Belt Integrated Starter Generator Engine Positioning

Solution Overview

Problem

In hybrid vehicles, determining the engine position after shutdown is challenging due to insensitive engine speed sensors, leading to increased engine starting time and electrical energy consumption, especially for short trips or when the engine is restarted from a random stop position.

Innovation Solution

The engine is rotated via an electric machine to a predetermined position before starting to establish its position, using a belt integrated starter/generator, which reduces energy consumption and starting time by determining the engine position quickly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the engine is rotated at cranking speed to establish engine position, then engine position can be determined, but the engine rotation time increases and electrical energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine position determinationVSAvoidengine starting time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The engine is rotated to a predetermined position before starting to establish engine position. This preliminary action ensures that the engine is positioned optimally before fuel injection and spark are supplied, enabling reliable engine starting while reducing the need for prolonged rotation at cranking speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts engine rotation strategy based on vehicle conditions. For short trips or when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of a destination, the engine is rotated to a predetermined position and then stopped. For longer trips, the engine is rotated to a position for quick starting. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between position determination accuracy and starting time/energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the engine is rotated at cranking speed to establish engine position, then engine position can be determined, but electrical energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine position determinationVSAvoidelectrical energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The engine is rotated to a predetermined position before starting to establish engine position. This preliminary action ensures that the engine is positioned optimally before fuel injection and spark are supplied, enabling reliable engine starting while reducing the need for prolonged rotation at cranking speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts engine rotation strategy based on vehicle conditions. For short trips or when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of a destination, the engine is rotated to a predetermined position and then stopped. For longer trips, the engine is rotated to a position for quick starting. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between position determination accuracy and starting time/energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If the engine is not rotated before starting, then electrical energy consumption is reduced, but engine starting consistency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical energy consumptionVSAvoidengine starting consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The engine is rotated to a predetermined position before starting to establish engine position. This preliminary action ensures that the engine is positioned optimally before fuel injection and spark are supplied, enabling reliable engine starting while reducing the need for prolonged rotation at cranking speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method reduces engine starting time and electrical energy consumption, especially for short trips, by establishing the engine position efficiently before restarting, thereby improving the consistency and speed of engine reactivation.

Implementation Method 1

rotating the engine via an electric machine to a first position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS9827974B1Methods and system for positioning an engine

Publication Date: 2017.11.28 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods for positioning an engine during engine stopping and during vehicle activation are described. In one example, a belt integrated starter/generator rotates an engine before the engine is started to reduce engine starting time and determine engine position before the engine is started. The engine may be rotated to a first or second position based on a destination of the vehicle.