CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A VEHICLE HAVING IDLE STOP FUNCTION
First Claim
1. A control apparatus for a vehicle, which includesa starter having a motor and a pinion gear for cranking an engine by being driven to rotate by the motor under engagement with a ring gear of the engine, the pinion gear being switchable to a state of engagement with the ring gear and a state of disengagement from the ring gear irrespective of energization or deenergization of the motor,motor energization switch means provided in a current supply path between a power source and the motor and selectively driven to an on-state for conducting the current supply path and an off-state for interrupting the current supply path,a pinion control solenoid having a coil connected to a ground line at one end thereof, the pinion control solenoid driving the pinion gear to be engaged with the ring gear and disengaged from the pinion gear when a voltage of the power source is supplied and stopped to the other end of the coil, respectively,pinion control switch means provided in a current supply path between the power source and the other end of the coil and selectively driven to an on-state for conducting the current supply path and an off-state for interrupting the current supply path, andidle stop control means for automatically stopping the engine when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied and thereafter automatically restarting the engine when a predetermined automatic restart condition is satisfied,the control apparatus comprising:
- control means for driving both the pinion control switch means and the motor energization switch means to an on-state so that the starter cranks the engine in each of an initial start time, in which the engine is started in accordance with a starting operation of a driver, and a restart time, in which the idle stop control means restarts the engine; and
operation-time abnormality detection means for driving only the pinion control switch means between the pinion control switch means and the motor energization switch means to the on-state during engine operation, checking whether a voltage at a specified point in a current supply path between the pinion control switch means and the coil is lower than a predetermined energization disability determination reference value in such a state that only the pinion control switch means is driven to the on-state, and determining that a coil energization disability abnormality is present when the voltage is lower than the predetermined energization disability determination reference value, the coil energization disability abnormality indicating that current supply to the coil is disabled,wherein the idle stop control means is prohibited from stopping the engine when the operation-time abnormality detection means determines presence of the coil energization disability abnormality.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an idle stop vehicle, a starter has separately an electromagnetic switch for energizing a motor and a pinion control solenoid for engaging a pinion gear with a ring gear. A coil of the solenoid is energized by a battery through a relay. For starting an engine, an ECU turns on the relay and the electromagnetic switch so that the starter cranks an engine. During engine operation, the ECU turns on only the relay while maintaining turn-off of the electromagnetic switch. If a voltage of a current supply path between the relay and the coil is lower than a predetermined threshold value, the ECU prohibits automatic idle stop by determining that the current supply path to the coil has abnormality.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A control apparatus for a vehicle, which includes
a starter having a motor and a pinion gear for cranking an engine by being driven to rotate by the motor under engagement with a ring gear of the engine, the pinion gear being switchable to a state of engagement with the ring gear and a state of disengagement from the ring gear irrespective of energization or deenergization of the motor, motor energization switch means provided in a current supply path between a power source and the motor and selectively driven to an on-state for conducting the current supply path and an off-state for interrupting the current supply path, a pinion control solenoid having a coil connected to a ground line at one end thereof, the pinion control solenoid driving the pinion gear to be engaged with the ring gear and disengaged from the pinion gear when a voltage of the power source is supplied and stopped to the other end of the coil, respectively, pinion control switch means provided in a current supply path between the power source and the other end of the coil and selectively driven to an on-state for conducting the current supply path and an off-state for interrupting the current supply path, and idle stop control means for automatically stopping the engine when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied and thereafter automatically restarting the engine when a predetermined automatic restart condition is satisfied, the control apparatus comprising: -
control means for driving both the pinion control switch means and the motor energization switch means to an on-state so that the starter cranks the engine in each of an initial start time, in which the engine is started in accordance with a starting operation of a driver, and a restart time, in which the idle stop control means restarts the engine; and operation-time abnormality detection means for driving only the pinion control switch means between the pinion control switch means and the motor energization switch means to the on-state during engine operation, checking whether a voltage at a specified point in a current supply path between the pinion control switch means and the coil is lower than a predetermined energization disability determination reference value in such a state that only the pinion control switch means is driven to the on-state, and determining that a coil energization disability abnormality is present when the voltage is lower than the predetermined energization disability determination reference value, the coil energization disability abnormality indicating that current supply to the coil is disabled, wherein the idle stop control means is prohibited from stopping the engine when the operation-time abnormality detection means determines presence of the coil energization disability abnormality. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A control apparatus for a vehicle having an engine, a starter and an idle stop control part, which automatically stops the engine when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied and automatically restart the engine by the starter when a predetermined automatic start condition is satisfied,
the control apparatus controlling the starter, which includes a motor, a pinion gear and a pinion control solenoid, the pinion gear being provided for cranking the engine by being driven to rotate by the motor under engagement with a ring gear of the engine, the pinion gear being switchable to a state of engagement with the ring gear and a state of disengagement from the ring gear irrespective of energization or deenergization of the motor, the pinion control solenoid having a coil connected to a ground line at one end thereof, the pinion control solenoid driving the pinion gear to be engaged with the ring gear and disengaged from the pinion gear when a voltage of the power source is supplied and stopped to the other end of the coil, respectively, the control apparatus being electrically connected to a motor energization switch and a pinion control switch, and the motor energization switch being provided in a current supply path between the power source and the motor and selectively driven to an on-state for conducting the current supply path and an off-state for interrupting the current supply path, and the pinion control switch being provided in a current supply path between the power source and the other end of the coil and selectively driven to an on-state for conducting the current supply path and an off-state for interrupting the current supply path, wherein the control apparatus is configured to: -
drive both the pinion control switch and the motor energization switch to an on-state so that the starter cranks the engine in each of an initial start time, in which the engine is started in accordance with a starting operation of a driver, and a restart time, in which the engine is restarted automatically by the idle stop control part; drive only the pinion control switch between the pinion control switch and the motor energization switch to the on-state during engine operation; check whether a voltage at a specified point in a current supply path between the pinion control switch and the coil is lower than a predetermined energization disability determination reference value in such a driven state, and determine that a coil energization disability abnormality is present when the voltage is lower than the predetermined energization disability determination reference value, the coil energization disability abnormality indicating that current supply to the coil is disabled; and prohibit the idle stop control part from automatically stopping the engine when presence of the coil energization disability abnormality is determined.
