Control Of Spark Ignition During Starting Patents (Class 123/179.5)
  • Patent number: 11945321
    Abstract: Technologies and techniques for charging a high-voltage battery of an electric drive of a vehicle, in which electrical power is transmitted from a low-voltage on-board electrical system of the vehicle to the high-voltage battery, and, to aid starting of the vehicle, electrical power is transmitted from a separate external unit to the low-voltage on-board electrical system of the vehicle and is transmitted from the low-voltage on-board electrical system to the high-voltage battery. The present disclosure also relates to a related power transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Paul Birgel, Kai Kuhr, Marco Bröcker
  • Patent number: 11767801
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (1) operating in cycles, having: a plurality of piston-cylinder units (2), wherein each piston-cylinder unit (2) of the plurality of piston-cylinder units (2) is assigned an ignition device (3) which can be controlled regarding activation and selection of an ignition timing by an engine control (4), wherein a piston-cylinder unit (2), when the ignition device (3) is activated, produces a power by combustion of a gas-air mixture, which can be transmitted as a torque to a crankshaft (5) of the internal combustion engine (1) an intake stroke (6) and an exhaust stroke (7), each coupled to the plurality of piston-cylinder units (2) a supply device (8) for supplying a gas-air mixture under a boost pressure to the intake stroke (6) a signal detection device (9) for acquiring at least one signal which represents a power demand on the internal combustion engine (1) or from which a power demand on the internal combustion engine (1) can be calculated an engine control (4) for actuating a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Innio Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG
    Inventors: Johannes Huber, Tobias Keller, Josef Thalhauser, Stefan Koeberl
  • Patent number: 11761368
    Abstract: An engine unit includes a cylinder, a crankshaft, a crankcase, a generator, a sensor, and a coolant passage. The crankshaft is connected to a piston in the cylinder. The crankcase accommodates the crankshaft therein. The generator includes a rotor that rotates together with the crankshaft and a stator facing the rotor. The generator generates electric power by rotation of the rotor. The sensor detects a rotation position of the rotor. The coolant passage includes an ejection port, guides a coolant to the ejection port, and ejects the coolant from the ejection port toward the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Nishiyabu, Yuji Hida, Tetsuji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11739723
    Abstract: Implementations of a system for interrupting ignition may include a first spark plug terminal coupled with a first internal contact, the first internal contact extending into a housing; a second spark plug terminal coupled with a second internal contact, the second internal contact extending into the housing; a contactor biased against the first internal contact and the second internal contact; a plunger coupled with a solenoid coupled within the housing; a battery coupled with the solenoid; and a temperature sensor coupled with the battery and the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ZombieBox International, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy David Leedy, Kim R. Rogers
  • Patent number: 11719213
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing activation of a starter when engine speed is above a threshold engine speed value are disclosed. In examples, an engine driven power system includes an engine and a current transformer to generate an induced current in response to an excitation current from an excitation circuit. As the excitation current is induced in response to rotational movement of the engine, the excitation current and the induced current exhibits characteristics corresponding to engine speed. A control circuit receives a signal from the current transformer representing characteristics representative of engine speed and determines the engine speed, compares the characteristics to a list of values that correlates current characteristics to engine speed, compare a list of threshold engine speed values to the calculated engine speed value, and prevents activation of an engine starter if the control circuitry determines that the engine speed exceeds the threshold engine speed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Travis Orvedahl, John Steffens
  • Patent number: 11603818
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing an engine for a cold start are described. In one example, the air is injected into one or more pre-chambers of engine cylinders in response to an engine start request so that one or more cylinders may be heated before the engine is started. The engine may or may not be rotated while air is being injected to pre-chambers of engine cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rani Kiwan, Chris Glugla
  • Patent number: 11536211
