Fca US LLC

Chrysler Corporation

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Other

Tula Technology, Inc.

Joseph B Adams

Glen E Tallarek

William D Rotramel

John R Jaye

Basil M Khaja

Ihab S Soliman

Russell J Wakeman

Mark A Shost

Christopher P Thomas

Gregory T Weber

William Robert Mayhew

Robert J Nankee, Ii

Dennis A Soltis

Francis M Fodale

Michael R Teets

John E Letcher

David R Pedro

Gregory J Dykstra

Craig A Brunstetter

Brian John Nelson

Jason E Wielenga

James M Witalec

Nikhil Patil

Dennis W Fett

Raymond J Tessier, Jr

Travis T Hamilton

Benjamin D Ellies

Changwei Cao

David D Dicks

Thomas A Sharp

Keith B Pletta

Michael S Boggess

Thomas M Welker

John S Amatangelo

Rohit V Koli

Leo Bauer

Luiz R Alicke

Joseph J Sobczak

Richard G Mayer

Jason P Frisch

Paul J Luft

Paul J Fitzgerald

Regina M Cook

Truc Trung Le

Paul Milligan

Ganapathy Machamada Somaiah

Geoffrey Giese

Joydip Saha

Arab Alsharif

Battery management techniques for a vehicle include a set of sensors configured to measure a set of parameters of a battery of the vehicle and a controller configured to control recharging of the battery to a first target state of charge (SOC) corresponding to optimized battery life when a mileage of the vehicle is less than a threshold mileage corresponding to an expected transport period of the vehicle, wherein controlling the recharging of the battery to the first target SOC prevents battery malfunctions and thereby reduces vehicle warranty costs for an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the vehicle, and control recharging of the battery to a second target SOC determined by a cost-based optimization technique when the mileage of the vehicle reaches the threshold mileage.

Advanced storage battery shipping feature

Charging control techniques for a vehicle including an engine that drives an alternator configured to charge a battery of the vehicle comprise modeling a fuel consumption of the alternator for each load level across a range of alternator loads using an engine torque model and a set of operating parameters of the engine, determining an energy output from the alternator for each load level across the range of alternator loads, calculating a cost-to-charge metric based on the modeled alternator fuel consumption and the determined alternator energy output for each duty cycle across a range of duty cycles of the alternator, determining an optimal cost-to-charge from the calculated cost-to-charge metrics, determining a target cost-to-charge metric based on a state of charge of the battery, and operating the alternator accordingly at an optimal duty cycle based on the metrics and current engine operating conditions.

Techniques to regulate charging with an alternator and a battery to minimize vehicle fuel consumption

A variety of methods and arrangements for implementing a start/stop feature in a skip fire engine control system are described. In one aspect, the implementation of the start/stop feature involves automatically turning off an internal combustion engine under selected circumstances during a drive cycle. A determination is made that the engine should be restarted. During the engine startup period, the engine is operated in a skip fire manner such that a desired engine speed is reached.

Implementing skip fire with start/stop feature

A fuel supply system with an accumulator that allows for the accumulation of fuel at a pressure greater than the nominal operating pressure of the fuel supply system. The accumulation of fuel allows for less frequent fuel pump operation and therefore a reduction in overall fuel consumption of an engine.

Fuel supply system with accumulator

A method for interactive transmission garage shifts includes receiving a request for a transmission garage shift; controlling the transmission to bring the vehicle to a stop state based on determining that the vehicle is rolling backwards on a grade above a predetermined grade threshold and at a speed below a predetermined speed threshold; controlling an electric park brake (EPB) to hold the vehicle at the stop state; controlling the transmission to engage a dog clutch so as to place the transmission in a forward drive gear; and controlling the EPB to i) deactivate if the dog clutch is determined to be engaged, or ii) maintain activation to maintain the vehicle at the stop state if the dog clutch is determined to be disengaged.

Interactive transmission shift techniques

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an electrical system for an automotive vehicle has an electrical generating machine and a battery. A set point voltage, which sets an output voltage of the electrical generating machine, is set by an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU selects one of a plurality of control modes for controlling the alternator based on an operating state of the vehicle as determined from vehicle operating parameters. The ECU selects a range for the set point voltage based on the selected control mode and then sets the set point voltage within the range based on feedback parameters for that control mode. In an aspect, the control modes include a trickle charge mode and battery charge current is the feedback parameter and the ECU controls the set point voltage within the range to maintain a predetermined battery charge current.

