Method and device for the optimized starting of an internal combustion engine

• US 8,276,559 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2005
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Holz, Matthias, Zillmer, Michael, Pott, Ekkehard, Prochazka, David
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, HAI H
• Application Number:
  US11/794,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20100108009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,490 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.25, 123/179.28, 123/179.3, 123/179.13, 123/179.15, 701/113, 731/142.3, 731/145.8, 731/145.9
• US Class Current: 123/179.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/023 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/046 Energy or power necessary for starting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A method and a device are for the optimized starting of an internal combustion engine using a starter, which is connected to a capacitor store, the capacitor store being connected via a DC/DC converter to a vehicle electrical system of a vehicle, and the vehicle electrical system including an energy store for supplying electrical energy having a nominal voltage, and the starter consuming a starting energy for starting the internal combustion engine, which is a function of a temperature of the internal combustion engine, the temperature of the internal combustion engine being measured by at least one temperature sensor and the capacitor store being charged to a setpoint voltage with the aid of a battery via another DC/DC converter, which connects the battery in parallel to the capacitor store parallel to a switch, the setpoint voltage being set by a control unit such that the electrical energy stored in the capacitor store charged to the setpoint voltage is greater than the starting energy ascertained on the basis of the measured temperature.

Claims

1. A method for optimized starting of an internal combustion engine with a starter, which is connected to a capacitor store, the capacitor store connected via a first DC/DC converter to a vehicle electrical system of a vehicle, the vehicle electrical system including an energy store for supplying electrical energy having a nominal voltage, and the starter consuming a starting energy for starting the internal combustion engine, which is a function of a temperature of the internal combustion engine, comprising:

measuring the temperature of the internal combustion engine by at least one temperature sensor;

charging the capacitor store to a setpoint voltage by a battery via a second DC/DC converter, which connects the battery in parallel to the capacitor store parallel to a switch;

setting the setpoint voltage by a control device such that the electrical energy stored in the capacitor store charged to the setpoint voltage is greater than the starting energy ascertained on the basis of the measured temperature.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

registering at least one event by at least one event sensor, the at least one event including;

(a) an unlocking of a central locking system;

(b) an insertion of an ignition key into an ignition lock;

(c) a loading of a driver seat; and

/or (d) a switching-on of a seat heater;

ascertaining a state of the battery and of the capacitor store; and

determining a period of time as a function of the state of the battery and the state of the capacitor store;

wherein the capacitor is charged in the charging step for the period of time after registration of the at least one event.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the setpoint voltage is established such that the electrical energy stored in the capacitor store charged to the setpoint voltage is sufficient to perform a predefined number of starting operations of the internal combustion engine at the measured temperature, and that, following performance of the predefined number of starting operations, the voltage on the capacitor store is greater than a battery voltage of the battery.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the state of the battery includes a charge state and the predefined number of starting operations is increased to at least two if the charge state of the battery falls below a minimum charge state.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

ascertaining a charge state of the energy store of the vehicle electrical system; and

in the event of a drop below a minimum charge state threshold, establishing the setpoint voltage such that the capacitor store is able to supply additional energy into the vehicle electrical system via the first DC/DC converter during the predefined number of starting operations, the minimum charge state threshold being a function of an aging state of the energy store.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising charging the capacitor store at least partly via the first DC/DC converter from the energy store of the vehicle electrical system if (a) the charge state of the battery has fallen below a charge state threshold and/or (b) the aging state of the battery has fallen below an aging state threshold.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

ascertaining a voltage of the capacitor store by a voltage sensor; and

charging the capacitor store to a maximum hysteresis voltage, which is greater than the setpoint voltage by a first freely applicable delta, as soon as the voltage of the capacitor store falls below a minimum hysteresis voltage, which is smaller than the setpoint voltage by a second freely applicable delta.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

measuring and storing an actual energy required for starting; and

establishing the setpoint voltage at least on accordance with the actual energy required for starting.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a battery nominal voltage of the battery is greater than a nominal voltage of the energy store of the vehicle electrical system, and wherein the capacitor store is charged in the charging step maximally to a voltage of approximately 60 V.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the capacitor store is configured as an Ultracap.

11. A device for optimized starting of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a starter;

a first DC/DC converter;

a capacitor store, the starter connected to the capacitor store, the capacitor store connected to a vehicle electrical system of a vehicle via the first DC/DC converter, the vehicle electrical system including an energy store for supplying electrical energy having a nominal voltage, the starter consuming a starting energy to start the internal combustion engine as a function of a temperature of the internal combustion engine,

at least one temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the internal combustion engine;

a battery configured to charge the capacitor store to a setpoint voltage via a second DC/DC converter, which connects the battery in parallel to the capacitor store parallel to a switch; and

a control device configured to set the setpoint voltage such that electrical energy stored in the capacitor store charged to the setpoint voltage is greater than the starting energy ascertained on the basis of the measured temperature.

12. The device according to claim 11, further comprising:

at least one event sensor configured to register at least one event, the at least one event including;

(a) an unlocking of a central locking system;

(b) an insertion of an ignition key into an ignition lock;

(c) a loading of a driver seat; and

/or (d) a switching-on of a seat heater; and

state sensors configured to determine a state of the battery and a state of the capacitor store;

wherein charge of the capacitor store is effectable a period of time after registration of the at least one event, the period of time determinable as a function of the state of the battery and the state of the capacitor store.

13. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a voltage sensor configured to ascertain a voltage of the capacitor store, the capacitor store chargeable to a maximum hysteresis voltage, which is greater than the setpoint voltage by a first freely applicable delta, as soon as the voltage of the capacitor store falls below a minimum hysteresis voltage, which is smaller than the setpoint voltage by a second freely applicable delta.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein the control device is configured to set the setpoint voltage such that the electrical energy stored in the capacitor store charged to the setpoint voltage is sufficient to perform a predefined number of starting operations of the internal combustion engine at the measured temperature, and, following the performance of the predefined number of starting operations, the voltage on the capacitor store is greater than a battery voltage of the battery.

15. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a device configured to ascertain a charge state of the energy store of the vehicle electrical system and a device configured to determine a drop below a minimum charge state threshold, the control device configured to set the setpoint voltage in accordance with the drop below the minimum charge state threshold such that the capacitor store is able to supply additional energy into the vehicle electrical system via the first DC/DC converter during the predefined number of starting operations, the minimum charge state threshold being a function of an aging state of the energy store.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the predefined number of starting operations is increased to at least two if the charge state of the battery falls below a minimum charge state.

17. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a device configured to detect (a) a charge state of the battery, (b) a battery temperature, (c) an aging state of the battery and/or (d) a vehicle outside temperature, the control device configured to set the setpoint voltage in accordance with (a) the charge state of the battery, (b) the battery temperature, (c) the aging state of the battery and/or (d) the vehicle outside temperature.

18. The device according to claim 11, wherein the capacitor store is chargeable at least partly via the first DC/DC converter from the energy store of the vehicle electrical system if (a) a charge state of the battery falls below a charge state threshold and/or (b) an aging state of the battery falls below an aging state threshold.

19. The device according to claim 11, further comprising:

a device configured to measure an energy actually required for starting; and

a memory configured to store the actually required energy;

wherein the control device is configured to set the setpoint voltage in accordance with the actually required energy.

20. The device according to claim 11, wherein a battery nominal voltage of the battery is greater than a nominal voltage of the energy store of the vehicle electrical system and the capacitor store is configured for a maximum voltage of approximately 60 V.

21. The device according to claim 11, wherein the capacitor store is configured as an Ultracap.