Suzuki Motor Corporation

Kazuhiko Morimoto

Yoshiaki Omata

Michinori Shimizu

Hiroshi Ohsawa

Kazuyoshi Noda

Norihiro Noda

Tatsuji Mori

Yoshiki Itoh

An automatic stop/start controller for an engine which automatically stops and starts the engine without operation of an ignition key. In automatically stopping the engine without operation of the ignition key, a control means prevents an automatic stop of the engine if a direction indicator of the vehicle is activated. If the direction indicator is activated after the engine is automatically stopped, the control means immediately automatically starts the engine without operation of the ignition key. The control means also prevents an automatic stop of the engine unless the distance traveled by a vehicle, after the engine has automatically started, is greater than a predetermined automatic stop prohibit distance.

Automatic stop/start controller for engine and method for controlling automatic stop and automatic start

In a power generating controller of a vehicle, electric power of a first power supply, employed at engine startup and during vehicle driving, is conserved to decrease power needed for charging of the first power supply and to reduce engine load by operation of a generator. In addition, deceleration energy, which has not been utilized conventionally, can be recovered to a second power supply, which enables use of power generation (regeneration) during deceleration of the vehicle, during which fuel is not required, to improve efficiency of the generative operation of the generator.

Power generating controller of a vehicle

In a controlling device, the automatic stop and start-up conditions for an internal combustion engine are set to enable automatic stop/start-up control reflecting an operator's will or intention without movement of the vehicle feeling incongruous or unresponsive. The controlling device provides an automatic stop condition when all of the following conditions are satisfied (1) vehicle speed is less than a set value other than zero, (2) an idle switch is on, and (3) a gear position of the transmission is in neutral. An automatic start-up condition is satisfied when any one of the following conditions is satisfied, (1) the clutch is changed to a disengaged state from a fully or half engaged state, (2) the gear position of the transmission is in non-neutral, (3) the idle switch is off, or (4) a condition of booster negative pressure.

Automatic stop/ start-up controlling device of an engine

A controller controls a hybrid vehicle that has an internal combustion engine and an electric motor that assists the engine. In fuel cut control during vehicle deceleration, the controller sets a return engine speed at a value that inevitably stalls the engine. However, the motor executes power assist-control so that engine speed is maintained, engine stall does not occur, and the engine speed smoothly converges at an idle speed. Thus, the engine speed is set at a lower value, so that fuel cut is executed for as long as possible.

Controller of a hybrid vehicle

A control apparatus utilizes an electric motor to initially start-up an engine. In an engine restart under certain conditions, the control apparatus sets a motor output value for the electric motor to a value exceeding the rated performance. Thus, when starting up the engine, the control apparatus makes up for a shortage of power by executing overload driving of the motor for a short time period. When certain conditions are not met, the control apparatus operates the electric motor in combination with a starter motor to restart the engine. The electric motor is located between the engine and a transmission.

Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle

A hybrid vehicle includes an engine controller which controls a running state of the engine, a motor controller which controls both driving and battery recharging power-generating states, and an indicator which is connected to the motor controller. The indicator is turned on when the recharging power generating control is executed during slowdown of the hybrid vehicle. The indicator is turned on and off when the recharging power generating control is not executed during slowdown of the hybrid vehicle and is in a state that execution is possible. Therefore, by turning on the indicator or by turning it on and off, a driver is informed positively whether the recharging power generating control is executed or the recharging power generation control is not executed. As a result, the driver can operate the vehicle differently so that recharging power generation during vehicle slowdown can be executed efficiently.

A control apparatus enhances charge and discharge performance of a main battery in a low temperature environment, extends the life of the main battery and improves the reliability of the whole system. The control apparatus is for a hybrid vehicle having an engine and an electric motor disposed therein. The electric motor has both driving and power-generating functions to directly connect to the engine mounted on the hybrid vehicle. The vehicle includes a main battery which supplies driving electric power to the electric motor and is charged by generated electric power from the electric motor. The vehicle includes a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the main battery. A controller controls to prohibit power-generation driving of the electric motor when a main battery temperature detected by the temperature sensor is under a set temperature, when the electric motor is operating in a power-generation driving mode, when an open-circuit voltage value of the main battery exceeds a set voltage value, and when a generated electric power value of the electric motor is less than a set electric power.

A hybrid vehicle includes a control apparatus having an engine controller and a motor controller. A first battery and a second battery which has higher voltage than the first battery are provided. An electric power generator which is driven by the engine is provided for charging the first battery. The second battery and the electric motor are connected through the motor controller, and the first battery or the electric power generator is connected to the motor controller and the engine controller. In addition, the first battery or the electric power generator is connected to the engine controller for maintaining a power supply for operation maintenance of the engine controller. The second battery and the electric motor are connected through the motor controller. The second battery or the electric motor is connected to the motor controller through a DC/DC converter. As a result, even if the high voltage line including the electric motor in the control apparatus for the hybrid vehicle has failed, this system can drive the vehicle.

