Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
477099000 | Engine starting interlock | 21 |
20080318731 | Method and Sytem for Controlling Start-Up of a Motor Vehicle by Dialogue of the Engine Controlling Computer with the Piloted Mechanical Gearbox, During Restart of the Vehicle in Stop and Start Mode - The invention concerns a method and a system for controlling start-up of a motor vehicle by dialogue of the engine controlling computer with the piloted mechanical gearbox, during a restart of the vehicle in stop and start mode. A “start-up authorization” is transmitted to the gearbox at a time t when the following three conditions are fulfilled: a) verifying the position of the accelerator pedal relative to a predetermined “threshold” position; b) the engine is in sequential injection phase; c) verifying a so-called “autonomous condition”, calculated on the basis of the engine speed and of an engine speed gradient compared to a predetermined threshold value. The invention is applicable to motor vehicles. | 12-25-2008 |
20090069152 | Ignition and transmission shift lever interlock system - The interlock system includes a shaft that defines a longitudinal axis which the shaft rotates about during transmission shift operations. A transmission shift lever is coupled to the shaft, and an inhibitor pin is coupled to the ignition switch by a cable. The inhibitor pin engages the transmission shift lever to prevent shift operations when the ignition switch is in the off position. The inhibitor pin disengages the transmission shift lever when the ignition switch is positioned in the accessory position or a start/run position. The shaft includes a recess into which the inhibitor pin extends when the shaft is in the neutral or drive position to permit disconnection of the accessory circuit by moving the ignition switch to a mid position (between the off position and the accessory position) without placing the shaft in the park position. | 03-12-2009 |
20090082175 | AUTOMATIC SPEED CHANGE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - In an automatic speed change control system for a vehicle wherein a transmission is operated by use of an actuator, to contrive an alleviation of the burden in a shifting operation made by the user after a system starting operation. A shift actuator for controlling the speed change operation of the transmission is provided in a power transmission path. When the transmission is not in a neutral condition at the time when a predetermined system starting operation is conducted, the shift actuator is operated so as to put the transmission into the neutral condition. | 03-26-2009 |
20090298643 | Key Inter Lock Control System and Starting Device Having the Same - A key interlock control system may include a parking position switch unit configured to detect whether a gearshift lever is located in a parking position; an ignition switch unit configured to be electrically connected to at least a power terminal for supplying electrical power to at least an electric or electronic component by manipulation of an ignition key; and a control unit configured to receive a signal from the parking position switch unit and a signal from the ignition switch unit and to determine whether the ignition key is to be locked by a key interlock unit based on the signals of the parking position switch unit and the ignition switch unit. | 12-03-2009 |
20100022349 | Key Interlock System of Vehicle Equipped with Automatic Transmission - A key interlock system of a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission satisfies a condition of a key interlock system that allows a shift lever | 01-28-2010 |
20100184562 | AUTOMATIC STOP/START CONTROLLER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A controller stops a fuel injection when a vehicle is in a specified decelerate condition where the vehicle likely stops and an automatic stop requirement is generated. An input shaft and an output shaft of a shift transmission mechanism are directly connected with each other through a direct connector so that a driving power is transmitted from an engine to a driving shaft through a power transmitter which permits a sliding between an input shaft and an output shaft thereof. When a restart requirement is generated before the vehicle is completely stopped, the engine is restarted under a condition where the input shaft and the output shaft of the shift transmission mechanism are connected with each other by a direct connector. When the restart requirement is not generated before the vehicle is completely stopped, the input shaft and the output shaft are disconnected when the vehicle is completely stopped. | 07-22-2010 |
20110053735 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ENGINE DURING A RESTART - Various systems and methods are described for controlling an engine in a vehicle, the engine being coupled to a transmission. One example method comprises, under selected braking conditions, shutting-off the engine and spinning-down the engine to rest while the vehicle is traveling, and in response to a foot-off-brake event, restarting the engine by at least partially engaging the transmission and adjusting engine torque control actuators. | 03-03-2011 |
20110275478 | OPERATION METHOD FOR AT LEAST ONE FORM-LOCKING SHIFTING ELEMENT OF AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEFORE START-UP OF AN COMBUSTION ENGINE - A method of operating at least one form-locking shifting element of an automatic transmission integrated in a drivetrain which comprises an oil pump that can be driven mechanically by an internal combustion engine and an auxiliary oil pump that can be electrically driven, before start-up of the internal combustion engine. The method including the steps of recognizing the start-up of the combustion engine and, when a start-up of the combustion engine is recognized, controlling the electrically driven auxiliary oil pump and the at least one form-locking shifting element such that, directly after the generation of a defined rotational speed difference of the at least one form-locking shifting element by the internal combustion engine, the at least one form-locking shifting element is engaged. | 11-10-2011 |
