Vehicular engine starting control apparatus and vehicular engine starting control method

• US 6,555,927 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Takashi, Suzuki, Naoto, Takaoka, Toshifumi, Okada, Daimon
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US09/694,007
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 290/34, 290/38.R, 290/40.R, 290/40.A, 290/40.C, 180/65.2, 318/140
• US Class Current: 290/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/06 Ignition switch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/006 using a plurality of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/08 Circuits or control means specially adapted for starting of engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0814 comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/023 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 Orbital, e.g. planetary gears

Abstract

In a vehicle equipped with a motor generator and a starter, if an ignition key has been switched from OFF to ON, preferably an engine is started by using the starter. However, if the temperature T of the engine is high (B≦T), the engine is started by the motor generator. When the engine is restarted after automatic stop thereof, preferably the engine is started by using the motor generator. However, if the temperature T of the engine is low (T≦A), the engine is started by using the starter. The engine is started by suitably selecting between the starter and the motor generator, whereby it becomes possible to improve responsive characteristics and startability and abate oscillatory noise.

Claims

1. A vehicular engine starting control apparatus for a vehicle having an engine which outputs power to a drive shaft of the vehicle, a motor-generator which inputs power to and outputs power from a power transmission path that extends from an output shaft of the engine to the drive shaft, and a starter which is coupled to the output shaft of the engine, the control apparatus comprising:

a controller which;

(1) receives an initial engine starting command if an ignition key has been switched from OFF to ON;

(2) receives an engine restarting command upon fulfillment of a predetermined restarting condition during automatic stoppage of the engine;

(3) issues a command to start the engine by using the starter upon issuance of the initial engine starting command; and

(4) issues a command to start the engine by using the motor-generator upon issuance of the engine restarting command.

2. A vehicular engine starting control method for a vehicle having an engine which outputs power to a drive shaft of the vehicle, a motor-generator which inputs power to and outputs power from a power transmission path that extends from an output shaft of the engine to the drive shaft, and a starter which is coupled to the output shaft of the engine, the method comprising:

determining whether or not an ignition key has been switched from OFF to ON;

determining whether or not a predetermined restarting condition has been fulfilled during an automatic stoppage of the engine; and

starting the engine by using the starter if the ignition key has been switched from OFF to ON, and by using the motor-generator if the predetermined restarting condition has been fulfilled during the automatic stoppage of the engine.