ENGINE CONTROL DEVICE, VEHICLE, AND ENGINE CONTROL METHOD
First Claim
1. An engine control device for controlling a startup of an engine in a vehicle by directing an electric current from a power source to a starter motor and a coil for switching a connection state between an output shaft of the starter motor and the engine, the engine control device comprising:
- a delay unit configured to delay and cut-off a flow of the electric current from a first current system which directs the electric current to the coil to a second current system which directs the electric current to the starter motor; and
a control unit configured to control a first switch to be energized by turning on the electric current from the power source to the first current system and to be cut-off by turning off the electric current from the power source to the first current system, and to control a second switch to be energized by turning on the electric current from the power source to the second current system and to be cut-off by turning off the electric current from the power source to the second current system,wherein the delay unit delays a flow of the electric current from the first current system to the second current system when a starting switch which is configure to be energized when a user turns on the electric current from the power source to the first current system and to be cut off when the user turns off the electric current from the power source to the first current system is turned on to cause the electric current to flow in the first current system, andwherein the delay unit cuts off the flow of the electric current from the first current system to the second current system when the first switch is turned on to cause the electric current to flow in the first current system.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Engine control device includes a delay unit which delays or cuts off a flow of current from a first current system, which directs current to a coil, to a second current system, which directs current to a starter motor. When a starter switch, which turns the flow of current from the power source to the first current system on or off, is turned on and electricity flows to the first current system, the delay unit delays the current flowing from the first current system to the second current system. When electricity flows to the first current system as a result of a controller having turned a first switch on, the delay unit cuts off the flow of electricity from the first current system to the second current system.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An engine control device for controlling a startup of an engine in a vehicle by directing an electric current from a power source to a starter motor and a coil for switching a connection state between an output shaft of the starter motor and the engine, the engine control device comprising:
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a delay unit configured to delay and cut-off a flow of the electric current from a first current system which directs the electric current to the coil to a second current system which directs the electric current to the starter motor; and a control unit configured to control a first switch to be energized by turning on the electric current from the power source to the first current system and to be cut-off by turning off the electric current from the power source to the first current system, and to control a second switch to be energized by turning on the electric current from the power source to the second current system and to be cut-off by turning off the electric current from the power source to the second current system, wherein the delay unit delays a flow of the electric current from the first current system to the second current system when a starting switch which is configure to be energized when a user turns on the electric current from the power source to the first current system and to be cut off when the user turns off the electric current from the power source to the first current system is turned on to cause the electric current to flow in the first current system, and wherein the delay unit cuts off the flow of the electric current from the first current system to the second current system when the first switch is turned on to cause the electric current to flow in the first current system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An engine control device for controlling a startup of an engine in a vehicle by directing an electric current from a power source to a starter motor and a coil for switching a connection state between an output shaft of the starter motor and the engine, the engine control device comprising:
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a first current system configured to direct the electric current from the power source to the coil; a second current system branched from the first current system and configured to direct the electric current to the starter motor; a first switch provided in the second current system and configured to energize or cut off the electric current directing from the first current system to the starter motor by being turned on or off; a delay circuit configured to control the first switch to direct the electric current to the coil and then to direct the electric current to the starter motor while delaying the electric current directed to the coil; a third current system configured to direct the electric current from the power source to the coil; a second switch provided in the third current system and configured to energize or cut off the electric current directing from the power source to the coil by being turned on or off; a fourth current system configured to direct the electric current from the power source to the starter motor; a third switch provided in the fourth current system and configured to energize or cut off the electric current directing from the power source to the starter motor by being turned on or off; a control unit configured to control the second switch and the third switch for performing an engine startup control; a first detecting unit configured to detect the voltage on a side of the power source rather than the first switch provided in the second current system; and a second detecting unit configured to detect the voltage on a side of the starter motor rather than the first switch provided in the second current system, wherein the control unit controls the third switch to start up the engine when an off-fixation error of the first switch is detected based on a voltage detected by the first detecting unit and a voltage detected by the second detecting unit in a state where a starting switch is provided in the first current system and turned on by user'"'"'s operation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An engine control method for controlling a startup of an engine in a vehicle by directing an electric current from a power source to a starter motor and a coil for switching a connection state between an output shaft of the starter motor and the engine,
