# US 8,788,178 B2 · Engine auto stop and auto start strategies

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- Number: US 8,788,178 B2
- Document ID: US8788178B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/165,830
- Filed: 2011-06-22
- Published: 2012-12-27
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-22
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Kirk Pebley; Sangeetha Sangameswaran; William James Bouse; Chester Gordon Hearn; John Michael Jakupco
- Inventors: Kirk Pebley; Sangeetha Sangameswaran; William James Bouse; Chester Gordon Hearn; John Michael Jakupco
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788178B2

## CPC

- F02N 11/084: {State of vehicle accessories, e.g. air condition or power steering}
- F02N 11/0822: {related to action of the driver}
- F02N 11/0844: {with means for restarting the engine directly after an engine stop request, e.g. caused by change of driver mind}
- F02N 2200/0808: Steering state, e.g. state of power assisted steering
- Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems
- F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

An automotive vehicle includes an engine and at least one controller. The at least one controller receives information about steering angle velocity or steering input torque during an engine auto stop event, and determines whether to allow the engine to auto stop based on the received information.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automotive vehicle comprising:
an engine; and
at least one controller configured to (i) receive information about steering angle velocity or steering input torque during an engine auto stop event, (ii) detect an engine auto stop inhibit condition when one of the steering angle velocity or steering input torque exceeds a threshold value, and (iii) inhibit an auto stop of the engine in response to detecting the engine auto stop inhibit condition.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller is further configured to (iv) receive information about whether the engine is stopped, (v) detect an engine auto start condition when the engine is stopped and one of the steering angle velocity or steering input torque exceeds a threshold value, and (vi) initiate an auto start of the engine in response to detecting the engine auto start condition.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein inhibiting an auto stop of the engine includes commanding fuel to resume flowing to the engine.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein inhibiting an auto stop of the engine includes preventing the engine from stopping.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The vehicle of claim 2 wherein initiating an auto start of the engine includes commanding a starter to crank the engine.

### Claim 6

A method for controlling an automotive vehicle engine comprising:
receiving information about steering angle velocity or steering input torque during an engine auto stop event;
detecting an engine auto stop inhibit condition when one of the steering angle velocity or steering input torque exceeds a threshold value; and
inhibiting an auto stop of the engine in response to detecting the engine auto stop inhibit condition.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein inhibiting an auto stop of the engine includes commanding fuel to resume flowing to the engine.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein inhibiting an auto stop of the engine includes preventing the engine from stopping.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 further comprising receiving information about whether the engine is stopped, detecting an engine auto start condition when the engine is stopped and one of the steering angle velocity or steering input torque exceeds a threshold value, and initiating an auto start of the engine in response to detecting the engine auto start condition.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein initiating an auto start of the engine includes commanding a starter to crank the engine.

### Claim 11

A micro hybrid vehicle comprising:
an engine; and
at least one controller configured to determine whether to allow the engine to auto stop based on information about steering input torque or rate of change of steering angle.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The vehicle of claim 11 wherein determining whether to allow the engine to auto stop includes determining whether the steering input torque or rate of change of steering angle exceeds a threshold value.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the at least one controller is further configured to determine whether to command the engine to auto start based on the information about steering input torque or rate of change of steering angle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the at least one controller is further configured to command the engine to auto start if the steering input torque or rate of change of steering angle exceeds a threshold value.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The vehicle of claim 14 wherein commanding the engine to auto start includes commanding a starter to crank the engine.