An internal combustion engine (ICE) includes a crankshaft, a cylinder head defining in part a variable combustion chamber of the ICE, a direct fuel injector mounted on the cylinder head, a power source, an electric turning machine (ETM) rotating the crankshaft, an absolute position sensor providing an indication of an angular position of a rotor of the ETM, and an engine control unit (ECU) operatively connected to the absolute position sensor. The ECU controls a delivery of electric power from the power source to the ETM based on the angular position of the rotor of the ETM and causes the direct fuel injector to inject fuel directly in the combustion chamber at a time selected based on the angular position reached by the rotor of the ETM.

A method for controlling delivery of electric power between a power source and an electric turning machine (ETM) comprises applying a start signal to a start-up power electronic switch to cause turning on of the start-up power electronic switch and to allow delivery of electric power from the power source to the ETM via the start-up power electronic switch. A recharge signal is applied to a run-time power electronic switch to cause turning on of the run-time power electronic switch for delivery of electric power from the ETM to the power source via the run-time power electronic switch. A circuit comprises a discharging circuit including the start-up power electronic switch for delivering the electric power when the start-up power electronic switch is turned on. A charging circuit includes the run-time power electronic switch for delivering the electric power when the run-time power electronic switch is turned on.

A starting device is used in a starting system that includes a starting electric motor unit and a rotating electrical machine; the starting electric motor unit including a motor that rotates a pinion gear, and a pushing member that pushes out the pinion gear toward a ring gear, the ring gear rotating together with a crankshaft of an engine; the rotating electrical machine being connected to the crankshaft and rotating the crankshaft; the starting system being configured to push, using the pushing member, the pinion gear toward the ring gear, and drive the motor to rotate, based on driving force of the motor, the ring gear via the pinion gear, thus starting the engine. The starting device includes a drive instruction unit that instructs the rotating electrical machine to rotate the ring gear via the crankshaft during a pre-drive period before drive of the motor.

An uninterruptible power supply system has a regulated power source, an electrical generator electrically interconnected to the regulated power source, an engine having a main shaft integral with or coupled to the shaft of the electrical generator, a rotating rectifier mounted onto a shaft of the electrical generator, a mains power supply, a switch connected between the electrical generator, the mains power supply and a synchronous machine of the regulated power source, a synchronous generator, and an uninterruptible load. The regulated power source has a housing, a synchronous machine, a synchronous generator, and a flywheel sharing a common shaft. The electrical generator has a shaft coupled to a combustion engine. The switch transfers power from the synchronous machine to the electrical generator to cause the electrical generator to rotate its shaft or the main shaft of the engine. A short-stop load is supplied power from the electrical generator.

A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes feedback of operating status of an engine starting system is described. In one example, the method inhibits automatic engine pull-down in response to feedback from an engine starting system that does not meet expectations. The system and method may provide diagnostics for the engine starting system.

A motor driving device is provided. The motor driving device includes a driving unit configured to drive a starter motor/generator that is directly connected to an engine by a rotation shaft, by performing on/off control of switching elements in a bridge circuit for driving a motor; and a driving controller configured to control a driving operation for the starter motor/generator that is performed by the driving unit. The driving unit controls a motor driving voltage for the starter motor/generator by changing ON periods of the switching elements of the bridge circuit, and turns on predetermined switching elements of the bridge circuit at a predetermined timing to perform an active freewheel operation for boosting a regenerative voltage generated by the starter motor/generator. The driving controller instructs the driving unit to control the motor driving voltage and on/off of the active freewheel operation, based on a battery voltage.

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.

An internal combustion engine, including at least one electric motor (8, 13, 16, 20) situated on the crankcase of the internal combustion engine, at least one control unit (1) for controlling the internal combustion engine and/or the electric motor and at least one high voltage converter (15).

A brushless starter-generator system is contained within a single housing. The housing has a first end with an opening to receive a drive spline from a motive source and an opposing second end. A brushless, rotating machine is located adjacent the first end and is kinetically connectable to the drive spline. A power control unit is adjacent the second end and electrically coupled to the brushless, rotating machine. The brushless, rotating machine is selected from the group consisting of a synchronous machine, a permanent magnet machine, and an induction machine. Electrical and mechanical interfaces are identical to a like-rated brushed version for a true “drop-in” replacement capability to facilitate replacements and up-grades.

An internal-combustion engine includes a belt-driven starter generator and makes an idling stop while a vehicle is at a stop. In the process of the engine revolution speed decreasing with cutting of fuel to stop the vehicle, to suppress the reduction in restart responsiveness caused by slack in a belt, preliminary powering of the starter generator is performed. The belt tension during deceleration microscopically changes periodically between a relatively high-tension period and a relatively low-tension period due to pulsation of the engine revolution speed. Slack in the belt does not occur in the high tension period, and thus preliminary powering torque is applied only in the low-tension period.