# US 7,744,501 B2 · Automatic vehicle stop control method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,501 B2 - Document ID: US7744501B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/575,765 - Filed: 2005-09-22 - Published: 2008-01-10 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2004-09-23 - Assignees: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur - Inventors: Brice Lecole; Magali Laurence - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744501B2 ## CPC - F02N 11/0818: {Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode} - F02D 41/042: {for stopping the engine} - F02N 11/0825: {related to prevention of engine restart failure, e.g. disabling automatic stop at low battery state} - F02N 11/0844: {with means for restarting the engine directly after an engine stop request, e.g. caused by change of driver mind} - F02N 11/0859: {specially adapted to the type of the starter motor or integrated into it} - F02N 11/10: Safety devices (F02N11/08 takes precedence) - F02D 2041/228: {Warning displays} - F02N 11/04: the motors being associated with current generators - F02N 2011/0896: {Inverters for electric machines, e.g. starter-generators} - F02N 2200/023: Engine temperature - F02N 2200/061: Battery state of charge [SOC] - F02N 2200/0802: Transmission state, e.g. gear ratio or neutral state - F02N 2200/0804: Temperature inside the vehicle cabin - F02N 2200/0806: Air condition state - F02N 2200/101: Accelerator pedal position - F02N 2200/102: Brake pedal position - F02N 2200/103: Clutch pedal position - F02N 2250/02: Battery voltage drop at start, e.g. drops causing ECU reset - F02N 2300/30: characterised by the use of digital means - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A stop control method which is intended for a heat engine of a vehicle that is equipped with a reversible electric machine. According to the invention, a decision is made to stop the heat engine as a function of: (i) steady conditions which are essentially stable prior to a stopping phase; and (ii) variable conditions which can change following a positive test on the steady conditions and prior to a stopping phase, said steady conditions being tested prior to the variable conditions. The invention is suitable for motor vehicles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control method for controlling a stopping of a thermal engine of a motor vehicle, wherein said method comprises the steps of: deciding on an automatic stopping of said thermal engine according on the one hand to steady conditions, substantially stable before a stop phase, and on the other hand variable conditions liable to change after a positive test on said steady conditions and before said stop phase; testing said steady conditions prior to said variable conditions; and sending a warning signal intended to inform of a probable stopping of the thermal engine after said positive test on said steady conditions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control method according to claim 1, wherein said warning signal is a light signal. ### Claim 3 A control method for controlling the stopping of a thermal engine of a motor vehicle, wherein said method comprises the steps of: deciding on an automatic stopping of said thermal engine according on the one hand to steady conditions, substantially stable before a stop phase, and on the other hand variable conditions liable to change after a positive test on said steady conditions and before said stop phase; testing said steady conditions prior to said variable conditions; and testing said steady conditions, prior to a test on the variable conditions, after sending a warning signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The control method according to claim 3, wherein said method comprises a supplementary step of: if the variable conditions are true, executing said stop phase. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The control method according to claim 3, wherein the steady conditions comprise, separately or in combination, so-called behavioral conditions relating to an action of the driver of the vehicle and safety conditions relating to the functioning of the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The control method according to claim 5, wherein said behavioral conditions comprise, separately or in combination, an action on a means of activating/deactivating the thermal engine stop control, a closure of the driver's door of the vehicle, a detection of the presence of the driver in the vehicle if the door of said driver has been opened, a closure of the bonnet of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle lower than a given speed, a gear lever in a neutral position and the clutch pedal released, a minimum speed reached on the vehicle since the previous stopping, and, if the vehicle is equipped with an activated air conditioning device, a temperature of the vehicle lying within a given temperature range. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The control method according to claim 3, wherein said variable conditions comprise, separately or in combination, a sufficient battery charge state, a temperature of the thermal engine above a given temperature, and the expiry of a pause before having a stopping of said thermal engine, with a duration variable with the maximum speed of the vehicle reached since a previous stop phase. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The control method according to claim 3, wherein said method comprises a supplementary step of: sending a restart instruction during said stop phase if stop conditions are no longer satisfied. