A vehicle control system (VCS) in a passenger compartment interfaces with underhood components using a Bluetooth® link. The underhood components include a siren assembly with a sound generator and backup battery. The battery enables the siren assembly to function after the vehicle's battery is disabled. The siren assembly includes a Bluetooth® transceiver for establishing the link with the VCS. The siren assembly monitors the hood of the vehicle through a hood sensor, to detect unauthorized opening. In response to such opening, the siren assembly transmits an alarm to the VCS, which transmits an alarm to a user's mobile device and/or a security service. The sound generator may also be activated, by itself or under control of the VCS. The siren assembly connects to the engine computer/ignition module, to allow the VCS to monitor engine speed, and facilitate proper start of the engine when the VCS receives a remote start command.

A method of controlling an engine and a transmission of a vehicle includes: determining, by a controller, whether the engine is restarted after releasing the vehicle's SSC (Start & Stop coasting) or whether the vehicle is accelerating during NCC (Neutral Coasting control), determining an RPM and gear stage of the transmission if it is determined that the engine is restarted after releasing the vehicle's SSC or the vehicle is accelerating during NCC, determining a mild hybrid starter and generator (MHSG) target RPM and an MHSG target RPM gradient of the vehicle, performing, by the controller, MHSG RPM control of the vehicle to follow the MHSG target RPM and the MHSG target RPM gradient, determining whether the MHSG RPM slips compared to the MHSG target RPM, and performing proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control to follow the MHSG target RPM if the MHSG RPM slips compared to the MHSG target RPM.

A control device for a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, a motor, and a clutch provided between the internal combustion engine and the motor includes a first start control unit that starts the internal combustion engine without causing the motor to perform cranking, and a second start control unit that starts the internal combustion engine by causing the motor to perform cranking. After the first start control unit performs start control of the internal combustion engine, the second start control unit starts the internal combustion engine when a crank shall of the internal combustion engine stops for a predetermined time or longer or the crank shaft rotates in an opposite direction to the direction of the cranking.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a controller for a starter motor operable to receive a first input indicative of an engine shutdown being required, a second input indicative of a change-of-mind event having occurred after initiation of engine shutdown and a third input indicative of the engine position. After receipt of the first input the controller is operable to monitor the third input and to determine an expected engine rotation direction indicative of the expected rotation direction of the engine after a predetermined delay. If the expected engine rotation direction is positive and the second input is received then the controller is configured to control the output means to cause the starter motor of the engine to be actuated upon receipt of the second input. If the expected engine rotation direction is negative and the second input is received then the controller is configured to delay controlling the output means to cause the starter motor of the engine to be actuated until a determination is made that the expected rotation direction is positive. Advantageously, the controller calculates the expected engine rotation direction before receipt of the input indicative of the change-of-mind event having occurred, thereby reducing the time required to determine whether or not the starter motor can be actuated.

Systems and methods for preventing activation of a starter when engine speed is above a threshold engine speed value are disclosed. In examples, an engine driven power system includes an engine and a current transformer to generate an induced current in response to an excitation current from an excitation circuit. As the excitation current is induced in response to rotational movement of the engine, the excitation current and the induced current exhibits characteristics corresponding to engine speed. A control circuit receives a signal from the current transformer representing characteristics representative of engine speed and determines the engine speed, compares the characteristics to a list of values that correlates current characteristics to engine speed, compare a list of threshold engine speed values to the calculated engine speed value, and prevents activation of an engine starter if the control circuitry determines that the engine speed exceeds the threshold engine speed value.

Methods and systems are provided for restarting an engine following an engine idle-stop. In one example, a method may include, following a first unsuccessful engine restart attempt, prompting a driver, via a human machine interface (HMI) to apply a brake pedal and upon application of the brake pedal, carrying out one or more restart attempts. If the driver does not apply the brake pedal within the threshold duration, the driver may be prompted to manually restart the engine.

An engine starter apparatus includes a starter motor, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the starter motor, a light source integrated with the starter motor, and a controller operatively connected to the temperature sensor and the light source. The controller is configured to illuminate the light source in a first color in response to the temperature of the starter motor exceeding a first temperature threshold. The controller is configured to illuminate the light source further in a second color in response to the temperature of the starter motor exceeding a second temperature threshold. The second temperature threshold is greater than the first temperature threshold. The first and second color are different. The second temperature threshold corresponds to a life limit of the starter motor. Illumination of the light source indicates an overheated starter motor, which may warrant a replacement of the starter motor.

A method of controlling engine restart may include selecting, by a start controller, a first start situation and a second start situation for restarting an engine; determining a current possible start-up through the first and second start situations; prioritizing possible start-ups; and attempting to restart the engine by setting the first and second start situations as first start control and second start control, respectively, based on the priorities of the start-ups.

A battery starting and charging system that monitors battery and other sensor readings; tracks vehicle state, determines a charging voltage based on battery temperature and vehicle state; sets the alternator to charge the battery with the charging voltage; determines current collected parameters based on the battery and other sensor readings; and makes vehicle start predictions based on the current collected parameters. The system can also determine whether the vehicle actually started; add the current collected parameters to a set of start events if it started, and to a set of no-start events if it didn't start. The start prediction can also be based on the sets of start and no-start events for one or multiple vehicles. The collected parameters and start predictions can also be based on collected weather data. The system can use a local interconnect network (LIN) alternator with a LIN network.

A method for controlling a start of a vehicle using a controller includes: determining whether revolutions per minute (RPM) of an engine is within a reference range when start of the vehicle is requested; determining whether state data for controlling the vehicle satisfies a control condition for controlling a start of the vehicle when RPM of the engine is within the reference range; determining whether a position value of an accelerator pedal is less than or equal to a reference position value when the state data satisfies the control condition; determining whether a speed of the vehicle is greater than or equal to a reference speed when the position value of the accelerator pedal is less than or equal to the reference position value; and controlling a brake device when speed of the vehicle is greater than or equal to the reference speed.