Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a controller for turning off the engine when the vehicle is idle, a motor/generator for starting the engine, an inverter for converting a DC auxiliary voltage from a battery into an AC voltage for powering the motor/generator, and a device for isolating a DC voltage from the DC auxiliary voltage to prevent voltage sag in a vehicle system during engine starting. The device includes a transformer, a rectifier/regulator, and an isolator. A mechanical relay opens, or an FET is activated, to isolate the DC voltage during engine start. A method for preventing voltage sag in an auxiliary vehicle system includes detecting a commanded engine start, comparing a measured auxiliary voltage to a threshold, isolating a predetermined DC voltage from a DC auxiliary voltage when the measured auxiliary voltage is less than the threshold, and powering the auxiliary vehicle system using the isolated DC voltage.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a controller for turning off the engine when the vehicle is idle, a motor/generator for starting the engine, an inverter for converting a DC auxiliary voltage from a battery into an AC voltage for powering the motor/generator, and a device for isolating a DC voltage from the DC auxiliary voltage to prevent voltage sag in a vehicle system during engine starting. The device includes a transformer, a rectifier/regulator, and an isolator. A mechanical relay opens, or an FET is activated, to isolate the DC voltage during engine start. A method for preventing voltage sag in an auxiliary vehicle system includes detecting a commanded engine start, comparing a measured auxiliary voltage to a threshold, isolating a predetermined DC voltage from a DC auxiliary voltage when the measured auxiliary voltage is less than the threshold, and powering the auxiliary vehicle system using the isolated DC voltage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving estimation of battery impedance when determining the state of charge of a battery including injecting a wide spectrum signal continuously across a battery when the battery is in generator mode. Additionally, the wide spectrum signal may be injected across an alternator of a conventional internal combustion engine to improve estimation of battery impedance and subsequent state of charge the battery.

Abstract: A method for determining state of charge (SOC) of a battery system based upon an equivalent circuit of the battery system. A potential and resistance of the equivalent circuit are computed. The method uses a least squares regression means, and includes: providing a plurality of data points as a starting point based upon determinations including measurement or prior computation, wherein the determinations include a determination of a voltage of the battery system; weighting the plurality of data points; and computing values of the resistance and potential based upon weighted data points using recursive formulas, wherein only a state at a previous time is reflected respectively.

Abstract: A method for determining state of charge (SOC) of a battery system based upon an equivalent circuit of the battery system. A potential and resistance of the equivalent circuit are computed. The method uses a least squares regression means, and includes: providing a plurality of data points as a starting point based upon determinations including measurement or prior computation, wherein the determinations include a determination of a voltage of the battery system; weighting the plurality of data points; and computing values of the resistance and potential based upon weighted data points using recursive formulas, wherein only a state at a previous time is reflected respectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving estimation of battery impedance when determining the state of charge of a battery including injecting a wide spectrum signal continuously across a battery when the battery is in generator mode. Additionally, the wide spectrum signal may be injected across an alternator of a conventional internal combustion engine to improve estimation of battery impedance and subsequent state of charge the battery.

Abstract: A method of determining the state of a battery including the steps of generating a state vector that describes the state of the battery, predicting a response for the state vector, measuring a response of the battery, and correcting the state vector based on the differences between the predicted response and a measured response to determine the state of the battery.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the state of charge of a battery including determining a current-based state of charge measurement based on coulomb integration, determining a voltage-based state of charge measurement based on the resistance of said battery and a hysteresis voltage, and combining the current-based state of charge measurement and the voltage-based state of charge measurement to generate the state of charge measurement of the battery.

Abstract: A propulsion system designed for hybrid vehicle's utilizing a first torque path from a coupled motor generator system and internal combustion engine through and automatically shifted manual transmission having a secondary torque path from a secondary torque source to the wheels. The system incorporates the high-efficiency of a manual transmission with the smoothness of the most advanced automatic transmissions by utilizing a second torque path to maintain driver requested torque during shifts. The system is also capable of performing shifts without opening the clutch by utilizing active synchronization of the input shaft RPM combined with the force control of the shifting actuator. This results in fast and smooth shifts that disengage and reengage without unpleasant torque pulsations.