A starter system for an internal combustion engine in a vehicle includes a starter (12), a voltage source (14) for supplying the starter (12) with electrical energy in a start operating state and a down converter (22). The down converter (22) provides a start operating voltage for the starter (12) in the start operating state by down-converting a supply voltage provided by the voltage source (14).

A system includes a vehicle having an engine, a first motor mechanically coupled to a shaft of the engine, a second motor configured to provide torque to the vehicle or the engine in combination with the first motor, and a first controller coupled to at least one of the first motor and the second motor, wherein the first controller is configured such that the first motor and the second motor provide a mechanical torque to rotate the shaft of the engine before the engine is running.

A starter system for an internal combustion engine in a vehicle includes a starter (12), a voltage source (14) for supplying the starter (12) with electrical energy in a start operating state and a down converter (22). The down converter (22) provides a start operating voltage for the starter (12) in the start operating state by down-converting a supply voltage provided by the voltage source (14).

An internal combustion engine has one or more combustion chambers defined by one of more cylinders, corresponding pistons, and a cylinder head. A crankshaft is operatively connected to the pistons and to an electric turning machine. To start the engine, the electric turning machine rotates the crankshaft in a first direction toward a reversal point corresponding to a local maximum drag torque of the internal combustion engine, this rotation being made without rotating the crankshaft beyond the reversal point. The electric turning machine then rotates the crankshaft in a second direction opposite from the first direction, a momentum impressed on the crankshaft by compression obtained when rotating in the first direction increasing a speed of the crankshaft in the second direction. Thereafter, fuel is injected in one of the combustion chambers in which the corresponding piston first reaches a top dead center position and the fuel is ignited.

An electrically cranked internal combustion engines, and particularly an internal combustion engine cranked using an electrical starter connected to a storage battery.

An electric starter system is used with an engine. The starter system may include a solenoid device coupled to a pinion gear, a brushless starter motor connectable to the engine via the pinion gear during a requested engine start event, and a controller. In response to the start event, when the engine speed is less than a threshold speed, the controller delivers a control current to the solenoid device at a peak current level sufficient for translating the pinion gear into contact with the flywheel. The control current is reduced to a holding current level less than the peak current level after the pinion gear is engaged with the flywheel. Motor torque is commanded from the starter motor, through the pinion gear, and to the flywheel while maintaining the holding current level, and held for a duration sufficient for starting the engine.

A system includes a vehicle having an engine, a first motor mechanically coupled to a shaft of the engine, a second motor configured to provide torque to the vehicle or the engine in combination with the first motor, and a first controller coupled to at least one of the first motor and the second motor, wherein the first controller is configured such that the first motor and the second motor provide a mechanical torque to rotate the shaft of the engine before the engine is running.

In a starter, current is passed through a solenoid to use the generated electromagnetic force when pushing a pinion gear toward a ring gear, so that the ring gear is engaged with the pinion gear. For this purpose, the starter includes an electromagnetic solenoid, a spring for urging the pinion gear in a direction opposite to that of the electromagnetic solenoid, a connecting member connected to the pinion gear, a stopper for limiting movement of the connecting member to a predetermined position. Being urged by the spring, the pinion gear is disengaged from the ring gear, and the connecting member is retracted to a predetermined position. The starter includes a control circuit that implements control of passing a predetermined current through the solenoid after the disengagement but before retraction of the connecting member to the predetermined position.

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 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.