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) Rotary electrical machine comprising a device for implementing the control method according to claim 3. ### Claim 10 A control method for controlling the stopping of a thermal engine of a motor vehicle, wherein said method comprises the steps of: deciding on an automatic stopping of said thermal engine according on the one hand to steady conditions, substantially stable before a stop phase, and on the other hand variable conditions liable to change after a positive test on said steady conditions and before said stop phase; and testing said steady conditions prior to said variable conditions; wherein the steady conditions comprise, separately or in combination, so-called behavioral conditions relating to an action of the driver of the vehicle and safety conditions relating to the functioning of the vehicle; wherein said behavioral conditions comprise, separately or in combination, an action on a means of activating/deactivating the thermal engine stop control, a closure of the driver's door of the vehicle, a detection of the presence of the driver in the vehicle if the door of said driver has been opened, a closure of the bonnet of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle lower than a given speed, a gear lever in a neutral position and the clutch pedal released, a minimum speed reached on the vehicle since the previous stopping, and, if the vehicle is equipped with an activated air conditioning device, a temperature of the vehicle lying within a given temperature range; wherein said detection of the driver in the vehicle is validated if at least one of the following conditions is fulfilled: a safety belt of the driver is fastened, an ignition key is actuated in the starting position, and the following sequence is performed: a clutch pedal is completely pressed down, a gear lever is engaged in a non-neutral position and said clutch pedal is released. ### Claim 11 A control method for controlling the stopping of a thermal engine of a motor vehicle, wherein said method comprises the steps of: deciding on an automatic stopping of said thermal engine according on the one hand to steady conditions, substantially stable before a stop phase, and on the other hand variable conditions liable to change after a positive test on said steady conditions and before said stop phase; and testing said steady conditions prior to said variable conditions; wherein the steady conditions comprise, separately or in combination, so-called behavioral conditions relating to an action of the driver of the vehicle and safety conditions relating to the functioning of the vehicle; wherein said safety conditions comprise, separately or in combination, a temperature of the electronics of a rotary electrical machine coupled to said thermal engine below a given temperature, a speed of the thermal engine less than a given speed, the absence of or the prevention of a restarting instruction, and an expiry of a given time after a failure to stop the thermal engine. ### Claim 12 A control method for controlling the stopping of a thermal engine of a motor vehicle, wherein said method comprises the steps of: deciding on an automatic stopping of said thermal engine according on the one hand to steady conditions, substantially stable before a stop phase, and on the other hand variable conditions liable to change after a positive test on said steady conditions and before said stop phase; testing said steady conditions prior to said variable conditions; and opening a window for monitoring the speed of the thermal engine with a given duration following an instruction to stop said thermal engine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The control method according to claim 12, wherein said method comprises a supplementary step of: sending an instruction to restart the thermal engine if the speed of the thermal engine remains above a given speed within said monitoring window. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The control method according to claim 13, wherein said method comprises a supplementary step of: sending a new stop instruction in the event of failure of a first stop instruction only after the expiry of a given interval of time. ### Claim 15 A device for controlling the stopping of a thermal engine of a motor vehicle, wherein said device comprises: means for deciding on the automatic stopping of said thermal engine according on one hand to steady conditions, substantially stable before a stop phase, and on the other hand variable conditions liable to change after a positive test on the steady conditions and before said stop phase; means for testing said steady conditions prior to the variable conditions; and means for sending a warning signal intended to inform of a probable stopping of the thermal engine, after a positive test on said steady conditions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The control device according to claim 15 further comprising: means for executing said stop phase if the variable conditions are true. ### Claim 17 A device for controlling the stopping of a thermal engine of a motor vehicle, wherein said device comprises: means for deciding on an automatic stopping of said thermal engine according on the one hand to steady conditions, substantially stable before a stop phase, and on the other hand variable conditions liable to change after a positive test on said steady conditions and before said stop phase; means for testing said steady conditions prior to said variable conditions; and means for testing said steady conditions, prior to a test on the variable conditions, after sending a warning signal.