Including Automatic Engine Stop Patents (Class 123/179.4)
  • Patent number: 10184441
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling automatic start/stop operations for an engine. While the engine is shutdown, operation of the engine may be automatically started upon expiration of a threshold time limit or in response to one or more adverse or deteriorated conditions of a power storage device, such as, for example, a state of health, state of function, or state of charge of the power storage device. After the engine has been automatically started, the ability of the controller to subsequently automatically stop the operation of the engine may be disabled until at least one secondary condition is satisfied. Upon satisfaction of the at least one secondary condition, the controller may again be enabled to at least automatically stop the operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. Books, Erik L. Piper, Brian R. Alderfer, Jaideep Prasad, John P. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 10173666
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and a controller. The controller starts the engine in response to a brake status before and during a change in vehicle operating mode achieving predetermined states, and expiration of a timer initiated upon completion of the change and having a duration based upon a learned mean mode-specific shift time window. The change is initiated in response to a request to change vehicle operating mode while the engine is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Jonathan Wentworth, Essam Mohamed, Rashad Jamal Allen
  • Patent number: 10168824
    Abstract: An electronic device provided in a vehicle and including a touch screen; a first camera configured to capture an image of a driver of the vehicle; and a controller configured to restrict a touch input function with respect to the touch screen in response to an eyeline of the driver included in the image being out of a preset driving range for more than a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Suhyung Jang
  • Patent number: 10106146
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing torque pulsations during hybrid engine shutdown and restarts. A valve actuating mechanism may be actuated to operate an engine with a selected valve lift profile during engine restart and shutdown events that is distinct from the valve lift profile applied during cylinder combustion. The selected valve lift profile reduces cylinder pressure during engine shutdown and restarts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller
  • Patent number: 10072628
    Abstract: A control device for an engine of the invention executes an automatic stop control for stopping stop a rotation of a crank shaft when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied. The device acquires a focused peak value of the engine speed appearing after a time when a rotation direction of the crank shaft first reverses while the automatic stop control has been executed, determines, based on the focused peak value, whether there will be an excessive peak value expected to depart from a predetermined permission range after the focused peak value appears, and executes a starter start control for driving the starter, restarting the fuel supply and igniting the fuel to restart an operation of the engine when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied, the engine speed is within the predetermined permission range and it has been determined that there will be no excessive peak value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Suzuki, Susumu Kojima
  • Patent number: 10065646
    Abstract: An engine stop control device is provided for a vehicle that ensures a sufficient operation frequency of coast stop operation during travel on a congested road, thereby to improve practical fuel economy. The vehicle has an engine that is capable of being restarted. A controller is configured to stop the engine automatically when the vehicle, after experiencing a travel with a vehicle speed VSP exceeding a first threshold value, decreases the speed below a CS (coast stop) start vehicle speed. The controller is further configured to set a second threshold value below the first threshold value. The controller is further configured, after starting from an engine automatic stop due to the coast stop control and when the vehicle experiences travel exceeding the second threshold value without exceeding the first threshold value, to permit the automatic engine stop due to the coast stop control at least once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ken Yamada
  • Patent number: 10054097
    Abstract: A vehicular control apparatus includes a battery (20), a voltage detection unit (21b), a current detection unit (21a), a first calculation unit, a second calculation unit, a determination unit, and a control unit. The first calculation unit calculates a first SOC of the battery based on an open circuit voltage of the battery. When the accuracy of the first SOC is equal to or more than a predetermined level, the control unit controls a predetermined operation accompanied by charging and/or discharging the battery based on the first SOC. When the accuracy of the first SOC is lower than the predetermined level, the second calculation unit calculates a second SOC by adding a time integrated value to a past first SOC determined to have the accuracy equal to or more than the predetermined level, and the control unit controls the predetermined operation based on the second SOC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Toyama
  • Patent number: 10024249
