Engine Stop, Fuel Shutoff Patents (Class 701/112)
  • Publication number: 20140350825
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a plurality of control module structures. A first control module structure is configured for determining a current motive mode of the vehicle. A second control module structure is configured for determining information indicating that a driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in a motive-enabled mode. A third control module structure is configured for causing a secure idle mode to be implemented as a function of determining the information indicating that the driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in the motive-enabled mode. Implementing the secure idle mode can include inhibiting the vehicle from being driveable until a driver access code is successfully received and authenticated by the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Filip Tomik, Kirk Pebley, William David Treharne, Kevin Thomas Hille, Daniel M. King
  • Publication number: 20140350824
    Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides an internal combustion engine (10) including: a system (84) that automatically stops the internal combustion engine (10) when a predetermined stopping condition is established and automatically restarts the internal combustion engine when a predetermined restarting condition is established thereafter; a turbocharger (24) including a compressor (28) provided in an intake passage (16) and a turbine (26) provided in an exhaust passage (18); and a power generation device (40) including a power generation main body portion (42) to which an air introduction passage (44), which is connected to the intake passage to be capable of introducing air that passes through the compressor, and a gas discharge passage (50), which is connected to the exhaust passage to be capable of supplying gas to the turbine, are connected. The power generation device (40) is configured to operate at least when the internal combustion engine is stopped by the system (84).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Hidefumi Nakao, Hiroyuki Suganuma, Kohsuke Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140343830
    Abstract: A method or system for controlling a vehicle having auto stop and auto start functions includes selectively inhibiting or disabling the auto stop or auto start functions in response to a detected vehicle position relative to an automatically learned vehicle route. The vehicle route is learned in response to previous drive cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, Sudipto Aich, Jamel Seagraves
  • Patent number: 8892337
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting imbalance abnormality in an air-fuel ratio between cylinders in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine according to the present invention increases a fuel injection quantity to a predetermined target cylinder to detect imbalance abnormality in an air-fuel ratio between cylinders at least based upon a rotation variation of the target cylinder after increasing the fuel injection quantity. The increase in the fuel injection quantity is carried out in the middle of performing the post-fuel-cut rich control. Since timing of the post-fuel cut rich control is used to increase the fuel injection quantity, the exhaust emission deterioration due to abnormality detection execution can be prevented as much as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Kitano, Hitoshi Tanaka, Isao Nakajima, Yoshihisa Oda, Masashi Hakariya, Kiyotaka Kushihama, Kazuyuki Noda, Akihiro Katayama, Yuichi Kohara, Katsumi Adachi
  • Patent number: 8892334
    Abstract: An intake air quantity information determining arrangement senses or computes one of an intake air quantity and a torque of an internal combustion engine as intake air quantity information. A misfire-avoidance control arrangement executes a misfire-avoidance control operation, which avoids misfire by controlling a throttle opening degree of a throttle valve such that a value of the intake air quantity information does not decrease below a normal combustion threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Keitarou Minami, Hideaki Ichihara, Hiroyuki Takezoe, Hiroshi Katsurahara
  • Patent number: 8887684
    Abstract: An idling stop apparatus is provided which can prevent a voltage of a battery from being lowered even when a microcomputer is reset. In an idling stop apparatus when a reset condition is established, reset information indicating that the reset condition is established is stored in a latch circuit and a microcomputer disables an idling stop function when the reset information is stored. The reset information is stored in the latch circuit even when the microcomputer is being reset or even after the microcomputer is reset. Accordingly, the microcomputer after the reset can disable the idling stop function. As a result, it is possible to prevent the voltage of the battery from being lowered due to the idling stop function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Ryoh Izumoto, Motoki Komiya, Yuichiro Shimizu, Yoshinori Shibachi
  • Publication number: 20140336908
