Determination of engine rotational speed based on change in current supplied to engine starter
First Claim
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1. An engine rotational speed determining device comprising:
- a signal inputting means for inputting a signal that indicates current supplied to an electric motor, which starts an internal combustion engine, during a starting operation of the engine by the motor; and
a rotational speed determining means for determining a rotational speed of the engine in the starting operation based on a change in the current indicated by the signal input by the signal inputting means;
a relaxation process performing means for performing a relaxation process for the signal input by the inputting means to eliminate the influence of electrical noise included in the signal; and
a relaxation process resetting means for resetting the relaxation process at a timing when the current indicated by the signal has decreased, after an initial rapid increase thereof, to become not higher than a predetermined threshold,wherein the rotational speed determining means determines the rotational speed of the engine based on the signal that has received the relaxation process which is performed by the relaxation process performing means and reset by the relaxation process resetting means.
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Abstract
An engine rotational speed determining device is disclosed which includes a signal inputting means and a rotational speed determining means. The signal inputting means inputs a signal that indicates current supplied to an electric motor, which starts an internal combustion engine, during a starting operation of the engine by the motor. The rotational speed determining means determines a rotational speed of the engine in the starting operation based on a change in the current indicated by the signal input by the signal inputting means.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An engine rotational speed determining device comprising:
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a signal inputting means for inputting a signal that indicates current supplied to an electric motor, which starts an internal combustion engine, during a starting operation of the engine by the motor; and a rotational speed determining means for determining a rotational speed of the engine in the starting operation based on a change in the current indicated by the signal input by the signal inputting means; a relaxation process performing means for performing a relaxation process for the signal input by the inputting means to eliminate the influence of electrical noise included in the signal; and a relaxation process resetting means for resetting the relaxation process at a timing when the current indicated by the signal has decreased, after an initial rapid increase thereof, to become not higher than a predetermined threshold, wherein the rotational speed determining means determines the rotational speed of the engine based on the signal that has received the relaxation process which is performed by the relaxation process performing means and reset by the relaxation process resetting means.
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2. An engine starting possibility predicting device comprising:
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a signal inputting means for inputting a signal that indicates current supplied to an electric motor, which starts an internal combustion engine, during each of a plurality of starting operations of the engine by the motor; a rotational speed determining means for determining a rotational speed of the engine in each of the starting operations based on a change in the current indicated by the signal input by the signal inputting means; a torque determining means for determining a torque of the motor in each of the starting operations based on the change in the current indicated by the signal input by the signal inputting means; and a possibility predicting means for predicting, based on the rotational speeds of the engine and the torques of the motor determined by the rotational speed determining means and the torque determining means, a possibility of the motor to successfully start the engine in an upcoming starting operation of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. An engine friction estimating device comprising:
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a signal inputting means for inputting a signal that indicates current supplied to an electric motor, which starts an internal combustion engine, during each of a plurality of starting operations of the engine by the motor; a rotational speed determining means for determining a rotational speed of the engine in each of the starting operations based on a change in the current indicated by the signal input by the signal inputting means; a torque determining means for determining a torque of the motor in each of the starting operations based on the change in the current indicated by the signal input by the signal inputting means; and an engine friction estimating means for estimating friction of the engine based on the rotational speeds of the engine and the torques of the motor determined by the rotational speed determining means and the torque determining means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. An engine automatic stop control device comprising:
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a signal inputting means for inputting a signal that indicates current supplied to an electric motor, which starts an internal combustion engine, during each of a plurality of starting operations of the engine by the motor; a rotational speed determining means for determining a rotational speed of the engine in each of the starting operations based on a change in the current indicated by the signal input by the signal inputting means; a torque determining means for determining a torque of the motor in each of the starting operations based on the change in the current indicated by the signal input by the signal inputting means; an engine friction estimating means for estimating friction of the engine based on the rotational speeds of the engine and the torques of the motor determined by the rotational speed determining means and the torque determining means; and a controlling means for controlling an automatic stop of the engine based on the friction of the engine estimated by the engine friction estimating means.
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9. A method of determining engine rotational speed, the method comprising:
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receiving an input signal that indicates current supplied to an electric motor, which starts an internal combustion engine, during a starting operation of the engine by the motor; and determining a rotational speed of the engine in the starting operation based on a change in the current; performing a relaxation process for the input signal to eliminate the influence of electrical noise included in the signal; and resetting the relaxation process at a timing when the current indicated by the signal has decreased, after an initial rapid increase thereof, to become not higher than a predetermined threshold, wherein said determining the rotational speed of the engine is based on the signal that has received the relaxation process which is performed by said performing and reset by said resetting.
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10. A method of predicting an engine starting possibility, the method comprising:
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receiving an input signal that indicates current supplied to an electric motor, which starts an internal combustion engine, during each of a plurality of starting operations of the engine by the motor; determining a rotational speed of the engine in each of the starting operations based on a change in the current indicated by the input signal input; determining a torque of the motor in each of the starting operations based on the change in the current; and predicting, based on the determined rotational speeds of the engine and the determined torques of the motor, a possibility of the motor to successfully start the engine in an upcoming starting operation of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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receiving an input signal that indicates current supplied to an electric motor, which starts an internal combustion engine, during each of a plurality of starting operations of the engine by the motor; determining a rotational speed of the engine in each of the starting operations based on a change in the indicated current; determining a torque of the motor in each of the starting operations based on the change in the indicated current; and estimating friction of the engine based on the determined rotational speeds of the engine and the determined torques of the motor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification