Starting, Warmup Patents (Class 701/113)
  • Publication number: 20140107910
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes: an engine, a motor configured to drive the vehicle, an air-fuel ratio sensor, and a control unit configured to stop and start the engine according to vehicle required power. The control unit is configured to change a threshold value of the vehicle required power at which the engine is started such that a difference between an air-fuel ratio detected by the air-fuel ratio sensor and a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio decreases in a case where the difference exceeds a predetermined value when the engine is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke MAMADA
  • Patent number: 8695553
    Abstract: A starter can independently drive an actuator for moving a pinion gear to a position where the pinion gear is engaged with a ring gear and a motor for rotating the pinion gear. When synchronization between the ring gear and the pinion gear is restricted, a rotation mode in which the pinion gear is rotated before the actuator is driven is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouki Moriya, Jumpei Kakehi, Hasrul Sany Bin Hashim
  • Publication number: 20140100765
    Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods related to controlling oil injection for piston cooling in an engine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes during an engine cold start event, enabling oil injection onto a piston of an engine, disabling oil injection after the engine cold start event, and re-enabling oil injection after the engine cold start event based on a first operating parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Clifford E. Maki, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Jamie Charles Hanshaw, Yihua (Eva) Barber, David Bidner
  • Patent number: 8694231
    Abstract: A control system for an auto-stop/start vehicle includes a transmission load module, a target engine speed module, and an actuator control module. The transmission load module determines a load imposed on an engine through a transmission. The target engine speed module selectively determines a target engine speed during an engine startup event based on the load. The actuator control module controls at least one engine actuator based on the target engine speed during the engine startup event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventors: Qi Ma, Robert Douglas Shafto
  • Patent number: 8694230
    Abstract: Fuel systems and methods for cold environments which includes a fuel pump having at least one solenoid coil in an unlaminated magnetic circuit, the fuel pump being disposed in a fuel tank, and a pump drive and pulsing system, the pump drive providing pump actuation current to the solenoid coil and the pulsing system providing short current pulses to the solenoid coil to cause Eddy current losses in the unlaminated magnetic circuit. The method includes, before cranking the engine for starting the engine, providing short, successive current pulses to the solenoid coil to cause eddy current heating in the unlaminated circuit and heating of the fuel in and around the fuel pump, turning on the fuel pump to commence fuel flow to the engine, and cranking the engine for starting after the fuel pump has been turned on. Various features are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sturman Digital Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Oded Eddie Sturman
  • Patent number: 8688350
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain includes a combustion engine, an electric machine arrangement, a gearbox operable to receive motive power from at least one of the combustion engine and the electric machine arrangement for providing motive power to a load of the powertrain. The powertrain is configurable in operation so that its combustion engine is switchable between an inactive state and an active state. The combustion engine is cranked to switch it from its inactive state to its active state. Application of cranking torque to the combustion engine is controlled in operation to substantially temporally coincide with a gear change in the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Lars Carlhammar, Svante Karlsson, Helene Panagopoulos
  • Patent number: 8688359
    Abstract: There is provided an idle stop system that can more quickly restart with small noise in conducting idle stop. In preparation for a restart request during an engine inertial rotation, after a motor is rotated in a state where a starter motor is not coupled to the engine, a pinion is engaged with a ring gear during the motor is subjected to inertial rotation like the engine. In this situation, the rotational speed including future pulsation of the engine is estimated with the use of information on the crank angle, and a pinion pushing timing is controlled so that the pinion and the ring gear contact each other with a given rotational speed difference taking a delay time of a pinion pushing unit into consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Kuniyoshi, Akira Nishioka, Ryuu Kai, Kenichi Machida, Yoshiaki Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 8688360
    Abstract: A motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a differential pressure sensor or two pressure sensors for detecting a pressure difference, which may be in an exhaust tract of the internal combustion engine, and an evaluation unit for evaluating the detected pressure difference. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle. A controlling arrangement is provided for controlling an automatic start-stop system or an ignition system of the motor vehicle as a function of the result of the evaluation of the detected pressure difference used to detect immersion or submersion of a tailpipe of the exhaust tract in water, sludge, or a similar liquid medium in order to prevent the internal combustion engine from shutting off when the tailpipe is immersed or submerged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Norden, Michael Bildstein, Herbert Prickarz, Kaspar Schmoll Genannt Eisenwerth
