US6463900B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Engine idling stop apparatus, system thereof and signal display apparatus used in the system
Assignee: Transportation System and Electric Co Ltd
•
Filing: 2000-08-08
•
Granted: 2002-10-15
•
Expires: 2020-08-08
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides an apparatus for stopping the idling of an automobile engine, a system for relating the apparatus to a traffic signal device and further a signal display apparatus for supplying a driver information such as idling stop of the automobile engine and the like in relation to the system in order to prevent generation of exhaust gases caused by unnecessary engine idling when an automobile is stopped at a traffic signal and the like. A period of time t S corresponding to the period of time until the traffic signal of a traffic signal device is changed to green is calculated based on a signal received from by the traffic signal device. A period of time T, which serves as a base for determining whether idling is to be stopped or not, is determined based on the calculated period of time t S . The idling of the automobile engine is stopped only when the period of time T satisfies a predetermined condition. When the idling of the automobile engine is stopped, the engine is restarted after the period of time T.
Inventors
- 👤 Katsushi Wakabayashi
- 👤 Koji Korematsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:09
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/09; G08G1/0962; G08G1/0967; G08G1/096708; G08G1/096725; F; F02; F02N; F02N11/00; F02N11/08; F02N11/0814; F02N11/0818; F02N11/0833; F02N11/0837; G08G1/096733; G08G1/09675; G08G1/096758; G08G1/096766; G08G1/096775; G08G1/096783; F02N11/0825; F02N2200/00; F02N2200/08; F02N2200/0809; F02N2200/12; F02N2200/125; F02N2300/00; F02N2300/30; F02N2300/302; F02N2300/306; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
An automobile engine idling stop apparatus, comprising: receiver means for receiving a signal transmitted from roadside and indicated a period of time from a present time until a traffic signal changes; detection means for detecting the state of an automobile including the running condition thereof; and control means for controlling an idling stop based on the signal received by said receiver means and the state of the automobile detected by said detection means, wherein said control means stops the idling in the case that an amount of harmful exhaust gases reduced by such an idling stop exceeds an amount of harmful exhaust gases that are excessively discharged by engine restart.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
An automobile engine idling stop apparatus, comprising: receiver means for receiving a signal transmitted from roadside and indicated a period of time from a present time until a traffic signal changes; detection means for detecting the state of an automobile including the running condition thereof; and control means for controlling an idling stop based on the signal received by said receiver means and the state of the automobile detected by said detection means, wherein said control means stops the idling in the case that an amount of harmful exhaust gases reduced by such an idling stop exceeds an amount of harmful exhaust gases that are excessively discharged by engine restart.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
An automobile engine idling stop apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said control means stops idling in the case that an amount of fuel that can be reduced by such an idling stop exceeds an amount of fuel consumed excessively by engine restart.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An automobile engine idling stop apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said control means restarts the automobile engine for a predetermined period of time prior to a change of an indication of the traffic signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
An automobile engine idling stop apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said control means continues idling of the engine in the case that the state of the electrical components of the automobile, said electrical components including head lamps and an air conditioner, is detected as in operation by said detection means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
An automobile engine idling stop apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a frequency of the signal becomes a first frequency when the indication of the traffic signal is changed to a stop (red) signal and reaches a second frequency when the stop signal is changed to green, and wherein the frequency of the signal is continuously shifted from the first frequency to the second frequency over the period of the stop signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An automobile engine idling stop apparatus according to claim 1 , further including: a transmitter disposed at roadside for transmitting a signal indicating a period of time from a present time until a traffic signal changes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An automobile engine idling stop apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said transmitter is operated by the signal from a traffic signal device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
An automobile engine idling stop apparatus, comprising: receiver means for receiving a signal transmitted from roadside and indicated a period of time from a present time until a traffic signal changes; detection means for detecting the state of an automobile including the running condition thereof; and control means for controlling an idling stop based on the signal received by said receiver means and the state of the automobile detected by said detection means, wherein said control means stops the idling in the case that an amount of fuel that can be reduced by such an idling stop exceeds an amount of fuel consumed excessively by engine restart.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
An automobile engine idling stop apparatus, comprising: receiver means for receiving a signal transmitted from roadside and indicated a period of time from a present time until a traffic signal changes; detection means for detecting the state of an automobile including the running condition thereof; and control means for controlling an idling stop based on the signal received by said receiver means and the state of the automobile detected by said detection means, wherein said control means stops the idling in the case that an amount of fuel that can be reduced by such an idling stop exceeds an amount of fuel consumed excessively by engine restart.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
135 words
An automobile engine idling stop apparatus, comprising: receiver means for receiving a signal transmitted from roadside and indicated a period of time from a present time until a traffic signal changes; detection means for detecting the state of an automobile including the running condition thereof; and control means for controlling an idling stop based on the signal received by said receiver means and the state of the automobile detected by said detection means, wherein a frequency of the signal becomes a first frequency when the indication of the traffic signal is changed to a stop (red) signal and reaches a second frequency when the stop signal is changed to green, and wherein the frequency of the signal is continuously shifted from the first frequency to the second frequency over the period of the stop signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
135 words
An automobile engine idling stop apparatus, comprising: receiver means for receiving a signal transmitted from roadside and indicated a period of time from a present time until a traffic signal changes; detection means for detecting the state of an automobile including the running condition thereof; and control means for controlling an idling stop based on the signal received by said receiver means and the state of the automobile detected by said detection means, wherein a frequency of the signal becomes a first frequency when the indication of the traffic signal is changed to a stop (red) signal and reaches a second frequency when the stop signal is changed to green, and wherein the frequency of the signal is continuously shifted from the first frequency to the second frequency over the period of the stop signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4006723A
Cited
DE2450149A1
Cited
US4200860A
Cited
US4402286A
Cited
DE3019709A1
Cited
US4485772A
Cited
US4847618A
Cited
US4827258A
Cited
DE4038013A1
Cited
US5940010A
Cited
JPH1162650A
Cited
US20010018903A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-10-14 | 2006-04-15 | 2006-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-14 | 2010-04-15 | 2010-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-14 | 2014-04-15 | 2014-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |