Abstract:
An energy saving method for an automobile is provided herein. The energy saving method includes: judging whether the automobile is stopped; starting a timer to measure and signal an end of a predetermined time interval by outputting an interrupt signal; and turning off an engine of the automobile in response to the interrupt signal. A related energy saving device is also provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to automobiles, and particularly to a method and device for saving automobile energy. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    There are lots of traffic in big cities, drivers of the automobiles often obtain stuck in a traffic jam or have to stop their automobiles and wait for a red light for a very long time. However, during the waiting, drivers commonly do not turn off the engine. Thus, wasting energy, such as gasoline, and discharging pollutants into the environment. 
         [0005]    Therefore an improved method and device for saving automobile energy are needed to address the aforementioned deficiency and inadequacies. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An energy saving method for an automobile is provided herein. The energy saving method includes: judging whether the automobile is stopped; starting a timer to measure and signal an end of a predetermined time interval by outputting an interrupt signal; and turning off an engine of the automobile in response to the interrupt signal. A related energy saving device is also provided. 
         [0007]    Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram showing an energy saving device for an automobile in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary process of an energy saving method for an automobile in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram showing an energy saving device for an automobile in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary process of an energy saving method for an automobile in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe a preferred embodiment of the present energy saving method and device for an automobile. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an energy saving device  100  for an automobile includes a motion detector  10 , a processing unit  20 , a timer  30 , a controller  50 , an engine  60 , and an input unit  12 . The energy saving device  100  automatically turns off the engine of the automobile when the automobile stops for at least (equal or more than) a predetermined time interval, thus saving energy for the automobile and decreasing a total discharge of motor vehicle exhaust. 
         [0014]    The motion detector  10  is configured for detecting and obtaining motion information of the automobile. In the preferred embodiment, the motion information is a speed of the automobile. The timer  30  is configured for measuring and signaling an end of the predetermined time interval by outputting an interrupt signal. The input unit  12  is configured for generating control signals according to input operations. The input unit  12  may be a remote controller, or a keyboard, or a control panel with plurality of buttons disposed in the automobile. In the preferred embodiment, the input unit  12  can generate a setting signal in response to an input operation. The controller  50  is configured for turning on and turning off the engine  60  under control of the processing unit  20 . The engine  60  acts as the power unit of the automobile. In the preferred embodiment, the engine  60  is an internal combustion engine that obtains its power by burning a liquid fuel inside an engine cylinder, and generates mechanical energy to drive the automobile. 
         [0015]    The processing unit  20  is configured for controlling the controller  50  to turn off the engine when the processing unit  20  computes that the automobile has stopped for at least (equal or more than) the predetermined time interval. In detail, the processing unit  20  receives the speed, and judges whether the speed equals to 0. If the speed equals to 0, that is, the automobile stops, the processing unit  20  generates a trigger signal to start the timer  30 , and outputs an off signal to the controller  50  to turn off the engine  60  in response to the interrupt signal. During the predetermined time interval, whenever the speed does not equal to 0, the processing unit  20  outputs a clear signal to reset the timer  30 , thus the timer  30  stops timing the predetermined time interval until receiving another trigger signal. The processing unit  20  can further allow the time interval to be adjusted according to the setting signal received from the input unit  12 . 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a process flow chart for an energy saving method for the automobile is shown in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment. The energy saving method is used for turning off the engine of the automobile when the automobile stops for at least the predetermined time interval, thus saving energy for the automobile and decreasing a total discharge of motor vehicle exhaust. The energy saving method includes the following steps. 
         [0017]    In step S 202 , the motion detector  10  measures the speed of the automobile, and outputs the speed to the processing unit  20 . 
         [0018]    In step S 204 , the processing unit  20  judges whether the speed is equal to 0, that is, judging whether the automobile is stopped. If the speed is equal to 0, the process proceeds to step S 206 , or else, loops back to step S 202 . 
         [0019]    In step S 206 , the processing unit  20  generates the trigger signal to start the timer  30 . As a result, the timer  30  starts timing. 
         [0020]    In step S 208 , if a time interval the timer  30  times reaches to the predetermined time interval, the timer  30  outputs the interrupt signal to the processing unit  20 . Or else, the processing unit  20  outputs a clear signal to reset the timer  30  whenever the speed does not equal to 0 during the predetermined time interval. 
