Eco-run control device and method for resetting the same

• US 7,860,637 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Kazuhi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin; Stephen K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castro; Arnold
• Application Number:
  US12/081,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20080262708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.4, 123/179.3, 701/112, 701/113
• US Class Current: 701/112
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2493 Resetting of data to a predefined set of values
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0818 Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/10 Safety devices F02N11/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2250/02 Battery voltage drop at start, e.g. drops causing ECU reset
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/30 characterised by the use of digital means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/304 with other systems inside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 11/025 Shortening the ignition when the engine is stopped to prevent damage to the coil F02P3/0556
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An eco-run control device is mounted on a vehicle and is capable of performing eco-run control to stop an engine when predetermined stop requirements are satisfied and restart the engine when predetermined start requirements are satisfied later. This eco-run control device includes: a monitoring unit that monitors the state of an ignition; a communicating unit that communicates with a plurality of control devices that receive power supplies from a power supply line that is connected to a power source via the ignition; and an initialization controlling unit that initializes the data with respect to the eco-run control stored in a memory, when the monitoring unit determines that the ignition is in an OFF state, and that the communications with two or more of the control devices are interrupted.

Claims

1. An eco-run control device that is mounted on a vehicle and is capable of performing eco-run control to stop an engine if predetermined stop requirements are satisfied, and to restart the engine if predetermined start requirements are later satisfied, the eco-run control device comprising:

at least one first type control unit having power supplied thereto in accordance with a state of an ignition;

at least one second type control unit having power supplied thereto in accordance with a state of an ACC;

a start control unit that, when the power supplied to the at least one first type control unit or the power supplied to the at least one second type control unit is turned from off to on, performs a start control operation on the engine if the start control unit receives an eco-run prohibiting request from the at least one first type control unit or from the at least one second type control unit;

a main relay unit that continues the power supply to the eco-run control device for a predetermined period of time even after the ignition is turned off;

a determining unit that receives an ignition state signal from a predetermined signal line and determines a state of the ignition as being off when the received ignition state signal indicates that the ignition is off, based on whether signals from at least two of the control devices of the first type are interrupted; and

a prohibiting unit that prohibits the reception of the eco-run prohibiting request even when the at least one first type control unit or the at least one second type control unit sends the eco-run prohibiting request after the ignition detection unit determines that the ignition is off, and prevents the engine from being started by the start control unit.

2. The eco-run control device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one first type control unit is an engine control unit and at least one of the at least one first type control unit is a vehicle stability control unit.

3. The eco-run control device according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines a state of the ignition only based on communication from the at least one first type control unit.

4. The eco-run control device according to claim 1, wherein the prohibiting unit includes an initialization controlling unit that initializes a variable stored in a memory indicating that the engine is prohibited from starting if the determining unit detects that the ignition is off.

5. The eco-run control device according to claim 1, wherein the prohibiting unit prevents the engine from starting if there is a decision history that shows that the signals from the at least two first type control units are interrupted and the ignition is off.

6. The eco-run control device according to claim 1, wherein the eco-run control device receives a stop signal for determining an engine stop, and determines whether the ignition is switched by a driver operation.

7. The eco-run control device according to claim 6, wherein the engine control signal indicates a location of a shift lever, a speed of the vehicle, a speed of the engine, a condition of whether a foot brake is on, and a condition of whether a door is opened or closed.

8. The eco-run control device according to claim 1, further comprising a third type control unit that is connected directly to a +B line, wherein the start control unit performs the start control of the engine if the start control unit receives the eco-run prohibiting request from any of the at least one first type control unit, the at least one second type control unit, or the third type control unit.

9. A method for controlling an eco-run control device that is mounted on a vehicle and is capable of performing eco-run control to stop an engine if predetermined stop requirements are satisfied, and to restart the engine if predetermined start requirements are later satisfied, the method comprising:

performing a start control operation on the engine, when the power supplied to at least one first type control unit or the power supplied to at least one second type control unit is turned from off to on, if a start control unit receives an eco-run prohibiting request from the at least one first type control unit or from the at least one second type control unit;

continuing the power supply to the eco-run control device for a predetermined period of time even after the ignition is turned off;

receiving an ignition state signal from a predetermined signal line and determining the state of the ignition as being off when the received ignition state signal indicates that the ignition is off, based on whether signals from at least two of the control devices of the first type are interrupted; and

prohibiting the reception of the eco-run prohibiting request even when the at least one first type control unit or the at least one second type control unit sends the eco-run prohibiting request after the ignition detection unit determines that the ignition is off, and prevents starting the engine from being started by the start control unit.