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a motor vehicle controller operable automatically to stop and subsequently to restart an engine of a vehicle according to a prescribed control methodology. The controller is operable automatically to adjust an engine stop delay parameter in dependence on the value of at least one vehicle endurance parameter. The engine stop delay parameter corresponds to a period for which the engine of the vehicle remains switched on when it is determined that a condition exists allowing the engine to be switched off during the course of a drive cycle. The value of the endurance parameter is responsive to stop/start operations being performed during the course of a drive cycle. The controller is operable to adjust the engine stop delay parameter to prevent the value of the endurance parameter exceeding a prescribed maximum endurance value before a prescribed time period elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Matthew Hancock, Guy Robinson
  • Patent number: 9989031
    Abstract: An engine automatic stop/restart device includes a ring gear which is linked to a crank shaft of the engine, a starter motor which is energized so as to be rotated, a pinion gear which transmits a rotation of the starter motor to the ring gear, and a pinion gear movement unit which is energized so as to move the pinion gear in a direction of the ring gear, whereby the pinion gear is engaged to the ring gear, in a state where the engine automatic stop/restart device automatically stops the engine when an engine automatic stop condition is established, and restarts the engine when an engine restart condition is established, and includes an inertially-rotating-restart-decision unit which permits or prohibits a restart of the engine, which is inertially rotating after the engine is automatically stopped, in accordance with a detection result of an oil temperature of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Ishikawa, Tomohisa Shoda
  • Patent number: 9982613
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a first sensor, a second sensor, an engine, a fuel supplying device, and a control device. The control device includes a first sensor detecting unit, a second sensor detecting unit, a vehicle status detecting unit, and a control unit. The control unit is switchable among a regular state, a start-stop enabling state, and an idling-stop state. The control unit switches into the start-stop enabling state from the regular state once the control unit determines that the first sensor and the second sensor are both triggered. The control unit further switches into the idling-stop state and controls the fuel supplying device to stop supplying fuel once the control unit determines that the vehicle status meets an idling-stop condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventor: Cheng-An Chen
  • Patent number: 9970403
    Abstract: When a start condition is satisfied after the internal combustion engine has been stopped according to an automatic stop control, a control apparatus reversely rotates the engine to compress an air in an expansion stroke cylinder at that time point, and thereafter generates a first time combustion. The apparatus determines whether the start condition becomes satisfied based on a first start request owing to a driving operation by a driver of a vehicle on which the engine is mounted. When the start condition becomes satisfied based on the first start request, the control apparatus makes a maximum value of an engine generating torque by the first time combustion and/or a maximum torque of the engine generating torque by a second time combustion larger as compared to when the start condition becomes satisfied based on a second start request other than the first start request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Hayashima, Mitsuhiro Tabata, Koji Murakami, Tomoya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9932952
    Abstract: An electricity supply device that reduces a delay in starting an engine. A vehicle includes a starter motor for starting an engine, a start magnet making and breaking connection between the starter motor and a battery, a fuel pump, and a control unit controlling fuel injection and ignition timing of the engine. An electricity supply device of the vehicle includes: a main relay making and breaking connection between a load of the vehicle, the load not including the starter motor, the start magnet, and the battery; a clutch switch connected to the battery, and set in a conducting state when a clutch lever is gripped; a start switch connected between the clutch switch and a coil of the start magnet; and a diode allowing a current to flow from a point of connection between the clutch switch and the start switch to a coil of the main relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Tsusaka
  • Patent number: 9932914
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine configured to provide power to traction wheels, and a controller. The controller is configured to, in response to the engine being off and a power request exceeding an engine-start threshold, delay an engine start when vehicle speed is below a predetermined value. Delaying an engine start may include providing an engine-start-threshold offset. The offset decreases as vehicle speed increases. The engine is started when the power request exceeds a sum of the engine-start threshold and the engine-start-threshold offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohamad Mansour, Shunsuke Okubo, Carol Louise Okubo, Paul Stephen Bryan, Kenneth Frederick, Floyd Cadwell
  • Patent number: 9909550
    Abstract: Improved remote start/stop systems and methods for use with a truck and/or vehicle transport trailer. Embodiments include a transport trailer and truck, the trailer comprising a platform that moves in response to a hydraulic system coupled to the platform. The hydraulic system is powered by the truck engine. A pressure transducer in communication with the hydraulic system is configured to measure a change in hydraulic pressure. A start/stop controller is in communication with the pressure transducer. The start/stop controller is configured to receive the measurements from the pressure transducer, determine to turn off the truck engine in response to the measurements, and provide an message via an indicator in communication with the start/stop controller, the indicator located proximate to a hydraulic control for the first hydraulic system. Some embodiments include a button that may override turning off the truck engine, or cause the truck engine to restart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Cottrell, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Bryan Howes, David Trenbeath
  • Patent number: 9869260
    Abstract: The control device executes a first control for controlling a throttle valve opening degree to a first opening degree when a particular condition is satisfied. The particular condition is a condition that it is predicted upon a satisfaction of an engine stop condition that a level of one of noise and vibration generated in an interior of a vehicle from a source other than an engine is equal to or larger than a predetermined level when an engine rotation stops. The control device executes a second control for controlling the throttle valve opening degree to a second opening degree larger than the first opening degree without executing the first control when the particular condition is not satisfied upon the satisfaction of the engine stop condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Susumu Kojima, Yusuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9867330
    Abstract: A riding lawn care vehicle may include a mobility assembly configured to support the riding lawn care vehicle during movement over ground, a working assembly configured to perform a working function, an engine operably coupled to the mobility assembly and the working assembly, a drive control system, and an auto idle assembly. The engine may be configured to selectively provide power to the mobility assembly and the working assembly. The drive control system may be configured to control delivery of the power from the engine to the mobility assembly. The auto idle assembly may be configured to automatically provide inputs to the drive control system to shift to an idle mode responsive to detection of predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventor: Sean Dwyer
  • Patent number: 9863389
    Abstract: A control unit according to the present invention performs an automatic stop control in which an injection of fuel from a fuel injection valve is stopped to stop a rotation of an engine when an automatic stop condition is satisfied. Furthermore, the control unit performs a first injection, in which fuel is injected from the fuel injection valve of a cylinder in an expansion stroke, and an ignition operation for igniting the fuel injected by the first injection, when a restart demand occurs after an initiation of the automatic stop control. In addition, the control unit performs a second injection, in which fuel is injected from the fuel injection valve of a cylinder in a compression stroke, and an ignition operation for igniting the fuel injected by the second injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Suzuki, Susumu Kojima
  • Patent number: 9856846
    Abstract: Provided is a system of carrying out engagement of a pinion and a ring gear at optimal timing and suppressing a bite-in sound, in a vehicle including an idle stop system. In a vehicle control device including an automatic stop unit which automatically stops an engine on the basis of an operating state of a vehicle; an automatic start unit which controls a starter during a period until the engine completely stops after the automatic stop unit executes the automatic stop of the engine, and restarts the engine; and an engine rotation detection unit which detects or operates a crank phase or a rotation number of the engine, the automatic start unit determines a control command of the starter at an interval shorter than an update interval of a signal of the engine rotation detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Matsufuji, Toshio Hori, Koji Onishi, Yoshiaki Nagasawa, Shigenori Nakazato
  • Patent number: 9815465
    Abstract: A control device according to the present invention performs an automatic stop control in which an injection of fuel from a fuel injection valve is stopped and a rotation of an engine is stopped when an automatic stop condition is satisfied. Furthermore, the control device controls an injection operation of fuel and an ignition operation to the fuel in consideration of compression when the fuel is actually ignited in an expansion stroke cylinder, when a re-start demand occurs after an initiation of the automatic stop control and the engine is to be re-started by an ignition start-up. Specifically, the control device predicts a crank angle at an actual ignition time point in a case where processing for performing the ignition start-up at the present time whenever a predetermined time period has passed. Then, the control device initiates the ignition start-up when the crank angle falls within a predetermined range in which a sufficient compression can be attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Suzuki, Susumu Kojima
  • Patent number: 9790910
    Abstract: What is described is a system for controlling an engine of a vehicle. The system includes a gear shifter having a gear selection sensor configured to determine a selected gear position. The system also includes a proximity sensor configured to detect object data within a predetermined area of the vehicle. The system also includes a controller coupled to the gear shifter and the proximity sensor and configured to control the engine based on the selected gear position and the object data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Luis C. Quinteros
  • Patent number: 9790884
