Portable generator including proximity sensor

Abstract

A generator includes an internal combustion engine, a proximity sensor structured to detect a distance value indicative of a distance between the generator and an object, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a first distance value from the proximity sensor corresponding to the distance between the generator and the object. Upon determining that the first distance value is less than a predetermined minimum distance value, the controller is configured to initiate an alarm. The controller is further configured to receive a second distance value from the proximity sensor corresponding to the distance between the generator and the object. Upon determining that the second distance is less than the predetermined minimum distance value, the controller is configured to initiate a shutdown of the generator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A generator comprising:
 an internal combustion engine;   a proximity sensor structured to detect a distance value indicative of a distance between the generator and an object; and   a controller configured to:   receive a first distance value from the proximity sensor corresponding to the distance between the generator and the object;   initiate an alarm based upon determining that the first distance value is less than a predetermined minimum distance value;   receive a second distance value from the proximity sensor corresponding to the distance between the generator and the object; and   initiate a shutdown of the generator upon determining that the second distance value is less than the predetermined minimum distance value.   
     
     
         2 . The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the second distance value at a predetermined time period after receiving the first distance value. 
     
     
         3 . The generator of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the alarm upon determining that the second distance value is greater than the predetermined minimum distance value. 
     
     
         4 . The generator of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the alarm upon determining that a difference between the first distance value and the second distance value exceeds a transient value threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The generator of  claim 1 , further comprising a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor, wherein the controller is further structured to receive a detected level of CO from the CO sensor, determine whether to initiate at least one of an alarm and a shutdown of the generator based on the detected level of CO and a predetermined CO level threshold, and initiate at least one of the alarm and the shutdown of the generator based on determining that the detected level of CO is more than the predetermined CO level threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The generator of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine whether to initiate the shutdown of the generator based on the detected level of CO, the first distance value, the second distance value, the predetermined distance value minimum, and the predetermined CO level threshold; and   initiate the shutdown of the generator based on determining that the detected level of CO is more than the predetermined CO level threshold and at least one of the first distance value and the second distance value is less than the predetermined distance value minimum.   
     
     
         7 . The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine comprises an exhaust outlet, and wherein the first distance value corresponds to the distance between the exhaust outlet and the object. 
     
     
         8 . The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor is a primary proximity sensor, and wherein the generator further comprises a secondary proximity sensor, the secondary proximity sensor being structured to detect a second distance value indicative of a second distance between the generator and the object, wherein the secondary proximity sensor and the primary proximity sensor face in different directions relative to the generator. 
     
     
         9 . The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises a first proximity sensor and the generator further comprises a second proximity sensor;
 wherein the second proximity sensor is structured to determine a heat signature value of the object;   wherein the controller is structured to initiate at least one of the alarm and the shutdown of the generator based on the distance value and the heat signature value.   
     
     
         10 . The generator of  claim 7 , wherein the second proximity sensor includes an infrared sensor. 
     
     
         11 . A generator comprising:
 an internal combustion engine; and   a proximity sensor structured to detect a distance value indicative of a distance between the generator and an object;   a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor; and   a controller configured to:   receive a first distance value from the proximity sensor corresponding to the distance between the generator and the object;   initiate an alarm based upon determining that the first distance value is less than a predetermined minimum distance value;   receive a second distance value from the proximity sensor corresponding to the distance between the generator and the object; and   initiate a shutdown of the generator upon (i) determining that the second distance value is less than the predetermined minimum distance value or (ii) upon determining that a CO concentration exceeds a threshold CO level.   
     
     
         12 . The generator of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to initiate an alarm based upon determining that the CO concentration exceeds the threshold CO level. 
     
     
         13 . The generator of  claim 12 , wherein the controller adjusts the threshold CO level based upon at least one of the first distance value and the second distance value. 
     
     
         14 . The generator of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to initiate a shutdown of the generator upon determining that the CO concentration exceeds an absolute CO threshold level, wherein the absolute CO threshold level is independent of the first distance value and the second distance value. 
     
     
         15 . The generator of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the second distance value at a predetermined time period after receiving the first distance value. 
     
     
         16 . The generator of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the alarm upon determining that the second distance value is greater than the predetermined minimum distance value. 
     
     
         17 . The generator of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the alarm upon determining that a difference between the first distance value and the second distance value exceeds a transient value threshold. 
     
     
         18 . A generator comprising:
 an internal combustion engine; and   a proximity sensor structured to detect a distance value indicative of a distance between the generator and an object; and   a controller configured to:   receive a first distance value from the proximity sensor corresponding to the distance between the generator and the object;   initiate an alarm based upon determining that the first distance value is less than a predetermined minimum distance value;   receive a second distance value from the proximity sensor corresponding to the distance between the generator and the object; and   deactivate the alarm based upon determining that the second distance value is greater than the predetermined minimum distance value.   
     
     
         19 . The generator of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 initiate a shutdown of the generator upon determining that the second distance value is less than the predetermined minimum distance value.   
     
     
         20 . The generator of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured to initiate a shutdown of the generator upon determining that a difference between the first distance value and the second distance value is less than a transient value threshold.