  • Patent number: 8682564
    Abstract: A method is provided for sensing the position of a camshaft in an internal combustion engine having a camshaft phaser for controllably varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and the camshaft, the camshaft phaser being actuated by an electric motor and having a gear reduction mechanism with a predetermined gear reduction ratio and a sensor for determining the rotational position of the electric motor. The method includes generating a rotational position signal indicative of the rotational position of the electric motor by using the sensor to determine the rotational position of the electric motor and calculating the position of the camshaft based on the rotational position signal and the gear reduction ratio of the gear reduction mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Gauthier, Sebastien Stoltz-Douchet, Jeffrey M Pfeiffer
  • Publication number: 20140081565
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for depressurizing a fuel pressure regulator during engine cold start and varying fuel injection pressure after cold start in a gaseous-fueled vehicle. A mechanical pressure regulator may be modified to include valves which may be controlled to depressurize a reference chamber of the regulator when gaseous fuel injection is inactive (e.g., before and during cold start), and to regulate the pressure of gaseous fuel to varying pressures based on electronic pressure feedback and engine operating conditions when gaseous fuel injection is active. In one example, the pressure in the reference chamber of a pressure regulator may be varied by controlling valves to flow gaseous fuel into the reference chamber, and then controlling the valves to exhaust the gaseous fuel from the reference chamber, for example to a fuel vapor storage canister.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Publication number: 20140081564
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using a crankcase vent tube pressure or flow sensor for diagnosing a location and nature of crankcase system integrity breach. The same sensor can also be used for diagnosing air filter plugging and PCV valve degradation. Use of an existing sensor to diagnose multiple engine components provides cost reduction and sensor compaction benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Robert Roy Jentz, John Eric Rollinger
  • Publication number: 20140081563
    Abstract: A method to control a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) having a compression ignition engine includes operating the engine based on an engine-on request and performing an exhaust aftertreatment procedure based on a completion time for the aftertreatment procedure compared to a predicted engine-on time determined using a driving pattern. An HEV is provided with a compression ignition engine with an aftertreatment system, and a controller. The controller is configured to: (i) operate the engine based on an engine-on request, and (ii) perform an exhaust aftertreatment procedure for the vehicle based on a completion time for the aftertreatment procedure compared to a predicted engine-on time determined using a driving pattern. A computer readable medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a controller to control a vehicle is provided with instructions for operating the engine based on an engine-on request, and instructions for performing an exhaust aftertreatment procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Qing Wang, Hai Yu, Ryan Abraham McGee, Fling Tseng
  • Publication number: 20140081561
    Abstract: Vehicles equipped with an automatic start-stop system may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing an engine from auto-stopping in addition to the status of the automatic start-stop system. The system may identify one or more inhibitors actively preventing an auto-stop event from occurring and select at least one of the active inhibitors based on a priority scheme. The interface may communicate the at least one selected inhibitor to a driver using a display or a speaker, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
    Inventors: Tuan Anh Be, Kirk Pebley, Hank L. Kwong, George Edmund Walley, Filip Tomik
  • Patent number: 8671903
    Abstract: In a system, a pinion shift unit starts shift of a pinion to a ring gear for engagement therebetween during an internal combustion engine coasting in a forward direction after an automatic stop of the internal combustion engine. An engagement determining unit determines whether the pinion and the ring gear have any one of first and second positional relationships therebetween. The first positional relationship represents that the pinion is at least partly engaged with the ring gear. The second positional relationship represents that the pinion is in abutment with the ring gear. When an engine restart condition is met before it is determined that the pinion and the ring gear have any one of first and second positional relationships therebetween after the start of the shift of the pinion to the ring gear, a rotation adjusting unit adjusts a start timing of rotation of the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Hideya Notani
  • Patent number: 8673137
