Methods and systems for enabling engine start/stop function

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10641228-B2
Application number	US-201815948313-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2018
Priority date	Apr 9, 2018
Publication date	May 5, 2020
Grant date	May 5, 2020

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for enabling engine start/stop function in a vehicle with a detachable door. In one example, a method may include, adjusting an engine start/stop strategy responsive to a driver side door of the vehicle been detected to be absent. The adjustment to the start/stop strategy further may be modified based on a type of transmission system coupled to the vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for a vehicle comprising:
detecting whether a driver side vehicle door is attached or absent (attachment state);
selecting a start/stop strategy for an engine propelling the vehicle based on the driver side vehicle door attachment state, including, in response to the door being attached, selecting a first strategy dependent upon a door locked state, and, in response to the door being absent, and thus detached from the vehicle body, selecting a second, different, strategy independent of the door locked state; and
further selecting the start/stop strategy based on a type of transmission coupled between the engine and the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle door attachment state is estimated based on a position of a switch in a connector shunt coupled to the vehicle door, the attachment of the door indicated by an ON position of the switch and the absence of the door indicated by an OFF position of the switch.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle door attachment state is further based on a presence of a window motor coupled to a window housed in the vehicle door, the attachment of the door confirmed based on the presence of the window motor.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the presence of the window motor is detected by passing an electric current via the window motor.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type of transmission coupled between the engine and the vehicle is an automatic transmission system and selecting the start/stop strategy based on the type of transmission includes idle-stopping the engine when a gear of the automatic transmission system is at drive and a brake pedal is pressed by an operator.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the type of transmission coupled between the engine and the vehicle is a manual transmission system and selecting the start/stop strategy based on the type of transmission includes idle-stopping the engine when a gear of the manual transmission system is at neutral and a clutch pedal is released by the operator.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first strategy includes idle-stopping the engine when the vehicle door is locked, and wherein the second strategy includes idle-stopping the engine regardless of the door locked state.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second strategy further includes each of suspending engine combustion in response to each of the engine idling for longer than a threshold duration and a seat belt coupled to a seat occupied by the operator during driving the vehicle being in a fastened condition, and continuing engine combustion in response to each of the engine idling for longer than the threshold duration and the seat belt being in an un-fastened condition.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second strategy further includes restarting engine combustion in response to one or more of the automatic transmission system being shifted from drive, the seat belt being un-fastened, the brake pedal being released in the vehicle equipped with the automatic transmission system, and the clutch pedal being engaged in the vehicle equipped with the manual transmission system.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second strategy further includes, during suspension of engine combustion, in response to an increase in engine power demand in the vehicle equipped with the manual transmission system with the clutch pedal not engaged, indicating the operator to engage the clutch pedal, and maintaining engine combustion suspended until the clutch pedal is engaged.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising indicating the operator via a human machine interface (HMI) coupled to a vehicle dashboard that engine idle-stops are disabled in response to each of the vehicle door being absent and the seat belt being in the un-fastened condition.

12. A method, comprising:
during operation of a vehicle, and in response to determining that a door of the vehicle is detached from a vehicle body and thus absent from the vehicle, enabling idle-stop of an engine coupled to the vehicle in response to the vehicle being at rest with a seatbelt coupled to a seat for a vehicle operator being in a fastened state, and disabling idle-stop of the engine in response to the seat-belt being in an un-fastened state.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein enabling idle-stop includes suspending engine combustion by disabling fuel injection and spark to one or more engine cylinders, and wherein disabling idle-stop includes maintaining engine combustion.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission system and, during the idle-stop, transmission is at drive and a brake pedal is engaged.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle is equipped with a manual transmission system and, during the idle-stop, a gear of the manual transmission system is at neutral with a clutch pedal in a released condition.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising detecting detachment of the door from the vehicle body based on each of an OFF position of a switch housed in a connector shunt coupled to the door and an absence of flow of electric current through a motor coupled to a window housed in the door and detecting a state of attachment of the seat-belt based on input from a seat-belt sensor coupled to a buckle of the set-belt, wherein the door, when attached to the vehicle body, is attached to a driver cabin next to the seat for the vehicle operator.

17. A vehicle system, comprising:
a controller with computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory to:
estimate a state of attachment of a door of a vehicle based on a position of a switch coupled to a door connector shunt and a presence or an absence of electric current flow through a motor coupled to a window housed in the door; and
in response to the door being absent and detached from a body of the vehicle and the vehicle being at rest for a longer than threshold duration, estimate a state of attachment of a seat-belt via a seat-belt sensor coupled to a buckle of the seat-belt, and selectively initiate engine idle-stop based on the state of attachment of the seat-belt and a type of transmission system coupled to the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the door is coupled to the body of the vehicle next to a seat occupied by a vehicle operator in a cabin of the vehicle and wherein the seat-belt is coupled to the seat, the seat-belt fastened to the seat via the buckle.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the transmission system is a manual transmission system, and wherein selective initiation of engine idle-stop includes suspending combustion in one or more engine cylinders in response to each of the seat-belt being in a fastened state, a gear of the transmission system being in a neutral position, and a clutch pedal coupled to the cabin being in a released condition.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the transmission system is an automatic transmission system, and wherein selective initiation of engine idle-stop includes suspending combustion in one or more engine cylinders in response to each of the seat-belt being in a fastened state, the automatic transmission system being in a drive position, and a brake pedal coupled to the cabin being in an engaged condition.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Siddiqui Siraj
• Kwong Hank
• Rademacher Eric
• Awadi Ahmed

Classifications

• F02N11/0822

  related to action of the driver · CPC title

• F02N11/0814

  comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop · CPC title

• F02N2200/103

  Clutch pedal position · CPC title

• F02N2200/102

  Brake pedal position · CPC title

• F02N2200/0802

  Transmission state, e.g. gear ratio or neutral state · CPC title