<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE ep-patent-document PUBLIC "-//EPO//EP PATENT DOCUMENT 1.6//EN" "ep-patent-document-v1-6.dtd">
<!--This XML data has been generated under the supervision of the European Patent Office -->
<ep-patent-document id="EP18154097B1" file="EP18154097NWB1.xml" lang="en" country="EP" doc-number="3376018" kind="B1" date-publ="20240313" status="n" dtd-version="ep-patent-document-v1-6">
<SDOBI lang="en"><B000><eptags><B001EP>ATBECHDEDKESFRGBGRITLILUNLSEMCPTIESILTLVFIROMKCYALTRBGCZEEHUPLSK..HRIS..MTNORS..SM..................</B001EP><B005EP>J</B005EP><B007EP>BDM Ver 2.0.24 -  2100000/0</B007EP></eptags></B000><B100><B110>3376018</B110><B120><B121>EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION</B121></B120><B130>B1</B130><B140><date>20240313</date></B140><B190>EP</B190></B100><B200><B210>18154097.2</B210><B220><date>20180130</date></B220><B240><B241><date>20190506</date></B241><B242><date>20211209</date></B242></B240><B250>en</B250><B251EP>en</B251EP><B260>en</B260></B200><B300><B310>106108462</B310><B320><date>20170315</date></B320><B330><ctry>TW</ctry></B330></B300><B400><B405><date>20240313</date><bnum>202411</bnum></B405><B430><date>20180919</date><bnum>201838</bnum></B430><B450><date>20240313</date><bnum>202411</bnum></B450><B452EP><date>20231006</date></B452EP></B400><B500><B510EP><classification-ipcr sequence="1"><text>F02N  19/00        20100101AFI20230828BHEP        </text></classification-ipcr><classification-ipcr sequence="2"><text>F02N  11/08        20060101ALI20230828BHEP        </text></classification-ipcr><classification-ipcr sequence="3"><text>B60R  16/03        20060101ALI20230828BHEP        </text></classification-ipcr><classification-ipcr sequence="4"><text>F02N  11/04        20060101ALN20230828BHEP        </text></classification-ipcr></B510EP><B520EP><classifications-cpc><classification-cpc sequence="1"><text>F02N  11/04        20130101 LA20180719BHEP        </text></classification-cpc><classification-cpc sequence="2"><text>F02N  19/005       20130101 FI20180719BHEP        </text></classification-cpc><classification-cpc sequence="3"><text>F02N2200/022       20130101 LA20180719BHEP        </text></classification-cpc><classification-cpc sequence="4"><text>F02N  11/0814      20130101 LA20180925BHEP        </text></classification-cpc><classification-cpc sequence="5"><text>F02N  11/0862      20130101 LI20180925BHEP        </text></classification-cpc><classification-cpc sequence="6"><text>F02N  11/0866      20130101 LA20180925BHEP        </text></classification-cpc><classification-cpc sequence="7"><text>F02N  11/087       20130101 LA20180925BHEP        </text></classification-cpc><classification-cpc sequence="8"><text>F02D2200/0406      20130101 LA20180925BHEP        </text></classification-cpc></classifications-cpc></B520EP><B540><B541>de</B541><B542>SYSTEM UND VERFAHREN ZUR POSITIONIERUNG EINER KURBELWELLE EINES MOTORS EINES FAHRZEUGS</B542><B541>en</B541><B542>SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POSITIONING A CRANKSHAFT OF AN ENGINE OF A VEHICLE</B542><B541>fr</B541><B542>SYSTÈME ET PROCÉDÉ DE POSITIONNEMENT D'UN VILEBREQUIN D'UN MOTEUR DE VÉHICULE</B542></B540><B560><B561><text>EP-A1- 2 607 178</text></B561><B561><text>WO-A1-2008/136738</text></B561><B561><text>DE-A1- 10 123 037</text></B561><B561><text>TW-A- 201 704 630</text></B561><B561><text>TW-B- I 560 363</text></B561><B561><text>US-A1- 2004 149 247</text></B561><B561><text>US-A1- 2011 264 359</text></B561></B560></B500><B700><B720><B721><snm>LIAO, Wei-Xiang</snm><adr><str>No. 61, Dafu St.
Gangshan Dist.</str><city>82055 Kaohsiung City</city><ctry>TW</ctry></adr></B721><B721><snm>TENG, Thin-Liang</snm><adr><str>No. 25, Ln. 79, Shihtan Rd., Gangshan Dist.</str><city>82053 Kaohsiung City</city><ctry>TW</ctry></adr></B721></B720><B730><B731><snm>Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd.</snm><iid>101410135</iid><irf>B74163EP D37983</irf><adr><str>No. 35, Wan Hsing Street, 
San Min District</str><city>Kaohsiung City 80794</city><ctry>TW</ctry></adr></B731></B730><B740><B741><snm>Regimbeau</snm><iid>101326519</iid><adr><str>20, rue de Chazelles</str><city>75847 Paris Cedex 17</city><ctry>FR</ctry></adr></B741></B740></B700><B800><B840><ctry>AL</ctry><ctry>AT</ctry><ctry>BE</ctry><ctry>BG</ctry><ctry>CH</ctry><ctry>CY</ctry><ctry>CZ</ctry><ctry>DE</ctry><ctry>DK</ctry><ctry>EE</ctry><ctry>ES</ctry><ctry>FI</ctry><ctry>FR</ctry><ctry>GB</ctry><ctry>GR</ctry><ctry>HR</ctry><ctry>HU</ctry><ctry>IE</ctry><ctry>IS</ctry><ctry>IT</ctry><ctry>LI</ctry><ctry>LT</ctry><ctry>LU</ctry><ctry>LV</ctry><ctry>MC</ctry><ctry>MK</ctry><ctry>MT</ctry><ctry>NL</ctry><ctry>NO</ctry><ctry>PL</ctry><ctry>PT</ctry><ctry>RO</ctry><ctry>RS</ctry><ctry>SE</ctry><ctry>SI</ctry><ctry>SK</ctry><ctry>SM</ctry><ctry>TR</ctry></B840><B880><date>20181107</date><bnum>201845</bnum></B880></B800></SDOBI>
<description id="desc" lang="en"><!-- EPO <DP n="1"> -->
<p id="p0001" num="0001">The disclosure relates to positioning a crankshaft of an engine of a vehicle, and more particularly to a system and a method for positioning a crankshaft of an engine of a vehicle when a main switch of the vehicle is switched from a Key ON state to a Key OFF state.</p>
<p id="p0002" num="0002"><figref idref="f0007">Figure 7</figref> illustrates a four-stroke engine 5. The four-stroke engine 5 includes a cylinder 51, a piston 52, a crankshaft 53, a coupling rod 54 interconnecting the piston 52 and the crankshaft 53, an igniter 55, an intake valve 56 and an exhaust valve 57. The piston 52 is brought to reciprocate in the cylinder 51 by rotation of the crankshaft 53. The intake valve 56 controls flow of an air-fuel mixture (or atomized fuel) into the cylinder 51 via an inlet where the air-fuel mixture is to be compressed by the piston 52 and ignited by the igniter 55. The exhaust valve controls flow of the air-fuel mixture, which underwent the compression and ignition, out of the cylinder 51 via an outlet. During movement of the piston 52 in the cylinder 51, four separate strokes take place in the four-stroke engine 5, namely, an intake stroke, a compression stroke, a combustion stroke and an exhaust stroke. The four strokes of the four-stroke engine 5 correspond respectively to different angular positions, namely,<!-- EPO <DP n="2"> --> 0-180 degrees, 180-360 degrees, 360-540 degrees and 540-720 degrees, of the crankshaft 53 of the four-stroke engine 5 as shown in <figref idref="f0008">Figure 8</figref>. It should be noted that a complete cycle of the four-stroke engine 5 includes the aforesaid four strokes during which the crankshaft 53 completes two full 360-degree revolutions.</p>
<p id="p0003" num="0003">When the crankshaft 53 of the four-stroke engine 5 stops at an angular position corresponding to the compression stroke, compared with a scenario where the crankshaft 53 stops at an angular position not corresponding to the compression stroke (i.e., one of the strokes other than the compression stroke, such as the intake stroke, the combustion stroke or the exhaust stroke), more torque is required to be applied by a starter motor on the crankshaft 53 for restarting the four-stroke engine 5. As a result, more electric power is consumed, and performance of the starter motor may be adversely affected in the long term.</p>
