Auto stop parameter threshold adjustment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016305388-A1
Application number	US-201514686809-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 15, 2015
Priority date	Apr 15, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle controller may initiate an auto stop of an engine in response to a value of an auto stop parameter falling within a specified range and alter the specified range based on learned information derived from vehicle data to change a frequency or duration of auto stops of the engine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle comprising:
an engine; and a controller programmed to initiate an auto stop of the engine in response to a value of an auto stop parameter falling within a specified range and to alter the specified range based on learned information derived from vehicle data to change a frequency or duration of auto stops of the engine.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to alter the specified range in response to the learned information such that the frequency or duration of auto stops of the engine increases for a specified drive cycle.

3 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the auto stop parameter is vehicle speed and wherein altering the specified range includes increasing a threshold speed at which an auto stop of the engine is initiated.

4 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the auto stop parameter is rate of accelerator pedal tip-out and wherein altering the specified range includes decreasing a threshold rate of accelerator pedal tip-out at which an auto stop of the engine is initiated.

5 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the auto stop parameter is quantity of brake apply and wherein altering the specified range includes decreasing a threshold quantity of brake apply at which an auto stop of the engine is initiated.

6 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the auto stop parameter is rate of brake pedal tip-out and wherein altering the specified range includes decreasing a threshold rate of brake pedal tip-out at which an auto stop of the engine is initiated.

7 . A vehicle stop-start system comprising:
a controller programmed to adjust an auto stop parameter threshold value associated with a particular geographic location according to learned information derived from vehicle data collected in a vicinity of the particular geographic location to alter a frequency or duration of engine auto stops at the particular geographic location, wherein the threshold value when crossed causes the system to initiate an auto stop of an engine.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein adjusting the auto stop parameter threshold value includes increasing the auto stop parameter threshold value.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein adjusting the auto stop parameter threshold value includes decreasing the auto stop parameter threshold value.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the auto stop parameter threshold value describes a vehicle speed.

11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the auto stop parameter threshold value describes a rate of accelerator pedal tip-out.

12 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the auto stop parameter threshold value describes a quantity of brake apply.

13 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the auto stop parameter threshold value describes a rate of brake pedal tip-out.

14 . A method for operating a vehicle comprising:
in response to identifying a driver of the vehicle, altering by a controller a threshold value of an auto stop parameter based on drive cycle data associated with the driver such that a duration of engine auto stops for a specified drive cycle performed by the driver will be different than the duration for the specified drive cycle performed by a different identified driver, wherein the threshold value when crossed causes an auto stop of an engine to be initiated.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein altering the threshold value includes increasing the threshold value.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein altering the threshold value includes decreasing the threshold value.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the auto stop parameter is vehicle speed.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the auto stop parameter is rate of accelerator pedal tip-out.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the auto stop parameter is quantity of brake apply.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the auto stop parameter is rate of brake pedal tip-out.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Miller Kenneth James
• Leone Thomas G

Classifications

• B60W2556/50

  of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data · CPC title

• B60W2540/043

  Identity of occupants · CPC title

• B60W2050/0088

  Adaptive recalibration · CPC title

• B60W2050/0083

  Setting, resetting, calibration · CPC title

• B60W2540/103

  Accelerator thresholds, e.g. kickdown · CPC title