US7305294B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle stopping system and method
Assignee: Volvo Trucks North America Inc
•
Filing: 2004-02-21
•
Granted: 2007-12-04
•
Expires: 2024-02-21
Abstract
Abstract A method of controlling a vehicle includes reducing a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal, monitoring at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle, determining whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing, if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, enabling the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level, and stopping the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level. A control system for a vehicle includes a processor that reduces a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal. The processor monitors at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle and determines whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing. If the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, the processor enables the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level. The processor causes the vehicle to stop the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level. In addition, a computer-readable medium containing a computer program for controlling a vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 John G. Bate
- 👤 Christiano Blume
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:59
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/01; B60R25/04; B60R25/042; B60R25/30; B60R25/33
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of controlling a vehicle, the method being implemented by apparatus in the vehicle, comprising the steps of: reducing a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal, monitoring at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle, wherein the speed monitoring is performed from the vehicle, determining whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing, if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, enabling the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level, and stopping the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of controlling a vehicle, the method being implemented by apparatus in the vehicle, comprising the steps of: reducing a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal, monitoring at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle, wherein the speed monitoring is performed from the vehicle, determining whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing, if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, enabling the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level, and stopping the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle shutdown signal is generated in response to a predetermined condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined condition is at least one of use of the vehicle by an unauthorized operator, position of the vehicle in an unauthorized location, and failure to enter a predetermined code.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle shutdown signal is transmitted to the vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the reduction is initiated by at least one of actuating a brake of the vehicle, reducing the torque generated by the engine of the vehicle, interrupting a fuel supply to the engine of the vehicle, and controlling a transmission of the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein after stopping the vehicle, the engine of the vehicle can be started in response to a second predetermined condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
119 words
A control system for a vehicle, comprising a processor that reduces a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal, wherein the processor monitors at least one of a speed of the vehicle from the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle; the processor determines whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing; if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, the processor enables the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level; and the processor causes the vehicle to stop the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
119 words
A control system for a vehicle, comprising a processor that reduces a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal, wherein the processor monitors at least one of a speed of the vehicle from the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle; the processor determines whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing; if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, the processor enables the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level; and the processor causes the vehicle to stop the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The control system of claim 7 , wherein the vehicle shutdown signal is generated in response to a predetermined condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The control system of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined condition is at least one of use of the vehicle by an unauthorized operator, position of the vehicle in an unauthorized location, and failure to enter a predetermined code.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The control system of claim 7 , wherein the vehicle shutdown signal is transmitted to the vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The control system of claim 7 , wherein the processor reduces the speed of the vehicle by causing at least one of actuation of a brake of the vehicle, reduction of the torque generated by the engine of the vehicle, interruption of a fuel supply to the engine of the vehicle, and control of a transmission of the vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The control system of claim 7 , wherein after the vehicle has stopped, the processor enables the engine of the vehicle to be started in response to a second predetermined condition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
121 words
A computer-readable medium containing a computer program for controlling a vehicle, wherein the computer program performs the steps of: reducing a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal, monitoring at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle, wherein the speed monitoring is performed from the vehicle, determining whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing, if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, enabling the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level, and stopping the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
121 words
A computer-readable medium containing a computer program for controlling a vehicle, wherein the computer program performs the steps of: reducing a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal, monitoring at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle, wherein the speed monitoring is performed from the vehicle, determining whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing, if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, enabling the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level, and stopping the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of controlling a vehicle, the method being implemented by apparatus in the vehicle, comprising the steps of: controlling the vehicle to reduce a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal; monitoring at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle, wherein the speed monitoring is performed from the vehicle; determining whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing; if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing, stopping the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level; if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, enabling the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level until the monitored at least one of the speed and torque begins to decrease; and stopping the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of controlling a vehicle, the method being implemented by apparatus in the vehicle, comprising the steps of: controlling the vehicle to reduce a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal; monitoring at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle, wherein the speed monitoring is performed from the vehicle; determining whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing; if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing, stopping the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level; if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, enabling the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level until the monitored at least one of the speed and torque begins to decrease; and stopping the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4292620A
Cited
US4363999A
Cited
US4878050A
Cited
US5563453A
Cited
US20010016975A1
Cited
US5513244A
Cited
US6549130B1
Cited
US5463372A
Cited
US5638044A
Cited
US5925940A
Cited
US5819869A
Cited
US6249215B1
Cited
US5977654A
Cited
US5937823A
Cited
US20010056544A1
Cited
US6072248A
Cited
US6459980B1
Cited
US6504472B2
Cited
US6313740B1
Cited
US6347276B1
Cited
US20020157881A1
Cited
US6629031B2
Cited
US20030097218A1
Cited
US20030095046A1
Cited
WO2003044630A2
Cited
WO2003043838A2
Cited
US20030225501A1
Cited
US6998727B2
Cited
US20050125134A1
Cited
WO2005074454A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-12-03 | 2011-06-04 | 2011-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-12-03 | 2015-06-04 | 2015-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-12-03 | 2019-06-04 | 2019-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |