STARTING CONTROL UNIT AND START COMMAND SIGNAL GENERATION APPARATUS THEREFOR

• US 20120060786A1
• Filed: 03/09/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: OKADA, Tadaaki, NAKAYAMA, Haruki
• Granted Patent: US 9,046,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/179.5
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0862 characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/10 Safety devices F02N11/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/101 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 11/00 Safety means for electric spark ignition, not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A starting control unit integrally includes a current suppression resistor connected in series with an output contact of an electromagnetic shift relay provided on a starter motor, a short-circuiting relay that short-circuits the current suppression resistor with a short-circuiting contact thereof, and a timer circuit that closes the short-circuiting contact at a predetermined time instant when a starting current decreases in response to the operation of a starting command switch. An excitation coil of the short-circuiting relay is supplied with electric power directly from a vehicle battery by way of one of the terminals of the current suppression resistor, a reverse connection protection device, and a driving transistor, excluding the starting command switch. A suppression starting current for the starter motor flows in the current suppression resistor during the time period obtained by adding a delay setting time T0 of the timer circuit and a t2b from a time instant when the excitation coil is de-energized to a time instant when the short-circuiting contact is returned to be closed.

Claims

1. A starting control unit that is connected between a starter motor for starting a vehicle engine and a vehicle battery and performs current-limiting starting of the starter motor, the starting control unit integrally comprising:

a current suppression resistor connected in series with an output contact of an electromagnetic shift relay provided on the starter motor;

a short-circuiting relay that short-circuits the current suppression resistor with a short-circuiting contact thereof; and

a timer circuit that closes the short-circuiting contact at a predetermined time instant when a starting current decreases in response to the operation of a starting command switch,

wherein the electromagnetic shift relay propels a pinion gear provided on the starter motor, through a shift coil that is supplied with electric power from the vehicle battery by way of the starting command switch, so that a ring gear provided on the crankshaft of an engine and the pinion gear engage with each other; and

the electromagnetic shift relay makes the output contact close through the shift coil or a relay coil provided separately from the shift coil,

wherein the short-circuiting contact is a normally closed contact which is opened by energizing an excitation coil of the short-circuiting relay; and

the excitation coil is supplied with electric power directly from the vehicle battery by way of one of the terminals of the current suppression resistor, a reverse connection protection device, and a driving transistor, excluding the starting command switch,

wherein the reverse connection protection device is a transistor or a diode that enables power supply to the excitation coil when the vehicle battery is connected with a normal polarity, but prevents the power supply to the excitation coil when the vehicle battery is connected with an abnormal reversed polarity,

wherein the driving transistor is turned on so as to perform open-circuit energization of the short-circuiting relay at the same time when the starting command switch is closed and hence the shift coil or the relay coil is energized; and

by the time the output contact is closed, the short-circuiting contact completes its circuit-opening operation,

wherein the timer circuit starts timing operation in response to closing operation by the output contact of the electromagnetic shift relay, and turns off the driving transistor after a predetermined delay setting time elapses, and

wherein a suppression starting current for the starter motor flows in the current suppression resistor during a time period obtained by adding the delay setting time of the timer circuit and a closed-circuit response time from a time instant when the excitation coil of the short-circuiting relay is de-energized to a time instant when the short-circuiting contact is returned to be closed.

2. The starting control unit according to claim 1, wherein the timer circuit detects a voltage drop generated across the current suppression resistor at a time when the output contact is closed, and then starts its timing operation.

3. The starting control unit according to claim 1, wherein the timer circuit compares a first comparison voltage that is proportional to a driving power-source voltage supplied from the vehicle battery in response to closing operation by the starting command switch with a second comparison voltage that is a gradually increasing charging voltage across a timer capacitor charged from the common driving power-source voltage by way of a charging resistor at a time when the output contact is closed;

and when both the first and second comparison voltages coincide with each other after a predetermined delay setting time has elapsed, the timer circuit outputs the time-up output so as to turn off the driving transistor.

