VEHICLE STARTING ASSIST SYSTEM

• US 20090056661A1
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vanner, Inc. (Vanner Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vanner, Inc. (Vanner Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: COOK, ALEXANDER, LU, WENZHE, ISURIN, ALEXANDER
• Granted Patent: US 7,806,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/179.300
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0885 Capacitors, e.g. for additional power supply
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0888 DC/DC converters

Abstract

An engine starting assist system. A battery is selectably coupled to an ultracapacitor with a contactor. In addition, a controller is configured to perform at least one of: monitor the condition of the battery, monitor the condition of the ultracapacitor, control the flow of energy between the battery and the ultracapacitor by selective actuation of the contactor, receive a start input control. The controller issues a start output control to a starter solenoid of the engine, such that energy stored in the ultracapacitor may be used to at least one of charge the battery and provide cranking current to a starter of the engine in conjunction with the battery.

Claims

1. An engine starting assist system, comprising:

a battery;

an ultracapacitor;

a contactor configured to selectably couple together the battery and the ultracapacitor; and

a controller configured to perform at least one of;

monitor the condition of the battery, monitor the condition of the ultracapacitor, control the flow of energy between the battery and the ultracapacitor by selective actuation of the contactor, receive a start input control, and issue a start output control to a starter solenoid of an engine, such that energy stored in the ultracapacitor may be used to at least one of charge the battery and provide cranking current to a starter of the engine in conjunction with the battery.

2. The engine starting assist system of claim 1, further comprising a pre-charge switch connected in parallel with the contactor.

3. The engine starting assist system of claim 2, wherein the pre-charge switch is duty-cycle controlled.

4. The engine starting assist system of claim 2 wherein the pre-charge switch is a DC-DC converter.

5. The engine starting assist system of claim 2, wherein the pre-charge switch is configured to controllably charge the ultracapacitor using energy stored by the battery.

6. The engine starting assist system of claim 2, wherein one of the pre-charge switch and the contactor is configured to charge the battery using energy stored by the ultracapacitor.

7. The engine starting assist system of claim 1, further comprising a multiplexed vehicle control system configured to provide at least one of a controller activation control signal and an engine start control signal to the controller.

8. The engine starting assist system of claim 1, further comprising a dead battery switch configured to provide a controller activation signal to the controller.

9. The engine starting assist system of claim 8 wherein the controller activation control signal is a selectively applied logic voltage.

10. The engine starting assist system of claim 8 wherein the controller activation control signal is a selectively applied logic ground connection.

11. The engine starting assist system of claim 1, further comprising a start switch connected between the controller and the starter solenoid, the start switch being controlled by the controller to selectively actuate the solenoid and operate a starter to start the engine.

12. The engine starting assist system of claim 1, wherein the controller is one of a computer, microcontroller, central processing unit, programmable controller, and logic device, microprocessor, and ladder logic device.

13. An engine starting assist system, comprising:

a battery;

an ultracapacitor;

a contactor configured to selectably couple together the battery and the ultracapacitor;

a pre-charge switch connected in parallel with the contactor;

a start switch connected between the controller and the starter solenoid; and

a controller configured to perform at least one of;

monitor the condition of the battery, monitor the condition of the ultracapacitor, control the flow of energy between the battery and the ultracapacitor by selective actuation of the contactor, receive a start input control, and issue a start output control to a starter solenoid of an engine using the start switch, such that energy stored in the ultracapacitor may be used to at least one of charge the battery and provide cranking current to a starter of the engine in conjunction with the battery.

18. The engine starting assist system of claim 13, further comprising a multiplexed vehicle control system configured to provide at least one of a controller activation control signal and an engine start control signal to the controller.

19. The engine starting assist system of claim 13, further comprising a dead battery switch configured to provide a controller activation signal to the controller.

14. The engine starting assist system of claim 14, wherein the pre-charge switch is duty-cycle controlled.

15. The engine starting assist system of claim 14 wherein the pre-charge switch is a DC-DC converter.

16. The engine starting assist system of claim 14, wherein the pre-charge switch is configured to controllably charge the ultracapacitor using energy stored by the battery.

17. The engine starting assist system of claim 14, wherein one of the pre-charge switch and the contactor is configured to charge the battery using energy stored by the ultracapacitor.

20. A method for controlling the starting of an engine, comprising the steps of:

selectably connecting a battery to a starter of the engine;

providing an ultracapacitor;

charging at least one of the battery and the ultracapacitor; and

selectably coupling together the battery and the ultracapacitor such that energy stored in the ultracapacitor may be used to at least one of charge the battery and provide cranking current to a starter of the engine in conjunction with the battery.