<p id="p0004" num="0004"><figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> illustrates a conventional control system, which is utilized to implement a conventional control method disclosed in Taiwanese Invention Patent No. <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="TW1476320"><text>1476320</text></patcit> for positioning a crankshaft of an engine of a vehicle when the engine of the vehicle is shut down by a start-stop function of the vehicle so as to reduce torque required to restart the engine the next time. Note that the start-stop function allows an internal combustion engine of the vehicle to automatically shut<!-- EPO <DP n="3"> --> down and restart, so as to reduce the amount of time the engine spends idling. The control system includes a Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor 11, a crankshaft position sensor 12, an Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) controller 13, an integrated starter generator 14 and a battery 15. The integrated starter generator 14 is electrically connected to the ISG controller 13 and the battery 15. The MAP sensor 11 measures cylinder pressure of the engine so as to obtain a measured pressure value representative of a result of measurement of the cylinder pressure. The crankshaft position sensor 12 measures the angular position of the crankshaft so as to obtain a detected angular value representative of a result of measurement of the angular position of the crankshaft. The ISG controller 13 receives the measured pressure value from the MAP sensor 11 and the detected angular value from the crankshaft position sensor 12. Powered by the battery 15 when a main switch of the vehicle is in a Key ON state, the ISG controller 13 controls the integrated starter generator 14 to position the crankshaft at the angular position corresponding to the non-compression stroke based on the measured pressure value and the detected angular value when the engine is shut down by the start-stop function. However, when the vehicle is stopped and the main switch is switched to a Key OFF state for turning off the engine, since the ISG<!-- EPO <DP n="4"> --> controller 13 is no longer powered by the battery 15, the crankshaft cannot be controlled to stop at an appropriate angular position for an easier start of the engine next time, where lower torque is required for actuating revolution of the crankshaft to start up the engine.</p>
<p id="p0005" num="0005">Document <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US2004149247A"><text>US 2004/149247</text></patcit> describes a stop and start control method of a vehicle which performs a crank angle stop position control at the time of stopping an internal combustion engine and selects an optimal engine start method based on the state of a crank angle stop position after stopping.</p>
<p id="p0006" num="0006">Document <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US2011264359A"><text>US 2011/264359</text></patcit> describes an engine control system including an air conditioner compressor operatively connected to an engine for generating a counter torque to the engine and when actuated. An ECU is operatively connected to the compressor. The ECU actuates the compressor when the engine is turned off, engine speed of the engine is less than a predetermined engine speed, and an engine rotational position is within a predetermined range of top dead center for the engine.</p>
<p id="p0007" num="0007">Document <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="WO2008136738A"><text>WO 2008/136738</text></patcit> relates generally to solutions for shutting down vehicular systems.</p>
<p id="p0008" num="0008">Document <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="EP2607178A"><text>EP2607178</text></patcit> relates to an electrical power supply system for powering an electric load of a vehicle, to a battery control module, and to a vehicle comprising such an electrical power supply system.</p>
<p id="p0009" num="0009">Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a system and a method for positioning a crankshaft of an engine of a vehicle that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.</p>
<p id="p0010" num="0010">That object is solved by the method and system described in the enclosed claims.<!-- EPO <DP n="5"> --></p>
<p id="p0011" num="0011">Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact">
<li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> is a block diagram illustrating a conventional control system for reducing torque required for starting up an engine;</li>
<li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system for positioning a crankshaft of an engine of a vehicle according to the disclosure;<!-- EPO <DP n="6"> --></li>
<li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 3</figref> is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of procedures of a method of the disclosure after a main switch of the system is switched from a Key OFF state to a Key ON state;</li>
<li><figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref> is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of procedures of the method of the disclosure after the main switch of the system is switched from the Key ON state to the Key OFF state;</li>
<li><figref idref="f0005">Figure 5</figref> is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a post engine shutdown control process of the method according to the disclosure;</li>
<li><figref idref="f0006">Figure 6</figref> is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a crankshaft positioning process of the method according to the disclosure;</li>
<li><figref idref="f0007">Figure 7</figref> is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a four-stroke engine; and</li>
<li><figref idref="f0008">Figure 8</figref> is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of correspondence relationships between angular positions of the crankshaft and four strokes of the four-stroke engine.</li>
</ul></p>
<p id="p0012" num="0012">Referring to <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref>, an embodiment of a system for positioning a crankshaft of an engine of a vehicle according to the disclosure is illustrated. The engine may be one of a single-cylinder engine and a multiple-cylinder engine. The system includes a main switch 20, an Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) controller 21, an integrated starter generator 24, a<!-- EPO <DP n="7"> --> rotor position sensor 25, and a power relay 26.</p>
<p id="p0013" num="0013">The main switch 20 is electrically connected to a battery 22 and the power relay 26. The ISG controller 21 is electrically connected to the main switch 20, an Engine Control Unit (ECU) 23, and the integrated starter generator 24. Specifically speaking, the ISG controller 21 is electrically connected through a communication interface 27 to the ECU 23. The integrated starter generator 24 is to be coupled to the engine.</p>
<p id="p0014" num="0014">The battery 22 is configured to supply electrical power to the ISG controller 21 and the ECU 23.</p>
<p id="p0015" num="0015">The main switch 20 is configured to be switched between a Key OFF state, and a Key ON state where the ISG controller 21 is powered by the battery 22. The main switch 20 can be operated to switch to the Key OFF state so as to stop the engine and cut off electrical power supply from the battery 22 to electrical components of the vehicle while the ISG controller 21 is still powered by an auxiliary power source.</p>
<p id="p0016" num="0016">The ECU 23 is configured to control electronic parts or actuators operatively associated with the engine of the vehicle, such as a fuel injector, an ignition coil, and so on, so as to start or stop the engine.</p>
<p id="p0017" num="0017">The integrated starter generator 24 is a brushless electric motor coupled to the crankshaft of the engine. The integrated starter generator 24 is configured to provide forward torque or reverse torque on the<!-- EPO <DP n="8"> --> crankshaft so as to start the engine, generate electrical power, or position the crankshaft.</p>
<p id="p0018" num="0018">When the ISG controller 21 determines that an abnormality occurs in the system, the ISG controller 21 is configured to control the power relay 26 to cut off an electrical path between the integrated starter generator 24 and the battery 22 so as to protect related electronic components of the system from being burned out. The power relay 26 is optional, and in other embodiment, the power relay 26 may be omitted.</p>
<p id="p0019" num="0019">The ISG controller 21 is configured to continuously receive, from the rotor position sensor 25, a signal indicating an angular position that a rotor (not shown) of the integrated starter generator 24 is currently at, so that the ISG controller 21 can accurately control three-phase power supply for electromagnetic induction in the integrated starter generator 24. The ISG controller 21 further continuously receives a signal indicating an engine speed at which the engine is currently operating, and a signal indicating the angular position that the crankshaft is currently at. These signals may serve as references for the ISG controller 21 to perform a post engine shutdown control process, which is a control process to be performed after the engine has been turned off.</p>
