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US 10,480,477 B2Granted
Electric current based engine auto stop inhibit algorithm and system implementing same
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsSangeetha Sangameswaran, Kevin Roy Harpenau, Kirk Pebley, David Celinske, Eric Michael Rademacher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle includes an engine and at least one controller. The at least one controller periodically determines an estimated current to be demanded by vehicle electrical loads during an auto stop of the engine, compares the estimated current with a threshold current, and inhibits an auto stop of the engine if the estimated current is greater than the threshold current for a predetermined period of time.
Claims8
A vehicle comprising:
- an engine;
- and
- at least one controller configured to inhibit an auto stop of the engine in response to expected increases and decreases to currents consumed by climate system accessory loads or power steering system accessory loads once the engine has been auto stopped resulting in an estimated current to be demanded by the vehicle accessory loads during an auto stop of the engine being greater than a threshold current.
A vehicle comprising:
- an engine;
- and
- a controller configured to detect an engine auto stop inhibit condition responsive to expected increases and decreases to currents consumed by vehicle accessory fan loads or vehicle accessory pump loads once the engine has been auto stopped resulting in an estimate of current to be demanded by the vehicle accessory loads during an auto stop of the engine being greater than a threshold current, and to prevent the engine from auto stopping.
A method for controlling a vehicle engine comprising:
- inhibiting an auto stop of the engine responsive to expected changes to currents consumed by climate system accessory loads or power steering system accessory loads once the engine has been auto stopped resulting in an estimated current to be demanded by the vehicle accessory loads being greater than a threshold current;
- and
- allowing an auto stop of the engine responsive to the estimated current being less than the threshold current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.