Engine control for a motor vehicle

摘要

A control system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The control system determines if a motor vehicle is going to stop according to information about a preceding vehicle. The control system may use information about the vehicle speed of the motor vehicle, a following distance between the motor vehicle and a preceding vehicle and preceding vehicle deceleration information. When the control system determines that the motor vehicle is going to stop, the motor vehicle shuts down the engine prior to the vehicle stopping in order to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

主权项

1. A method of operating a motor vehicle including an engine, comprising the steps of:
receiving vehicle speed information for the motor vehicle; receiving information related to a preceding vehicle, the preceding vehicle disposed approximately in front of the motor vehicle; determining whether the motor vehicle is going to stop using the information about the preceding vehicle and the vehicle speed information; wherein the step of determining whether the motor vehicle is going to stop further comprises the steps of: determining whether a distance between the motor vehicle and the preceding vehicle is less than a threshold distance; determining whether the vehicle speed information for the motor vehicle is below a threshold speed; wherein when the distance is less than the threshold distance and the vehicle speed information is below the threshold speed, determining that the motor vehicle is going to stop; and controlling the engine to shut down before the motor vehicle stops, when determined that the motor vehicle is going to stop.