         [0021]    In step S 210 , the processing unit  20  generates an off signal in response to the interrupt signal, and outputs the off signal to the controller  50 . The controller  50  turns off the engine  60 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , in a second exemplary embodiment, an energy saving device  300  for an automobile includes the same motion detector  110 , the processing unit  20 , the timer  30 , the controller  50 , the engine  60 , and the input unit  12  as  FIG. 1 . The energy saving device  300  further includes a generator  70 , a battery  80 , an electricity meter  40 , and a balance instrument  90 . The energy saving device  300  may also includes an audio and video player, plurality of lighting units, a fuel meter (not shown), etc. 
         [0023]    The generator  70  is configured for transforming mechanical energy of the engine  60  into electric energy, and charging/recharging the battery  80 . The battery  80  is configured for supplying electric power to other instruments, such as the lighting units, the player, etc. in the automobile. The electricity meter  40  is configured for measuring and displaying a voltage of the battery  80 . The balance instrument  90  is configured for measuring an absolute angle of a body or a chassis of the automobile with respect to horizon. 
         [0024]    In the preferred embodiment, as so many devices need receiving electric energy from the battery  80 , that a sufficient electric energy stored in the battery  80  should be insured. Thus, if the processing unit  20  computes that there is not enough electric energy stored in the battery  80  to maintain the electric operations, that is the voltage of the battery  80  is lower than a predetermined voltage, the processing unit  20  will not output the off signal to turn off the engine  60  when the automobile has stopped for the predetermined time interval. Further, if the processing unit  20  computes that the automobile is stopped on a slope, that is, the absolute angle of the automobile is larger than a predetermined angle, the processing unit  20  will not output the off signal to turn off the engine  60  when the automobile has stopped for the predetermined time interval. 
         [0025]    In the other embodiments, the processing unit  20  judges whether the automobile is on the slope, and/or whether the electric energy stored in the battery  80  is sufficient first. If the automobile is not on a slope, and/or the electric energy stored in the battery  80  is sufficient, the processing unit  20  then judges whether the automobile is stopped. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a process flow chart for an energy saving method for the energy saving device  300  is shown in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment. The energy saving method is used for turning off the engine of the automobile when the automobile stops for the predetermined time interval, thus saving energy for the automobile and decreasing a total discharge of motor vehicle exhaust. The energy saving method includes the following steps. 
         [0027]    In step S 302 , the motion detector  10  measures the speed of the automobile, and outputs the speed to the processing unit  20 . 
         [0028]    In step S 304 , the processing unit  20  judges whether the speed is equal to 0, that is, judging whether the automobile is stopped. If the speed is equal to 0, the process loops back to step S 302 , or else, proceeds to step S 306 . 
         [0029]    In step S 306 , the processing unit  20  generates a trigger signal to start the timer  30 . As a result, the timer  30  starts timing. 
         [0030]    In step S 308 , if a time the timer  30  times reaches to the predetermined time interval, the timer  30  outputs an interrupt signal to the processing unit  20 . Or else, the processing unit  20  outputs a clear signal to reset the timer  30  whenever the speed does not equal to 0 during the predetermined time interval. 
         [0031]    In step S 310 , the processing unit  20  judges whether the voltage of the battery  80  is larger than the predetermined voltage. If the voltage of the battery  80  is larger than the predetermined voltage, the process proceeds to step S 312 , or else, proceeds to step S 316 . 
         [0032]    In step S 312 , the processing unit  20  judges whether the automobile is stopped on a slope, that is, the absolute angle of the automobile is larger than the predetermined angle. If the automobile is indeed stopped on a slope, the process loops back to step S 302 , or else, proceeds to step S 314 . 
         [0033]    In step S 314 , the processing unit  20  outputs the off signal to the controller  50 . The controller  50  turns off the engine  60 . 
         [0034]    In step S 316 , the generator  70  transforms mechanical energy of the engine  60  into electric energy, and recharges the battery  80 . The process loops back to step S 302 . 
         [0035]    In the above-described preferred embodiments, when the energy saving device  300  computes that the automobile has been stopped (not on a slope) for the predetermined time interval (3 minutes for example), and the battery  80  has enough electric energy, the energy saving device  300  will turns off the engine  60 , thus saving energy for the automobile and decreasing a total discharge of motor vehicle exhaust. 
         [0036]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.