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes a port injection internal combustion engine. A first start process is a process in which fuel is enclosed in a compression stroke cylinder when the engine is stopped, and based on a stored crank stop position, ignition is performed in a first cycle of the compression stroke cylinder upon engine start. A second start process is a process in which, based on the stored crank stop position, fuel injection is performed for an intake stroke cylinder while the engine is stopped, and based on the stored crank stop position, ignition is performed in the first cycle of the intake stroke cylinder upon engine start. When a catalyst temperature at the time engine start is requested is equal to or higher than a first threshold, a control device starts the internal combustion engine by at least one of the first start process and the second start process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shintaro Hotta, Takashi Kawai, Shunsuke Fushiki, Hideto Wakabayashi, Hirokazu Ito
  • Patent number: 11505085
    Abstract: A power supply system for a vehicle including a driving battery, first and second device batteries, a DC-to-DC converter, a control system device, and a specific device includes first and second power lines, first and second switches, and a coupling line. The first power line transmits power from the first device battery to the control system device. The second power line transmits power from the second device battery to the specific device. The first switch is coupled between the DC-to-DC converter and the first power line. The first switch includes a diode disposed in a direction to flow a current to the first power line. The coupling line is configured to transmit power from a node between the DC-to-DC converter and the first switch to the second power line. The second switch selectively opens and closes an electric circuit of the coupling line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Moriya, Hirofumi Yabe, Atsushi Doki
  • Patent number: 11008990
    Abstract: Unclogging group for unclogging a filter of a pumping group for pumping diesel to an internal combustion engine, the unclogging group (1) comprising: —a metering unit (2) supplied by diesel leaving a low pressure pump and configured for feeding in a controlled manner the diesel to a high pressure pump; the metering unit (2) comprising an electromagnetic head (4) provided with a coil (6) and a control valve (5) for controlling the diesel flow; —a filter (30) associated with the control valve (5); —a temperature sensor (34) for measuring the ambient temperature; —a control unit (31) coupled at one side to the temperature sensor (34) and at another side to the coil (6); wherein the control unit (31) is configured so that once it has received the starting input of the pumping group it compares the temperature measured by the temperature sensor (34) with a threshold value, and if the temperature measured by the temperature sensor (34) is less than the threshold value the control unit (31) commands a delay of the s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Nello Medoro, Pietro De Carlo
  • Patent number: 10961969
    Abstract: A startup assistance device, which assists startup of an internal combustion engine in which fuel is supplied from an electronically controlled fuel injection device and ignition is performed by an ignition device, includes a recoil starter which is driven by manpower and which performs cranking for starting up the internal combustion engine, an electric rotary machine which adds torque to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine during at least one of a startup period of the internal combustion engine using the recoil starter and a standby period before the startup period, a power source unit which supplies power to the electric rotary machine, and a control unit which controls the magnitude and time of the torque output by the electric rotary machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Hashizume, Akifumi Fujima, Keiichiro Bungo, Hisanori Kanayama
  • Patent number: 10808669
    Abstract: The present invention provides a batteryless engine system comprising a first detection unit configured to detect a rotation speed of an internal combustion engine, a second detection unit configured to detect a voltage of a capacitor in which charges are accumulated, and a control unit operated by a power supplied from a generator and configured to control supply of a power from the generator to an injector, a fuel pump, and an ignition device based on the rotation speed detected by the first detection unit and the voltage detected by the second detection unit in a starting period of the internal combustion engine by a recoil starter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakada, Kenji Shibata, Wataru Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 10760542
    Abstract: In response to a restarting request generated during a stopping period, in which fuel injection is stopped to automatically stop engine operation, either starter starting or combustion starting is selected. In the starter starting, the engine is restarted using a starter motor. In the combustion starting, the engine is restarted through fuel injection and ignition without using the starter motor. If the rotational resistance acting on the crankshaft is determined to be of such a magnitude that the combustion starting is impossible, the starter starting is carried out in response to the restarting request generated during the stopping period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 10759418
