Alternator charging based on marginal fuel cost
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsThomas G. Leone, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and systems are provided for, in response to a state of charge (SOC) of a vehicle battery increasing above a threshold SOC, reducing an alternator charging based on one or more of a spark timing, an engine speed, an air-fuel ratio, and an engine load. In this way, fuel consumption may be reduced while maintaining a battery SOC for operation of front-end accessories may be achieved, and fuel consumption may be reduced during aggressive vehicle driving conditions such has high engine loads near transmission downshift thresholds and high engine speeds.
Claims20
A method for an engine, comprising:
- in response to a state of charge (SOC) of a vehicle battery increasing above a threshold SOC, reducing an alternator charging based on one or more of a spark timing, an engine speed, an air-fuel ratio, and an engine load.
A method for an engine, comprising:
- adjusting an alternator torque in response to a state of charge (SOC) of a vehicle battery increasing above a threshold SOC, the adjusting based on one or more of a spark timing, an engine speed, an air-fuel ratio, and an engine load.
A vehicle system, comprising:
- an engine;
- an alternator mechanically coupled to the engine and electrically coupled to a battery;
- a controller on-board the engine, including executable instructions to,
- in response to a battery state of charge (SOC) being greater than a threshold SOC,
- adjusting an alternator torque based on one or more of a spark timing, an air-fuel ratio, an engine speed, and an engine load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.