Importance

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Abstract

Vehicle cranking management systems and methods are provided for a vehicle preferably including a tractor mechanically connected to a trailer. Electrical energy is enabled to transfer from a battery of the vehicle to an electrical accessory load, when a battery output voltage signal is above a first predetermined threshold voltage, but is inhibited from transferring from the battery to the electrical accessory load if the battery output voltage signal is below a second predetermined threshold voltage. The first and second predetermined threshold voltages may be determined responsive to a sensed temperature of the vehicle engine, preferably a sensed temperature of oil present in the engine. In addition, electrical energy is enabled to transfer from the battery to a starter which cranks the vehicle's engine if a cranking command signal to crank the engine is asserted for less than a first predetermined time interval. If a cranking command signal is continuously asserted for a period longer than the first predetermined time interval, however, electrical energy is inhibited from transferring from the battery to the starter for a second predetermined time interval, to thereby inhibit the engine from being cranked during the second predetermined time interval. The vehicle may also include a speed sensor which senses a rotational speed of the engine, and electrical energy may be inhibited from transferring from the battery to the starter responsive to the sensed engine speed being greater than a predetermined threshold speed.

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First Claim