Patent ID: 7528570
Filing Date: 2009-05-05
Classification: F02D,F02N,G01R

Abstract:
1. A device for predicting the starting ability of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a starter which is supplied with electrical power by a vehicle battery, comprising: a battery state detection device which determines a state of charge of the vehicle battery; a first device which uses a discharge current curve to determine a charge drained from the vehicle battery during a predefined time period when the vehicle is shut off; a second device which calculates the state of charge of the vehicle battery after the predefined time period; a third device that determines an electrical battery variable in which a characteristics map of the electrical battery variable is stored as a function of the state of charge of the vehicle battery, a value of the electrical battery variable, which is present after the predefined time period, being read out from the characteristics map; a measurement device configured to measure an electrical variable of the vehicle battery during a starting operation, wherein the measured electrical variable is used to correct the stored characteristics map; and a prediction device which uses the read out value of the electrical battery variable to determine whether or not the vehicle is able to start after the predefined time period.