Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080262706 | Device and Method for Communication Between a Control System for Small Internal Combustion Engines and an External Computer - By incorporating digital control systems for ignition of, and to some extent for fuel injection in, small internal combustion engines, opportunities have been created for the connection of external computers, in order thereby to be able to change the characteristics of the control system, as well as to be able to read operational data from the same. The operational data may be e.g. operating time and trip meter. The method according to the invention means that a combined communication port and stop entry is created, which will result in a cost-effective implementation of the communication interface when a stop entry with an associated transient protection already exists. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262707 | Eco-run control device and engine restart method - An eco-run control device sends an engine stop request to an engine control device when predetermined stop requirements are satisfied, causes the engine control device to perform an engine stop control operation, and drives a starter to restart the engine when predetermined restart requirements are satisfied during the engine stop control operation. This eco-run control device includes: a detecting unit that detects a starting operation to start the engine; and a control unit that causes the starter to restart the engine, if the starting operation is detected during the engine stop control operation and the engine speed is lower than a predetermined speed. | 10-23-2008 |
20080262708 | Eco-run control device and method for resetting the same - An eco-run control device is mounted on a vehicle and is capable of performing eco-run control to stop an engine when predetermined stop requirements are satisfied and restart the engine when predetermined start requirements are satisfied later. This eco-run control device includes: a monitoring unit that monitors the state of an ignition; a communicating unit that communicates with a plurality of control devices that receive power supplies from a power supply line that is connected to a power source via the ignition; and an initialization controlling unit that initializes the data with respect to the eco-run control stored in a memory, when the monitoring unit determines that the ignition is in an OFF state, and that the communications with two or more of the control devices are interrupted. | 10-23-2008 |
20080294329 | ENGINE CONTROLLER - An engine controller for a vehicle equipped with an emission reduction apparatus determines whether the emission reduction apparatus has malfunction. When it is determined that the emission reduction apparatus has malfunction an execution of an idle shutdown control process is permitted. When a predetermined condition is established during an engine idling, the engine is automatically shut down. On the other hand, when it is determined that the emission reduction apparatus has no malfunction, the execution of the idle shutdown control process is prohibited. | 11-27-2008 |
20090018757 | Control device for vehicle - The present invention relates to a control device for a vehicle, having an engine | 01-15-2009 |
20090030594 | VIBRATION REDUCING SYSTEM AT KEY-OFF AND METHOD THEREOF - A system and method for controlling engine shutoff at vehicle ignition key-off. An ignition module performs ignition in the engine's cylinders according to a predetermined ignition sequence. An engine module detects the cylinder in which ignition currently occurs. An engine control module controls the engine to stop operating only after a predetermined condition is satisfied after key-off. The predetermined condition may be that the cylinder in which ignition currently occurs is a preselected cylinder, such as the cylinder closest to a flywheel. The method determines whether an ignition key is turned off, detects the cylinder in which ignition currently occurs if the ignition key is turned off, determines whether the cylinder in which ignition currently occurs is a preselected cylinder, and controls the engine to stop only if the cylinder in which ignition currently occurs is the preselected cylinder. The preselected cylinder may be closest to a flywheel. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030595 | INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE SYSTEM, AND POWER OUTPUT APPARATUS - At a time of stopping operation of an engine, after elapse of a preset time period since start of self-sustaining operation of the engine at a stop rotation speed Nstop, the drive control sets a torque command Tm | 01-29-2009 |
20090037084 | Method of Operating an Engine Upon Occurrence of Abnormal Combustion and Operation Control Apparatus Therefor - Provided are a method of operating an engine and an apparatus for controlling operation of an engine, which is capable of appropriately controlling the operation of the engine after cutoff of fuel into a cylinder in which heavy knock occurs, without at once stopping the engine upon detection of occurrence of the heavy knock. The method of operating an engine which has a plurality of cylinders, and which is capable of stepwise or continuously correcting a burning state through fuel regulation including cutoff of fuel, upon occurrence of abnormal combustion, executes a stop or an output limit operation of the engine, and is characterized in that a simulated abnormal combustion obtained by calculating an abnormal combustion state of the engine in simulation is beforehand set, and in comparison of a detection signal as to a burning state of a selected cylinder which is sequentially selected among the plurality of cylinders, with the simulated abnormal combustion signal so as to determine occurrence of abnormal combustion in the selected cylinder in order to execute cutoff of fuel into the selected cylinder. | 02-05-2009 |
20090063027 | Fuel or Additive Pump Controller - Fuel or additive pump controller is integrated to a fuel system control unit (FSCU), and communicates with an engine control unit (ECU) and/or crash sensors through communication means. The controller comprises means for generating a pump control signal. Said means use data on crash occurrence from the ECU or from said crash sensors for turning off the pump or limiting the pump speed in case of crash. | 03-05-2009 |
20090070018 | Method and device for controlling a drive unit - A method and a device for controlling a drive unit are provided, which allow for a reproducible load reversal damping. For this purpose, a setpoint value for an output variable of the drive unit is limited so that an overrun fuel cutoff of the drive unit is prevented. A limiting value for the setpoint value for the output variable is formed as a function of a loss value of the drive unit. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070019 | METHOD AND CONTROL ARCHITECTURE FOR OPTIMIZATION OF ENGINE FUEL-CUTOFF SELECTION AND ENGINE INPUT TORQUE FOR A HYBRID POWERTRAIN SYSTEM - There is provided a method and article of manufacture for operating an internal combustion engine adapted to transmit torque to a hybrid transmission. The method comprises determining an engine input torque transmittable to the hybrid transmission for a plurality of engine states, the engine states comprising a fueled-engine operation and an engine fuel-cutoff operation. Costs are determined costs for operating the engine and hybrid transmission in the engine states to substantially meet an operator torque request. The engine state is controlled to one of the fueled-engine operation and the engine fuel-cutoff operation based upon the costs. | 03-12-2009 |
20090118991 | AFTER-STOP FUEL PRESSURE CONTROL DEVICE OF DIRECT INJECTION ENGINE - A pressure reducing valve is provided for reducing fuel pressure in a high-pressure fuel system, which supplies high-pressure fuel from a high-pressure pump to an injector, after an engine stops. An ECU detects or estimates an engine stop position when the engine stops and sets after-stop target fuel pressure in accordance with the detected or estimated engine stop position. The ECU controls a valve opening action of the pressure reducing valve to reduce the fuel pressure in the high-pressure fuel system to the after-stop target fuel pressure after the engine stops. In the control, the ECU sets the after-stop target fuel pressure to be lower as a piston position of a cylinder in a compression stroke at the engine stop position is closer to a top dead center. | 05-07-2009 |
20090132154 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - An electronic control unit | 05-21-2009 |
20090138184 | APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF ENGINE MOUNTED ON VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH IDLE STOP FUNCTION - An apparatus is for controlling rotation of an engine mounted on a vehicle. In the apparatus, a count of a crank counter is updated based on a signal changing in accordance with rotation of a crankshaft. The count indicates a rotational position of the crankshaft. The rotation of the engine is controlled based on the count of the crank counter. An idle stop control member issues an engine stop request when it is determined that engine stop conditions are met, and then issues a command to crank the engine for restarting the engine when it is determined that engine start conditions are met. Further, an update prohibiting member prohibits the counter from being updated during a period of time ranging from a time instant when the engine stops in response to the engine stop request to a time instant when it is determined that the engine start conditions are met. | 05-28-2009 |
20090143962 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SAVING AUTOMOBILE ENERGY - An energy saving method for an automobile is provided herein. The energy saving method includes: judging whether the automobile is stopped; starting a timer to measure and signal an end of a predetermined time interval by outputting an interrupt signal; and turning off an engine of the automobile in response to the interrupt signal. A related energy saving device is also provided. | 06-04-2009 |
20090157283 | Control Apparatus For Internal Combustion Engine - An electronic control unit executes a delay control and a load compensation control. In the delay control, the period from when an engine stop request for an engine is made to when the engine is actually stopped is extended. In the load compensation control, the engine power is adjusted according to the driving load of auxiliary devices. Further, if the engine stop request is made during operation of a compressor, which is one of the auxiliary devices, the electronic control unit executes a power reduction control, in which ignition timing is retarded to temporarily reduce the engine power. As a result, in an internal combustion engine that executes the delay control, sudden increases in the engine speed that are likely to occur when an engine stop request is made during operation of auxiliary devices are reliably suppressed. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157284 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE IN STOP/START OPERATION - In a method for controlling an internal combustion engine ( | 06-18-2009 |
20090171554 | Internal Combustion Engine Stop Controller and Stop Control Method - When engine stop control is executed, an ECU estimates input power to a power storage device in accordance with an estimation of power generated by a generator and estimation of total power consumption of circuitry from the generator to the power storage device in the current state of operation. Further, the ECU compares the estimated input power with a tolerable input power to the storage device. When the generated power is excessive, the state of operation of the circuitry is changed such that the total power consumption by the circuitry increases, and then, torque output of the generator is permitted, to attain desired deceleration at the engine stop. Accordingly, in the engine stop control in which stopping force is generated by the power generating operation by the rotating electric machine, excessive charging caused by excessive power input to the power storage device can be prevented. | 07-02-2009 |
20090187331 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A COMBUSTION ENGINE BRAKE - A method and system for operating a combustion engine brake especially for a heavy vehicle like a truck or a bus is disclosed. By detecting a brake torque value which is delivered by the combustion engine brake for braking the vehicle, and, if the amount of the difference between a demanded brake torque value and the delivered brake torque value exceeds a predetermined first limit value, by operating the combustion engine brake by means of at least one additional or alternative second operating parameter which is selected in order to create a corrected brake torque value, a considerably improved accuracy, efficiency and/or reliability of the combustion engine brake can be obtained. | 07-23-2009 |
20090198439 | DRIVING SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD OF DRIVING SYSTEM, AND VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH DRIVING SYSTEM - In an ignition-on state, when a delayed activation request flag F | 08-06-2009 |
20090204314 | POWER OUTPUT APPARATUS, VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH POWER OUTPUT APPARATUS, DRIVING SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD OF POWER OUTPUT APPARATUS - In a hybrid vehicle, once an engine is started in response to prohibition of an operation stop of the engine based on a deterioration factor, the operation stop of the engine is not allowed irrespective of the value of the deterioration factor D until elapse of a certain time period since the start of the engine. The deterioration factor has an increase according to discharge of a battery and a decrease according to charge of the battery and represents start of deterioration of the battery when exceeding a specific reference value. Such prohibition of the engine operation stop prevents a stop of the engine within a relatively short time period after a start of the engine based on the deterioration factor. This arrangement effectively prevents the driver from feeling odd and uncomfortable due to frequent stops and starts of the engine based on the deterioration factor, which is not apparently correlated to the driver's accelerating operations. | 08-13-2009 |
20090216430 | AUTOMATIC VEHICLE START/STOP CONTROL METHOD - A method of managing the degraded modes of a system for the automatic starting/stopping of a heat engine of a vehicle, whereby the system receives information supplied by measurement and detection sensors and by a bus for the communication of vehicle operating data. The method comprises the following steps consisting in verifying the presence and validity of the information supplied by the sensors and, in the event of a negative result, defining a first degraded mode in which any stopping phase of the automatic start/stop mode is forbidden until an end-of-restriction condition has been fulfilled, and, in the even of a positive result, testing the communication with the data communication bus and, in the event of a negative result, defining a second degraded mode in which the automatic start/stop mode is inhibited until an end-of-inhibition condition has been fulfilled. | 08-27-2009 |
20090248282 | Stop Position Control Apparatus for Internal Combustion Engine - An engine model is configured so as to include a crankshaft periphery motion equations computing block, a friction model, an intake air pressure estimation model, an in-cylinder pressure estimation model, a combustion waveform calculation block, an atmospheric pressure correction term calculation block, and an atmospheric temperature correction term calculation block. While combustion is cut off, the friction model is learned and updated using estimated relating to the crank stop position calculated by the engine model and measured data relating to the crank stop position. | 10-01-2009 |
20090265084 | Valve control device and method for internal combustion engine - A valve control device performs control for eliminating or preventing fixation of an EGR valve ( | 10-22-2009 |
20090265085 | INTERNAL-COMBUSTION-ENGINE STOP DETERMINATION DEVICE - A device is provided with which it is made possible to rapidly determine that an internal combustion engine is in a stop state and to prevent an erroneous determination of starting. In a stop determination device provided with a detection unit that detects the rotation direction of the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, it is determined that the internal combustion engine is in a stop state, in the case where a signal from the detection unit is not inputted for a predetermined time or in the case where a rotation-direction signal from the detection unit continuously reverses thrice or more times. Additionally, in the case where, from the detection unit, a signal of the same rotation direction is continuously inputted twice or more times, a determination that an internal combustion engine is in a stop state is cancelled. | 10-22-2009 |
20090287399 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A COMBUSTION ENGINE DURING A TEMPORARY STOPPAGE - A method for controlling, during temporary stoppage, a four-stroke combustion engine including a block delimiting cylinders which define combustion chambers equipped with pistons into which opens an intake pipe and an exhaust pipe, both provided with valves that can move between open and closed positions. The method involves detecting conditions of a temporary stoppage of the engine and commanding the exhaust valves to be kept in the closed position once the engine has gone through an intake phase during the last engine cycle prior to the stoppage. | 11-19-2009 |