    Abstract: A vehicle engine automatic control device has a brake operation amount detecting unit that detects an amount of brake operation by a driver, an engine stopping/re-starting unit that stops an engine when the amount of brake operation that is detected exceeds a first threshold during coast drive, and re-starts the engine when the amount of brake operation that is detected becomes equal to or lower than the first threshold after the engine stops, and a threshold setting unit that sets the first threshold smaller as a deceleration becomes lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kouichi Mori, Motoyuki Hattori
  • Publication number: 20140336907
    Abstract: A vehicle engine automatic control device has a brake pedal operation amount detecting unit that detects an amount of brake pedal operation by a driver, a negative pressure-based force multiplying unit that multiplies a force, with which a brake is operated, using an intake negative pressure of an engine, a negative pressure detecting unit that detects a negative pressure of the negative pressure-based force multiplying unit, and a coast stop control unit that stops the engine when the amount of brake pedal operation that is detected is equal to or greater than a first operation amount threshold during coast drive, and re-starts the engine when the negative pressure that is detected falls below a first negative pressure threshold after the engine stops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Kouichi Mori, Motoyuki Hattori
  • Patent number: 8886443
    Abstract: An ISG control method for a vehicle in a congested area, may include an N-stage stop determining step that determines whether a shift lever has moved from a D-stage to an N-stage and a brake has been operated, discriminating from when the shift lever is at the D-stage; an N-stage vehicle speed determining step that determines whether a vehicle speed is equal to or less than a predetermined N-stage stop vehicle speed after the N-stage stop determining step; and a remaining condition determining step for entering an idle-stop state, when the vehicle speed is equal to or less than the N-stage stop vehicle speed, as a result of performing the N-stage vehicle speed determining step, and when idle-stop entering conditions other than a position of the shift lever, the vehicle speed, and the history of a maximum traveling vehicle speed are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Chongah Gwon, Sejun Kim, Jiyong Yu, Junghwan Bang
  • Patent number: 8880268
    Abstract: Assumed torque Tb is calculated based on an operation state of an engine when there is no abnormality in sensors, the engine is in a warm-up completion state, and a travel mode is a series mode, and actual torque Ta is calculated and friction torque Tf is calculated based on information on an actual amount of electric power generation of a generator. When the friction torque Tf is larger than an upper limit clip value, the upper limit clip value is the friction torque Tf, and when the friction torque Tf is smaller than the lower limit clip value, the lower limit clip value is the friction torque Tf, correction torque Tc is calculated, and an operation of an electronic control instrument of the engine is controlled so as to set the assumed torque Tb to the correction torque Tc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Omi, Jun Aizawa, Tatsuya Tawaki
  • Patent number: 8874353
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided in which a prescribed amount of fuel is injected over a predetermined period until an air-fuel ratio sensor is activated when fuel cut control of the internal combustion engine is stopped to resume normal engine operation. If an EGR gas is inducted immediately before the fuel cut control is started, the prescribed amount is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Shinagawa, Yuuichi Katou, Youhei Hosokawa, Shingo Korenaga
  • Patent number: 8868320
    Abstract: Control over an internal combustion engine that automatically stops includes: setting a first idle rotation speed, which is used after a lapse of a short stop period of the internal combustion engine, and a second idle rotation speed, which is used after a lapse of a long stop period of the internal combustion engine, at different values; and, when an idle rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is the second idle rotation speed, restricting automatic stop of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takumi Anzawa
  • Publication number: 20140309912
    Abstract: An automatic engine-stop control device for a vehicle has a coast stop controlling section that stops an engine during a running of the vehicle when a predetermined condition is satisfied, a deceleration detecting section that detects a deceleration level of the vehicle, and an engine-stop time limiting section that limits a time length for which the coast stop controlling section keeps the engine in a stopped state if the deceleration level is smaller than or equal to a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Hirano, Kouichi Mori
  • Publication number: 20140309911
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method that includes predicting terminal voltage of a battery module in a vehicle using a battery control module. Predicting the terminal voltage includes determining a gassing current of the battery module using a gassing current model, in which the gassing current quantifies terminal current that is not used to charge the battery module, and calculating the predicted terminal voltage based at least in part on a measurement model and the determined gassing current. The method also includes measuring terminal voltage of the battery module using a sensor communicatively coupled to the battery control module, and determining a corrected state of the battery module using the battery control module by minimizing a difference between the predicted terminal voltage and the measured terminal voltage. In other words, the corrected state of the battery (e.g., corrected state of charge) may be more accurately determined using the measurement model and the gassing current model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel B. Le, Brian C. Sisk
  • Publication number: 20140309910
    Abstract: A method of controlling an engine of a stop-start enabled motor vehicle is disclosed in which the conditions used to determine whether to stop or start the engine are changed based upon whether maximum driver comfort or maximum fuel economy are requested by a driver of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David HESKETH, Themi Philemon PETRIDIS, Ian HALLERON, Christopher Edward PEDLAR
  • Patent number: 8857412
    Abstract: Fuel control dynamic health assessment systems and methods related to monitoring fuel flow control are provided. In one embodiment, a method for controlling a system having an engine, includes determining a predicted valve position of a valve, the valve being operable to control fuel flow to a fuel pump that pumps fuel to a common fuel rail of the engine, determining an actual valve position, determining an error between the predicted valve position and the actual valve position, and setting a degradation condition in response to the error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Gerard Nistler, Nikita Goel
  • Patent number: 8862370
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine exhaust emissions while enabling exhaust catalyst regeneration following an engine lean event. Prior to a VDE event, or prior to an engine idle-stop, ammonia is produced and stored on an exhaust underbody SCR catalyst. Then, during the engine restart after the VDE mode or the idle-stop, the stored ammonia is used to treat exhaust NOx species while an upstream exhaust underbody three-way catalyst is regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Robert Theis, James Michael Kerns, Michael James Uhrich, Giovanni Cavataio, Thomas G. Leone, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
  • Patent number: 8862355
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for restarting an engine that can be selectively deactivated during idle-stop conditions. In one embodiment, current is directed to a starter motor and an electric brake sequentially by limiting the current supplied to one while current is supplied to the other, an order of delivering the current based on a timing of a restart request relative to an electric brake request, as well as vehicle operating conditions at the time the requests were received. By coordinating the operation of a starter motor with the operation of an electric brake, loading of the engine system's electrical supply can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Chad Everette Griffin, Felix Nedorezov
  • Patent number: 8857542
    Abstract: A drive system for a machine having an engine, a generator, a trolley drive arrangement, a motor, wheels and auxiliary devices is provided. The drive system includes an inverter circuit and an auxiliary driver both being operatively connected to the trolley drive arrangement. The inverter circuit may be coupled to each of the generator and the motor. The auxiliary driver may be coupled to each of the generator and the auxiliary devices. The inverter circuit and the auxiliary driver may be configured to automatically communicate power from the trolley drive arrangement and any power from the auxiliary devices to the motor in a trolley propel mode, and automatically communicate power from the motor to the engine, the trolley drive arrangement, and optionally to a hybrid system if applicable, in a dynamic braking mode, while attached to trolley lines so as to eliminate fuel consumption while attached to the trolley lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Hendrickson, Donald Gilmore, Eric Ruth
  • Publication number: 20140303879
    Abstract: An engine control device for a work vehicle decides that an idling stop condition is established when the front device is in the unengaged slate, the steering device is in the engaged state, the accelerator pedal is in the non-operation state, either the transmission is in the neutral state or the parking brake device is in the engaged state or the transmission is in the neutral state and also the parking brake device is in the engaged state, and the service brake device is in the unengaged state, and stops an engine when it is decided that it passes the predetermined length of time since it was decided that the idling stop condition was established.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Koji Hyodo, Masaki Yoshikawa, Isamu Aoki, Tetsuji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8851049
    Abstract: In a vehicle in which an output of an engine is transmitted to a driving wheel through a transmission, an engine control device stops fuel injection of the engine, when engine rotational speed is above a preset specific fuel cut-off rotational speed while the vehicle is coasting; and restarts the fuel injection, when the engine rotational speed falls below a recovery rotational speed while the fuel injection is stopped, wherein the recovery rotational speed is below the specific fuel cut-off rotational speed. When determining that an operating state allows the stop and restart of fuel injection to be repeated, the engine control device sets a hunting-preventing fuel cut-off rotational speed based on an input shaft rotational speed of the transmission, wherein the hunting-preventing fuel cut-off rotational speed replaces the specific fuel cut-off rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryouichi Ootaki, Masahiro Iriyama