Alternator control for battery charging

A method for identifying high driveability index fuel for use in a motor vehicle engine includes the steps of determining an engine rotational speed after the engine has started, measuring an elapsed time required for the engine rotational speed to increase from a predetermined low limit to a predetermined high limit, and identifying high driveability index fuel when the elapsed time is greater than a predetermined time limit.

Fuel identifier algorithm

A computer-implemented apparatus and method for inferring power steering load and for controlling airflow to an engine of a vehicle having an engine speed. A sensor which is connected to the engine senses the engine speed of the engine. An engine speed reference data table stores at least one engine reference speed, and a reference comparator module which is connected to the sensor and to the reference data table performs a comparison between the sensed engine speed and the engine reference speed. The airflow to the engine is controlled based upon the comparison.

Virtual power steering switch

A method of regulating voltage output from an alternator of a vehicle charging system is provided in response to transient alternator loads during idle speed operating conditions. The method comprises the steps of: (a) delivering a first alternator field control signal to the alternator; (b) detecting an impulse electrical load based on a variation in battery voltage; and (c) gradually increasing the alternator field control signal duty-cycle over a time period, such that the time period is based on the magnitude of the alternator field control signal duty-cycle, with respect to a maximum alternator field control signal duty-cycle, and based on the engine rotational speed of the vehicle, thereby regulating voltage output and torque load of the alternator. More specifically, the variation in battery voltage is the difference between a measured battery voltage and an average delta battery voltage, where the average delta battery voltage is indicative of the change in battery voltage over a period in time, and the duty-cycle of the alternator field control signal is incremented by a predefined amount until it reaches a maximum value or until a calculated average battery voltage is substantially equal to a predefined voltage regulator set point value. In addition, the first alternator field control signal is delayed for a preliminary period after the step of detecting a variation in battery voltage to minimize battery voltage drop.

Method of controlling an automotive charging system in response to

A flexible fuel compensation system including a method of methanol boil-off compensation. The methanol boil-off compensation method includes an initialization routine, a run mode routine and a shutdown routine. The method will monitor a plurality of flags to determine when the methanol boil-off compensation should be used.

Boiloff for a flexible fuel compensation system

A method of throttle fuel lean-out for an internal combustion engine including the steps of sensing a throttle position of a throttle for the engine with a throttle position sensor, calculating a delta throttle value based on the sensed throttle position, determining whether the engine is in a throttle deceleration condition based on the calculated delta throttle value, linearizing the change in throttle position with respect to absolute throttle position and engine speed if the engine is in a throttle deceleration condition, calculating a throttle deceleration fuel lean-out multiplier value based on the linearized change in throttle position, and applying the calculated throttle deceleration fuel lean-out multiplier value to a fuel pulsewidth value of fuel injectors for the engine and reducing the amount of fuel injected into the engine by the fuel injectors.

Method of throttle fuel lean-out for internal combustion engines

A flexible fuel compensation system for an internal combustion engine. The flex-fuel system includes a method of run fuel pulsewidth calculation which controls the amount of fuel being sent to the fuel injectors. The method calculates multipliers to be used in calculating a first and second pulsewidth multiplier and fuel injector pulsewidths.

Flexible fuel compensation system

A flexible fuel compensation system including a method of hot soak fuel enrichment. The hot soak fuel enrichment method includes checking a plurality of enabling conditions. The method also increments of decrements a hot fuel enrichment multiplier depending on conditions of the vehicle. The hot fuel enrichment multiplier is then used to adjust the amount of fuel being sent to the fuel injectors.

Hot soak for a flexible fuel compensation system

A rearrangeable assembly can take on either a tree stand configuration or an equipment transport configuration. A two section ladder is hinged for 180.degree. rotation from a folded substantially horizontal condition in the transport configuration to an open substantially vertical condition in the stand configuration. A platform is hingedly connected for approximately 90.degree. rotation between substantially horizontal conditions in either the stand configuration or the transport configuration. A main carriage with relatively large wheels connects beneath the ladder and a front carriage with relatively small wheels connects in front of the ladder in the transport configuration. Preferably, a steering frame connects to the platform in the transport configuration. Additionally, a brake for controlling the rate of rotation of the main carriage wheels is connected between the steering frame and the main carriage in the transport configuration. All of these connections are made by removable retaining pins so that the assembly can be quickly rearranged from the transport configuration to the stand configuration in which the ladder is fully extended and the platform is mounted at the top of the ladder in approximately a 95.degree. relationship to the ladder so that the tree stand will lean slightly toward the tree.

Tree stand-transport vehicle

Growing community of inventors

Northville, MI, United States of America

Joseph B Adams