    Abstract: A process, system, and component configuration are described that discourages customer acceptance/use of will-fit, reconditioned, and counterfeit product components, by determining whether or not a serviceable product component is genuine. If a component is determined to not be genuine, then appropriate action may be taken to warn operators and document such findings. For example, one or more markers are disposed or otherwise put on the subject serviceable product component and serves as a targeted feature, and/or a particular characteristic of the filter itself is identified as the targeted feature. A sensor is used to detect the targeted feature and obtain information unique to the serviceable product component. The targeted feature(s) identifies the particular serviceable component as genuine and forms the basis for determining whether a genuine component has been installed. In some circumstances, a fluid filter product is the component that is the subject detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry M. Verdegan, John T. Carroll, III, Matthew L. Schneider, Michael T. Zuroski, Nathan A. Whitaker, James L. Walls
  • Patent number: 8671902
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that can suppress the emission of unburned HC accompanying start-up of an internal combustion engine. The control apparatus including a fuel supply control unit that initially supplies fuel to only some cylinders, and delays the start of fuel supply to delayed cylinders that are cylinders other than the aforementioned cylinders; an engine discharge gas HC amount predicting unit that calculates a relationship between a delayed cylinder starting engine speed that is a engine speed at a timing at which a cycle starts in which a delayed cylinder initially carries out combustion and a predicted value of an engine discharge gas HC amount; and a target engine speed calculating unit that calculates a target engine speed that is a target value of the delayed cylinder starting engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Aso, Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20140074386
    Abstract: A method to control a hybrid electric vehicle includes operating a compression ignition engine based on an engine-on request, and performing an exhaust aftertreatment procedure when a fraction of an engine-on time is greater than an aftertreatment condition threshold. A vehicle has a compression ignition engine with an exhaust aftertreatment system, and a controller. The controller is configured to: (i) operate the engine based on an engine-on request, and (ii) perform an exhaust aftertreatment procedure for the vehicle when an engine-on fraction for a designated time is greater than an aftertreatment condition threshold. A computer readable medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a controller to control a vehicle includes instructions for operating the engine based on an engine-on request, and instructions for performing an exhaust aftertreatment procedure for the vehicle when an engine-on time fraction is greater than an aftertreatment condition threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Abraham McGee, Qing Wang, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Publication number: 20140074385
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing a vehicle-off fuel system leak test. A vehicle controller may be woken up after a vehicle has been in a key-off condition for a sufficient amount of time to monitor a fuel tank for pressure and temperature stabilization. If the pressure and temperature of the fuel tank is stable, a fuel pump may be operated to raise a fuel tank vapor pressure, and fuel system leaks are identified based on a rate of pressure decay from the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Robert Roy Jentz, Scott A. Bohr, Niels Christopher Kragh
  • Publication number: 20140067242
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a fuel system including a first fuel pump in fluid communication with a fuel tank and a second fuel pump in fluid communication with the first fuel pump. A pump control module selectively turns on the first fuel pump when a door opens before an engine is started, the engine is not cranking and a rail pressure of the first fuel pump is less than a predetermined rail pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Dean R. Kwapis, Rafat F. Hattar, Maher El-Jaroudi, Timothy J. Braman
  • Publication number: 20140058651
    Abstract: A vehicle engine warm-up apparatus includes a coolant temperature sensor, an intake temperature sensor, an air intake heater, a heating system and a controller. The intake temperature sensor measures a temperature of combustion air entering the engine. The coolant temperature sensor measures a temperature of engine coolant. The air intake heater is configured to heat the combustion air. The controller is operably coupled to the coolant temperature sensor, the intake temperature sensor and the air intake heater. The controller is configured to operate the air intake heater with the vehicle engine running to increase a rate of heating of the coolant by the engine to more rapidly make heat available to the heating system in response to determining that the air intake temperature is below a first temperature threshold and the coolant temperature is below a second temperature threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Ronald S. EISENHOUR
  • Publication number: 20140058647
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine in a hybrid vehicle in response to fuel and water dilution of engine lubricating oil. An engine oil dilution counter may be adjusted based on a number of engine hot starts and duration of engine operation above a threshold temperature. In addition, the counter may be adjusted if the engine is started to deplete stale fuel in the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ted Haladyna, Douglas Raymond Martin, Paul Stephen Bryan
