A method for producing an active short circuit condition in an electric motor of a hybrid electric vehicle including a traction battery, an inverter having switches in communication with the electric motor and the traction battery, and an inverter controller in communication with the inverter and configured to generate driver signals to operate the switches to produce three-phase alternating current for the electric motor to drive a vehicle propulsion system or to produce direct current for charging the traction battery. The method includes determining an electric motor speed threshold, wherein the electric motor speed threshold is continuously variable, comparing a monitored speed to the speed threshold, and generating, in response to the monitored speed exceeding the speed threshold, driver signals to operate the switches to produce an active short circuit condition in the electric motor to prevent overcharging of the traction battery.

The disclosure is directed to a system and method for providing supplemental power to start one or more cranking motors. The supplemental starting system includes a starting-signal isolator configured to connect to one or more electrical starting-signal wires providing starting signal to one or more cranking motors, a resetting relay electrically connecting to the starting-signal isolator, a programmable logic controller (PLC) electrically connecting to the resetting relay, a supplemental battery relay electrically connecting to the starting-signal isolator and the PLC, a supplemental battery electrically connecting to the supplemental battery relay, and a positive output-terminal electrically connecting to the supplemental battery relay. When an output of the starting-signal isolator is higher than a threshold voltage, the resetting relay and the supplemental battery relay are configured to be in a close state, so that the supplemental starting system is configured to provide electricity to one of the one or more cranking motors.

A controller for a vehicle is configured to execute a lubricating oil degradation degree acquisition process that calculates a degradation degree of a lubricating oil that lubricates an internal combustion engine, a battery degradation degree acquisition process that calculates a degradation degree of a battery, and an oil change time calculation process that calculates an oil change time for the lubricating oil from the degradation degree of the lubricating oil and the degradation degree of the battery. The oil change time calculation process includes calculating the oil change time so as to become earlier as the degradation degree of the battery increases.

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.

A vehicle comprising an interior; a heat source in thermal communication with the interior; a source of ultraviolet light disposed to emit the ultraviolet light into the interior; and a controller in communication with the heat source and the source of the ultraviolet light, the controller configured to cause (i) the heat source to increase a temperature of the interior, (ii) the source of the ultraviolet light to emit the ultraviolet light into the interior, or (iii) both (i) and (ii) upon receiving a command from a remote user interface. The vehicle can further include a combustion engine that combusts fuel to propel the vehicle. The vehicle can further include a battery in electrical communication with the source of the ultraviolet light and in communication with the controller, the battery having a voltage.

A method for evaluating the compression of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle having an electric starter motor and a respective starting battery, comprising: start capturing the battery voltage signal when the starter motor stars to rotate the internal-combustion engine so as to initiate operation of the engine under its own power; cease capturing the battery voltage signal when the engine enters operation under its own power; process the captured voltage signal for the location of local minimums; calculate the time difference between consecutive local minimums; detect if there is a variation of time between the calculated differences higher than a predetermined threshold between any said calculated time differences; and, if there is such variation, signal a potential engine malfunction. Also provided is a device for accomplishing the foregoing.

A system for discharging or charging a capacitor of a hybrid vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a target state of charge (SOC) module and a capacitor charge/discharge module. The target SOC module determines a target state of charge of the capacitor based on a speed of the vehicle. The capacitor charge/discharge module determines whether a state of charge of a capacitor is greater than a target state of charge. The capacitor charge/discharge module dissipates power from the capacitor to at least one of a battery of the vehicle and an electrical load of the vehicle when the state of charge of the capacitor is greater than the target state of charge.

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 actuates a starter of an internal combustion engine by way of a starter relay. The starter relay is configured to supply the starter optionally with current via an on-board electrical system. The method has the following steps: determining an error status of the internal combustion engine; commencing repeated actuations of the starter relay; determining a current status of the internal combustion engine, wherein the current status of the internal combustion engine displays at least one error status or at least one operating status; and, if the current status displays at least one operating status, ending the repeated actuation of the starter relay, otherwise once again determining the current status. A system for actuating a starter of an internal combustion engine includes a control device, a power source, a starter relay, connected to the control device and configured to supply the starter of the internal combustion engine optionally with current from the power source via an on-board electrical system, wherein the control device is configured to carry out the method.

A battery booster for jumpstarting a vehicle having an external battery. The battery booster may include a processor, a set of terminal connectors, a power supply, and a power-management circuit. The set of terminal connectors may be configured to couple with the external battery or an engine that is electrically coupled with the external battery. The power supply may include a lithium battery configured to supply a starting current to jump start an engine. The external battery may have a first nominal voltage, while the lithium battery may have a second nominal voltage that is greater than the first nominal voltage. The power-management circuit operatively coupled with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to transfer power selectively between the external battery and the power supply. The processor is configured to perform a pre-charge function and/or a back-feed function via the power-management circuit, which may employ a pulse width modulation (PWM) driver.