4. The starting control unit according to claim 3, wherein a power-supply resistor and a voltage limiting diode are connected with a driving power-source circuit for the timer circuit;

and the voltage limiting diode is a constant voltage diode having an operation voltage with which a voltage limiting function works in the high-voltage range within the fluctuation range of the driving power-source voltage but does not work in the low-voltage range.

5. The starting control unit according to claim 3, wherein the timer circuit further includes a latch transistor that stores a state where the second comparison voltage has become the same as or higher than the first comparison voltage.

10. The starting control unit according to claim 1, wherein the current suppression resistor is integrated with the starting control unit by being mounted and fixed on the outer wall of a case containing the starting control unit.

11. The starting control unit according to claim 10, wherein the parallel circuit consisting of the short-circuiting contact, which is the output contact of the short-circuiting relay, and the current suppression resistor is connected between the vehicle battery and the output contact of the electromagnetic shift relay connected with the starter motor;

one of a pair of wiring terminals of the parallel circuit is connected with the vehicle battery;

the timer circuit is provided with a pair of power-source terminals that are internally connected with each other through an inter-terminal connection lead;

when one of the pair of wiring terminals is connected with the vehicle battery, the one of the pair of wiring terminals is connected with one of the power-source terminals; and

when the other one of the pair of wiring terminals is connected with the vehicle battery, the other one of the pair of wiring terminals is connected with the other one of the power-source terminals.

12. The starting control unit according to claim 5, wherein the current suppression resistor is integrated with the starting control unit by being mounted and fixed on the outer wall of a case containing the starting control unit.

13. The starting control unit according to claim 12, wherein the parallel circuit consisting of the short-circuiting contact, which is the output contact of the short-circuiting relay, and the current suppression resistor is connected between the vehicle battery and the output contact of the electromagnetic shift relay connected with the starter motor;

one of a pair of wiring terminals of the parallel circuit is connected with the vehicle battery;

the timer circuit is provided with a pair of power-source terminals that are internally connected with each other through an inter-terminal connection lead;

when one of the pair of wiring terminals is connected with the vehicle battery, the one of the pair of wiring terminals is connected with one of the power-source terminals; and

when the other one of the pair of wiring terminals is connected with the vehicle battery, the other one of the pair of wiring terminals is connected with the other one of the power-source terminals.

14. A start command signal generation apparatus for the starting control unit according to claim 1,

wherein the starting command switch is either a command opening/closing device that responds to the control output of a start command signal generation apparatus including at least a fuel injection control function or the output contact of a command electromagnet relay that is energized and controlled by the command opening/closing device,

wherein there are provided a mode switch signal for determining at least whether or not idling-stop driving should be implemented or whether or not remote staring through a wireless electric wave should be implemented, a plurality of input sensors for determining an engine stopping condition under which idling stop is implemented and a remote starting condition or a restarting condition after idling stop, a microprocessor with which a manual starting switch is connected as an input signal, and a serial opening/closing device that serves as the command opening/closing device,

wherein each of the engine stopping condition, the remote starting condition, and the restarting condition includes at least the condition that the power-source voltage of the vehicle battery is the same as or higher than a predetermined value,

Wherein when engine starting after an idling stop or remote starting is implemented, the microprocessor generates an automatic starting command signal so as to turn on the serial opening/closing device, and

wherein the serial opening/closing device is provided with a direct starting circuit that keeps a conduction state as long as the manual starting switch is closed, even in the case where the microprocessor is inoperative due to an abnormal voltage drop of the vehicle battery.

15. The start command signal generation apparatus according to claim 14, wherein in order to prevent erroneous restarting of an engine being in the rotation mode or in the case where an identification number provided in the manual starting switch has a discrepancy, the microprocessor generates a starting prohibition command signal for prohibiting the engine from being started;

when the starting prohibition command signal is generated, a starting prohibition transistor provided in the engine control apparatus is turned on so that the serial opening/closing device is prohibited from turning on; and

when the starting prohibition command signal is not generated or when the microprocessor is inoperative, the starting prohibition transistor is turned off through a pull-down resistor.