  • Patent number: 8660776
    Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine, in which a control unit starts at least one function at a specific crankshaft angle, the function being shifted from the start of the internal combustion engine until a final condition is reached by a relative angle to a later crankshaft angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Mueller, Ruediger Weiss, Tobias Leutwein, Matthias Walz, Elmar Pietsch, Harry Friedmann
  • Patent number: 8660765
    Abstract: In an idle stop system for an engine mounted in a vehicle, when it is determined predetermined stop conditions are met, the engine is automatically stopped. During the engine stop, when it is determined that predetermined restart conditions are met, the engine is automatically restarted. Further, it is determined whether or not a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the restart of the engine. When it is determined that the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the clutch mechanism is controlled into the connection thereof at and after a time instant when it is determined that the predetermined period of time has elapsed. Hence, the connected state of the clutch mechanism is realized after a controlled delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Tomura, Takashi Senda
  • Publication number: 20140052364
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and a system for controlling a generation output of a starter generator connected to an engine to transmit a rotary force in a hybrid electric vehicle. The method includes receiving, by a controller, vehicle state information for determining a driving mode of the vehicle after the vehicle starts, and determines the driving mode requiring an increase of the generation output from the vehicle state information; determining, by the controller, a need for the increase of the generation output to control a generation output variable for each driving mode; determining, by the controller, a torque command and a torque application time corresponding to a required output for each driving mode of the vehicle to control the generation output variable; and applying, by the controller, the determined torque command for the determined application time to control the generation output of the starter generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Hyun Kim, Kyung Ha Kim, Jae Hyuk Suh, Seung Woo Ha, Yeon Ho Kim, Sam Gyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20140048031
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for starting an internal-combustion engine arranged in a vehicle equipped with an electric machine that at least temporarily drives the internal-combustion engine and a first electrical energy storage unit. An adjusting unit is provided by which the electric machine is connectable with the first storage unit. The adjusting unit is configured to detect at least one defined internal-combustion engine operating state and/or at least one defined vehicle operating state and, at least as a function of the detected internal-combustion engine operating state and/or the detected vehicle operating state, for adjusting an electric quantity which determines an electric power drawn from the first storage unit by the electric machine when driving the internal-combustion engine, or for itself adjusting the drawn electric power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard WOELFL, Daniel FINDEISEN, Michael DAURER, Hartmut PROEBSTLE, Sherif MAHMOUD, Rupert NEUDECKER
  • Patent number: 8655526
    Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine in a hybrid powertrain having an electric torque machine mechanically coupled to the internal combustion engine includes monitoring a temperature state of the hybrid powertrain, determining a maximum discharging power limit of the high-voltage battery corresponding to the temperature state of the hybrid powertrain, estimating an engine drag torque associated with the temperature state of the hybrid powertrain, selecting a preferred engine cranking speed associated with the estimated engine drag torque and achievable at less than the maximum discharging power limit of the high-voltage battery, and controlling the electric torque machine to generate a magnitude of motor torque output sufficient to crank the internal combustion engine at the preferred engine cranking speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: R. Travis Schwenke, Kevin J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140039781
    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: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: 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: 8645042
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain includes a combustion engine, an electric machine arrangement, a gearbox operable to receive motive power from at least one of the combustion engine and the electric machine arrangement for providing motive power to a load of the powertrain. The powertrain is configurable in operation so that its combustion engine is switchable between an inactive state and an active state. The combustion engine is cranked to switch it from its inactive state to its active state. Application of cranking torque to the combustion engine is controlled in operation to substantially temporally coincide with a gear change in the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Lars Carlhammar, Svante Karlsson, Helene Panagopoulos
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8641152
