Method for controlling the torque output of a starter

• US 20030000750A1
• Filed: 07/01/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Selbertz, Achim, Busch, Rainer
• Application Number:
  US10/186,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20030000750A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.2
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/141 using a feed-forward control element
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/08 Circuits or control means specially adapted for starting of engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/022 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/102 Control of the starter motor speed; Control of the engine speed during cranking
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/104 Control of the starter motor torque

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling the torque output of a starter, in particular a high-power starter generator during the starting process of an internal combustion engine, and a corresponding vehicle drive for carrying out the method. Since rotational speed sensors only provide a usable rotational speed signal after a delay, in a first phase of the starting operation a non fed-back control is formed which is replaced by fed-back regulation when usable rotation speed signals are present.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the torque output of a starter (2) coupled to an internal combustion engine, comprising:

sensing a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine; and

switching from an initial control of starter torque output which is not fed back with respect to the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine to a regulation of the starter torque output which is fed back with respect to the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine, as a function of at least one engine operating peramater.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of outputting current-dependent actuation signals to the starter when the initial control is not fed back.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fed-back regulation takes place as a function of an error signal composed of the difference between the measured speed and a predefined rotational speed profile.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of switching over occurs from the non fed-back control to the fed-back regulation when a predefined rotational speed is reached.

5. A vehicle drive comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a starter coupled to the internal combustion engine;

a rotational speed sensor for sensing the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine; and

a regulator coupled to said starter and said speed sensor for controlling a torque output of the starter while the internal combustion engine is being started, said regulator having a first regulating module for a nonfed-back control of the torque output of said starter, a second regulating module for a fed-back regulation as a function of the rotational speed of said internal combustion engine, and a switching over unit for switching over the regulation from said first regulating module to said second regulating module as a function of at least one engine operating parameter during the starting process.

6. The vehicle drive according to claim 5, wherein the starter is an integrated starter generator.