A control unit is provided for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine with a shaft, which can be coupled to an electric machine or decoupled from the electric machine. The control unit is designed to couple the electric machine to the internal combustion engine during an engine stop of the internal combustion engine. The control unit causes the electric machine to guide the shaft of the internal combustion engine. The control unit determines that a speed of the guided shaft is equal to or less than a speed threshold value and, in response thereto, decouples the electric machine from the internal combustion engine, such that the internal combustion engine stops without being guided by the electric machine.

An electromagnetic switch device for a starter includes a pinion-pushing solenoid for pushing out a pinion toward a ring gear of an engine by a plunger thereof, and a motor-energizing solenoid for energizing the motor. The electromagnetic switch device is configured to detect a magnetic flux change in a magnetic circuit of the motor-energizing solenoid due to displacement or deformation of a core of the motor-energizing solenoid caused when the plunger of the pinion-pushing solenoid abuts against a stopper, to determine a timing to start current supply to the motor-energizing solenoid.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a controller for a starter motor operable to receive a first input indicative of an engine shutdown being required, a second input indicative of a change-of-mind event having occurred after initiation of engine shutdown and a third input indicative of the engine position. After receipt of the first input the controller is operable to monitor the third input and to determine an expected engine rotation direction indicative of the expected rotation direction of the engine after a predetermined delay. If the expected engine rotation direction is positive and the second input is received then the controller is configured to control the output means to cause the starter motor of the engine to be actuated upon receipt of the second input. If the expected engine rotation direction is negative and the second input is received then the controller is configured to delay controlling the output means to cause the starter motor of the engine to be actuated until a determination is made that the expected rotation direction is positive. Advantageously, the controller calculates the expected engine rotation direction before receipt of the input indicative of the change-of-mind event having occurred, thereby reducing the time required to determine whether or not the starter motor can be actuated.

A method of starting a vehicle may include, in response to an expected driver entry, stroking a clutch configured to couple an engine to an electric machine for a predetermined time period. The method may further include, in response to an engine start request received during the predetermined time period, providing power to the electric machine to spin the electric machine at a speed at least equal to a target engine cranking speed.

In a method for actuating a starting device for an internal combustion engine, for the case in which the rotational speed of the toothed ring is below a limit value, first a stroke armature in a starter relay is moved and an electric starter motor is switched on after the starter pinion has engaged. If the rotational speed of the toothed ring exceeds the limit value, the starter motor is switched on before the starter pinion contacts the toothed ring.

The invention relates mainly to a starter (11) for a motor vehicle combustion engine, comprising: an electric motor (15), a drive pinion (60), a pinion body (61) on which said drive pinion (60) is mounted, a drive shaft (12) able to transmit a torque derived from the electric motor (15) to the drive pinion (60) via the pinion body, the pinion body (61) being mounted with the ability to slide axially with respect to the said drive shaft (12), and in which, with there being a chamber (86) delimited notably by one end of the drive shaft (12) and one end of the pinion body (61) opposite the end of the drive shaft (12), the chamber (86) is vented via a through-opening (85) made in an annular wall of the drive shaft (12) or of the pinion body (61).

A system and method for operating an automatic start/stop system in a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an automatic transmission and a torque converter with an impeller disconnect clutch is disclosed. A controller may implement an engine start/stop system by, at appropriate times, stopping engine by halting fuel and restarting engine when propulsion is needed. During an engine start/stop event, the engine is automatically shut down and the impeller clutch of the torque converter may be disengaged to decouple the impeller and the engine to provide for fuel and emissions savings.

A starter comprises an electric motor which drives a rotor shaft, a drive shaft that can be rotationally coupled to the rotor shaft, and a pinion mounted on the drive shaft and movable in a translational movement between a rest position and an active position by a movement system. The starter comprises a coupling system that couples a rotary movement in one direction of rotation of the rotor shaft to the pinion. The coupling system moves from an uncoupled state into a coupled state and vice versa. In the coupled state, the rotor shaft is firmly attached to the pinion in the starting direction of rotation. In the uncoupled state, the pinion is disconnected from the rotor shaft in both directions of rotation. The starter further comprises a movement system for moving the pinion from the coupling system into the uncoupled state as it moves the pinion into active position.

An electric starter system for an internal combustion includes a pinion gear, a pinion solenoid coupled to the pinion gear, a starter motor that is selectively connectable to the flywheel of the engine via the pinion gear, and a controller in communication with the pinion solenoid and the starter motor. In response to an engine auto-stop signal, the controller is configured to translate the pinion gear into contact with the flywheel and the motor, and cause rotation of the engine crankshaft to a predetermined crank angle. In response to an engine auto-start signal, the controller is configured to command delivery of motor torque from the starter motor, through the pinion gear, and to the flywheel for a duration sufficient for starting the engine.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a controller for a starter motor operable to receive a first input indicative of an engine shutdown being required, a second input indicative of a change-of-mind event having occurred after initiation of engine shutdown and a third input indicative of the engine position. After receipt of the first input the controller is operable to monitor the third input and to determine an expected engine rotation direction indicative of the expected rotation direction of the engine after a predetermined delay. If the expected engine rotation direction is positive and the second input is received then the controller is configured to control the output means to cause the starter motor of the engine to be actuated upon receipt of the second input. If the expected engine rotation direction is negative and the second input is received then the controller is configured to delay controlling the output means to cause the starter motor of the engine to be actuated until a determination is made that the expected rotation direction is positive. Advantageously, the controller calculates the expected engine rotation direction before receipt of the input indicative of the change-of-mind event having occurred, thereby reducing the time required to determine whether or not the starter motor can be actuated.