Power management device, control system, and control method

• US 20070245998A1
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamashita, Shinji, Takemoto, Shinji, Matsui, Takashi, Yamaguchi, Kazuhi, Takatomi, Shinichiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,677,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/179.250
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0848 with means for detecting successful engine start, e.g. to stop starter actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0862 characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/10 Safety devices F02N11/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/063 Battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/302 using data communication

Abstract

A power management device comprises a start management control unit having a starter hold control function for actuating a starter motor and holding the actuation based on an operating signal from a button switch, a first terminating unit for terminating cranking hold when receiving a starter stop instruction signal sent from an engine control device when it is determined that an engine reached a complete explosion, a second terminating unit for terminating cranking hold when it is determined that the engine reached a complete explosion based on an engine revolution signal sent from the engine control device, and a forced terminating unit for forcefully terminating cranking hold when cranking hold cannot be terminated by those terminating units.

Claims

1. A power management device, comprising:

a cranking control unit operable to bring a starter for starting an engine to cranking and hold the cranking based on an operating signal output with an operation of a switch;

a first hold terminating unit operable to terminate cranking hold when receiving a starter stop instruction signal indicating an instruction to terminate cranking hold sent from an engine control device when it is determined that the engine reached a complete explosion;

a second hold terminating unit operable to terminate cranking hold when it is determined that the engine reached a complete explosion based on an engine revolution signal sent from the engine control device;

a judging unit for judging whether or not cranking hold can be terminated by the first hold terminating unit or the second hold terminating unit; and

a third hold terminating unit operable to terminate cranking hold when it is judged by the judging unit that cranking hold can be terminated by neither the first hold terminating unit nor the second hold terminating unit.

2. A power management device according to claim 1,

wherein the judging unit judges that cranking hold can be terminated by neither the first hold terminating unit nor the second hold terminating unit,

when a first condition where a battery voltage is below a prescribed value is satisfied;

or

when a second condition where data is not received from a communication line for sending the starter stop instruction signal and the engine revolution signal is not received is satisfied;

or

when both the first condition and the second condition are satisfied.

3. A power management device according to claim 1,

wherein the judging unit judges that cranking hold can be terminated by neither the first hold terminating unit nor the second hold terminating unit,

when a first condition where a battery voltage is below a prescribed value has been satisfied for a first predetermined time;

or

when a second condition where data is not received from a communication line for sending the starter stop instruction signal and the engine revolution signal is not received has been satisfied for a second predetermined time;

or

when both the first condition and the second condition have been satisfied for a third predetermined time.

4. A power management device, comprising:

a starter control unit operable to conduct control of driving a starter and conduct control of stopping the starter based on a signal sent from an electronic control device for controlling an engine,

said starter control unit conducting control of stopping the starter when a voltage supplied by a battery decreases to or below a prescribed range during driving of the starter.

7. A power management device according to claim 4, comprising a voltage boosting unit.

10. A power management device according to claim 4, wherein the battery is a voltage source common to the power management device and the electronic control device.

5. A power management device, comprising:

a starter control unit operable to conduct control of driving a starter and conduct control of stopping the starter based on a signal sent from an electronic control device for controlling an engine,

said starter control unit conducting control of stopping the starter when a voltage supplied by a battery decreases to or below an operating voltage range of the electronic control device during driving of the starter.

8. A power management device according to claim 5, comprising a voltage boosting unit.

11. A power management device according to claim 5, wherein the battery is a voltage source common to the power management device and the electronic control device.

6. A power management device, comprising:

a starter control unit operable to conduct control of driving a starter and conduct control of stopping the starter based on a signal sent from an electronic control device for controlling an engine,

said starter control unit conducting control of stopping the starter when a voltage supplied by a battery decreases close to an operating voltage range of the electronic control device during driving of the starter.

9. A power management device according to claim 6, comprising a voltage boosting unit.

12. A power management device according to claim 6, wherein the battery is a voltage source common to the power management device and the electronic control device.

13. A control system, comprising:

an engine control device which comprises;

a first sending unit for sending a starter stop instruction signal indicating an instruction to terminate cranking hold when it is determined that an engine reached a complete explosion; and

a second sending unit for sending an engine revolution signal; and

a power management device which comprises;

a cranking control unit operable to bring a starter for starting the engine to cranking and hold the cranking based on an operating signal output with an operation of a switch;

a first hold terminating unit operable to terminate cranking hold when receiving the starter stop instruction signal sent from the engine control device;

a second hold terminating unit operable to terminate cranking hold when it is determined that the engine reached a complete explosion based on the engine revolution signal sent from the engine control device;

a judging unit for judging whether or not cranking hold can be terminated by the first hold terminating unit or the second hold terminating unit; and

a third hold terminating unit operable to terminate cranking hold when it is judged by the judging unit that cranking hold can be terminated by neither the first hold terminating unit nor the second hold terminating unit.

14. A control system, comprising:

an electronic control device for controlling an engine which comprises a communication unit for sending a signal related to starter control; and

a power management device which comprises;

a voltage boosting unit; and

a starter control unit operable to conduct control of driving a starter and conduct control of stopping the starter based on the signal sent from the electronic control device,

said starter control unit conducting control of stopping the starter when a voltage supplied by a battery decreases to or below a prescribed range during driving of the starter.

15. A control system according to claim 14, wherein the electronic control device does not have a voltage boosting unit.

16. A control method, comprising:

a first step of bringing a starter for starting an engine to cranking and holding the cranking based on an operating signal output with an operation of a switch;

a second step of terminating cranking hold when receiving a starter stop instruction signal indicating an instruction to terminate cranking hold sent from an engine control device when it is determined that the engine reached a complete explosion;

a third step of terminating cranking hold when it is determined that the engine reached a complete explosion based on an engine revolution signal sent from the engine control device;

a fourth step of judging whether or not cranking hold can be terminated through the second step or the third step; and

a fifth step of terminating cranking hold when it is judged that cranking hold can be terminated through neither the second step nor the third step.

17. A control method, comprising the steps of:

driving a starter and stopping the starter based on a signal sent from an electronic control device for controlling an engine; and

stopping the starter when a voltage supplied by a battery decreases to or below a prescribed range during driving of the starter.