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to reduce a hard brake pedal feel. A brake control variable is adjusted in anticipation of a hard pedal condition to increase hydraulic brake line pressure and maintain a normal pedal feel. A pedal force is inferred from brake line pressure relative to brake booster vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Moses Alexander Fridman, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
  • Patent number: 8645049
    Abstract: A motor generator is connected to a high voltage battery through an inverter. A voltage of the high voltage battery is decreased and is applied to a low voltage battery through a DC-DC converter. At time of starting an engine, a starting operation of a starter is executed by applying an output voltage of the DC-DC converter 36 to the starter. At this time, the output voltage of the DC-DC converter 36 may be adjusted based on the temperature of the engine, the voltage of the low voltage battery and/or the degree of degradation of lubricant oil of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunari Izumi
  • Publication number: 20140032086
    Abstract: A Start-Stop method and system for optimizing a selected set of parameters to provide an ideal balance between cabin thermal comfort and fuel economy performance is disclosed. The method and system includes several parameters to manage how long and when the engine OFF time will occur. Such parameters include, but are not limited to, outside ambient temperature, cabin temperature, cabin humidity, engine coolant temperature, and evaporator thermistor temperature. A control logic monitors inputs such as cabin humidity and, under certain conditions, sends a request for the engine to be ON. Other factors influencing engine ON time include inputs from the wiper(s), the heated windshield, the heated back light, the HVAC blower, and the temperature control setting. The disclosed system has utility in both electronic automatic temperature control (EATC) systems as well as in manual temperature control (MTC) systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Halim Wijaya, Manfred Koberstein
  • Patent number: 8631778
    Abstract: A starter includes a pinion gear that can be engaged with a ring gear provided around an outer circumference of a flywheel or a drive plate of an engine, an actuator for moving the pinion gear to a position of engagement with the ring gear in a driven state, a helical spline for rotating the pinion gear in a reverse direction while the pinion gear moves toward the ring gear, and a motor for rotating the pinion gear. The actuator and the motor are individually controlled. After the actuator was driven and before the motor is driven, drive of the actuator is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouki Moriya, Jumpei Kakehi, Hasrul Sany Bin Hashim
  • Patent number: 8635006
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes an air calculation module that determines, based on a plurality of first coolant temperatures sensed during a period of engine operation, a first cumulative mass of intake air combusted by the engine during the period that corresponds to an estimated amount of heat dissipated by a cooling system of the engine during the period, and that determines, based on the first cumulative mass, a second cumulative mass of intake air of the engine that is required to raise a temperature of the engine from an initial temperature at a start of the period to a target temperature. The control system further includes a control module that selectively adjusts one of a diagnostic condition and an operating condition of the engine based on the second cumulative mass. A related method for controlling an engine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventors: Wajdi B. Hamama, John F. Van Gilder
  • Publication number: 20140012488
    Abstract: A device and a method are provided for starting a vehicle internal-combustion engine. An electric machine at least temporarily drives the internal-combustion engine, and a storage unit at least temporarily supplies the electric machine with electric energy. A number of consumer assemblies in the vehicle are drivable at least temporarily by the engine via a respective process-specific connection. A control unit controls at least one consumer assembly in the presence of a consumer assembly control condition in order to generate or increase a load acting upon the internal-combustion engine, and subsequently controls the electric machine for driving the internal-combustion engine in the presence of an internal-combustion engine start condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hartmut PROEBSTLE, Sherif MAHMOUD
  • Patent number: 8626426
    Abstract: An engine automatic stop and restart control apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a control unit which stops and restarts an engine, an actual axle torque change speed calculation unit which calculates change speed in actual axle torque that is actually generated when the engine is restarted, an ideal axle torque change speed calculation unit which calculates change speed in ideal axle torque that corresponds to engine torque generated by the engine, a change speed difference calculation unit which calculates a change speed difference that is a difference between the change speed in actual axle torque and the change speed in ideal axle torque, and a vibration suppression control unit which executes a vibration suppression control for applying braking torque based on the change speed difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignees: Advics Co., Ltd., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Ohmori, Masayoshi Takeda, Tatsuya Saito, Takashi Satoh
  • Patent number: 8626425
