# US 2014/0207351 A1 · Supplementing engine control via a diagnostics port > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0207351 A1 - Document ID: US20140207351A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/219,890 - Filed: 2014-03-19 - Published: 2014-07-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-15 - Assignees: 128 Combustion, LLC - Applicants: 128 Combustion, LLC - Inventors: Kendall J. MOSHER; Chester J. SILVESTRI; Adam RAPER; David R. EMBERSON - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140207351A1 ## CPC - F02D 28/00: Program control of engines - F02D 41/22: Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions {(in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809)} - F02D 41/266: {the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue} - F02D 43/04: using only digital means - F02D 2400/11: After-sales modification devices designed to be used to modify an engine afterwards - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A secondary controller for controlling the performance of a vehicle is described. The secondary controller sends control commands to a vehicle controller while the vehicle is being driven to effect the operation of the vehicle's power train without requiring any modification of the vehicle controller and without falsifying any information sent to the vehicle controller. In some embodiments, the secondary controller communicates with the vehicle controller via the vehicle's diagnostic port, such as an OBD-II port. In one aspect, the secondary controller is used to direct the vehicle controller not to utilize a start/stop feature to automatically turn off the engine in the selected circumstances during normal operation of the vehicle. As such, the control command causes the vehicle controller to operate the vehicle in the selected operating mode in manner dictated by the engine controller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device comprising: a housing; a connector that allows the electronic device to be coupled to a network port associated with a vehicle having a vehicle controller arranged to direct operation of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle controller is arranged to at least sometimes implement a start/stop feature in which an engine is automatically turned off in selected circumstances during normal operation of the vehicle; and a processor and a memory disposed within the housing, wherein the processor is configured to send a control command message to the vehicle controller through the network port as the vehicle is being driven, wherein the control command directs the vehicle controller not to utilize the start/stop feature to automatically turn off the engine in the selected circumstances during normal operation of the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the control command is effective without requiring any modification of the vehicle controller and without falsifying any information sent to the vehicle controller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the selected circumstances include selected times at which the vehicle is at rest and the control command directs the vehicle controller not to automatically turn off the engine at the selected times at which the vehicle is at rest. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the network port is a diagnostics port. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle controller further includes a hill holding feature in which a parking brake is automatically electronically set in selected circumstance and the electronic device further sends a second control command message to the vehicle controller instructing the vehicle controller not to implement the hill holding feature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a dongle configured to receive power from the diagnostic port. ### Claim 7 An electronic device comprising: a housing; a connector that allows the electronic device to be coupled to a network port associated with a vehicle having a vehicle controller arranged to direct operation of an vehicle in a plurality of different operating state; and a processor and a memory disposed within the housing, wherein the processor is configured to send a control command message to the vehicle controller through the network port as the vehicle is being driven, and wherein the control command causes the vehicle controller to direct operation of the vehicle in a selected one of the plurality of different operating modes that is different than the operating mode that the vehicle controller would otherwise direct operation of the vehicle in, without requiring any modification of the vehicle controller and without falsifying any information sent to the vehicle controller; whereby during use, the electronic device may cause the vehicle controller to operate the vehicle in the selected operating mode in manner dictated by the engine controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An electronic device as recited in claim 7 wherein the network port is a diagnostics port. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) An electronic device as recited in claim 7 wherein the control command sent by the electronic device does not dictate any engine settings other than identifying the selected operating mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) An electronic device as recited in claim 7 wherein the vehicle controller includes a factory ECU and the control command is sent to the factory ECU. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) An electronic device as recited in claim 8 wherein the diagnostic port is OBD-II, JOBD or EOBD compliant. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) An electronic device as recited in claim 7, wherein the electronic device is a dongle configured to receive power from the diagnostic port. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) An electronic device as recited in claim 7, further comprising: a CAN-controller and a CAN transceiver for sending and receiving messages on a CAN compliant vehicle communication bus, and wherein the processor is further configured to communicate using a CAN communication protocol. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) An electronic device as recited in claim 7, further comprising: a status indicator for indicating an operational state of the electronic device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) An electronic device as recited in claim 7, wherein processor is further configured to repeatedly issue the control command while the vehicle is being driven. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory computer readable medium suitable for use in conjunction with an vehicle having a vehicle controller arranged to direct operation of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle controller is arranged to at least sometimes implement a start/stop feature in which an engine is automatically turned off in selected circumstances during normal operation of the vehicle, the computer readable medium comprising programmed instructions configured to: send a control command message to the vehicle controller through a diagnostics port as the vehicle is being driven, wherein the control command directs the vehicle controller not to utilize the start/stop feature to automatically turn off the engine in the selected circumstances during normal operation of the vehicle.