Auto stop engine control for vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9587614-B2
Application number	US-201514669954-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2015
Priority date	Mar 26, 2015
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for controlling an auto stop feature of an engine of a vehicle. A sensor is configured to provide information pertaining to engine speed at first full compression of the engine and at predetermined times including and beyond the time to first full compression after commencement of engine crank. A processor is coupled to the sensor, and is configured to disable the auto stop feature if the engine speed is less than a predetermined speed threshold.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for controlling an auto stop feature of an engine of a vehicle, the method comprising:
determining, using information provided by a sensor, an engine speed at a first full compression of the engine after commencement of an engine crank; and
disabling, using a processor, the auto stop feature if the engine speed is less than a predetermined speed threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining an amount of time between the initiation of the engine crank and the first full compression of the engine; and
disabling the auto stop feature if the engine speed is less than a predetermined time threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the engine has a crank shaft;
the method further comprises measuring positions of the crank shaft during the engine crank; and
the step of determining the engine speed at the first full compression of the engine comprises determining the engine speed when the crank shaft is at a position known to correspond with the first full compression of the engine.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the engine speed at the first full compression of the engine comprises:
determining a plurality of engine speeds at multiple times throughout the engine crank; and
determining the engine speed at the first full compression of the engine to comprise a minimum of the plurality of engine speeds.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
measuring an ambient temperature for the vehicle;
wherein the step of disabling the auto stop feature comprises:
disabling the auto stop feature if the engine speed is less than the predetermined speed threshold, wherein the predetermined speed threshold is dependent upon the ambient temperature.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the engine uses an engine coolant, and the method further comprises:
measuring a coolant temperature of the engine coolant;
wherein the step of disabling the auto stop feature comprises:
disabling the auto stop feature if the engine speed is less than the predetermined speed threshold, wherein the predetermined speed threshold is dependent upon the coolant temperature.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes a battery, and the method further comprises:
determining a current of the battery; wherein the step of disabling the auto stop feature comprises:
disabling the auto stop feature if the engine speed is less than the predetermined speed threshold, wherein the predetermined speed threshold is dependent upon the current of the battery.

8. A system for controlling an auto stop feature of an engine of a vehicle, the system comprising:
a sensor configured to provide information pertaining to an engine speed at a first full compression of the engine after commencement of an engine crank; and
a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to disable the auto stop feature if the engine speed is less than a predetermined speed threshold.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine an amount of time between the initiation of the engine crank and the first full compression of the engine; and
disable the auto stop feature if the engine speed is greater than a predetermined time threshold.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the engine has a crank shaft;
the sensor is configured to measure positions of the crank shaft during the engine crank; and
the processor is configured to determining the engine speed when the crank shaft is at a position known to correspond with the first full compression of the engine.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the sensor is configured to obtain information pertaining to a plurality of engine speeds at multiple times throughout the engine crank; and
processor is configured to determine the engine speed at the first full compression of the engine to comprise a minimum of the plurality of engine speeds.

12. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a second sensor configured to measure an ambient temperature for the vehicle;
wherein the predetermined speed threshold is dependent upon the ambient temperature.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the engine uses an engine coolant;
the system further comprises a second sensor configured to measure a coolant temperature for the engine coolant; and
the predetermined speed threshold is dependent upon the coolant temperature.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the vehicle includes a battery;
the system further comprises a second sensor configured to measure a current of the battery; and
the predetermined speed threshold is dependent upon the current of the battery.

15. A vehicle comprising:
a drive system comprising an engine having an auto stop feature; and
a control system comprising:
a sensor configured to provide information pertaining to an engine speed at a first full compression of the engine after commencement of an engine crank; and
a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to disable the auto stop feature if the engine speed is less than a predetermined speed threshold.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine an amount of time between the initiation of the engine crank and the first full compression of the engine; and
disable the auto stop feature if the time to first compression is greater than a predetermined time threshold.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein:
the engine has a crank shaft;
the sensor is configured to measure positions of the crank shaft during the engine crank; and
the processor is configured to determining the engine speed when the crank shaft is at a position known to correspond with the first full compression of the engine.

18. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein:
the sensor is configured to obtain information pertaining to a plurality of engine speeds at multiple times throughout the engine crank; and
processor is configured to determine the engine speed at the first full compression of the engine to comprise a minimum of the plurality of engine speeds.

19. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein:
the control system further comprises a second sensor configured to measure an ambient temperature for the vehicle; and
the predetermined speed threshold is dependent upon the ambient temperature.

20. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein:
the engine uses an engine coolant;
the control system further comprises a second sensor configured to measure a coolant temperature for the engine coolant; and
the predetermined speed threshold is dependent upon the coolant temperature.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Rychlinski Mark J
• Walters David W
• Reynolds Michael G

Classifications

• Y02T10/40

  Engine management systems · CPC title

• F02N11/0837

  Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions · CPC title

• F02D41/042

  for stopping the engine · CPC title

• F02D35/02

  on interior conditions · CPC title

• F02N11/0825

  related to prevention of engine restart failure, e.g. disabling automatic stop at low battery state · CPC title