Operating a motor vehicle with an advanced motor restart out of the engine-off coasting mode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11485362-B2
Application number	US-201716472085-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2017
Priority date	Dec 22, 2016
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

Various embodiments include a method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine with a crankshaft and a drivetrain separable from the internal combustion engine using a releasable clutch comprising: propelling the vehicle in a first operating state in a predetermined range around a speed while the internal combustion engine is off and is separated from the drivetrain by the releasable clutch; sensing a braking operation while in the first operating state; predicting whether a power demand is expected within a predetermined time interval; and, if the power demand is expected, setting the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine in rotation, or increasing a rotational speed of the crankshaft in preparation for an engine restart.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine with a crankshaft and a drivetrain separable from the internal combustion engine using a releasable clutch, the method comprising:
coasting the vehicle in a first operating state within a predetermined speed range, the first operating state defined by conditions of the internal combustion engine is off and separated from the drivetrain by the releasable clutch;
sensing a braking operation initiated by a driver while in the first operating state;
predicting whether a power demand is expected within a predetermined time interval; and
if the power demand is expected, setting the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine in rotation, or increasing a rotational speed of the crankshaft in preparation for an engine restart.

2. The method for operating a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein predicting whether a power demand is expected within the predetermined time interval includes analysing at least one datum selected from the group consisting of: present state data of the drivetrain, driver inputs, information items from vehicle sensors, and route information items.

3. The method for operating a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein predicting whether a power demand is expected within the predetermined time interval includes determining no power demand is expected if any predetermined exclusion criterion is present.

4. The method for operating a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 2 , wherein, within the predetermined time interval, a power demand is expected if a probability, determined based at least in part on the at least one datum, of a power demand within the predetermined time interval exceeds a predetermined probability threshold.

5. The method for operating a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the clutch comprises a friction clutch; and
the crankshaft is set in rotation or its rotation speed is increased by at least partially closing the clutch to transmit a torque from the shaft to the crankshaft by means of friction.

6. The method for operating a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine is set in rotation, or its rotational speed is increased, using an electric motor.

7. The method for operating a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the motor vehicle comprises an electric motor separable from the drivetrain by using a second releasable clutch.

8. A control device for a motor vehicle, the control device comprising:
a memory storing instructions; and
a processor configured to access and execute the instructions stored on the memory;
wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
coast the vehicle in a first operating state within a predetermined speed range, the first operating state defined by conditions wherein the internal combustion engine is off and separated from the drivetrain by the releasable clutch;
sense a braking operation initiated by a driver while in the first operating state;
predict whether a power demand is expected within a predetermined time interval; and
if the power demand is expected, set the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine in rotation, or increase a rotational speed of the crankshaft in preparation for an engine restart.

9. The control device for a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising:
an engine controller for the internal combustion engine; and
a controller for actuating the clutch.

10. A motor vehicle comprising:
an internal combustion engine with a crankshaft;
a drivetrain separable from the internal combustion engine by a releasable clutch; and
a control device comprising:
a memory storing instructions; and
a processor configured to access and execute the instructions stored on the memory;
wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
coast the vehicle in a first operating state within a predetermined speed range, the first operating state defined by conditions wherein the internal combustion engine is off and separated from the drivetrain by the releasable clutch;
sense a braking operation initiated by a driver while in the first operating state;
predict whether a power demand is expected within a predetermined time interval; and
if the power demand is expected, set the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine in rotation, or increase a rotational speed of the crankshaft in preparation for an engine restart.

Assignees

• Cpt Group Gmbh
• Vitesco Tech Gmbh

Inventors

• Hamperl Helmut
• Wankerl Lisa

Classifications

• B60W2710/022

  Clutch actuator position · CPC title

• B60W2520/10

  Longitudinal speed · CPC title

• B60W2540/106

  Rate of change · CPC title

• B60W2030/1809

  Without torque flow between driveshaft and engine, e.g. with clutch disengaged or transmission in neutral · CPC title

• B60W10/08

  including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators · CPC title