ENGINE STOP-START AUXILIARY BATTERY DISCONNECT DETECTION

• US 20180194306A1
• Filed: 01/12/2017
• Published: 07/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Rtail, Toufic R., Han, Min, Plee, Amber, Nahirniak, John J., List, Michael E., Gonzales, Gary A., Schropshire, JR., Robert
• Granted Patent: US 10,160,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0234 related to maintenance or repairing of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0818 Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0825 related to prevention of engine restart failure, e.g. disabling automatic stop at low battery state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/084 State of vehicle accessories, e.g. air condition or power steering
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/14 Starting of engines by means of electric starters with external current supply F02N11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A system for controlling an automatic engine stop-start system of a vehicle includes a controller, an engine configured to be automatically stopped and started in response to a signal from the controller, a primary power source electrically coupled to the controller, and an auxiliary power source electrically coupled to the controller. A power control relay is electrically connected between the primary power source and the auxiliary power source and is configured to be selectively activated to isolate the auxiliary power source from the primary power source such that only the auxiliary power source is configured to supply power to the controller. The controller is configured to determine if the auxiliary power source is electrically disconnected from the vehicle when the power control relay is activated.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an automatic engine stop-start system of a vehicle, comprising:

a controller;

an engine configured to be automatically stopped and started in response to a signal from the controller;

a primary power source electrically coupled to the controller;

an auxiliary power source electrically coupled to the controller; and

a power control relay electrically connected between the primary power source and the auxiliary power source, the power control relay configured to be selectively activated to isolate the auxiliary power source from the primary power source such that only the auxiliary power source is configured to supply power to the controller;

wherein the controller is configured to determine if the auxiliary power source is electrically disconnected from the vehicle when the power control relay is activated, and when the controller determines the auxiliary power source is electrically disconnected from the vehicle, disable the automatic engine stop-start system such that the vehicle is prevented from an automatic engine stop-start function.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller determines the auxiliary power source is electrically disconnected from the vehicle if the controller loses power when the power control relay is activated.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to set a power source disconnect flag when it is determined that the auxiliary power source is electrically disconnected from the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to set a fault code upon detecting the power source disconnect flag.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein when the controller determines the auxiliary power source is electrically disconnected from the vehicle, the controller is configured to disable the automatic engine stop-start system during a current key start and during future key starts until the vehicle is serviced and the fault code is cleared.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary power source is a primary crank battery, and wherein the auxiliary power source is an auxiliary battery.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein activating the power control relay comprises opening the power control relay.

8. A method of controlling an automatic engine stop-start system of a vehicle having an engine, a controller, a primary power source and an auxiliary power source electrically connected to the controller, and a power control relay electrically connected between the primary and auxiliary power sources, the method comprising:

activating the power control relay to isolate the auxiliary power source from the primary power source such that only the auxiliary power source is configured to supply power to the controller;

determining the auxiliary power source is electrically disconnected from the vehicle if the controller loses power when the power control relay is activated; and

disabling the automatic engine stop-start system when it is determined the auxiliary power source is electrically disconnected from the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising setting a fault code in response to detecting the auxiliary power source disconnect flag.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising disabling the automatic engine stop-start system during a current key start and future key starts until the vehicle is serviced and the fault code is cleared.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising setting an auxiliary power source disconnect flag when it is determined the auxiliary power source is electrically disconnected from the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein activating the power control relay comprises opening the power control relay.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a key on request;

determining if a first flag and a second flag are present, the first flag indicating a request to activate the power control relay, and the second flag indicating the auxiliary power source is electrically disconnected from the vehicle;

determining if a fault code was previously set indicating the auxiliary power source is electrically disconnected from the vehicle;

disabling the automatic engine stop-start system if the first and second flags are present or the fault code was previously set;

receiving a request to start the vehicle;

activating a second starter relay without activating a first starter relay, the first and second starter relays being part of a power distribution center;

wherein disabling the automatic engine stop-start system when it is determined the auxiliary power source is electrically disconnected from the vehicle includes disabling the automatic engine stop-start system and resetting the second flag and setting the fault code when it is determined the auxiliary power source is electrically disconnected from the vehicle; and

activating the first starter relay to start the engine if the auxiliary power source is not determined to be electrically disconnected from the vehicle.