Method and apparatus for controlling a contactor for powering a motor vehicle starter
First Claim
1. Apparatus for controlling a contactor of a motor vehicle starter, said contactor including at least one winding and a power contact which, on being closed, serves to supply power to the starter;
- the apparatus including means for detecting the open or closed state of the power contact and means for interrupting or reducing power supply to the winding in the event of the power contact still being open at the end of a predetermined time delay from the initiation of the supply of power to the starter, a vehicle ignition key, a means for generating a starting control signal when the ignition key is turned to an "on" position, said means for interrupting or reducing power including an element for regulating the supply of current to the winding, control means for controlling said regulator element, said control means receiving the starting control signal, said means for interrupting the starter power supply also including delay means to which the starting control signal is applied, and decision means which receives as inputs output signals first from the delay means and secondly from the means for detecting the open or closed state of the power contact, said decision means issuing an output signal that informs the control means for controlling the regulator element that the power contact is open at the end of the time delay.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Starting power supply to starter windings is interrupted whenever a power contact for the starter is still open after a predetermined time delay from initiation of the power supply to the starter. The invention also provides apparatus for controlling a contactor of a motor vehicle starter, said contactor including at least one winding and a power contact which, on being closed, serves to supply power to the starter, the apparatus including circuitry detecting the open or closed state of the power contact and for interrupting or reducing starting power supply to the winding(s) in the event the power contact is still open at the end of a predetermined time delay from initiation of power supply to the starter.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. Apparatus for controlling a contactor of a motor vehicle starter, said contactor including at least one winding and a power contact which, on being closed, serves to supply power to the starter;
- the apparatus including means for detecting the open or closed state of the power contact and means for interrupting or reducing power supply to the winding in the event of the power contact still being open at the end of a predetermined time delay from the initiation of the supply of power to the starter, a vehicle ignition key, a means for generating a starting control signal when the ignition key is turned to an "on" position, said means for interrupting or reducing power including an element for regulating the supply of current to the winding, control means for controlling said regulator element, said control means receiving the starting control signal, said means for interrupting the starter power supply also including delay means to which the starting control signal is applied, and decision means which receives as inputs output signals first from the delay means and secondly from the means for detecting the open or closed state of the power contact, said decision means issuing an output signal that informs the control means for controlling the regulator element that the power contact is open at the end of the time delay.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
Specification