  • Patent number: 8855895
    Abstract: A system is disclosed having a primary vehicle and a secondary vehicle that is carried by the primary vehicle when not in use. The system further includes at least one of an immobilizing device to immobilize the primary vehicle if the secondary vehicle is removed from the primary vehicle, a data storage device for storing information regarding usage of the primary and secondary vehicles, a user interface device for displaying information regarding usage of the primary and secondary vehicles, and a user prompt for providing information regarding potential opportunities for use of the secondary vehicle to encourage usage of the secondary vehicle and lower CO2 emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Torsten Gerhardt, Marcus Hurst, Robert Spahl, David Burrage
  • Patent number: 8855896
    Abstract: An engine control system for an auto-stop/start vehicle includes an auto-stop/start module and an actuator control module. The auto-stop/start module selectively generates an auto-stop command for shutting down an engine while an ignition is in an ON state. The actuator control module disables fuel to the engine when the auto-stop command is generated and closes a throttle valve to a predetermined throttle opening when the auto-stop command is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventors: Qi Ma, Robert Douglas Shafto
  • Publication number: 20140297165
    Abstract: An idle reduction control device mounted on a vehicle equipped with an engine and a brake including: a detector that detects a parameter having a positive correlation to an amount of brake operation; and an engine controller that controls a start and a stop of the engine. The engine controller stops the engine after a stop of the vehicle, when a change of the parameter caused by a release of the brake is equal to or greater than a predetermined value during a deceleration period before the stop of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Matsunaga, Junichi Morimura, Yasunari Kido
  • Patent number: 8849550
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an exhaust gas temperature of an engine of a vehicle during interruption of fuel supply to the engine, wherein the engine drives a driveline of the vehicle. The method involves alternating between two or more operational modes, wherein at least one of the operational modes maintains a higher exhaust temperature than the one or more other operational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Per Larsson, Christer Alm, Hans Bernler
  • Patent number: 8849534
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided which is designed to stop or restart an engine automatically. The system is equipped with a vehicle speed determining circuit which determines the speed of the vehicle and has a dead zone around where a real speed of the vehicle is zero. The vehicle speed determining circuit has a characteristic in which when falling in the dead zone, the determined speed shows zero. When the determined speed is zero, and the real speed is expected to have dropped to zero, the system applies a first braking force to the wheel to keep the vehicle stopped. When the determined speed has become zero following the automatic stop of the engine, the system applies a second braking force smaller in magnitude than the first braking force to the wheel, thereby decelerating the vehicle slowly to avoid unexpected sudden deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Saito
  • Publication number: 20140288806
    Abstract: A vehicle control device for controlling an engine and an electric pump includes a relay having a contact part for connecting and disconnecting a power source to the electric pump, an engine stop instruction switch provided between the power source and a coil part of the relay for connecting and disconnecting the power source to and from the coil part. A control unit for controlling the engine and the relay and determining whether or not operation of the engine stop instruction switch is made. The control unit includes a port to which the coil part and a drive part are connected for switching current application of the coil part, a detection part for detecting a current flowing to the port, and a determiner for determining whether or not the operation of the engine stop instruction switch is made based on a detection result of the detection part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takumi MAKABE
  • Publication number: 20140288807
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle is automatically shut off and started by way of a start-stop device, wherein an automatic shut-off process is initiated during a coasting operation phase of the internal combustion engine, and an automatic start process is initiated when at least one activation command occurs. For shutting off the internal combustion engine in the coasting operation phase, a gas exchange in cylinders of the internal combustion engine is at least almost completely suppressed and, at the same time, a torque converter lock-up clutch disposed between the internal combustion engine and the transmission for power transmission purposes is actuated such that the torque converter lock-up clutch remains or is at least almost completely engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Jan TRIBULOWSKI, Benedikt KLAUS, Andreas ERWIED