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26. A control system for a vehicle, which includes:
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a starter having a motor and a pinion gear for cranking an engine by being driven to rotate by the motor under engagement with a ring gear of the engine, the pinion gear being switchable to a state of engagement with the ring gear and a state of disengagement from the ring gear irrespective of energization or deenergization of the motor; a motor energization switch provided in a current supply path between a power source and the motor and selectively driven to an on-state for conducting the current supply path and an off-state for interrupting the current supply path; a pinion control solenoid having a coil connected to a ground line at one end thereof, the pinion control solenoid driving the pinion gear to be engaged with the ring gear and disengaged from the pinion gear when a voltage of the power source is supplied and stopped to the other end of the coil, respectively; a pinion control switch provided in a current supply path between the power source and the other end of the coil and selectively driven to an on-state for conducting the current supply path and an off-state for interrupting the current supply path; and a control apparatus configured to stop the engine when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied and thereafter automatically restarting the engine when a predetermined automatic restart condition is satisfied, the control apparatus driving both the pinion control switch and the motor energization switch to an on-state so that the starter cranks the engine in each of an initial start time, in which the engine is started in accordance with a starting operation of a driver, and a restart time, in which the engine is automatically restarted, wherein the control apparatus is configured to drive only the pinion control switch between the pinion control switch and the motor energization switch to the on-state during engine operation, check whether a voltage at a specified point in a current supply path between the pinion control switch and the coil is lower than a predetermined energization disability determination reference value in such a driven state, and determine that a coil energization disability abnormality is present when the voltage is lower than the predetermined energization disability determination reference value, the coil energization disability abnormality indicating that current supply to the coil is disabled, and prohibit the engine from being stopped when presence of the energization disability abnormality is determined.
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27. A control apparatus for a vehicle having an engine and a starter for performing idle stop control, which automatically stops the engine when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied and automatically restarts the engine when a predetermined automatic start condition is satisfied by controlling the starter by using a motor energization switch and a pinion control switch,
the starter including a motor, a pinion gear and a pinion control solenoid, the pinion gear being provided for cranking the engine by being driven to rotate by the motor under engagement with a ring gear of the engine, the pinion gear being switchable to a state of engagement with the ring gear and a state of disengagement from the ring gear irrespective of energization or deenergization of the motor, and the pinion control solenoid having a coil connected to a ground line at one end thereof, the pinion control solenoid driving the pinion gear to be engaged with the ring gear and disengaged from the pinion gear when a voltage of a power source is supplied and stopped to the other end of the coil, respectively, the motor energization switch being provided in a current supply path between the power source and the motor and selectively driven to an on-state for conducting the current supply path and an off-state for interrupting the current supply path, and the pinion control switch being provided in a current supply path between the power source and the other end of the coil and selectively driven to an on-state for conducting the current supply path and an off-state for interrupting the current supply path, wherein the control apparatus is configured to: -
drive both the pinion control switch and the motor energization switch to an on-state so that the starter cranks the engine in each of an initial start time, in which the engine is started in accordance with a starting operation of a driver, and a restart time, in which the engine is restarted automatically; drive only the pinion control switch between the pinion control switch and the motor energization switch to the on-state during engine operation; check whether a voltage at a specified point in a current supply path between the pinion control switch and the coil is lower than a predetermined energization disability determination reference value in such a driven state, and determine that a coil energization disability abnormality is present when the voltage is lower than the predetermined energization disability determination reference value, the coil energization disability abnormality indicating that current supply to the coil is disabled; and prohibit the idle stop control, which automatically stops the engine, when presence of the coil energization disability abnormality is determined.
