A controller for controlling an engine of a vehicle

A controller comprising:

• an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving at least one input signal and a further signal;
• and
• an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the electronic processor and having instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the electronic processor to:
• cause stopping of power generation of the engine during movement of the vehicle in dependence on at least one criterion being met;
• cause restarting of power generation by the engine, in dependence on at least one input signal indicating a requirement for the engine to restart to provide a required power output;
• receive a target engine speed value dependent on a current driveshaft speed;
• cause the engine to maintain an engine speed that is no greater than a target engine speed during a period after receiving the at least one input signal and until a further signal is received indicating that a reconnection of the engine to a driveshaft has been established, the target engine speed being dependent on said target engine speed value;
• and
• allow the engine speed to exceed the target engine speed after receiving the further signal,
• wherein, in dependence on the driveshaft speed being at or below a threshold value, the controller is configured to determine the target engine speed dependent on an idle speed of the engine.

A control system for controlling an engine of a vehicle and for controlling connection and disconnection of the engine and a driveshaft, the control system comprising a controller and a transmission control module that provides signals to the controller, the control system being configured to:

• enable disconnection of the engine from the driveshaft and stop power generation of the engine during movement of the vehicle;
• and
• in dependence on at least one input indicating a requirement for the engine to restart to provide a required power output, cause restarting of power generation by the engine and reconnection of the engine to the driveshaft,
• wherein the control system is configured to limit a speed of the engine to be no more than a target engine speed when reconnecting the engine to the driveshaft, and the target engine speed is dependent on a current driveshaft speed,
• wherein, in dependence on the driveshaft speed being at or below a threshold value, the control system is configured to determine the target engine speed dependent on an idle speed of the engine.

A method of controlling an engine of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• causing stopping of power generation of the engine during movement of the vehicle in dependence on at least one criterion being met;
• causing restarting of power generation by the engine, in dependence on receiving at least one input signal indicating a requirement for the engine to restart to provide a required power output;
• receiving a target engine speed value that is dependent on a current driveshaft speed;
• causing the engine to maintain an engine speed that is no greater than a target engine speed during a period after receiving the at least one input signal and until a further signal is received indicating that a reconnection of the engine to a driveshaft has been established, the target engine speed being dependent on said target engine speed value;
• and
• allowing the engine speed to exceed the target engine speed after reconnection of the engine to the driveshaft,
• wherein, in dependence on the driveshaft speed being at or below a threshold value, the target engine speed is determined dependent on an idle speed of the engine.