Method and system for internally jump-starting an engine
First Claim
1. A method of starting a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a first battery coupled to an engine, a second battery, a power converter coupled between the first battery and the second battery, and a vehicle user display, the method comprising:
- determining a low battery condition of the first battery;
if the low battery condition is determined,activating the power converter with the engine off to charge the first battery from the second battery, subject to a limiting of the activating based at least in part on a number of times that the engine is started successfully and a number of times that the first battery is charged using the second battery; and
directing starting of the engine.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for performing a jump-start without the use of external equipment. The apparatus comprises a first battery electrically coupled to a starter motor for an engine, the first battery providing power to start the engine; a second battery; a power converter electrically coupled to the first battery and electrically coupled to the second battery; and a controller communicatively coupled to the power converter. The controller may be configured to determine a low battery condition of the first battery such that the first battery has insufficient power to start the engine, and when the low battery condition occurs, to direct the power converter to supply power from the second battery to the first battery to thereby allow the engine to be started.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of starting a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a first battery coupled to an engine, a second battery, a power converter coupled between the first battery and the second battery, and a vehicle user display, the method comprising:
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determining a low battery condition of the first battery; if the low battery condition is determined, activating the power converter with the engine off to charge the first battery from the second battery, subject to a limiting of the activating based at least in part on a number of times that the engine is started successfully and a number of times that the first battery is charged using the second battery; and directing starting of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle comprising:
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a first battery electrically coupled to a starter motor for an engine, the first battery providing power to start the engine; a second battery; a power converter electrically coupled to the first battery and electrically coupled to the second battery; and a controller communicatively coupled to the power converter, the controller configured to determine a low battery condition of the first battery such that the first battery has insufficient power to start the engine, and when the low battery condition occurs, to direct the power converter to supply power from the second battery to the first battery to thereby allow the engine to be started, subject to a limiting of the directing of the power converter to supply power from the second battery to the first battery, the limiting based at least in part on a number of times that the engine is started successfully and a number of times that the first battery is charged using the second battery. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A control system for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises an engine electrically coupled to a first electrical system with a first battery, a second electrical system with a second battery, and a power converter coupled between the first electrical system and the second electrical system, the control system communicatively coupled to the power converter, the control system comprising:
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an engine sensor configured to detect a state of the engine and to transmit an engine state signal related to the state of the engine; a battery sensor configured to measure electrical characteristics related to the second battery and to transmit a battery state signal related to a state of the second battery; a control module communicatively coupled to the engine sensor, the battery sensor, and to the power converter, the control module configured to receive the engine state signal and the battery state signal, wherein the control module is configured to use the engine state signal to determine when an attempt to start the engine using the first battery is likely to fail and to use the battery state signal to determine when the second battery is in a state to supply power for starting the engine, and wherein the control module is further configured to direct the power converter to supply power from the second battery to the first battery when the attempt to start the engine using the first battery is likely to fail and when the second battery is in the state to supply power for starting the engine, subject to a limiting of the directing of the power converter to supply power from the second battery to the first battery, the limiting based at least in part on a number of times that the engine is started successfully and a number of times that the first battery is charged using the second battery. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification