Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130124066 | DYNAMIC TUNING OF ENGINE AUTO STOP CRITERIA - The criteria used to determine whether to initiate an auto stop of an engine may be altered based on a number of previous auto stops of the engine, a total auto stop off time of the engine, or a total throughput of a battery. Altering the criteria may influence a frequency with which the engine is auto stopped. | 05-16-2013 |
20130245925 | FEEDBACK SYSTEM FOR ENGINE AUTO STOP INHIBIT CONDITIONS - A vehicle includes an engine and a stop/start system that selectively auto stops and auto starts the engine, detects an auto stop inhibit condition that prevents the engine from being auto stopped, and in response, generates output based on the auto stop inhibit condition if the auto stop inhibit condition falls within a predetermined class of auto stop inhibit conditions. The vehicle also includes an interface that displays or plays the output to inform a driver of the vehicle about the detected auto stop inhibit condition. | 09-19-2013 |
20130297124 | METHODS FOR UTILIZING STOP SIGN AND TRAFFIC LIGHT DETECTIONS TO ENHANCE FUEL ECONOMY AND SAFETY - Methods for operating a vehicle as the vehicle approaches an intersection with a traffic control device are provided herein. One example method includes detecting a traffic control device at an intersection the vehicle is approaching, and releasing and applying a disconnect clutch arranged in a driveline of the vehicle intermediate an engine and a starter/generator based on a type of the detected traffic control device. Because releasing the disconnect clutch disconnects the engine from the vehicle driveline, the engine may be turned off to increase fuel efficiency while the disconnect clutch is released. | 11-07-2013 |
20130332013 | UTILIZATION OF VEHICLE PORTAL STATES TO ASSESS INTERIOR COMFORT AND ADJUST VEHICLE OPERATION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUEL ECONOMY - A method of operating a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, comprising during a first engine-running condition, where a vehicle window or vent is in a more closed position, operating a climate control system to provide a user requested level of thermal comfort, and during a second engine-running condition, wherein the vehicle window or vent is in a less closed position, limiting the performance of the climate control system and biasing shared vehicle resources to provide additional fuel economy. In this manner, thermal comfort of the vehicle passengers can be maintained while providing additional fuel economy. | 12-12-2013 |
20140074330 | UTILIZATION OF VEHICLE PRESENCE SYSTEMS FOR POWERTRAIN RESPONSE READINESS AND CONSERVING ENERGY - A method and system relates to improving powertrain responsiveness in a vehicle while maintaining fuel economy by inhibiting entry into, or exiting, energy-saving modes when oncoming traffic is detected. In one example, the energy-saving mode is inhibited in response to an indication of an oncoming vehicle of concern. In a second example, the energy-saving mode is selectively maintained in response to an indication of an absence of oncoming traffic. | 03-13-2014 |
20140081492 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INDICATING DELAY IN IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ENERGY-EXPENDING ACTION IN A POWERED VEHICLE SYSTEM - A method for operation of a vehicle by a control system is provided. The method comprises indicating to a vehicle operator a delay in implementation of an energy-expending action in a powered vehicle system in response to receiving an implementation request from an input device based on vehicle energy usage via a delay indicator. | 03-20-2014 |
20140136041 | UTILIZATION OF VEHICLE PRESENCE SYSTEMS FOR POWERTRAIN RESPONSE READINESS AND CONSERVING ENERGY - A method and system relates to improving powertrain responsiveness in a vehicle while maintaining fuel economy by inhibiting entry into, or exiting, energy-saving modes when oncoming traffic is detected. In one example, the energy-saving mode is inhibited in response to an indication of an oncoming vehicle of concern. In a second example, the energy-saving mode is selectively maintained in response to an indication of an absence of oncoming traffic. | 05-15-2014 |
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 |
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 |
20150073675 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPERATING A STOP/START ENGINE - Systems and methods for improving operation of a vehicle are presented. In one example, vehicle brakes are held to reduce the possibility of vehicle motion and stopping of engine rotation is prevented until confirmation of vehicle hold is present. The approach may allow an engine to remain in an off state for a longer period of time while reducing the possibility of vehicle motion. | 03-12-2015 |