IDLE SPEED ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM

• US 20090183712A1
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Owens, Richard, Scheufler, Nick
• Application Number:
  US12/017,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20090183712A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/339.180
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/065 Idle condition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/16 for idling
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 3/09 Valves responsive to engine conditions, e.g. manifold vacuum carburettors with means for facilitating engine's idling below operational temperatures F02M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An engine idle control system is provided in a vehicle having an engine that drives an electric power generator arranged to selectively provide electric power to an electrical load of the vehicle and to selectively charge a battery of the vehicle. The engine idle control system includes: a sensor that detects a state of charge (SOC) of the battery; and a controller that controls an idle speed of the engine in response to the SOC detected by the sensor, wherein the controller is provisioned to skip at least one specific engine idle speed that has been identified as a cause of at least one of: unwanted noise in the vehicle; unwanted vibrations in the vehicle; undesirable emissions control; or undesirable driveline torque.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having an engine that drives an electric power generator arranged to selectively provide electric power to an electrical load of the vehicle and to selectively charge a battery of the vehicle, an engine idle control system comprising:

a sensor that detects a state of charge (SOC) of the battery; and

a controller that controls an idle speed of the engine in response to the SOC detected by the sensor, wherein said controller is provisioned to skip at least one specific engine idle speed that has been identified as a cause of at least one of;

unwanted noise in the vehicle;

unwanted vibrations in the vehicle;

undesirable emissions control;

or undesirable driveline torque.

2. The engine idle control system of claim 1 wherein the idle speed of the engine is adjustable between a maximum engine idle speed and a minimum engine idle speed.

3. The engine idle control system of claim 2 wherein the skipped specific engine idle speed is between the maximum and minimum engine idle speeds.

4. The engine idle control system of claim 3 wherein the controller controls the idle speed of the engine so as to achieve a relatively higher engine idle speed in response to a relatively lower SOC detected by the sensor and a relatively lower engine idle speed in response to a relatively higher SOC detected by the sensor.

5. The engine idle control system of claim 4 wherein the generator generates electric power in proportion to a rotational speed at which the generator is driven by the engine.

6. The engine idle control system of claim 5 wherein the rotational speed at which the generator is driven by the engine is proportional to a rotational speed at which the engine is operated.

7. The engine idle control system of claim 6 wherein the generator is an alternating current generator.

8. In a vehicle having an engine that drives an electric power generator arranged to selectively provide electric power to an electrical load of the vehicle and to selectively charge a battery of the vehicle, an engine idle control system comprising:

sensing means for detecting a state of charge (SOC) of the battery; and

control means for controlling an idle speed of the engine in response to the SOC detected by the sensing means, wherein said control means is provisioned to skip at least one specific engine idle speed that has been identified as a cause of at least one of;

unwanted noise in the vehicle;

unwanted vibrations in the vehicle;

undesirable emissions control;

or undesirable driveline torque.

9. The engine idle control system of claim 8 wherein the idle speed of the engine is adjustable between a maximum engine idle speed and a minimum engine idle speed.

10. The engine idle control system of claim 9 wherein the skipped specific engine idle speed is between the maximum and minimum engine idle speeds.

11. The engine idle control system of claim 10 wherein the control means controls the idle speed of the engine so as to achieve a relatively higher engine idle speed in response to a relatively lower SOC detected by the sensing means and a relatively lower engine idle speed in response to a relatively higher SOC detected by the sensing means.

12. The engine idle control system of claim 11 wherein the generator generates electric power in proportion to a rotational speed at which the generator is driven by the engine.

13. The engine idle control system of claim 12 wherein the rotational speed at which the generator is driven by the engine is proportional to a rotational speed at which the engine is operated.

14. The engine idle control system of claim 13 wherein the generator is an alternating current generator.

15. In a vehicle having an engine that drives an electric power generator arranged to selectively provide electric power to an electrical load of the vehicle and to selectively charge a battery of the vehicle, a method for controlling a idle speed of the engine comprising:

(a) identifying an engine idle speed that is a cause of at least one of;

unwanted noise in the vehicle;

unwanted vibrations in the vehicle;

undesirable emissions control;

or undesirable driveline torque;

(b) determining a state of charge (SOC) of the battery; and

(c) adjusting the idle speed of the engine in response to the determined SOC of the battery, wherein said adjustment of the idle speed of the engine is executed such that the identified engine idle speed is avoided.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the idle speed of the engine is adjustable between a maximum engine idle speed and a minimum engine idle speed.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the identified engine idle speed is between the maximum and minimum engine idle speeds.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the idle speed of the engine is adjusted so as to achieve a relatively higher engine idle speed in response to a relatively lower SOC and a relatively lower engine idle speed in response to a relatively higher SOC.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the generator generates electric power in proportion to a rotational speed at which the generator is driven by the engine.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the rotational speed at which the generator is driven by the engine is proportional to a rotational speed at which the engine is operated.