System and method for controlling a vehicle engine

• US 8,707,718 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Chen, Elaine Y., Treharne, William, Buescher, Wayne, Fox, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewin, Allana
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUBY, TRAVIS C
• Application Number:
  US11/564,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,708 Days
• Field of Search: 622/281, 621/33, 622/08, 622/39, 622/41, 623/231, 622/44, 622/43, 123/179.3, 123/179.4, 123/41.01
• US Class Current: 62/133
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/004 for vehicles having a combustion engine and electric drive means, e.g. hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00735 Control systems or circuits characterised by their input, i.e. by the detection, measurement or calculation of particular conditions, e.g. signal treatment, dynamic models
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/084 State of vehicle accessories, e.g. air condition or power steering
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0804 Temperature inside the vehicle cabin
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0806 Air condition state
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An engine configured to drive a compressor of a vehicle air conditioning system is controlled based on a threshold condition. In at least one embodiment, a comfort-level selection is received, a threshold condition is determined based on the comfort-level, and a vehicle interior condition is detected. The engine is requested to run if the interior condition exceeds the threshold condition.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an engine configured to drive a compressor of a vehicle air conditioning system, the system comprising:

a control system arrangement configured to receive a desired temperature selection, receive a comfort-level selection, detect a vehicle interior condition, detect a vehicle exterior condition, determine a threshold condition based on the desired temperature, the comfort-level, and the exterior condition, and request the engine to run if the interior condition exceeds the threshold condition.

2. The system of claim 1

wherein the exterior condition comprises at least one of an ambient temperature, an ambient humidity, and a sun load.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the threshold condition decreases as the exterior condition increases.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the arrangement is further configured to determine an on/off state of the engine and wherein the threshold condition is further based on the on/off state of the engine.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the request is removed based on the on/off state of the engine.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the comfort-level selection includes at least one of an economy mode and a non-economy mode and wherein the threshold condition in the economy mode is greater than the threshold condition in the non-economy mode.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the threshold condition is a threshold temperature and wherein the threshold temperature is greater than the desired temperature.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the interior condition comprises at least one of a cabin temperature, a cabin humidity, and a sun load.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the threshold condition is a threshold temperature and wherein a difference between the threshold temperature and the desired temperature is predetermined.

10. A method for controlling an engine configured to drive a compressor of a vehicle air conditioning system, the method comprising:

receiving a desired temperature selection;

receiving a comfort-level selection;

detecting a vehicle exterior condition;

determining a threshold condition based on the desired temperature, the comfort-level, and the exterior condition;

detecting a vehicle interior condition; and

requesting the engine to run if the interior condition exceeds the threshold condition.

11. The method of claim 10

wherein the exterior condition comprises at least one of an ambient temperature, an ambient humidity, and a sun load.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the threshold condition decreases as the exterior condition increases.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining an on/off state of the engine and wherein the threshold condition is further based on the on/off state of the engine.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising removing the request based on the on/off state of the engine.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the comfort-level selection includes at least one of an economy mode and a non-economy mode and wherein the threshold condition in the economy mode is greater than the threshold condition in the non-economy mode.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the threshold condition is a threshold temperature and wherein the threshold temperature is greater than the desired temperature.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the interior condition comprises at least one of a cabin temperature, a cabin humidity, and a sun load.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the threshold condition is a threshold temperature and wherein a difference between the threshold temperature and the desired temperature is predetermined.