Controller and method for operating starter motor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11719210-B2
Application number	US-201917416171-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2019
Priority date	Dec 21, 2018
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a controller for a starter motor operable to receive a first input indicative of an engine shutdown being required, a second input indicative of a change-of-mind event having occurred after initiation of engine shutdown and a third input indicative of the engine position. After receipt of the first input the controller is operable to monitor the third input and to determine an expected engine rotation direction indicative of the expected rotation direction of the engine after a predetermined delay. If the expected engine rotation direction is positive and the second input is received then the controller is configured to control the output means to cause the starter motor of the engine to be actuated upon receipt of the second input. If the expected engine rotation direction is negative and the second input is received then the controller is configured to delay controlling the output means to cause the starter motor of the engine to be actuated until a determination is made that the expected rotation direction is positive. Advantageously, the controller calculates the expected engine rotation direction before receipt of the input indicative of the change-of-mind event having occurred, thereby reducing the time required to determine whether or not the starter motor can be actuated.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A stop-start controller for a starter motor and an engine, the stop-start controller comprising:
an input configured to receive a first signal indicative of shutdown of the engine being required, a second signal indicative of restart of the engine being required after initiation of shutdown of the engine, and a third signal indicative of a position of the engine;
an output; and
a processor configured to communicate with the input and the output,
wherein:
the processor is configured to monitor the third signal and determine an expected engine rotation direction after a predetermined delay in dependence on the third signal;
the stop-start controller is configured to control the output to cause the starter motor to be actuated upon receipt of the second signal if the expected engine rotation direction is positive and the second signal is received;
the stop-start controller is configured to delay controlling the output to cause the starter motor to be actuated until a determination that the expected rotation direction is positive if the expected engine rotation direction is negative and the second signal is received;
the processor is configured to calculate a change in engine rotational speed over time in dependence on the third signal; and
the determination of the expected engine rotation direction is performed in dependence on said change in engine rotational speed over time.

2. A stop-start controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the output is operable to provide a shutdown signal to cause shutdown of the engine;
the first signal is indicative of a speed of a vehicle being below a threshold value and a brake of the vehicle being actuated; and
the processor is configured to cause the output to provide the shutdown signal upon receipt of the first signal.

3. A stop-start controller as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first signal comprises a signal from a brake controller indicative of the vehicle being held stationary and at least one of:
a parking brake of the vehicle being applied; and
a pressure applied to a brake pedal of the vehicle being greater than a predetermined value.

4. A stop-start controller as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the output is operable to provide a shutdown signal to cause shutdown of the engine when the vehicle is in motion.

5. A stop-start controller as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the threshold value is approximately 20 kilometers per hour.

6. A stop-start system comprising the stop-start controller as claimed in claim 1 .

7. A vehicle comprising the stop-start system as claimed in claim 6 .

8. A method of controlling an engine of a vehicle, the method comprising:
initiating shutdown of the engine;
monitoring a position of the engine and, in dependence on the engine position, determining an expected engine rotation direction after a predetermined delay;
receiving an engine restart signal indicating that restart of the engine is required;
actuating a starter motor, wherein
if the expected engine rotation direction is positive when the engine restart signal is received, actuating the starter motor upon receipt of the engine restart signal, and
if the expected engine rotation direction is negative when the engine restart signal is received, delaying actuating the starter motor until determining that the expected rotation direction is positive; and

calculating a change in the engine rotational speed over time in dependence on the engine position,
wherein determining the expected engine rotation direction is performed in dependence on said change in the engine rotational speed over time.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein initiating shutdown of the engine is performed in dependence on receipt of a first signal indicative of a speed of the vehicle being below a threshold value and a brake of the vehicle being actuated.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the initiating shutdown of the engine is performed upon receipt of a signal indicative of the vehicle being held stationary, wherein the signal indicative of the vehicle being held stationary comprises a signal from a brake controller indicative of the vehicle being stationary and at least one of:
a parking brake of the vehicle being applied and
a pressure applied to a brake pedal of the vehicle being greater than a predetermined value.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 , comprising initiating the shutdown of the engine when the vehicle is in motion.

12. A method as claimed in claim 9 , comprising initiating the shutdown of the engine when the vehicle is in motion wherein the threshold value is approximately 20 kilometers per hour.

Assignees

• Jaguar Land Rover Ltd

Inventors

• Moorcroft Adam
• Stacey Stephen
• Cooper Ian

Classifications

• F02N11/0848 Primary

  with means for detecting successful engine start, e.g. to stop starter actuation · CPC title

• F02D41/061

  the corrections being time dependent · CPC title

• F02N11/0803

  characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop (F02N11/0814 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02N11/0844 Primary

  with means for restarting the engine directly after an engine stop request, e.g. caused by change of driver mind · CPC title

• F02N11/0855

  during engine shutdown or after engine stop before start command, e.g. pre-engagement of pinion · CPC title