    Abstract: An outdoor power machine proximity-based control system includes: a controller operably connected to an outdoor power machine, the controller being configured to control a pre-determined function of the outdoor power machine in response to a triggering event, the controller including a communications device configured to receive a signal indicative of a location of an object relative to the outdoor power machine, wherein in response to the received signal, the controller compares the location of the object to a pre-determined threshold and in response to the comparison causes an action to prevent interaction between the outdoor power machine and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Husqvarna AB
    Inventors: Jonathan Funk, Mattias Karlsson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10718277
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing engine powered machinery having a fuel cut functionality to promote more rapid shutdown of the rotating parts of the engine powered machinery. In one aspect, the method is implemented by assembling a wiring harness disposed exclusively on the engine which are configured to simultaneously disable one or more ignition coils and prevent a fuel-air mixer from supplying a mixture of air and fuel to the engine upon activation of a safety switch. In alternate aspects, the method further comprises a stator brake which is activated by the safety switch to provide additional braking torque on the engine. These features bring the machinery to a rapid halt, further enhancing safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Jeffery D. Gruell, Timothy D. Harreld, Steven H. Dowdy
  • Patent number: 10464646
    Abstract: In an outboard motor, one of an engine control unit and a power supply control unit is mounted on a first side surface of an engine, and the other of the engine control unit and the power supply control unit is mounted on an upper surface of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Mizushima, Takeshi Naito, Makoto Morino
  • Patent number: 10465624
    Abstract: When a crankshaft reversely rotates immediately before a stoppage of an engine, the amount of fuel injection in a cylinder in an expansion stroke is controlled to acquire a target air-fuel ratio in accordance with the amount of air in the cylinder. When the electronic control unit determines that the exhaust valve is opened at the time of reverse rotation, the amount of fuel injection is determined by considering a change in the amount of air due to exchange of gas with an exhaust path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Yusuke Suzuki, Kunihiko Usui, Kazuya Koyama
  • Patent number: 10184412
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to methods of stop/start of an internal combustion engine provided with a CVVL system; also a control unit and a vehicle for employing the methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Ian Edington, Adam Moorcroft
  • Patent number: 10177193
    Abstract: An array of mesa photodiodes, including a useful layer of CdxHg1-xTe wherein pads are formed. The array includes a first doped zone having a first N or P doping; and second doped zones having a second P or N doping of a different type from that of the first doping, and each extending on an upper region of a pad. The first doped zone includes at least one first region having a first doping density, located at least under each of the pads; and at least one second region, located between two neighboring pads, and having a second doping density higher than the first doping density, each second region being separated from the closest second doped zone by at least one portion of the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventors: Laurent Mollard, Nicolas Baier
  • Patent number: 9689332
    Abstract: A method for the rapid restarting of an internal combustion engine that is slowing down at a reduced supplied air volume, in which the supplied air volume is increased again following a detected restart request and an ignitable fuel/air mixture is produced by a fuel injection in an intake cylinder that is in the intake cycle when the supplied air volume is increased, and the mixture is ignited in the intake cylinder to produce a combustion in the power cycle of the intake cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Karthik Rai, Jason Schwanke
  • Patent number: 9581077
    Abstract: A variable combustion system for an internal combustion engine, which suppresses mechanical compression ratio change control by a variable mechanical compression ratio control mechanism and carries out internal EGR amount change control by a variable valve actuating control mechanism on a preferential basis in a first operating region in which a compression self-ignition combustion is carried out, and which suppresses the internal EGR amount change control by the variable valve actuating control mechanism and carries out the mechanical compression ratio change control by the variable mechanical compression ratio control mechanism on a preferential basis in a second operating region in which a spark ignition combustion is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9431829
    Abstract: An aircraft instrument includes an engine display area providing aircraft engine parameters simultaneously with an electrical system display area that selectively provides one of a plurality of aircraft electrical system parameter displays. In the event of an aircraft electrical power supply failure, the instrument may be automatically powered by otherwise unused energy safely harvested from one or all magneto P-leads of an aircraft via an energy harvesting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventor: John S. Youngquist