<p id="p0020" num="0020">The ISG controller 21 is configured to receive from the ECU 23, after the main switch 20 is switched from<!-- EPO <DP n="9"> --> the Key OFF state to the Key ON state, a start command for starting up the engine. The ISG controller 21 is configured to refrain from receiving from the ECU 23, after the main switch 20 is switched from the Key ON state to the Key OFF state, the start command for starting up the engine. Meanwhile, the ECU 23 turns off the electronic parts or actuators operatively associated with the engine for stopping the engine. Powered by the auxiliary power source instead of the battery 22, the ISG controller 21 is configured to determine, after the main switch 20 is switched from the Key ON state to the Key OFF state, whether the engine speed is lower than a predetermined threshold below which positioning of the crankshaft can be conducted (also called "predetermined threshold for positioning the crankshaft" herein). The predetermined threshold for positioning the crankshaft is decided by taking into account the inertia of the crankshaft during stoppage of the engine so that the crankshaft can be appropriately positioned. In this embodiment, the predetermined threshold for positioning the crankshaft may be implemented as 800 RPM, but is not limited thereto. The ISG controller 21 is configured to perform, when it is determined that the engine speed is lower than the predetermined threshold for positioning the crankshaft, a crankshaft positioning process so that an angular position of the crankshaft does not correspond to a<!-- EPO <DP n="10"> --> compression stroke of the engine when the crankshaft stops. For example, the crankshaft may be positioned at an angular position corresponding to a combustion stroke for an easier start of the engine next time.</p>
<p id="p0021" num="0021">Specifically speaking, the ISG controller 21 includes a main switch detector 211, an electronic switch 212, a self-sustaining power circuit 213, a processor 214, a power transistor 215 and a gate driver 216. The electronic switch 212 is to be electrically connected to the battery 22. The processor 214 is electrically connected to the main switch detector 211, the electronic switch 212 and the self-sustaining power circuit 213. The power transistor 215 is electrically connected between the processor 214 and the integrated starter generator 24, and is configured to form the electrical path, which extends from the battery 22, through the power relay 26 and the power transistor 215 to the integrated starter generator 24. In this embodiment, the processor 214 is implemented by a microcontroller.</p>
<p id="p0022" num="0022">When the main switch 20 is switched from the Key OFF state to the Key ON state, the main switch detector 211 is configured to generate a Key ON indication signal indicating that the main switch 20 is in the Key ON state, and to transmit the Key ON indication signal to the processor 214. Powered by the battery 20, the processor 214 is configured to receive the Key ON indication signal . The processor 214 is configured to enable, in response<!-- EPO <DP n="11"> --> to receipt of the Key ON indication signal, the electronic switch 212 to conduct for allowing passage of an electrical flow from the battery 22 through the electronic switch 212 and the self-sustaining power circuit 213 to the processor 214 so that the battery 22 serves as the auxiliary power source when the main switch is switched to the Key OFF state. In this embodiment, the self-sustaining power circuit 213 is implemented by a conducting circuit for allowing passage of the electrical flow, so that when the main switch is switched to the Key NO state, the electrical flow which originates from the battery 22 can go through the main switch 20 and the self-sustaining power circuit 213 to the processor 214 or go through the electronic switch 212 and the self-sustaining power circuit 213 to the processor 214. When the main switch 20 is switched to the Key OFF state, the electrical flow which originates from the battery 22 can still go through the electronic switch 212 and the self-sustaining power circuit 213 to the processor 214 for allowing the ISG controller 21 to be powered by the auxiliary power source (i.e., the batter 22). Moreover, the processor 214 is configured to receive the start command from the ECU 23 for starting up the engine. Actuated by the ECU 23 with the start command, the ISG controller 21 controls the integrated starter generator 24 to provide forward torque on the crankshaft so as to start the engine.<!-- EPO <DP n="12"> --></p>
<p id="p0023" num="0023">When the main switch 20 is switched from the Key ON state to the Key OFF state, the main switch detector 211 is configured to generate a Key OFF indication signal indicating that the main switch 20 is in the Key OFF state, and to transmit the Key OFF indication signal to the processor 214. Powered by the auxiliary power source, the processor 214 is configured to determine whether the engine speed is lower than a predetermined threshold above which power generation can be conducted (also called "predetermined threshold for power generation" herein). In this embodiment, the predetermined threshold for power generation is implemented as 1000 RPM, but is not limited thereto. The processor 214 is configured to control, when it is determined that the engine speed is not lower than the predetermined threshold for power generation, the integrated starter generator 24 to generate electrical power by rotation of the crankshaft of the engine, to regulate the electrical power thus generated, and to provide the electrical power thus regulated to the battery 22 for charging the same. The processor 214 is configured to turn off, when it is determined that the engine speed is lower than the predetermined threshold for power generation, the power transistor 215 to cease the power generation by the integrated starter generator 24.</p>
<p id="p0024" num="0024">In addition, the processor 214 is configured to<!-- EPO <DP n="13"> --> determine whether the angular position of the crankshaft is equal to a preset angular position. The preset angular position is set to ensure that the crankshaft will be positioned at an angular position following the preset angular position in a rotational direction of the crankshaft. In this embodiment, the preset angular position is implemented to correspond to the top dead center of a piston in the engine, which ends the compression stroke, i.e., initiates the combustion stroke, so as to prevent the crankshaft frombeing stopped at an angular position corresponding to the compression stroke. The processor 214 is configured to control, when it is determined that the angular position of the crankshaft is equal to the preset angular position, the integrated starter generator 24 to output reverse torque to the crankshaft of the engine. The processor 214 is configured to stop the integrated starter generator 24 from outputting the reverse torque when it is determined that the engine speed approaches zero and the angular position of the crankshaft corresponds to the combustion stroke of the engine.</p>
<p id="p0025" num="0025">Referring to <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004 f0005 f0006">Figures 2 to 6</figref>, an embodiment of a method for positioning a crankshaft of an engine of a vehicle according to this disclosure is illustrated. The method is to be implemented by the system that is previously described. The method includes the following steps.</p>
<p id="p0026" num="0026">As shown in <figref idref="f0003">Figure 3</figref>, when the main switch 20 is<!-- EPO <DP n="14"> --> switched from the Key OFF state to the Key ON state in step S31, the main switch detector 211 generates the Key ON indication signal and transmits the Key ON indication signal to the processor 214.</p>
<p id="p0027" num="0027">In step S32, the processor 214 enables, in response to receipt of the Key ON indication signal, the electronic switch 212 to conduct for allowing passage of the electrical flow from the battery 22 through the electronic switch 212 and the self-sustaining power circuit 213 to the processor 214 so that the battery 22 serves as the auxiliary power source when the main switch 20 is switched to the Key OFF state as shown in step S33.</p>
