APPARATUS AND METHOD TO MAXIMIZE VEHICLE FUNCTIONALITY AND FUEL ECONOMY WITH IMPROVED DRIVABILITY DURING ENGINE AUTO STOP-START OPERATIONS
First Claim
1. An auto stop-start equipped vehicle power management system comprising:
- a primary power source supplying energy to an electrical starter to crank a vehicle engine;
a secondary power source coupled in parallel to the primary power source, the secondary power source supplying energy to electric loads during an engine auto stop-start operation, the electrical loads maintaining vehicle subsystem functionality during the engine auto stop-start operation;
a controllable switch decoupling the secondary power source from the primary power source and starter motor during the engine auto stop-start operation;
wherein operating parameters of the electrical loads are monitored during the engine auto stop-start operation, wherein if a respective operating parameter threshold associated with the electrical loads is exceeded during the engine auto stop-start operation, the vehicle engine is automatically restarted and the controllable switch is subsequently closed.
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Abstract
An auto stop-start equipped vehicle power management system includes a primary power source supplying energy to an electrical starter to crank a vehicle engine and a secondary power source coupled in parallel to the primary power source. The secondary power source supplies energy to electric loads during an engine auto stop-start operation. The electrical loads maintain vehicle subsystem functionality during the engine auto stop-start operation. The energy supplied to the electrical loads is current limited during the engine auto stop-start operation. A controllable switch decouples the secondary power source from the primary power source and starter motor during the engine auto stop-start operation. Operating parameters of the electrical loads are monitored during the engine auto stop-start operation. If a respective operating parameter threshold associated with the electrical loads is exceeded during the engine auto stop-start operation, then the vehicle engine is automatically restarted and the controllable switch is subsequently closed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An auto stop-start equipped vehicle power management system comprising:
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a primary power source supplying energy to an electrical starter to crank a vehicle engine; a secondary power source coupled in parallel to the primary power source, the secondary power source supplying energy to electric loads during an engine auto stop-start operation, the electrical loads maintaining vehicle subsystem functionality during the engine auto stop-start operation; a controllable switch decoupling the secondary power source from the primary power source and starter motor during the engine auto stop-start operation; wherein operating parameters of the electrical loads are monitored during the engine auto stop-start operation, wherein if a respective operating parameter threshold associated with the electrical loads is exceeded during the engine auto stop-start operation, the vehicle engine is automatically restarted and the controllable switch is subsequently closed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of managing power in an auto stop-start equipped vehicle comprising the steps of:
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supplying energy, by a primary power source, to a starter motor to crank a vehicle engine; supplying energy, by a secondary power source, to electric loads during an engine auto stop-start operation, the secondary power source coupled in parallel to the primary power source, the electrical loads maintaining vehicle subsystem functionality during the engine auto stop-start operation; decoupling the secondary power source from the primary power source and an electrical starter by a controllable switch during the engine auto stop-start operation; monitoring operating parameters of the electrical loads during the engine auto stop-start operation; determining whether a respective operating parameter threshold associated with the electrical loads is exceeded during the auto stop-start operation; automatically restarting the vehicle engine in response to exceeding the respective operating parameter during the engine auto stop-start operation; and subsequently closing the controllable switch for electrically coupling a primary power source to the secondary power source. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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a primary power source energizing a starter motor; a secondary power source energizing electrical loads for maintaining subsystem functionality during an engine auto stop-start operation; a switch decoupling the primary and secondary power source during the engine auto stop-start operation; wherein operating parameters associated with electrical loads are monitored, wherein the engine is restarted and the switch is subsequently closed in response to exceeding an operating parameter threshold during the engine auto stop-start operation.
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Specification