  • Patent number: 9188995
    Abstract: Described embodiments include a system, a method, and a computer program product. A described system includes an air-pump-based cooling apparatus configured to mount on and cool a portion of a live transmission line of a power transmission system, wherein the power transmission system is configured to transport electric power from one place to another. The described system includes a temperature management device configured to assess a temperature condition of the transmission line and actuate the air-pump-based cooling apparatus in response to the assessment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Thomas A. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150047593
    Abstract: A method is for starting a combustion engine having a pull-rope starter. A fuel/air mixture is fed to the engine via an intake channel. The mixture is ignited by a spark plug. The combustion drives the piston downward and drives a crankshaft rotationally. The fuel system has a fuel channel opening into the intake channel. An electric fuel valve is open in its currentless state and closes a fuel channel only when an operating voltage is applied. An electronic control unit actuates the fuel valve and triggers an ignition spark and is utilized by a generator to supply energy to the control unit, the fuel valve and the ignition device. To prevent excessive enriching of the fuel/air mixture during starting, the energy, which is generated at the beginning of the rotation of the crankshaft, is used to first close the fuel valve before the control unit triggers an ignition spark.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Klaus Geyer, Martin Kiesner, Joerg Praeger, Steffen Bantle, David Fallscheer, Erik Ames
  • Patent number: 8763582
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine during a start is presented. In one example, the method includes direct starting an engine with a port fuel injector. The method can improve engine starting during some conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, Nate Trask, Vince Winstead
  • Patent number: 8746198
    Abstract: An operation control system for an engine having at least one piston includes an engine control unit which drives a fuel pump for supplying fuel to an injector. The engine control unit is configured to perform a control function to cut the electric power supply to the fuel pump when the piston arrives at a position in the vicinity of compression top dead center in the cylinder of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8731791
    Abstract: When an internal combustion engine is cranked up from a stopped position of a piston in a restart-time first ignition cylinder which is scheduled to start a combustion at the time of an automatic restart of the engine under an automatic stop of the engine during an idling-stop control, a restart-time ignition time interval between a time point when the cranking of the engine is started and a time point when the restart-time first ignition cylinder is initially ignited is calculated. A drive-start timing of a starter motor is delayed according to this restart-time ignition time interval. Thereby, the cranking of the engine is carried out by the starter motor under a state where the hydraulic pressure supplied from the electric oil pump has increased. Thus, the slip in the clutch of the CVT can be suppressed when the gas mixture in the restart-time first ignition cylinder is initially ignited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shouta Hamane, Takayuki Iwasaki, Yoshikazu Hirato
  • Patent number: 8667942
    Abstract: The present invention is an installation of an emergency starting switching device and/or direct current boosted boost circuit device. When the power of the starting battery is insufficient, the electric energy of the power storage device battery is used to drive the starting motor in order to start the engine by operating the emergency starting switching device. And when the engine is started, the voltage of the ignition device or the fuel injection device is stepped up to strengthen its starting capability by means of a voltage boost by the direct current boosted boost circuit device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 8656882
    Abstract: An engine ignition control device comprising: a start-up ignition controller having a function for preventing the occurrence of kickback by either delaying an ignition position of an engine or stopping ignition; start-up rotation angle detection means for detecting a rotation angle of a crankshaft of the engine after initiation of a start-up operation of the engine; and switching means for switching control specifics of the start-up ignition controller in accordance with the detected start-up rotation angle so that when the detected start-up rotation angle is less than a set angle, there is created a kickback-preventive effect within a range at which engine startability is not compromised, and when the detected start-up rotation angle is equal to or greater than the set angle, there is created a kickback-preventive effect that is greater than the kickback-preventive effect for when the start-up rotation angle is equal to or less than the set angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Sato, Kiyoshi Uemura, Tomoaki Sekita
  • Patent number: 8645048
