Engine start system and method thereof

• US 20050247280A1
• Filed: 03/28/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Eguchi, Takashi, Ino, Junsuke, Koike, Rei, Asada, Tesuya
• Granted Patent: US 7,216,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/179.300
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/228 Warning displays
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0848 with means for detecting successful engine start, e.g. to stop starter actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/061 Battery state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

An engine-starting device for an engine. The device includes a counter that provides a counting value based on an initiation of engine cranking; and a cranking control system that prohibits engine cranking if the counting value of the counter passes a cranking prohibition threshold value.

Claims

1. An engine-starting device comprising:

a counter that counts up a counting value based on an initiation of engine cranking; and

a cranking control system that prohibits engine cranking if the counting value of the counter passes a cranking prohibition threshold value.

2. An engine-starting device according to claim 1, wherein the counter counts down the counting value when the engine cranking ends;

and

the cranking control system permits intermittent engine cranking until the counting value of the counter passes the cranking prohibition threshold value.

3. The engine-starting device according to claim 1, wherein:

the counter changes the counting value after engine cranking is prohibited; and

the cranking control system permits engine cranking when the counting value passes a cranking restart permission threshold value.

4. The engine-starting device according to claim 3, wherein said cranking prohibition threshold value and said cranking restart permission threshold value are established based on a rated value and performance characteristic of a starter motor.

5. The engine-starting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a battery voltage detection system that is adapted to detect a voltage of a battery that supplies power to a motor that performs said engine cranking;

wherein said cranking control system is adapted to reduce an amount of cranking to reach said cranking prohibition threshold value when the voltage of the battery meets or exceeds a given voltage value.

6. The engine-starting device according to claim 5, wherein the cranking control system is adapted to:

obtain a previous cycle time;

obtain a current cycle time;

determine a time difference between the current cycle time and the previous cycle time to provide a change in time;

multiply the change in time by a coefficient to obtain a counter change value; and

add the counter change value to a counting value for the previous cycle to generate the counting value.

7. The engine-starting device according to claim 6, wherein the cranking control system reduces the amount of cranking in response to the voltage of the battery meeting or exceeding the given voltage value by increasing a value of the coefficient.

8. The engine-starting device according to claim 1, wherein a manual cranking starting system or an auto-cranking starting system performs the engine cranking.

9. The engine-starting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a battery supplying electric power to a starter motor;

wherein the cranking prohibition threshold changes based on a voltage of the battery.

10. The engine-starting device according to claim 1, further comprising a starting completion determination system that is adapted to determine when the engine is started;

wherein the starting completion determination system prohibits cranking after the engine is started.

11. The engine-starting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a starting system for performing engine cranking;

an intelligent key controller; and

an electronic key;

wherein the starting system is adapted to permit engine cranking when the intelligent key controller is within a specified distance from the electronic key.

12. The engine-starting device according to claim 1, wherein the engine starting system comprises a push-button starting system.

13. The engine-starting device according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm adapted to provide a warning when the cranking control system prohibits engine cranking.

14. The engine-starting device according to claim 13, wherein the alarm includes a buzzer or other audible alarm signal.

15. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle portion; and

an engine-starting device including;

a counter that counts up a counting value based on an initiation of engine cranking, and

a cranking control system that prohibits engine cranking if the counting value of the counter passes a cranking prohibition threshold value.

16. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the counter counts down the counting value when the engine cranking ends;

and

the cranking control system permits intermittent engine cranking until the counting value of the counter passes the cranking prohibition threshold value.

17. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein:

the counter changes the counting value after engine cranking is prohibited; and

the cranking control system permits engine cranking when the counting value passes a cranking restart permission threshold value.

18. The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the cranking prohibition threshold value and the cranking restart permission threshold value are established based on a rated value and performance characteristic of a starter motor.

19. The vehicle according to claim 15, further comprising:

a battery voltage detection system that is adapted to detect a voltage of a battery that supplies power to a motor that performs said engine cranking, and

wherein said cranking control system is adapted to reduce an amount of cranking to reach said cranking prohibition threshold value when the voltage of the battery meets or exceeds a given voltage value.

20. The vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the cranking control system is adapted to:

obtain a previous cycle time;

obtain a current cycle time;

determine a time difference between the current cycle time and the previous cycle time to provide a change in time;

multiply the change in time by a coefficient to obtain a counter change value; and

add the counter change value to a counting value for the previous cycle to generate the counting value.

21. The vehicle according to claim 20, wherein the cranking control system reduces an amount of cranking to reach the cranking prohibition threshold value by increasing a value of the coefficient.

22. A method for starting an engine, comprising:

initiating counting of a counting value when the engine begins cranking; and

prohibiting engine cranking if the counting value passes a cranking prohibition threshold value.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the counting value counts down when the engine cranking ends;

and

permitting intermittent engine cranking until the counting value passes a cranking prohibition threshold value.

24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

changing the counting value when engine cranking is prohibited; and

permitting engine cranking when the counting value passes a cranking restart permission threshold value.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the cranking prohibition threshold value and the cranking restart permission threshold value are established based on a rated value and performance characteristic of a starter motor.

26. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

detecting a voltage of a battery that supplies power to a starter motor, and

reducing an amount of cranking to reach said cranking prohibition threshold value when the voltage of the battery meets or exceeds a given voltage value.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising:

distinguishing a previous cycle and a current cycle;

obtaining a previous cycle time;

obtaining a current cycle time;

determining a time difference between the current cycle time and the previous cycle time to provide a change in time;

multiplying the change in time by a coefficient to obtain a counter change value; and

adding the counter change value to a counting value for the previous cycle to generate the counting value.

28. A method according to claim 22, further comprising incorporating a push-button to start a motor that performs engine cranking.

29. An engine-starting device for an engine, comprising:

a first device adapted to prohibit engine cranking after a first amount of time occurs; and

a second device adapted to allow engine cranking after a second amount of time elapses following the prohibition of engine cranking.

30. A method for starting an engine, comprising:

prohibiting engine cranking after a first amount of time occurs; and

allowing engine cranking after a second amount of time elapses following the prohibition of engine cranking.

31. An engine-starting device comprising,

a means for providing a counting value based on initiation of engine cranking;

and

a means for controlling engine cranking if a counting value passes a cranking prohibition threshold value.

32. The engine-starting device according to claim 31, wherein the means for providing a counting value counts down the counting value when the engine cranking ends;

and

the means for controlling engine cranking permits intermittent engine cranking until the counting value of the counter passes the cranking prohibition threshold value.

33. The engine-starting device according to claim 31, wherein:

the counting value is changed after engine cranking is prohibited; and

engine cranking is permitted when the counting value passes a cranking restart permission threshold value.

34. The engine-starting device according to claim 33, further comprising:

a means for reducing an amount of cranking before reaching the cranking prohibition threshold value.

35. The engine-starting device according to claim 34, wherein the means for reducing includes a coefficient that changes relative to a battery voltage, multiplying the coefficient by a change in time to obtain a counter change value, and using the counter change value to generate the counting value.

36. The engine-starting device according to claim 31, further comprising a means for starting engine cranking.