Engine starting control system and method therefor

• US 6,794,765 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kiyomiya, Takashi, Izumiura, Atsushi, Kumagai, Katsuhiro, Miyamoto, Naoya
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US10/107,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20020145287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 290/38.R, 290/40.C, 180/65.2, 123/179.3
• US Class Current: 290/38.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/54 Transmission for changing ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/102 Control of the starter motor speed; Control of the engine speed during cranking
• 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 903/917 with transmission for changing gear ratio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/918 Continuously variable

Abstract

In order to improve the reliability of engine starting by using a motor, the engine cranking using the motor is started according to a request for starting the engine, and when the elapsed time from the starting time of the engine operation reaches a first predetermined time and it is detected that the transmission is in the in-gear state, the engine cranking is continued if the engine speed is equal to or less than a predetermined engine speed defined for determining whether the engine reaches a predetermined starting phase. The engine cranking may be continued for a second predetermined time which is longer than the first predetermined time.

Claims

1. An engine starting control system comprising:

a motor coupled with an output shaft of an engine;

a transmission;

a motor control section for starting the engine by using the motor according to a request for starting the engine;

an in-gear detecting section for detecting an in-gear state of the transmission;

a measurement section for measuring an elapsed time from the starting time of the engine operation; and

an engine speed detecting section for detecting an engine speed of the engine, wherein;

the motor control section starts engine cranking using the motor according to the request for starting the engine; and

when the elapsed time measured by the measurement section reaches a first predetermined time and the in-gear detection section detects that the transmission is in the in-gear state, the motor control section continues the engine cranking if the engine speed detected by the engine speed detecting section is equal to or less than a predetermined engine speed defined for determining whether the engine reaches a predetermined starting phase.

2. An engine starting control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engine cranking is continued for a second predetermined time which is longer than the first predetermined time.

3. An engine starting control system as claimed in claim 2, wherein if the engine speed detecting section detects an engine speed equal to or greater than the predetermined engine speed during the second predetermined time, then the motor control section completes the engine starting operation using the motor.

4. An engine starting control system as claimed in claim 2, wherein if the engine speed detecting section detects an engine speed equal to or greater than the predetermined engine speed after the second predetermined time has elapsed, then the motor control section completes the engine starting operation using the motor.

5. An engine starting control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor is a drive motor for a hybrid vehicle, wherein an output of the motor is added to the engine output.

6. An engine starting control method comprising:

a motor control step of starting an engine by using a motor according to a request for starting the engine, where the motor is coupled with an output shaft of the engine;

an in-gear detecting step of detecting an in-gear state of a transmission;

a measurement step of measuring an elapsed time from the starting time of the engine operation; and

an engine speed detecting step of detecting an engine speed of the engine, wherein;

the motor control step includes starting engine cranking by using the motor according to the request for starting the engine; and

when the elapsed time measured in the measurement step reaches a first predetermined time and it is detected in the in-gear detection step that the transmission is in the in-gear state, the engine cranking performed in the motor control step is continued if the engine speed detected in the engine speed detecting step is equal to or less than a predetermined engine speed defined for determining whether the engine reaches a predetermined starting phase.

7. An engine starting control method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the engine cranking is continued for a second predetermined time which is longer than the first predetermined time.

8. An engine starting control method as claimed in claim 7, wherein if the engine speed detected in the engine speed detecting step is equal to or greater than the predetermined engine speed during the second predetermined time, then in the motor control step, the engine starting operation using the motor is completed.

9. An engine starting control method as claimed in claim 7, wherein if the engine speed detected in the engine speed detecting step is equal to or greater than the predetermined engine speed after the second predetermined time has elapsed, then in the motor control step, the engine starting operation using the motor is completed.

10. An engine starting control method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the motor is a drive motor for a hybrid vehicle, wherein an output of the motor is added to the engine output.