20090292453 | Control Unit for Controlling an Automatic Shut-Off and /or Start-up Process of a Vehicle Power Plant - A control unit and method are provided for controlling an automatic shut-off process of a vehicle power plant in a motor vehicle, wherein the control unit emits a shut-off signal for initiating corresponding shut-off measures for automatically shutting off the vehicle power plant, when predetermined shut-off request conditions are fulfilled, and no predetermined shut-off inhibiting condition is fulfilled. The control unit sends to a memory unit a memory signal for storing at least one memory entry, allocated to a shut-off inhibiting condition, when predetermined conditions are fulfilled. In an analogous manner, a control unit and method are designed for controlling an automatic start-up process. | 11-26-2009 |
20090312940 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY TURNING OFF A VEHICLE - The present invention relates to a system and method for turning off a vehicle when in an idle state. The system comprises a stationary state detector for detecting a stationary state of the vehicle and a timer for measuring a period during which a stationary state is detected. In addition to this, the system further comprises a presence sensor for sensing the presence of a driver in the vehicle and an engine cutoff for turning off the fuel engine. Moreover, the system comprises a controller for processing an input from the stationary state detector, an input from the timer and an input from the presence sensor. The controller is adapted to activate the engine cutoff when the stationary state is detected for a period of time that is greater than a period threshold and when the presence sensor senses that the driver is present. | 12-17-2009 |
20090319161 | Method for Controlling an Automatic Shut-Off Process and/or Start-Up Process of an Internal Combustion Engine in a Motor Vehicle - A method controls an automatic shut-off process of an internal combustion engine having a start/stop device, when predetermined shut-off conditions are satisfied by corresponding influential variables, and controls a start-up process, when predetermined start-up conditions are satisfied by corresponding influential variables. Variables influencing the evaluation of the shut-off and/or start-up conditions include the presence of a vehicle key, the state of a tank ventilation system, the fuel tank fill level, the state of a diesel particulate filter, an activity state of a workshop mode, works mode, service mode and/or production mode, the current ambient temperature outside the vehicle, an evaluation of a device for detecting the occupancy, the detection of a cylinder synchronization process, an activity state of a driving speed control system, an auto hold function in vehicles with automatic transmissions, an electric parking brake, and/or a hill hold function. | 12-24-2009 |
20090326790 | VOICE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A STOP/START DEVICE - The invention relates to a control device for a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a stop/start device, and to a method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in such a motor vehicle, wherein the stop/start device is designed to switch off the internal combustion automatically when at least one stop condition is met, wherein the switching off of the internal combustion engine when the stop condition is present does not take place until after a switch off delay time has passed. The control device is designed to prevent, in reaction to a first voice command, the automatic switching off of the internal combustion engine for a predefined time period and/or until a predefined vehicle operating state criterion has been fulfilled irrespective of whether or not the stop condition was already met at the time when the voice command was issued. | 12-31-2009 |
20100030456 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF ENGINE DURING IDLE SHUTDOWN - A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine of a vehicle during an automatic shutdown process, in particular to cool the engine to a predetermined safe shutdown temperature, includes the steps of determining that vehicle-idle conditions exist and whether an engine-associated temperature exceeds a predetermined first threshold temperature value, for which a cooling fan is operated to cool the engine, or higher second threshold temperature, for which at least one of the cooling fan and a coolant pump is operated above idle levels and the engine speed may be increased above idle to cool the engine. Cooling fan and/or coolant pump operation is reduced when the engine temperature is determined to have decreased to below the first threshold temperature value. Finally, engine shutdown is completed when predetermined shutdown conditions are fulfilled. | 02-04-2010 |
20100036590 | ENGINE STOP CONTROL DEVICE - Target rotation speed at a reference point, which is set at a top dead center (TDC) preceding a target stop position of engine rotation by a predetermined crank angle, is set. A target trajectory of an engine rotation behavior extending since an engine rotation stop behavior starts until the target rotation speed at the reference point is reached is calculated based on the target rotation speed at the reference point and an engine friction. Torque of an alternator (electric machinery) is controlled to conform the engine rotation behavior to the target trajectory during the engine rotation stop behavior. The target rotation speed at the reference point is set to rotation speed that is equal to or lower than lower limit rotation speed of a rotation speed range, where the torque of the alternator is generated, and that is close to the lower limit rotation speed. | 02-11-2010 |
20100036591 | ENGINE STOP CONTROL APPARATUS - When an engine stop demand is generated and an engine speed is less than or equal to a specified value Ne | 02-11-2010 |
20100042310 | ENGINE OIL LEVEL DETECTION SYSTEM - An oil level detection apparatus having a float-type oil level detector ( | 02-18-2010 |
20100042311 | ENGINE AUTOMATIC STOP-START CONTROLLER - A first ignition cylinder that performs ignition first is set based on an engine stop position in automatic start. Existence/nonexistence of a misfire in the first ignition cylinder is determined based on whether a difference ΔNe between engine rotation speed at a predetermined crank angle in an interval from timing immediately before the ignition to timing immediately after the ignition of the first ignition cylinder (e.g., at TDC of first ignition cylinder) and engine rotation speed at a predetermined crank angle before ignition of a second ignition cylinder (e.g., at TDC of second ignition cylinder) is equal to or smaller than a predetermined misfire determination threshold value Nef. When misfire time number of the first ignition cylinder exceeds a predetermined value, fuel supply to the first ignition cylinder is prohibited and the automatic start is started from the second ignition cylinder. | 02-18-2010 |
20100063713 | DUAL ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT SEQUENCING - A system includes a cylinder selection module and a valve deactivation module. The cylinder selection module selects cylinders of an engine for active fuel management. The valve deactivation module deactivates intake valves of selected cylinders of the engine before deactivating exhaust valves of the selected cylinders when an engine speed of the engine is less than or equal to a predetermined speed. | 03-11-2010 |
20100114461 | ENGINE SHUTDOWN CONTROL - Methods and systems are provided for controlling engine shutdown in a vehicle. One example method includes, after discontinuation of combustion and during engine spin down, reducing cylinder air charge while maintaining intake manifold pressure above a threshold value. | 05-06-2010 |
20100138139 | METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THERMAL COMFORT IN A VEHICLE UPON STOPPING AND STARTING THE ENGINE - A method for adjusting thermal comfort in a vehicle upon stopping and starting the engine. The method defines main conditions essentially relating to water temperature of the engine, to temperature inside the vehicle, to windshield fogging risk, and to risk of odors in the evaporator of the air-conditioning loop. The engine off period is limited on the basis of these conditions. This limitation can be implemented by a prohibition to stop the engine or by restarting the engine. | 06-03-2010 |
20100152995 | Method and device for operating an engine start-stop function for the driving engine of a motor vehicle - In a method for operating an engine start-stop function for an engine of a motor vehicle, the engine start-stop function executes engine start-stop interventions in the form of an automatic shutting down and a subsequent automatic switching on of the engine, as a function of one or more vehicle states. An engine start-stop intervention determined by the engine start-stop function is selectively prevented as a function of a statement on the number of starting procedures of the engine carried out. | 06-17-2010 |
20100168992 | IDLE STOP CONTROLLER - An idle stop controller includes an idle stop mechanism | 07-01-2010 |
20100174473 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ASSISTED DIRECT START CONTROL - Method and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle system including an engine that is selectively deactivated during engine idle-stop conditions. One example method comprises, adjusting a brake torque applied to a deactivated rotating engine after an engine restart request, the brake torque applied to slow the engine to at least a predetermined threshold speed without stopping the engine, and engaging a starter to the still rotating engine to increase the engine speed and restart the engine. | 07-08-2010 |
20100179747 | LOW-LEVEL OIL SENSOR - A low fluid sensor for an internal combustion engine. The sensor includes a base with helically threaded post and a float slidably mounted on the post. The float rotates about the post as it moves longitudinally along it. In the preferred embodiment, eccentric mounting of the assembly along with its lobe shape act in concert with the pitch of the screw threads and fluid viscosity to dampen the buoyant movement of the float against fluid turbulence. At a predetermined level a latch spring on the float contacts an ignition circuit terminal and grounds the engine ignition circuit. A catch holds the float at the pre-determined level, preventing engine starting, so that the sensor may only be reset by addition of fluid and re-insertion of the dipstick. | 07-15-2010 |
20100204908 | ENGINE STOP CONTROL DEVICE - Target rotation speed at a reference point set at TDC slightly preceding a target stop position of engine rotation is set. A target trajectory of an engine rotation behavior extending since an engine rotation stop behavior starts until the target rotation speed at the reference point is reached is calculated based on the target rotation speed at the reference point and an engine friction. Torque of an alternator is controlled to conform the engine rotation behavior to the target trajectory during the engine rotation stop behavior. Generation of the torque of the alternator stops at a position preceding the reference point by a predetermined crank angle. Therefore, the torque of the alternator is controlled such that an energy deviation between the target trajectory and the engine rotation behavior becomes zero at the position preceding the reference point by the predetermined crank angle. | 08-12-2010 |
20100211297 | COORDINATION OF VARIABLE CAM TIMING AND VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT ENGINE SYSTEMS - Systems and methods are provided for operating an internal combustion engine including a variable cam timing (VCT) mechanism in cooperation with a plurality of deactivatable cylinders, each cylinder with a plurality of cylinder valves. One example method comprises, operating at a first cylinder valve timing before a transition of reactivating deactivated cylinders, and, before the transition, advancing cylinder valve timing from the first valve timing, where after the transition the cylinder valve timing remains at a second valve timing, the second valve timing advanced relative to the first valve timing. | 08-19-2010 |
20100217507 | ABSOLUTE ACCELERATION SENSOR FOR USE WITHIN MOVING VEHICLES - A vehicle monitoring system for turning off an idling engine comprises a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect a lack of motion, or “stationary status” of a vehicle and emit a parameter correlated to the motion status of the vehicle, a transmission status detector configured to detect a transmission status of the vehicle, an alerting device capable of warning other drivers of a stationary status of the vehicle and a control device. The control device is coupled to the vehicle speed sensor, the transmission status detector and the alerting device, wherein the vehicle speed sensor and the transmission status detector send a signal to the control device and the control device operates in a manner dependent on the motion status of the vehicle and the transmission status of the vehicle. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217508 | METHOD FOR TREATEMENT OF A DRIVELINE - A method of operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle. The drivetrain comprises a drive aggregate formed as a hybrid drive with a combustion engine and an electric machine, and a transmission connected between the drive aggregate and a drive output. The drivetrain also comprises a pressure reservoir system with at least one pressure reservoir and at least one pressure generator by the combustion engine in order to fill the pressure reservoir. A pressure in the pressure reservoir of the pressure reservoir system is measured and a value of the actual pressure, in the pressure reservoir system, is compared with at least one threshold value. When the actual pressure value is higher than a threshold value, stopping of the combustion engine is permitted, whereas if the actual pressure value is lower than the threshold value, stopping of the combustion engine is not permitted. | 08-26-2010 |
20100222991 | METHOD FOR OPERATING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - In a method for operating an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, the internal combustion engine can be operated with a start/stop system. The motor vehicle has a brake booster which generates an assisting force for assisting a braking force, wherein the brake booster is supplied by an under-pressure in an air inlet pipe of the internal combustion engine. In this context, it is detected when the pressure in the brake booster exceeds a threshold value which is determined in an open-loop and/or closed-loop control device. | 09-02-2010 |
20100235075 | control apparatus for internal combustion engine - In an apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle, it is configured to have a falling signal generator that generates a falling signal indicative of falling of the vehicle when the vehicle falls; an operation stopper that stops operation of the engine in response to the generated falling signal; and a suspender that suspends processing of the operation stopper to stop the operation of the engine until a predetermined time period elapses. With this, when the falling of the vehicle is not serious and the operator lifts the vehicle body within the predetermined time period, the operator can restart the vehicle to drive immediately after lifting the vehicle body. | 09-16-2010 |
20100250105 | ENGINE START CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A 720-degree motor stage storage means for holding the result of stroke discrimination for the engine E also in the period for carrying out an idle stop control is provided. At the time of restarting the engine E from an idle stop state, a new stroke discriminating processing is not conducted, but the result of stroke discrimination stored in the 720-degree motor stage storage means is used, to thereby drive a fuel injection system and an ignition device. A stage decision unit for allocating a period of two revolutions of a crankshaft to 720-degree motor stages based on the result of stroke discrimination, a fuel injection and ignition stage correlation table having predetermined correlations of 720-degree motor stages with fuel injection stages and ignition stages, and restarting time motor stage conversion means for conversion of a 720-degree motor stage into a fuel injection stage and an ignition stage, are provided. | 09-30-2010 |
20100262357 | ANTI IDLING CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLED ENGINE SHUTDOWN - A system is provided for automatically shutting off a running internal combustion engine after a predetermined length of idle time has occurred, for installation into a vehicle having electronic diagnostic and control computers incorporated to the vehicle. A first switching apparatus is provided, having open and closed modes for disabling and enabling the ignition system respectively. A second switching apparatus is provided, having open and closed modes for disabling and enabling the ignition system. A data collection device receives data from the connected vehicle diagnostic port including: battery level, engine RPM, vehicle speed, door ajar status, ambient temperature, handbrake status and brake pedal position. A computer is programmed to determine if the data from the diagnostic port set up the prerequisites to safe shutdown engine running operation, and to signal the first and second switching apparatuses to shut down the vehicle engine. | 10-14-2010 |