    Abstract: An internal combustion, compression ignition engine for use with a pressurized low viscosity fuel includes an engine power cylinder with its associated gas flow path, a valve system for opening fluid communication between the engine power cylinder and the gas flow path, and an engine management system (EMS). The engine management system is adapted to provide a pre-starting mode in which an open fluid communication between the engine power cylinder and the gas flow path is established in such a manner that any fuel present inside said engine power cylinder is prevented from reaching the fuel ignition temperature for the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Sergi Yudanov, Annika Carlsson
  • Publication number: 20140007833
    Abstract: The present invention is an installation of an emergency starting switching device and/or direct current boosted boost circuit device. When the power of the starting battery is insufficient, the electric energy of the power storage device battery is used to drive the starting motor in order to start the engine by operating the emergency starting switching device. And when the engine is started, the voltage of the ignition device or the fuel injection device is stepped up to strengthen its starting capability by means of a voltage boost by the direct current boosted boost circuit device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Tai-Her YANG
  • Publication number: 20130340698
    Abstract: A system for starting an internal combustion engine without assistance of a battery uses a pull-start assembly to generate electricity and store the generated power in one or more capacitors electrically connected to an electronic control unit via a permanent magnet alternator. The system includes a hand pump for manually forcing a portion of liquid fuel into an air/fuel mixture chamber while an air relief valve connected to an air injector is open. By closing the relief valve and activating the pull-start assembly, the user causes the fuel into the combustion chamber, where the ignition process is initiated upon receipt of a control signal from the electronic control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: BRIAN PROVOST
  • Patent number: 8573182
    Abstract: A method for improving starting of an engine that may be automatically started is provided. In one example, spark timing of an automatically started engine is in advance of spark timing for an operator requested engine start. The approach may reduce vehicle driveline disturbances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Bruce Reiche, Steven Wooldridge, Curtis McGuire, Brad Alan VanDerWege
  • Patent number: 8490593
    Abstract: The present invention is an installation of an emergency starting switching device and/or direct current boosted boost circuit device. When the power of the starting battery is insufficient, the electric energy of the power storage device battery is used to drive the starting motor in order to start the engine by operating the emergency starting switching device. And when the engine is started, the voltage of the ignition device or the fuel injection device is stepped up to strengthen its starting capability by means of a voltage boost by the direct current boosted boost circuit device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Publication number: 20130167789
    Abstract: A plasma ignition device 20 includes a spark plug 100, a DC power supply 210, an AC power supply 220, and a coupling section 300. The coupling section 300 includes a capacitor 320 which electrically connects the AC power supply 220 to the spark plug 100. The coupling section 300 reduces the capacitance of the capacitor 320 in the second ignition mode in which transmission of AC power is halted, as compared with that in the first ignition mode in which AC power is transmitted to the spark plug 100.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsunori Yamada, Kohei Katsuraya
  • Patent number: 8384328
    Abstract: An aircraft engine starting system may comprise a starter motor, a start controller for controlling the starter motor to operate with a desired torque output, and a processor for determining torque profiles for the starter motor. The processor may provide an initial torque profile responsively to ambient condition of the engine. The processor may also provide modifications to the initial torque profile responsively to temperature of the start controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Fuller, Ray McGinley, David Chandu-Lall
  • Patent number: 8365709
    Abstract: A reverse rotation preventive device wherein an engine can be restarted without once stopping the vehicle even in the case where a reverse rotation preventive function is operated in response to momentary locking of a rear wheel. A plurality of reluctors are arranged at regular intervals, exclusive of a toothless part at one location with a crank pulse rotor rotated synchronously with a crankshaft of the engine, and a first and second pulse generators each of which outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the interval of the reluctors. Reverse rotation preventive means inhibits ignition of a spark plug by operating the reverse rotation preventive function when the interpulse time of the pulse signal exceeds a predetermined time and cancels the inhibition of the ignition when it is detected that a crankshaft is in normal rotation after the ignition is inhibited by the operation of the reverse rotation preventive function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Usukura, Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 8312710
