A method and apparatus is proposed for controlling the electrical connection and disconnection between a battery unit and a supercapacitor on an automobile with the objective of preventing the electrical connection between the battery unit and the supercapacitor from being exceedingly long that would otherwise cause degraded power supply performance or even damage to the battery unit due to the self-discharging property of the supercapacitor. This feature can help to improve the power supply performance and extends the battery life. The proposed method and apparatus is characterized by the steps that the supercapacitor is electrically connected to the battery unit only at a temporal point when there is a need to use the supercapacitor, and immediately disconnected from the supercapacitor whenever there is no more need to use the supercapacitor.

A multiple wired input/output device provides generated battery or regulated voltage outputs with adjustable turn-on and turn-off timing with sequence priority to engine running status. Separate aftermarket audio components, or a combination of aftermarket audio and non-audio related components are activated and deactivated in appropriate order for a variety of installation applications. One or more switched battery voltage inputs override the sequence priority of generated battery or regulated voltage output(s) in relation to engine running status, order or duration.

A method for managing the power supply of an electronic control unit during the engine starting phase of a motor vehicle, the electronic control unit including a microcontroller, wherein a command to start the engine indicating the start of the starting phase is detected; the frequency of operation of the microcontroller is reduced; this reduced frequency of operation of the microcontroller is maintained for as long as effective starting of the engine has not been acknowledged; and the frequency of operation of the microcontroller is re-established once effective starting of the engine has been acknowledged.

A starter system including a motor, a solenoid assembly having a solenoid switch, a pinion rotated by the motor and moveable into an engaging position in which an engine may be cranked and the solenoid switch is closed to energize the motor from an electric power source, and relay switch regulated by a controller and closed to apply electrical power to the solenoid assembly for actuating the solenoid switch. The controller repeatedly opens and closes relay switch during a starting operation if sensed motor energization voltage monitored by the controller falls below a predetermined threshold level within a predetermined time period after electrical power is applied to the solenoid assembly, whereby electrical power applications to the solenoid assembly are automatically repeated during a starting operation to correct click-no-crank events and prevent prolonged power application to the solenoid assembly. A related method is also disclosed.

A method and apparatus is proposed for controlling the electrical connection and disconnection between a battery unit and a supercapacitor on an automobile with the objective of preventing the electrical connection between the battery unit and the supercapacitor from being exceedingly long that would otherwise cause degraded power supply performance or even damage to the battery unit due to the self-discharging property of the supercapacitor. This feature can help to improve the power supply performance and extends the battery life. The proposed method and apparatus is characterized by the steps that the supercapacitor is electrically connected to the battery unit only at a temporal point when there is a need to use the supercapacitor, and immediately disconnected from the supercapacitor whenever there is no more need to use the supercapacitor.

A method for controlling starting of a vehicle upon a failure of a camshaft position sensor includes performing a fuel injection and ignition at a particular timing for starting an engine of the vehicle; measuring a battery voltage of the vehicle after the performing of the fuel injection and ignition for starting the engine; and when the battery voltage rises over a predetermined value, determining that the fuel injection and the ignition are performed at a normal timing.

A circuit for compensating for low battery voltage available to power a load includes a power source, an inductor electrically coupled to the power source, a first switch configured to control current flow from the power source to the inductor, and a first diode connecting a first supply rail to the inductor. The circuit also includes a second switch configured to electrically connect the anode of a second diode to the inductor, with the cathode of the second diode connected to a second supply rail. A controller is configured to cycle the first and second switches to achieve a desired voltage values at the first and second supply rails. The second supply rail is electrically connected to the load. The controller is configured to enable the second switch to switch to a closed state only when the voltage at the power source is below a first predetermined threshold voltage.

In at least some implementations, an ignition system for a combustion engine includes analog circuit components arranged to control ignition events at an engine speed below a first threshold of engine speed and a microprocessor to control ignition events at engine speeds higher than the first threshold. Hence, ignition can be controlled at lower engine cranking speeds to facilitate starting the engine at lower engine rotational speeds.

An electric starter system is usable with an engine and a power inverter module (PIM), e.g., of a powertrain. The starter system includes a poly phase/AC brushless starter motor connected to the PIM via an AC voltage bus and selectively connected to the engine during a requested engine start event. A sensor on the DC voltage bus outputs a signal indicative of a voltage level of the DC voltage bus. The controller executes a method using voltage stabilization logic having a proportional-integral (PI) torque control loop. Logic execution in response to the requested engine starting event causes the controller to control the starter motor, when the bus voltage exceeds a calibrated minimum voltage, using a starting torque determined via the control loop. The commanded starting torque limits inrush current to the starter motor such that the DC voltage bus remains above the minimum voltage.

System for driving motors for operating switching units, in particular for an electrical supply substation, comprising control units for controlling the motors, wherein the control unit comprises, to have only one of the motors in operation at a time, a device for managing the priority of operation of the motors which is provided with a first line, referred to as the parallel line, carrying a binary datum comprising a first state representative of the stopping of all of the motors and a second state representative of the operation of any one of the motors, to which the units are connected in parallel, the parallel line being connected to a device for preventing/allowing the starting of the motor of each of the units and a second line, referred to as the series line, to which the units are connected in series in an upstream/downstream chain, the series line constituting a means for preventing the operation of the motors downstream of the any one of the motors on detection of a signal for starting the any one of said motors, to which the units are connected in series, the series line being connected to a device for preventing the operation of the motor of each of the units.