Stop/start control for stop/start vehicle in turn lane

• US 9,926,881 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sangameswaran, Sangeetha, Boesch, Mathew Alan, Walley, George Edmund, Lockwood, John Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHARPF, SUSAN E
• Application Number:
  US13/792,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20140257677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,842 Days
• Field of Search: 701112, 701113, 701 51, 701 53, 701 65, 701 70, 701123, 1231793, 1231794, 477102
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 45/00 Electrical control not provided for in groups F02D41/00 - F02D43/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0822 related to action of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0837 Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/104 Driver's intention to turn, e.g. by evaluating direction indicators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/125 Information about other vehicles, traffic lights or traffic congestion
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An engine of a stop/start vehicle, after the engine has been automatically stopped, may be commanded to automatically restart in response to detecting that the vehicle is in a turn lane based on traffic data in a vicinity of the vehicle such that the engine is automatically restarted before a brake pedal is released and a steering wheel is turned.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an engine of a stop/start vehicle including a brake pedal and a steering wheel, the method comprising:

after the engine has been automatically stopped, commanding an automatic restart of the engine in response to detecting that the vehicle is in a turn lane based on traffic data in a vicinity of the vehicle such that the engine is automatically restarted before the brake pedal is released and the steering wheel is turned.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the traffic data comprises traffic light status.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the traffic data comprises turn signal status.

4. A stop/start vehicle comprising:

an engine;

an accelerator pedal;

a steering wheel; and

a stop/start system programmed to, in response to detecting that the vehicle is in a turn lane, command an auto start of the engine prior to an actuation of the accelerator pedal and a rotation of the steering wheel.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the stop/start system is further programmed to command the auto start based on traffic light status.

6. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the stop/start system is further programmed to command the auto start based on turn signal status.

7. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the stop/start system is further programmed to command the auto start based on data about another vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the stop/start system is further programmed to command the auto start based on traffic conditions in a vicinity of the vehicle.

9. A method for controlling a stop/start vehicle including an engine, brake pedal, and steering wheel, the method comprising:

initiating an automatic restart of the engine in response to detecting that the vehicle is in a turn lane such that the engine is restarted prior to the brake pedal being released and the steering wheel being turned.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of initiating is further performed based on traffic light status.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of initiating is further performed based on turn signal status.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of initiating is further performed based on data about another vehicle.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of initiating is further performed based on traffic conditions in a vicinity of the vehicle.