20100312460 | ECO-RUN CONTROL DEVICE AND ECO-RUN CONTROL METHOD - An eco-run control unit performs an eco-run control of stopping an engine mounted on a vehicle automatically on the basis of stop conditions and of restarting the engine automatically on the basis of restart conditions while the engine is stopped automatically by the eco-run control. An acquiring unit acquires information for identifying a vehicle type of the vehicle on which the eco-run control device is mounted. A determining unit determines whether the identified vehicle type is coincident with any of vehicle types stored in a storage unit. A setting unit sets the eco-run control to a specific control depending on one of the vehicle types when the determining unit determines that the identified vehicle type is coincident with the one of the stored vehicle types. The setting unit sets the eco-run control to a default control corresponding to a default vehicle type and permit the eco-run control unit to stop the engine automatically until a determination of the determination unit is completed. The setting unit prohibits the eco-run control unit from stopping the engine automatically when the determining unit determines that the identified vehicle type is different from any of the stored vehicle types. | 12-09-2010 |
20100318283 | AUTOMATIC START AND STOP OF A PORTABLE ENGINE DRIVEN POWER SOURCE - The present embodiments provide a control system and method that is able to automatically start and/or stop a portable engine-driven power source. For example, in one embodiment, a system includes an engine-driven power source having an engine, a compressor driven by the engine, a sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a demand for air pressure from the compressor and a second signal indicative of no demand for air pressure from the compressor. The engine-driven power source also includes a controller configured to stop the engine in response to the second signal. | 12-16-2010 |
20110029221 | CONTROL METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR ENGINE - One example method for an engine having an automatic stopping function in which the engine is automatically stopped when a predetermined engine stopping condition is satisfied, and then the engine is automatically restarted when a predetermined engine restarting condition is satisfied, includes the following: a first step for driving a motor so as to increase an engine rotating speed of the engine up to a predetermined rotating speed and maintain the engine rotating speed, in a case in which a predetermined first condition is satisfied when the engine rotating speed is below the predetermined rotating speed during automatic engine stopping; and a second step for restarting a fuel supply into the engine in a case in which a predetermined second condition is satisfied after the first step is executed. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029222 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING CYLINDER DEACTIVATION - A method of controlling a cylinder deactivation system is disclosed. Information from one or more sensors is received by a control unit. The control unit compares the current values of a parameter with one or more prohibited ranges in order to determine if cylinder deactivation should be prohibited. The one or more prohibited ranges are discrete ranges, each with a lower limit and an upper limit. | 02-03-2011 |
20110040477 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WITH AN AUTOMATIC ENGINE CUT-OFF AND STARTING SYSTEM - In a control method suitable for an internal combustion engine ( | 02-17-2011 |
20110054765 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RESTARTING AN ENGINE - 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. | 03-03-2011 |
20110060516 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REDUCING OPERATING ERRORS IN A VARIABLE VALUE ACTUATION SYSTEM - A method and control module for controlling an engine includes a lift command module that commands a first lift state after detecting an engine shut-down signal and a shut-down delay determination module that determines a shut-down delay period, that continues spark and fuel control before the shut-down delay period and that ends spark and fuel control to shut down the engine after the shut-down delay period. | 03-10-2011 |
20110066359 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMIZING ENGINE ON/OFF CYCLING IN A VEHICLE - A method is provided for optimizing the cycling frequency between engine on/off states in a vehicle having a controller and auto start/auto stop functionality. The method includes detecting an engine state cycling event, measuring a plurality of vehicle operating values, and using the controller to optimize the cycling frequency via at least one of: automatically adjusting an interval between an auto start event and an auto stop event when each of a first set of the vehicle operating values exceeds a corresponding threshold, and temporarily inhibiting the auto start/auto stop functionality when any value in a second set of the vehicle operating values falls outside of a hysteresis band created around the second set. A vehicle includes an engine and a controller having an algorithm for optimizing the cycling frequency between engine on/off states as set forth above. | 03-17-2011 |
20110106413 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IDLING CONTROL OF A VEHICLE - An idling control apparatus for a vehicle includes an engine control unit for determining an idling state of the vehicle, in which the vehicle is stopped while an engine is in a turned-on state, to control the engine of the vehicle based on information of a traffic signal. The engine control unit maintains the turned-on state of the engine or turns off the engine depending on a residual time of the traffic signal when it is determined that the vehicle is in the idling state. Further, the engine control unit turns off the engine of the vehicle when a stop time of the vehicle is longer than a predetermined idling time limit, wherein the stop time is calculated by subtracting from a point in current time by a point in time at which it is determined that the vehicle is in the idling state. | 05-05-2011 |
20110130945 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLES CARRYING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS - A system and method for controlling navigation of a vehicle carrying hazardous materials includes a control module carried on-board the vehicle storing an information matrix containing hazardous material classifications associated with the identity and location of restricted sites. Each site and material pair has associated with it a control zone around it from which the hazardous material is restricted. The control module includes a positioning device that produces a signal indicating the vehicle's current position, which is compared to the coordinates for the control zones. If the vehicle crosses into a control zone, the system generates a warning to the operator. Further penetration causes the system to order a shutdown of the vehicle engine to prevent further movement. | 06-02-2011 |
20110160985 | IN-VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS - An in-vehicle control apparatus includes: a first controlling part that controls a controlled object by using data stored in a volatile memory part; and a second controlling part that transmits an abnormality notice signal to the first controlling part when an abnormality occurs in the vehicle. The first controlling part identifies: the type of the abnormality occurring as a first abnormality when the abnormality notice signal represents the first abnormality and the data stored in the volatile memory part is initialized; the type of the abnormality occurring as a second abnormality when the abnormality notice signal represents an abnormality other than the first abnormality and the data stored in the volatile memory part is initialized; and the type of the abnormality occurring as a third abnormality when the abnormality notice signal represents the third abnormality. | 06-30-2011 |
20110172900 | Controller for Idle Stop System - When a request for re-start of an engine or a request for start occurs during inertial revolution of the engine by fuel cut at the time of request for idle stop, an operation of starting by re-start of fuel injection and an operation of driving the starter overlap, and a problem is likely to occur in wear resistance and durability of a ring gear and a pinion gear. Further, since collision torque becomes large, a collision sound of the ring gear and the pinion gear and a mesh sound which occurs at the instant of connection are likely to occur. The present invention changes a method of starter drive based on a behavior of engine revolution after a request for re-start of the engine or a request for start occurs during inertial revolution of the engine by fuel cut at the time of request for idle stop, and combustion recovery is implemented by an engine combustion recovery function, or an engine state or the like at the time of occurrence of change of mind, in a controller of a vehicle having an idle stop function. | 07-14-2011 |
20110196596 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PREVENTING WATER DAMAGE IN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES - A method for preventing a water impact in an internal combustion engine includes: detecting whether water has entered an air supply system of the internal combustion engine; and stopping the internal combustion engine if it is determined that water has entered. | 08-11-2011 |
20110202262 | METHOD FOR STARTING AN ENGINE - A method for improving starting of an engine that may be repeatedly stopped and started is presented. In one embodiment, the method skips combustion in at least one cylinder, according to the engine combustion order, to control engine speed when an engine is automatically restarted. The skipped combustion event may be related to a level of IMEP when combustion in a cylinder occurs under an operating condition. | 08-18-2011 |
20110208410 | IDLING STOP DEVICE, POWER CONTROL METHOD, DETERIORATION NOTIFICATION METHOD AND BATTERY CHARGING METHOD - 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. | 08-25-2011 |
20110208411 | STOP CONTROL SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A stop control system for an internal combustion engine, which controls a stop position of a piston of the engine, is provided. An valve opening amount of an intake air flow rate control valve is determined based on the detected engine rotational speed and the detected crank angle after the ignition switch is turned off, and the intake air flow rate control valve is controlled so that the valve opening amount of the intake air flow rate control valve coincides with the determined valve opening amount. For example, the valve opening amount of the intake air flow rate control valve is determined according to the crank angle at the time the engine rotational speed decreases to reach a predetermined range, and the intake air flow rate control valve is controlled to be opened. With this control, the intake air amount of the engine is increased so that the stop position of the piston coincides with the desired position. | 08-25-2011 |
20110224890 | IDLING STOP DEVICE, ENGINE START SYSTEM, AND ENGINE START METHOD - An idling stop device is mounted on a vehicle and automatically stops and starts an engine of the vehicle. A microcomputer has an idling stop function of automatically stopping the engine 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 minimum operating voltage of the microcomputer. A storage unit stores voltage reduction information irrespective of a state of the microcomputer if the power voltage is lower than the minimum operating voltage. A power control unit causes a capacitor which stores electric charges corresponding to power for driving a starter motor of the engine to supply power to the starter motor when the engine is started, if the voltage reduction information is stored in the storage unit. | 09-15-2011 |
20110264359 | ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STOPPING ENGINE AT DESIRED ENGINE STOPPING POSITION - An engine control system and method includes an air conditioner compressor operatively connected to an engine for generating a counter torque to the engine and when actuated. An ECU is operatively connected to the compressor. The ECU actuates the compressor when the engine is turned off, engine speed of the engine is less than a predetermined engine speed, and an engine rotational position is within a predetermined range of top dead center for the engine. | 10-27-2011 |
20110270512 | AUTOMATIC STOP AND RESTART DEVICE FOR AN ENGINE - Provided is an automatic stop and restart device for an engine that is capable of suppressing occurrence of an abnormal condition even if a transmission state is changed during an engine restart process after an engine restart condition is satisfied in an automatic engine stop process. A controller performs the automatic engine stop process and the engine restart process. If a determined state of a transmission is a drive range, a transmission state determination unit drives a pinion gear thrust unit at timing determined by a first pinion gear thrust timing determination unit. If the determined state of the transmission is a non-drive range, the transmission state determination unit drives the pinion gear thrust unit at timing determined by a second pinion gear thrust timing determination unit. | 11-03-2011 |
20110288752 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING STOPPED ENGINE CRANK ANGLE - An engine control system, controller, and method for estimating a stopped engine crank angle of an internal combustion engine. Typical crank sensors do not output a reliable crank signal when the engine is about to stop, and do not indicate crank direction which is necessary to determine if engine bounce-back occurs. A crank sensor signal is analyzed as the engine coasts to a stop so that a coast-down model can be adjusted to accurately estimate the stopped engine crank angle. A bounce-back model is also used to estimate an engine bounce-back angle and so make further corrections to the estimated stopped engine crank angle. | 11-24-2011 |
20110288753 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING TIMING AT WHICH IGNITION IS STOPPED WHEN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE BECOMES STOPPED - 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. A device for controlling the timing at which ignition is stopped when an internal combustion engine becomes stopped is provided with: a means for sending, depending on the rotational speed (NE) of the internal combustion engine detected by a rotational speed sensor decreasing to a level lower than or equal to a predetermined value (Np) after the ignition ( | 11-24-2011 |
20110295494 | CONTROLLED ENGINE SHUTDOWN SYSTEM FOR A STOP-START SYSTEM AND A HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE - An engine system includes a stop-start module that generates a shut down signal to shut down an engine. A friction module that generates a friction signal based on the engine shut down signal. The friction signal indicates an estimate of a sum of friction forces between components of the engine. A position module estimates a position of the engine and generates a position signal. An energy module estimates kinetic energy of the engine based on the friction signal and the position signal. A cylinder deactivation module stops the engine based on the kinetic energy in at least one of (i) a predetermined position and (ii) a predetermined range. | 12-01-2011 |
20110295495 | INTAKE MANIFOLD REFILL AND HOLDING CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS - 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. | 12-01-2011 |
20110313643 | Internal Combustion Engine with Cylinders that can be De-Activated, with Exhaust Gas Recirculation by Variable Control of the Intake Valves, and Method for Controlling an Internal Combustion Engine - A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is provided with a system for the variable actuation of the intake valves. At least one part of the engine cylinders is deactivated, cutting off fuel supply to said cylinders, under operating conditions that do not require the maximum power of the engine and in which one wants to reduce fuel consumption. The intake valves of the deactivated cylinders are kept at least partly open during at least one part of the discharge stages in the deactivated cylinders, hence, in the deactivated cylinders, part of the burnt gases generated during the operation prior to the deactivation flows into the respective intake conduits during the discharge stage of each cylinder. The intake valves are closed after the discharge stage. The intake valves of the deactivated cylinders are further kept closed during the compression and expansion stages in each deactivated cylinder. | 12-22-2011 |
20120016573 | Engine Control For A Motor Vehicle - 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. | 01-19-2012 |
20120059571 | ENGINE AUTO-STOP VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - 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. | 03-08-2012 |
20120059572 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURE - 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. | 03-08-2012 |
20120095670 | INTELLIGENT ENGINE IDLE STOP LOGIC - A method of controlling an internal combustion engine of a vehicle may involve turning on the internal combustion engine, stopping the vehicle or while the vehicle is approaching a known potential stopping location, inquiring whether a first predetermined quantity of data samples exists in memory and further inquiring whether the first predetermined quantity of data samples corresponds to a specific time of day, of a specific day of the week, of a specific month of the year, for a specific GPS location, inquiring whether a second predetermined quantity of data samples exists in memory for the specific time of any day of the week for the specific GPS location, inquiring whether a third predetermined quantity of data samples exists for any single, specific time of day for any day of the week for the specific GPS location. Depending upon the reply to each of the above inquiries, the method may include turning off the internal combustion engine. | 04-19-2012 |