  • Publication number: 20140278020
    Abstract: A diagnostic system and method for a vehicle with a starter-based stop-start system. At least one diagnostic check is performed before stopping the engine as a function of the stop-start system. Both diagnostic checks may be performed. If a diagnostic check indicates a failure of the starter motor or solenoid, operation of the stop-start system is suspended. The system utilizes a sensor to determine if the starter shaft is rotating when the shaft is in a position wherein a gear on the shaft is disengaged. Operability of the starter motor is checked by energizing and then de-energizing the motor without engaging the gear and determining if the shaft rotates. Operability of the solenoid is checked by sensing the rotation of the starter shaft and then energizing the solenoid to move the shaft into a position where the sensor cannot detect rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Kirk Neet
  • Publication number: 20140278018
    Abstract: A method and a system for improving operation of an automatically started engine are described. In one example, slip of a disconnect clutch is adjusted to limit an amount of engine torque transferred to vehicle wheels. The method and system adjust disconnect clutch slip in response to transmission input shaft speed and/or engine combustion events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Hong Jiang, Jeffrey Allen Doering, John Eric Rollinger, Felix Nedorezov
  • Publication number: 20140277986
    Abstract: Systems and methods for predicting traffic signal information are provided. An exemplary method includes obtaining data from a plurality of types of sources and analyzing the data to predict states of a plurality of traffic signals. The data include crowdsourced data. The predictive traffic signal information may be used to adjust an operation of an on-board system of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: CLEMSON UNIVERSITY, BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Grant MAHLER, Andreas WINCKLER, Ardalan VAHIDI, Andre LUCKOW
  • Publication number: 20140278019
    Abstract: Vehicles capable of operating in an energy conserving mode may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing activation of the energy conserving mode. The system may identify the inhibiting features and prompt an operator of the vehicle for authorization to disable the inhibiting features or adjust the feature states to enable the energy conserving mode. In response to receiving authorization, the system may automatically control feature interfaces to remove inhibits to the energy conserving mode. The interface may communicate active inhibitors to an operator using a display or a speaker, or both. Additionally, the interface may query the operator to approve automatic deactivation of the inhibiting features and facilitate the receipt of operator input to the query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tuan Anh Be, Mark Douglas Malone, Kirk Pebley, Hank L. Kwong, William Najib Mansur
  • Patent number: 8838368
    Abstract: A control device for stopping an engine, configured in such a manner that, when, after the ignition of the engine is turned off, the throttle valve is opened to introduce air in order to avoid that a piston stops near the top dead center, the control device stops the engine without causing a misalignment of the stop position of the piston and without degrading emission quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Mitsui, Michiaki Karube, Tomoharu Hozumi
  • Patent number: 8833325
    Abstract: An in-vehicle engine start control apparatus stops a fuel injection instruction after rotationally driving a DC electric motor preliminarily by issuing a rotational driving instruction when an automatic stop condition is satisfied, and subsequently restarts the in-vehicle engine by issuing a push control instruction to a pinion gear immediately before a circumferential speed of a ring gear decelerating by inertia is synchronized with a circumferential speed of the pinion gear rotationally driven preliminarily to rotate and by issuing the rotational driving instruction and the fuel injection instruction again because a restart request is already issued or is issued with a delay when the push driving is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Hashimoto, Shiro Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 8838369
    Abstract: An idling stop control unit (ISCU) provided in a vehicle including an air conditioner (S) which controls an air conditioning state of a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The idling stop control unit includes: idling stop prohibiting means for canceling idling stop to restart an engine (10) and prohibiting execution of idling stop when a switch for changing the air conditioning state is operated during idling stop in which the engine (10) is stopped when the vehicle is at a stop; and idling stop enabling means for automatically lifting the prohibition and enabling execution of idling stop when a predetermined condition is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ayabe, Yoshitomo Fukutomi
  • Publication number: 20140257677
