Selective auto start/stop delay during low speed maneuvers based on electric power steering current

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9163602-B2
Application number	US-201314086264-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2013
Priority date	Nov 21, 2013
Publication date	Oct 20, 2015
Grant date	Oct 20, 2015

Abstract

A vehicle includes an electric power steering (EPS) system coupled to a steering wheel of a vehicle. A current sensor senses EPS current drawn by the EPS system. A engine control module controls operation of an engine of the vehicle and includes an auto start/stop module to selective y start and stop the engine independent from user input to start and stop the engine. The auto start/stop module selectively delays an auto engine stop based on the EPS current.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
an electric power steering (EPS) system coupled to a steering wheel of a vehicle;
a current sensor to sense EPS current drawn by the EPS system; and
an engine control module to control operation of an engine of the vehicle and including:
an auto start/stop module to selectively start and stop the engine independent from user input to start and stop the engine,
wherein the auto start/stop module selectively delays an auto engine stop based on the EPS current.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the current sensor is located between the EPS system and a vehicle battery.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the current sensor is located independent from the EPS system.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the auto start/stop module selectively delays the auto engine stop further based on vehicle speed.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the auto start/stop module selectively delays the auto engine stop further based on a distance travelled by the vehicle after a brake is applied and vehicle speed is less than a predetermined threshold.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the auto start/stop module selectively delays the auto engine stop further based on brake pedal position.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the auto start/stop module selectively delays the auto engine stop further based on PRNDL position.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the auto start/stop module determines whether activity occurring after a brake pedal is applied and vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value corresponds to a parking maneuver, a non-parking maneuver or a possible parking maneuver.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the auto start/stop module delays engine auto stop when the auto start/stop module determines that the possible parking maneuver has occurred.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the auto start/stop module enables engine auto stop when at least one of:
a distance travelled by the vehicle since the brakes are applied is greater than a first threshold;
a speed of the vehicle is greater than a second threshold; and
a period since the delay began is greater than a third threshold.

11. A method comprising:
sensing current drawn by an electric power steering (EPS) system of a vehicle;
controlling operation of an engine of the vehicle and selectively starting and stopping the engine independent from user input to start and stop the engine; and
selectively delaying an auto engine stop based on the EPS current.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the current is sensed between the EPS system and a vehicle battery.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the current is sensed independent from the EPS system.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising selectively delaying the auto engine stop further based on vehicle speed.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising selectively delaying the auto engine stop further based on a distance travelled by the vehicle after a brake is applied and vehicle speed is less than a predetermined threshold.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising selectively delaying the auto engine stop further based on brake pedal position.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising selectively delaying the auto engine stop further based on PRNDL position.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining whether activity occurring after a brake pedal is applied and vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value corresponds to a parking maneuver, a non-parking maneuver or a possible parking maneuver.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising delaying engine auto stop when the auto start/stop module determines that the possible parking maneuver has occurred.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising enabling engine auto stop when at least one of:
a distance travelled by the vehicle since the brakes are applied is greater than a first threshold;
a speed of the vehicle is greater than a second threshold; and
a period since the delay began is greater than a third threshold.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Killy David D
• Ender Tom C

Classifications

• F02N11/084

  State of vehicle accessories, e.g. air condition or power steering · CPC title

• B60W2540/16

  Ratio selector position · CPC title

• F02N2200/0802

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

• F02N11/0822 Primary

  related to action of the driver · CPC title

• F02N2200/0801

  Vehicle speed · CPC title