Apparatus and method for automatically starting and stopping a vehicle engine to effect a smooth change from a vehicle brake release state to a vehicle drive state
US6135920A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 18, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 24, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 18, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/40
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An engine automatic speed control apparatus which exhibits a smooth transition from brake release to an engine drive state. An ECU determines braking force such that a vehicle does not move in correspondence with the slope of a road surface according to a road surface slope sensor while monitoring an operated quantity of a brake pedal according to a brake pedal operated-quantity sensor. The ECU stops an engine when braking force is applied via the brake pedal such that the vehicle does not move. After stopping the engine, the ECU determines braking force such that the vehicle does not move in correspondence with slope of the road surface according to the road surface slope sensor, and restarts the engine when braking force becomes less than braking force required to maintain the vehicle in a stopped state. The ECU then restarts the engine in the interval from relaxing of braking force via the brake pedal until the brake pedal is released.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.