16. A start command signal generation apparatus for the starting control unit according to claim 5,

wherein the starting command switch is either a command opening/closing device that responds to the control output of a start command signal generation apparatus including at least a fuel injection control function or the output contact of a command electromagnet relay that is energized and controlled by the command opening/closing device,

wherein there are provided a mode switch signal for determining at least whether or not idling-stop driving should be implemented or whether or not remote staring through a wireless electric wave should be implemented, a plurality of input sensors for determining an engine stopping condition under which idling stop is implemented and a remote starting condition or a restarting condition after idling stop, a microprocessor with which a manual starting switch is connected as an input signal, and a serial opening/closing device that serves as the command opening/closing device,

wherein each of the engine stopping condition, the remote starting condition, and the restarting condition includes at least the condition that the power-source voltage of the vehicle battery is the same as or higher than a predetermined value,

Wherein when engine starting after an idling stop or remote starting is implemented, the microprocessor generates an automatic starting command signal so as to turn on the serial opening/closing device, and

wherein the serial opening/closing device is provided with a direct starting circuit that keeps a conduction state as long as the manual starting switch is closed, even in the case where the microprocessor is inoperative due to an abnormal voltage drop of the vehicle battery.

17. The start command signal generation apparatus according to claim 16, wherein in order to prevent erroneous restarting of an engine being in the rotation mode or in the case where an identification number provided in the manual starting switch has a discrepancy, the microprocessor generates a starting prohibition command signal for prohibiting the engine from being started;

when the starting prohibition command signal is generated, a starting prohibition transistor provided in the engine control apparatus is turned on so that the serial opening/closing device is prohibited from turning on; and

when the starting prohibition command signal is not generated or when the microprocessor is inoperative, the starting prohibition transistor is turned off through a pull-down resistor.

18. A start command signal generation apparatus for the starting control unit and the electromagnetic shift relay according to claim 1,

wherein the electromagnetic shift relay has a shift coil and a relay coil that are provided in such a way as to be separated from each other, and the starting control unit has no delayed power supply output for the relay coil,

wherein there are provided a serial opening/closing circuit that includes a serial opening/closing device for directly driving a shift coil of the electromagnetic shift relay or indirectly driving the shift coil by way of the output contact of the command electromagnet relay, an energization permission storage circuit that performs energization drive of a serial opening/closing device for driving the relay coil of the electromagnetic shift relay, a microprocessor that generates an automatic starting command signal and a delayed energization permission signal, and a direct starting circuit,

Wherein when engine starting after an idling stop or remote starting is implemented, the microprocessor generates the automatic starting command signal so as to turn on the serial opening/closing circuit and to supply electric power to the shift coil of the electromagnetic shift relay;

and when a closed-circuit signal from a manual starting switch is inputted or when the automatic starting command signal is generated, the microprocessor generates the delayed energization permission signal after a predetermined delay time has elapsed,

wherein the direct starting circuit keeps the driving state of the serial opening/closing circuit as long as the manual starting switch is closed, even in the case where the microprocessor is inoperative due to an abnormal voltage drop of the vehicle battery,

wherein the energization permission storage circuit stores the fact that the delayed energization permission signal has been generated, and generates an auxiliary command signal by way of the serial opening/closing device for energizing the relay coil,

wherein even when the microprocessor becomes inoperative, there is maintained the state in which the delayed energization permission signal is stored;

however, at a time when the manual starting switch is opened and the automatic starting command signal disappears, the storage is cancelled, and

wherein the value of the delay time is a fixed value corresponding to the maximum shift time at a time when the power-source voltage of the vehicle battery is low; and

in contrast, in the case where the power-source voltage is high, there is implemented voltage correction for gradually shortening the delay time.