20120109502 | ENGINE AUTOMATIC STOP AND RESTART APPARATUS - When an engine automatic stop judgment unit ( | 05-03-2012 |
20120179357 | ROADWAY INFORMATION USE FOR ENGINE START/STOP SYSTEM - A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine. The vehicle includes a starter that engages with the engine to start the engine. The vehicle includes at least one sensor for detecting roadway information. A method of controlling the vehicle includes detecting roadway information with the at least one sensor while the vehicle is moving and the engine is running. The method further includes stopping the engine in the presence of a shutdown condition based on the roadway information, while the vehicle is moving. | 07-12-2012 |
20120209500 | Systems And Methods For Detecting That An Engine Is Being Operated In a Confined Space - In one embodiment, systems and methods for detecting when an engine is being operated in a confined space relate to monitor changes in engine operating parameters related to fuel injection pulse widths and determining whether or not the engine is being operated in a confined space based upon the monitored changes. | 08-16-2012 |
20120215429 | ENGINE STOP DETERMINATION DEVICE AND ENGINE STOP DETERMINATION METHOD - A cooling system for an engine in the present invention includes a first coolant route for circulating coolant between a water jacket of an engine main body and a heater core, a second coolant route for circulating the coolant between a waste heat recovery unit and the heater core, a first water-temperature sensor provided on the first coolant route, and a second water-temperature sensor provided on the second coolant route. An engine control unit makes an engine stop determination based on the coolant temperatures detected by the first water-temperature sensor and the second water-temperature sensor and, in making the engine stop determination, selectively uses the coolant temperatures detected by the first water-temperature sensor and the second water-temperature sensor in dependence on whether a heater unit including the heater core is in an operation state or in an out-of-operation state. | 08-23-2012 |
20120226433 | System and Method for Improving the Fuel Economy of a Vehicle Combustion Engine - A system and method using a frontal distance sensor for detecting an obstacle in front of a vehicle determines the distance between the front of the vehicle and an obstacle in front of the vehicle and calculates the relative speed between the vehicle and the obstacle. If the relative speed is below a value representing a safety risk and the vehicle is decelerating, it is determined that the combustion engine torque is not required because the vehicle will likely continue to decelerate, and the combustion engine is turned off, even before the vehicle has come to a complete stop. | 09-06-2012 |
20120253645 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - An engine control device, while executing a fuel-cut control, calculates a target intake air amount (Qat) from a basic intake air amount (Qabase) and an added intake air amount (Qaadd) commensurate with an accessory torque (step S | 10-04-2012 |
20120271537 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A control device for an internal combustion engine capable of controlling an intake-pipe pressure within a range which allows restartability to be ensured. A control device for an internal combustion engine includes: an idle-stop control section for restarting the engine in response to generation of a restart request; and an intake-air amount control section for setting a control amount of an intake system so that the intake air amount becomes zero when an intake-pipe pressure of the engine upon generation of the automatic stop request is higher than a predetermined pressure and setting the control amount of the intake system so that the intake air amount becomes larger than the amount upon generation of the automatic stop request, and then becomes zero when the intake-pipe pressure is lower than the predetermined pressure. | 10-25-2012 |
20120277982 | STOP/START CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES - An auto-stop/start system for a vehicle includes an object identification module, a distance determination module, and an auto-stop/start control module. The object identification module determines a location of an object that is in a path of the vehicle. The distance determination module determines a distance between the vehicle and the location of the object. The auto-stop/start control module selectively disables provision of fuel to an engine of the vehicle while an ignition system of the vehicle is ON based on the distance. | 11-01-2012 |
20120283935 | Method for Informng the Driver of a Vehicle Provided with a System for Automatically Stopping and Restarting the Engine in the Event an Automatic Stop is Unavailable - The invention relates to a method for informing, in a reassuring manner, the driver of a vehicle that is provided with a heat engine and a STT System for automatically stopping and restarting the engine. The method comprises the following steps: verifying that the driver requested the automatic engine stop; determining that the vehicle System does or does not allow the automatic stop; and if the automatic stop was properly requested and the vehicle System does not allow the automatic stop, informing the driver that not automatically stopping the engine is a normal operation. | 11-08-2012 |
20120303249 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - 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. | 11-29-2012 |
20120303250 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - EGR gas quantity information, which indicates a quantity of the EGR gas flowing into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, is obtained by an ECU. A combustion stop delay control operation, which delays execution of a combustion stop control operation, is executed by the ECU when the quantity of the EGR gas flowing into the cylinder is larger than a normal combustion determination threshold value. When the quantity of the EGR gas flowing into the cylinder becomes equal to or smaller than the normal combustion determination threshold value, the combustion stop control operation is enabled by the ECU. | 11-29-2012 |
20120310514 | METHOD FOR CHECKING THE OUTGASSING OF FUEL AND CONTROL UNIT - A control unit and a method for checking the outgassing of fuel from the lubricant of an internal combustion engine are provided, wherein, in a first method step, the outgassing of fuel from the lubricant is estimated on the basis of at least one operating parameter using a theoretical model during the normal operation of the internal combustion engine, and wherein, after the estimation of defined outgassing of fuel on the basis of the model, the outgassing of fuel is estimated in a second method step on the basis of at least one further operating parameter during a defined operating state. | 12-06-2012 |
20120310515 | AUTOMATIC SHUTDOWN SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES - A system for automatically shutting down an engine of a motor vehicle includes a plurality of status indicators, each providing status data in response to an operational parameter of the vehicle, wherein the status data from each of the status indicators has a predetermined status value. A controller is responsive to the status data and is configured to (1) sum the status values of the status data received by the controller to determine an aggregated status value, (2) compare the aggregated status value to a predetermined shutdown threshold value, and (3) provide a shutdown signal if the aggregated status value is at least equal to the shutdown threshold value for a predetermined time interval. An engine control unit in signal communication with the controller is operable to shut down the engine in response to the shutdown signal. | 12-06-2012 |
20120323471 | Logic-Based Sliding Door Interlock - A fuel door and a sliding door are on the same side of a vehicle. The sliding door has power locking and power child locking. To prevent the sliding door from interfering with the fuel door during refueling, a lock controller responds to the fuel door moving to the open position by 1) preserving a current outside locked or unlocked state and a current inside locked or unlocked state of the sliding door, 2) initiating or maintaining the outside locked state and inside locked state, and 3) after the fuel door moving to the closed position, restoring or maintaining the preserved current outside locked or unlocked state and the preserved current inside locked or unlocked state. | 12-20-2012 |
20130013174 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR COMMON RAIL FUEL SYSTEM MAINTENANCE HEALTH DIAGNOSTIC - 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 is provided. The method includes during a no-load condition of the engine, stopping fuel injection by a plurality of fuel injectors of the engine, closing a valve that is operable to control fuel flow to a fuel pump that pumps fuel to a common fuel rail, and setting a degradation condition in response to a fuel rail pressure decay rate of a fuel pressure in the common fuel rail being greater than a decay threshold after a first designated duration. | 01-10-2013 |
20130013175 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR COMMON RAIL FUEL SYSTEM DYNAMIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT - 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. | 01-10-2013 |
20130018569 | ELECTRIC CURRENT BASED ENGINE AUTO STOP INHIBIT ALGORITHM AND SYSTEM IMPLEMENTING SAMEAANM Sangameswaran; SangeethaAACI CantonAAST MIAACO USAAGP Sangameswaran; Sangeetha Canton MI USAANM Harpenau; Kevin RoyAACI Peachtree CityAAST GAAACO USAAGP Harpenau; Kevin Roy Peachtree City GA USAANM Pebley; KirkAACI NoviAAST MIAACO USAAGP Pebley; Kirk Novi MI USAANM Celinske; DavidAACI Wolverine LakeAAST MIAACO USAAGP Celinske; David Wolverine Lake MI USAANM Rademacher; Eric MichaelAACI Royal OakAAST MIAACO USAAGP Rademacher; Eric Michael Royal Oak MI US - A vehicle includes an engine and at least one controller. The at least one controller periodically determines an estimated current to be demanded by vehicle electrical loads during an auto stop of the engine, compares the estimated current with a threshold current, and inhibits an auto stop of the engine if the estimated current is greater than the threshold current for a predetermined period of time. | 01-17-2013 |
20130018570 | VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING START AND STOP OF AN ENGINE OF A VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN A HOOD OF THE ENGINE IS OPENAANM Moriya; KoukiAACI Aichi-gunAACO JPAAGP Moriya; Kouki Aichi-gun JP - A vehicle control apparatus includes: detecting means ( | 01-17-2013 |
20130030677 | DRIVE SYSTEM WITH AN APPARATUS FOR INTERRUPTING THE OPERATION IN THE CASE OF AN IMMINENT LACK OF OPERATING MEDIUM - A drive system has an engine, a tank container for storing an expendable operating medium for the engine, a filling-level monitoring apparatus for monitoring the filling level in the tank container and/or in a feed line from the tank container to the engine, and an interruption apparatus for interrupting the engine in the case of an imminent lack of operating medium. If the filling level drops below a predefined filling-level height, this is detected by the filling-level monitoring apparatus and reported to the interruption apparatus which thereupon interrupts the drive system. Drive systems which are designed in this way are suitable for use in equipment, for example, in civil engineering, where emptying of the fuel tank frequently occurs as a result of the extreme building-site operation. | 01-31-2013 |
20130054124 | Method Of Monitoring Check Valves Arranged In Gas Feed Lines Of A Gas Engine - A method of monitoring check valves ( | 02-28-2013 |
20130060453 | ENGINE SPEED BASED VALVETRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A system for a vehicle includes a trigger module, a fuel control module, and a cylinder control module. The trigger module generates a trigger when an engine speed is greater than a first predetermined speed. The first predetermined speed is greater than zero. The fuel control module cuts off fuel to cylinders of the engine in response to the generation of the trigger. The cylinder control module selectively disables opening of intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders in response to the generation of the trigger after the fuel is cut off. | 03-07-2013 |
20130080036 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING START OF COMPRESSION SELF-IGNITION ENGINE - A start control device includes: a compression self-ignition engine; fuel injection valves; a piston stop position detector; a starter motor; a controller for automatically stopping the engine when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied, and thereafter, when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied, restarting the engine by injecting fuel into the compression-stroke-in-stop cylinder; and an intake airflow amount adjuster. In automatically stopping the engine, the controller controls the intake airflow amount adjuster so that the intake airflow amount for a cylinder on an intake stroke between a final top dead center (TDC) of the cylinder immediately before the engine is stopped and an immediate previous TDC of the final TDC increases above an intake airflow amount for another cylinder on the intake stroke between a second previous TDC of the final TDC and the immediate previous TDC of the final TDC. | 03-28-2013 |
20130085657 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - A control device for a vehicle including an engine stop and start device includes a battery and a vehicle speed detecting unit and includes a battery current detecting unit, a battery temperature detecting unit, a deceleration state detecting unit, a fuel supply stop unit, an average charging current calculating unit, and an SOC estimating unit. The control device calculates, with the average charging current calculating unit, an average of a battery current in a predetermined time from detection of a stop of fuel supply to an engine in a deceleration state of the vehicle. The control device permits a stop of the engine when an SOC calculated by the SOC estimating unit is larger than a predetermined value. | 04-04-2013 |
20130085658 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a means for performing a model calculation to calculate, as an exhaust temperature calculation value, the temperature of exhaust gas in an exhaust branch tube at the time of starting an engine, using a model representing the temperature behavior of the exhaust gas in the exhaust branch tube during stop of an engine; and an exhaust temperature actual measurement value output means for detecting the temperature of exhaust gas in the exhaust branch tube, and outputting the detected temperature as an exhaust temperature actual measurement value, wherein the model includes at least one parameter. | 04-04-2013 |
20130090840 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE - In a method for operating a motor vehicle which includes a control device for automatically and driver independently switching at least one drive unit of the motor vehicle on or off at standstill, as a function of at least one item of position related road information which relates to the actual position of the motor vehicle on a road and the presence of at least one further boundary condition, only the at least one item of position related road information is determined and, when the at least one position related road information satisfies at least one road related criteria, the presence of the at least one further boundary condition is not queried. | 04-11-2013 |
20130096810 | ALTERNATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VEHICLE DECELERATION - A system for a vehicle includes a fuel control module and a voltage setting module. The fuel control module cuts off fuel to an engine during a deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO) event. During the DFCO event, the voltage setting module monitors a brake pedal position, sets a desired voltage to a first predetermined voltage when a brake pedal is not depressed, and sets the desired voltage to a second predetermined voltage when the brake pedal is depressed. The second predetermined voltage is greater than the first predetermined voltage. A regulator generates a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal based on the desired voltage and applies the PWM signal to an alternator. | 04-18-2013 |
20130096811 | STARTER AND STARTING METHOD OF COMPRESSION SELF-IGNITION ENGINE - When a compression self-ignition engine is automatically stopped, at the same time as fuel cut for stopping fuel injection from a fuel injection valve ( | 04-18-2013 |
20130110382 | ENGINE CONTROLLER AND ENGINE CONTROL METHOD | 05-02-2013 |
