Method and system for starting an internal combustion engine

1. A method for starting an internal combustion engine (ICE) having a crankshaft and an electric turning machine (ETM) operatively connected to the crankshaft, the method comprising:

energizing an absolute position sensor adapted for providing a signal corresponding to an actual angular position of a rotor of the ETM when the rotor of the ETM is stopped;

determining, based on the indication of the current position of the rotor of the ETM, a current position of a piston operatively connected to the crankshaft, the current position of the piston being in relation to a top dead center (TDC) position of the piston within a combustion chamber; and

applying a current to the ETM to generate a sufficient torque to continuously rotate the crankshaft such that the ICE fires while the piston is within a ten degree range of the TDC position for a first time.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the absolute position sensor provides successive signals corresponding to successive angular positions of the rotor of the ETM when the rotor of the ETM is rotating, the successive signals being sent to a controller; and

the controller calculates on an ongoing basis the actual angular position of the rotor of the ETM based on the successive signals from the absolute position sensor.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying a current to the ETM further comprises:

initially applying a first current to the ETM; and

subsequently applying to the ETM a second current greater than the first current in response to the actual angular position of the rotor of the ETM passing beyond a predetermined angular position.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving at a controller a start command for the ICE.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an initial angular position of the rotor of the ETM when the rotor of the ETM is stopped; and

determining a first amount of torque to be supplied by the ETM to the crankshaft based in part on the initial angular position of the rotor of the ETM.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

determining a second angular position of the rotor of the ETM, the second angular position indicating that the rotor of the ETM has passed a first predetermined angular position; and

determining a second amount of torque to be supplied by the ETM to the crankshaft based in part on the second angular position of the rotor of the ETM, the second amount of torque being greater than the first amount of torque.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

determining a third angular position of the rotor of the ETM, the third angular position indicating that the rotor of the ETM has passed a second predetermined angular position, the second predetermined angular position corresponding to the TDC position of the piston within the combustion chamber of the ICE; and

injecting fuel in the combustion chamber of the ICE in response to determining that the rotor of the ETM has passed the TDC position of the piston within the combustion chamber.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

determining a fourth angular position of the rotor of the ETM, the fourth angular position indicating that the rotor of the ETM has passed a third predetermined angular position, the third predetermined angular position being after the second predetermined angular position; and

igniting the fuel in the combustion chamber of the ICE.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the fourth angular position is less than 110 degrees of rotation of the crankshaft beyond the initial angular position.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the fourth angular position is selected so that ignition takes place before opening of an exhaust port in the combustion chamber of the ICE.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the absolute position sensor is coaxial with the rotor of the ETM.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the absolute position sensor is coaxial with the crankshaft.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the actual angular position of the rotor of the ETM is an absolute angular position of the rotor of the ETM.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the actual angular position of the rotor of the ETM is an absolute angular position of the crankshaft.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the current to the ETM generates the sufficient torque to continuously rotate the crankshaft such that:

the ICE is arranged such that fuel is injected within the ten degree range of the TDC position for the first time; and

the ICE ignites after the piston first reaches the TDC position and before the piston reaches TDC position for a second time.