Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

William Najib Mansur

Mark Douglas Malone

Tuan Anh Be

Daniel Paul Roberts

Ahmed Awadi

Beth Ann Dalrymple

Chad Everette Griffin

John Robert Van Wiemeersch

David Karl Bidner

Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy

Timothy Joseph Clark

Kirk Pebley

Lodewijk Wijffels

Eric Michael Rademacher

Daniel V Orzel

Oliver Nehls

Hank Kwong

Lynn Edward Davison

Karl-Peter Hesseler

Attila Benak

John W Harris

Michele Reichenbach

Marian Sue Chupa

Michael John Mould

Mark Robert Laleman

Leonid Tikh

Tuan Ahn Be

A method of operating a vehicular system includes charging, by a controller and via an electric vehicle charge station, a low-voltage battery when a module powered by the low-voltage battery is awake and an SOC of the low-voltage battery is less than a threshold; and in response to the SOC exceeding the threshold, commanding by the controller the module to enter a sleep mode for a sleep duration defined by a power usage of the module such that as the power usage changes, the sleep duration changes.

Variable wakeup of a high-voltage charger based on low-voltage system parameters

An engine control system for a vehicle includes a controller that initiates a start of the engine in response to a state of charge (SOC) of a battery falling below an engine start threshold, initiates a stop of the engine in response to the SOC exceeding an engine stop threshold, and adjusts a value of the engine start threshold based on whether a load remote from the vehicle is drawing power from the battery.

Load based engine start-stop control

A present location of a host vehicle is determined. A processor detects that the host vehicle is connected to a charging station. A predetermined setting associated with the present location is accessed. A charging indicator light that indicates that the vehicle is connected to a charging station in accordance with the predetermined setting is actuated.

Charging indicator light control

A vehicle charging system may include a parking area, indicia, and a wireless charging station. The indicia may be disposed on the parking area and define a plurality of vehicle parking spots. The wireless charging station may include a primary charge coil and a mechanical conveyor having the primary charge coil mounted thereon. The mechanical conveyor may be configured to move the primary charge coil across and between the parking spots defined by the indicia.

Vehicle charging system

Exemplary methods, vehicles, and systems are disclosed. An exemplary method may include establishing at least one visible signal configured to provide a signal during a normal state of a vehicle, detecting an alarm state of the vehicle, and initiating a visible nuisance via the at least one visible signal in response to at least the detected alarm state. An exemplary vehicle may include at least one lighting device configured to provide a signal during a normal state of a vehicle, and a processor configured to detect an alarm state of the vehicle and initiate a visible nuisance via the at least one visible signal in response to at least the detected alarm state.

Urgent vehicle warning indicator using vehicle illumination

A vehicle includes an engine configured to auto stop and auto start. The vehicle includes an active front steering system with an electric actuator. A controller operates the electric actuator at a current limit that is less than a requested current of the electric actuator in response to a request to change a steering ratio by an amount that results in the requested current being greater than the current limit during an engine auto stop event. The current limit may decrease from the requested current to a predetermined limit after transitioning to the engine auto stop event. The current limit may increase from the predetermined limit to the requested current after transitioning from the engine auto stop event.

Integration of stop-start and active front steering

A vehicle may include a controller programmed to, while operating an engine responsive to a remote start request and in response to exhaust sensor data indicative of engine closed loop operation, operate the engine and an electric machine to provide power to a low voltage battery and a high voltage battery at respective rates that are based on a target engine torque, and a temperature of the engine or electric machine.

Vehicle start control

Systems and methods for improving operation of a start/stop vehicle are presented. One method includes deactivating an engine start/stop mode in response to an electrical load of a trailer coupled to a vehicle. By deactivating the engine start/stop mode, it may be possible to conserve consumption of electrical energy and maintain state of battery charge to ensure the vehicle has sufficient electrical energy to restart the engine.

Methods and systems for controlling engine stopping and starting

Vehicles capable of operating in an energy conserving mode may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing activation of the energy conserving mode. The system may identify the inhibiting features and prompt an operator of the vehicle for authorization to disable the inhibiting features or adjust the feature states to enable the energy conserving mode. In response to receiving authorization, the system may automatically control feature interfaces to remove inhibits to the energy conserving mode. The interface may communicate active inhibitors to an operator using a display or a speaker, or both. Additionally, the interface may query the operator to approve automatic deactivation of the inhibiting features and facilitate the receipt of operator input to the query.

System and method for optimizing availability of vehicle energy conserving modes

A method for controlling vehicle powertrain operation includes activating all-wheel-drive or 4&#xd7;4-operation provided one of an environmental condition, vehicle use condition and vehicle electrical condition exceeds a corresponding reference, deactivating fuel saving operation provided all-wheel-drive or 4&#xd7;4-operation is activated, activating fuel saving operation provided none of said conditions indicates need for AWD/4&#xd7;4-operation, deactivating all-wheel-drive or 4&#xd7;4-operation provided fuel saving operation is activated.

All-wheel-drive system interaction with fuel savings operation of a motor vehicle

Systems and methods for improving operation of a vehicle are presented. In one example, vehicle brakes are held to reduce the possibility of vehicle motion and stopping of engine rotation is prevented until confirmation of vehicle hold is present. The approach may allow an engine to remain in an off state for a longer period of time while reducing the possibility of vehicle motion.

Methods and systems for operating a stop/start engine

A method and system relates to improving powertrain responsiveness in a vehicle while maintaining fuel economy by inhibiting entry into, or exiting, energy-saving modes when oncoming traffic is detected. In one example, the energy-saving mode is inhibited in response to an indication of an oncoming vehicle of concern. In a second example, the energy-saving mode is selectively maintained in response to an indication of an absence of oncoming traffic.

Utilization of vehicle presence systems for powertrain response readiness and conserving energy

A vehicle includes an engine, a manual transmission having a clutch, and a controller. The controller is configured to, in response to receiving a signal indicative of a deceleration event initiated by the controller when the vehicle is operating with the clutch engaged, command the engine to shut down before an engine stall threshold to prevent a stall. A method of controlling a vehicle having an engine and a manual transmission with a clutch includes, in response to receiving a signal indicative of a deceleration event above a threshold value when the vehicle is operating with the clutch engaged, shutting down the engine before an engine stall threshold to prevent a stall.

Vehicle and method of controlling an engine auto-stop and restart

Methods for operating a vehicle as the vehicle approaches an intersection with a traffic control device are provided herein. One example method includes detecting a traffic control device at an intersection the vehicle is approaching, and releasing and applying a disconnect clutch arranged in a driveline of the vehicle intermediate an engine and a starter/generator based on a type of the detected traffic control device. Because releasing the disconnect clutch disconnects the engine from the vehicle driveline, the engine may be turned off to increase fuel efficiency while the disconnect clutch is released.

Methods for utilizing stop sign and traffic light detections to enhance fuel economy and safety

A vehicle and a method of controlling a dynamometer mode operation of a vehicle that includes requesting the dynamometer mode; monitoring for at least one non-dynamometer vehicle operating condition; if at least one of the non-dynamometer vehicle operating conditions is detected, prohibiting dynamometer mode; and if none of the non-dynamometer vehicle operating conditions is detected, operating the vehicle in dynamometer mode.

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West Bloomfield, MI, United States of America

William Najib Mansur