20130116913 | CONTROL APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR HYBRID SYSTEM - The invention relates to a control apparatus for a hybrid system that output engine drive force and electric motor drive force, and selectively performs an engine operation mode in which at least the engine is operated, and an engine operation stop mode in which engine operation is stopped. In cases where release of vaporized fuel captured in a vaporized-fuel capturing/releasing device is required, when the engine is being operated, release of vaporized fuel is started if there is no abnormality in the vaporized-fuel capturing/releasing device, and operation of the engine is continued to release the vaporized fuel until condition for terminating release of the vaporized fuel is satisfied; and in cases where release of the vaporized fuel is required, when the engine is not being operated, operation of the engine is started and release of the vaporized fuel is started if there is no abnormality in the vaporized-fuel capturing/releasing device. | 05-09-2013 |
20130116914 | VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM - A vehicle control system includes an alternator configured to generate power by driven by torque transmitted from an engine as a power source of a vehicle and capable of adjusting a power generation amount, wherein the power generation amount of the alternator is controlled based on physical amounts which change in accordance with an accelerator operation of a driver while a fuel cut control, which stops a supply of a fuel to the engine, is being performed during traveling. | 05-09-2013 |
20130124071 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A START-STOP SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND A MOTOR VEHICLE - A method for operating a start-stop system of a motor vehicle, which is configured for turning of the engine the motor vehicle off in a standstill phase of the motor vehicle, wherein upon detecting traffic congestion, movement state information is received from additional road users located in front of the motor vehicle via the wireless communication device, the received movement state information is evaluated and used to determine therefrom congestion information describing dissipation and/or a movement phase of the traffic congestion. The engine is then automatically started and/or a message is outputted to the driver based on the determined congestion information. | 05-16-2013 |
20130124072 | AUTOMATIC STOPPING DEVICE AND AUTOMATIC STOPPING METHOD FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - When a first automatic stopping condition is established while a vehicle ( | 05-16-2013 |
20130131966 | ENGINE AUTOMATIC STOPPING DEVICE AND ENGINE AUTOMATIC STOPPING METHOD - An internal combustion engine ( | 05-23-2013 |
20130151129 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD - A vehicle control device for controlling a vehicle includes a drive source control unit adapted to output a command for automatically stopping a drive source when a first predetermined condition is satisfied and output a command for restarting the drive source when a second predetermined condition is not satisfied after the command for automatically stopping the drive source is output, a drive source restart determination unit adapted to determine that the drive source has restarted when a third predetermined condition is satisfied after the command for restarting the drive source is output, and a restart determination prohibition unit adapted to prohibit a restart determination by the drive source restart determination unit at least until the third predetermined condition is no longer satisfied when the third predetermined condition is satisfied and the command for restarting the drive source is output. | 06-13-2013 |
20130151130 | IDLE REDUCTION CONTROLLER FOR ENGINE - When a vehicle speed is decreased to a first deceleration threshold value which is greater than zero, an idle reduction controller executes a first engine-shut-down to automatically shut down an engine. In a monitoring period from when the vehicle speed falls below a second deceleration threshold value which is greater than the first deceleration threshold value until when the vehicle speed becomes the first deceleration threshold value, when a steering operation is conducted by a driver, the first engine-shut-down is prohibited. Then, when the vehicle speed exceeds the second deceleration threshold value, a prohibition of the first engine-shut-down is canceled. | 06-13-2013 |
20130158842 | CONTROL DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR ENGINE, AND VEHICLE - When a predetermined stop condition is satisfied, an engine is stopped. When a predetermined start condition is satisfied, a motor in a starter is driven and the engine is started. When a voltage of a battery for supplying electric power to the motor becomes lower than a threshold value while the motor is driven, stoppage of the engine is thereafter restricted. The threshold value increases as an engine rotation speed at the time when the motor is driven increases. | 06-20-2013 |
20130158843 | IDLE STOP CONTROL DEVICE, VEHICLE, IDLE STOP CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A vehicle can reverse immediately after setting a no idling state in accordance with a simple operational procedure. An idle reduction control unit set the engine into a no idling state if the key switch is on, the brake is operated, the vehicle speed is zero, and the shift position is in the drive range; and restarts the engine if the braking operation is released and the shift position is in the drive range when the engine is in the no idling state. The idle reduction control unit also restarts the engine if the shift position is shifted from the drive range to the neutral range while the brake is still being operated when the engine is in the no idling state. | 06-20-2013 |
20130166185 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A control device for an internal combustion engine includes: a variable valve timing mechanism that changes a valve timing by pressure of hydraulic fluid; and a control unit that controls a change of the valve timing. The control unit sets an engine stop request-time target valve timing that is a target valve timing at the time when a request for an engine stop is issued, starts control for changing the valve timing such that the valve timing coincides with the engine stop request-time target valve timing and causes the internal combustion engine to operate at an idle at the time when the request for the engine stop is issued, starts a process of stopping the operation of the internal combustion engine at the time when the valve timing has reached a predetermined valve timing, and sets the predetermined valve timing on the basis of a temperature of the hydraulic fluid. | 06-27-2013 |
20130173142 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE - A vehicle control device includes an engine that is a power source of a vehicle, an electrical storage device, a starting device connected to the electrical storage device and configured to consume electrical power to start the engine, and a power steering device connected to the electrical storage device and configured to consume electrical power to generate an assist torque, wherein an engine stop control of causing the engine to be in a stopped state is executable during travelling of the vehicle, and the engine stop control is prohibited in at least one of time of turning of the vehicle, time of steering of the vehicle during travelling, and time of generating an assist torque during travelling. | 07-04-2013 |
20130179053 | VEHICLE CONTROLLER - A vehicle controller includes an engine, a hydraulic brake device that applies a brake force to a vehicle in response to operation of a driver, and a brake booster that assists the braking operation of the driver by a negative pressure generated by drive of the engine. An ECU can automatically stop the engine according to a running state of the vehicle, can automatically start the engine when the negative pressure of the brake booster decreases below the predetermined negative pressure determination value, which has been set in advance, when the engine is in the automatic stop state, and can change the negative pressure determination value according to kinetic energy of the vehicle running in the automatic stop state of the engine. | 07-11-2013 |
20130184975 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING ENGINE SHUT DOWN - A method of shutting down an engine determines whether an ignition key is in a first shutdown position. An exhaust gas recirculation valve closes when the ignition key is in the first shutdown position. The engine runs for a predetermined period of time after the exhaust gas recirculation valve is closed. The engine shuts down after running the engine for the predetermined period of time. | 07-18-2013 |
20130197787 | ENGINE RESTART CONTROL DEVICE - There is provided an engine restart control device. A controller is configured to stop an engine which is adapted to generate a driving force for running a vehicle when a predetermined stop condition is met and configured to restart the engine when a predetermined restart condition is met after stopping the engine. A steering torque detector is configured to detect a steering torque of a steering wheel which is adapted to be operated by a driver. The controller includes an origin torque setting unit configured to set the steering torque detected by the steering torque detector when the predetermined stop condition is met and the engine is stopped as an origin torque. The controller restarts the engine when the steering torque detected by the steering torque detector exceeds a predetermined threshold with reference to the origin torque set by the origin torque setting unit. | 08-01-2013 |
20130204512 | ENGINE CONTROL APPARATUS PERFORMING AUTOMATIC ENGINE RESTART FOR ENSURING BRAKE BOOSTER ASSISTANCE AFTER AUTOMATIC ENGINE STOP - On a vehicle equipped with a vacuum-assist type of brake booster utilizing the intake air pressure of the vehicle engine, an engine control apparatus automatically stops the engine under certain conditions and subsequently automatically restarts the engine if it is determined that the brake booster pressure has fallen below a predetermined value. The engine control apparatus also effects such automatic restarting if a predetermined maximum time interval has elapsed since the automatic engine stop occurred. This ensures that even when the booster pressure value cannot be reliably obtained after an automatic engine stop has occurred, the engine will be restarted before the booster pressure falls excessively. | 08-08-2013 |
20130211697 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE START-UP OF A VEHICLE COMPRISING AN ENGINE START-STOP SYSTEM - The invention relates to a method for controlling the start-up of a vehicle comprising an engine start-stop System, said method including the actuation ( | 08-15-2013 |
20130211698 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RESTARTING AN ENGINE - 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. | 08-15-2013 |
20130226439 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ENGINE - Methods and systems for controlling an engine that may be automatically stopped and started are presented. In one example, a method adjusts an amount of current to an electric device applying torque to an engine to adjust an amount of air that is pumped through the engine to a catalyst. The methods and systems may reduce engine emissions. | 08-29-2013 |
20130231848 | START-STOP RETROFIT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A start-stop retrofit kit includes a start-stop module configured to monitor one or more parameters of a vehicle, configured to automatically stop an engine of the vehicle when the vehicle is idling during operation, and configured to automatically start the engine when the vehicle is not idling during operation. The retrofit kit further includes a wire harness configured to couple the start-stop module to a switch disposed between a starter motor and an ignition of the engine of the vehicle, wherein the switch is disposed in parallel with an existing connection between the ignition and the starter motor. | 09-05-2013 |
20130231849 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - In a method for stopping an internal combustion engine, a quantity of air supplied to the internal combustion engine via an air-metering device, e.g., a throttle valve, is reduced after a stop request has been determined, and the quantity of air supplied to the internal combustion engine via the air-metering device is increased again when a detected speed of the internal combustion engine falls below a predefinable speed threshold value. The predefinable speed threshold value is increased when, after the metered quantity of air is increased up to stopping of the internal combustion engine, an intake cylinder no longer passes through a bottom dead center. | 09-05-2013 |
20130231850 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICULAR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A control apparatus for a vehicle, includes a condition that parking assist control not being performed as a stop condition of an internal combustion engine in automatic stop control, and prohibits automatic stop control of the automatic transmission while parking assist control is being executed. | 09-05-2013 |
20130238224 | ENGINE AUTOMATIC STOP/RESTART DEVICE - An engine automatic stop/restart device includes an ignition-prohibition-decision unit that prohibits an ignition for an engine, which is controlled by the ignition-control unit, when a reverse rotation of the engine is detected based on a crank-angle signal; and an ignition-prohibition-release-decision unit that releases an ignition prohibition, after the ignition is prohibited by the ignition-prohibition-decision unit; in which the ignition-prohibition-release-decision unit releases the ignition prohibition when regular rotational signals of the engine, of which count is greater than or equal to a predetermined count, is detected and an engine revolution number is greater than or equal to a predetermined revolution number, after the reverse rotation of the engine is detected, and before a crank is positioned at a compression top dead center of the engine. | 09-12-2013 |
20130238225 | ENGINE CONTROL APPARATUS - An engine control apparatus is provided for controlling an engine of a motor vehicle. The engine control apparatus is configured to automatically stop the engine by stopping combustion in the engine when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied and restart the engine by driving a starter when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied. The engine control apparatus includes a calculator and a condition changer. The calculator calculates an accumulated value by accumulating a starter deterioration-related value each time the engine is started or restarted by the starter; the accumulated value is indicative of the degree of deterioration of the starter. The condition changer changes, when the accumulated value has increased to reach a threshold value, the predetermined automatic stop condition so as to lower the frequency of the engine being automatically stopped and restarted and thereby suppress deterioration of the starter. | 09-12-2013 |
20130253805 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE - When a state in which fuel supply to a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is cut is recovered, since a vehicle control device starts the fuel supply by controlling the internal combustion engine at the time that a requested driving force that is being requested becomes the same as an actual driving force that is being actually generated, the vehicle control device can appropriately start the fuel supply when the fuel cut state is recovered. When, for example, the deviation between the requested driving force and the actual driving force becomes within a preset and predetermined range, as the time at which the requested driving force that is being requested becomes the same as the actual driving force that is being actually generated, the vehicle control device starts the fuel supply. | 09-26-2013 |
20130261940 | CONTROL DEVICE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - A control device of a motor vehicle, for controlling and/or regulating at least the operation of an internal combustion engine, wherein, before the execution of at least one defined function and/or during the execution of at least one defined function, the control device demands operation of the internal combustion engine in a defined operating state, and wherein, as a function of the length of time for which the respective defined function has not been executed and/or as a function of the length of time for which a defined operating state of the internal combustion engine has not occurred, the control device determines a defined characteristic variable, on the basis of which the control device, in a temporally variable manner, determines different and/or variable measures for influencing the operating state of the internal combustion engine. | 10-03-2013 |
20130268181 | Vehicle Control Device - A vehicle control device is provided with an idle reduction system for performing automatic stopping and automatic starting of the internal combustion engine, where the idle reduction system includes a starter that separately causes movement of a pinion gear and driving of a motor, and a semiconductor switching element that controls the movement of the pinion gear and the driving of the motor, the control device being provided with a means for detecting or estimating that the internal combustion engine reversely rotates in a process in which the internal combustion engine stops rotating and a means for inhibiting the driving of the motor by the semiconductor switching element for a predetermined period of time in the case where the reverse rotation is detected or estimated. | 10-10-2013 |
