Engine automatic start stop control apparatus

• US 6,532,926 B1
• Filed: 08/04/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Oki, Hideyuki, Takahashi, Hideyuki, Wakashiro, Teruo, Kuroda, Shigetaka, Nakaune, Kan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castro, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US09/633,138
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.3, 123/179.4, 307/10.6, 731/181
• US Class Current: 123/179.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00778 the input being a stationary vehicle position, e.g. parking or stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2072 for drive off
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/30 Parking brake position
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/507 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/24 : by lever actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/28 : Accelerator pedal thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/22 : Standstill, e.g. zero speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/26 : Transition between different drive modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/56 : Temperature prediction, e.g. for pre-cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/12 : of exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 : with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 : responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 : including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 : for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 : including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 : Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/13 : in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 : Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 : Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/068 : Engine exhaust temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 : Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 : Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0414 : Air temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/501 : Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/503 : Battery correction, i.e. corrections as a function of the state of the battery, its output or its type
• 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 2200/023 : Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/061 : Battery state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/122 : Atmospheric temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/302 : using data communication
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66 : specially adapted for continuously variable gearings control of exclusively fluid gearing F16H61/38
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/917 : with transmission for changing gear ratio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/918 : Continuously variable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/919 : Stepped shift

Abstract

An engine automatic start stop control apparatus for controlling an engine of a vehicle to be automatically stopped or started in response to driving conditions of a vehicle, which is equipped with a manual transmission, an automatic transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The apparatus makes a determination whether or not to allow stop (or idle stop) of the engine in consideration of a relationship between outside air temperature and engine water temperature. This prevents a catalyst from being deteriorated in performance as a result of a temperature reduction of the catalyst occurs when the engine idling is carelessly stopped. Thus, it is possible to effectively reduce discharge gas of the vehicle. The outside air temperature can be estimated based on intake air temperature which is detected after the vehicle runs for a prescribed time. The idle stop of the engine is inhibited in response to a request from an air conditioner or to avoid cool-down of the engine to be restarted. In addition, the idle stop of the engine is allowed or inhibited in consideration of remaining battery charge, particularly in the case of a hybrid vehicle which is equipped with a motor/generator in addition to the engine. The engine is automatically restarted to avoid unwanted reduction of the remaining battery charge.

Claims

1. An engine automatic start stop control apparatus that controls an engine to be automatically stopped or started in response to driving conditions of a vehicle, comprising:

an outside air temperature determining device for detecting air temperature at a location which represents outside air temperature of the vehicle;

an engine water temperature detecting device for detecting engine water temperature of the engine;

a determination device for making a determination whether or not to allow stoppage of the engine on the basis of a relationship between the determined outside air temperature and the engine water temperature; and

an intake air temperature detecting device which is installed inside of an intake air passage of the engine to detect intake air temperature, so that the outside air temperature determining device estimates the outside air temperature based on the intake air temperature which is detected by the intake air temperature detecting device after the vehicle runs for a prescribed time.

2. An engine automatic start stop apparatus that controls an engine to be automatically stopped or started in response to driving conditions of a vehicle, comprising:

an outside air temperature determining device for detecting air temperature at a location which represents outside air temperature of the vehicle;

an engine water temperature detecting device for detecting engine water temperature of the engine; and

a determination device for making a determination whether or not to allow stoppage of the engine on the basis of a relationship between the determined outside air temperature and the engine water temperature,

wherein the determination device allows stoppage of the engine if the outside air temperature belongs to a prescribed temperature range and the engine water temperature is equal to or greater than a preset temperature, and

wherein the vehicle is equipped with an air conditioning control device for controlling air conditioning of an interior space thereof, and the determination device monitors operating conditions of the air conditioning control device, so that the prescribed temperature range of the outside air temperature and the preset temperature of the engine water temperature are changed in response to