Method and apparatus to evaluate a starting system for an internal combustion engine
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsKwang-Keun Shin, Mutasim A. Salman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A starting system for an internal combustion engine includes a starter motor and a battery. A method for evaluating the starting system includes detecting a fault associated with the starter motor when a minimum starting system voltage during a cranking event is greater than a threshold minimum starting system voltage determined in relation to an engine acceleration parameter, and detecting a fault associated with the battery when the engine acceleration parameter is less than a minimum threshold for the engine acceleration parameter.
Claims17
A control module-implemented method for evaluating a starting system for an internal combustion engine, the starting system including a starter motor and a battery, comprising:
- monitoring engine speed, cranking time, and battery voltage during an engine cranking event, said engine cranking event comprising the engine speed increasing from an engine speed of zero to an engine speed threshold;
- detecting and distinguishing, via a control module, between first and second faults resulting in a non-start event of the engine, wherein detecting the first and second faults comprises:
- detecting the first fault associated with the starter motor when a minimum starting system voltage during the cranking event is greater than a threshold minimum starting system voltage determined in relation to an engine acceleration parameter, wherein the engine acceleration parameter is calculated by dividing the engine speed threshold by the cranking time for the engine speed to achieve the engine speed threshold;
- and
- only if the first fault associated with the starter motor is not detected, detecting the second fault associated with the battery when the engine acceleration parameter is less than a minimum threshold for the engine acceleration parameter during the cranking event.
A control module-implemented method for evaluating a starting system for an internal combustion engine, the starting system including a starter motor and a battery, comprising:
- cranking the engine, said cranking comprising increasing the engine speed from an engine speed of zero to an engine speed threshold;
- monitoring engine speed, cranking time, and battery voltage during engine cranking;
- determining an engine acceleration parameter by dividing the engine speed threshold by the cranking time for the engine speed to achieve the engine speed threshold;
- determining a minimum battery voltage during engine cranking;
- and
- detecting and distinguishing, via a control module, between first and second faults resulting in a non-start event of the engine, wherein detecting the first and second faults comprises:
- detecting the first fault associated with the starter motor only when the minimum battery voltage during engine cranking is greater than a threshold cranking voltage corresponding to the engine acceleration parameter;
- and
- only if the first fault associated with the starter motor is not detected, detecting the second fault associated with the battery when the engine acceleration parameter is less than a minimum threshold for the engine acceleration parameter.
A control module-implemented method for evaluating a starting system for an internal combustion engine, the starting system including a starter motor and a battery, comprising:
- cranking the engine, said cranking comprising increasing the engine speed from an engine speed of zero to an engine speed threshold;
- monitoring engine speed, cranking time, and battery voltage during engine cranking;
- determining an engine acceleration parameter by dividing the engine speed threshold by the cranking time for the engine speed to achieve the engine speed threshold;
- determining a minimum battery voltage during engine cranking;
- and
- detecting and distinguishing, via a control module, between first and second faults resulting in a non-start event of the engine, wherein detecting the first and second faults comprises:
- detecting the first fault associated with the starter motor when a minimum starting system voltage during the cranking event is greater than a threshold minimum starting system voltage determined in relation to the engine acceleration parameter;
- and
- only if the first fault associated with the starter motor is not detected, detecting a fault associated with the battery only when the minimum battery voltage during engine cranking is less than a threshold cranking voltage corresponding to the engine acceleration parameter and the engine acceleration parameter is less than a minimum threshold for the engine acceleration parameter during the cranking event.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.