A monitoring method includes, among other things, within a vehicle, providing a first electrical system with an auxiliary battery, and a second electrical system with a primary battery. The method further includes electrically coupling the first electrical system to the second electrical system, electrically loading the auxiliary battery and the primary battery, and comparing an electrical parameter of the auxiliary battery to a threshold value to assess a state of the auxiliary battery.

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).

A method and a system for operating an electric turning machine (ETM) operatively connected to an internal combustion engine (ICE) are disclosed. The ETM operates as a motor with a first control strategy and as a generator with a second control strategy, the second control strategy being distinct from the first control strategy. The system comprises an engine control unit adapted for controlling an operation of the ETM according to the first and second control strategies. Electric and assisted start procedures are available for starting the ICE by delivering electric power from a power source to the ETM which is co-axially mounted to a crankshaft of the ICE. Assisted start includes delivering the electric power to the ETM while a recoil starter is used to rotate the crankshaft. A manual start procedure is also available. The power source is charged by the ETM when the ICE is running.

An engine start control device for vehicles is capable of preventing a shortage of electric power when an engine is restarted. A controller restarts an engine if an executing condition for a hill start assist control process is satisfied while the engine is being temporarily stopped according to an idling stop control process. Braking forces according to the hill start assist control process are kept by a brake oil pressure module that is energized when supplied with electric power. Restarting conditions include a plurality of ordinary restarting conditions and a particular restarting condition by way of the executing condition for the hill start assist control process. A second predetermined time after the particular restarting condition is satisfied until the ACG starter motor is energized is longer than a predetermined time after the ordinary restarting conditions are satisfied until the ACG starter motor is supplied with electric power.

A method for operating an electric turning machine (ETM) operatively connected to an internal combustion engine (ICE) are disclosed. An engine control unit (ECU) controls the ETM to operate as a motor with a first control strategy and as a generator with a second control strategy. The second control strategy is distinct from the first control strategy. The ECU controls switching the operation of the ETM from the first control strategy to the second control strategy when a sensor senses that a rotational speed of the ICE is equal to or above a minimum revolution threshold.

A vehicle determines a first resistance of a starter motor and a starter cable connected thereto based at least in part on the first voltage of a power source. The vehicle determines a predicted minimum battery voltage based at least in part on the first resistance of the starter motor and the starter cable. The vehicle, in response to the predicted minimum battery voltage satisfying a threshold, enables a vehicle stop-start function, and, in response to the predicted minimum battery voltage failing to satisfy the threshold, disables the vehicle stop-start function.

A control apparatus controls rotating electrical machine which is applied to a vehicle in which an engine is automatically stopped in the case where predetermined automatic stop conditions are satisfied, and, the engine is automatically restarted in the case where predetermined restarting conditions are satisfied, the rotating electrical machine receiving supply of an exciting current from a transistor-chopper type exciting circuit in which a first pair of facing arms of a bridge circuit is configured with power transistors, and a second pair of arms is configured with diodes, and the rotating electrical machine having a power generation function based on rotational force of the engine. The control apparatus executes first grounding control in which, during automatic stop of the engine, among the first pair of arms, the power transistor connected on an earth side of the rotating electrical machine is put into an ON state.

A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to start the engine. The controller is programmed to pre-flux the electric machine with current that has a magnitude that changes as temperature of the engine changes within a predefined range.

A vehicle propulsion system includes an engine configured to be selectively activated to provide torque to propel the vehicle and a starter module coupled to the engine and configured to start the engine from an inactive state. The starter module includes a brushless electric machine to generate an output torque to crank start the engine. The starter motor also includes a pinion gear coupled to the electric machine, where the pinion gear is actuatable to selectively engage a cranking input of the engine. A controller assembly is programmed to cause actuation of the pinion gear to engage the cranking input of the engine and transfer a cranking torque to activate the engine.

An engine starting system is provided which is used with a vehicle equipped with a gear driving starter which is energized to bring a pinion gear into engagement with a ring gear of an engine mounted in the vehicle and also to rotate the pinion gear to crank the engine. The engine starting system works to terminate energization of the starter after the starter is energized to start the engine. The engine starting system executes combustion control to control combustion of fuel in the engine so as to develop a first firing event where the fuel is first fired in the engine after the energization of the starter is terminated. This minimizes the gear noise when the engine is being cranked and ensures the stability in starting the engine.