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 vehicle includes a first sensor, a second sensor, an engine, a fuel supplying device, and a control device. The control device includes a first sensor detecting unit, a second sensor detecting unit, a vehicle status detecting unit, and a control unit. The control unit is switchable among a regular state, a start-stop enabling state, and an idling-stop state. The control unit switches into the start-stop enabling state from the regular state once the control unit determines that the first sensor and the second sensor are both triggered. The control unit further switches into the idling-stop state and controls the fuel supplying device to stop supplying fuel once the control unit determines that the vehicle status meets an idling-stop condition.

The purpose of the present invention is to swiftly start up an engine in a range in which electrical equipment having electric power supplied thereto by a battery is not reset, even in cases when the battery is insufficiently charged and the battery is deteriorated. An engine start-up device according to the present invention starts up an engine by transmitting, to the engine, the rotary force of a direct-current motor driven by a battery. The engine start-up device is provided with: a battery-voltage acquisition unit for acquiring the battery voltage of the battery; a target-current-value calculation unit which calculates, on the basis of the battery voltage acquired by the battery-voltage acquisition unit, a target current value for a motor current to be supplied from the battery to the direct-current motor; and a motor-current control unit for controlling a switching element which is connected to the direct-current motor, and through which the motor current flows, such that the motor-current value of the motor current approaches the target current value.

A method for operating a vehicle that includes a DC/DC converter is described. In one example, the method includes adjusting an output voltage of the DC/DC converter after the DC/DC converter is used to crank an engine. The output voltage of the DC/DC converter may be adjusted responsive to a state of charge of an ultra-capacitor.

A vehicle equipped with an automatic stop/restart system for an internal combustion engine includes a hydraulic continuously variable transmission and a parking mechanism. The continuously variable transmission changes power of the internal combustion engine using hydraulic pressure boosted by rotational driving force of the internal combustion engine. The parking mechanism holds the vehicle stationary by locking, with a locking member, the rotation of a power transmitting member between the internal combustion engine and driving wheels when a shift position is in a parking range. In an automatic stop state of the internal combustion engine, when the shift position is in the parking range and brakes are turned off, an electronic control unit executes restart if an inclination angle of the vehicle is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and maintains the automatic stop state if the inclination angle is smaller than the predetermined value.

Engine systems which are easier starting and more resistant to degradation and discharge of their batteries are desirable in a wide range of equipment markets. The present engine systems utilize a selection module which selective switches from a first state when the battery is adequately charged to a second state which enables the use of auxiliary components such as special starting stators and regulators which can power the engine control module even when the battery is too discharged to power the engine control module directly.

Methods, apparatus and systems for reducing engine idling of fuel-driven equipment, for example found on a wellsite and/or including hydraulic pumping systems are provided. In particular, systems and methods are provided for controlling the starting and shutdown of equipment powered by a fuel-driven engine, the system comprising of an energy accumulator comprising or consisting of one or more supercapacitors. The transmission, transmission fluid, or other components can be warmed to prolong time between engine restarts.

A vehicle control apparatus to be mounted on a vehicle including an engine includes an electric motor, an electricity storage device, and a motor controller. The electric motor is coupled to the engine and generates motor power. The electricity storage device is coupled to the electric motor through a power supply cable. The motor controller causes execution of an assistance mode. The assistance mode includes controlling the electric motor to a powering state to transmit the motor power to the engine in operation. The motor controller permits the execution of the assistance mode on the condition that a rotation speed of the electric motor is lower than a threshold. The motor controller prohibits the execution of the assistance mode on the condition that the rotation speed of the electric motor is higher than the threshold.

Disclosed is a vehicle capable of efficiently managing a battery. The vehicle includes the battery, a battery sensor configured to sense an output voltage and an output current of the battery, and a power management device configured to control charging of the battery based on a state of charge (SoC) of the battery. The power management device may calculate an estimated SoC of the battery based on the output current of the battery, calculate an actual SoC based on the output of a battery model corresponding to an input of the output voltage and the output current, and based on an error between the actual SoC and the estimated SoC, activate a power generation control, which controls a generator based on the SoC of the battery, and an idle stop & go (ISG), which turns off an engine during stopping of the vehicle.

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).