the vehicle comprising: -
a first current system configured to direct the electric current from the power source to the coil; a second current system branched from the first current system and configured to direct the electric current to the starter motor; a first switch provided in the second current system and configured to energize or cut off the electric current directing from the first current system to the starter motor by being turned on or off; a delay circuit configured to control the first switch to direct the electric current to the coil and then to direct the electric current to the starter motor while delaying the electric current directed to the coil; a third current system configured to direct the electric current from the power source to the coil; a second switch provided in the third current system and configured to energize or cut off the electric current directing from the power source to the coil by being turned on or off; a fourth current system configured to direct the electric current from the power source to the starter motor; a third switch provided in the fourth current system and configured to energize or cut off the electric current directing from the power source to the starter motor by being turned on or off; a control unit configured to control the second switch and the third switch for performing an engine startup control; a first detecting unit configured to detect the voltage on a side of the power source rather than the first switch provided in the second current system; and a second detecting unit configured to detect the voltage on a side of the starter motor rather than the first switch provided in the second current system, and the engine control method comprising; detecting an off-fixation error of the first switch based on a voltage detected by the first detecting unit and a voltage detected by the second detecting unit when a starting switch provided in the first current system is turned on by user'"'"' operation to cause the electric current to flow in the second current system; and controlling the third switch to start up the engine when the off-fixation error of the first switch is detected.
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16. An engine control device for controlling a startup of an engine in a vehicle by directing an electric current from a power source to a starter motor and a coil for switching a connection state between an output shaft of the starter motor and the engine, the engine control device comprising:
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a first current system configured to direct the electric current from the power source to the coil by turning on or off a starting switch mounted therein; a second current system branched from the first current system and configured to direct the electric current to the starter motor; a first switch provided in the second current system and configured to energize or cut off the electric current directing from the first current system to the starter motor by being turned on or off; a delay circuit configured to control the first switch to direct the electric current to the coil and then to direct the electric current to the starter motor while delaying the electric current directed to the coil; a third current system configured to direct the electric current from the power source to the coil; a second switch provided in the third current system and configured to energize or cut off the electric current directing from the power source to the coil by being turned on or off; a fourth current system configured to direct the electric current from the power source to the starter motor; a third switch provided in the fourth current system and configured to energize or cut off the electric current directing from the power source to the starter motor by being turned on or off; a control unit configured to control the second switch and the third switch for performing an engine startup control; and a detecting unit configured to detect the voltage on a side of the starter motor rather than the third switch provided in the second current system, wherein the control unit turns on the third switch, and then turns on the first switch and the second switch when the voltage detected by the detecting unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage.
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17. An engine control device for controlling a startup of an engine in a vehicle by directing an electric current from a power source to a starter motor and a coil for switching a connection state between an output shaft of the starter motor and the engine, the engine control device comprising:
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a first current system configured to direct the electric current from the power source to the coil; a second current system branched from the first current system and configured to direct the electric current to the starter motor; a first switch provided in the second current system and configured to energize or cut off the electric current directing from the first current system to the starter motor by being turned on or off; a delay circuit configured to control the first switch to direct the electric current to the coil and then to direct the electric current to the starter motor while delaying the electric current directed to the coil; a third current system configured to direct the electric current from the power source to the coil; a second switch provided in the third current system and configured to energize or cut off the electric current directing from the power source to the coil by being turned on or off; a fourth current system configured to direct the electric current from the power source to the starter motor; a third switch provided in the fourth current system and configured to energize or cut off the electric current directing from the power source to the starter motor by being turned on or off; a control unit configured to control the second switch and the third switch for performing an engine startup control; a first detecting unit configured to detect the voltage on a side of the power source rather than the first switch provided in the second current system; and a second detecting unit configured to detect the voltage on a side of the starter motor rather than the first switch provided in the second current system, wherein the control unit controls the third switch to start up the engine when a voltage difference between a voltage detected by the first detecting unit and a voltage detected by the second detecting unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined value in a state where a starting switch provided in the first current system is turned on by user'"'"'s operation.
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Specification