Glow plug control drive method and glow plug drive control system
First Claim
1. A method of controlling the driving of a glow plug in a glow plug drive control system which enables driving to energize the glow plug, the system comprising:
- a glow switch, a stabilizing coil, and a glow plug that are series-connected, a battery voltage being applied to one end of the glow switch, another end of the glow plug connected to a ground; and
an electronic control unit that controls the opening and closing of the glow switch, the method comprising;
in an initial drive state, performing opening and closing of the glow switch, with a first frequency of PWM signals, the initial drive state occurring on commencement of driving the glow plug; and
in a normal drive state, performing opening and closing of the glow switch with a second frequency of PWM signals, the normal drive state occurring when a predetermined drive shift condition has been met;
wherein the first frequency is higher than the second frequency; and
wherein the predetermined drive shift condition is the cumulative energy that has been expended for driving the glow plug since the commencement of the driving of the glow plug, and it is determined that the predetermined drive shift condition has been met when it has been determined that the cumulative energy has reached a predetermined value.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
To suppress current fluctuations upon commencement of driving and prolong lifespan by reducing electric stress caused by current fluctuations.
A glow plug 1, a glow switch 2, and a stabilizing coil 3 are series-connected, and upon commencement of the driving of the glow plug 1, a repetition frequency of PWM signals that control the opening and closing of the glow switch 2 is made into a higher frequency than a repetition frequency in a normal drive state and the opening and closing of the glow switch 2 is controlled (S104), and when a predetermined drive shift condition has been met (S106), the repetition frequency of the PWM signals is returned to the frequency during normal driving and the opening and closing of the glow switch 2 is controlled (S108), whereby the current upon commencement of driving is smoothed and the occurrence of an instantaneous large current is suppressed.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the driving of a glow plug in a glow plug drive control system which enables driving to energize the glow plug, the system comprising:
- a glow switch, a stabilizing coil, and a glow plug that are series-connected, a battery voltage being applied to one end of the glow switch, another end of the glow plug connected to a ground; and
an electronic control unit that controls the opening and closing of the glow switch, the method comprising;in an initial drive state, performing opening and closing of the glow switch, with a first frequency of PWM signals, the initial drive state occurring on commencement of driving the glow plug; and in a normal drive state, performing opening and closing of the glow switch with a second frequency of PWM signals, the normal drive state occurring when a predetermined drive shift condition has been met; wherein the first frequency is higher than the second frequency; and wherein the predetermined drive shift condition is the cumulative energy that has been expended for driving the glow plug since the commencement of the driving of the glow plug, and it is determined that the predetermined drive shift condition has been met when it has been determined that the cumulative energy has reached a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- a glow switch, a stabilizing coil, and a glow plug that are series-connected, a battery voltage being applied to one end of the glow switch, another end of the glow plug connected to a ground; and
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5. A glow plug drive control system which enables driving to energize a glow plug, the system comprising:
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a glow switch, a stabilizing coil, and a glow plug that are series-connected, a battery voltage being applied to one end of the glow switch, another end of the glow plug being connected to a ground; and an electronic control unit that controls the opening and closing of the glow switch, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to perform opening and closing of the glow switch in an initial drive state with a first frequency of PWM signals, the initial drive state occurring on commencement of driving the glow plug; and
perform opening and closing of the glow switch in a normal drive state with a second frequency of PWM signals, the normal drive state occurring when a predetermined drive shift condition has been met;wherein the first frequency is higher than the second frequency; and wherein the predetermined drive shift condition is the cumulative energy that has been expended for driving the glow plug since the commencement of the driving of the glow plug, and it is determined that the predetermined drive shift condition has been met when it has been determined that the cumulative energy has reached a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification