OPERATING AN AUTOMATIC START-STOP SYSTEM

• US 20140088853A1
• Filed: 07/18/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Christen, Urs, Busch, Rainer, Hesketh, David, Mueller-Lerwe, Armin, Petridis, Anthemios P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,261,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/112
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0822 related to action of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/084 State of vehicle accessories, e.g. air condition or power steering
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/103 according to the vehicle transmission or clutch status
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/02 Gearing between starting-engines and started engines; Engagement or disengagement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0802 Transmission state, e.g. gear ratio or neutral state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0803 Parking brake state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/101 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/102 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/103 Clutch pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A method for operating an automatic stop/start system in a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, a manually operated gearbox and a pedal-operated clutch, wherein the internal combustion engine is automatically stopped or restarted under predetermined conditions even with a gear engaged. The conditions under which the internal combustion engine is automatically restarted include two indicators that indicate that an automatic restart of the internal combustion engine is safe and desired, namely an indicator that indicates that a restart is safe and an indicator that indicates that the driver wants a restart.

Claims

1. A method for operating an automatic stop/start system in a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, a manually operated gearbox and a pedal-operated clutch, comprising:

automatically stopping or restarting the internal combustion engine under predetermined conditions even with a gear engaged,

automatically restarting the internal combustion engine provided that two indications that a engine restart is safe are present, including a first indication whether the gearbox is in neutral and a second indication of a position of a clutch pedal; and

a third indication that an engine restart is desired.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

automatically restarting the internal combustion engine while the internal combustion engine is stopped or stopping, if either the clutch pedal is pressed down or the gearbox is in neutral, thereby indicating that an engine restart is safe, and if a gas pedal is depressed, thereby indicating that an engine restart is desired.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

automatically restarted the internal combustion engine while the internal combustion is stopped or stopping and while a gear is engaged, provided;

both a speed of the vehicle is above a preset lower threshold and also the clutch pedal is depressed or is pressed down, thereby indicating that an engine restart is safe, and if a position of a brake pedal changes from depressed to not depressed, thereby indicating that an engine restart is desired.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

automatically restarted the internal combustion engine while the internal combustion is stopped or stopping and while a gear is engaged, provided a speed of the vehicle is below a preset lower threshold, the clutch pedal is pressed down and a parking brake is released, thereby indicating that an engine restart is safe, and a position of a brake pedal is changed from depressed to not depressed, thereby indicating that an engine restart is desired.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

automatically restarted the internal combustion engine while the internal combustion is stopped or stopping in response to a demand from a subsystem of the motor vehicle for a running internal combustion engine, provided;

the gearbox is in neutral and the clutch pedal is released.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

automatically restarted the internal combustion engine while the internal combustion is stopped or stopping in response to a demand from a subsystem of the motor vehicle for a running internal combustion engine, provided;

the clutch pedal is pressed down, a speed of the vehicle is above a preset lower threshold, and a brake pedal is depressed.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

automatically stopping the internal combustion engine, provided two indications that an automatic stop of the internal combustion engine is safe are present, including a fourth indication that the gearbox is in neutral and a fifth indication of a position of the clutch pedal.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

automatically stopping a currently running internal combustion engine, provided the internal combustion engine has been running for a preset time, a gas pedal is released, a speed of the vehicle is below a preset upper threshold, the clutch pedal is released, and the gearbox is in neutral.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

automatically stopping a currently running internal combustion engine, provided the internal combustion engine has been running for a preset time, a gas pedal is released, a speed of the vehicle is below a preset upper threshold, the clutch pedal is pressed down, and a brake pedal is depressed.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indication of a position of the clutch pedal indicates only whether the clutch pedal is released or depressed.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in cases in which a gear is currently engaged, the indication that an automatic engine restart or engine stop is safe is also based on information about a current speed of the vehicle.