Charge control system for a vehicle battery

• US 20030183191A1
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., Klang, James K., Cox, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 6,805,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/198R
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1431 the system including an input-output delay
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0825 related to prevention of engine restart failure, e.g. disabling automatic stop at low battery state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0829 related to special engine control, e.g. giving priority to engine warming-up or learning
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1446 in response to parameters of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A system for controlling charging of a battery of a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. The system includes an input that receives an engine shutdown signal indicative that the engine will be shut down during an idle period to thereby conserve fuel. An engine shutdown delay delays shutdown of the engine for a shutdown delay period in response to the engine shutdown signal. Charge boost circuitry increases a charge signal applied to the battery of the vehicle during the engine shutdown delay period.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling charging of a battery of a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine comprising:

an input configured to receive an engine shutdown signal indicative that the engine will be shut down during an idle period to thereby conserve fuel;

an engine shutdown delay configured to delay shutdown of the engine for a shutdown delay period in response to the engine shutdown signal; and

charge boost circuitry configured to increase a charge signal applied to the battery of the vehicle during the engine shutdown delay period.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge boost circuitry increases the charge signal in response to a charge control signal provided by the engine shutdown delay.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge boost circuitry increases the charge signal in response to a charge control signal provided by the engine shutdown circuit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge boost circuitry is part of an alternator of the vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge boost circuitry is a part of a battery monitor circuit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the battery monitor circuit is coupled to the battery through a four point Kelvin connection.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge signal comprises a charging voltage.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the engine shutdown delay is part of an engine shutdown circuit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the engine shutdown circuit comprises a vehicle speed sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the engine shutdown circuit comprises an idle position switch.

11. The, apparatus of claim 8 wherein the engine shutdown circuit is configured to receive a request to shut down the engine from a vehicle operator.

12. An apparatus for controlling charging of a battery of a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, comprising:

an alternator, driven by the engine, and electrically coupled to the battery, the alternator adapted to charge the battery with a charging signal; and

engine shutdown circuitry configured to automatically shut down the engine during idle periods and to provide a shutdown control signal that causes an increase the charging signal just prior to shutting down the engine to thereby increase the ability of the battery to crank the engine.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a battery monitor circuit adapted to determine a condition of the battery as a function of a measured dynamic parameter and to provide an alternator control signal that controls the charging signal provided by the alternator, wherein the alternator control signal is a function of the shutdown control signal and the determined condition of the battery.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the battery monitor circuit is configured to send a battery-condition signal reflecting the determined condition of the battery to the engine shutdown circuitry, and wherein the engine shutdown circuitry is configured to shut down the engine as a function of the determined battery condition.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the battery monitor circuit is coupled to the battery through a four point Kelvin connection.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the charging signal is increased by controlling a regulator of the alternator.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the charging signal comprises a charging voltage.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the engine shutdown circuitry is configured to determine that the engine is idle when the vehicle has a speed of zero miles per hour and the vehicle is not being accelerated.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the engine shutdown circuitry comprises a vehicle speed sensor.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the engine shutdown circuitry comprises an idle position switch.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the charging signal is increased by revving the engine.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the engine shutdown circuitry is configured to receive a request to shut down the engine from a vehicle operator.

23. An apparatus for controlling charging of a battery of a vehicle, comprising:

an internal combustion engine configured to power the vehicle;

an alternator, driven by the engine, and electrically coupled to the battery, the alternator adapted to charge the battery with a charging signal; and

engine shutdown circuitry configured to automatically shut down the engine during idle periods and to provide a shutdown control signal that causes an increase the charging signal just prior to shutting down the engine to thereby increase the ability of the battery to crank the engine.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising a battery monitor circuit adapted to determine a condition of the battery as a function of a measured dynamic parameter and to provide an alternator control signal that controls the charging signal provided by the alternator, wherein the alternator control signal is a function of the shutdown control signal and the determined condition of the battery.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the battery monitor circuit is configured to send a battery-condition signal reflecting the determined condition of the battery to the engine shutdown circuitry, and wherein the engine shutdown circuitry is configured to shut down the engine as a function of the determined battery condition.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the battery monitor circuit is coupled to the battery through a four point Kelvin connection.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the charging signal is increased by controlling a regulator of the alternator.

28. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the charging signal comprises a charging voltage.

29. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the engine shutdown circuitry is configured to determine that the engine is idle when the vehicle has a speed of zero miles per hour and the vehicle is not being accelerated.

30. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the engine shutdown circuitry comprises a vehicle speed sensor.

31. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the engine shutdown circuitry comprises an idle position switch.

32. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the charging signal is increased by revving the engine.

33. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the engine shutdown circuitry is configured to receive a request to shut down the engine from a vehicle operator.

34. A method of controlling charging of a battery in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine that drives an alternator, comprising:

providing a charging signal to the battery from the alternator; and

automatically shutting down the engine during idle periods and providing a shutdown control signal that causes an increase in the charging signal just prior to shutting down the engine to thereby increase the ability of the battery to crank the engine.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising determining a condition of the battery as a function of a measured dynamic parameter and providing an alternator control signal that controls the charging signal provided by the alternator, wherein the alternator control signal is a function of the shutdown control signal and the determined condition of the battery.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising shutting down the engine based on the determined battery condition.

37. The method of claim 35 further comprising coupling to the battery through a four point Kelvin connection.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein the charging signal is increased by controlling a regulator of the alternator.

39. The method of claim 34 wherein the charging signal comprises a charging voltage.

40. The method of claim 34 further comprising determining that the engine is idle when the vehicle has a speed of zero miles per hour and the vehicle is not being accelerated.

41. The method of claim 34 wherein the charging signal is increased by revving the engine.

42. The method of claim 34 further comprising receiving a request to shut down the engine from a vehicle operator.