# US 11,111,894 B2 · Engine stop/start inhibit during vehicle service > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,111,894 B2 - Document ID: US11111894B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/374,584 - Filed: 2019-04-03 - Published: 2020-10-08 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-03 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Aed Dudar; Mahmoud Ghannam - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111894B2 ## CPC - F02N 11/0818: {Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode} - F02N 11/101: {for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement} - F02N 11/0803: {characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop (F02N11/0814 takes precedence)} - F02N 11/0814: {comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop} - F02N 11/10: Safety devices (F02N11/08 takes precedence) - B60K 28/10: responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle - F02N 11/04: the motors being associated with current generators - F02N 11/0825: {related to prevention of engine restart failure, e.g. disabling automatic stop at low battery state} - F02N 11/0833: {Vehicle conditions (F02N11/0822, F02N11/0825 take precedence)} - F02N 2200/08: said parameters being related to the vehicle or its components - F02N 2200/0814: Bonnet switches - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract Systems and methods for operating an engine that may be automatically stopped and started without a human driver providing input to a device that has a sole function of stopping and starting the engine are presented. In one example, automatic engine starting is inhibited responsive to output of vehicle sensors that may be indicative of service being performed on a vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An engine control method, comprising: automatically stopping an engine responsive to vehicle operating conditions; and inhibiting automatic starting of the engine via a controller in response to an indication that service is being performed on a vehicle as determined via the controller according to output of one or more sensors including vehicle suspension sensors, tire pressure sensors, a camera, fluid level sensors, or inertial sensors. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring vehicle suspension sensors for the indication that service is being performed on the vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring tire pressure sensors for the indication that service is being performed on the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a camera for the indication that service is being performed on the vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring fluid level sensors for the indication that service is being performed on the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring pressure sensors for the indication that service is being performed on the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising inertial sensors for the indication that service is being performed on the vehicle. ### Claim 8 An engine control method, comprising: automatically stopping an engine responsive to vehicle operating conditions; inhibiting automatic starting of the engine via a controller in response to an indication that service is being performed on a vehicle while the vehicle's engine compartment hood is closed, where inhibiting automatic starting of the engine includes inhibiting automatic starting of the engine to a time when the inhibiting is overridden via a human, and where the indication is provided via one or more of a change in an engine oil level, a change in fuel pressure, a change in tire pressure, or a camera. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, where inhibiting automatic starting of the engine includes not supplying fuel to the engine. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, where inhibiting automatic starting of the engine includes not cranking the engine via a starter. ### Claim 11 A vehicle system, comprising: an engine coupled to a vehicle; and a controller including executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory to automatically stop the engine responsive to vehicle operating conditions and inhibit automatically starting the engine responsive to an indication of service being performed on the vehicle provided via a vehicle suspension sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising additional executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory to inhibit automatically starting the engine responsive to an indication of service being performed on the vehicle provided via a fuel rail pressure sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising additional executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory to inhibit automatically starting the engine responsive to an indication of service being performed on the vehicle provided via an oil level sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising additional executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory to inhibit automatically starting the engine responsive to an indication of service being performed on the vehicle provided via a camera. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising additional executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory to inhibit automatically starting the engine responsive to an indication of service being performed on the vehicle provided via inertial sensors. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising additional executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory to inhibit automatically starting the engine responsive to an indication of service being performed on the vehicle provided via a tire pressure sensor.