Method and system for controlling start-up of a motor vehicle by dialogue of the engine controlling computer with the piloted mechanical gearbox, during restart of the vehicle in stop and start mode

• US 7,881,835 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobile SA (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobile SA (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Denis, Jean-Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUD, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US11/910,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20080318731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/36, 701/51, 701/54, 701/70, 701/84, 477/99, 477/110, 477/111
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0652 Speed change rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/103 Accelerator thresholds, e.g. kickdown
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18018 Start-stop drive, e.g. in a traffic jam
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

The invention concerns a method and a system for controlling start-up of a motor vehicle by dialogue of the engine controlling computer with the piloted mechanical gearbox, during a restart of the vehicle in stop and start mode. A “start-up authorization” is transmitted to the gearbox at a time t when the following three conditions are fulfilled: a) verifying the position of the accelerator pedal relative to a predetermined “threshold” position; b) the engine is in sequential injection phase; c) verifying a so-called “autonomous condition”, calculated on the basis of the engine speed and of an engine speed gradient compared to a predetermined threshold value. The invention is applicable to motor vehicles.

Claims

1. Start-off control method for a motor vehicle using dialogue between an engine control computer and an electronically controlled mechanical gearbox when restarting the vehicle in stop-and-start mode, wherein said method comprises the following steps:

verifying that a first condition is fulfilled, wherein said first condition is fulfilled when a position of an accelerator pedal is higher than a predetermined threshold position of the accelerator pedal;

verifying that a second condition is fulfilled, wherein said second condition is fulfilled when the engine is in sequential injection mode;

verifying that a third condition is fulfilled, wherein said third condition is fulfilled when an engine speed gradient with respect to time at instant t is higher than a predetermined threshold value based on engine speed, this third condition being called the autonomous condition;

and when the first, second and third conditions are fulfilled, transmitting a start-off authorization to the gearbox.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein during the verification step for the autonomous condition, if this condition is not fulfilled, the method includes controlling fuel injection for a time interval until said autonomous condition is fulfilled.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein verifying that said autonomous condition is fulfilled at an instant t includes the following steps:

calculating the engine speed at instant t;

calculating the value of the engine speed gradient with respect to time at instant t;

and comparing the value of said engine speed gradient with respect to time with a predetermined engine speed gradient threshold value based on the engine speed;

wherein the autonomous condition is fulfilled when the value of the engine speed gradient with respect to time is higher than said predetermined engine speed gradient threshold value based on the engine speed.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined engine speed gradient threshold value (Grad_N_dem) based on the engine speed is obtained by the following formula:

K_Grad_N_dem(T_WATER)*Grad_N_dem(K_N_dem(T_WATER)*N_common),

in which;

Grad_N_dem is a predetermined threshold value based on the engine speed;

K_Grad_N_dem is a gain factor based on water temperature;

K_N_dem(T_WATER) is a correction factor based on water temperature;

T_WATER is water temperature;

and N_common is the average speed over a half-rotation of the engine, calculated by the engine control computer.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein a result of comparing the value of the engine speed gradient with respect to time with a predetermined threshold value based on the engine speed is validated after a time delay.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the engine speed gradient with respect to time is determined from a current engine speed and the engine speed at previous calculation step, initialized at zero.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the threshold position of the accelerator pedal is a predetermined angular value that can be calibrated.

8. Method according to claim 2, wherein verifying that said autonomous condition is fulfilled at an instant t includes the following steps:

calculating the engine speed at instant t;

calculating the value of the engine speed gradient with respect to time at instant t;

and comparing the value of said engine speed gradient with respect to time with a predetermined engine speed gradient threshold value based on the engine speed;

wherein the autonomous condition is fulfilled when the value of the engine speed gradient with respect to time is higher than said predetermined engine speed gradient threshold value based on the engine speed.

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein said predetermined engine speed gradient threshold value (Grad_N_dem) based on the engine speed is obtained by the following formula:

K_Grad_N_dem(T_WATER)*Grad_N_dem(K_N_dem(T_WATER)*N_common),

in which;

Grad_N_dem is a predetermined threshold value based on the engine speed;

K_Grad_N_dem is a gain factor based on water temperature;

K_N_dem(T_WATER) is a correction factor based on water temperature;

T_WATER is water temperature;

and N_common is the average speed over a half-rotation of the engine, calculated by the engine control computer.

10. Method according to claim 2, wherein a result of comparing the value of the engine speed gradient with respect to time with a predetermined threshold value based on the engine speed is validated after a time delay.

11. Method according to claim 3, wherein a result of comparing the value of the engine speed gradient with respect to time with a predetermined threshold value based on the engine speed is validated after a time delay.

12. Method according to claim 4, wherein a result of comparing the value of the engine speed gradient with respect to time with a predetermined threshold value based on the engine speed is validated after a time delay.

13. Method according to claim 9, wherein a result of comparing the value of the engine speed gradient with respect to time with a predetermined threshold value based on the engine speed is validated after a time delay.

14. Method according to claim 10, wherein a result of comparing the value of the engine speed gradient with respect to time with a predetermined threshold value based on the engine speed is validated after a time delay.

15. Method according to claim 2, wherein the engine speed gradient with respect to time is determined from a current engine speed and the engine speed at a previous calculation step, initialized at zero.

16. Method according to claim 3, wherein the engine speed gradient with respect to time is determined from a current engine speed and the engine speed at a previous calculation step, initialized at zero.

17. Method according to claim 4, wherein the engine speed gradient with respect to time is determined from a current engine speed and the engine speed at a previous calculation step, initialized at zero.

18. Method according to claim 9, wherein the engine speed gradient with respect to time is determined from a current engine speed and the engine speed at a previous calculation step, initialized at zero.