John Kirby Hatfield

US Patent:

6902319, Jun 7, 2005

Filed:

Jan 8, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/754062

Inventors:

Zhijian James Wu - Rochester Hills MI, US
Dean Marshall - Clarkston MI, US
Brad Schoeff - Sterling Hts. MI, US
Michel Trumbo - Troy MI, US
John G Hatfield - Leonard MI, US
James Karlet - Toledo OH, US
Yijun Tu - Tecumseh, CA

Assignee:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

H02J007/14
G01K003/02

US Classification:

374141, 374152, 320150, 324431

Abstract:

A method of estimating an internal temperature of a vehicle battery is based on heat transfer between a heat source and the battery. In addition to the heat source, airflow generated by vehicle movement and radiator fans affects the internal temperature of the battery. The method estimates an initial internal temperature of the battery at engine startup based on how long the engine was off. The temperature of the heat source is determined. A transfer function is determined to represent the effect of the airflow. The method updates a current internal temperature of the battery based on the initial internal temperature and an integration of the transfer function and the heat source temperature.

US Patent:

59988819, Dec 7, 1999

Filed:

Apr 29, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/069270

Inventors:

Robert C. Wind - Canton MI
Daniel W. Sullivan - Detroit MI
John G. Hatfield - Leonard MI

Assignee:

Chrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F02D 4108
H02P 904

US Classification:

290 40A

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for controlling low engine idle RPM without discharging a vehicle battery by monitoring the vehicle alternator field modulation. The apparatus includes an engine control module, an alternator, electrical loads and a switch module. The engine control module includes a first input and a first output forming a portion of a first feedback loop. The first input and first output enable the engine control module to sense and control the idle RPM of the engine. The alternator includes an armature and a field coil where rotation of the armature and modulation of the field coil controls the amount of current supplied by the alternator. The switch module modulates the field coil upon receipt of a drive signal from the engine control module. The switch module forms a part of the engine control module such that the engine control module can adjust the idle RPM of the engine to a minimum idle RPM necessary to supply current to the electrical loads by determining the idle RPM of the vehicle with the first feedback loop and by automatically knowing the field coil modulation of the field coil by generating the drive signal.