    Abstract: A method for improving starting of an engine that may be repeatedly stopped and started is presented. In one example, fuel injection timing is selectively adjusted based on engine stop position and amount of time the engine is stopped. The method may improve engine starting and lower engine noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jeffrey Allen Doering, John Eric Rollinger
  • Publication number: 20140005913
    Abstract: A method for starting an engine includes sensing a triggering event and monitoring pressure in a fuel rail. A cam shaft of the engine is oscillated with a cam phaser. The cam shaft does not complete a full rotation during the oscillation. A fuel rail pump is operated with the oscillating cam shaft until the monitored pressure in the fuel rail reaches a minimum level, and the engine is started after reaching the minimum level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David P. Sczomak, Robert J Gallon, Joseph J. Moon
  • Patent number: 8620567
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling an engine in a vehicle, the engine being coupled to a transmission. One example method comprises, under selected braking conditions, shutting-off the engine and spinning-down the engine to rest while the vehicle is traveling, and in response to a foot-off-brake event, restarting the engine by at least partially engaging the transmission to assist in spinning-up of the engine from rest while the vehicle is traveling. In this manner, vehicle inertia can be used to assist in spinning-up the engine from rest when the vehicle is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, Gopichandra Surnilla, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Publication number: 20130345952
    Abstract: In a vehicle control device for performing control to stop and start an engine according to a traveling state of a vehicle regardless of an operation of stopping and starting the engine by a driver, the stopping of the engine is limited based on a starting endurance ability of the engine. Thus, an endurance number of years of a starter can be ensured. If a contribution degree in improving a fuel economy by the stopping of the engine at the time of parking is high, the effect of improving the fuel economy can be suppressed from reducing by prohibiting the automatic stopping of the engine 4 during traveling. The effect of improving the fuel economy by stopping the engine can be enhanced by ensuring the endurance number of years of the starter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Chika Tsumori
  • Publication number: 20130345935
    Abstract: A simple and effective control method is disclosed for starting and stopping vehicles engine and automatic lighting of position lamps to show the vehicles location, wherein an integration controller can be used to achieve those purpose. In particular, a useful control method is disclosed for stopping and restarting engine while vehicles waits for stoplight. It is using equipment, such as two brake levers, to interact with a start-button, and electric signal sources are divided into two different groups of electrical control signals to achieve the operation control of the engine starting or stopping. Vehicle driver driving on the road can have a simple and secure operation method to control vehicles when waiting. In addition, automatically detects the vehicle's ambient luminance intensity in a dim ambient luminance place, and it will automatically light the vehicle position lamps to show the vehicle's location, providing safety in dim conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: Fu Ling Chang
  • Publication number: 20130338908
    Abstract: Disclosed is an idle stop control device that automatically shuts down an engine when a first condition is satisfied, and then restarts the engine using a starter to which electricity is fed through a brush when a second condition is satisfied, the idle stop control device including a start-operation brush wear amount computing unit that is configured to compute a brush wear amount in a single start operation, a total brush wear amount computing unit that is configured to compute a total brush wear amount by integrating the brush wear amount in a single start operation, and an automatic engine shutdown prohibiting unit that is configured to prohibit an automatic engine shutdown when the total brush wear amount is equal to or larger than a warranty driving wear amount of the starter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Koin Nakamura, Satoru Okuma, Fumihiko Imamura
  • Publication number: 20130332055
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine is disclosed. A motor is mechanically coupled to the engine, the engine having at least one moveable element mounted in a chamber, the moveable element being operable to cause a changing compression condition within the chamber and being mechanically coupled to a shaft for generating mechanical power. The method involves causing the motor to supply a positioning torque to the engine to move the at least one moveable element into a starting position. The method also involves causing the motor to supply a starting torque to the engine when the at least one moveable element is in the starting position to cause the moveable element to accelerate from the starting position under low compression conditions to generate sufficient momentum to overcome a peak compression condition in the chamber, thereby reducing the starting torque required to start the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Mosaid Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas Bouchon, Martin Strange
  • Publication number: 20130332054
