Method and apparatus for maintaining vehicle battery state-of-change
First Claim
1. In a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine with closed-loop idle speed control mode, an electric battery, an alternator which is drivingly connected to rotate in proportion with the engine speed for supplying electrical power to vehicle electrical loads and for charging said battery, and a voltage regulator for establishing a regulated system voltage set-point, a method for maintaining battery state-of-charge by controlling idle speed comprising the steps:
- determining a first system voltage during a first mode of engine operation;
determining a second system voltage during a second mode of engine operation;
comparing said first and second system voltages and producing a control signal therefrom related to the difference therebetween; and
varying said idle speed in accordance with said control signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a vehicle having a voltage regulated electric alternator driven by an engine for supplying power to drive electrical loads and to charge a vehicle battery, a method of maintaining battery state-of-charge includes adaptively learning a system voltage set-point during a first mode of engine operation probabalistically resulting in an electrical system operative in set-point regulation. The method further determines from the adaptively learned system voltage set-point and a present system voltage during a second mode of engine operation that the electrical system is operative in auto-regulation. Idle speed is controlled in response to the regulation state of the electrical system to maintain the system in set-point regulation to ensure adequate battery charge or minimal battery discharge during the second mode of engine operation.
161 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine with closed-loop idle speed control mode, an electric battery, an alternator which is drivingly connected to rotate in proportion with the engine speed for supplying electrical power to vehicle electrical loads and for charging said battery, and a voltage regulator for establishing a regulated system voltage set-point, a method for maintaining battery state-of-charge by controlling idle speed comprising the steps:
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determining a first system voltage during a first mode of engine operation; determining a second system voltage during a second mode of engine operation; comparing said first and second system voltages and producing a control signal therefrom related to the difference therebetween; and varying said idle speed in accordance with said control signal.
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2. In a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine with closed-loop idle speed control mode, an electric battery, an alternator which is drivingly connected to rotate in proportion with the engine speed for supplying electrical power to vehicle electrical loads and for charging said battery, and a voltage regulator for establishing a regulated system voltage set-point, a method for maintaining battery state-of-charge at vehicle idle comprising the steps:
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periodically determining the regulated system voltage set-point; when the engine is operational in closed-loop idle speed control mode, determining the system voltage; and changing said idle speed by a predetermined idle speed offset when said regulated system voltage set-point and system voltage are not substantially equivalent. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine with closed-loop idle speed control mode, an electric battery, an alternator which is drivingly connected to rotate in proportion with the engine speed for supplying electrical power to vehicle electrical loads and for charging said battery, and a voltage regulator for establishing a regulated system voltage set-point, a method for maintaining battery state-of-charge at vehicle idle comprising the steps:
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when one of engine speed and alternator speed attains a predetermined threshold speed, determining the regulated system voltage set-point; when the engine is operational in closed-loop idle speed control mode, determining the system voltage; changing said idle speed by a) a first predetermined idle speed offset when said regulated system voltage set-point exceeds said system voltage by a predetermined margin, and b) a second predetermined idle speed offset when said regulated system voltage set-point does not exceed said system voltage by said predetermined margin. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. In a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric battery, an alternator which is drivingly connected to rotate in proportion with the engine speed for supplying electrical power to vehicle electrical loads and for charging said battery, and a voltage regulator for establishing a regulated system voltage set-point, an apparatus for maintaining battery state-of-charge by controlling idle speed comprising:
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means for determining a first system voltage during a first mode of engine operation; means for determining a second system voltage during a second mode of engine operation; means for comparing said measured first and second system voltages and for producing a control signal in accordance with said comparison; means responsive to said control signal for varying said idle speed in accordance therewith. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. In a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric battery, an alternator which is drivingly connected to rotate in proportion with the engine speed for supplying electrical power to vehicle electrical loads and for charging said battery, and a voltage regulator for establishing a regulated system voltage set-point, an apparatus for maintaining battery state-of-charge at vehicle idle comprising:
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means for measuring a first system voltage during a first mode of engine operation wherein engine speed exceeds a predetermined threshold; means for measuring a second system voltage during a second mode of engine operation wherein engine speed is within a predetermined idle speed range; comparison means for comparing said measured first and second system voltages and for producing a control signal in accordance with said comparison; engine idle speed control means responsive to said control signal and effective to increment and decrement said engine idle speed within said predetermined engine idle speed range.
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Specification