<p id="p0028" num="0028">In step S34, the ISG controller 21 controls the power relay 26 to conduct for establishing the electrical path between the integrated starter generator 24 and the battery 22.</p>
<p id="p0029" num="0029">In step S35, the processor 214 receives the start command from the ECU 23, if the ECU 23 sends any to the ISG controller 21, for starting up the engine.</p>
<p id="p0030" num="0030">Referring to <figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref>, when the main switch 20 is switched from the Key ON state to the Key OFF state in step S40, the main switch detector 211 generates the Key OFF indication signal and transmits the Key OFF indication signal to the processor 214.</p>
<p id="p0031" num="0031">In step S41, when the main switch 20 is in the Key OFF state, an intake valve of the engine is controlled<!-- EPO <DP n="15"> --> by the ECU 23 to close for preventing an air-fuel mixture (or atomized fuel) from flowing into a cylinder of the engine, and an igniter of the engine is deactivated by the ECU 23, so that the engine is turned off.</p>
<p id="p0032" num="0032">In step S42, the ISG controller 21 refrains from receiving, after the main switch 20 is switched from the Key ON state to the Key OFF state where the engine is turned off, the start command for starting up the engine from the ECU 23.</p>
<p id="p0033" num="0033">In step S43, powered by the auxiliary power source, the ISG controller 21 performs the post engine shutdown control process which includes sub-steps S431 to S435 described below and illustrated in <figref idref="f0005">Figure 5</figref>.</p>
<p id="p0034" num="0034">In sub-step S431, the processor 214 of the ISG controller 21 controls the integrated starter generator 24 to generate electrical power by rotation of the crankshaft of the engine and to regulate the electrical power thus generated.</p>
<p id="p0035" num="0035">In sub-step S432, the processor 214 determines whether the engine speed is lower than the predetermined threshold for power generation.When it is determined that the engine speed is not lower than the predetermined threshold for power generation, the processor 214 keeps controlling the integrated starter generator 24 to generate electrical power by rotation of the crankshaft of the engine, and to regulate the electrical power thus generated as shown in sub-step S431. The electrical power<!-- EPO <DP n="16"> --> thus generated and regulated can be utilized to charge the battery 22, so energy recycling is realized while the engine of the vehicle is turned off.</p>
<p id="p0036" num="0036">Otherwise, in sub-step S433, when it is determined that the engine speed is lower than the predetermined threshold for power generation, the processor 214 turns off the power transistor 215 to cease the power generation and the power regulation by the integrated starter generator 24.</p>
<p id="p0037" num="0037">In sub-step S434, the ISG controller 21 determines, after the main switch 20 is switched from the Key ON state to the Key OFF state in sub-step S40, whether the engine speed is lower than the predetermined threshold for positioning the crankshaft. When it is determined that the engine speed is not lower than the predetermined threshold for positioning the crankshaft, sub-step S434 is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the engine speed is lower than the predetermined threshold for positioning the crankshaft, the ISG controller 21 performs the crankshaft positioning process as shown in sub-step S435 so that an angular position of the crankshaft does not correspond to the compression stroke of the engine when the crankshaft stops revolving.</p>
<p id="p0038" num="0038">Referring to <figref idref="f0006">Figure 6</figref>, the crankshaft positioning process in sub-step S435 includes sub-steps S4351 to S4354 described below.<!-- EPO <DP n="17"> --></p>
<p id="p0039" num="0039">In sub-step S4351, the processor 214 determines whether the angular position of the crankshaft is equal to the preset angular position. When it is determined that the angular position of the crankshaft is not equal to the preset angular position, the processor 214 performs sub-step S4351 once again.</p>
<p id="p0040" num="0040">In contrast, when it is determined that the angular position of the crankshaft is equal to the preset angular position, the flow proceeds to sub-step S4352, in which the processor 214 controls the integrated starter generator 24 to output reverse torque to the crankshaft of the engine. The reverse torque is associated with a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal outputted by the ISG controller 21 to the integrated starter generator 24, and magnitude of the reverse torque is positively related to a duty cycle of the PWM signal. That is to say, to stop the engine, the higher the speed of the engine, the greater the magnitude of the required reverse torque, and consequently the greater the duty cycle of the PWM signal. In addition, the magnitude of the reverse torque should be reduced as the angular position of crankshaft is approximate to an angular position corresponding to an end of the combustion stroke. Therefore, the duty cycle <i>Duty</i> required to stop the engine can be expressed by a function <i>ƒ</i> of the engine speed <i>S</i> and the angular position of the crankshaft <i>A,</i> i. e., <i>Duty</i> = <i>f</i>(<i>S, A</i>)<i>.</i><!-- EPO <DP n="18"> --></p>
<p id="p0041" num="0041">In sub-step S4353, the processor 214 determines whether the engine speed approaches zero and the angular position of the crankshaft corresponds to the non-compression stroke (e.g., the combustion stroke) of the engine. When a result of the determination is negative, e.g., the engine speed is much greater than zero or the angular position of the crankshaft corresponds to the compression stroke, sub-steps 4352 and 4353 are repeated so as to continue on positioning the crankshaft.</p>
<p id="p0042" num="0042">Differently, when it is determined in sub-step S4353 that the engine speed approaches zero and the angular position of the crankshaft corresponds to the non-compression stroke (i.e., the combustion stroke) of the engine, the flowproceeds to sub-step S4354, where the processor 214 stops the integrated starter generator 24 from outputting the reverse torque. Consequently, the crankshaft positioning process in sub-step S435 is completed and so is the post engine shutdown control process in step S43.</p>
<p id="p0043" num="0043">As shown in step S44 in <figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref>, the processor 214 turns off the power relay 26.</p>
<p id="p0044" num="0044">In step S45, the processor 214 turns off the electronic switch 212 to cut off the electrical flow from the battery 22 through the electronic switch 212 and the self-sustaining power circuit 213 to the processor 214, so the system is entirely turned off in<!-- EPO <DP n="19"> --> step S46.</p>
<p id="p0045" num="0045">In summary, after the main switch 20 is switched from the Key ON state to the Key OFF state, the method of this disclosure utilizes the auxiliary power source, which is established by means of the battery 22, the electronic switch 212 and the self-sustaining power circuit 213, to power the system so that power supply to the ISG controller 21 is not cut off immediately, allowing the ISG controller 21 to perform the crankshaft positioning process for positioning the crankshaft at an angular position corresponding to the non-compression stroke of the engine when the crankshaft stops. Therefore, the next start of the engine can be smoother and requires less energy to overcome the resistance in the engine. In addition, the electrical power generated and regulated while the engine is turned off but the crankshaft in the engine is still revolving can be recycled to the battery 22, so energy is utilized more efficiently.</p>
</description>
<claims id="claims01" lang="en"><!-- EPO <DP n="20"> -->
<claim id="c-en-01-0001" num="0001">
