A starter system for start up of a combined heat and power unit comprising a generator which is connectable to the grid. The starter system comprises a variable frequency drive, VFD, operable to receive power from the grid. The VFD reduces the frequency of the power, and provides the reduced-frequency power to the generator to start the generator. The starter system further comprises a bypass relay configured to bypass the VFD. The bypass relay allows direct connection between the grid and the generator after the generator has started. The variable frequency drive is configured to operate temporarily during start up of the combined heat and power unit.

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 system for a controller area network (CAN) transceiver of a motor vehicle including a main power supply, the main power supply being unregulated, a secondary power supply set above a minimum operating voltage of the CAN transceiver, the secondary power supply being regulated, a first diode, the first diode allowing the main power supply to power the CAN transceiver, a second diode, the second diode allowing the secondary power supply to power the CAN transceiver, wherein when the main power supply has a low cranking voltage below a normal operating voltage range, the first diode is reverse bias and the second diode is forward bias at the low cranking voltage, the secondary power supply powers the CAN transceivers at the low cranking voltage, thereby allowing the CAN transceiver to remain ON at the low cranking voltage.

Methods and apparatus for controlling the ramp in of current to an electronic power assisted steering motor associated with an auto stop-start engine are described. A controller is to determine a moving average voltage of a vehicle battery. The controller is also to determine a voltage rate of change based on the moving average voltage. The controller is also to determine a moving average engine speed of an auto stop-start engine of the vehicle. The controller is also to ramp in current to an electronic power assisted steering motor of the vehicle based on the moving average voltage, the voltage rate of change, and the moving average engine speed.

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 system for a vehicle having an engine and a battery includes a memory and a controller. The memory has a predicted current expected to be provided by the battery for restarting the engine during a cranking event. The controller is configured to predict a minimum voltage of the battery expected during the cranking event based on the predicted current and to update the predicted current in the memory as a function of the predicted current and an actual current actually provided by the battery for restarting the engine during the cranking event.

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 step-down circuit is connected to an output of a step-up circuit that steps up a battery voltage, and an output of the step-down circuit is connected to a power supply input terminal of a CPU via an FET. The step-down circuit is normally maintained in an inactive state and, in response to an ignition switch being turned off, the CPU causes the step-down circuit to actuate and a stepped-down voltage (equal to a stabilized voltage) is output from the step-down circuit. The stepped-down voltage is further stepped down to a CPU power supply voltage, and the CPU power supply voltage is supplied to the power supply input terminal of the CPU. This allows the residual charge of the step-up circuit to be dissipated by the step-down circuit and the CPU.

A system for a vehicle having an engine and a battery includes a memory and a controller. The memory has a first current expected to be provided by the battery for restarting the engine during a warm cranking event and a second current expected to be provided by the battery for restarting the engine during a cold cranking event. The controller to predict a first minimum voltage of the battery expected during the warm cranking event based on the first current and a second minimum voltage of the battery expected during the cold cranking event based on the second current.

A starter battery voltage step-up device (LPF) intended to prevent a drop in the battery voltage (Vbat) produced by a current surge in a power circuit of the starter when the starter is powered on. The device comprises a casing of magnetic material (C, YO, CM, CM), a primary winding circuit (W1) intended to be inserted in series in the power circuit, and a short-circuited secondary winding circuit (W2), in which the primary winding circuit (W1) and/or the secondary winding circuit (W2) comprises a winding formed by at least one flat conductor (3) wound on edge. The invention also relates to the corresponding combination (1) of a starter and a voltage step-up device.