    Abstract: A method for starting an engine of a motor vehicle, the engine having an intake manifold, an intake throttle controlling admission of air into the intake manifold, and a plurality of combustion chambers communicating with the intake manifold, the method comprising providing a reduced pressure of air in the intake manifold prior to delivering fuel or spark to the engine, the reduced pressure of air responsive to a temperature of the engine; delivering fuel to one or more of the plurality of combustion chambers in an amount based on the reduced pressure of air; and delivering spark to the one or more combustion chambers to start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8315781
    Abstract: In a method for starting an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, an injection timing point is specified for each chamber at which a first fuel injection pulse is carried out and an ignition timing point is specified at which a first ignition pulse is to be carried out in the chamber. A crankshaft is caused to rotate by a starter device. For all chambers in which the injection timing point takes place in time after the ignition pulse, the respectively specified ignition timing point is adjusted in terms of reduced torque output. Thereafter, in each combustion chamber the injection pulse is carried out at the respectively specified injection timing point and the ignition pulse is carried out at the respectively specified ignition timing point. In this way, any potentially present fuel residue is combusted and at the same time the torque produced thereby is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Günter Friedl, Oswald Schumann
  • Patent number: 8297256
    Abstract: An ignition control system for a spark ignition internal combustion engine has: over-advancing means for over-advancing an ignition time for a cylinder of the internal combustion engine beyond an MBT; obtaining means for obtaining an adhering fuel amount that is the amount of fuel that adheres to the inner face of the cylinder of the internal combustion engine; and controlling means for controlling the over-advancing means to execute the ignition time over-advancement when the adhering fuel amount obtained by the obtaining means is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shogo Suda, Nobuhiko Koga, Nao Murase
  • Patent number: 8275538
    Abstract: Various example approaches are described, one of which includes a method for controlling injection of gaseous and liquid fuel to a cylinder during engine starting. Specifically, gaseous fuel is injected during or before an intake stroke of the cycle to form a well-mixed overall lean air-fuel mixture, and then liquid fuel is directly injected to the cylinder at least during one of a compression and expansion stroke of the engine cycle to form a rich air-fuel cloud near the spark plug, where a spark initiates combustion of the injected fuels. In one example, the rich cloud enables additional spark retard, and thus faster catalyst light-off, while maintain acceptable combustion stability of the gaseous fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8265860
    Abstract: The stop-start control apparatus (20) is applied to the spark ignition type internal combustion engine (1), stops the internal combustion engine 1 in a case that a prescribed stop condition is fulfilled, and restarts the internal combustion engine (1) in a case that a prescribed restart condition is fulfilled. The control apparatus cuts spark ignition for the internal combustion engine 1 in response to the fulfillment of the stop condition, and carries on fuel supply to the internal combustion engine (1). When a restart condition is fulfilled after the fulfillment of a stop condition and prior to a complete stop of the internal combustion engine (1), the control apparatus restarts the internal combustion engine (1) by resuming spark ignition for the internal combustion engine (1) in order that fuel supplied after the fulfillment of the stop condition burns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Ichinose, Takayuki Otsuka, Rentaro Kuroki
  • Patent number: 8240297
    Abstract: A method for engine starting is provided. The method may include performing idle-stop operation, and during a subsequent re-start, applying multi-strike ignition operation for a first combustion cycle. In this way, improved engine starting may be achieved with reduced emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jianwen James Yi, Brad Alan VanDerWege, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Cindy Zhou, Steven Todd Wooldridge, David Reiche
  • Patent number: 8181619
    Abstract: In a device for controlling idling stop of an engine in which the idling stop is carried out when a temperature of the engine that is about to be stopped by the idling stop is higher than a threshold value, when the start improvement device does not function normally, the idling stop is prohibited regardless of engine temperature. Thus, the problem in which the engine cannot be restarted satisfactorily does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naofumi Magarida, Fumiaki Hattori, Koichiro Nakatani, Michio Furuhashi, Tomoyuki Kogo, Shinobu Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 8170772