<claim-text>A method for positioning a crankshaft of an engine of a vehicle, the method to be implemented by a system that includes an Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) controller (21) and a main switch (20), the ISG controller (21) continuously receiving a signal indicating an engine speed at which the engine is currently operating, the main switch (20) electrically connected between the ISG controller (21) and a battery (22), the ISG controller (21) electrically connected to an Engine Control Unit, ECU (23), and to an integrated starter generator (24) that is to be coupled to the engine, the ISG controller (21) including a processor (214), and a power transistor (215) that is electrically connected between the processor (214) and the integrated starter generator (24), the ISG controller (21) continuously receiving a signal indicating the angular position that the crankshaft is currently at, the ISG controller (21) further including a main switch detector (211), an electronic switch (212) that is to be electrically connected to the battery (22), and a self-sustaining power circuit (213), the processor (214) being electrically connected to the main switch detector (211), the electronic switch (212) and the self-sustaining power circuit (213), the method comprising steps of:<!-- EPO <DP n="21"> -->
<claim-text>a) determining, by the ISG controller (21) after the main switch (20) is switched from a Key ON state to a Key OFF state where the ISG controller (21) is powered by an auxiliary power source, whether the engine speed is lower than a predetermined threshold for positioning the crankshaft; and</claim-text>
<claim-text>b) performing, by the ISG controller (21) when it is determined that the engine speed is lower than the predetermined threshold for positioning the crankshaft, a crankshaft positioning process so that an angular position of the crankshaft does not correspond to a compression stroke of the engine when the crankshaft stops, and</claim-text>
<claim-text>the method further comprising the following steps, prior to step a):
<claim-text>when the main switch (20) is switched from the Key OFF state to the Key ON state where the ISG controller (21) is powered by the battery, generating, by the main switch detector (211), a Key ON indication signal indicating that the main switch (20) is in the Key ON state and transmitting, by the main switch detector (211), the Key ON indication signal to the processor (214);</claim-text>
<claim-text>enabling, by the processor (214) in response to receipt of the Key ON indication signal, the electronic switch (212) to conduct for allowing<!-- EPO <DP n="22"> --> passage of an electrical flow from the battery (22) through the electronic switch (212) and the self-sustaining power circuit (213) to the processor (214) so that the battery (22) serves as the auxiliary power source when the main switch (20) is switched to the Key OFF state;</claim-text>
<claim-text>receiving, by the processor (214), the start command from the ECU (23) for starting up the engine;</claim-text>
<claim-text>a1) refraining from receiving, by the ISG controller (21) after the main switch (20) is switched from the Key ON state where the ISG controller (21) is powered by the battery (22) to the Key OFF state where the engine is turned off, a start command for starting up the engine from the ECU (23);</claim-text>
<claim-text>a2) determining, by the processor (214), whether the engine speed is lower than a predetermined threshold for power generation;</claim-text>
<claim-text>a3) controlling, by the processor (214) when it is determined that the engine speed is not lower than the predetermined threshold for power generation, the integrated starter generator (24) to generate electrical power by rotation of the crankshaft of the engine, and to regulate the electrical power thus generated; and</claim-text>
<claim-text>a4) turning off, by the processor (214) when it is determined that the engine speed is lower than<!-- EPO <DP n="23"> --> the predetermined threshold for power generation, the power transistor (215) to cease the power generation by the integrated starter generator (24),</claim-text></claim-text>
<claim-text>wherein the crankshaft positioning process in step b) includes sub-steps of:
<claim-text>b1) determining, by the processor (214), whether the angular position of the crankshaft is equal to a preset angular position;</claim-text>
<claim-text>b2) controlling, by the processor (214) when it is determined that the angular position of the crankshaft is equal to the preset angular position, the integrated starter generator (24) to output reverse torque to the engine; and</claim-text>
<claim-text>b3) stopping, by the processor (214), the integrated starter generator (24) from outputting the reverse torque when it is determined that the engine speed approaches zero and the angular position of the crankshaft corresponds to a combustion stroke of the engine.</claim-text></claim-text></claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-en-01-0002" num="0002">
<claim-text>A system for positioning a crankshaft of an engine of a vehicle comprising:
<claim-text>a main switch (20) is electrically connected to a battery (22); and</claim-text>
<claim-text>an Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) controller (21) electrically connected to said main switch (20), an Engine Control Unit, ECU (23), and an integrated<!-- EPO <DP n="24"> --> starter generator (24) to be coupled to the engine, said ISG controller (21) including a processor (214), and a power transistor (215) electrically connected between said processor (214) and the integrated starter generator (24), the ISG controller (21) configured to
<claim-text>continuously receive a signal indicating an engine speed at which the engine is currently operating and a signal indicating the angular position that the crankshaft is currently at,</claim-text>
<claim-text>determine, after said main switch (20) is switched from a Key ON state to a Key OFF state where said ISG controller (21) is powered by an auxiliary power source, whether the engine speed is lower than a predetermined threshold for positioning the crankshaft,</claim-text>
<claim-text>perform, when it is determined that the engine speed is lower than the predetermined threshold for positioning the crankshaft, a crankshaft positioning process so that an angular position of the crankshaft does not correspond to a compression stroke of the engine when the crankshaft stops, and</claim-text>
<claim-text>refrain from receiving, after said main switch (20) is switched from the Key ON state where the ISG controller (21) is powered by the battery (22) to the Key OFF state, where the engine is turned off, a start command for starting up the engine from the<!-- EPO <DP n="25"> --> ECU (23),</claim-text></claim-text>
<claim-text>wherein said processor (214) is configured to
<claim-text>determine whether the engine speed is lower than a predetermined threshold for power generation,</claim-text>
<claim-text>control, when it is determined that the engine speed is not lower than the predetermined threshold for power generation, the integrated starter generator (24) to generate electrical power by rotation of the crankshaft of the engine, and to regulate the electrical power thus generated,</claim-text>
<claim-text>turn off, when it is determined that the engine speed is lower than the predetermined threshold for power generation, said power transistor (215) to cease the power generation by the integrated starter generator (24)</claim-text>
<claim-text>determine whether the angular position of the crankshaft is equal to a preset angular position,</claim-text>
<claim-text>control, when it is determined that the angular position of the crankshaft is equal to the preset angular position, the integrated starter generator (24) to output reverse torque to the engine, and</claim-text>
<claim-text>stop the integrated starter generator (24) from outputting the reverse torque when it is determined that the engine speed approaches zero and the angular position of the crankshaft corresponds to a combustion stroke of the engine,</claim-text><!-- EPO <DP n="26"> --></claim-text>
<claim-text>wherein said ISG controller (21) further includes
<claim-text>a main switch detector (211),</claim-text>
<claim-text>an electronic switch (212) to be electrically connected to the battery (22), and</claim-text>
<claim-text>a self-sustaining power circuit (213) to be electrically connected to said electronic switch (212), said processor (214) being electrically connected to said main switch detector (211), said electronic switch (212) and said self-sustaining power circuit (213),</claim-text></claim-text>
