Automatic stop/start-up control apparatus of an engine

• US 6,540,644 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Morimoto, Kazuhiko, Omata, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lorence, Richard M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, David D.
• Application Number:
  US09/943,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20020028726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 477/185, 477/182, 477/203, 477/102, 180/65.2, 180/65.8, 701/22
• US Class Current: 477/102
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/54 Transmission for changing ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• 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 2510/182 Brake pressure, e.g. of fluid or between pad and disc
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18018 Start-stop drive, e.g. in a traffic jam
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/04 rendering engines inoperative or idling, e.g. caused by abnormal conditions dependent on lubricating conditions F01M1/22; dependent on cooling F01P5/14
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/084 State of vehicle accessories, e.g. air condition or power steering
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0807 Brake booster state
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration
• 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 903/947 : Characterized by control of braking, e.g. blending of regeneration, friction braking

Abstract

An automatic stop/start-up control system of an engine, recognizes an early drop of a power assist for brakes while the engine is automatically stopped. The control system enables the will of a driving person to be adequately reflected and the driving person does not feel a sense of incongruity when braking. Accordingly, the automatic stop/start-up control apparatus automatically stops the engine when an automatic stop condition is satisfied while the engine is driven, and automatically starts up the engine when an automatic start-up condition is satisfied while start-up of the engine is stopped. The control apparatus includes a power assist detector to detect power assist of an underpressure assist type brake apparatus equipped in the vehicle and a controller to control so as to automatically start up the engine when a decreasing rate per unit time of power assist, which the power assist detector detects while the engine is automatically stopped, exceeds a first setting value.

Claims

1. An automatic stop/start-up control apparatus for a vehicle including an internal combustion engine which automatically stops the engine when an automatic stop condition is satisfied while the engine is driven, and which automatically starts the engine when an automatic start-up condition is satisfied while the engine is stopped, comprising:

a power assist detector for detecting a power assist of an underpressure assist type brake apparatus equipped in the vehicle; and

a controller for controlling so as to automatically start the engine when a decrease rate per unit time of power assist, which said power assist detector detects while said engine is automatically stopped, exceeds a first set value,

wherein said controller,.while the engine is automatically stopped, controls the engine to automatically start when a decrease rate per unit time of power assist, which said power assist detector detects, is a value less than said first set value, but more than a second set value that is set below the first set value, when counted more than a set number of times.

2. The automatic stop/start-up control apparatus of an engine as defined in claim 1, wherein said power assist detector comprises a booster underpressure sensor for detecting booster underpressure of a brake booster of an underpressure assist type brake apparatus as the power assit.

3. The automatic stop/start-up control apparatus of an engine as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller, while the engine is automatically stopped, controls the engine to automatically start when a decrease rate per unit time of power assist, which said power assist detector detects, is a value less than said second set value, but more than a third set value that is set below the second set value, is counted a set number of passing times, the set number of passing times being greater than the set number of times.

4. The automatic stop/start-up control apparatus of an engine as defined in claim 3, wherein said power assist detector comprises a booster underpressure sensor detecting booster underpressure of a brake booster of an underpressure assist type brake apparatus as the power assist.

5. A vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine having an output shaft;

a negative pressure assist type brake apparatus;

a power assist detector for detecting a change in pressure from a decreasing pressure of the negative pressure assist type brake apparatus;

an automatic engine stop/start-up control apparatus for automatically stopping said engine when an automatic stop condition is satisfied while said engine is driven and for automatically starting said engine when an automatic start-up condition is satisfied while said engine is automatically stopped, said automatic engine stop/start-up control apparatus including a controller for automatically starting the engine when a value of the change in pressure detected by said power assist detector exceeds a first set value while said engine is automatically stopped.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein said vehicle comprises a hybrid vehicle.

7. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein said controller, when said engine is automatically stopped, controls said engine to automatically start when a value of the change in pressure is less than the first set value and more than a second set value for a first predetermined time.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said controller, when said engine is automatically stopped, controls said engine to automatically start when a value of the change in pressure is less than the second set value and greater than a third set value for a second predetermined time, the second predetermined time being greater than the first predetermined time.

9. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine having an output shaft;

an electric motor connected to the output shaft of said engine;

a negative pressure assist type brake apparatus;

a power assist detector for detecting a pressure change in negative pressure of the assist type brake apparatus;

an automatic engine stop/start-up control apparatus for automatically stopping said engine when an automatic stop condition is satisfied while said engine is driven and for automatically starting said engine when an automatic start-up condition is satisfied while said engine is automatically stopped, said automatic engine stop/start-up control apparatus including a controller for automatically starting the engine when said power assist detector detects a pressure change that exceeds a first set value while said engine is automatically stopped.

10. The hybrid vehicle of claim 9, wherein said controller, when said engine is automatically stopped, controls said engine to automatically start when said power assist detector detects a pressure change that is less than the first set value and more than a second set value for a first predetermined time.

11. The hybrid vehicle of claim 10, wherein said controller, when said engine is automatically stopped, controls said engine to automatically start when said power assist detector detects a pressure change that is less than the second set value and greater than a third set value for a second predetermined time, the second predetermined time being greater than the first predetermined time.