Automatic stop/ start-up controlling device of an engine

• US 6,763,903 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Morimoto, Kazuhiko, Omata, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischmann, Bryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWENSON, BRIAN L
• Application Number:
  US10/008,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20020074173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.1, 477/186, 477/173, 477/178, 477/181, 477/102, 477/73, 477/2, 477/3, 477/5, 701/54, 701/99, 701/22, 701/101, 701/103, 701/112, 701/110, 290/40.R, 290/40.A
• US Class Current: 180/65.26
• 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 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• 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 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0225 Clutch actuator position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• 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: F02N 11/0818 Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0801 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0802 Transmission state, e.g. gear ratio or neutral state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0807 Brake booster state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/103 Clutch pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid 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

Abstract

In a controlling device, the automatic stop and start-up conditions for an internal combustion engine are set to enable automatic stop/start-up control reflecting an operator'"'"'s will or intention without movement of the vehicle feeling incongruous or unresponsive. The controlling device provides an automatic stop condition when all of the following conditions are satisfied (1) vehicle speed is less than a set value other than zero, (2) an idle switch is on, and (3) a gear position of the transmission is in neutral. An automatic start-up condition is satisfied when any one of the following conditions is satisfied, (1) the clutch is changed to a disengaged state from a fully or half engaged state, (2) the gear position of the transmission is in non-neutral, (3) the idle switch is off, or (4) a condition of booster negative pressure.

Claims

1. An automatic stop/start-up controlling device for an engine, having a transmission arranged with an engine mounted on a vehicle through a clutch, said controlling device 1) controlling to automatically stop the engine when an automatic stop condition is satisfied while the engine is driven, 2) controlling to perform a fuel cut when a deceleration condition is satisfied, and 3) controlling to automatically start up the engine when an automatic start-up condition is satisfied while the engine is automatically stopped, comprising a controller;

wherein the automatic stop condition is satisfied when an idle switch is on, a gear position of said transmission is in neutral, and the vehicle velocity is less than a predetermined velocity;

wherein the deceleration condition is satisfied when the idle switch is on, the vehicle speed is less than a set value and the transmission is in a gear position, the set value being different for each of the gear positions; and

wherein the automatic start-up condition is satisfied when one of the following conditions is satisfied, the conditions being (1) said clutch is changed to a disengaged state from a fully or half engaged state, (2) the gear position of said transmission changes to non-neutral, (3) an idle switch is off, or (4) a condition of booster negative pressure is obtained.

2. An automatic stop/start-up controlling device for an engine according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle comprises a hybrid vehicle including a motor generator connected to an output shaft of the engine and disposed between said engine and said clutch, said engine comprising an internal combustion engine.

3. An automatic stop/start-up controlling device for an engine according to claim 1, wherein said controller provides an automatic stop prohibiting condition to prohibit automatic stop in each gear position when time driving said engine continuously in one of the gear positions of said transmission does not exceed a predetermined time set for each of the respective gear positions.

4. An automatic stop/start-up controlling device for an engine according to claim 3, wherein said controller controls to prohibit automatic stop or a fuel cut when, as an automatic prohibiting condition, said gear position of said transmission is in the first-speed gear position or in the reverse-gear position.

5. A vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a transmission connected to an output shaft of the engine through a clutch, a motor generator connected to the output shaft of the engine and disposed between said engine and said clutch, and an automatic stop/start-up controlling device which (1) automatically stops the engine when an automatic stop condition is satisfied while the engine is driven;

(2) performs a fuel cut when a deceleration condition is satisfied; and

(3) automatically starts up the engine when an automatic start-up condition is satisfied while the engine is automatically stopped,

wherein the automatic stop condition is satisfied when (1) an idle switch is on, (2) a gear position of said transmission is in neutral and (3) the vehicle velocity is less than a predetermined velocity;

wherein the deceleration condition is satisfied when (1) the idle switch is on, (2) the vehicle speed is less than a set value and (3) the transmission is in a gear position, the set value being different for each of the gear positions; and

wherein the automatic start-up condition is satisfied when (1) said clutch is changed to a disengaged state from a fully or half engaged state or (2) the gear position of said transmission is shifted to a non-neutral state or (3) the idle switch is off or (4) a predetermined condition of booster negative pressure is obtained.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said controller controls to prohibit automatic stop or a fuel cut when, as an automatic prohibiting condition, said gear position of said transmission is in the first-speed gear position or in the reverse-gear position.