    Abstract: A control system of a vehicle includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to (a) measure characteristics of a battery installed on the vehicle, (b) determine whether the battery is a designated battery or a non-designated battery, based on at least one of the characteristics, and (c) determine whether an idling stop function of the vehicle is permitted to be executed, based on a threshold value of at least one of the characteristics of the battery. The threshold value is set to a first threshold value when the battery is determined as the designated battery, and set to a second threshold value that is different from the first threshold value when the battery is determined as the non-designated battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sato, Hiroaki Tabuchi
  • Patent number: 9784207
    Abstract: An object is to achieve stable diesel combustion and improvement in the thermal efficiency of the diesel combustion in an internal combustion engine using a fuel having a relatively high self-ignition temperature. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injection valve capable of injecting fuel into a combustion chamber and an ignition device whose position relative to the fuel injection valve is set in such a way that it can ignite fuel spray directly. The apparatus performs pre-injection at a predetermined pre-injection time during the compression stroke and main injection at a predetermined injection start time after pre-spray formed by the pre-injection is ignited by the ignition device, thereby causing self-ignition to occur and causing at least a portion of the main-injected fuel to burn by diffusion combustion. When the quantity of the pre-injected fuel is increased, the pre-injection time is advanced responsive to the increase in the quantity of the pre-injected fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta Ochi, Toshimi Kashiwagura
  • Patent number: 9739249
    Abstract: In order to provide an engine automatic stop and restart apparatus capable of realizing excellent startability, and preventing an excessive load from being imposed on a starter (30) and a power transmission system, a starter drive inhibition determination section (12) inhibits, in a case where an engine restart condition is satisfied, when a backward rotation of an engine (20) is detected based on a crank angle of a crankshaft of the engine (20) detected by a crank angle sensor (1) for detecting the crank angle, a drive of the starter (30) configured to crank the crankshaft so as to restart the engine (20), and releases, when a stop of the engine (20) is detected, the drive inhibition of the starter (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Nakashima, Takeru Okabe, Osamu Ishikawa, Michitaka Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9670856
    Abstract: When a stop position of a piston resulting from the automatic stop is in a range that is on an advance side of a threshold in terms of crank angle, fuel injection is performed at beginning of the automatic restart-up in the cylinder that is in the intake stroke and an ignition is performed in a subsequent initial compression stroke in the same cylinder. When the stop position of the piston resulting is in a range that is on a retard side of the threshold in terms of crank angle, initial fuel injection is performed in the cylinder that next enters an intake stroke among the cylinders of the internal combustion engine after the beginning of automatic restart-up and initial ignition is performed in a subsequent compression stroke in the same cylinder. The threshold is determined in accordance with an amount of deviation of a crank angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akito Uchida, Hiroshi Enomoto, Yoshifumi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9670868
    Abstract: When a first automatic stopping condition is established while a vehicle (1A, 1B) is stationary or a second automatic stopping condition is established during travel, an internal combustion engine (2) of the vehicle is automatically stopped. The first automatic stopping condition is established when a battery voltage or a battery state of charge of a battery (21) equals or exceeds a first threshold, and the second automatic stopping condition is established when the battery voltage or the battery state of charge of the battery (21) equals or exceeds a second threshold. By setting the second threshold to be greater than the first threshold, opportunities for automatically stopping the internal combustion engine (2) are secured while satisfying a power requirement of an electrical load (26, 27) during restarting of the internal combustion engine (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiro Hirano
  • Patent number: 9663065
    Abstract: Systems and methods for selectively activating operation of one or more vehicle powertrain elements are presented. In one example, a propulsion source of a vehicle is activated in response to a driver moving a shift lever from a first location to a second location. Further, activation of propulsion source may be made contingent on whether or not the vehicle is coupled to an electrical grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Edwin Hanson, Omar Idris Saleh, Elton Salem Jamoua
  • Patent number: 9657657
    Abstract: A control device, which is applied to an in-vehicle internal combustion engine equipped with an intake valve variable timing mechanism that varies the valve timing for an intake valve, and which intermittently operates the in-vehicle internal combustion engine by automatically stopping/restarting the engine, wherein the electronic control unit does not permit the engine operation to be automatically stopped when the intake valve variable timing mechanism malfunctions at an operating position closer to the advanced angle than the operating position for the most retarded angle of the variable range for the valve timing of intake valve, and thus preventing increased engine vibration and misfires when the engine automatically restarts, which are caused by a malfunction of the variable valve mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daigo Ando
