Turn off the car when pumping the gas in the gas stations
AssigneePanasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
InventorMahender Reddy Kotha
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motor vehicle includes an engine and a fuel tank having a cap with a first position in which the cap seals the fuel tank and a second position in which the cap does not seal the fuel tank. A sensor detects whether the cap is in the first position or the second position. An electronic processor is communicatively coupled to the engine and to the sensor. The electronic processor turn offs the engine in response to the sensor detecting that the cap is in the second position.
Claims17
A motor vehicle, comprising:
- an engine;
- a fuel tank including a cap having a first position in which the cap seals the fuel tank and a second position in which the cap does not seal the fuel tank;
- a fuel cap sensor configured to detect whether the cap is in the first position or the second position;
- an ignition sensor configured to detect whether an ignition of the engine is ON or OFF;
- and
- an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the ignition sensor and to the fuel cap sensor, the electronic processor being configured to turn off the engine when both the fuel cap sensor detects that the cap is in the second position and the ignition sensor detects that the ignition of the engine is ON.
A motor vehicle, comprising:
- an engine;
- an ignition sensor configured to detect whether an ignition of the engine is ON or OFF;
- a fuel tank including a cap having a first position in which the cap seals the fuel tank and a second position in which the cap does not seal the fuel tank;
- a fuel cap sensor configured to detect whether the cap is in the first position or the second position;
- a speedometer;
- and
- an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the ignition sensor, the fuel cap sensor and the speedometer, the electronic processor being configured to turn off the engine when:
- the fuel cap sensor detects that the cap is in the second position;
- the ignition sensor detects that the ignition of the engine is ON;
- and
- the speedometer detects that a speed of the vehicle is substantially zero.
A method of operating an engine of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a fuel tank including a cap having a first position in which the cap seals the fuel tank and a second position in which the cap does not seal the fuel tank;
- detecting whether the cap is in the first position or the second position;
- sensing whether an ignition of the engine is ON or OFF;
- and
- turning off the engine when both the cap is in the second position and it is sensed that the ignition of the engine is ON.
A method of operating an engine of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a fuel tank including a cap having a first position in which the cap seals the fuel tank and a second position in which the cap does not seal the fuel tank;
- detecting whether the cap is in the first position or the second position;
- ascertaining a speed of the vehicle;
- and
- turning off the engine when:
- the fuel cap is in the second position;
- the ignition of the engine is ON;
- and
- the speed of the vehicle is substantially zero.
An engine ignition control system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
- an engine ignition;
- an engine ignition sensor configured to detect whether the engine ignition is ON or OFF;
- a gas tank cap sensor configured to detect whether a gas tank cap is open or closed;
- a gear sensor configured to detect a gear that the vehicle is in;
- and
- an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the engine ignition sensor, to the gear sensor, and to the gas tank cap sensor, the electronic processor being configured to turn off the engine when:
- the gas tank cap sensor detects that the gas tank cap is open;
- the engine ignition sensor detects that the ignition of the engine is ON;
- and
- the gear sensor detects that the vehicle is in park gear.
An engine ignition control system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
- an engine ignition;
- an engine ignition sensor configured to detect whether the engine ignition is ON or OFF;
- a gas tank cap sensor configured to detect whether a gas tank cap is open or closed;
- a speedometer;
- and
- an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the engine ignition sensor, to the speedometer, and to the gas tank cap sensor, the electronic processor being configured to turn off the engine when:
- the gas tank cap sensor detects that the cap is open;
- the ignition sensor detects that the ignition of the engine is ON;
- and
- the speedometer detects that a speed of the vehicle is substantially zero.
An engine ignition control system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
- an engine ignition;
- an engine ignition sensor configured to detect whether the engine ignition is ON or OFF;
- a gas tank cap sensor configured to detect whether a gas tank cap is open or closed;
- a speedometer;
- and
- an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the engine ignition sensor, to the speedometer, and to the gas tank cap sensor, the electronic processor being configured to turn off the engine when:
- the gas tank cap sensor detects that the cap is open;
- the ignition sensor detects that the ignition of the engine is ON;
- and
- the speedometer detects that a speed of the vehicle has been substantially zero for a time period of at least thirty seconds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.