Vehicle starting assist system

• US 7,806,095 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vanner, Inc. (Vanner Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vanner, Inc. (Vanner Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cook, Alexander, Isurin, Alexander, Lu, Wenzhe
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin; Stephen K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bacon; Anthony L
• Application Number:
  US12/201,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20090056661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.3, 290/38.R, 290/40.C
• US Class Current: 123/179.3
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0885 Capacitors, e.g. for additional power supply
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0888 DC/DC converters

Abstract

An engine starting assist system. A battery is selectably coupled to an ultracapacitor with a contactor. In addition, a controller is configured to perform at least one of: monitor the condition of the battery, monitor the condition of the ultracapacitor, control the flow of energy between the battery and the ultracapacitor by selective actuation of the contactor, receive a start input control. The controller issues a start output control to a starter solenoid of the engine, such that energy stored in the ultracapacitor may be used to at least one of charge the battery and provide cranking current to a starter of the engine in conjunction with the battery.

Claims

1. An engine starting assist system, comprising:

a battery;

an ultracapacitor;

a contactor configured to selectably couple together the battery and the ultracapacitor; and

a controller configured to;

monitor the condition of the battery;

monitor the condition of the ultracapacitor;

control the flow of energy between the battery and the ultracapacitor in a predetermined manner based upon the condition of the battery and the condition of the ultracapacitor, the flow of the energy being controlled by selective actuation of the contactor;

receive a start input control signal; and

issue a start output control signal,

the energy stored in the ultracapacitor being selectably used to charge the battery and provide cranking current to a starter of an engine in conjunction with the battery, and

the energy stored in the battery being selectably used to charge the ultracapacitor;

provide cranking current to the starter in conjunction with the ultracapacitor; and

act as a sole source of cranking current to the starter.

2. The engine starting assist system of claim 1, further comprising a pre-charge switch connected in parallel with the contactor.

3. The engine starting assist system of claim 2, wherein the pre-charge switch is duty-cycle controlled.

4. The engine starting assist system of claim 1, further including a pre-charge switch comprising a selectably activated DC-DC converter connected in parallel with the contactor.

5. The engine starting assist system of claim 2, wherein the pre-charge switch is configured to controllably charge the ultracapacitor using energy stored by the battery.

6. The engine starting assist system of claim 2, wherein one of the pre-charge switch and the contactor is configured to charge the battery using energy stored by the ultracapacitor.

7. The engine starting assist system of claim 1, further comprising a multiplexed vehicle control system configured to provide at least one of a controller activation control signal and an engine start control signal to the controller.

8. The engine starting assist system of claim 1, further comprising a dead battery switch configured to provide a controller activation signal to the controller.

9. The engine starting assist system of claim 8 wherein the controller activation control signal is a selectively applied logic voltage.

10. The engine starting assist system of claim 8 wherein the controller activation control signal is a selectively applied logic ground connection.

11. The engine starting assist system of claim 1, further comprising:

a starter solenoid; and

a start switch connected between the controller and the starter solenoid, the start switch being controlled by the controller to selectively actuate the starter solenoid, the starter solenoid operating a starter to start the engine.

12. The engine starting assist system of claim 1, wherein the controller is one of a computer, microcontroller, central processing unit, programmable controller, and logic device, microprocessor, and ladder logic device.

13. An engine starting assist system, comprising:

a battery;

an ultracapacitor;

a controller;

a starter solenoid;

a contactor configured to selectably couple together the battery and the ultracapacitor;

a pre-charge switch connected in parallel with the contactor, the pre-charge switch being selectably activated by the controller; and

a start switch connected between the controller and the starter solenoid, the start switch being selectably activated by the controller;

the controller being configured to;

monitor the condition of the battery;

monitor the condition of the ultracapacitor;

control the flow of energy between the battery and the ultracapacitor in a predetermined manner based upon the condition of the battery and the condition of the ultracapacitor, the flow of the energy being controlled by selective actuation of the contactor;

receive a start input control signal; and

issue a start output control signal,

the energy stored in the ultracapacitor being selectably used to charge the battery and provide cranking current to a starter of an engine in conjunction with the battery, and

the energy stored in the battery being selectably used to charge the ultracapacitor;

provide cranking current to the starter in conjunction with the ultracapacitor; and

act as a sole source of cranking current to the starter.

14. The engine starting assist system of claim 13 wherein the pre-charge switch is duty-cycle controlled.

15. The engine starting assist system of claim 13 wherein the pre-charge switch is a selectably activated DC-DC converter.

16. The engine starting assist system of claim 13 wherein the pre-charge switch is configured to controllably charge the ultracapacitor using energy stored by the battery.

17. The engine starting assist system of claim 13 wherein one of the pre-charge switch and the contactor is configured to charge the battery using energy stored by the ultracapacitor.

18. The engine starting assist system of claim 13, further comprising a multiplexed vehicle control system configured to provide at least one of a controller activation control signal and an engine start control signal to the controller.

19. The engine starting assist system of claim 13, further comprising a dead battery switch configured to provide a controller activation signal to the controller.

20. A method for controlling the starting of an engine, comprising the steps of:

selectably connecting a battery to a starter of the engine;

providing an ultracapacitor;

charging at least one of the battery and the ultracapacitor; and

providing a controller configured to;

monitor the condition of the battery;

monitor the condition of the ultracapacitor;

control the flow of energy between the battery and the ultracapacitor in a predetermined manner based upon the condition of the battery and the condition of the ultracapacitor, the flow of the energy being controlled by selective actuation of the contactor;

receive a start input control signal; and

issue a start output control signal,

the energy stored in the ultracapacitor being selectably used to charge the battery and provide cranking current to a starter of an engine in conjunction with the battery, and

the energy stored in the battery being selectably used to charge the ultracapacitor;

provide cranking current to the starter in conjunction with the ultracapacitor; and

act as a sole source of cranking current to the starter.