<claim-text>wherein said main switch (20) is configured to, when the main switch (20) is switched from the Key OFF state to the Key ON state where said ISG controller (21) is powered by the battery, generate a Key ON indication signal indicating that said main switch (20) is in the Key ON state and transmit the Key ON indication signal to said processor (214),</claim-text>
<claim-text>wherein said processor is configured to
<claim-text>receive the Key ON indication signal,</claim-text>
<claim-text>enable, in response to receipt of the Key ON indication signal, said electronic switch (212) to conduct for allowing passage of an electrical flow from the battery (22) through said electronic switch (212) and said self-sustaining power circuit (213) to the processor (214) so that the battery (22) serves as the auxiliary power source when the main switch (20) is switched to the Key OFF state, and<!-- EPO <DP n="27"> --></claim-text>
<claim-text>receive the start command from the ECU (23) for starting up the engine.</claim-text></claim-text></claim-text></claim>
</claims>
<claims id="claims02" lang="de"><!-- EPO <DP n="28"> -->
<claim id="c-de-01-0001" num="0001">
<claim-text>Verfahren zum Positionieren einer Kurbelwelle des Motors eines Fahrzeugs, wobei das Verfahren durch ein System zu implementieren ist, das eine Steuereinheit (21) für einen integrierten Startergenerator (ISG) und einen Hauptschalter (20) umfasst, wobei die ISG-Steuereinheit (21) kontinuierlich ein Signal empfängt, das eine Motordrehzahl anzeigt, mit der der Motor derzeit betrieben wird, wobei der Hauptschalter (20) elektrisch zwischen die ISG-Steuereinheit (21) und eine Batterie (22) geschaltet ist, wobei die ISG-Steuereinheit (21) elektrisch mit einer Motorsteuerung (23) und mit einem integrierten Startergenerator (24) verbunden ist, der mit dem Motor zu koppeln ist, wobei die ISG-Steuereinheit (21) einen Prozessor (214) und einen Leistungstransistor (215) enthält, der elektrisch zwischen den Prozessor (214) und den integrierten Startergenerator (24) geschaltet ist, wobei die ISG-Steuereinheit (21) kontinuierlich ein Signal empfängt, das die Winkelposition anzeigt, in der sich die Kurbelwelle gerade befindet, wobei die ISG-Steuereinheit (21) ferner einen Hauptschalterdetektor (211), einen elektronischen Schalter (212), der elektrisch mit der Batterie (22) zu verbinden ist, und einen autarken Leistungskreis (213) enthält, wobei der Prozessor (214) elektrisch mit dem Hauptschalterdetektor (211), dem elektronischen Schalter (212) und dem autarken Leistungskreis (213) verbunden ist, wobei das Verfahren die folgenden Schritte umfasst:
<claim-text>a) Ermitteln, durch die ISG-Steuereinheit (21), nachdem der Hauptschalter (20) von einem Schlüssel-EIN-Zustand in einen Schlüssel-AUS-Zustand geschaltet wurde, in dem die ISG-Steuereinheit (21) durch eine Hilfsenergiequelle mit Strom versorgt wird, ob die Motordrehzahl niedriger als ein vorbestimmter<!-- EPO <DP n="29"> --> Schwellenwert für die Positionierung der Kurbelwelle ist; und</claim-text>
<claim-text>b) Durchführen, durch die ISG-Steuereinheit (21), wenn ermittelt wird, dass die Motordrehzahl niedriger als der vorbestimmte Schwellenwert für die Positionierung der Kurbelwelle ist, eines Vorgangs zur Kurbelwellenpositionierung, so dass eine Winkelposition der Kurbelwelle nicht einem Verdichtungstakt des Motors entspricht, wenn die Kurbelwelle anhält, und</claim-text>
<claim-text>wobei das Verfahren vor Schritt a) ferner die folgenden Schritte umfasst:
<claim-text>wenn der Hauptschalter (20) vom Schlüssel-AUS-Zustand in den Schlüssel-EIN-Zustand geschaltet wird, in dem die ISG-Steuereinheit (21) durch die Batterie mit Strom versorgt wird, Erzeugen eines Schlüssel-EIN-Anzeigesignals durch den Hauptschalterdetektor (211), das anzeigt, dass sich der Hauptschalter (20) im Schlüssel-EIN-Zustand befindet, und Übertragen des Schlüssel-EIN-Anzeigesignals durch den Hauptschalterdetektor (211) zu dem Prozessor (214);</claim-text>
<claim-text>Aktivieren, durch den Prozessor (214), als Reaktion auf den Empfang des Schlüssel-EIN-Anzeigesignals, des elektronischen Schalters (212), so dass dieser leitet, um einen elektrischen Fluss von der Batterie (22) durch den elektronischen Schalter (212) und den autarken Leistungskreis (213) zu dem Prozessor (214) zu ermöglichen, so dass die Batterie (22) als Hilfsenergiequelle dient, wenn der Hauptschalter (20) in den Schlüssel-AUS-Zustand geschaltet wird;</claim-text>
<claim-text>Empfangen, durch den Prozessor (214), des Startbefehls von der Motorsteuerung (23) zum Starten des Motors;</claim-text>
<claim-text>al) Unterlassen des Empfangs, durch die ISG-Steuereinheit (21), nachdem der Hauptschalter (20) vom Schlüssel-EIN-Zustand, in dem die ISG-Steuereinheit (21)<!-- EPO <DP n="30"> --> durch die Batterie (22) mit Strom versorgt wird, in den Schlüssel-AUS-Zustand, in dem der Motor abgestellt ist, geschaltet wurde, eines Startbefehls zum Starten des Motors von der Motorsteuerung (23);</claim-text>
<claim-text>a2) Ermitteln, durch den Prozessor (214), ob die Motordrehzahl niedriger als ein vorbestimmter Schwellenwert für die Energieerzeugung ist;</claim-text>
<claim-text>a3) Steuern, durch den Prozessor (214), wenn ermittelt wird, dass die Motordrehzahl nicht niedriger als der vorbestimmte Schwellenwert für die Energieerzeugung ist, des integrierten Startergenerators (24) dahingehend, dass er elektrische Energie durch Drehung der Kurbelwelle des Motors erzeugt und die so erzeugte elektrische Energie regelt; und</claim-text>
<claim-text>a4) Ausschalten des Leistungstransistors (215) durch den Prozessor (214), um die Energieerzeugung durch den integrierten Startergenerator (24) einzustellen, wenn ermittelt wird, dass die Motordrehzahl niedriger als der vorbestimmte Schwellenwert für die Energieerzeugung ist,</claim-text></claim-text>
<claim-text>wobei der Vorgang zur Kurbelwellenpositionierung in Schritt b) die folgenden Teilschritte umfasst:
<claim-text>b1) Ermitteln, durch den Prozessor (214), ob die Winkelposition der Kurbelwelle gleich einer voreingestellten Winkelposition ist;</claim-text>
<claim-text>b2) Steuern, durch den Prozessor (214), wenn ermittelt wird, dass die Winkelposition der Kurbelwelle gleich der voreingestellten Winkelposition ist, des integrierten Startergenerators (24) dahingehend, dass er das Rückdrehmoment an den Motor ausgibt; und</claim-text>
<claim-text>b3) Hindern, durch den Prozessor (214), des integrierten Startergenerators (24) an der Ausgabe des Rückdrehmoments, wenn ermittelt wird, dass die Motordrehzahl gegen Null geht und die Winkelposition der<!-- EPO <DP n="31"> --> Kurbelwelle einem Verbrennungstakt des Motors entspricht.</claim-text></claim-text></claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-de-01-0002" num="0002">
<claim-text>System zum Positionieren einer Kurbelwelle des Motors eines Fahrzeugs, umfassend:
<claim-text>einen Hauptschalter (20), der elektrisch mit einer Batterie (22) verbunden ist; und</claim-text>
<claim-text>eine Steuereinheit (21) für einen integrierten Startergenerator (ISG), die elektrisch mit dem Hauptschalter (20), einer Motorsteuerung (23) und einem integrierten Startergenerator (24) verbunden ist, der mit dem Motor zu koppeln ist, wobei die ISG-Steuereinheit (21) einen Prozessor (214) und einen Leistungstransistor (215) umfasst, der elektrisch zwischen den Prozessor (214) und den integrierten Startergenerator (24) geschaltet ist, wobei die ISG-Steuereinheit (21) konfiguriert ist zum</claim-text>
<claim-text>kontinuierlichen Empfangen eines Signals, das eine Motordrehzahl anzeigt, mit der der Motor derzeit betrieben wird, und eines Signals, das die Winkelposition anzeigt, in der sich die Kurbelwelle gerade befindet,</claim-text>
<claim-text>Ermitteln, nachdem der Hauptschalter (20) von einem Schlüssel-EIN-Zustand in einen Schlüssel-AUS-Zustand geschaltet wurde, in dem die ISG-Steuereinheit (21) durch eine Hilfsenergiequelle mit Strom versorgt wird, ob die Motordrehzahl niedriger als ein vorbestimmter Schwellenwert für die Positionierung der Kurbelwelle ist,</claim-text>
<claim-text>Durchführen, wenn ermittelt wird, dass die Motordrehzahl niedriger als der vorbestimmte Schwellenwert für die Positionierung der Kurbelwelle ist, eines Vorgangs zur Kurbelwellenpositionierung, so dass eine Winkelposition der Kurbelwelle nicht einem<!-- EPO <DP n="32"> --> Verdichtungstakt des Motors entspricht, wenn die Kurbelwelle anhält, und</claim-text>
