Engine run time change for battery charging issues with automatic restart system

• US 7,036,477 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2004
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Thompson, Marleen, Avery, Richard, Diefenbaker, Thomas, Golub, Tomislav
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolinar, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US11/023,820
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 123/179.4
• 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 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/023 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/063 Battery voltage

Abstract

An engine control practices a method for engine control in a vehicle control system having an automated start and stop system that keeps a battery charged and an engine temperature in a preselected range, the run time for the engine being extended beyond a preset run time when said control senses that a time interval between start up and the last shut off is shorter than a preset start up time limit.

Claims

1. A method for reducing starts during automated start up and stop control responsive to battery voltage detection, the method comprising:

extending the run time after start-up command is generated by;

sensing the time interval between a stop engine command and a subsequent start engine command;

determining when said interval is less than a start up time threshold selected as representative of chargeability and;

generating an extended run command enabling said stop command to be delayed to an extended time beyond a preselected restart battery time.

2. The invention as described in claim 1 and comprising:

said extended run command enables a timer for a time period less than continuation operation.

3. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said determining comprises detecting said start engine command as dependent upon low battery voltage.

4. A control to reduce start ups based on low battery voltage in an automated start and stop engine control when a low charging problem or aged battery problem initiates said start up, the control comprising:

a controller setting an extended run time for the engine in said control including;

a sensor for detecting the time interval between a stop engine command and a subsequent start engine command;

a determiner for assessing when said interval is less than a start up time threshold selected as representative of chargeability; and

a generator for setting an extended run time command enabling said stop command to be delayed beyond a preselected restart battery time.

5. The invention as described in claim 4 wherein said generator provides said run time command for a finite interval of time.

6. The invention as described in claim 4 wherein said determined threshold selected as representative of chargability is dependent upon a low battery voltage.

7. A computer readable storage medium having data stored therein representing instructions executable by a computer to control a compression ignition interval combustion engine installed in a vehicle to perform automated start and stop operation, the computer readable storage medium comprising:

instructions for extending the run time of an engine is said automated run time following a start up command by;

instructions for sensing a time interval between a stop engine command and a subsequent start engine command;

instructions for determining when said interval is less than a start up time threshold selected as representative of chargability; and

instructions for generating an extended run command enabling said stop command to be delayed to an extended time beyond a preselected restart battery time.

8. The invention as described in claim 7 wherein said medium includes instructions for setting an extended run command for a finite engine run duration.

9. The invention as described in claim 7 wherein said medium includes instructions for detecting said start engine command as a function of low battery voltage.