# US 2020/0400089 A1 · Engine start system of hybrid vehicle and method for controlling the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0400089 A1 - Document ID: US20200400089A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/679,502 - Filed: 2019-11-11 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-21 - Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation - Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation - Inventors: Hyun Wook Seong; Dong Gyun Woo; Hye Seung Kim; Hui Sung Jang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200400089A1 ## CPC - B60L 50/61: by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles - F02D 41/062: {for starting (F02D41/061 takes precedence)} - B60L 53/20: characterised by converters located in the vehicle - B60L 58/20: having different nominal voltages - F02N 11/0862: {characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery} - F02N 11/0866: {comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries} - F02N 11/087: {Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches} - H02J 1/082: DC supplies with two or more different DC voltage levels - H02J 7/1423: {with multiple batteries} - H02J 7/342: {The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging (with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/68)} - H02J 7/865: {Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply (H02J7/50 takes precedence)} - H02J 9/061: {for DC powered loads} - B60L 2260/26: Transition between different drive modes - F02N 11/04: the motors being associated with current generators - F02N 11/0848: {with means for detecting successful engine start, e.g. to stop starter actuation} - F02N 11/0851: {characterised by means for controlling the engagement or disengagement between engine and starter, e.g. meshing of pinion and engine gear} - F02N 2011/0874: {characterised by said switch being an electronic switch} - F02N 2011/0888: {DC/DC converters} - H02J 2105/37: exchanging power with electric vehicles [EV] or with hybrid electric vehicles [HEV] - Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - 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 - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract An engine start system of a hybrid vehicle includes a converter circuit unit converting voltage and outputting the converted voltage and a switch having a first terminal connected to an output terminal of the converter circuit unit and a second terminal selectively forming an electrical connection with the first terminal. A diode has an anode connected to the second terminal and a cathode connected to the first terminal. A battery is connected to the second terminal. A low-voltage starter connected to the battery and provides rotary power to start an engine in a stopped state by converting battery power into rotational energy. A controller opens the switch and supplies driving power to the low-voltage starter when the engine is started. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An engine start system of a hybrid vehicle, comprising: a converter circuit unit configured to convert voltage and output the converted voltage; a switch having a first terminal connected to an output terminal of the converter circuit unit and a second terminal selectively forming an electrical connection with the first terminal; a diode having an anode connected to the second terminal and a cathode connected to the first terminal; a battery connected to the second terminal; a low-voltage starter connected to the battery, and configured to provide rotary power to start an engine in a stopped state by converting power of the battery into rotational energy; and a controller configured to open the switch and supply driving power to the low-voltage starter when the engine is started. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The engine start system according to claim 1, wherein when a fault of the converter circuit unit occurs in an open state of the switch, power is supplied from the battery to the output terminal of the converter circuit unit through the diode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The engine start system according to claim 1, further comprising an electric field load connected to the first terminal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The engine start system according to claim 1, wherein the switch is a field effect transistor, and the diode is a body diode embedded in the field effect transistor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The engine start system according to claim 1, wherein when a fault of the converter circuit unit occurs after the controller supplies driving power to the low-voltage starter, the controller is configured to intercept the driving power and stop starting of the engine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The engine start system according to claim 1, further comprising: a starter power relay having a first end connected to the output terminal of the converter circuit unit and a second end connected to a driving unit configured to drive the low-voltage starter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The engine start system according to claim 6, wherein when the engine is started, the controller is configured to turn on the starter power relay to supply the driving power to the driving unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The engine start system according to claim 7, wherein when a fault of the converter circuit unit occurs in an on state of the starter power relay, the controller is configured to turn off the starter power relay. ### Claim 9 A method for controlling an engine start system, comprising: turning off, by a controller, a switch when the controller receives instructions to start an engine, wherein the switch includes a first terminal connected to an output terminal of a converter circuit unit configured to convert voltage and a second terminal selectively forming an electrical connection with the first terminal; supplying, by the controller, driving power to a low-voltage starter connected to a battery, wherein the battery is connected to the second terminal; and intercepting, by the controller, the driving power supplied to the low-voltage starter and turning on the switch, when starting of the engine is completed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising: intercepting, by the controller, the driving power and stopping the starting of the engine, when a fault of the converter circuit unit occurs after supplying the driving power to the low-voltage starter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the engine start system includes a starter power relay having a first end connected to the output terminal of the converter circuit unit and a second end connected to a driving unit configured to drive the low-voltage starter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising: in supplying the driving power to the low-voltage starter, turning on, by the controller, the starter power relay to supply the driving power to the driving unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, further comprising: when a fault of the converter circuit unit occurs after supplying the driving power to the low-voltage starter, turning off, by the controller, the starter power relay and stopping starting of the engine. ### Claim 14 An engine start system of a hybrid vehicle, comprising: a converter package includes: a converter circuit unit configured to convert voltage and output the converted voltage; a first output port connected to an output terminal of the converter circuit unit; a switch having a first terminal connected to the output terminal of the converter circuit unit and a second terminal selectively forming an electrical connection with the first terminal; a diode having an anode connected to the second terminal and a cathode connected to the first terminal; a second output port connected to the second terminal; and a controller configured to adjust a connection state of the switch; a battery connected to the second terminal; and a low-voltage starter connected to the battery, and configured to provide rotary power to start an engine in a stopped state by converting power of the battery into rotational energy, wherein the controller is configured to open the switch and drive the low-voltage starter when the engine is started. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The engine start system according to claim 14, further comprising: an electric field load connected to the first output port. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The engine start system according to claim 14, wherein the converter package further includes: a starter power relay having a first end connected to the output terminal of the converter circuit unit and a second end connected to a driving unit configured to drive the low-voltage starter.