<claim-text>Unterlassen des Empfangs, von der Motorsteuerung (23), nachdem der Hauptschalter (20) vom Schlüssel-EIN-Zustand, in dem die ISG-Steuereinheit (21) durch die Batterie (22) mit Strom versorgt wird, in den Schlüssel-AUS-Zustand, in dem der Motor abgestellt ist, geschaltet wurde, eines Startbefehls zum Starten des Motors,</claim-text>
<claim-text>wobei der Prozessor (214) konfiguriert ist zum</claim-text>
<claim-text>Ermitteln, ob die Motordrehzahl niedriger als ein vorbestimmter Schwellenwert für die Energieerzeugung ist,</claim-text>
<claim-text>Steuern, wenn ermittelt wird, dass die Motordrehzahl nicht niedriger als der vorbestimmte Schwellenwert für die Energieerzeugung ist, des integrierten Startergenerators (24) dahingehend, dass er elektrische Energie durch Drehung der Kurbelwelle des Motors erzeugt und die so erzeugte elektrische Energie regelt,</claim-text>
<claim-text>Ausschalten, wenn ermittelt wird, dass die Motordrehzahl niedriger als der vorbestimmte Schwellenwert für die Energieerzeugung ist, des Leistungstransistors (215), um die Energieerzeugung durch den integrierten Startergenerator (24) einzustellen,</claim-text>
<claim-text>Ermitteln, ob die Winkelposition der Kurbelwelle gleich einer voreingestellten Winkelposition ist,</claim-text>
<claim-text>Steuern, wenn ermittelt wird, dass die Winkelposition der Kurbelwelle gleich der voreingestellten Winkelposition ist, des integrierten Startergenerators (24) dahingehend, dass er das Rückdrehmoment an den Motor ausgibt, und</claim-text>
<claim-text>Hindern des integrierten Startergenerators (24) an der Ausgabe des Rückdrehmoments, wenn ermittelt wird, dass die Motordrehzahl gegen Null geht und die<!-- EPO <DP n="33"> --> Winkelposition der Kurbelwelle einem Verbrennungstakt des Motors entspricht,</claim-text>
<claim-text>wobei die ISG-Steuereinheit (21) ferner Folgendes umfasst:
<claim-text>einen Hauptschalterdetektor (211),</claim-text>
<claim-text>einen elektronischen Schalter (212), der elektrisch mit der Batterie (22) zu verbinden ist, und</claim-text>
<claim-text>einen autarken Leistungskreis (213), der elektrisch mit dem elektronischen Schalter (212) zu verbinden ist, wobei der Prozessor (214) elektrisch mit dem Hauptschalterdetektor (211), dem elektronischen Schalter (212) und dem autarken Leistungskreis (213) verbunden ist,</claim-text>
<claim-text>wobei der Hauptschalter (20) dafür konfiguriert ist, wenn der Hauptschalter (20) vom Schlüssel-AUS-Zustand in den Schlüssel-EIN-Zustand geschaltet wird, in dem die ISG-Steuereinheit (21) durch die Batterie mit Strom versorgt wird, ein Schlüssel-EIN-Anzeigesignal zu erzeugen, das anzeigt, dass sich der Hauptschalter (20) im Schlüssel-EIN-Zustand befindet, und das Schlüssel-EIN-Anzeigesignal zu dem Prozessor (214) zu übertragen,</claim-text>
<claim-text>wobei der Prozessor konfiguriert ist zum</claim-text>
<claim-text>Empfangen des Schlüssel-EIN-Anzeigesignals,</claim-text>
<claim-text>Aktivieren, als Reaktion auf den Empfang des Schlüssel-EIN-Anzeigesignals, des elektronischen Schalters (212), so dass dieser leitet, um einen elektrischen Fluss von der Batterie (22) durch den elektronischen Schalter (212) und den autarken Leistungskreis (213) zu dem Prozessor (214) zu ermöglichen, so dass die Batterie (22) als Hilfsenergiequelle dient, wenn der Hauptschalter (20) in den Schlüssel-AUS-Zustand geschaltet wird, und</claim-text>
<claim-text>Empfangen des Startbefehls von der Motorsteuerung (23) zum Starten des Motors.</claim-text></claim-text></claim-text></claim>
</claims>
<claims id="claims03" lang="fr"><!-- EPO <DP n="34"> -->
<claim id="c-fr-01-0001" num="0001">
<claim-text>Procédé de positionnement du vilebrequin d'un moteur d'un véhicule, le procédé devant être mis en œuvre par un système comprenant un contrôleur de générateur de démarrage intégré (ISG) (21) et un interrupteur principal (20), le contrôleur ISG (21) recevant en continu un signal indiquant un régime moteur auquel le moteur est actuellement en train de fonctionner, l'interrupteur principal (20) étant connecté électriquement entre le contrôleur ISG (21) et une batterie (22), le contrôleur ISG (21) étant connecté électriquement à une unité de contrôle du moteur, ECU (23), et à un générateur de démarrage intégré (24) qui doit être couplé au moteur, le contrôleur ISG (21) comprend un processeur (214), et un transistor de puissance (215) qui est connecté électriquement entre le processeur (214) et le générateur de démarrage intégré (24), le contrôleur ISG (21) recevant en continu un signal indiquant la position angulaire actuelle du vilebrequin, le contrôleur ISG (21) comprenant en outre un détecteur d'interrupteur principal (211), un interrupteur électronique (212) qui doit être connecté<!-- EPO <DP n="35"> --> électriquement à la batterie (22), et un circuit d'alimentation autonome (213), le processeur (214) étant connecté électriquement au détecteur d'interrupteur principal (211), à l'interrupteur électronique (212) et au circuit d'alimentation autonome (213), le procédé comprenant les étapes suivantes :
<claim-text>a) déterminer, par le contrôleur de l'EIG (21) après que l'interrupteur principal (20) est passé d'un état Key ON à un état Key OFF lorsque le contrôleur ISG (21) est alimenté par une source d'énergie auxiliaire, si le régime du moteur est inférieur à un seuil prédéterminé pour le positionnement du vilebrequin ; et</claim-text>
<claim-text>b) exécuter, par le contrôleur ISG (21), lorsqu'il est déterminé que le régime moteur est inférieur au seuil prédéterminé pour le positionnement du vilebrequin, un processus de positionnement du vilebrequin de sorte qu'une position angulaire du vilebrequin ne corresponde pas à une course de compression du moteur lorsque le vilebrequin s'arrête, et</claim-text>
<claim-text>le procédé comprenant en outre les étapes suivantes, avant l'étape a) :
<claim-text>lorsque l'interrupteur principal (20) passe de l'état Key OFF à l'état Key ON où le contrôleur ISG (21) est alimenté par la batterie, générer, par<!-- EPO <DP n="36"> --> le détecteur d'interrupteur principal (211), un signal d'indication Key ON indiquant que l'interrupteur principal (20) est dans l'état Key ON et transmettre, par le détecteur d'interrupteur principal (211), le signal d'indication Key ON au processeur (214) ;</claim-text>
<claim-text>activer, par le processeur (214) en réponse à la réception du signal d'indication Key ON, l'interrupteur électronique (212) pour permettre le passage d'un flux électrique de la batterie (22) à travers l'interrupteur électronique (212) et le circuit d'alimentation autonome (213) vers le processeur (214) de sorte que la batterie (22) serve de source d'alimentation auxiliaire lorsque l'interrupteur principal (20) est commuté à l'état Key OFF ;</claim-text>
<claim-text>recevoir, par le processeur (214), la commande de démarrage de l'ECU (23) pour le démarrage du moteur ;</claim-text>
<claim-text>a1) s'abstenir de recevoir, par le contrôleur ISG (21) après que l'interrupteur principal (20) est passé de l'état Key ON où le contrôleur ISG (21) est alimenté par la batterie (22) à l'état Key OFF où le moteur est éteint, une commande de démarrage du moteur en provenance de l'ECU (23) ;</claim-text>
<claim-text>a2) déterminer, par le processeur (214), si le régime du moteur est inférieur à un seuil<!-- EPO <DP n="37"> --> prédéterminé pour la production d'énergie ;</claim-text>
<claim-text>a3) commander, par le processeur (214), lorsqu'il est déterminé que le régime du moteur n'est pas inférieur au seuil prédéterminé pour la production d'énergie, le générateur de démarrage intégré (24) pour produire de l'énergie électrique par la rotation du vilebrequin du moteur, et pour réguler l'énergie électrique ainsi produite ; et</claim-text>
<claim-text>a4) éteindre, par le processeur (214), le transistor de puissance (215) lorsqu'il est déterminé que le régime du moteur est inférieur au seuil prédéterminé pour la production d'énergie, afin de mettre fin à la production d'énergie par le générateur à démarrage intégré (24),</claim-text></claim-text>
<claim-text>dans lequel le processus de positionnement du vilebrequin à l'étape b) comprend les sous-étapes suivantes :
<claim-text>b1)déterminer, par le processeur (214), si la position angulaire du vilebrequin est égale à une position angulaire prédéfinie ;</claim-text>
