The invention relates to a method for cranking an internal combustion engine, including the steps of: (a) receiving a start signal; (b) determining an initial position of the rotor with respect to a stator phase winding; (c) applying a pulse-width-modulated signal to the stator winding corresponding to determined initial position of the rotor; (d) determining a threshold value of the stator current variation; (e) measuring current of the stator winding in response to applied pulse-width-modulated signal to determine current variation; (f) if current variation is more than the threshold value, determining updated rotor position, applying a pulse-width-modulated signal to the stator winding corresponding to the updated rotor position; and repeating steps (d)-(f); and (g) if current variation is less than the threshold value, applying a pulse-width-modulated signal to the stator winding corresponding to the last updated rotor position and repeating steps (d)-(g).

Systems and techniques for engine starter control may include determining a current speed band associated with an engine start for a current time increment, determining a previous speed band associated with the engine start for a previous time increment within the engine start, receiving a measured current value, determining a target current value based on the current speed band, the previous speed band, whether an acceleration or deceleration occurred between the current speed band and the previous speed band, and a mode of a system for engine starter control, and adjusting a current for the engine start based on the target current value.

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.

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.

A controller executes a first restarting process when restarting of an engine is requested under a condition where an engine speed is less than a determination speed. In the first restarting process, cranking of the engine is performed by a motor generator in a state in which the motor generator is connected to a crankshaft through engagement of a clutch, and fuel injection and ignition are initiated in the engine when a combustion initiation condition is satisfied in this state. The controller executes a second restarting process when restarting of the engine is requested under a condition where the engine speed is greater than or equal to the determination speed. In the second restarting process, fuel injection and ignition are initiated in the engine, and the motor generator is connected to the crankshaft through engagement of the clutch after the engine has been restarted.

In an internal combustion engine, fuel injection is stopped to automatically stop the engine when automatic stop conditions are met. When there is a request to restart the engine while an engine speed is decreasing due to automatic stoppage, the engine is started by resuming fuel injection if the engine speed is equal to or greater than a combustion recoverable rotational speed threshold, at which restarting is possible only by fuel injection. When there is a request to restart the engine while an engine speed is decreasing due to automatic stoppage, the engine is started using a starter motor if the engine speed is less than the combustion recoverable rotational speed threshold. When there is a request to restart the engine in a brake ON state, the engine is not started by resuming fuel injection, but rotated and started using the starter motor.

A control device for a hybrid electric vehicle includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to perform a start-up control of shifting the connection and disconnection clutch to a coupled state at the time of starting the internal combustion engine to rotate the internal combustion engine by the driving torque of the electric motor, and starting the first fuel injection mode using the direct injection injector. The electronic control unit is configured to switch from the first fuel injection mode to a second fuel injection mode for using the port injector prior to an end of the start-up control when the number of times of combustion cycles of the internal combustion engine with the first fuel injection mode reaches a predetermined first target number of times.

A saddle riding vehicle includes an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft, a starter motor having a rotary shaft connected to the crankshaft, a main shaft connected to the crankshaft, a countershaft connected to the main shaft and configured to transmit power to a driving wheel, a battery configured to supply electric power to the starter motor, a rotation detector configured to detect a rotation state of the crankshaft, an acquisition part configured to acquire a rotational speed on the basis of the rotation state detected by the rotation detector, and a controller configured to stop the starter motor in a case the rotational speed is equal to or smaller than first threshold in a state in which the rotary shaft, the crankshaft, the main shaft and the countershaft are connected.

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.