20130289854 | POWER SUPPLY DEGRADATION DETERMINATION APPARATUS - A power supply degradation determination apparatus which is mounted to the vehicle includes a controller and a DC-DC converter that control execution of a charge phase in which a capacitor capable of accumulating regenerative energy of the vehicle is charged and execution of a discharge phase in which the capacitor is discharged. The controller detects the internal resistance of the capacitor using the difference between the terminal voltage and the open circuit voltage of the capacitor during the execution of the discharge phase and the discharge current thereof, determines whether the internal resistance is a predetermined value or more, and delays the execution start of the discharge phase for a predetermined time when the internal resistance is determined to be the predetermined value or more. | 10-31-2013 |
20130297191 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR STOPPING AN ENGINE - Systems and methods for improving operation of a stop/start vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine throttle position is adjusted in response to whether or not a starter engages a flywheel during engine stopping. | 11-07-2013 |
20130297192 | Method for Diagnosing an Exhaust Gas Catalytic Converter and/or an Exhaust Gas Sensor of a Motor Vehicle Internal Combustion Engine - A method for diagnosing an exhaust gas catalytic convertor and/or an exhaust gas sensor arranged downstream and/or upstream of the exhaust gas catalytic convertor in an exhaust gas system of a motor vehicle internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is operated with an air/fuel mixture having a substoichiometric air/fuel ratio. The internal combustion engine is switched off and an unfired towed operation with disabled fuel supply is performed in which air drawn in by the internal combustion engine is conveyed through the exhaust gas system to the exhaust gas catalytic convertor and exhaust gas sensor. The internal combustion engine is then operated with a substoichiometric air/fuel ratio and a signal of the exhaust gas sensor is evaluated with regard to a predefinable evaluation criterion, the signal being provided at least in a period of time between switch-off and the subsequent self-running of the internal combustion engine. | 11-07-2013 |
20130297193 | HYBRID VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - A motor generator and a power converter are driven by an engine, to supply electric power to a power storage device. ECU causes the engine to start if SOC of the power storage device falls below a first threshold value, and causes the engine to stop if SOC exceeds a second threshold value which is larger than the first threshold value. During a vehicle stop, if SOC exceeds a third threshold value which is larger than the first threshold value and smaller than the second threshold value, ECU causes the engine to stop. | 11-07-2013 |
20130304359 | DIAGNOSIS METHOD - In an ordinary mode, when an abnormality diagnosis of a PM sensor attached to a downstream opening downstream of a filter is performed, the PM sensor is moved to a first upstream opening upstream of the filter, and an exhaust gas is discharged from an engine. An ECU stores a program for the abnormality diagnosis. In an abnormality diagnosis mode, the ECU diagnoses the PM sensor by comparing an output value of the PM sensor to a standard output after performing the program. The first upstream opening may be closed by a cover in the ordinary mode. | 11-14-2013 |
20130304360 | FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A fuel control system for controlling the purging of alternate fuel in an internal combustion engine at shutdown includes: at least one valve device configured to deliver a fuel supply to the engine; a first fuel source configured to provide a primary fuel to the valve device; a second fuel source configured to provide an alternate fuel to the valve device; and a controller connected to the valve device and adapted to be connected to an ignition system. The controller is configured to control the valve device responsive to a status of one of the engine and the ignition system. | 11-14-2013 |
20130304361 | AUTOMATIC STOP AND RESTART DEVICE FOR AN ENGINE - Provided is an automatic stop and restart device for an engine that is capable of suppressing occurrence of an abnormal condition even if a transmission state is changed during an engine restart process after an engine restart condition is satisfied in an automatic engine stop process. A controller performs the automatic engine stop process and the engine restart process. If a determined state of a transmission is a drive range, a transmission state determination unit drives a pinion gear thrust unit at timing determined by a first pinion gear thrust timing determination unit. If the determined state of the transmission is a non-drive range, the transmission state determination unit drives the pinion gear thrust unit at timing determined by a second pinion gear thrust timing determination unit. | 11-14-2013 |
20130311072 | POWER-STEERING CONTROL SYSTEM - In a power-steering control system installed in a vehicle, a state determiner determines whether an engine is in a state in which the engine is stopped. A steering-torque detector measures steering torque applied to a steering wheel by a driver of the vehicle. A controller holds the power steering motor in a ready state to generate the assist torque if it is determined that the engine is in the stop state and that the measured steering torque is equal to or higher than first threshold torque. | 11-21-2013 |
20130311073 | FUEL ALCOHOL CONTENT DETECTION VIA AN EXHAUST GAS SENSOR - Various systems and methods are described for an exhaust gas sensor coupled to an exhaust system of an engine. One example method comprises, during selected engine fueling conditions, alternating between applying different voltages to the sensor; and identifying an amount of alcohol in fuel injected to the engine based on sensor outputs at the different voltages. | 11-21-2013 |
20130317727 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A DIAGNOSTIC MODULE FOR AN EXHAUST GAS SENSOR - A method and apparatus for controlling a diagnostic module for an exhaust gas sensor in a vehicle is provided. The exhaust gas sensor is located in an exhaust pathway in the vehicle. The diagnostic module may be configured to perform a signal range verification of an oxygen sensor portion of the exhaust gas sensor. A controller is operatively connected to the exhaust gas sensor and to the vehicle engine. The controller disables the diagnostic module when one or more entry conditions are satisfied. The entry conditions may include requiring the engine speed to be greater than a fuel cut-off threshold, the fuel cut-off threshold being the engine speed at which the fuel to the engine is terminated. The entry conditions may include: no fuel being delivered to the engine; and a vehicle exhaust brake mode being activated such that the exhaust pathway from the engine is obstructed. | 11-28-2013 |
20130325303 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, BATTERY STATE MONITORING MODULE, AND VEHICLE SYSTEM - A semiconductor device has a first and a second external terminals coupled to power supply wiring that couples one end of a current detecting resistance and a power supply terminal of a battery, a third external terminal coupled to an other end of the current detecting resistance, and a control circuit for controlling an output of a second measurement current destined to the third external terminal, and measures a voltage difference between the first external terminal and the second external terminal. | 12-05-2013 |
20140005913 | ENGINE STARTUP METHOD | 01-02-2014 |
20140005914 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE | 01-02-2014 |
20140019030 | FUEL SHUT-OFF COMMAND WITH ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL - Methods and systems for disabling a fuel shut-off state of a vehicle. One method includes counting, by a controller, a number of transitions of an engine included in the vehicle between a fuel shut-off state and a fuel state, determining, by the controller, whether the number exceeds a predetermined threshold, and issuing a disable command, by the controller, to the engine included in the vehicle. The disable command causes the engine to exit a current fuel shut-off state. Another system includes a controller configured to determine whether acceleration is requested while an engine included in the vehicle is in a fuel shut-off state. When acceleration is requested while the vehicle is in a fuel shut-off state, the controller is configured to issue a disable command to the engine prior to issuing an acceleration command. The disable command causes the engine to exit the fuel shut-off state. | 01-16-2014 |
20140032085 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF AUGMENTING LOW OIL PRESSURE IN AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A system and method of providing supplementary oil flow to an oil circuit of an internal combustion engine is described. The primary oil supply is from a mechanical oil pump. The supplementary oil supply is provided using a control system, one or more sensors, and an electrical oil pump. The system is beneficial in circumstances where the mechanical oil pump provides insufficient oil flow, including during engine shutdown. | 01-30-2014 |
20140032086 | ENGINE START-STOP CONTROL STRATEGY FOR OPTIMIZATION OF CABIN COMFORT AND FUEL ECONOMY - 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. | 01-30-2014 |
20140039781 | NOX CONTROL DURING ENGINE IDLE-STOP OPERATIONS - 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. | 02-06-2014 |
20140046577 | INITIATING PREPARATIONS FOR ENGINE AUTOSTOP PRIOR TO VEHICLE STOP - A stop/start vehicle includes at least one controller that, in response to predicting a vehicle stop, initiates an engine pre-shutdown protocol such that vehicle subsystems begin to prepare for engine shutdown prior to a speed of the vehicle reaching approximately zero to reduce time between the speed of the vehicle reaching approximately zero and engine shutdown. | 02-13-2014 |
20140046578 | SUPPORTING A DRIVER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE IN UTILIZING AN AUTOMATIC START-STOP SYSTEM - A method and a device for supporting a driver of a motor vehicle in utilizing an automatic engine start-stop system of the vehicle is provided. A method includes predetermining or determining a first limit value t | 02-13-2014 |
20140046579 | SUPPORTING A DRIVER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE IN UTILIZING AN AUTOMATIC START-STOP SYSTEM - 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: | 02-13-2014 |
20140067237 | METHOD TO LIMIT TEMPERATURE INCREASE IN A CATALYST AND DETECT A RESTRICTED EXHAUST PATH IN A VEHICLE - A vehicle has an engine, an exhaust aftertreatment system, an electric machine, and a controller configured to, in response to an actual engine torque output being less than an inferred engine torque, shut down the engine. A vehicle has an engine, an exhaust aftertreatment system, an electric machine, and a controller configured to, in response to an actual engine torque output being less than a first threshold and a torque request to the engine being greater than a second threshold, set a diagnostic code. A method includes receiving an actual engine torque output, receiving an engine torque request, and shutting down the engine when the actual engine torque output is less than a first threshold and the engine torque request is greater than a second threshold for a predetermined time period to limit temperature increase of a catalyst. | 03-06-2014 |
20140067238 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING STOPPING AND STARTING OF A TURBOCHARGED ENGINE - A system and method for improving engine starting and stopping is described. In one example, turbine vanes are adjusted to increase engine exhaust backpressure to reduce engine stopping time and to limit engine speed overshoot during engine starting. The system and method may reduce engine emissions and improve a vehicle driving experience. | 03-06-2014 |
20140067239 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING AUTOMATIC ENGINE STOPPING - 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. | 03-06-2014 |
20140067240 | STATIC ROAD GRADIENT ESTIMATION - A vehicle and a vehicle system are provided with a controller that is configured to generate output indicative of a static road gradient estimation based on a filtered longitudinal acceleration. The filtered longitudinal acceleration is dependent upon a derivative of a longitudinal acceleration. An initial value of the static road gradient estimation corresponds to at least one of a kinematic road gradient estimation and a dynamic road gradient estimation. | 03-06-2014 |
20140067241 | POWER-SOURCE APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD OF THE SAME - The present invention relates to a power-source apparatus for a vehicle comprising a generator driven by an engine of the vehicle having a function of an idle stop and generating power, a power-storage device storing the power generated by the generator thereat, and a control device. The power-storage device supplies the power to an electric load of the vehicle when the engine is stopped by means of the idle stop. The control device is configured to restart the engine when a voltage of the power-storage device decreases below a lower-limit value after the engine is stopped by means of the idle stop, and stop the engine again when a specified requirement for determining a sufficient recovery of the voltage of the power-storage device by means of the engine's restart is met. | 03-06-2014 |
20140074384 | INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - An internal combustion engine and a method for maximizing fuel efficiency of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes an engine block assembly having an electromagnet coupled thereto and an engine component movable relative to the engine block assembly. The engine component includes a permanent magnet coupled thereto. A control system is provided to selectively provide an electrical current to the electromagnet to produce a desired magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field of the electromagnet cooperates with a magnetic field of the permanent magnet to affect a motion of the engine component in respect of the engine block assembly. | 03-13-2014 |
20140081561 | User Interface For Automatic Start-Stop System and Method of Controlling The Same - 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. | 03-20-2014 |
20140081562 | VEHICLE AND METHOD OF CONTROL THEREOF IN START AND STOP CONDITION - In one aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle comprising drive means operable to provide motive power to the vehicle, the vehicle operable automatically to switch off and subsequently to restart the drive means during a drivecycle thereby to reduce a value of one or more prescribed operating parameters, wherein the vehicle may be placed in an eco-stop condition by driver-operated brake means in which the vehicle is held stationary and the drive means is off, the vehicle being operable automatically to restart the drive means when the driver signals release of the brake means, the vehicle comprising means for detecting departure of the driver from the vehicle, in the event that departure of the driver is detected when the vehicle is in the eco-stop condition the vehicle being arranged not to restart the drive means when the driver signals release of the brake means. | 03-20-2014 |
20140088853 | OPERATING AN AUTOMATIC START-STOP SYSTEM - A method for operating an automatic stop/start system in a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, a manually operated gearbox and a pedal-operated clutch, wherein the internal combustion engine is automatically stopped or restarted under predetermined conditions even with a gear engaged. The conditions under which the internal combustion engine is automatically restarted include two indicators that indicate that an automatic restart of the internal combustion engine is safe and desired, namely an indicator that indicates that a restart is safe and an indicator that indicates that the driver wants a restart. | 03-27-2014 |
20140088854 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE USING AN AUTOMATIC STOP-START SYSTEM - 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. | 03-27-2014 |
20140095055 | SAFETY CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HYDROGEN CHARGING OF FUEL-CELL VEHICLE - Disclosed is charging safety control system for a fuel-cell vehicle. In particular, a charging switch is provided in a fuel-cell vehicle to be manipulated in hydrogen charging as well as a vehicle speed detector for detecting a current vehicle speed. A controller within the vehicle is configured to receiving a signal corresponding to on/off-manipulation of the charging switch and a detected current vehicle speed and control the ignition of the vehicle based thereon. Particularly, the controller is configured to switch off the ignition of the vehicle upon receiving the on-manipulation signal of the charging switch, and upon determining that the vehicle is stopped based on the current vehicle speed. | 04-03-2014 |
20140095056 | Powertrain Delta Current Estimation Method - A vehicle includes an engine, electrical loads, and at least one controller. While the engine is on, the controller calculates the change in current demand of the electrical loads expected from turning the engine off. The decision to command the engine off is then based on the expected change in current demand. Electrical loads that will change state from on to off when the engine is turned off will increase the expected change in current demand. Electrical loads that will change state from off to on when the engine is turned off will decrease the expected change in current demand. Operating conditions associated with the electrical loads, such as operating voltage, temperature, and speed, may affect the expected change in current demand. | 04-03-2014 |