  • Patent number: 9651015
    Abstract: A method for preventing a sudden start of an automatic transmission vehicle includes detecting data for determining whether a sudden start condition is satisfied; determining whether a shift stage is an N stage or a P stage when an engine runs. Whether the sudden start condition is satisfied is determined based on the data when the shift stage is the N stage or the P stage when the engine runs. An engine torque is limited below a predetermined torque, and a brake is operated when the sudden start condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Dogeun Jung
  • Patent number: 9647589
    Abstract: An alternator is described that is configured to provide a current for powering one or more loads. The alternator includes an output port configured to output the current for powering the one or more loads, and one or more current sensors configured to measure a current level of at least a portion of the current being output via the output port to the one or more loads. The alternator further includes one or more communication ports configured to transmit information based on the current level measured by the one or more current sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Frank Auer, Robert Hartmann, Christoph Seidl
  • Patent number: 9637132
    Abstract: A vehicle having a system for determining that there is a possibility that the vehicle has entered or is about to enter water at a vehicle wading depth. The system comprising at least one under-body mounted sensor both configured to remotely and directly detect the presence of water substantially below and about the under-body mounted sensor. The under-body mounted sensor may be an ultrasound transducer sensor both configured to estimate a depth of water the surface of which is substantially below the sensor and to detect the presence of water when the sensor is in contact with water. In response to determining that there is a possibility that the vehicle has entered or is about to enter water at a vehicle wading depth, the system is configured to implement one or more vehicle control strategies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Nigel Clarke, Edward Hoare, Thuy-Yung Tran
  • Patent number: 9624895
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: a controller configured to adjust a temperature of an evaporator constituting an air conditioning system of the vehicle to a target temperature; the controller being configured to automatically stop an engine when a predetermined engine automatic stop condition is satisfied; the controller being configured to automatically start the engine when at least the temperature of the evaporator reaches a predetermined temperature or higher during automatic stop of the engine, and the predetermined temperature being higher than the target temperature; and the controller being configured to set the target temperature of the evaporator to be lower when a vehicle speed is low than that when the vehicle speed is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinsuke Iwasaki, Takahiro Araki
  • Patent number: 9605618
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine automatic stop-start system used in a motor vehicle fitted with an internal combustion engine. The system allows: automatic stoppings of the engine when a set of conditions outside and inside the vehicle are satisfied; automatic startings of the engine following an automatic stopping when at least one engine demand condition is met. The method includes an internal value which is a count of a number of operations of the system, wherein the internal value is subjected to a high threshold and to a low threshold, and the method can modify at least one of the conditions outside or inside the vehicle if the internal value reaches the low threshold or reaches the high threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventor: Pascal Smague
  • Patent number: 9599086
    Abstract: A method of controlling a fuel system includes determining the opening of a pressure relief valve and initiating a reseat strategy for the valve. The fuel system comprises a source of high pressure fuel and a pressure relief valve having at least one inlet fluidly coupled to the source of high pressure fuel and at least one outlet. The pressure relief valve has a closed position and at least one open position in which fuel is able to pass from the inlet to the outlet. The method comprises the steps of continuously measuring the pressure of the fuel in the fuel source, determining whether the pressure relief valve is in an open position, and generating an open signal if it is determined that the pressure relief valve is in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventor: Michael David Smith
  • Patent number: 9580889
    Abstract: A work vehicle of the present invention includes an engine, a cooling core, a fan, a hydraulic drive unit, and an idle reduction execution unit. The cooling core is mounted in the work vehicle. The fan is configured to blow air to the cooling core and to be capable of making regular and reverse rotations. The hydraulic drive unit is configured to drive the fan by driving the engine. The idle reduction execution unit is configured to stop the engine based on a state of rotation of the fan caused by the hydraulic drive unit and based on an idle state. The idle reduction execution unit stops the engine on a condition that the fan makes regular rotation and the idle state has continued for a predetermined time, and does not stop the engine on a condition that the fan makes reverse rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuki Kure
  • Patent number: 9581096
