Engine start-stop control system

• US 6,634,332 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ishihara, Toshihisa, Osada, Masahiko, Saito, Mikio
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castro, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US09/925,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20020017260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.3, 290/38.R, 290/38.C, 290/38.E, 701/36, 361/152
• US Class Current: 123/179.3
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/2027 Control of the current by pulse width modulation or duty cycle control
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0851 characterised by means for controlling the engagement or disengagement between engine and starter, e.g. meshing of pinion and engine gear
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/104 Control of the starter motor torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/2011 Control involving a delay; Control involving a waiting period before engine stop or engine start

Abstract

An engine start-stop control system for an automotive vehicle includes a first step for supplying current to a solenoid of a magnet switch of a starter at 100% duty ratio until a first predetermined time passes, a second step for supplying current to the solenoid at a duty ratio that is less than 100% after the first predetermined period passes until a second predetermined period passes, and a third step for supplying current to the solenoid at 100% duty ratio after the second predetermined period passes until a third predetermined period passes. Therefore, a pinion of the starter reaches a ring gear of the engine in a short time and engages the ring gear with a moderate impacting shock, thereby preventing the pinion and the ring gear from being damaged.

Claims

1. An engine start-stop control system for an automotive vehicle including a battery, an engine having a ring gear, a starter having a motor, a pinion, and a magnet switch having a plunger and a solenoid for driving said pinion to engage said ring gear, said engine start-stop control system, comprising:

first means for supplying current to said solenoid at 100% duty ratio until a first predetermined time passes; and

second means for supplying current to said solenoid at a duty ratio that changes according to a vehicle condition within a value less than 100% after said first predetermined period passes until a second predetermined period passes.

2. The engine start-stop control system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising third means for supplying current to said solenoid at 100% duty ratio after said second predetermined period passes until a third predetermined period passes.

3. The engine start-stop control system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising fourth means for controlling at least one of said first, second and third predetermined periods according to voltage level of said battery.

4. The engine start-stop control system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising fifth means for controlling at least one of said first, second and third predetermined periods according to an amount of current supplied to said solenoid.

9. The engine start-stop control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second means comprises a map having data for controlling current supplied to said solenoid according to various vehicle conditions.

5. A method of starting and stopping an engine having a ring gear for an automotive vehicle and a battery by a starter having a motor, a pinion, and a magnet switch having a plunger and a solenoid for driving said pinion to engage said ring gear, said method comprising the steps of:

supplying current to said solenoid at 100% duty ratio until a first predetermined time passes; and

supplying current to said solenoid at a duty ratio that changes according to a vehicle condition within a value less than 100% after said first predetermined period passes until a second predetermined period passes.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the step of supplying current to said solenoid at 100% duty ratio after said second predetermined period passes until a third predetermined period passes.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the step of controlling at least one of said first, second and third predetermined periods according to voltage level of said battery.

8. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the step of controlling at least one of said first, second and third predetermined periods according to an amount of current supplied to said solenoid.