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28. A computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions to operate a control apparatus for an idle stop vehicle having an engine and a starter for performing idle stop control, which automatically stops the engine when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied and automatically restarts the engine when a predetermined automatic start condition is satisfied by controlling the starter by using a motor energization switch and a pinion control switch,
the starter including a motor, a pinion gear and a pinion control solenoid, the pinion gear being provided for cranking the engine by being driven to rotate by the motor under engagement with a ring gear of the engine, the pinion gear being switchable to a state of engagement with the ring gear and a state of disengagement from the ring gear irrespective of energization or deenergization of the motor, and the pinion control solenoid having a coil connected to a ground line at one end thereof, the pinion control solenoid driving the pinion gear to be engaged with the ring gear and disengaged from the ring gear when a voltage of the power source is supplied and stopped to the other end of the coil, respectively, the motor energization switch being provided in a current supply path between the power source and the motor and selectively driven to an on-state for conducting the current supply path and an off-state for interrupting the current supply path, and the pinion control switch being provided in a current supply path between the power source and the other end of the coil and selectively driven to an on-state for conducting the current supply path and an off-state for interrupting the current supply path, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores therein: -
a start instruction for driving both the pinion control switch and the motor energization switch to an on-state so that the starter cranks the engine in each of an initial start time, in which the engine is started in accordance with a starting operation of a driver, and a restart time, in which the engine is restarted automatically by the control apparatus; a check instruction for driving only the pinion control switch between the pinion control switch and the motor energization switch to the on-state during engine operation, checking whether a voltage at a specified point in a current supply path between the pinion control switch and the coil is lower than a predetermined energization disability determination reference value in such a driven state, and determining that a coil energization disability abnormality is present when the voltage is lower than the predetermined energization disability determination reference value, the coil energization disability abnormality indicating that current supply to the coil is disabled; and a prohibition instruction for prohibiting the idle stop control, which automatically stops the engine, when presence of the coil energization disability abnormality is determined.
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29. A control method for a vehicle having an engine, a control apparatus and a starter,
the starter including a motor and a pinion gear for cranking the engine by being driven to rotate by the motor under engagement with a ring gear of the engine, the pinion gear being switchable to a state of engagement with the ring gear and a state of disengagement from the ring gear irrespective of energization or deenergization of the motor, the control apparatus including a motor energization switch, a pinion control solenoid and a pinion control switch, the motor energization switch being provided in a current supply path between a power source and the motor and selectively driven to an on-state for conducting the current supply path and an off-state for interrupting the current supply path, the pinion control solenoid having a coil connected to a ground line at one end thereof, the pinion control solenoid driving the pinion gear to be engaged with the ring gear and disengaged from the pinion gear when a voltage of the power source is supplied and stopped to the other end of the coil, respectively, the pinion control switch provided in a current supply path between the power source and the other end of the coil and selectively driven to an on-state for conducting the current supply path and an off-state for interrupting the current supply path, the control apparatus being configured to perform idle stop control, which stops the engine when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied and thereafter restarts the engine when a predetermined automatic restart condition is satisfied, and the control apparatus being configured to drive both the pinion control switch and the motor energization switch to an on-state so that the starter cranks the engine in each of an initial start time, in which the engine is started in accordance with a starting operation of a driver, and a restart time, in which the engine is restarted by the idle stop control, the control method comprising steps of: -
driving only the pinion control switch between the pinion control switch and the motor energization switch to the on-state during engine operation; checking whether a voltage at a specified point in a current supply path between the pinion control switch and the coil is lower than a predetermined energization disability determination reference value in such a driven state, and determining that a coil energization disability abnormality is present when the voltage is lower than the predetermined energization disability determination reference value, the coil energization disability abnormality indicating that current supply to the coil is disabled; and prohibiting the engine from being stopped by the idle stop control when presence of the energization disability abnormality is determined.
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30. A control method for a vehicle having an engine, a battery, a starter, which includes a motor, a pinion gear and a pinion control actuator, and a pinion control switch connected in series with the battery and the pinion control actuator,
wherein the engine is automatically stopped when a predetermined idle stop condition is satisfied, and the engine is restarted by automatically supplying currents to the motor and the pinion control actuator for cranking the engine by the motor through the pinion gear when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied, the control method comprising steps of: -
turning on the pinion control switch to supply the current to the pinion control actuator from the battery while the engine is in operation for vehicle travel with the motor being in a deenergized state; checking current supply to the pinion control actuator to determine whether an abnormality is present in a current supply path from the battery to the pinion control actuator; and prohibiting the engine from being automatically stopped in response to satisfaction of the predetermined idle stop condition, when presence of the abnormality in the current supply path is determined. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification