Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Eric Michael Rademacher

Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy

Kirk Pebley

Ahmed Awadi

Hank Kwong

Hussam Makkiya

Siraj Siddiqui

Alexander O'Connor Gibson

James C Rollinson

David Celinske

David Anthony Symanow

Thomas George Leone

Kenneth James Miller

Sangeetha Sangameswaran

Zeljko Deljevic

Kevin Roy Harpenau

Michael Irby

Filip Tomik

Giuseppe Domenico Suffredini

Chad Everette Griffin

Manfred Koberstein

Mark Douglas Malone

John Anthony DeMarco

William Najib Mansur

Robert Michael Grant

Tuan Anh Be

Chad Michael Korte

Richard John Hippley

Wayne Frank Buescher

Bang Kim Cao

Xiangying Liu

Ranganathan Madhavan

Eric Gerd Schaefer

Karl-Peter Hesseler

Ravi Atluru

Attila Benak

Paul Joseph Szuszman

Donna L Bell

Kenneth Carl Leisenring

Joseph S Witek

Gregory Ziemba

John T Bremmer, Sr

Chuck De Biasi

Dave W Linden

Daniel Yeaw

Yunjiao Cai

David Celinski

Scott Makowski

David Anthony Symonow

Daniel Borrello

Methods and systems are provided for restarting an engine following an engine idle-stop. In one example, a method may include, following a first unsuccessful engine restart attempt, prompting a driver, via a human machine interface (HMI) to apply a brake pedal and upon application of the brake pedal, carrying out one or more restart attempts. If the driver does not apply the brake pedal within the threshold duration, the driver may be prompted to manually restart the engine.

Methods and systems for engine start following an idle-stop

Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine that may be automatically stopped and started are described. In one example, an amount of time to start an engine and a rate of engine acceleration are adjusted in response to what type of event triggered an automatic engine start.

System and methods for starting an engine

A vehicle climate control system includes a heat exchanger to heat ambient air using engine waste heat, and a plurality of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating elements to heat air passed through the heat exchanger. The vehicle also includes a controller programmed to, while the vehicle is driven without engine propulsion, issue a command to sequentially de-energize the PTC heating elements before an upcoming engine activation. The sequential de-energization of the PTC heating elements is performed according to a schedule that is based upon a power surge dissipation time.

Vehicle thermal management systems and methods

Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine that may be automatically stopped and started are described. In one example, an engine may be automatically stopped in response to an electric assisted braking threshold level that is adjusted responsive to vehicle speed so that opportunities to automatically stop an engine may be increased, thereby conserving fuel.

Methods and system for automatically stopping an engine

Methods and systems are provided for enabling engine start/stop function in a vehicle with a detachable door. In one example, a method may include, adjusting an engine start/stop strategy responsive to a driver side door of the vehicle been detected to be absent. The adjustment to the start/stop strategy further may be modified based on a type of transmission system coupled to the vehicle.

Methods and systems for enabling engine start/stop function

Systems and methods for operating an engine that may be automatically stopped and started responsive to vehicle operating conditions are disclosed. In one example, the engine may be automatically started after it has been automatically stopped in response to a driver applying a brake pedal while the vehicle's transmission is engaged in park. The engine may be started to increase transmission pump pressure prior to engaging a gear to reduce vehicle launch time.

Automatic engine stopping and starting for a parked vehicle

A vehicle engine start/stop control method includes shifting an automatic transmission to a park or neutral position and auto-stopping the engine in response the automatic transmission being in the park or neutral position for a predetermined period of time that begins with a shift of the automatic transmission to the park or neutral position.

Vehicle and start/stop method for a vehicle engine

A vehicle includes a powertrain and an electric parking brake. A controller activates the electric parking brake in response to the powertrain transitioning to an off state that inhibits production of propulsive torque during an ignition cycle when a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined speed and in a presence of conditions that inhibit the powertrain from transitioning to an on state that permits production of propulsive torque.

Electric parking brake usage for vehicle powertrain out of operation conditions

A vehicle includes an engine and at least one controller. The at least one controller periodically determines an estimated current to be demanded by vehicle electrical loads during an auto stop of the engine, compares the estimated current with a threshold current, and inhibits an auto stop of the engine if the estimated current is greater than the threshold current for a predetermined period of time.

Electric current based engine auto stop inhibit algorithm and system implementing same

A vehicle includes an engine configured for autostop and autostart. The vehicle further includes an electric actuator for an active front steering system. Before the engine is autostopped, a controlled decrease in demand current for the electric actuator is initiated. After the engine is autostarted, a controlled increase in demand current for the electric actuator is initiated.

Active front steering current control for engine stop/start vehicles

Systems and methods for restarting an engine are presented. In one example, an engine may be automatically stopped and started in response to thresholds that may be adjusted as a distance traveled by the vehicle increases. The thresholds may be adjusted responsive to useful life consumed of an engine starter that may participate in automatic engine starting and stopping.

Methods and systems for improving engine starter durability for a stop/start vehicle

Systems and methods for improving operation of a vehicle are presented. In one example, a controller notifies a human vehicle driver before electric power consumers that are electrically coupled to the vehicle are deactivated. The controller may notify the human driver in response to a state of charge of a vehicle battery.

Methods and systems for activating a stop/start engine

An automotive vehicle includes an engine, an alternator or integrated starter generator, and at least one controller. The at least one controller reduces voltage output of the alternator or integrated starter generator prior to initiating an auto stop of the engine.

System and method for controlling alternator or integrated starter generator output voltage

A vehicle includes an engine and a controller programmed to autostop and autostart the engine. The controller is further programmed to, in response to receiving signals indicative of a driver exiting the vehicle while the engine is auto stopped, autostart the engine, and after expiration of a predetermined duration, autostop the engine and inhibit vehicle propulsion until an ignition cycle is initiated.

Automatic engine start-stop control during driver exit events

Growing community of inventors

Royal Oak, MI, United States of America

Eric Michael Rademacher