    Abstract: An engine of a stop/start vehicle, after the engine has been automatically stopped, may be commanded to automatically restart in response to detecting that the vehicle is in a turn lane based on traffic data in a vicinity of the vehicle such that the engine is automatically restarted before a brake pedal is released and a steering wheel is turned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Sangeetha Sangameswaran, Mathew Alan Boesch, George Edmund Walley, John Anthony Lockwood
  • Publication number: 20140257678
    Abstract: A stop/start vehicle includes an engine and a stop/start system that prevents an auto stop of the engine when a speed of the vehicle is approximately zero in response to the vehicle being located within a specified distance from a body of water or in response to the vehicle being located in a user identified geographic region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mathew Alan Boesch, George Edmund Walley, John Anthony Lockwood, Sangeetha Sangameswaran
  • Publication number: 20140257676
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a start-stop module, a pre-ignition risk module, and a cooling control module. The start-stop module stops and restarts an engine independent from an input received from an ignition system. The pre-ignition risk module monitors a risk of pre-ignition when the engine is restarted and generates a signal based on the risk of pre-ignition. The cooling control module controls a cooling system to circulate coolant through the engine when the engine is stopped in response to the risk of pre-ignition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Halim G. Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze, James R. Yurgil
  • Publication number: 20140257679
    Abstract: A stop/start vehicle includes an engine and a stop/start system that prevents an auto stop of the engine when the speed of the vehicle is approximately zero in response to the vehicle being located at a service location or in response to the vehicle being located in a user identified geographic region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mathew Alan Boesch, Sangeetha Sangameswaran, John Anthony Lockwood, George Edmund Walley
  • Patent number: 8831861
    Abstract: A method for engine braking of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine of a vehicle, which is preferably an engine operating on the diesel principle. The engine has at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger with an exhaust-gas turbine and a charge air compressor, and an exhaust manifold which supplies the exhaust-gas flow from outlet valves of the engine to the exhaust-gas turbocharger. A throttle device is connected between the outlet valves and the turbocharger for throttling the exhaust-gas flow and causing a pressure increase in the exhaust gas for engine braking upstream. An exhaust-gas counter-pressure and a charge air pressure are measured and, based on the measurement, a position of the throttle device can be determined to obtain a predetermined braking action. Then the exhaust-gas counter-pressure and the charge air pressure are closed-loop controlled by adjusting the throttle device corresponding to the previously determined position of the throttle device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus Oesterreich AG
    Inventors: Franz Rammer, Franz Leitenmayr, Gottfried Raab
  • Patent number: 8831857
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a fuel system configured to deliver a gaseous fuel to an engine. Following tank refilling, the fuel composition is selectively updated based on fuel tank pressure, temperature, and air content data. When the engine is subsequently restarted, the fuel rail is primed for a duration based on the updated composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited
    Inventors: Adam Nolan, Jamie Terence Slaymaker, Andrew Paul Chee Aun Wong, Phuoc Bui Buiquang
  • Patent number: 8831809
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain having an engine defining one power source, and a traction motor and electrical storage device defining another power source include inhibiting a stopping and a starting of the engine based upon an unintended tip-out event and an unintended tip-in event, respectively. The total power demand and the available electric power are determined. The total power demand is filtered. The engine is prevented from being pulled-up or pulled-down based upon a difference between the total power demand and the filtered power demand being exceeding a threshold. However, if the difference exceeds the threshold, and if the available electric power exceeds the total power demand, then the engine is permitted to pull-up or pull-down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Qing Wang, Hai Yu, Ming Lang Kuang, Ryan Abraham McGee
  • Patent number: 8831859
    Abstract: The functionality of a “Launch Control” is implemented in a hybrid vehicle, i.e. the hybrid vehicle can be accelerated to a maximum degree by starting the internal combustion engine immediately from the stationary state (S20), and acceleration takes place with the aid of the electric motor with full torque (S22) before a changeover to accelerating the internal combustion engine takes place (S24). The “Launch Control” differs from a further mode in which firstly acceleration takes place from the stationary state using a partial torque of the electric motor (S14), with the result that the internal combustion engine can be tow-started by means of the electric motor (S16) before a changeover to acceleration using the internal combustion engine (S18) occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Audi Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Meitinger, Stefan Ullmann
