Unattended-vehicle engine-idling system

Apparatus comprising:

• a powertrain having motive and non-motive modes;
• a control circuit coupled to the powertrain;
• an ignition switch operable to Off, Run, and Start positions;
• wherein the control circuit enters an ARMED state if the ignition switch moves to Start while in the motive mode and the transmission is in a Park position, and switching to non-motive mode if the key moves to Off while in the ARMED state.

A method for engine-idling of an unattended-vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a powertrain with an engine and a transmission having a motive mode and a non-motive mode with the engine running and having an engine off mode, wherein the vehicle includes a control circuit coupled to the engine and the transmission, and wherein the vehicle includes an ignition switch coupled to the control circuit and configured to be operable by a user with a removable ignition key to move to Off, Accessory, Run, and Start positions, the method comprising the steps of:

• entering a PREARMED state when the powertrain is in the motive mode and the user generates a manual activation signal;
• entering an ARMED state from the PREARMED state when the transmission is in a Park position, wherein the ARMED state holds an ignition switch status signal at RUN;
• entering an ACTIVE state from the ARMED state when the ignition switch is moved to the Accessory or Off positions or the ignition key is removed from the ignition switch, wherein the ACTIVE state switches the powertrain to the non-motive mode and holds the ignition switch status signal at RUN;
• and
• entering a DISARMED state from the ACTIVE state in response to a manual deactivation signal independent of the ignition switch, wherein in the DISARMED state the ignition switch status signal corresponds with the position of the ignition switch, thereby placing the powertrain in the engine off mode.