Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Mathew Ethan Breton

Stephen De La Salle

Rongjun Zhang

Michael Larsen

Guoming Zhu

Chao Fu Daniels

Michael T Nation

James Raymond Winkelman

A method for managing a vehicle's electrical power bus and charging system. A current sensor is utilized to measure a current produced by an alternator. The alternator current is controlled in a feedback system such that the current is equal to the amount required for the vehicle loads or, if the battery is being charged, the amount required for the vehicle loads plus the optimum charging current. Alternatively, the method may measure and control the amount of current delivered to and from the battery such that, in a fuel efficiency mode, no current is delivered to the battery.

Method of automotive electrical bus management

The present feature of the invention comprises a method and apparatus for determining cylinder ID. When a cylinder is compressed, the resistance increases across the spark plug gap. Thus, if a spark coil is only partially charged before activation of the spark, the air gap is not broken down and no ignition occurs in the cylinder in compression. The failure of a spark plug to spark is reflected in the ionization signal. In a preferred embodiment, the dwell time is selected so that the spark plug located in a cylinder that is not in compression will spark, while a spark plug in a cylinder that is in compression will not. The cylinder in compression will output an ionization signal with a shorter duration than a cylinder not in compression. In a preferred embodiment, two methods are used to calculate the duration of the spark, edge detection and integration.

Method of detecting cylinder ID using in-cylinder ionization for spark detection following partial coil charging

The present invention provides in one embodiment a method for controlling vehicle creep control. Measurements are received from a brake pedal sensor, where the measurements are indicative of a brake pedal travel. A target creep speed value is derived based on the measurements of creep speed and the brake pedal travel. A request for wheel torque is derived based on the target creep speed. There is a determination of the difference between a measurement of vehicle creep speed and the target creep speed value. The request for wheel torque is adjusted, if the target creep speed is not equivalent to the vehicle creep speed.

Apparatus and method of controlling vehicle creep control under braking

The present invention includes an apparatus and a method for controlling the idle speed of a powertrain. The possible idle speed control operating modes detailed are (1) engine-torque-control/motor-speed-control, (2) engine-off/motor-speed-control, and (3) engine-speed-control/motor-torque-control. The engine-off/motor-speed-control mode is used when all conditions to turn the engine off are met. The motor is run at a speed that is determined by the ancillary demands&mdash;subject to motor or engine constraints. The engine-torque-control/motor-speed-control operating mode is used when the engine is required to be on to provide torque to various mechanically driven ancillary loads, or to charge the batteries. The engine-speed-control/motor-torque-control operating mode is used when the engine is required to be on because of conditions not related to providing torque to other components.

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Westland, MI, United States of America

Mathew Ethan Breton