A method of controlling a mild hybrid electric vehicle may include determining whether a Smart Cruise Control (SCC) mode is set according to a signal input through a driver interface; determining whether an Start Stop Control (SSC) entrance condition is satisfied when the SCC mode is set; when the SSC entrance condition is determined by the control unit, to be satisfied to enter an SSC mode, interrupting a supply of fuel to an engine and turning off the engine; monitoring a distance in which the control unit determines whether a distance to a front vehicle is increased or decreased based on a front distance signal transmitted from a detecting unit electrically-connected to the control unit; and increasing or decreasing a vehicle speed by controlling the engine, a Mild Hybrid Starter Generator (MHSG), or an Electronic Stability Control (ESC) based on the monitoring of the distance.

Systems and methods for operating an engine that may be selectively automatically stopped and started are described. In one example, the method adjusts an amount of time that the engine may be inhibited from automatically stopping based on driver inputs such as driver demand pedal position, vehicle speed, and braking torque.

A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes a plurality of engine starting devices and an internal combustion engine is described. In one example, the method selects one of a plurality of engine starting devices to start an engine based on durability metrics of each of the plurality of engine starting devices. In addition, engine starting device selection may be based on calibration parameters that are generated via a server that is external to the vehicle.

A vehicle idling stop control device has switches that detect an operation of opening a driver's door and an unbuckling of a driver's seat belt as disembarkation operations by a driver. When a disembarkation operation performed by the driver is detected during an idling stop, the idling stop is cancelled and the engine is restarted upon detecting a disembarkation operation performed by a driver during the idling stop. Also, restarting of the idling stop is prevented due to ending of the disembarkation operation performed by the driver until after the vehicle starts traveling. Thus, unnecessary automatic stopping and automatic restarting of the engine are thereby avoided when the vehicle sets off without the driver actually exiting the vehicle.

Systems and methods for determining whether to use engine start-stop systems during trail or other off-road driving are provided. Systems and methods may utilize various vehicle sensors (e.g., lidar, forward-facing cameras, accelerometers, sonar sensors, etc.) to detect when it is appropriate to command engine stop for fuel economy while driving off-road. To determine appropriateness, the vehicle may evaluate obstacles, ground clearance, and/or vehicle inclination. A method may include measuring accelerations/inclinations of a vehicle, comparing an acceleration value of each acceleration to an acceleration threshold, and disabling a start-stop system of the vehicle based on at least one acceleration value exceeding the acceleration threshold. A system may include an accelerometer configured to measure accelerations of a vehicle, and a logic device configured to compare an acceleration value of each acceleration to an acceleration threshold, and disable a start-stop system based on at least one acceleration value exceeding the acceleration threshold.

The present disclosure describes a method of forming an intermediate spacer structure between a gate structure and a source/drain (S/D) contact structure and removing a top portion of the intermediate spacer structure to form a recess. The intermediate spacer structure includes a first spacer layer, a second spacer layer, and a sacrificial spacer layer between the first spacer layer and the second spacer layer. The method further includes removing the sacrificial spacer layer to form an air gap between the first spacer layer and the second spacer layer and spinning a dielectric layer on the air gap, the first spacer layer, and the second spacer layer to fill in the recess and seal the air gap. The dielectric layer includes raw materials for a spin-on dielectric material.

The present invention relates to a method of controlling a vehicle. The method comprises stopping (12) an engine (2) of the vehicle (1) when a speed of the vehicle (1) is greater than or equal to a speed threshold, and inhibiting (17) starting of the engine (2) if the speed of the vehicle (1) falls below the speed threshold and a driver demand for braking force is less than or equal to a braking force threshold. Further aspects of the invention relate to a control system, a system and a vehicle.

A method of controlling engine restart may include selecting, by a start controller, a first start situation and a second start situation for restarting an engine; determining a current possible start-up through the first and second start situations; prioritizing possible start-ups; and attempting to restart the engine by setting the first and second start situations as first start control and second start control, respectively, based on the priorities of the start-ups.

A method for controlling a start of a vehicle using a controller includes: determining whether revolutions per minute (RPM) of an engine is within a reference range when start of the vehicle is requested; determining whether state data for controlling the vehicle satisfies a control condition for controlling a start of the vehicle when RPM of the engine is within the reference range; determining whether a position value of an accelerator pedal is less than or equal to a reference position value when the state data satisfies the control condition; determining whether a speed of the vehicle is greater than or equal to a reference speed when the position value of the accelerator pedal is less than or equal to the reference position value; and controlling a brake device when speed of the vehicle is greater than or equal to the reference speed.

A method for exiting from a recuperation phase in a parallel hybrid vehicle includes, in a first step, the vehicle is in a recuperation phase, started by means of a trigger, with a predefined recuperation driving demand, and, in a second step, the electric machine is brought to an increased rotational speed during the recuperation phase. In a third step, a phase for departing from the recuperation phase is started by means of a trigger, wherein, in this phase, the internal combustion engine is made available for coupling to the electric machine, such that a target rotational speed determined between the internal combustion engine to be connected and the electric machine for the connection to the transmission input is set, and in parallel, by means of an upshift, a highest possible gear ratio for the connection to the drivetrain is set, in order to satisfy a present driving demand. In a fourth step, the departure from the recuperation phase is completed.