Patent · US Active

Method for evaluating the ability of a battery to start

US8773136B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by

1References

13Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Ford Global Technologies, LLC · US

Inventors

Birger Fricke · Aachen, DE
Mark Eifert · Hessen, DE
Ralf Hecke · Aachen, DE
Eckhard Karden · Aachen, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Oct 4, 2011
Grant date	Jul 8, 2014
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Oct 25, 2032

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY10S903/903
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The charge state of a battery powering a starter of a motor vehicle is evaluated to determine whether the battery voltage is sufficiently high to re-start an internal combustion engine during a stop/start operating mode. The engine is operated to drive a generator so that the generator output voltage is at a level below a setpoint value for a time period. At the end of the time period, the battery voltage is measured and if it exceeds a threshold voltage the battery charge state is determined to be sufficient to re-start the engine. The threshold voltage is approximately equal to the rated battery voltage. If the measured battery voltage is below the threshold voltage value, indicating that the battery will not have sufficient charge to re-start the motor, automatic shut-off of the engine when the vehicle stops is suppressed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.