# US 2014/0195128 A1 · Control apparatus for vehicle, vehicle and method of controlling vehicle

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- Number: US 2014/0195128 A1
- Document ID: US20140195128A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/233,664
- Filed: 2011-08-11
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-11
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Chika Tsumori
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195128A1

## CPC

- F02D 29/02: peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
- F02N 11/0818: {Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode}
- F02N 2200/061: Battery state of charge [SOC]
- F02N 2200/063: Battery voltage
- F02N 2200/064: Battery temperature
- F02N 2200/0802: Transmission state, e.g. gear ratio or neutral state
- F02N 2200/103: Clutch pedal position
- Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems
- F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W)
- F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

The object of the invention is to provide a technology of suppressing degradation of the durability performance of a battery, while improving the fuel consumption of a vehicle. A control apparatus for a vehicle, which includes an engine and a battery that is chargeable with power of the engine, includes: a configurator that sets a start condition for starting an engine according to a state of the battery; and a starter that starts the engine when the start condition is satisfied.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-11. (canceled)

### Claim 12

A control apparatus for a vehicle, which includes an engine, a battery that is chargeable with power of the engine, a manual transmission and a clutch that connects and disconnects the engine with and from the manual transmission, the control apparatus comprising:
a configurator that sets a start condition for starting the engine according to a voltage value of the battery; and
a starter that starts the engine when the start condition is satisfied, wherein
the configurator sets the start condition at a timing of:
a start of disconnection of the engine from the manual transmission by the clutch when the voltage value of the battery is less than a first threshold value;
a change in gear position of the manual transmission from a neutral position to a drive position when the voltage value of the battery is equal to or greater than the first threshold value but is less than a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value; and
a start of connection of the engine with the manual transmission by the clutch when the voltage value of the battery is equal to or greater than the second threshold value.

### Claim 13

A control apparatus for a vehicle, which includes an engine, a battery that is chargeable with power of the engine, a manual transmission and a clutch that connects and disconnects the engine with and from the manual transmission, the control apparatus comprising:
a configurator that sets a start condition for starting the engine according to a temperature of the battery; and
a starter that starts the engine when the start condition is satisfied, wherein
the configurator sets the start condition at a timing of:
a start of disconnection of the engine from the manual transmission by the clutch, as when the temperature of the battery is less than a first threshold value;
a change in gear position of the manual transmission from a neutral position to a drive position when the temperature of the battery is equal to or greater than the first threshold value but is less than a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value; and
a start of connection of the engine with the manual transmission by the clutch when the temperature of the battery is equal to or greater than the second threshold value.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein
the configurator sets the first threshold value and the second threshold value according to an operating condition of auxiliary machinery mounted on the vehicle.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein
the configuration sets the first threshold value and the second threshold value by learning an operation of the manual transmission and an operation of the clutch by a driver who drives the vehicle.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

A vehicle, comprising:
an engine;
a battery that is chargeable with power of the engine; and
the control apparatus according to claim 12.

### Claim 17

A method of controlling a vehicle, which includes an engine, a battery that is chargeable with power of the engine, a manual transmission and a clutch that connects and disconnects the engine with and from the manual transmission, the method comprising:
(a) setting a start condition for starting the engine according to a voltage value of the battery; and
(b) starting the engine when the start condition is satisfied, wherein
the step (a) comprises:
a step of setting the start condition at a timing of a start of disconnection of the engine from the manual transmission by the clutch when the voltage value of the battery is less than a first threshold value,
a step of setting the start condition at a timing of a change in gear position of the manual transmission from a neutral position to a drive position when the voltage value of the battery is equal to or greater than the first threshold value but is less than a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value, and
a step of setting the start condition at a timing of a start of connection of the engine with the manual transmission by the clutch when the voltage value of the battery is equal to or greater than the second threshold value.

### Claim 18

A method of controlling a vehicle, which includes an engine, a battery that is chargeable with power of the engine, a manual transmission and a clutch that connects and disconnects the engine with and from the manual transmission, the method comprising:
(a) setting a start condition for starting the engine according to a temperature of the battery; and
(b) starting the engine when the start condition is satisfied, wherein the step (a) comprises:
a step of setting the start condition at a timing of a start of disconnection of the engine from the manual transmission by the clutch when the temperature of the battery is less than a first threshold value,
a step of setting the start condition at a timing of a change in gear position of the manual transmission from a neutral position to a drive position when the temperature of the battery is equal to or greater than the first threshold value but is less than a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value, and
a step of setting the start condition at a timing of a start of connection of the engine with the manual transmission by the clutch when the temperature of the battery is equal to or greater than the second threshold value.