  • Patent number: 8825346
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a start/stop operation of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, the controller activates a starting device which has a starter motor and a meshing device for the purpose of starting the internal combustion engine and of executing a start/stop operation, the rotational speed and position of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine being detected with the aid of a detector device. To provide vehicle comfort in start/stop mode and to implement meshing of a starter pinion with the ring gear at a coasting rotational speed at reduced noise and wear, a point in time is determined for meshing with the ring gear of a coasting internal combustion engine after the internal combustion engine has been shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Roessle, Ewald Mauritz, Falco Sengebusch
  • Patent number: 8825345
    Abstract: A control system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The control system determines if a motor vehicle is going to stop according to information about a preceding vehicle. The control system may use information about the vehicle speed of the motor vehicle, a following distance between the motor vehicle and a preceding vehicle and preceding vehicle deceleration information. When the control system determines that the motor vehicle is going to stop, the motor vehicle shuts down the engine prior to the vehicle stopping in order to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nathaniel Ellis
  • Patent number: 8825347
    Abstract: A controller actuates an electrical oil pump when an idle stop condition or a coast stop condition holds and causes the actuation of the electrical oil pump to continue without being stopped until an accelerated state of a vehicle or a driver's intention to accelerate is determined even if the idle stop condition and the coast stop condition no longer holds thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Naohiro Yamada, Keichi Tatewaki, Shinichiro Watanabe, Noritaka Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20140244140
    Abstract: An electronic control device is applied to an internal combustion engine including an engine driving pump, circulates lubricant by use of a driving force of the internal combustion engine, and reduces that driving load of the pump which works on the internal combustion engine, by executing a low-pressure control to limit a circulation amount of the lubricant when demand for the lubricant is small. Further, when a predetermined automatic stop condition is established, an engine operation is stopped automatically, and when a predetermined restart condition is established during the automatic stop, the internal combustion engine is restarted. Further, the execution of the low-pressure control is prohibited at the time of starting the internal combustion engine along with an operation of an ignition switch, but the execution of the low-pressure control is allowed at the time of restarting the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatomo Yoshihara, Shoichi Kuwayama
  • Publication number: 20140236459
    Abstract: A stop/start system of a vehicle autostops and autostarts an engine and, in response to an identification of a drive cycle destination indicating that the vehicle will remain parked for at least a predefined period of time, prevents autostopping of the engine during the drive cycle to increase a state of charge of the battery above a nominal target state of charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mathew Alan Boesch, George Edmund Walley, Sangeetha Sangameswaran, J. Anthony Lockwood
  • Publication number: 20140236458
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine in a vehicle equipped with an evaporative emissions system is described. The engine is configured to perform automatically an engine stop and an engine restart when the vehicle stops moving to increase fuel economy of the vehicle. The method includes the steps of determining if an engine stop is allowed while a diagnostic test of the of the evaporative emissions system is being performed if an engine stop is requested, and preventing the engine stop if the engine stop is not allowed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: YICHAO GUO, KENNETH M. SIMPSON, JAMES W. JEFFERS
  • Patent number: 8812221
    Abstract: A stop control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of accurately stopping a piston at a predetermined position during stoppage of the engine while preventing occurrence of untoward noise and vibration. After stopping the engine 3, the stop control system 1 for the engine 3 according to the present invention executes a first stage control (step 34) in which a throttle valve 13a is controlled to a first stage control target opening degree ICMDOFPRE smaller than a second predetermined opening degree ICMDOF2, in order to stop the piston at the predetermined position, before executing a second stage control (step 42) in which the throttle valve 13a is controlled to the second predetermined opening degree ICMDOF2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoharu Hozumi, Atsushi Mitsui, Takeshi Aoki, Hiroshi Yatani, Kazuhiko Imamura