    Abstract: A control method for adjusting the hydrocarbon concentration in an active carbon filter of a tank ventilation device of a motor vehicle, includes the acts of: detecting an operational parameter of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle; determining the hydrocarbon content of a fuel tank gas mixture in the fuel tank ventilation device; and opening the tank ventilation valve of the tank ventilation device for a defined length of time in accordance with the determined hydrocarbon content when the operational parameter of the internal combustion engine displays an overrun mode or a standstill mode of the internal combustion engine generated by a start-stop system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Benjamin Klotz, Franz Stocker
  • Patent number: 9556808
    Abstract: An idle stop condition determination method of an engine includes: calculating and storing a fuel saving estimation amount in idle stop of an engine on the basis of traveling information; calculating the amount of fuel consumption in restarting for restarting, when an idle stop condition of the engine is satisfied; comparing the magnitudes of the fuel saving estimation amount with the amount of fuel consumption in restarting, and stopping the engine in accordance with the result of the comparing; and restarting the engine, when a restarting condition of the engine is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jae Woong Yoo
  • Patent number: 9517770
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with an engine and a controller. The engine is adapted to shutdown and restart during a drive cycle and a controller. The controller is programmed to shutdown the engine in response to brake pressure exceeding a pressure threshold and to restart the engine in response to an accelerator pedal position exceeding a position threshold independent of brake pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Hai Yu
  • Patent number: 9463699
    Abstract: A power control method of an electric storage apparatus that includes an electric storage device and an output terminal connected to the electric storage device via a power supply route, the output terminal being electrically connected to a system including an engine, the method includes detecting a variation value corresponding to an amount of charge of the electric storage device, determining whether the detected variation value is equal to or lower than an opening threshold, the opening threshold being larger than an engine activation low-threshold by a predetermined value, the engine activation low-threshold being a lowest level of the amount of charge at which the engine is able to be started, and shutting down the power supply route in the electric storage apparatus, which connects the electric storage device to the output terminal, if the variation value is equal to or lower than the opening threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nakamoto, Takeyuki Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 9446754
    Abstract: A system of controlling starting of a vehicle may include a vehicle speed sensor detecting vehicle speed, an accelerator pedal position sensor detecting position of an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal position sensor detecting when a brake pedal may be operated or not, a distance sensor detecting a distance from a previous vehicle, a timer detecting time lapse from particular time, and a controller electrically connected to the vehicle speed sensor, the accelerator pedal position sensor, the brake pedal position sensor, the distance sensor and the timer, and adapted to change starting pattern according to the distance from the previous vehicle and to perform starting control according to the changed starting pattern when the vehicle may be started in a stopped state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph D Chang, Byeong Wook Jeon, Dong Hoon Jeong
  • Patent number: 9409567
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus includes an assistance control unit determining an on/off state of an engine and a drive control unit controlling driving of the engine on the basis of the on/off state determined by the assistance control unit. The assistance control unit determines whether a vehicle stops at a target stopping position, and carries out setting such that the engine is more easily switched from the on state to the off state when the assistance control unit determines to stop at the target stopping position and it is timing at which the vehicle is able to reach the target stopping position in a state where driving force is not generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotada Otake
  • Patent number: 9404438
    Abstract: A method and a device for supporting a driver of a motor vehicle in utilizing an automatic engine start-stop system of the motor vehicle is provided. The method includes registering and storing, for at least one operating time of the motor vehicle and for each engine stop of a total number initiated by the automatic engine start-stop system in the operating time, at least the respective time durations where k=0, 1, 2, . . . P, where P?[0, 1, 2, . . . ]. A first ratio value that is dependent on the operating time and the added time durations determined: W 1 = ? k = 0 P B ? ? t MS , k t B . ( 1 ) The first ratio value is output and/or an output which is dependent on the first ratio value is generated and output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dirk Balzer, Stipe Dujic
  • Patent number: 9399462
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a start/stop vehicle are presented. One method includes deactivating an engine start/stop mode in response to an electrical load of a trailer coupled to a vehicle. By deactivating the engine start/stop mode, it may be possible to conserve consumption of electrical energy and maintain state of battery charge to ensure the vehicle has sufficient electrical energy to restart the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ahmed Awadi, Mark Douglas Malone, William Najib Mansur
  • Patent number: 9393954
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine is stopped to a desired position via slipping a driveline disconnect clutch so that engine starting may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Adam Nathan Banker, David Oshinsky, Dennis Craig Reed