20120231927 | DRIVER SELECTABLE LOW SPEED MODE FOR DISABLING STOP/START TECHNOLOGY - A driver controllable low speed mode for a stop/start technology-equipped vehicle. The vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine with stop/start technology having an engine controller, a transmission connected to the internal combustion engine, and a shifter connected to the transmission and the engine controller. The shifter is operable to place the transmission into one of a plurality of operating modes, the operating modes including at least a low speed mode wherein stop/start technology is disabled. The engine controller is operable to detect vehicle operation above a speed or acceleration threshold and cause an audible chime or message to be played or a visual cue displayed to prompt the driver to deactivate the low speed mode. The engine controller is further operable to detect a sustained acceleration attempt when the transmission is in low speed mode and to disable low speed mode for a predetermined period of time upon this detection. | 09-13-2012 |
20120316030 | IGNITION CONTROL TYPE AUTO LEVER DEVICE - An ignition control type auto lever device may disclose shift mode control signals for P(parking)-R(rear)-N(neutral)-D(drive) that are generated by movement of an auto lever according to a gate pattern, another mode control signal that is generated by movement of the auto lever to a section behind the D(drive), and electric signals generated by at least one or more different operations of the auto lever at a section positioned ahead of the P(parking) position that are sent to a PIC (Personal Identification Card) system. | 12-13-2012 |
20130040780 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE STARTING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - A method for startup control of a motor vehicle whose drive train comprises a drive engine built as a turbo-charged internal combustion engine, an automated friction clutch, and an automatic stepped transmission, with a startup which is triggered by the activation of the gas pedal from the stationary state, after engagement of a determined startup gear. The driven engine, in conjunction with coordinated engagement of the friction clutch, is controlled from the idle speed to a startup speed and from the idle torque to a determined startup torque. To reduce the load on the friction clutch, the method provides that the lowest possible engine speed, which can be generated spontaneously under load from the idle speed depending on the dynamic operating characteristics of the drive engine and with which the drive engine can generate the determined startup torque, is determined and set as the startup speed. | 02-14-2013 |
20130040781 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A STARTING SPEED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE - A method for determining a startup gear in a motor vehicle for starting from standstill while maintaining a load limit of the clutch in a the drive train which comprises a drive engine built as an internal combustion engine, a friction clutch, and an automatic stepped transmission. To avoid overloading the clutch, the method determines a load-independent startup gear with which startup would occur under the present starting conditions without considering the current load state of the clutch and without complying with a load limit of the clutch. A load-specific startup gear is determined as the highest startup gear, with which during a startup under the present starting conditions, a predefined load limit of the clutch would be maintained with consideration given to the present load state of the clutch. The startup gear is the lowest of the load-independent startup gear and the at least one load-specific startup gear. | 02-14-2013 |
20130085035 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ENGINE THAT MAY BE AUTOMATICALLY STOPPED - A method for improving starting of an engine that may be repeatedly stopped and started is presented. In one embodiment, the method adjusts a transmission tie-up force in response to engine starting. The method may improve vehicle launch for stop/start vehicles. | 04-04-2013 |
20130143715 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STARTING AN ENGINE IN A HYBRID VEHICLE - A method and apparatus for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle being driven by an electric motor is disclosed. The motor is operably configured to deliver mechanical power through an automatic transmission to at least one vehicle drive wheel to cause an acceleration of the vehicle. The method involves coupling the engine to the motor to cause an inertial load on the motor thus causing the motor to decelerate to a reduced rotational speed to provide a starting torque to the engine for starting the engine, and causing the automatic transmission to change gear ratio to a target gear ratio associated with the reduced rotational speed while causing the motor to decelerate, the motor being operable to deliver increased torque at the reduced rotational speed, thereby generally maintaining the acceleration of the vehicle. | 06-06-2013 |