19. A start command signal generation apparatus for the starting control unit and the electromagnetic shift relay according to claim 5,

wherein the electromagnetic shift relay has a shift coil and a relay coil that are provided in such a way as to be separated from each other, and the starting control unit has no delayed power supply output for the relay coil,

wherein there are provided a serial opening/closing circuit that includes a serial opening/closing device for directly driving a shift coil of the electromagnetic shift relay or indirectly driving the shift coil by way of the output contact of the command electromagnet relay, an energization permission storage circuit that performs energization drive of a serial opening/closing device for driving the relay coil of the electromagnetic shift relay, a microprocessor that generates an automatic starting command signal and a delayed energization permission signal, and a direct starting circuit,

Wherein when engine starting after an idling stop or remote starting is implemented, the microprocessor generates the automatic starting command signal so as to turn on the serial opening/closing circuit and to supply electric power to the shift coil of the electromagnetic shift relay;

and when a closed-circuit signal from a manual starting switch is inputted or when the automatic starting command signal is generated, the microprocessor generates the delayed energization permission signal after a predetermined delay time has elapsed,

wherein the direct starting circuit keeps the driving state of the serial opening/closing circuit as long as the manual starting switch is closed, even in the case where the microprocessor is inoperative due to an abnormal voltage drop of the vehicle battery,

wherein the energization permission storage circuit stores the fact that the delayed energization permission signal has been generated, and generates an auxiliary command signal by way of the serial opening/closing device for energizing the relay coil,

wherein even when the microprocessor becomes inoperative, there is maintained the state in which the delayed energization permission signal is stored;

however, at a time when the manual starting switch is opened and the automatic starting command signal disappears, the storage is cancelled, and

wherein the value of the delay time is a fixed value corresponding to the maximum shift time at a time when the power-source voltage of the vehicle battery is low; and

in contrast, in the case where the power-source voltage is high, there is implemented voltage correction for gradually shortening the delay time.

20. The start command signal generation apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the starting control unit that receives a command from the start command signal generation apparatus is provided with a short-circuiting contact, which is a normally opened contact that is closed when the excitation coil of a short-circuiting relay for short-circuiting a current suppression resistor is energized;

and a drive signal, for the relay coil, that is generated by the start command signal generation apparatus is utilized as a timing operation starting signal for a timer circuit provided in the starting control unit.

6. A starting control unit that is connected between a starter motor for starting a vehicle engine and a vehicle battery and performs current-limiting starting of the starter motor, the starting control unit integrally comprising:

a current suppression resistor connected in series with an output contact of an electromagnetic shift relay provided on the starter motor;

a short-circuiting relay that short-circuits the current suppression resistor with a short-circuiting contact thereof; and

a timer circuit that closes the short-circuiting contact at a predetermined time instant when a starting current decreases in response to the operation of a starting command switch,

wherein the electromagnetic shift relay propels a pinion gear provided on the starter motor, through a shift coil that is supplied with electric power from the vehicle battery by way of the starting command switch, so that a ring gear provided on the crankshaft of an engine and the pinion gear engage with each other; and

the electromagnetic shift relay makes the output contact close through the shift coil or a relay coil provided separately from the shift coil,

wherein the short-circuiting contact is a normally opened contact which is closed by energizing an excitation coil of the short-circuiting relay; and

the excitation coil is supplied with electric power directly from the vehicle battery by way of one of the terminals of the current suppression resistor, a reverse connection protection device, and a driving transistor, excluding the starting command switch,

wherein the reverse connection protection device is a transistor or a diode that enables power supply to the excitation coil when the vehicle battery is connected with a normal polarity, but prevents the power supply to the excitation coil when the vehicle battery is connected with an abnormal reversed polarity,

wherein the timer circuit starts its timing operation when the starting command switch is closed and hence the shift coil or the relay coil is supplied with electric power, and turns on the driving transistor after a predetermined delay setting time has elapsed; and

the value of the delay setting time is set in such a way as to be longer than a first closed-circuit response time between a time instant when the shift coil or the relay coil is energized and a time instant when the output contact is closed, and

wherein letting T0 denote the delay setting time of the timer circuit, letting T1 denote the first closed-circuit response time between a time instant when the shift coil or the relay coil for closing the output contact is energized and a time instant when the output contact is closed, and letting T2a denote the second response delay time between a time instant when the short-circuiting relay is energized and a time instant when the short-circuiting contact is closed, a suppression starting current for the starter motor flows in the current suppression resistor in a time period given by the equation (T0+T2a−

T1).

