Methods and systems for engine start control
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsAlex O'Connor Gibson, Allan Roy Gale, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, John DeMarco
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for starting an engine in a vehicle, the engine including a starter, the vehicle including a plurality of energy storage devices electrically coupled to the starter. One example method comprises, during a first charging condition, electrically coupling the plurality of energy storage devices in parallel to each other; and during a second discharging condition, electrically coupling the plurality of energy storage devices in series to each other and to the starter to actuate the starter and rotate the engine.
Claims26
A method for starting an engine in a vehicle, the engine including a starter, the vehicle including a plurality of energy storage devices electrically coupled to the starter, the method comprising:
- during a first charging condition, electrically coupling the plurality of energy storage devices in parallel to each other;
- and
- during a second discharging condition, electrically coupling the plurality of energy storage devices in series to each other and to the starter to actuate the starter and rotate the engine.
A vehicle system, comprising:
- a battery, a first end of the battery connected to an electrical ground and a second end of the battery connected to a node of an electrical circuit;
- an electrical load, a first end of the electrical load connected to the electrical ground and a second end of the electrical load connected to the node of the electrical circuit such that the electrical load is connected in parallel to the battery;
- an alternator, a first end of the alternator connected to the electrical ground and a second end of the alternator connected to the node of the electrical circuit such that the alternator is connected in parallel to the battery and the electrical load;
- a charge storage device, a first end of the charge storage device connected to the electrical ground through a resistor, and a second end of the charge storage device connected to the node of the electrical circuit through a diode, such that the charge storage device is connected in parallel to the battery, the electrical load, and the alternator;
- an engine including a starter, the starter coupled to a starter motor, a first end of the motor connected to the electrical ground and a second end of the motor connected to the node of the electrical circuit through a first relay such that the motor is connected in parallel to the battery, the electrical load, the alternator, and the charge storage device, closing of the first relay enabling an operation of the motor to be started;
- and
- a second relay, a first end of the second relay connected in between the charge storage device and the resistor, and a second end of the relay connected to the node of the electrical circuit, the second relay configured to electrically couple the battery, the charge storage device, and the starter to each other.
A method of operating a vehicle including an electrical circuit, the method comprising,
- during a first condition, electrically coupling a battery, a charge storage device, and an engine starter, in parallel to each other, by opening a first relay, each of the battery, the charge storage device and the starter electrically grounded and further connected to a node of the electrical circuit in parallel to each other, the starter configured to initiate engine cranking, the first relay connected between the charge storage device and the node of the electrical circuit in parallel to the charge storage device;
- during a second condition, electrically coupling the battery, the charge storage device, and the starter, in series to each other, by closing the first relay, to actuate the starter and rotate the engine;
- and
- during a third condition, electrically coupling the charge storage device to an electrical power assisted steering load (EPAS), by closing a second relay, to absorb voltage transients across the EPAS, the EPAS configured to enable a steering of the vehicle, the EPAS electrically grounded and connected to the node of the electrical circuit in parallel to the starter, the battery, and the charge storage device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.