  • Patent number: 9309881
    Abstract: In an electric pump system, hydraulic fluid that is stored in an oil pan is supplied to a transmission mechanism through an oil passage by driving an oil pump with the use of a motor. An EOPECU estimates a hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic fluid on the basis of a driving current for the motor and a rotation speed of the motor, and executes drive control on the motor on the basis of the estimated hydraulic pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kengo Uda, Yasuyuki Aoki, Hiroki Kagawa
  • Patent number: 9293043
    Abstract: A driving support apparatus which performs driving support regarding a traffic signal includes: a communication device which acquires time-series traffic signal information regarding the lighting state of the traffic signal; a time calculating unit which calculates the time remaining until the lighting state changes on the basis of the traffic signal information; and an output device which notifies a driver of lighting time information regarding the time remaining. When the time remaining is equal to or smaller than a threshold value, the output device does not perform notification of the lighting time information so that it can be difficult for the driver to predict the timing at which a red lighting state of the traffic signal will change. Accordingly, it becomes possible to suppress unsafe action by the driver based on the traffic signal information notification received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Yamada, Hiroshi Onuma
  • Patent number: 9267479
    Abstract: Provided is an engine starting device, including: starter control means for causing, when the restart condition is established during a period in which a meshing inhibition condition for a ring gear and a pinion gear is established, the pinion gear and the ring gear to mesh with each other after the meshing inhibition condition is released, thereby restarting the engine. The starter control means determines the meshing permission condition and the meshing inhibition condition based on at least an engine rotation speed, and determines the release of the meshing inhibition condition before the engine completely stops based on at least one of the engine rotation speed and an elapsed time after the establishment of the meshing inhibition condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kitano, Daisuke Mizuno, Yuhei Tsukahara, Osamu Ishikawa, Takeru Okabe, Koichiro Kamei
  • Patent number: 9255561
    Abstract: The engine starting device includes a starter motor, a pinion portion, a pushing mechanism for pushing a pinion gear of the pinion portion to a position at which the pinion gear comes into meshing engagement with a ring gear, and an integrated switch for operating a motor-energization switch to pull a plunger after the pinion gear is pushed, by configuring a switch for actuating the pushing mechanism and turning ON/OFF an energization current to the starter motor by a single plunger coil. When a restart request is issued after an engine stop is requested and therefore the integrated switch is placed in an ON state, operation timing of the pushing mechanism and coil-operation timing of the plunger coil are set so that the starter motor avoids operating until the pinion gear comes into contact or meshing engagement with the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Mizuno, Haruhiko Shimoji, Koichiro Kamei, Masami Abe, Kazuhiro Odahara, Hiroaki Kitano
  • Patent number: 9243600
    Abstract: A method and system for improving automatic engine stopping and starting is presented. In one example, the method adjusts conditions for engine stopping in response to operating conditions that are evaluated according to one or more cost functions. The method may improve vehicle fuel economy and limit driver annoyances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Dimitar Petrov Filev
  • Patent number: 9245393
    Abstract: In a vehicle diagnostic system and a vehicle diagnostic method, malfunction codes recorded in each ECU in a vehicle include idle stop malfunction codes that disallow idle stop, and a non-idle stop malfunction code that does not disallow idle stop. The idle stop malfunction codes include: a first idle stop malfunction code that operates a warning light provided corresponding to a specific ECU; and a second idle stop malfunction code that does not operate the relevant warning light. An external diagnostic device extracts, from the plurality of ECUs, only the second idle stop malfunction codes, among the first idle stop malfunction codes and the second idle stop malfunction codes, when performing malfunction diagnosis for non-execution of idle stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Yagi, Katsuhisa Doi, Naoki Kawahara, Wataru Endo
  • Patent number: 9234470
    Abstract: An idling stop device is mounted on a vehicle. A microcomputer has an idling stop function of automatically stopping an engine of the vehicle when a predetermined stop condition is established and automatically starting the engine when a predetermined start condition is established during the stopping of the engine. A detecting unit detects that a power voltage of the microcomputer, which is obtained by dropping a voltage of a battery of the vehicle is lower than a minimal operation voltage of the microcomputer. A storage unit stores voltage decrease information irrespective of a state of the microcomputer if the power voltage is lower than the minimal operation voltage. A power control unit stops supply of power to some of electrical loads to which power is supplied from the battery when the engine is started, if the voltage decrease information is stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Ryoh Izumoto, Motoki Komiya, Yuuichiroh Shimizu, Yoshinori Shibachi