A vehicle control apparatus for a vehicle provided with an engine and an electric motor includes a vehicle state evaluator, an exit evaluator, a shutdown evaluator, and a request output unit. The vehicle state evaluator conducts a vehicle stop evaluation and a driving state evaluation on the engine. The vehicle state evaluator evaluates whether the vehicle is stopped in a ready-on state in the vehicle stop evaluation. The exit evaluator conducts an exit evaluation as to whether an exit of an occupant from the vehicle is detected. The shutdown evaluator conducts a shutdown evaluation as to whether a vehicle drive system is to be shut down based on the results of the vehicle stop evaluation, the driving state evaluation, and the exit evaluation. The request output unit outputs a request for shutting down the vehicle drive system based on the result of the shutdown evaluation.

The invention relates to a restarting method for automatically starting an internal combustion engine (2) of a motor vehicle (3) by means of a brake pedal actuation, comprising the following steps: detecting a brake pressure (p) by means of a brake pressure sensor (14); emitting a corresponding brake pressure signal sequence to a control device (13); determining a brake pressure profile (p.sub.pr) from the brake pressure signal sequence; determining a reference pressure value (p.sub.R) from the brake pressure profile; detecting a brake release status, wherein, with the release of a brake pedal, a brake pressure decrease (Δp) is detected based on the determined reference pressure value (p.sub.R), with said decrease exceeding a pressure decrease limit value (Δp.sub.G); emitting a starting signal (S.sub.WS) to a starter (15) for starting the internal combustion engine (2), if the brake release status has been detected. The invention also relates to a restarting assembly for a motor vehicle (1) for carrying out a method of this type.

A control device for an automatic transmission includes a parking lock mechanism configured to lock/unlock rotation of a power transmission shaft by setting a parking rod at locked/unlocked position when the automatic transmission is in a parking range or in other ranges, a parking drive mechanism configured to set the parking rod at the unlocked position by supplying hydraulic pressure, a hydraulic pressure control valve configured to intercept the hydraulic pressure supply to the parking drive mechanism when power is supplied thereto, and supply the pressure when power is not supplied thereto, a regulating mechanism configured to regulate the movement of the parking rod at the locked position, and a controller configured to, when the parking rod is at the locked position, maintain supply of power to the valve, while an engine speed is higher than a given value, after power of a vehicle is turned OFF.

An idling stop control device includes an authenticator, a storage, a getting-off detector, and an engine restart permitter. The authenticator is installed in a vehicle, performs authentication via a wireless communication with a mobile device, and repeatedly performs, while the vehicle travels, an authentication operation at predetermined intervals. The storage stores result and time of authentication as the authentication history during travel. The engine restart permitter determines permission or prohibition of restart of the engine in accordance with the authentication history and getting-off information, permits restart of the engine when the authentication is successful and permits, in a case where the authentication fails, restart of the engine when a history of success of authentication has been stored in the storage during travel and the getting-off is not detected after the authentication has been successful.

The invention relates to a restarting method for automatically starting an internal combustion engine (2) of a motor vehicle (3) by means of a brake pedal actuation, comprising the following steps: detecting a brake pressure (p) by means of a brake pressure sensor (14); emitting a corresponding brake pressure signal sequence to a control device (13); determining a brake pressure profile (p.sub.pr) from the brake pressure signal sequence; determining a reference pressure value (p.sub.R) from the brake pressure profile; detecting a brake release status, wherein, with the release of a brake pedal, a brake pressure decrease (p) is detected based on the determined reference pressure value (p.sub.R), with said decrease exceeding a pressure decrease limit value (p.sub.G); emitting a starting signal (S.sub.WS) to a starter (15) for starting the internal combustion engine (2), if the brake release status has been detected. The invention also relates to a restarting assembly for a motor vehicle (1) for carrying out a method of this type.

A vehicle control apparatus for a vehicle provided with an engine and an electric motor includes a vehicle state evaluator, an exit evaluator, a shutdown evaluator, and a request output unit. The vehicle state evaluator conducts a vehicle stop evaluation and a driving state evaluation on the engine. The vehicle state evaluator evaluates whether the vehicle is stopped in a ready-on state in the vehicle stop evaluation. The exit evaluator conducts an exit evaluation as to whether an exit of an occupant from the vehicle is detected. The shutdown evaluator conducts a shutdown evaluation as to whether a vehicle drive system is to be shut down based on the results of the vehicle stop evaluation, the driving state evaluation, and the exit evaluation. The request output unit outputs a request for shutting down the vehicle drive system based on the result of the shutdown evaluation.

Methods and systems are provided for enabling engine start/stop function in a vehicle with a detachable door. In one example, a method may include, adjusting an engine start/stop strategy responsive to a driver side door of the vehicle been detected to be absent. The adjustment to the start/stop strategy further may be modified based on a type of transmission system coupled to the vehicle.

An idling stop control device includes an authenticator, a storage, a getting-off detector, and an engine restart permitter. The authenticator is installed in a vehicle, performs authentication via a wireless communication with a mobile device, and repeatedly performs, while the vehicle travels, an authentication operation at predetermined intervals. The storage stores result and time of authentication as the authentication history during travel. The engine restart permitter determines permission or prohibition of restart of the engine in accordance with the authentication history and getting-off information, permits restart of the engine when the authentication is successful and permits, in a case where the authentication fails, restart of the engine when a history of success of authentication has been stored in the storage during travel and the getting-off is not detected after the authentication has been successful.

Methods and systems are provided for enabling engine start/stop function in a vehicle with a detachable door. In one example, a method may include, adjusting an engine start/stop strategy responsive to a driver side door of the vehicle been detected to be absent. The adjustment to the start/stop strategy further may be modified based on a type of transmission system coupled to the vehicle.

A remote vehicle starter system for vehicles with manual transmission with improved safeguards for preventing the vehicles from being remotely started while the manual transmission is in gear. The remote vehicle starter system for vehicles with manual transmission may also include additional safeguards to prevent the vehicles from being remotely started when there is a risk that the vehicle may move upon being remotely started, such as when the door has been opened after the vehicle has been placed in state safe for remote start.