Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Marin Assaliyski

Rajit Johri

Akshay Bichkar

Maruthi Ravichandran

Corey James Blue

Naginder Gogna

Karthik Pillutla

Bradley Dean Riedle

William David Treharne

Lars Niklas Pettersson

Patrick Gordon Collins

Samuel Melville Glauber

Timothy Baxendale

Kevin Vander Laan

Stephen Thomas Powell

Nicholas David Moore

Calvin Trescott

Maruthi Thiruninravur Ravichandran

Connor McCann

Youssef El-Minyawi

Systems and methods for selecting which of a plurality of engine starting devices starts an internal combustion engine of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, engine starting devices may be selected and operated while a vehicle is operating in a creep mode. The system and method may place a driveline disconnect clutch in a wait state or engage a flywheel starter to improve engine starting.

System and method for controlling engine starting devices

Systems and methods for managing starting of an internal combustion engine during shifting of a transmission of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, torque converter impeller speed or a torque multiplication ratio may be indicative of an unintended transmission downshift during engine starting so that an engine starting device may be switched to improve vehicle operation.

System and method for controlling engine starting during a downshift

A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, a disconnect clutch, a starter motor, and a controller. The engine and electric machine are each configured to generate power to propel the vehicle. The disconnect clutch is disposed between the engine and the electric machine. The controller is programmed to, in response to a command to start the engine, operate either the disconnect clutch or the starter motor to start the engine based on a level of adaptive learning of previous disconnect clutch engagements.

Vehicle and corresponding powertrain control system

Systems and methods for starting an engine of a hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, the method starts an engine according to vehicle conditions that are within a range that is defined by one or more thresholds. The thresholds may be adjusted based on a history of individual driving patterns.

Methods and system to prepare a disconnect clutch for starting an engine

Systems and methods for selecting and scheduling which of a plurality of engine starting devices starts an internal combustion engine of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a scheduled start of the internal combustion engine via a driveline disconnect clutch is withdrawn during conditions when both a transmission gear shift is requested or in process and when a driver urgency level is greater than a threshold level.

System and method for controlling engine starting

A vehicle and control method include a traction battery having a first nominal voltage, an auxiliary battery having a second nominal voltage, a bi-directional voltage converter configured to convert voltage between the first nominal voltage and the second nominal voltage, an electric machine powered by the traction battery and configured to provide propulsive power to the vehicle, an internal combustion engine, a plurality of electric accessories, and a controller programmed to control the DC/DC converter and the electric machine to supply power from the auxiliary battery through the DC/DC converter to the electric machine for a specified period of time in response to electric machine power demand being between a first threshold and a second threshold, and to reduce power supplied to at least one of the plurality of electric accessories in response to the electric machine power demand exceeding the second threshold.

Electrified vehicle control of bi-directional DC/DC converter for high voltage power assist from low voltage system

A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive sensor data indicating a road user, determine a gaze direction of the road user based on the sensor data, and adjust at least one of a color or direction of a lamp of a vehicle based on the gaze direction.

Vehicle lamp system comprising a computer adjusting the color or direction of a lamp based on a road user's gaze direction

A vehicle having an engine, a battery, and an electric machine configured to propel the vehicle and selectively coupled to the engine to start the engine includes a controller configured to prompt for input to activate a cold weather mode in response to an expected ambient temperature to be below a first temperature threshold for a time period during which a subsequent engine start is anticipated, and to operate the engine and electric machine to maintain a state of charge (SOC) of the battery above a first SOC threshold in response to activation of the cold weather mode, and a second SOC threshold lower than the first SOC threshold otherwise.

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Dearborn, MI, United States of America

Marin Assaliyski