20140095057 | REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - A remote control device for vehicle is capable of remotely controlling the start and stop of an engine mounted in a vehicle. The remote control device for vehicle includes a remote controller for transmitting a start request and a stop request of the engine, and an engine control unit for stopping the engine by stopping fuel supply to the engine in the case of satisfying, in a state where the engine is started upon receiving the start request, at least one of a condition that a predetermined forced OFF time has elapsed and a condition that the stop request has been received. | 04-03-2014 |
20140100763 | ENGINE AUTOMATIC STOP AND RESTART APPARATUS AND METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING AND RESTARTING ENGINE - The engine automatic stop and restart apparatus includes: a crank-angle sensor for detecting a crank angle of a crankshaft of an engine; a starter for cranking the crankshaft to restart the engine; a fuel injection device for injecting a fuel into the engine; an ignition device for igniting the injected fuel; a reverse-rotation determining section for determining occurrence of reverse rotation of the crankshaft based on the crank angle detected by the crank-angle sensor before the occurrence of the reverse rotation; and an ignition control section for inhibiting energization of the ignition device from being started when the occurrence of the reverse rotation of the crankshaft is determined by the reverse-rotation determining section before the start of the energization of the ignition device. | 04-10-2014 |
20140100764 | Method for operating an internal combustion engine - A method is described for operating an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine including an angle of rotation sensor. In normal operation, a function is activated at a first angle of rotation. In stop operation, internal combustion engine is temporarily brought to a standstill. The function is activated in a start operation following the stop operation at a second angle of rotation, which follows the first angle of rotation in the direction of rotation. | 04-10-2014 |
20140121951 | EMISSIONS CONTROL DURING AN AUTOMATIC ENGINE RESTART - Embodiments for performing an automatic stop-start operation are provided. In one example, a method for an engine comprises during an automatic stop, injecting a water-containing fluid onto a closed intake valve of a cylinder while the engine is at rest, and on a subsequent restart, fueling the cylinder after at least one intake stroke and subsequent exhaust stroke are performed in the cylinder. | 05-01-2014 |
20140129118 | AUTOMATIC START AND STOP OF A PORTABLE ENGINE DRIVEN POWER SOURCE - The present embodiments provide a control system and method that is able to automatically start and/or stop a portable engine-driven power source. For example, in one embodiment, a system includes an engine-driven power source having an engine, a compressor driven by the engine, a sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a demand for air pressure from the compressor and a second signal indicative of no demand for air pressure from the compressor. The engine-driven power source also includes a controller configured to stop the engine in response to the second signal. | 05-08-2014 |
20140136086 | VEHICLE CONTROLLER - A vehicle controller performs a throttle-valve-late-close control in which the throttle valve is held open until a delay time has passed after the fuel cut is started, and an EGR-valve-open-close control in which the EGR valve is repeatedly opened and closed. Then, the throttle valve is closed and the EGR valve is opened. In a period from a latter period of an exhaust stroke to a preceding period of an intake stroke, a valve-overlap control is executed so that a variable valve timing controller is controlled to make both an intake valve and an exhaust valve opened. A pumping loss of an engine is sufficiently reduced and an energy-regenerate efficiency can be effectively improved. | 05-15-2014 |
20140149022 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH AUTOMATIC ENGINE SHUT-OFF - An automatic shut-off of the engine of a motor vehicle is only activated if the motor vehicle has been moved according to a specific criterion after the last starting procedure of the engine. The undesired shut-off of an engine can thus be prevented in some situations, such as e.g. when a garage is being opened or when ice is being scraped off the windows of a motor vehicle. | 05-29-2014 |
20140163845 | HYDRAULIC ACCUMULATOR FILL ESTIMATION FOR CONTROLLING AUTOMATIC ENGINE STOP/START - A method of preventing an automatic engine stop includes: determining a pressure difference between an accumulator fill volume and a fluid conduit in selective fluid communication with the accumulator fill volume; determining a change in the accumulator fill volume from the determined pressure difference; adding the change in the accumulator fill volume to a previous estimate of the accumulator fill volume to determine a current estimate of the accumulator fill volume; comparing the current estimate of the accumulator fill volume to a predetermined threshold; and preventing an automatic engine stop if the current estimate of the accumulator fill volume is below the predetermined threshold. | 06-12-2014 |
20140214309 | METHOD FOR MAXIMIZING MICROHYBRID AUTO START-STOP AVAILABILITY - A method for maximizing the availability of start-stop operations within a microhybrid vehicle includes determining the electric current drawn by a set of electrical components of the vehicle, from the vehicle's battery. The internal resistance of the vehicle's battery, and the resistance of a starter motor loop circuit coupled to the engine of the vehicle are dynamically calculated. The closed-circuit voltage of the battery is predicted, using the internal resistance of the battery, the resistance of the starter motor loop circuit, and the current drawn by the set of electrical components of the vehicle. The start-stop operation is carried out if the closed-circuit voltage of the battery is predicted to be above a pre-determined minimum value. | 07-31-2014 |
20140236458 | METHOD FOR PERFORMING EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS ON ENGINES CONFIGURED FOR STOP-START OPERATION - 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. | 08-21-2014 |
20140236459 | STOP/START CONTROL TO INCREASE MICROHYBRID VEHICLE BATTERY CHARGE - 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. | 08-21-2014 |
20140244140 | INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE CONTROL DEVICE - 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. | 08-28-2014 |
20140257676 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A COOLING SYSTEM OF AN ENGINE EQUIPPED WITH A START-STOP SYSTEM - 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. | 09-11-2014 |
20140257677 | STOP/START CONTROL FOR STOP/START VEHICLE IN TURN LANE - 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. | 09-11-2014 |
20140257678 | AUTO-STOP CONTROL FOR A STOP/START VEHICLE NEAR WATER - 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. | 09-11-2014 |
20140257679 | AUTO-STOP CONTROL FOR A STOP/START VEHICLE AT A SERVICE LOCATION - 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. | 09-11-2014 |
20140278018 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING ENGINE STARTING - 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. | 09-18-2014 |
20140278019 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING AVAILABILITY OF VEHICLE ENERGY CONSERVING MODES - 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. | 09-18-2014 |
20140278020 | DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE STARTER - 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. | 09-18-2014 |
20140288806 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE - 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. | 09-25-2014 |
20140288807 | Method for Automatically Switching Off and Starting an Internal Combustion Engine of a Motor Vehicle with an Automatic Transmission, During or After an Overrun Phase - 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. | 09-25-2014 |
20140297165 | IDLING STOP CONTROL DEVICE, VEHICLE AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD - 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. | 10-02-2014 |
20140303879 | Engine Control Device for Work Vehicle - 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. | 10-09-2014 |
20140309910 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING AN ENGINE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - 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. | 10-16-2014 |
20140309911 | LEAD ACID STATE OF CHARGE ESTIMATION FOR AUTO-STOP APPLICATIONS - 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. As such, this may provide more efficient use of energy. | 10-16-2014 |
20140309912 | AUTOMATIC ENGINE-STOP CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - 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. | 10-16-2014 |
20140336907 | VEHICLE ENGINE AUTOMATIC CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE ENGINE AUTOMATIC CONTROL METHOD - 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. | 11-13-2014 |
20140336908 | VEHICLE ENGINE AUTOMATIC CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE ENGINE AUTOMATIC CONTROL METHOD - 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. | 11-13-2014 |
20140343830 | STOP/START CONTROL BASED ON REPEATED DRIVING PATTERNS - 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. | 11-20-2014 |
20140350824 | INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - An aspect of the invention provides an internal combustion engine ( | 11-27-2014 |
20140350825 | VEHICLE SHUT-DOWN FUNCTIONALITY FOR PEPS-EQUIPPED VEHICLES - 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. | 11-27-2014 |
20140358406 | VEHICLE ENGINE AUTOMATIC CONTROL DEVICE - 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, during coast drive, stops an engine based on the amount of brake operation that is detected, and, after the engine stops, re-starts the engine when the amount of brake operation that is detected falls below a first threshold, and a first threshold setting unit that sets the first threshold smaller as vehicle speed becomes lower. | 12-04-2014 |
20140372013 | ENGINE STARTING DEVICE AND ENGINE AUTOMATIC STOP AND RESTART CONTROL DEVICE - An engine starting device is provided with a battery, a starter motor, an inrush current limit circuit and a control unit. The inrush current limit circuit has a resistor and a bypass relay connected in parallel. The inrush current limit circuit is interposed between the battery and the starter motor. The bypass relay has a normally open contact that is configured to be closed at a time of engine startup. The control unit is programmed to include a fault identification unit that identifies a location of fault occurrence in the inrush current limit circuit based on a minimum voltage of the battery existing while the starter motor is determined to be in operation and an amount of decrease in voltage of the battery existing while the normally open contact is determined to be actuated in a closing direction. | 12-18-2014 |
20140372014 | MOTOR VEHICLE CONTROLLER AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A MOTOR VEHICLE - 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. | 12-18-2014 |
20150046070 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING ENGINE STOPPING AND STARTING - 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. | 02-12-2015 |
20150046071 | VEHICLE UNDER-BODY MOUNTED SENSOR AND CONTROL SYSTEM - 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. | 02-12-2015 |
20150046072 | IDLE REDUCTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present concept is method of controlling a vehicle's engine idle and includes the steps of monitoring a vehicles operating parameters with a controller and comparing parameters to preselected shutdown conditions. In the event shutdown conditions are met and the key is not in the ignition, the controller warns operator of impending shutdown. The controller intercepts the ignition key signal and simulates the vehicle key to be in the run position such that vehicle functions are operable as if key is in run position. The controller shuts down engine. The method may also include the steps of: the controller intercepting the ignition key signal and simulating the vehicle key to be in the accessory position such that vehicle functions are operable as if key is in accessory position. | 02-12-2015 |
20150051817 | DRIVE CONTROL DEVICE AND DRIVE CONTROL METHOD FOR HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE - A hybrid electric vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine and an electric motor/generator connected via a first clutch. In response to a system stop request in a vehicle stop state, a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is decreased to a predetermined rotation speed higher than a predetermined resonance frequency band by a negative torque applied to the internal combustion engine from the electric motor/generator via the first clutch. Then, the disengagement of the first clutch starts. The rotation speed of the engine falls below the predetermined resonance frequency band within a predetermined period from the start of the disengagement. As a consequence, the required period from a stopping operation of the internal combustion engine until actual operation stop thereof in a vehicle stationary state is reduced. | 02-19-2015 |
20150051818 | ENGINE SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR ENGINE SYSTEM - An engine system is constituted of a battery, a fuel cell, a turbocharger, an engine, a controller configured to (i) stop the engine automatically upon fulfillment of a predetermined stop condition and starts the engine automatically upon fulfillment of a predetermined restoration condition. In the engine system, the controller is configured to stop the fuel cell from charging the battery or limit a charge amount of the battery to a value equal to or smaller than a discharge amount when the fuel cell is driven during operation of the engine and an SOC is equal to or larger than a first limit value W1. The controller is configured not to limit the charge amount when the internal combustion engine control unit stops the engine and the fuel cell is driven during stop of the engine. | 02-19-2015 |
20150057912 | VEHICLE CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A vehicle carbon monoxide detection system for a vehicle includes a vehicle internal combustion engine; a controller interfacing with the vehicle internal combustion engine; a carbon monoxide sensor interfacing with the controller, the carbon monoxide sensor adapted to detect a level of carbon monoxide. The controller is adapted to prevent and terminate operation of the vehicle internal combustion engine if the level of carbon monoxide detected by the carbon monoxide sensor exceeds a threshold carbon monoxide level. A vehicle and a vehicle carbon monoxide detection method are also disclosed. | 02-26-2015 |
20150066338 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE STOPPING AND STARTING OF AN ENGINE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - A method of controlling the stopping and starting of an engine is disclosed in which, during an engine shut-down period, if a signal indicative of a request for restarting the engine is generated, the engine | 03-05-2015 |
20150073684 | AUTOMATIC START AND STOP OF A PORTABLE ENGINE DRIVEN POWER SOURCE - The present embodiments provide a control system and method that is able to automatically start and/or stop a portable engine-driven power source. For example, in one embodiment, a system includes an engine-driven power source having an engine, a compressor driven by the engine, a sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a demand for air pressure from the compressor and a second signal indicative of no demand for air pressure from the compressor. The engine-driven power source also includes a controller configured to stop the engine in response to the second signal. | 03-12-2015 |
20150088404 | MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A DRIVE DEVICE THAT AUTOMATICALLY TURNS OFF WHEN A PERSON GETS OUT OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE, AND CORRESPONDING METHOD FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLE - A motor vehicle has a drive device, a control device for shutting down the drive device, a detection device for monitoring a presence of a person in the motor vehicle and a switching device for shutting down at least one predetermined electrical load. The control device is designed to shut down the drive device if the detection device signals that the person is leaving or has left the motor vehicle. The switching device is designed so that, following the shutdown of the drive device, it initially continues to operate the at least one predetermined load if said load was in operation at the time of the shutdown, and shuts it down only if a predetermined additional shutdown criterion is met. | 03-26-2015 |
20150088405 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE - A control device for a vehicle configured to automatically stop an engine while the vehicle is running, the control device includes: an engine stop request outputted in accordance with an operation of a driver, and an engine stop prohibition request outputted based on a driving state of the vehicle which are independent requests, the higher-priority engine stop request being preferentially performed when both the requests are simultaneously outputted, and the engine stop prohibition request being withdrawn when the engine stop is performed by the higher-priority engine stop request. | 03-26-2015 |