20140148308 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE DRIVE TRAIN DURING A STARTING PROCESS - A method of operating a vehicle drive-train during a starting process. The drive-train has a drive mechanism which can couple a continuously-variable power-branched transmission in which a plurality of transmission ratios can be engaged. The transmission ratios can be varied continuously by adjusting a variator, the transmission driving a drive output. A force flow between the drive mechanism and the drive output can be produced by a frictional shifting element by appropriately adjusting the transmission capacity of the shifting element. When a start command is issued, a starting transmission ratio is engaged in the area of the transmission device. During the engagement of the starting transmission ratio the transmission capacity of the frictional shifting element is adjusted to values greater than zero. | 05-29-2014 |
20140213413 | ENGINE RESTART STRATEGY - A method of controlling a vehicle, where the vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and a transmission having a neutral state and an engaged state, includes setting the state of the transmission. The state of the transmission is set as the neutral state or the engaged state based on a restart condition, where the restart condition is one of: (i) a no wheel torque restart condition, and (ii) a wheel torque restart condition. The method additionally includes starting the engine. | 07-31-2014 |
20140235406 | STOP-IN-PARK CONTROL FOR MICRO-HYBRID VEHICLES - A stop/start system of a micro-hybrid vehicle may selectively initiate an engine auto start in response to a PRNDL gear lever/transmission being moved/shifted out of DRIVE after an engine auto stop and a determination that the vehicle is located, for example, in an intersection or railroad crossing prior to the PRNDL gear lever/transmission being moved/shifted into REVERSE. | 08-21-2014 |
20140256509 | REMOTE START FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS - A remote start vehicle system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a remote start requester configured to request that the engine be started. The remote start requester is operable to request that the engine be started when the remote start requester is located outside of the vehicle. A control module is configured to cause the engine to be started upon request from the remote start requester. A sensor assembly is configured to sense a neutral gear state of the transmission, where the neutral gear state indicates whether the transmission is in neutral. The sensor assembly is configured to communicate the neutral gear state to the control module. The control module is configured to prevent the engine from being started if the neutral gear state indicates that the transmission is not in neutral. A method of remotely starting an engine is also provided. | 09-11-2014 |
20140323269 | VEHICLE ENGINE-STARTING DEVICE - An engine-starting device for a vehicle having an engine, a parking lock mechanism and an automatic transmission, the engine-starting device being provided with a drive plate connected to a crankshaft of said engine, an electric motor having a pinion selectively engageable with the drive plate, and an actuator device configured to move said pinion to an engaging position for engagement with said drive plate to start said engine, comprises: said parking lock mechanism having a manual shaft selectively switchable between a rotation permitting position for permitting a rotary motion of an output shaft of said automatic transmission, and a parking lock position for inhibiting the rotary motion of the output shaft; and said actuator device being configured to move said pinion between said engaging position and a non-engaging position for disengagement from said drive plate, said electric motor being connected to said manual shaft to rotate the manual shaft from one of said rotation permitting position and said parking lock position to the other, when said pinion is located at said non-engaging position by said actuator device. | 10-30-2014 |
20140357449 | Process for Preparing a Defined Starting Operation Selectable By the Driver - A process is provided for preparing a defined starting operation of a motor vehicle selectable by the driver, having a starting element arranged between an engine and a transmission. In the event of a maximal power demand by the driver and in the event of the selection of the defined starting operation by an electronic control unit, the rotational speed or the torque of the engine is set to a specified value, wherein the specified value is automatically determined by the electronic control unit as function of a determined friction parameter, by which at least one relative prediction concerning the transmissible drive torque to he expected for the acceleration operation can be made, such that, by use of the specified during the starting and acceleration operation following the preparation, the maximally possible drive torque is achieved for the best possible acceleration. The friction parameter is determined as a function of a state variable determined during a preceding defined starting operation, which state variable influences the occurring drive torque. | 12-04-2014 |
20150119196 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A DRIVETRAIN OF A MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A FREE-WHEELING ENGINE-OFF FUNCTION, CONTROL DEVICE AND MOTOR VEHICLE - A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, automatic transmission and at least one drive axle, is disclosed wherein in order to save fuel during the driving mode when the accelerator pedal is not activated a clutch device which is associated with the automatic transmission is opened and subsequently the internal combustion engine is shut down. When the accelerator pedal is activated again the internal combustion engine is started and in the automatic transmission the highest possible gear speed for the reconnection is firstly selected and so that the revving up time of the engine rotational speed is as short as possible, with the result that the necessary drive torque which is generated by the internal combustion engine can be made available at the drive axle as quickly as possible. | 04-30-2015 |