Idling stop control apparatus

• US 20060011163A1
• Filed: 07/08/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keihin Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Keihin Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Namari, Takashi, Watanabe, Kunitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,143,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/179.400
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/604 Engine control mode selected by driver, e.g. to manually start particle filter regeneration or to select driving style
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0822 related to action of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/105 when the engine is already running F02N11/0848 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An idling stop control apparatus includes a starter motor operation prohibiting device, an idling state determination device, an idling stop function determination device, a switch status determination device, an indicator, and an idling stop function rendering inoperative device. The idling stop function rendering inoperative device switches the idling stop function from an operative state to an inoperative state, when the idling state determination device determines that the internal combustion engine is running, and when the switch status determination device determines that the starter switch is turned on.

Claims

1. An idling stop control apparatus, equipped in an internal combustion engine, having an idling stop function, and being capable of switching the idling stop function to an operative state or an inoperative state, the idling stop control apparatus comprising:

a starter motor operation prohibiting device which prohibits an operation of a starter motor when it is determined that the internal combustion engine is running;

an idling state determination device which determines whether the internal combustion engine is idling;

an idling stop function determination device which determines whether the idling stop function is in an operative state or in an inoperative state;

a switch status determination device which determines a turning on operation of the starter switch;

an indicator which gives an idling stop indication when the internal combustion engine shifts to an idling stop state; and

an idling stop function rendering inoperative device which switches the idling stop function from an operative state to an inoperative state, when the idling state determination device determines that the internal combustion engine is running, and when the switch status determination device determines that the starter switch is turned on.

2. The idling stop control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an idling stop function rendering operative device which switches the idling stop function from an inoperative state to an operative state, in a state where it is determined that the internal combustion engine is running and the operation of the starter motor is prohibited, when the idling stop function determination device determines that the idling stop function is in an inoperative state and when the switch status determination device determines that the starter switch is turned on.

3. The idling stop control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an indicator turning off device which turns off the indicator when the idling stop function rendering inoperative device switches the idling stop function from an operative state to an inoperative state.

4. The idling stop control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

an indicator turning off device which turns off the indicator when the idling stop function rendering inoperative device switches the idling stop function from an operative state to an inoperative state.