# US 9,038,438 B2 · Method and device for detecting the independent running of an internal combustion engine

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- Number: US 9,038,438 B2
- Document ID: US9038438B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/213,528
- Filed: 2011-08-19
- Published: 2012-03-01
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2010-08-26
- Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH
- Applicants: Gholamabas Esteghlal; Rolf Stracke
- Inventors: Gholamabas Esteghlal; Rolf Stracke
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038438B2

## CPC

- F02D 35/023: {by determining the cylinder pressure}
- B60W 20/00: Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles {(hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L)}
- F02D 35/027: {using knock sensors}
- F02D 41/221: {relating to the failure of actuators or electrically driven elements}
- F02N 11/10: Safety devices (F02N11/08 takes precedence)
- B60K 2006/268: {Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor}
- B60W 2510/06: Combustion engines, Gas turbines
- F02D 41/042: {for stopping the engine}
- F02D 41/062: {for starting (F02D41/061 takes precedence)}
- Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems
- 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)
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A method is described for detecting the independent running and/or the start/stop of an internal combustion engine, in which parameters of the internal combustion engine characterizing the combustion process, especially pressure changes or vibrations, are evaluated for this detection.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for an internal combustion engine in a hybrid electrical vehicle, the method comprising:
tow-starting the internal combustion engine in the hybrid electrical vehicle from its position of rest with a start-assist apparatus; and
subsequent to the tow-starting:
obtaining a knock signal component from output of a knock sensor disposed on the internal combustion engine in the hybrid electrical vehicle; and
evaluating, based on the knock signal component, at least one of:
a change in pressure that characterizes a combustion process in the hybrid electrical vehicle; and
vibrations that characterize the combustion process in the hybrid electrical vehicle;
wherein the evaluating includes comparing the knock signal component to a respective predefined reference range; and
wherein the method further comprises determining that the internal combustion engine in the hybrid electrical vehicle is independently running responsive to a result of the comparing being that the knock signal component is within the respective predefined reference range.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the signal of the knock sensor is evaluated in terms of at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of the signal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the signal of the knock sensor is filtered prior to the evaluation.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein one of a start and a stop of the internal combustion engine is detected based on the independent running of the internal combustion engine.

### Claim 5

A method for detecting an independent running of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
tow-starting the internal combustion engine from its position of rest with a start-assist apparatus; and
subsequent to the tow-starting, evaluating parameters derived from a signal of a knock sensor, the parameters including at least one of pressure changes and vibrations, that characterize a combustion process;
wherein:
to start the internal combustion engine, an engine management outputs a signal to the start-assist apparatus and calculates at least one controlled variable for the internal combustion engine that is set at the internal combustion engine;
the at least one controlled variable of the started internal combustion engine is measured; and
the evaluation of the parameters is performed responsive to a determination that the measured controlled variable has a value greater than zero.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the controlled variables relate to at least one of the injection and the ignition of the internal combustion engine.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the knock sensor is disposed on the internal combustion engine in the hybrid electrical vehicle, and the evaluation of the signal of the knock sensor is performed to detect the independent running.

### Claim 8

A method for detecting an independent running of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
tow-starting the internal combustion engine from its position of rest with a start-assist apparatus; and
subsequent to the tow-starting, evaluating parameters derived from a signal of a knock sensor, the parameters including at least one of pressure changes and vibrations, that characterize a combustion process;
wherein, if a value of one of two measured controlled variables of the internal combustion engine is not zero and if a value of at least one of the evaluated parameters is outside a reference range, a defect of an actuator that adjusts the controlled variable is inferred.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein predefined operating states of at least one of the internal combustion engine and an overall system that includes the internal combustion engine are at least one of restricted and forestalled upon recognition that the internal combustion engine is not running independently.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein a non-independent running of the internal combustion engine is determined if a value of the one of the two controlled variables of the internal combustion engine is not zero and if the value of the at least one of the evaluated parameters is outside the reference range.

### Claim 11

A device for an internal combustion engine in a hybrid electrical vehicle, the device comprising:
a signal arrangement configured to output a signal to a start-assist apparatus to tow-start the internal combustion engine from its position of rest; and
an evaluating arrangement configured to perform the following subsequent to the tow-starting:
obtain a knock signal component from output of a knock sensor; and
evaluate, based on the knock signal component, at least one of:
a change in pressure that characterizes a combustion process in the hybrid electrical vehicle; and
vibrations that characterize a combustion process in the hybrid electrical vehicle;
wherein the evaluation includes comparing the knock signal component to a respective predefined reference range; and
wherein the evaluating arrangement is further configured to determine that the internal combustion engine in the hybrid electrical vehicle is independently running responsive to a result of the comparison being that the knock signal component is within the respective predefined reference range.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein:
the knock signal component includes a frequency of a knock signal of the knock sensor and an amplitude of the knock signal of the knock sensor;
the comparing includes comparing each of the frequency and the amplitude to a respective predefined reference range; and
the independent running of the internal combustion engine is determined in response to a combination of results of the comparisons beings that both the frequency and the amplitude are within their respective predefined ranges.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the knock signal component includes one of a frequency of a knock signal of the knock sensor and an amplitude of the knock signal of the knock sensor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The device of claim 11, wherein the evaluating arrangement receives the knock signal from the knock sensor when the internal combustion engine has been started.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The device of claim 14, wherein the start-assist apparatus includes one of a starter and an electric motor of the hybrid electrical vehicle.