Engine shut off system for a hybrid electric vehicle

• US 6,356,042 B1
• Filed: 07/05/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Liu, Ning, Kahlon, Gurinder S., Mohan, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Ip, Paul
• Application Number:
  US09/609,421
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 318/139, 318/587, 318/140-149, 307/10.5, 192/0.044, 192/0.076, 192/0.09, 192/3.58, 741/91, 746/61, 290/50, 290/45, 180/65.2, 180/65.6, 180/165, 180/65.4
• US Class Current: 318/400.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/24 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/42 by adaptive correction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0225 Clutch actuator position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/14 Clutch pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0833 Vehicle conditions F02N11/0822, F02N11/0825 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

An engine shut off system for a hybrid electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, and a controller. The internal combustion engine is located in the hybrid electric vehicle and is coupled to the electric motor. The vehicle system controller is coupled to the internal combustion engine and may automatically shut off or start the internal combustion engine. When the hybrid electric vehicle is completely stopped the controller shuts the internal combustion engine off after a configurable period of time.

Claims

1. An engine shut off system for a hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine located in the hybrid electric vehicle;

an electric motor located in the hybrid electric vehicle and coupled to said internal combustion engine; and

a vehicle system controller located in the hybrid electric vehicle and coupled to said internal combustion engine, said vehicle system controller receiving one or more inputs from the vehicle which are fed to control logic contained in said controller, said control logic being operative to automatically shut off said internal combustion engine after a configurable period of time based on said one or more inputs when said hybrid electric vehicle is stopped.

2. The engine shut off system for a hybrid electric vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said inputs used to determine said configurable period of time is based upon a number of stops made by the hybrid electric vehicle.

3. The engine shut off system for hybrid electric vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said inputs for determining said configurable period of time is based upon a manual setting by an operator.

4. The engine shut off system for a hybrid electric vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said inputs for determining said configurable period of time is based upon an amount of clutch travel.

5. The engine shut off system for a hybrid electric vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said inputs for determining said configurable period of time is based upon a throttle position.

6. The engine shut off system for a hybrid electric vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said inputs for determining said configurable period of time is based upon an electric steering movement.

7. The engine shut off system for a hybrid electric vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said inputs for determining said configurable period of time is based upon a battery state of charge.

8. The engine shut off system for a hybrid electric vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said inputs for determining said configurable period of time is based upon vehicle speed.

9. A method for controlling engine shut off for a hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:

locating an internal combustion engine in the hybrid electric vehicle;

coupling an electric motor to said internal combustion engine;

receiving one or more inputs regarding vehicle operation at a vehicle system controller in the hybrid electric vehicle; and

determining a configurable period of time to shut off the internal combustion engine after the hybrid electric vehicle has been stopped, said period of time being based on one or more of said inputs; and

automatically shutting off said internal combustion engine based on said determined configurable period of time.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein one of said inputs used to determine said configurable period of time is based upon a number of stops made by the hybrid electric vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein one of the inputs for determining said configurable period of time is based upon a manual setting by an operator.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein one of said inputs for determining said configurable period of time is based upon an amount of clutch travel.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein one of said inputs for determining said configurable period of time is based upon a throttle position.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein one of said inputs for determining said configurable period of time is based upon an electric steering movement.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein one of said inputs for determining said configurable period of time is based upon a battery state of charge.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein one of said inputs for determining said configurable period of time is based upon vehicle speed.