Starter motor control with pre-spin
First Claim
1. A circuit for initiating a starting sequence for an internal combustion engine comprising:
- a source of electrical power;
a starter motor;
a gear system selectively coupling said starter motor to an engine to be started;
a control circuit for providing electrical energy only to said starter motor initially for a predetermined time completely bypassing a starting solenoid and subsequently providing electrical energy to the starting solenoid such that said gear system starts rotating the engine from a non-rotating state, wherein the source of electrical power continually outputs 7.5 or more volts during the starting sequence;
a first conductor directly connecting the control circuit to the starter motor, the first conductor providing a control signal to turn on a pair of parallel, coupled switches having a first terminal coupled to the source of electrical power and a second terminal coupled to the starter motor directly, wherein the first conductor is wrapped such that a first current level is supplied to the motor; and
a second conductor coupled to the starting solenoid, wherein the solenoid receives a second current level that is greater than the first current level.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control circuit receives a starting signal from a powertrain control module of a vehicle and delays the coupling of the main starting current from the battery to the starting motor until a reduced current in an alternative flow path is provided to the starter motor, initiating its motion. In a preferred, the pre-start sequence is controlled by a microprocessor which provides a control signal to a solid state switch coupled by a conductor providing current limiting resistance between the battery supply and the starter motor for a predetermined period of time. Subsequent to the pre-spin period, the control circuit provides a signal to a different solid state switch which activates the starter solenoid, in turn, coupling the battery to the starter motor and engaging the pinion gear with the ring gear.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A circuit for initiating a starting sequence for an internal combustion engine comprising:
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a source of electrical power; a starter motor; a gear system selectively coupling said starter motor to an engine to be started; a control circuit for providing electrical energy only to said starter motor initially for a predetermined time completely bypassing a starting solenoid and subsequently providing electrical energy to the starting solenoid such that said gear system starts rotating the engine from a non-rotating state, wherein the source of electrical power continually outputs 7.5 or more volts during the starting sequence; a first conductor directly connecting the control circuit to the starter motor, the first conductor providing a control signal to turn on a pair of parallel, coupled switches having a first terminal coupled to the source of electrical power and a second terminal coupled to the starter motor directly, wherein the first conductor is wrapped such that a first current level is supplied to the motor; and a second conductor coupled to the starting solenoid, wherein the solenoid receives a second current level that is greater than the first current level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A circuit for initiating a starting sequence for an internal combustion engine comprising:
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a battery; a starter motor; a starter solenoid; a gear system including a pinion gear coupled to said starter solenoid and a ring gear coupled to an engine to be started; a control circuit for providing electrical energy only from said battery to said starter motor for a predetermined time and subsequently from said battery to said starter solenoid such that said pinion gear rotates said ring gear for starting the engine from a stopped state; and a conductor directly connecting the control circuit and the battery through a common switch to the starter motor, wherein there are no resistors disposed along the conductor and the conductor is wrapped in a serpentine pattern to supply less current to the motor than the solenoid. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A circuit for initiating a starting sequence for an engine comprising:
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a battery; a starter motor; a starter solenoid; a gear system including a pinion gear coupled to said solenoid and a ring gear coupled to a stopped engine; and a control circuit including a conductor for providing electrical energy from said battery to only said starter motor for a predetermined time and subsequently from said battery to said solenoid to initiate the engine. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification