# US 10,480,477 B2 · Electric current based engine auto stop inhibit algorithm and system implementing same

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- Number: US 10,480,477 B2
- Document ID: US10480477B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/179,747
- Filed: 2011-07-11
- Published: 2013-01-17
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-11
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Sangeetha Sangameswaran; Kevin Roy Harpenau; Kirk Pebley; David Celinske; Eric Michael Rademacher
- Inventors: Sangeetha Sangameswaran; Kevin Roy Harpenau; Kirk Pebley; David Celinske; Eric Michael Rademacher
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480477B2

## CPC

- F02N 11/0825: {related to prevention of engine restart failure, e.g. disabling automatic stop at low battery state}
- F02N 11/04: the motors being associated with current generators
- F02N 2200/062: Battery current
- F02N 2200/0809: Electrical loads
- Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems
- Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility
- F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein inhibiting an auto stop of the engine includes preventing the engine from stopping.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller is further configured to allow an auto stop of the engine in response to the estimated current being less than the threshold current.

### Claim 4

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.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the at least one controller is further configured to detect an engine auto stop permit condition responsive to the estimate of current being less than the threshold current, and to allow the engine to auto stop.

### Claim 6

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.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 further comprising controlling the vehicle accessory loads during an auto stop of the engine such that the vehicle accessory loads consume an amount of current not greater than the estimated current.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein inhibiting an auto stop of the engine includes preventing the engine from stopping.