Controlling engine of vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10352287-B2
Application number	US-201715686907-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2017
Priority date	Aug 31, 2016
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to controlling engine of a vehicle. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, when it is determined that the vehicle has entered a deep water area, an engine start-stop function of the vehicle is disabled. The deep water area has a water depth which allows water to enter the engine of the vehicle or causes the engine of the vehicle to be susceptible to water inflow.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling engine, comprising:
determining, by a processor, whether a vehicle has entered a deep water area according to a detection result of a plurality of water detection sensors, wherein the deep water area has a water depth which allows water to enter an engine of the vehicle or causes the engine of the vehicle to be susceptible to water inflow; and
disabling, by the processor, an engine start-stop function of the vehicle when determining that the vehicle has entered the deep water area and the engine start-stop function is currently enabled,
wherein the plurality of water detection sensors are arranged at different preset positions of the vehicle;
wherein each water detection sensor independently generates a signal only when a water immersion height of a probe of the each water detection sensor exceeds a threshold; and
wherein determining whether the vehicle has entered the deep water area according to the detection result of the plurality of water detection sensors comprises:
evaluating, by the processor, a number of water detection sensors generating alarm signals; and
determining, by the processor, that the vehicle has entered the deep water area when the number of the water detection sensors generating signals is greater than or equal to a preset number threshold.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining whether the vehicle has entered the deep water area according to the detection result of the plurality of water detection sensors comprises:
receiving, by the processor, the signals generated by the plurality of water detection sensors;
recording, by the processor, duration of the signals; and
determining, by the processor, that the vehicle has entered the deep water area when the duration of the signals is greater than or equal to a preset duration threshold.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the processor, whether the vehicle has moved out of the deep water area after the engine start-stop function is disabled; and
enabling, by the processor, the engine start-stop function when the processor determines that the vehicle has moved out of the deep water area.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of water detection sensors comprise a water immersion sensor that includes a bipolar probe insulated by air under normal circumstances.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the preset positions comprise at least one of an exhaust and a chassis of the vehicle.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is an electronic controller of the vehicle.

7. An apparatus for controlling engine, comprising:
a processor; and
a machine-readable storage medium configured to store machine-executable instructions executable by the processor;
wherein by executing the machine-executable instructions, the processor is configured to:
determine whether a vehicle has entered a deep water area according to a detection result of a plurality of water detection sensors, wherein the deep water area has a water depth which allows water to enter an engine of the vehicle or causes the engine of the vehicle to be susceptible to water inflow; and
disable an engine start-stop function of the vehicle when determining that the vehicle has entered the deep water area and the engine start-stop function is currently enabled;
wherein the plurality of water detection sensors are arranged at different preset positions of the vehicle;
wherein each water detection sensor independently generates a signal only when a water immersion height of a probe of the each water detection sensor exceeds a threshold; and
wherein determining whether the vehicle has entered the deep water area according to the detection result of the plurality of water detection sensors comprises:
evaluating, by the processor, a number of water detection sensors generating alarm signals; and
determining, by the processor, that the vehicle has entered the deep water area when the number of the water detection sensors generating signals is greater than or equal to a preset number threshold.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein when the processor determines whether the vehicle has entered the deep water area according to the plurality of detection result of the water detection sensors, the machine-executable instructions cause the processor to:
receive the signals generated by the plurality of water detection sensors;
record duration of the signals; and
determine that the vehicle has entered the deep water area when the duration of the signals is greater than or equal to a preset duration threshold.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the machine-executable instructions further cause the processor to:
determine whether the vehicle has moved out of the deep water area after the engine start-stop function is disabled; and
enable the engine start-stop function when the processor determines that the vehicle has moved out of the deep water area.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein
the plurality of water detection sensors comprise a water immersion sensor and the preset positions comprise at least one of an exhaust and a chassis of the vehicle.

11. A vehicle, comprising:
a processor; and
a machine-readable storage medium configured to store machine-executable instructions executable by the processor;
wherein by executing the machine-executable instructions, the processor is configured to:
determine whether the vehicle has entered a deep water area according to a detection result of a plurality of water detection sensors, wherein the deep water area has a water depth which allows water to enter an engine of the vehicle or causes the engine of the vehicle to be susceptible to water inflow; and
disable an engine start-stop function of the vehicle when determining that the vehicle has entered the deep water area and the engine start-stop function is currently enabled,
wherein the plurality of water detection sensors are arranged at different preset positions of the vehicle;
wherein each water detection sensor independently generates a signal only when a water immersion height of a probe of the each water detection sensor exceeds a threshold; and
wherein determining whether the vehicle has entered the deep water area according to the detection result of the plurality of water detection sensors comprises:
evaluating, by the processor, a number of water detection sensors generating signals; and
determining, by the processor, that the vehicle has entered the deep water area when the number of the water detection sensors generating signals is greater than or equal to a preset number threshold.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein when the processor determines that the vehicle has entered the deep water area according to the detection result of the plurality of water detection sensors, the machine-executable instructions cause the processor to:
receive the signals generated by the plurality of water detection sensors;
record duration of the signals; and
determine that the vehicle has entered the deep water area when the duration of the signals is greater than or equal to a preset duration threshold.

13. The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the machine-executable instructions further cause the processor to:
determine whether the vehicle has moved out of the deep water area after the engine start-stop function is disabled; and
enable the engine start-stop function when the processor determines that the vehicle has moved out of the deep water area.

Assignees

• Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co Ltd

Inventors

• Chen Tao
• Tang Mingyong
• Liu Huayijun

Classifications

• B60R16/0231

  Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle (monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P) · CPC title

• B60G2300/07

  Off-road vehicles · CPC title

• B60G17/019

  characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof {(B60G17/01941 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G01F23/241

  for discrete levels · CPC title

• F02N2200/12

  said parameters being related to the vehicle exterior · CPC title