Vehicle Heat Engine Stop Control via Battery Temperature

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle Stop & Start systems fail to consider the battery's recharging capacity when determining conditions for automatic engine stopping, leading to inefficient energy management, especially in cold conditions where battery recharging is limited.

Innovation Solution

The method controls automatic engine stopping based on the battery's load acceptance characteristics, including temperature and charge state, ensuring that the battery's state of charge is maintained above a minimum threshold and that sufficient energy is recovered between stopping phases to allow for safe restarts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the automatic stopping of the engine is controlled only by the state of charge threshold, then the control logic is simple, but the battery recharging capacity is not considered leading to inefficient energy management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol logicVSAvoidenergy management efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control system monitors multiple parameters including battery temperature, state of charge, and charge acceptance capacity. The system dynamically adjusts stopping authorization based on these parameters, particularly considering that charge acceptance varies with temperature and charge level, thereby optimizing energy management without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors battery parameters and uses feedback from temperature and charge acceptance measurements to dynamically adjust stopping authorization. This feedback mechanism ensures that stopping decisions are based on real-time battery capacity to accept charge, improving energy management efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Use of energy by moving object

If engine stopping is authorized during cold conditions, then fuel efficiency is improved, but the battery cannot be recharged effectively leading to insufficient energy for restart

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel efficiencyVSAvoidrestart reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system recognizes that battery charge acceptance is strongly dependent on temperature and adjusts stopping authorization accordingly. When battery temperature is below a threshold (e.g., 0°C), stopping is restricted or prohibited because charge acceptance is insufficient at low temperatures, ensuring restart reliability while still allowing stops during warmer conditions for fuel efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system prevents engine stopping during cold conditions before the problem of insufficient recharging can occur. By proactively restricting stops when temperature indicates low charge acceptance, the system avoids the adverse effect of being unable to recharge the battery sufficiently for the next restart

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Use of energy by moving object

If multiple parameters are monitored for stopping authorization, then energy management is optimized, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumption optimizationVSAvoidmonitoring system
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery management system performs multiple functions using the same monitoring infrastructure: it tracks state of charge, temperature, and charge acceptance capacity all through the same sensor network and control logic. This multi-functionality approach optimizes energy management without proportionally increasing system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system combines monitoring of temperature, state of charge, and charge acceptance into a unified control decision for engine stopping authorization. By merging these parameter monitoring functions into a single integrated control logic, the system achieves optimized energy management while minimizing the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2138711B1Method of controlling the device for stopping and automatic restarting of a vehicle heat engine
Publication Date: 2012.08.01 PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP2138711B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The method involves controlling automatic stop of a heat engine based on a charge acceptance characteristic parameter i.e. temperature, of an electric energy source e.g. battery, of an automatic stop and start device. Automatic stop of the engine is not authorized when the temperature of the source is less than a preset threshold that is approximately 0 degree Celsius. A request for automatically stopping the engine is accepted if the charge of the source is greater than a preset charge state threshold (min).