Method and device for predicting the starting ability of a vehicle

• US 7,528,570 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2004
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Buchholz, Frank, Schiller, Karsten
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US10/553,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20060208739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,875 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/132, 320/149, 324/426, 324/430, 324/431, 324/433
• US Class Current: 320/104
• 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 11/0862 characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/042 Starter torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/061 Battery state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/062 Battery current
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/2006 using prediction of future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/2008 using a model
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3647 for determining the ability of a battery to perform a critical function, e.g. cranking

Abstract

A device for predicting the starting ability of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a starter which is supplied with electrical power by a vehicle battery. The starting ability of the vehicle can be determined particularly easily when a starting current characteristics map is stored in a device of the prediction system from which a starting current is determined under consideration of the state of charge of the battery after a predefined time period and the starting ability of the vehicle is determined from this via a prediction device.

Claims

1. A device for predicting the starting ability of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a starter which is supplied with electrical power by a vehicle battery, comprising:

a battery state detection device which determines a state of charge of the vehicle battery;

a first device which uses a discharge current curve to determine a charge drained from the vehicle battery during a predefined time period when the vehicle is shut off;

a second device which calculates the state of charge of the vehicle battery after the predefined time period;

a third device that determines an electrical battery variable in which a characteristics map of the electrical battery variable is stored as a function of the state of charge of the vehicle battery, a value of the electrical battery variable, which is present after the predefined time period, being read out from the characteristics map;

a measurement device configured to measure an electrical variable of the vehicle battery during a starting operation, wherein the measured electrical variable is used to correct the stored characteristics map; and

a prediction device which uses the read out value of the electrical battery variable to determine whether or not the vehicle is able to start after the predefined time period.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the characteristics map of the electrical battery variable is one of a current, voltage, or power characteristics map.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the characteristics map of the electrical battery variable is a function of the temperature.

4. The device as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

a temperature prediction device to predict a temperature anticipated to prevail after the predefined time period, the predicted temperature being taken into account in the determination of the electrical battery variable.

5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein a characteristics map of a mechanical variable of a starting system is stored in the prediction device.

6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein a torque characteristics map of a starting system and an engine torque characteristics curve are stored in the prediction device.

7. The device as recited in claim 6, wherein the engine torque characteristics map of the starting system is a function of the state of charge of the vehicle battery.

8. The device as recited in claim 6, wherein the torque characteristics map of the starting system is a function of the temperature.

9. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein characteristic curves for different starting systems are stored in the third device that determines the electrical battery variable.

10. A method for predicting the starting ability of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a starter which is supplied with electrical power by a vehicle battery, the method comprising:

determining an instantaneous state of charge of the vehicle battery via a battery state detection device;

determining a charge drained from the vehicle battery during a predefined time period when the vehicle is shut off;

calculating the state of charge of the vehicle battery after the predefined time period;

determining an electrical battery variable based on the calculated state of charge of the vehicle battery from a characteristics map stored in a device, wherein at least one measured electrical variable of the vehicle battery measured during a starting operation is used to correct the stored characteristics map; and

determining whether or not the vehicle is able to start after the predefined time period via a prediction device which determines the starting ability on the basis of the battery variable determined from the characteristics map.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

storing a characteristics map for a starting current in the device for determining an electrical battery variable as a function of the state of charge of the vehicle battery, a starting current, which occurs after the predefined time period, being determined from the characteristics map.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

comparing, by a prediction device, an engine torque and a torque of a starting system in order to determine a torque acting in the future.