A micro-auxiliary power unit for supplying electric power to a vehicle includes a thermal resistant enclosure having an intake duct for receiving air, and a source of fuel. A fuel valve is fluidly coupled from the enclosure, and the fuel valve is movable between an opened position and a closed position. The micro-auxiliary power unit includes a Wankel engine to drive an output shaft and a starter-generator coupled to the output shaft to generate electric power. The micro-auxiliary power unit includes a system that has at least one sensor disposed within the enclosure that observes a condition of the enclosure and generates sensor signals, and a controller having a processor that receives the sensor signals, determines the presence of a thermal event within the enclosure and based on the determination, outputs one or more control signals to the fuel valve to move the fuel valve to the closed position.

An internal combustion engine (ICE) includes a crankshaft, a cylinder head defining in part a variable combustion chamber of the ICE, a direct fuel injector mounted on the cylinder head, a power source, an electric turning machine (ETM) rotating the crankshaft, an absolute position sensor providing an indication of an angular position of a rotor of the ETM, and an engine control unit (ECU) operatively connected to the absolute position sensor. The ECU controls a delivery of electric power from the power source to the ETM based on the angular position of the rotor of the ETM and causes the direct fuel injector to inject fuel directly in the combustion chamber at a time selected based on the angular position reached by the rotor of the ETM.

A method for controlling delivery of electric power between a power source and an electric turning machine (ETM) comprises applying a start signal to a start-up power electronic switch to cause turning on of the start-up power electronic switch and to allow delivery of electric power from the power source to the ETM via the start-up power electronic switch. A recharge signal is applied to a run-time power electronic switch to cause turning on of the run-time power electronic switch for delivery of electric power from the ETM to the power source via the run-time power electronic switch. A circuit comprises a discharging circuit including the start-up power electronic switch for delivering the electric power when the start-up power electronic switch is turned on. A charging circuit includes the run-time power electronic switch for delivering the electric power when the run-time power electronic switch is turned on.

A DC power plant generating DC power from a variety of engines including a Stirling cycle engine. The DC power plant includes a relatively small start-up power source that is discontinued after the engine is running. A method for producing DC power for a load including starting up an engine using power supplied by a relatively small power supply supplemented by a capacitor bank, providing output from the engine to a generator, producing alternating current (AC) power by the generator, converting the AC power to direct current (DC) power, disabling output of the DC power during a first set of pre-selected conditions, limiting a rate of change of current of the DC power during a second set of pre-selected conditions, reducing conducted and radiated emissions of the DC power, disconnecting the DC power from the load under a third set of pre-selected conditions, and providing the DC power to the load.

A method and system for controlling a stop rotation position of an engine is described. In one example, the system includes an integrated starter/generator that may be selectively coupled to the engine. The integrated starter/generator may rotate the engine in a first direction (e.g., reverse direction) or a second direction (e.g., a forward direction) in response to a position at which the engine stops rotating following cessation of combustion in the engine.

A performance testing system including an engine, a starter under test that is configured to start the engine, and a motor configured to generate power transferred to the engine to run the engine after the engine is started by the starter.

A power system with an electric rotating machine providing an operation of power generation and power running, a switching circuit providing electricity for each phase, by switching a plurality switching elements ON/OFF by the electric rotating machine, a battery section connected to the switching circuit, and switches on electrical pathway, between the switching circuit and the battery section. A power shutoff section to shutoff an electrical pathway when an overcurrent flows in, at least one of the electric rotating machine and the switching circuit. Power control devices are provided with an overcurrent determination which determines that an overcurrent has occurred, based on results of, a first determination that determines a current flow has increased to a predetermined over current threshold, and a second determination that determines that current flow has decreased thereafter, and a switch control that switches the switches open based on a determined result of the overcurrent determination.

A torque transfer device is provided, for a powertrain of a motor vehicle, comprising an electric motor having a stator and a rotor rotatable relative thereto. A control system is provided which can output a current pulse to the electric motor, wherein the current pulse effects a rotary motion of the rotor in a first direction of rotation and through a first angle of rotation and thus effects an induced voltage, which is received by the control system to determine the direction of rotation or the rotary position of the rotor in relation to the stator. The rotor is connected to a torsional vibration damper comprising a damper input and a damper output; rotatable in a limited manner in relation to the damper input, against the effect of energy storage elements, and the rotary motion of the rotor causes a relative rotation between the damper input and the damper output.

A starter assembly includes a multi-phase brushless electric motor including a stator, a rotor disposed on a rotatable shaft, and a motor endcap disposed at a first end of the stator. An electronic commutator assembly includes a sensing circuit, a control electronics subassembly, a power electronics subassembly and a heat sink. The sensing circuit is disposed adjacent to the second end of the rotatable shaft. The control electronics subassembly, the power electronics subassembly and the heat sink are disposed on disk-shaped devices arranged in a stacked configuration orthogonal to the axis defined by the rotatable shaft. The control electronics subassembly is disposed adjacent to the sensing circuit, and the power electronics subassembly is disposed adjacent to the control electronics subassembly. The control electronics subassembly is interposed between the power electronics subassembly and the sensing circuit. The heat sink is disposed adjacent to the power electronics subassembly.

A control apparatus for an electric vehicle includes a first motor (traveling motor) for traveling, a battery (high-voltage battery), a second motor (generator motor) for electricity generation, an engine (rotary engine), a first controller (engine ECU), a second controller (motor ECU), and a sensor (voltage-current sensor). The second controller is configured to start the engine by causing the second motor to perform power running, cause the second motor to perform electricity generation driving such that the battery is charged, and adjust a stop position of the engine by causing the second motor to perform power running subsequently to a stop of the engine by the first controller in a case where a state of charge of the battery becomes high and the second motor finishes the electricity generation driving.