Method for internally jump starting an internal combustion engine for a land-based vehicle
First Claim
1. A method for automatically jump-starting an internal combustion engine of a land-based vehicle using equipment on-board the vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing at least two distinct sources of electrical energy on-board the vehicle;
monitoring each of the at least two distinct sources to determine the occurrence of a fault condition in any respective one of the two sources, the fault condition generally indicative of inability of the one source to perform an engine cranking event;
determining whether a state-of-charge in the other one of the two sources is sufficient to supply an amount of electrical energy selected for re-energizing the respective one of the two sources with the fault condition to a predetermined level of re-energization in order to successfully perform the engine cranking event;
selecting a re-energization strategy based on the respective characteristics of the source to supply the electrical energy relative to the source to be re-energized;
performing an engine cranking event to start the internal combustion engine of the vehicle, the cranking event being performed once the one source being re-energized has reached the predetermined level of re-energization.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and system are provided that allow determining in a vehicle having two or more sources of electrical energy what corrective action needs to be undertaken in the event one of the energy sources, due to malfunctions and/or environmental conditions, is not able to carry through a cranking event. The system, by way of a bi-directional DC/DC converter, has the capability to transfer electrical energy in either direction between the energy sources. The system includes a controller configurable with computer-readable logic or intelligence that enables the controller to make a decision based on appropriate source parameters, e.g., temperature, to automatically determine when, where, and how much energy needs to be transferred. This decision will enhance the opportunity to successfully perform the next starting or cranking event.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for automatically jump-starting an internal combustion engine of a land-based vehicle using equipment on-board the vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing at least two distinct sources of electrical energy on-board the vehicle;
monitoring each of the at least two distinct sources to determine the occurrence of a fault condition in any respective one of the two sources, the fault condition generally indicative of inability of the one source to perform an engine cranking event;
determining whether a state-of-charge in the other one of the two sources is sufficient to supply an amount of electrical energy selected for re-energizing the respective one of the two sources with the fault condition to a predetermined level of re-energization in order to successfully perform the engine cranking event;
selecting a re-energization strategy based on the respective characteristics of the source to supply the electrical energy relative to the source to be re-energized;
performing an engine cranking event to start the internal combustion engine of the vehicle, the cranking event being performed once the one source being re-energized has reached the predetermined level of re-energization. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for automatically jump-starting an internal combustion engine of a land-based vehicle using equipment on-board the vehicle, the system comprising:
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at least two distinct sources of electrical energy on-board the vehicle;
a monitor configured to monitor each of the at least two distinct sources to determine the occurrence of a fault condition in any respective one of the two sources, the fault condition generally indicative of inability of the one source to perform an engine cranking event;
a controller configured to determine whether a state-of-charge in the other one of the two sources is sufficient to supply an amount of electrical energy selected for re-energizing the respective one of the two sources with the fault condition to a predetermined level of re-energization in order to successfully perform the engine cranking event, the controller further configured to select a re-energization strategy based on the respective characteristics of the source to supply the electrical energy relative to the source to be re-energized; and
wherein an engine cranking event is performed to start the internal combustion engine of the vehicle once the one source being re-energized has reached the predetermined level of re-energization. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification