Calibration of engine auto-stop delay times

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9828964-B1
Application number	US-201615219445-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 26, 2016
Priority date	Jul 26, 2016
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A auto-stop/start vehicle with an engine and a battery includes at least one controller that calibrates an engine auto-stop delay time based on a state of charge (SOC) of a battery. The calibrated engine auto-stop delay time increases as the SOC of the battery decreases, and decreases as the SOC of the battery increases. The controller further initiates shutdown of an engine upon expiration of the calibrated engine auto-stop delay time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling an engine of a vehicle comprising:
calibrating, by a controller, an engine auto-stop delay time based on a state of charge (SOC) of a battery, such that the calibrated engine auto-stop delay time increases as the SOC decreases, and decreases as the SOC increases; and
in response to an engine auto-stop event, shutting down the engine upon expiration of the calibrated engine auto-stop delay time.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to calibrate a first engine auto-stop delay time when the SOC of the battery is a first value, the controller further configured to calibrate a second engine auto-stop delay time of a shorter duration than the first engine auto-stop delay time when the SOC of the battery is a second value that is greater than the first value.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first engine auto-stop delay time is in a range of 3 to 13 seconds when the first value of the SOC of the battery is in a range of 50%-79%.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second engine auto-stop delay time is in a range of 0 to 1 second when the second value of the SOC of the battery is in a range of 80%-100%.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to calibrate a third engine auto-stop delay time of a longer duration than the first engine auto-stop delay time when the SOC of the battery is a third value that is less than the first value.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the third engine auto-stop delay time is in a range of 23 to 88 seconds when the third value of the SOC of the battery is in a range of 20%-49%.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to calibrate a fourth engine auto-stop delay time of a longer duration than the third engine auto-stop delay time when the SOC of the battery is a fourth value that is less than the third value.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the fourth engine auto-stop delay time is in a range of 250 to 1,000 seconds when the fourth value of the SOC of the battery is in a range of 0%-19%.

9. A vehicle comprising:
an engine configured for automatic shutdown and restart;
a battery; and
a controller configured to calibrate an engine auto-stop delay time based on a state of charge (SOC) of the battery, such that the calibrated engine auto-stop delay time increases as the SOC decreases, and decreases as the SOC increases, the controller further configured to shut down the engine upon expiration of the calibrated engine auto-stop delay time.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to calibrate a first engine auto-stop delay time when the SOC of the battery is a first value, the controller further configured to calibrate a second engine auto-stop delay time of a shorter duration than the first engine auto-stop delay time when the SOC of the battery is a second value that is greater than the first value.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to calibrate a third engine auto-stop delay time of a longer duration than the first engine auto-stop delay time when the SOC of the battery is a third value that is less than the first value.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to calibrate a fourth engine auto-stop delay time of a longer duration than the third engine auto-stop delay time when the SOC of the battery is a fourth value that is less than the third value.

13. A vehicle system comprising:
a controller configured to:
receive an indication of a state of charge (SOC) of a battery;
calibrate an engine auto-stop delay time based on the SOC of the battery, such that the calibrated engine auto-stop delay time increases as the SOC decreases, and decreases as the SOC increases; and
perform an engine shutdown according to the calibrated engine auto-stop delay time.

14. The vehicle system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to calibrate a first engine auto-stop delay time when the SOC of the battery is a first value, the controller further configured to calibrate a second engine auto-stop delay time of a shorter duration than the first engine auto-stop delay time when the SOC of the battery is a second value that is greater than the first value.

15. The vehicle system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to calibrate a third engine auto-stop delay time of a longer duration than the first engine auto-stop delay time when the SOC of the battery is a third value that is less than the first value.

16. The vehicle system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to calibrate a fourth engine auto-stop delay time of a longer duration than the third engine auto-stop delay time when the SOC of the battery is a fourth value that is less than the third value.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc
• Ford Global Tech Inc

Inventors

• Gabriel David Crist
• Tistle Cathleen

Classifications

• F02N2200/061

  Battery state of charge [SOC] · CPC title

• F02N11/0833 Primary

  Vehicle conditions (F02N11/0822, F02N11/0825 take precedence) · CPC title

• F02N11/0862

  characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery · CPC title

• F02N11/0818 Primary

  Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode · CPC title

• F02N11/0825

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