Engine starting device

• US 20100078994A1
• Filed: 08/12/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Masasaki, Machida, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,044,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.600
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches

Abstract

An engine starting device includes an ignition switch configured to cause turning-on and off of a main power source line connecting a power source for a vehicle and an engine control unit (ECU). The ignition switch includes a stationary contact and a movable contact that is rotatable relative to the stationary contact. The stationary contact includes a main contact configured to be connected to a power source input section of the ECU and a starter contact configured to be connected to a starter. The engine starting device also includes a relay provided on a sub power source line that is connected in parallel to the main power source line, the relay connecting the power source of the vehicle and a sub power source input section of the ECU, the relay being excited by the start of the ECU and providing electric continuity between the power source and the ECU.

Claims

1. An engine starting device, comprising:

an ignition switch configured to cause turning-on and off of a main power source line connecting a power source for a vehicle and an engine control unit (ECU), the ignition switch comprising

a stationary contact and a movable contact that is rotatable relative to the stationary contact, wherein the stationary contact comprises a main contact configured to be connected to a power source input section of the ECU and a starter contact configured to be connected to a starter, the movable contact is configured switch its connection/disconnection with the respective contacts of the stationary contact by the rotation of the movable contact to an off-position, an on-position and a starter position relative to the stationary contact, and both the main contact and the starter contact are configured to be connected to the power source of the vehicle when the movable contact is rotated to the starter contact; and

a relay provided on a sub power source line that is connected in parallel to the main power source line, the relay connecting the power source of the vehicle and a sub power source input section of the ECU, the relay being excited by the start of the ECU and providing electric continuity between the power source and the ECU.

2. The engine starting device according to claim 1, wherein the relay operates a relay drive when a voltage greater than or equal to a first predetermined voltage is applied to the power source input section of the ECU and the relay is brought into an electric continuity state.

3. The engine starting device according to claim 1, wherein operation of the relay is stopped after a passage of a first predetermined time following the movable contact being rotated to the off-position, the relay being released from an electric continuity state.

4. The engine starting device according to claim 3, wherein the first predetermined time is set to a larger duration than a time required to interrupt the power source line due to chattering.

5. The engine starting device according to claim 1, wherein an engine is stopped by an ignition cut and a fuel cut when the electric continuity state of the relay is not released after a first predetermined time elapses following the movable contact being rotated to the off-position.

6. The engine starting device according to claim 5, wherein when the electric continuity state of the relay is not released after the first predetermined time elapses, a second predetermined time is measured and, when the electric continuity state of the relay is not released after the second predetermined time elapses, the stopping of the engine is performed by the ignition cut and the fuel cut.

7. The engine starting device according to claim 1, wherein when the relay is not electrically continued after a predetermined time elapses following the movable contact being rotated to the on-position, a warning is provided by an indicator.

8. The engine starting device of claim 1, wherein an engine drive system load that includes a fuel injection device and an ignition coil is connected through the relay to the power source.

9. A method, comprising:

rotating a movable contact relative to a stationary contact,

switching a connection/disconnection of the movable contact with respective contacts of the stationary contact by the rotation of the movable contact to an off-position, an on-position and a starter position relative to the stationary contact; and

exciting a relay by a start of an engine control unit (ECU), where the relay is provided on a sub power source line that is connected in parallel to a main power source line, the relay connects a power source of a vehicle and a sub power source input section of the ECU and the relay provides electric continuity between the power source and the ECU.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

operating a relay drive, via the relay, when a voltage greater than or equal to a first predetermined voltage is applied to the power source input section of the ECU and the relay is brought into an electric continuity state.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

stopping operation of the relay after a passage of a first predetermined time following the movable contact being rotated to the off-position, the relay being released from an electric continuity state.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first predetermined time is set to a larger duration than a time required to interrupt the power source line due to chattering.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

stopping an engine by an ignition cut and a fuel cut when the electric continuity state of the relay is not released after a first predetermined time elapses following the movable contact being rotated to the off-position.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein when the electric continuity state of the relay is not released after the first predetermined time elapses, the method further comprises:

measuring a second predetermined time; and

when the electric continuity state of the relay is not released after the second predetermined time elapses, the stopping of the engine if performed by the ignition cut and the fuel cut.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

providing a warning by an indicator when the relay is not electrically continued after a predetermined time elapses following the movable contact being rotated to the on-position.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein an engine drive system load that includes a fuel injection device and an ignition coil is connected through the relay to the power source.

17. An ignition switch, comprising:

a stationary contact and a movable contact that is rotatable relative to the stationary contact, wherein the stationary contact comprises a main contact configured to be connected to a power source input section of an engine control unit (ECU) and a starter contact configured to be connected to a starter, the movable contact is configured switch its connection/disconnection with the respective contacts of the stationary contact by the rotation of the movable contact to an off-position, an on-position and a starter position relative to the stationary contact, and both the main contact and the starter contact are configured to be connected to the power source of a vehicle when the movable contact is rotated to the starter contact, wherein

operation of a relay is stopped after a passage of a first predetermined time following the movable contact being rotated to the off-position, the relay being released from an electric continuity state.

18. The ignition switch according to claim 17, wherein the relay operates a relay drive when a voltage greater than or equal to a first predetermined voltage is applied to the power source input section of the ECU and the relay is brought into an electric continuity state.

19. The ignition switch according to claim 17, wherein operation of the relay is stopped after a passage of a first predetermined time following the movable contact being rotated to the off-position, the relay being released from an electric continuity state.

20. The ignition switch according to claim 17, wherein when the electric continuity state of the relay is not released after the first predetermined time elapses, a second predetermined time is measured and, when the electric continuity state of the relay is not released after the second predetermined time elapses, the engine is stopped by the ignition cut and the fuel cut.

21. An engine starting device, comprising:

ignition switch means for causing turning-on and off of a main power source line connecting a power source for a vehicle and an engine control unit (ECU), the ignition switch means comprising

stationary contact means and movable contact means that is rotatable relative to the stationary contact means, wherein the stationary contact means comprises main contact means for connecting to a power source input section of the ECU and starter contact means for connecting to a starter, the movable contact means is configured switch its connection/disconnection with the respective contacts of the stationary contact means by the rotation of the movable contact means to an off-position, an on-position and a starter position relative to the stationary contact means, and both the main contact means and the starter contact means are configured to be connected to the power source of the vehicle when the movable contact means is rotated to the starter contact means; and

relay means provided on a sub power source line that is connected in parallel to the main power source line, the relay means connecting the power source of the vehicle and a sub power source input section of the ECU, the relay means being excited by the start of the ECU and providing electric continuity between the power source and the ECU.