7. The starting control unit according to claim 6,

wherein the timer circuit compares a first comparison voltage that is proportional to a driving power-source voltage supplied from the vehicle battery in response to closing operation by the starting command switch with a second comparison voltage that is a gradually increasing charging voltage across a timer capacitor charged from the driving power-source voltage by way of a charging resistor;

and when both the first and second comparison voltages coincide with each other after a predetermined delay setting time has elapsed, the timer circuit outputs the time-up output so as to turn on the driving transistor, and

wherein a power-source capacitor and a constant voltage diode, which prevent the driving power-source voltage from abnormally decreasing when the power-source voltage supplied from the vehicle battery temporarily and rapidly decreases, stabilize the driving power-source voltage over the whole range of fluctuation in the power-source voltage.

8. A starting control unit that is connected between a starter motor for starting a vehicle engine and a vehicle battery and performs current-limiting starting of the starter motor, the starting control unit integrally comprising:

a current suppression resistor connected in series with an output contact of an electromagnetic shift relay provided on the starter motor;

a short-circuiting relay that short-circuits the current suppression resistor with a short-circuiting contact thereof; and

a timer circuit that closes the short-circuiting contact at a predetermined time instant when a starting current decreases in response to the operation of a starting command switch,

wherein the electromagnetic shift relay propels a pinion gear provided on the starter motor, through a shift coil that is supplied with electric power from the vehicle battery by way of the starting command switch, so that a ring gear provided on the crankshaft of an engine and the pinion gear engage with each other; and

the electromagnetic shift relay makes the output contact close by separately driving a relay coil provided separately from the shift coil,

wherein the relay coil is supplied with electric power to be driven when a predetermined delay time, which is set by a delayed timer circuit unit provided in the timer circuit, elapses after the shift coil has been supplied with electric power;

the value of the delay time is a fixed value corresponding to the maximum shift time at a time when the power-source voltage of the vehicle battery is low; and

in contrast, in the case where the power-source voltage is high, there is implemented voltage correction for gradually shortening the delay time,

wherein the short-circuiting contact is a normally closed contact which is opened or a normally opened contact which is closed, by energizing an excitation coil of the short-circuiting relay,

wherein a starting timer circuit unit provided in the timer circuit starts its timing operation, at a time instant when the shift coil is energized, at a time instant when the relay coil is energized, or at a time instant when the output contact is closed,

wherein the excitation coil and the relay coil are each supplied with electric power directly from the vehicle battery by way of one of the terminals of the current suppression resistor, a reverse connection protection device, a driving transistor, and a separately driving transistor, excluding the starting command switch, and

wherein the reverse connection protection device is a transistor or a diode that enables power supply to the excitation coil and the relay coil when the vehicle battery is connected with a normal polarity, but prevents the power supply to the excitation coil and the relay coil when the vehicle battery is connected with an abnormal reversed polarity.

9. The starting control unit according to claim 8,

wherein the short-circuiting contact is a normally opened contact which is closed by energizing an excitation coil of the short-circuiting relay, and

wherein the starting timer circuit unit starts its timing operation when the relay coil is energized, and comes into the time-up state after a predetermined delay setting time elapses or starts its timing operation when the shift coil is energized;

however, the starting timer circuit unit comes into the time-up state after a setting time obtained by adding the delay time and the delay setting time has elapsed, and then energizes the excitation coil.