the right brake lever switch (22), whose purpose is turning off the engine. (Note: The two selection signal sources are defined so as to provide a unified specification operation mode, providing motorcycle drivers of any brand of motorcycle a fixed, simple, easy to use, and best standard mode of operation; and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.)

(10) The integration controller (01) is electrically connected to the wire of the key switch (11) ON of the vehicle, as a way to start the integration controller (01) function and provide a current source to the supply lights; the integration controller (01) is electrically connected to the start button switch (31) to receive the confirmation signal; the integration controller (01) is electrically connected to the start relay (51) of the vehicle to issue an instruction to start the engine; and the integration controller (01) is electrically connected to the wires of the key switch (11) OFF and the connection pins of the C.D.I electronic ignition system (61), to issue an instruction to stop the engine.

(11) When the motorcycle's key switch (11) is turned on; the integration controller (01) circuit enters the standby state. When the left brake lever (21) is pressed, a selection signal for starting the engine will be generated and provide power to turn on the brake light (43); If the driver wishes to start the engine and presses the start button (31) at the same time, the integration controller (01) will issue an instruction to the start relay of the vehicle (51), turning on the engine.

(12) When the driver wishes to stop the engine and presses the right brake lever (22), a selection signal for turning off the engine will be generated and provide power to turn on the brake light (43); if the start button (31) of the vehicle is pressed at the same time, the integration controller (01) will issue an instruction to the C.D.I of the vehicle (51), turning off the engine.

(13) When simultaneously pressing the left brake lever (21) and the right brake lever (22), both produce selection signals. If the start button (31) is then pressed again, the integration controller (01) will only accept the selection signal to stop the engine generated from the right brake lever (22), and issue an instruction, through the C.D.I (61) to complete the operation of stopping the engine.

(14) If restarting the engine is desired, pressing [the left brake lever (21)]+[the start button (31)] will start the engine again; if turning off the engine again is desired, pressing [the right brake lever (22)]+[the start button (31)] will stop the engine again; providing a very clear and simple control technology to start and stop the engine for drivers.

(15) No matter how the brake levers are operated, it is necessary to press the start button (31) to conduct the electric switch and produce a confirmation signal so that the integration controller (01) may then stop or turn on the engine. This is a secure, reliable and simple way to control the starting and shutdown of the engine. If the start button (31) is not pressed during the standby state, then only existing functionality of the motorcycle, such as turning the wheels or turning on the brake lights, can be performed.

(16) The abovementioned is to illustrate the concept of the present invention Method to control the starting and shutdown of an engine in a vehicle; such a method will allow vehicle drivers to start and shutdown their engines at will in a safe and easy way. This is the preferred implementation of the present invention:
Starts engine: [the left brake lever (21)]+[the start button (31)];
Engine stop: [the right brake lever (22)]+[the start button (31)] or
[the left brake lever (21)]+[the right brake lever (22)]+[the start button (31)];
Motorcycle retains original features and functionality.

(17) Applying the concept of the present invention to automobiles, since automobiles have only one set of brake signals, so the automobile manipulation equipment apply to the AT (Automatic Transmission) which preferred embodiment electric signal sources may include the brake signal, N (Neutral) signal, D (Drive) signal, and add one of four other button signal kinds; using the brake, N, D these three signals to plan and integrate to became two groups combinations state of selection signals; and a button use to confirm and execute the confirmation signal. The [braking+N] generate the start engine selection signal; The [braking+D] generate the stop engine selection signal; The [button] generate the confirmation signal;

(18) The present invention preferred embodiment application mode in AT automobile, in simple words: The [braking+N]+[button] for execution engine starting action; The [braking+D]+[button] for implement engine stopping;
From each interaction of implement engine starting or stopping application, the AT automobile maintains original features and function.
The MT (Manual Transmission) automobile preferred embodiment of the manipulation equipment electric signal sources may include the brake signal, N (Neutral) signal, C (Clutch) signal, and add one of four other button signal kinds; using the brake, N, C these three signals to plan and integrate to became two groups combinations state of selection signals; and a button use to confirm and execute the confirmation signal.

(19) The present invention preferred embodiment application mode in MT automobile, in simple words: The [braking+N] (regardless has the clutch signal or not)+[button] for execution engine starting action; The [braking+C] (other than N)+[button] for implement engine stopping;
From each interaction, such as engine starting or stopping, the MT automobile original features and functionality will be maintained.

(20) With the above preferred embodiment of motorcycle, MT and AT automobile application mode reveal the meaning and spirit of the present innovation invention, and, explaining that it can be according to different type vehicles control characteristics to different design, using the two or more existing suitable vehicles manipulation equipment generate electric signal, integrating became two groups selection signal, and collocating an existing or a new addition button interact with produced confirmation signal, to achieve starting or stopping engine control purpose.

(21) The motorcycle button switch application can use original start button switch; that applied in the automobile, it will add a new button switch placed on head of the gear lever, in the drivers thumb, index or middle finger convenient to operate, where can easily pressed the button, provide the driver a convenient operation for execution engine starts or stop functions. Based on considerations of control security, the button switch must have tactility design, so that drivers press the button in the autonomous conscious, to avoid inadvertently triggering the button.

(22) To automobile used in the integration controller of the present invention, based on considering engine restart performance, when engine idling stopping, it will automatically turn off the power of vehicles using electrical equipment which is high power consumption or impeding engine restart performance; such: automatically turn off headlamps, fog lights, air conditioning compressor clutch . . . etc., reduce the battery of power consumption after engine stopped, and contribute to mitigate restarting engine loading. After engine restart, the integration controller will auto restore those electrical equipment power, return to engine stopping status before.

(23) And then, to achieve auto-lighting position lamps to show vehicle location purpose, which comprising: a position lamp controller (02) and an environment illuminance sensor (03) two parts. The environment illuminance sensor (03) is illuminance induction element or illuminance detection means; and, the position lamp controller (02) composed by the electronic elements and logic circuits.

(24) FIG. 3 is the position lamp controller of integrating application circuit schematic according to the present invention. Hereby apply FIG. 3 as the sample to descript the detail of the present invention:

(25) The position lamp controller (02) requires power supply electrical connection from vehicle keyswitch (11) ON place, by vehicle keyswitch turn on the position lamp controller function.

(26) The environment luminance sensor (03) is electrically connected to the position lamp controller (02), it is the illuminance induction element or the illuminance detection means; set it in vehicle suitable place, to detection vehicle location ambient illuminance intensity, and generate corresponding parameter signal provided to the position lamp controller (02).

(27) The position lamp controller (02) is electrically connected to one or more of lamps to show the vehicle's location, such as vehicle the front position-lamps (41), tail lamps (42), or other like eyebrow lamps, decorative lamps, and even the turn lights, . . . etc. low power consumption, the lamps is efficiently displaying the vehicle location; if vehicle original configuration lamps are not sufficient to meet highlights the security purpose of vehicle location, add one or more position-lamps (44), to increase vehicle location display intensity.

(28) At the time vehicle-key open keyswitch (11), the position lamp controller (02) and the environment illuminance sensor (03) enters the operating state. The environment illuminance sensor (03) to according sensing the intensity of vehicle location ambient light generate parameter values transmit to the position lamp controller (02), when the parameter values meet the preset value, (namely weather foggy, rainy, the sky dark . . . etc. or vehicle driving in underpasses, tunnels, tree dense area, the ambient illumination condition parameter setting value), position lamp controller (02) will turn on the front position lamps (41) and the tail lamps (42) or include other add in position lamps (44) the power to light up; when condition does not meet the preset parameter values, the position lamp controller (02) and the front-position-lamps (41), the tail lamps (42) and the add in position lamps (44) circuitry will be an open circuit, of which the headlamp switch (12) original features of unchanged and no effect, keep vehicle the headlamp switch (12) original function.

(29) The design of the present invention make the vehicle no need to light the daytime running lamps in ample ambient illumination, no need to use the vehicle limited battery power, that is, reduced the carbon footprint waste with needless. When vehicle is in low illuminance location, through the environment illuminance sensor (03) parameter values to transmit the position lamp controller (02), and executive the suitable conditions function, automatically light the selected electrical connection lamps to show vehicle location, to solve the poor illumination problems by showing vehicle location, to meet the traffic safety objectives of the present invention.

(30) Applied to vehicles that have no storage battery like rickshaws, bicycles etc . . . , is adopt monomers sensing of auto-light lamp design, that is designed a shell, the position lamp controller (02), the environment illuminance sensor (03), the lamps (44) to integration into one; use portable battery as the power supply, and design the battery integrating inside the shell, or the outside connection type, and set a switch between the current source and the position lamp controller (02), this switch can be design in the shell, to serve as the monomer sensing of auto light lamps function the means enabled or not; makes it become fully functional monomer sensing of auto light lamps.

(31) And then, the more progressive design is: the switch is not planning in the shell; it is placed in a suitable location of the vehicles, like the handle of vehicles, and pedal or seat. The switch is the detector or sensor type, like infrared detection or static induction switch, and, can connect to the position lamp controller (02) by wireless signals links electrical, to detect or induct the vehicle driver at place situation, when the driver is in the setting location, will open the position lamp controller function.

(32) The abovementioned illustrates the present invention auto light position lamps to show vehicle location, applied to equip with storage battery vehicles, and other, no storage battery like rickshaws, bicycles . . . etc. such vehicles implementation application mode.

(33) In here, the integrated controller (01), the position lamp controller (02), and the environment illuminance sensor (03), use one of the Scooter series motorcycle circuit as example, integrate the circuit into one.

(34) FIG. 4 is an integration application of the complete technology schematic according to the present invention. There are The vehicle engine start and stop control method and auto-lighting the position-lamps to show vehicle location the full features of the present invention; thus providing the vehicle operation waiting stoplight with no-idling traveling on the road, an optimum engine stop and restarting control mode, and solving the lighting alert safety problem when the vehicle is in an environment with poor ambient illumination.

(35) The vehicle engine start and stop control method, not only operate to idling stop in vehicle waiting stoplight time, more suitable use for vehicle in any needs to operate the engine start or stop, and can full meet the operation of vehicle engine no-idling purpose, car parking can instantly stop, departure can immediate start, achieve the vehicles no necessary to engine idling; and provide the most environmentally friendly and most proper automated vehicle location lighting safety warning methods; so as reveals the full creation content of the present invention.

(36) Although the invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments it will be apparent to one of the ordinary skill in the art that modifications to the described embodiment may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention will be defined by the attached claims not by the above detail descriptions.