20150094937 | Exiting Vehicle Transport Mode Using Fuel Level - A method for exiting the vehicle transport mode including placing the vehicle ignition in a predetermined position, monitoring the fuel level and exiting the vehicle transport mode when the fuel level exceeds a predetermined threshold. The method may also include the step of monitoring the inclination angle of the vehicle and maintaining the vehicle in the vehicle transport mode when the inclination angle exceeds a predetermined threshold. | 04-02-2015 |
20150105999 | VEHICLE AUTO-STOP CONTROL IN THE VICINITY OF AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE - A stop/start vehicle includes an engine and a stop/start system that selectively prevents an auto stop or auto start of the engine in response to a detected vehicle proximity and direction of travel relative to an emergency vehicle. The stop/start system may be programmed to prevent an auto stop of the engine in response to a detected proximity to an emergency vehicle where the emergency vehicle is traveling in the same direction as the stop/start vehicle, or in response to a detected proximity to an emergency vehicle where the stop/start vehicle is located within an intersection. The stop start system may also be programmed to prevent an auto start of the engine in response to the engine being stopped, and further in response to a detected proximity to an emergency vehicle where the emergency vehicle is traveling in cross traffic relative to the stop/start vehicle. | 04-16-2015 |
20150106000 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING AN AUTOMATIC ENGINE STOP DURING COASTING PHASE - The present disclosure provides a method of controlling an automatic engine stop of an automotive system, during a coasting phase. A dynamic speed threshold is calculated as a minimum value of a plurality of dynamic speed values. Each dynamic speed value is calculated as a function of an automotive system parameter such as a steering wheel angle, a steering wheel angle rate, a wheel speed difference, an antilock braking system status, or an electronic stability control status (p5) and/or a road condition such as road grade. The automatic engine stop is enabled when a vehicle speed is lower than the dynamic speed threshold. | 04-16-2015 |
20150134231 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE START-STOP - A start-stop module for a vehicle can include a capacitor, one or more switches and a controller. The switches can be configured to connect the capacitor in parallel or in series with a battery of the vehicle. The controller can receive an input voltage having a magnitude based on a connection between the capacitor and the battery, and output a desired voltage that is appropriate for operating accessory loads of the vehicle. The controller can control the switches to switch between a standby mode and a cranking mode. The capacitor is in parallel with the battery in standby mode and in series with the battery in cranking mode. The controller can switch to the cranking mode when the engine is about to be restarted and return to standby mode after the engine has been restarted and when the battery voltage reaches the desired voltage for the accessory loads. | 05-14-2015 |
20150322911 | Method and Device for Automatically Shutting off an Internal Combustion Engine - A method is provided for automatically shutting off an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle by way of a start-stop device, which automatically shuts off the internal combustion engine as soon as the predefined operating conditions are met. An automatic shut-off of the internal combustion engine is prevented when an actuation of a garage door opener for the electric displacement of the garage door is detected. A correspondingly designed start-stop device is provided for automatically shutting off the internal combustion engine, wherein a control unit is designed such that signals of the garage door opener and/or of a detection unit, which detects an electric opening of the garage door, can be received and the automatic shut-off of the internal combustion engine is permitted or prevented depending on the signals. | 11-12-2015 |
20150333564 | VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS, VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD - An auxiliary current amount that is used in an auxiliary that is mounted in a vehicle is calculated. A stop time ratio of the vehicle is calculated based on a running history of the vehicle, and an estimated stop time of the vehicle that is estimated based on the stop time ratio is calculated. An SOC threshold is set based on an estimated consumption current amount that is obtained from the estimated stop time and the auxiliary current amount. A generator that is mounted in the vehicle is operated such that a value of a storage state of the battery recovers to become larger than the SOC threshold when the value of the storage state of the battery is smaller than the SOC threshold. | 11-19-2015 |
20150361939 | CONTROL DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR VEHICLE - 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. | 12-17-2015 |
20150361940 | ENGINE CONTROL DEVICE - An engine control device applied to a vehicle equipped with an actuator for changing a suspension property of the vehicle, a suspension control device for driving the actuator, and an engine. The engine control device automatically stops the engine operation when a stop condition is satisfied and automatically starts the engine operation when a start condition is satisfied. The engine control device continues the engine operation when a signal for inhibiting the automatic stop of the engine operation is sent to the engine control device in order to drive the actuator and the engine control device judges that no malfunction occurs in the suspension control device even if the stop condition is satisfied. The engine control device ignores the signal and automatically stops the engine operation when the stop condition is satisfied and judges that the malfunction occurs in the suspension control device even if the signal is sent to the engine control device. | 12-17-2015 |
20150369198 | An Ignition Device For An ISG-Equipped Vehicle Using LGP As A Fuel - An ignition device is provided for an idle stop & go system (ISG)-equipped vehicle using a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a fuel. A separately installed auxiliary LPG switch detects the ON/OFF state of the LPG switch, drives fuel cut-off solenoid valves, and switches on/off together with the LPG switch. The ON/OFF state of the LPG switch can be determined based on an output voltage of the auxiliary LPG switch, and then ISG control can be implemented. After the fuel cut-off solenoid valves are driven, the fuel pipeline pressure remains in the state before the idle stop to improve the engine starting performance upon restarting. Also, in an emergency, the LPG and auxiliary LPG switches are simultaneously switched off, the fuel cut-off solenoid valves are quickly switched off and the fuel pump motor is stopped to quickly cut off the fuel supply and prevent a secondary accident in advance. | 12-24-2015 |
20150377162 | ENGINE STOP CONTROL APPARATUS AND ENGINE STOP CONTROL METHOD - An engine stopping section first selects, when an engine stop condition is satisfied, a power-generation braking mode in which a power-generation braking torque is applied to the engine by a power generation operation of the generator, to thereby apply the power-generation braking torque to the engine, and then selects a short-circuit braking mode in which a short-circuit braking torque is applied to the engine by short-circuiting each energization phase of an armature coil with a semiconductor switch and by causing a field current to flow through a field coil, to thereby apply the short-circuit braking torque to the engine. | 12-31-2015 |
20160017856 | STOP CONTROL APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A stop control apparatus is applied to an internal combustion engine ( | 01-21-2016 |
20160053699 | Methods, Systems, and Products for Detection of Environmental Conditions - Methods, systems, and products monitor the environmental conditions in an enclosed environment, such as a garage or storage shed. If a dangerous environmental condition is determined, such as elevated carbon monoxide, an entry door may be opened. If further remedial measures are required, ignition of an internal combustion engine may be prohibited. | 02-25-2016 |
20160053736 | Onboard Controller - 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. | 02-25-2016 |
20160061172 | RUNNING CONTROL APPARATUS AND RUNNING CONTROL SYSTEM - A running control apparatus for improving fuel efficiency by enabling automatic engine stop includes: a moving object detection unit for detecting a moving object moving in a direction crossing a direction of travel of own vehicle on the basis of an acquired image acquired from an image pickup apparatus; an acceleration calculation unit for calculating acceleration of the moving object; a moving object crossing intention determination unit for determining, on the basis of the acceleration of the moving object, whether or not the moving object intends to cross an intersection ahead of the own vehicle in the direction crossing the direction of the travel of the own vehicle before the own vehicle crosses the intersection; and automatic engine stop decision unit for deciding whether the own vehicle automatically stops an engine during running on the basis of a result of determination of the moving object crossing intention determination unit. | 03-03-2016 |
20160069317 | VEHICULAR ENGINE CONTROL DEVICE - A vehicular engine control device provided with a control unit for performing control that automatically stops an engine installed in a vehicle when a preset stop condition is fulfilled, and a traveling information acquiring unit for acquiring travel information including vehicle speed information relating to the speed of the vehicle and steering information relating to a steering wheel. For the stop condition the vehicle speed information and steering information acquired by the traveling information acquiring unit are set including respective thresholds. The control unit switches the stop condition in accordance with changes in the vehicle speed information, the stop condition being sectioned into a plurality of regions using steering thresholds for the steering information relating to the steering handle. Automatic stop control of the engine conforming to the intentions of the driver can be implemented by the vehicular engine control device. | 03-10-2016 |
20160090958 | VEHICLE OCCUPANT PROTECTION AND ENGINE IDLE REDUCTION SYSTEM - A system for automatically adjusting the temperature and carbon monoxide level in an occupied passenger compartment of a vehicle includes sensors for sensing carbon monoxide levels, temperature, and occupants in the passenger compartment. A controller receives input from the sensors, and activates an electric heater or an electric cooler to bring the temperatures within the passenger compartment within a predetermined temperature range if the temperature detected within the passenger compartment falls outside of the predetermined range of temperatures. The controller may automatically shut off the engine of the vehicle when the vehicle is in idle and the carbon monoxide level within the passenger compartment falls above a predetermined level, or if a transmission lever of the vehicle is placed in a park position. A motor generator unit coupled to the engine provides electricity to rechargeable batteries of an alternate power unit, which powers the electric heater and the electric cooler. | 03-31-2016 |
20160096518 | HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILURE DETECTION FOR TRANSMISSION WITH NORMALLY ENGAGED CLUTCH - A method of detecting a failure of a hydraulic pump includes sensing a rotational speed of the engine, and a rotational speed of a rotating drivetrain component. A numerical difference between the rotational speed of the engine and the rotational speed of the rotating drivetrain component is calculated. The numerical difference is compared to a threshold value to determine if the numerical difference is less than the threshold value, or is equal to or greater than the threshold value. A failure of the hydraulic pump is identified when the numerical difference between the rotational speed of the engine and the rotational speed of the rotating drivetrain component is equal to or greater than the threshold value, and the transmission is positioned in the neutral gear mode. When a failure of the hydraulic pump is identified, the operation of the engine is stopped. | 04-07-2016 |
20160107650 | VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING FUEL-EFFICIENCY DURING TEMPORARY STOP - A method for improving fuel-efficiency during a temporary stop may include dividing, by an engine control apparatus, a neutral control condition into a neutral control entry and a neutral control release during a D-stage temporary stop, determining, a neutral control entry D-stage target RPM at a time of the neutral control entry, and a neutral control release D-stage target RPM at a time of the neutral control release, and RPM shifting the neutral control entry D-stage target RPM to a speed gradient conforming to a transmission clutch release time of a transmission control apparatus at a time of a neutral control after the neutral control entry and RPM shifting the neutral control release D-stage target RPM to a speed gradient conforming to a clutch coupling time of a transmission by the transmission control apparatus at a time of a neutral control after the neutral control release | 04-21-2016 |
20160108880 | ENGINE CONTROL APPARATUS - There is provided an engine control apparatus comprising: a vehicle speed detecting unit configured to detect own vehicle speed; an idle stop control unit configured to automatically stop an engine upon a stop condition being met, and restart the engine upon a restart conditions being met during or after completing the automatic engine stop operation, wherein the stop condition includes a condition of a vehicle speed being equal to or less than a first threshold value; a throttle control unit configured to perform a throttle opening increase control for increasing a target opening of throttle opening and keeping it during the automatic engine stop operation; and a determining unit configured to determine the predetermined target opening and the predetermined target period so that at least one of them is increased as the vehicle speed becomes greater. | 04-21-2016 |
20160123261 | Vehicle Control Apparatus and Vehicle Control Method - A vehicle control apparatus that makes it possible to attempt fuel consumption improvement and exhaust gas reduction effectively without causing a sense of incompatibility in the driver is provided. When traveling following the preceding vehicle, kinetic energy required for an own vehicle in future is predicted on the basis of kinetic energy of the own vehicle, a velocity of a preceding vehicle, and a distance between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle. It is determined whether there is kinetic energy enough for the own vehicle to be able to follow the preceding vehicle with inertial traveling, on the basis of the predicted kinetic energy and current kinetic energy. When it is determined that the kinetic energy is sufficient and the driving and traveling state of the own vehicle satisfies other traveling idling reduction conditions, control of stopping the engine is exercised. | 05-05-2016 |
20160137164 | INTOXICATED VEHICLE DRIVER ACCIDENT REDUCTION SYSTEM - An Apparatus, method and system that blocks vehicle engine starting and reduces engine power when a driver's blood alcohol content is above a pre-set limit. The invention receives an electronic signal from at least one electronically controlled engine sensor and modifies the at least one signal such that the electronically controlled engine is not allowed to start or engine power is reduced, as relating to driver intoxication. | 05-19-2016 |
20160160829 | METHOD FOR PREVENTING ENGINE STALL OF VEHICLE - A method for preventing an engine stall of a vehicle includes a detection step for detecting an idle stop and go (ISG) operation signal or a power take-off (PTO) operation signal; a state determination step for determining whether a PTO currently operates or whether an ISG system currently operates; and an operation limitation step for preventing an engine from stopping by limiting the operation of the ISG system when the ISG operation signal is detected while the PTO currently operates. | 06-09-2016 |
20160185333 | NEGATIVE PRESSURE SENSOR ABNORMALITY DETECTION APPARATUS, CONTROL APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AND CONTROL SYSTEM - A negative pressure sensor abnormality detection apparatus includes a negative pressure sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to a negative pressure that a negative pressure pump generates, the negative pressure assisting a vehicle driver's brake operation; a negative pressure detection part that detects the negative pressure based on the signal that is output by the negative pressure sensor; a number-of-rotations counting part that counts the number of rotations of the negative pressure pump; and an abnormality determination part that determines that the negative pressure sensor is in an abnormal condition if, under a condition where a change in the driver's brake operation falls within a predetermined range, a change in the negative pressure detected by the negative pressure detection part along with an increase in the number of rotations counted by the number-of-rotations counting part is out of a predetermined range. | 06-30-2016 |
20170234256 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE | 08-17-2017 |