    Abstract: A stop/start system of a vehicle can issue auto stop commands and auto start commands. An engine of the vehicle is auto stopped in response to the auto stop commands and auto started in response to the auto start commands. The stop/start system can prevent an auto stop of the engine based on a predicted stop duration for a predicted stop location for the vehicle such that the engine remains running when the predicted stop duration is less than a threshold duration and the vehicle is stopped in a vicinity of the predicted stop location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Johannes Geir Kristinsson, Hai Yu
  • Patent number: 8606482
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain includes a combustion engine, an electric machine arrangement, a gearbox operable to receive motive power from at least one of the combustion engine and the electric machine arrangement for providing motive power to a load of the powertrain. The powertrain is configurable in operation so that its combustion engine is switchable between an inactive state and an active state. The combustion engine is cranked to switch it from its inactive state to its active state. Application of cranking torque to the combustion engine is controlled in operation to substantially temporally coincide with a gear change in the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Lars Carlhammar, Svante Karlsson, Helene Panagopoulos
  • Publication number: 20130325304
    Abstract: A starter includes a pinion gear that can be engaged with a ring gear coupled to a crank shaft of an engine, an actuator that moves the pinion gear to a position where the pinion gear is engaged with a ring gear, and a motor that rotates the pinion gear. An ECU stops the engine when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied, and cranks the engine with a motor when a predetermined start condition is satisfied after the engine is stopped. The motor and the actuator are supplied with electric power from a battery. The ECU includes a mode in which the motor is driven prior to driving of the actuator. The ECU restricts a stop of the engine if, of a decreased voltage of the battery after driving the motor and a decreased voltage of the battery after driving the actuator, the lower voltage falls below a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yumi Kondo, Yuuya Yoshitomi, Toshihiro Kawai
  • Patent number: 8600649
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for starting an internal combustion engine associated with means for adapting, during an engine start operation, an amount of fuel injected based on an estimation of the volatility (PVR) of the fuel based on the comparison between a gradient of the engine speed measured upon a preceding start operation and a reference gradient (110) corresponding to a predetermined fuel, characterized by the step (111) of correcting the reference gradient based on a change (?CMF) in the engine friction torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Frédéric Gourves
  • Patent number: 8600648
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately determining cylinder fueling errors during an automatic engine restart. Fueling errors may be learned during a preceding engine restart on a cylinder-specific and combustion event-specific basis. The learned fueling errors may then be applied during a subsequent engine restart on the same cylinder-specific and combustion event-specific basis to better anticipate and compensate for engine cranking air-to-fuel ratio deviations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sam Hashemi, Payam Naghshtabrizi
  • Publication number: 20130312693
    Abstract: A starting system for outdoor power equipment that has a controller and a start button to control the activation of an internal combustion engine. The starting system includes a controller that receives a start signal from a start button. The controller monitors for the presence of an enable device in an enable device receptacle and, upon activation of the start button and the presence of the enable device in the enable device receptacle, the controller provides electric power to the electric load of the power equipment. When the start button is depressed for longer than a minimum engagement period, the controller initiates operation of the engine. If the start button is pressed for less than the minimum engagement period, the controller activates the electric load for an auxiliary period without starting the engine. During engine operation, if the start button is depressed, the controller terminates operation of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Koenen, Stephen J. Ryczek, Bruce S. Lydy, Erik R. Slegelis, Steven J. Weber
  • Publication number: 20130317729
    Abstract: A start-up possibility determining apparatus that determines an engine-start-up possibility by driving a starter motor by power accumulated in a secondary battery includes a dynamic internal resistance measuring unit that measures an internal resistance of the secondary battery while the engine is being started up by the starter motor, a static internal resistance measuring unit that measures an internal resistance of the secondary battery when the engine is stopped, and a determining unit that determines an engine start-up possibility by the secondary battery, based on a value obtained by a product of a ratio between a first static internal resistance before or after the past engine start-up and a second static internal resistance within a predetermined time since a current time point and the dynamic internal resistance measured by the dynamic internal resistance measuring unit at the time of the engine start-up in the past.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Taiji MITSUYAMA, Etsuzo SATO