An automatic stop/start-up control system of an engine, recognizes an early drop of a power assist for brakes while the engine is automatically stopped. The control system enables the will of a driving person to be adequately reflected and the driving person does not feel a sense of incongruity when braking. Accordingly, the automatic stop/start-up control apparatus automatically stops the engine when an automatic stop condition is satisfied while the engine is driven, and automatically starts up the engine when an automatic start-up condition is satisfied while start-up of the engine is stopped. The control apparatus includes a power assist detector to detect power assist of an underpressure assist type brake apparatus equipped in the vehicle and a controller to control so as to automatically start up the engine when a decreasing rate per unit time of power assist, which the power assist detector detects while the engine is automatically stopped, exceeds a first setting value.

Automatic stop/start-up control apparatus of an engine

A hybrid vehicle includes an engine and a motor disposed therein as a vehicle-propelling system, the motor being connected to an output shaft and having both driving and power-generating functions. The vehicle includes an engine control apparatus which controls a running state of the engine and a motor control apparatus which controls both driving and power-generating states of the motor to be independent from the control of the engine by the engine control apparatus. The motor control apparatus functions to detect an open-circuit voltage of a main battery at motor driving stop and to set an upper limit-determining voltage and a lower limit-determining voltage for motor driving according to the main battery open-circuit voltage. As a result, by the control apparatus, an over-charge and an over-electric discharge of the main battery can be prevented, and it is possible to extend battery life.

A motor control apparatus is combined with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor to form a vehicle-propelling system. The motor is connected to a crank shaft of the engine and has both driving and power-generating functions. The motor control apparatus includes an automatic start-up/stop control device having automatic start-up control and automatic stop control sections. When the vehicle is started with a key, the automatic start-up control section uses the starter motor and always gains assistance from the electric motor in starting the vehicle. Only the automatic start-up control section controls start up of the electric motor, which prevents a noise occurring when a ring gear is engaged with a starter motor gear. This operation improves the quietness of the engine. This arrangement enhances discharge of exhaust gas.

Motor control apparatus combined to engine

A power-generating control apparatus for a vehicle having an engine and a power-generator operated by the engine or electric motor includes a slowdown detector to detect a slowdown state of the vehicle, a main battery for the vehicle, and a sub-battery. The control apparatus includes a switch-over device which switches over at least one of the main battery and the sub-battery to the power-generator or motor, which in a slowdown state detected by the slowdown detector, switches over to couple the power-generator or the motor and the sub-battery. In engine stop, the switch over device switches to the sub-battery as a power supply of operating load. Accordingly, because the sub-battery can absorb slowdown energy, driving efficiency of the power-generator or motor at slowdown becomes excellent.

Power-generating control apparatus for vehicle

A motor control apparatus for a motor combined with an engine for a vehicle includes clutch switches operated in response to pressing movement of a clutch pedal. A first clutch switch is OFF when the clutch is in a fully engaged state wherein the clutch pedal is not pressed down, and switches to ON when the clutch is in a partially engaged state as the clutch pedal is pressed down. A second clutch switch is OFF when the clutch is in a fully released state wherein the clutch pedal is fully pressed down, and switches to ON when the clutch is in a partially engaged state after partial return of the clutch pedal from the fully pressed down position. A motor controller responds to the clutch switches to stop driving and power generation of the motor when the first clutch switch switches to ON from OFF. The motor controller also assists in starting the engine, as an assist condition of a motor in a starting drive mode from a stopping mode of the vehicle, when an idle switch is OFF, when vehicle speed is zero or nearly zero, and when the second clutch switch becomes OFF from ON, the motor controller sets a flag. At the state that the flag is set, when the second clutch switch becomes ON from OFF, motor driving to assist engine start-up occurs.

A motor control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, wherein during operations of automatic start-up/stop control of the engine, at restarting of the engine when a start-up condition is satisfied, the control means controls to said electric motor so as to start up engine by the electric motor only, during operation of automatic start-up/stop control of the engine, at restarting of the engine when a start-up condition is not satisfied, a controller controls to drive a starter motor and an electric motor by outputting an engine activation signal so that the starter motor is always assisted by the electric motor during engine start. The electric motor is started by voltage supplied by the main battery. By such system, the engine and motor are not collectively controlled, and simplification of the system is achieved. Further, synchronism of the engine and motor is obtained and quietness at restart of the engine also results.

A control apparatus is provided for a hybrid vehicle having an engine and a electric motor disposed therein. The electric motor has both driving and power-generating functions and is directly connected to the engine mounted on the hybrid vehicle. The control apparatus controls both driving and power-generating states of the motor based on a driving state of the hybrid vehicle and a driving state of the engine, and controls to automatically start up and stop the engine according to an automatic startup condition and an automatic stop condition. The engine automatically stops after the automatic stop condition is satisfied while the control means controls the motor so as to execute a recharging power-generating drive to recharge the vehicle battery. As a result, this system can prevent discharge of unburned combustible gas when automatically stopping a vehicle, can improve sensations in the vehicle during stopping, and can improve start-up performance.

Growing community of inventors

Shizuoka-ken, Japan

Kazuhiko Morimoto