<claim-text>b2) commander, par le processeur (214), lorsqu'il est déterminé que la position angulaire du vilebrequin est égale à la position angulaire prédéfinie, le générateur de démarrage intégré (24) pour qu'il délivre un couple inverse au moteur ; et</claim-text>
<claim-text>b3) empêcher, par le processeur (214), le générateur de démarrage intégré (24) d'émettre le<!-- EPO <DP n="38"> --> couple inverse lorsqu'il est déterminé que le régime du moteur est proche de zéro et que la position angulaire du vilebrequin correspond à un temps de combustion du moteur.</claim-text></claim-text></claim-text></claim>
<claim id="c-fr-01-0002" num="0002">
<claim-text>Système de positionnement d'un vilebrequin d'un moteur de véhicule comprenant :
<claim-text>un interrupteur principal (20) connecté électriquement à une batterie (22) ; et</claim-text>
<claim-text>un contrôleur de générateur de démarrage intégré (21) connecté électriquement audit commutateur principal (20), une unité de contrôle du moteur, ECU (23), et un générateur de démarrage intégré (24) à coupler au moteur, ledit contrôleur ISG (21) comprenant un processeur (214), et un transistor de puissance (215) connecté électriquement entre ledit processeur (214) et le générateur de démarrage intégré (24), le contrôleur ISG (21) étant configuré pour
<claim-text>recevoir en continu un signal indiquant le régime auquel le moteur fonctionne actuellement et un signal indiquant la position angulaire du vilebrequin,</claim-text>
<claim-text>déterminer, après que ledit interrupteur principal (20) est passé de l'état Key ON à l'état Key OFF lorsque ledit contrôleur ISG (21) est alimenté par une source d'énergie auxiliaire, si le<!-- EPO <DP n="39"> --> régime du moteur est inférieur à un seuil prédéterminé pour le positionnement du vilebrequin,</claim-text>
<claim-text>exécuter, lorsqu'il est déterminé que le régime du moteur est inférieur au seuil prédéterminé pour le positionnement du vilebrequin, un processus de positionnement du vilebrequin de sorte qu'une position angulaire du vilebrequin ne corresponde pas à une course de compression du moteur lorsque le vilebrequin s'arrête, et</claim-text>
<claim-text>s'abstenir de recevoir, après que ledit interrupteur principal (20) est passé de l'état Key ON où le contrôleur ISG (21) est alimenté par la batterie (22) à l'état Key OFF, où le moteur est éteint, une commande de démarrage du moteur de la part de l'ECU (23),</claim-text></claim-text>
<claim-text>dans lequel ledit processeur (214) est configuré pour
<claim-text>déterminer si le régime du moteur est inférieur à un seuil prédéterminé pour la production d'énergie,</claim-text>
<claim-text>commander, lorsqu'il est déterminé que le régime du moteur n'est pas inférieur au seuil prédéterminé pour la production d'énergie, le générateur de démarrage intégré (24) pour produire de l'énergie électrique par rotation du vilebrequin du moteur, et pour réguler l'énergie électrique ainsi produite,<!-- EPO <DP n="40"> --></claim-text>
<claim-text>éteindre, lorsqu'il est déterminé que le régime du moteur est inférieur au seuil prédéterminé pour la production d'énergie, ledit transistor de puissance (215) afin d'arrêter la production d'énergie par le générateur de démarrage intégré (24)</claim-text>
<claim-text>déterminer si la position angulaire du vilebrequin est égale à une position angulaire prédéfinie,</claim-text>
<claim-text>commander, lorsqu'il est déterminé que la position angulaire du vilebrequin est égale à la position angulaire prédéfinie, le générateur de démarrage intégré (24) pour délivrer un couple inverse au moteur, et</claim-text>
<claim-text>empêcher le générateur de démarrage intégré (24) d'émettre le couple inverse lorsqu'il est déterminé que le régime du moteur approche de zéro et que la position angulaire du vilebrequin correspond à un temps de combustion du moteur,</claim-text></claim-text>
<claim-text>dans lequel ledit contrôleur ISG (21) comprend en outre
<claim-text>un détecteur d'interrupteur principal (211),</claim-text>
<claim-text>un commutateur électronique (212) relié électriquement à la batterie (22), et</claim-text>
<claim-text>un circuit d'alimentation autonome (213) à connecter électriquement audit commutateur électronique (212), ledit processeur (214) étant connecté électriquement audit détecteur<!-- EPO <DP n="41"> --> d'interrupteur principal (211), audit commutateur électronique (212) et audit circuit d'alimentation autonome (213),</claim-text></claim-text>
<claim-text>dans lequel ledit interrupteur principal (20) est configuré pour, lorsque l'interrupteur principal (20) passe de l'état Key OFF à l'état Key ON où ledit contrôleur ISG (21) est alimenté par la batterie, générer un signal d'indication Key ON indiquant que ledit interrupteur principal (20) est dans l'état "Key ON" et transmettre le signal d'indication "Key ON" audit processeur (214),</claim-text>
<claim-text>dans lequel ledit processeur est configuré pour
<claim-text>recevoir le signal d'indication Key ON,</claim-text>
<claim-text>permettre, en réponse à la réception du signal d'indication Key ON, à l'interrupteur électronique (212) de fonctionner pour permettre le passage d'un flux électrique de la batterie (22) à travers l'interrupteur électronique (212) et le circuit d'alimentation autonome (213) vers le processeur (214) de sorte que la batterie (22) serve de source d'alimentation auxiliaire lorsque l'interrupteur principal (20) est commuté sur l'état Key OFF, et</claim-text>
<claim-text>recevoir la commande de démarrage de l'ECU (23) pour démarrer le moteur.</claim-text></claim-text></claim-text></claim>
</claims>
<drawings id="draw" lang="en"><!-- EPO <DP n="42"> -->
<figure id="f0001" num="1"><img id="if0001" file="imgf0001.tif" wi="141" he="103" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="43"> -->
<figure id="f0002" num="2"><img id="if0002" file="imgf0002.tif" wi="153" he="233" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="44"> -->
<figure id="f0003" num="3"><img id="if0003" file="imgf0003.tif" wi="140" he="130" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="45"> -->
<figure id="f0004" num="4"><img id="if0004" file="imgf0004.tif" wi="122" he="169" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="46"> -->
<figure id="f0005" num="5"><img id="if0005" file="imgf0005.tif" wi="138" he="222" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="47"> -->
<figure id="f0006" num="6"><img id="if0006" file="imgf0006.tif" wi="155" he="207" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="48"> -->
<figure id="f0007" num="7"><img id="if0007" file="imgf0007.tif" wi="124" he="216" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure><!-- EPO <DP n="49"> -->
<figure id="f0008" num="8"><img id="if0008" file="imgf0008.tif" wi="142" he="129" img-content="drawing" img-format="tif"/></figure>
</drawings>
<ep-reference-list id="ref-list">
<heading id="ref-h0001"><b>REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION</b></heading>
<p id="ref-p0001" num=""><i>This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.</i></p>
<heading id="ref-h0002"><b>Patent documents cited in the description</b></heading>
<p id="ref-p0002" num="">
<ul id="ref-ul0001" list-style="bullet">
<li><patcit id="ref-pcit0001" dnum="TW1476320"><document-id><country>TW</country><doc-number>1476320</doc-number></document-id></patcit><crossref idref="pcit0001">[0004]</crossref></li>
<li><patcit id="ref-pcit0002" dnum="US2004149247A"><document-id><country>US</country><doc-number>2004149247</doc-number><kind>A</kind></document-id></patcit><crossref idref="pcit0002">[0005]</crossref></li>
<li><patcit id="ref-pcit0003" dnum="US2011264359A"><document-id><country>US</country><doc-number>2011264359</doc-number><kind>A</kind></document-id></patcit><crossref idref="pcit0003">[0006]</crossref></li>
<li><patcit id="ref-pcit0004" dnum="WO2008136738A"><document-id><country>WO</country><doc-number>2008136738</doc-number><kind>A</kind></document-id></patcit><crossref idref="pcit0004">[0007]</crossref></li>
<li><patcit id="ref-pcit0005" dnum="EP2607178A"><document-id><country>EP</country><doc-number>2607178</doc-number><kind>A</kind></document-id></patcit><crossref idref="pcit0005">[0008]</crossref></li>
</ul></p>
</ep-reference-list>
</ep-patent-document>