    Abstract: A method of reducing icing-related engine misfires during operation of a vehicle is provided. The vehicle can include an engine and an engine control unit operable for at least partially controlling operation of the engine. The vehicle can further include a plurality of sensors in electrical communication with the engine control unit. The engine can include an air intake system and an exhaust system, wherein the air intake system can include a positive crankcase ventilation valve. The method includes predicting the presence of ice within the air intake system based upon an input to the engine control unit from at least one of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dan Nagashima, John P. Mullett, Takashi Isobe, Kenji D. Matsuura
  • Patent number: 8148937
    Abstract: When a rectangular wave voltage control mode is selected, a control apparatus estimates the output torque of an alternating-current motor based on the outputs of a current sensor and a rotation angle sensor, and executes torque feedback control by adjusting the phase of rectangular wave voltage based on the difference between the torque estimated value and a torque command value. The control apparatus executes a switching interruption that outputs a control command to a switching element of an inverter every 60 degrees of electrical angle, and executes an angle interruption that samples the phase currents of the alternating-current motor based on the output of the current sensor and converts those phase currents into a d-axis current and a q-axis current every predetermined electrical angle that is set beforehand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Itoh, Keiichi Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8136497
    Abstract: A method for improving starting of an engine that may be repeatedly stopped and started is presented. In one embodiment, the method skips combustion in at least one cylinder, according to the engine combustion order, to control engine speed when an engine is automatically restarted. The skipped combustion event may be related to a level of IMEP when combustion in a cylinder occurs under an operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Henry W. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20120060786
    Abstract: A starting control unit integrally includes a current suppression resistor connected in series with an output contact of an electromagnetic shift relay provided on a starter motor, a short-circuiting relay that short-circuits the current suppression resistor with a short-circuiting contact thereof, and a timer circuit that closes the short-circuiting contact at a predetermined time instant when a starting current decreases in response to the operation of a starting command switch. An excitation coil of the short-circuiting relay is supplied with electric power directly from a vehicle battery by way of one of the terminals of the current suppression resistor, a reverse connection protection device, and a driving transistor, excluding the starting command switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadaaki OKADA, Haruki NAKAYAMA
  • Patent number: 8131453
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for expediting engine spin-down in an engine that is shutdown during engine idle-stop conditions and restarted during restart conditions. In one example, the method comprises, during an automatic engine idle-stop, turning off spark, operating a first cylinder with a rich ratio of air to injected fuel richer than a rich flammability limit, operating a second cylinder with a lean ratio of air to injected fuel leaner than a lean flammability limit, and mixing un-combusted exhaust from the first and second cylinders with exhaust, the exhaust mixture being substantially stoichiometric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, John D. Russell
  • Patent number: 8112185
    Abstract: A remote engine start confirmation and vehicle monitoring and control system includes a transmitter and a controller capable of receiving and processing transmitter signals, the controller comprising a monitoring circuit for detecting a first pulsed voltage pattern and a second pulsed voltage pattern across the battery during an engine start procedure, a signaling circuit for signaling the disengagement of the starter from the engine after a detection of the termination of the first pulsed voltage pattern and the start of the second pulsed voltage pattern, and an initiation circuit for initiating the monitoring of a vehicle condition, such as overheating or low fuel, after the detection. A method for controlling the vehicle operation includes detecting an occurrence of a vehicle condition and performing an operation based on the detection, such as terminating ignition voltage or fuel supply or notifying the operator of the vehicle condition via the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: DEI Headquarters, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony M. Wu
  • Patent number: 8047188
    Abstract: A method for engine starting is provided. The method may include performing idle-stop operation, and during a subsequent re-start, applying multi-strike ignition operation for a first combustion cycle. In this way, improved engine starting may be achieved with reduced emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jianwen James Yi, Brad Alan VanDerWege, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Cindy Zhou, Steven Todd Wooldridge, David Reiche