EP2324233A1

EP2324233A1 - Method and controller for a starter device of an internal combustion engine

Info

Publication number: EP2324233A1
Application number: EP09779767A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Falco Sengebusch
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2008-08-06
Filing date: 2009-06-16
Publication date: 2011-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2029-06-16
Also published as: JP5291797B2; EP2324233B1; WO2010015450A1; DE102008041040A1; CN102112729A; US20110202264A1; JP2011530037A

Abstract

The invention relates to controller for a starter device (1) having a starter motor (2), a meshing device, and a starter pinion (3) for meshing into an annular gear (6) of an internal combustion engine (7) in a motor vehicle, wherein the meshing device for meshing the starter pinion (3) is actuated by the controller, particularly for a starting/ stopping operating strategy. In order to improve driving comfort in that a restarting of the internal combustion engine (16) can be carried out in a significantly quicker manner, at least one meshing value of the meshing device is detected by means of a detection unit (20) for meshing the starter pinion (3), stored in the controller as a reference value, and analyzed.

Description

description

title

Method and control for a starting device of an internal combustion engine

State of the art

The invention relates to a method of a control for a starting device with a starter motor, a Einspurvorrichtung and a starter pinion for meshing in a ring gear of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, wherein the Einspurvorrichtung for meshing the starter pinion of the controller, in particular for a start-stop Operating strategy is controlled. Furthermore, the invention relates to a computer program product and a controller for a starting device with a starter motor, a starter relay and a starter pinion for starting an internal combustion engine in a vehicle, wherein the control is formed with a microcomputer, by means of a start-stop operating strategy is executable.

It is known to save the fuel and emissions of the internal combustion engine in a vehicle by an engine control, for example at traffic lights or traffic obstructions that force to a short-term stop, after certain shutdown conditions, especially after a certain time. It is also known to start an internal combustion engine by means of a starter having a starter pinion which is meshed with a ring gear of an internal combustion engine. For such a construction of an internal combustion engine, which is started by means of a starter pinion, there are minimum times for a restart, which have to wait until the internal combustion engine can be restarted, since the stationary starter pinion must not be meshed into a rotating ring gear.

There are developments to einzuspuren the starter pinion already during the expiration of the internal combustion engine in the sprocket. This is the following state of the art known.

From DE 10 2006 011 644 Al a device and a method for operating a device with a starter pinion and a ring gear of an internal combustion engine is known, the rotational speed of the ring gear and the starter pinion are determined to the starter pinion after switching off the internal combustion engine with The starter pinion remains in a one-trailing state until the internal combustion engine is started.

DE 10 2006 039 112 A1 describes a method for determining the rotational speed of the starter for a motor vehicle internal combustion engine. It is further described that the starting system includes its own starter controller to calculate the speed of the starter and to accelerate the pinion from the starter motor in a start-stop operation when a self-starting of the engine is no longer possible due to reduced speed , The pinion is engaged at substantially synchronous speed in the ring gear of the expiring internal combustion engine.

DE 10 2005 004 326 A1 describes a starting device for a combustion engine with a separate engagement and starting process. For this purpose, the starting device has a control unit which controls a starter motor and an actuator for engaging a starter pinion separately. From the control unit, the pinion can be meshed before starting the vehicle in the ring gear before the driver has expressed a new start request. In this case, the actuator is already actuated as an engagement relay during an outflow phase of the internal combustion engine. The speed threshold is in this case far below the idle speed of the engine to keep the wear of the Einspurvorrichtung as low as possible. To avoid voltage dips in the vehicle electrical system by a very high starting current from the starter motor, the controller is a soft start, for example, realized by a clocking of the starter current. The performance of the electrical system is monitored by analyzing the battery condition and accordingly the starter motor is clocked or supplied with power. Furthermore, the invention describes that the crankshaft can be positioned shortly before or after reaching the standstill of the internal combustion engine to shorten the start time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method, a computer program Product and a control of the type mentioned in such a way to improve vehicle comfort, in which a restart of the engine is much faster, easy and with a long life feasible.

Disclosure of the invention

According to the invention the object is achieved by the subject matter of claims 1, 9 and 10. Advantageous developments emerge from the dependent claims.

An idea of the invention is to be determined by means of at least one, previously recorded Einspurwertes the Einspurzeitdauer a starter pinion precisely to einzuspuren at an ideal time. The ideal time for meshing is a substantially synchronous rotational speed of a starter pinion to be clamped in, up or down, or at a constant speed, into a ring gear of an outgoing internal combustion engine. Due to more accurate values over the Einspurzeitdauer the synchronous speed at which is eingespurt be increased significantly, so that can respond to changed operating requirements, such as a restart of the internal combustion engine much faster than known in the art, responded. By achieving a substantially synchronous speed in a smaller speed window and in a defined time window of the mechanical wear and noise of the participating drive components, such as the starter device and the ring gear is reduced to a minimum.

The object is achieved by means of the method in that at least one Einspurwert is detected by the Einspurvorrichtung for a meshing of the starter pinion by means of a detection device is stored as a reference value in the controller and evaluated. Detecting an individual single track value in a vehicle is important to compensate for manufacturing and assembly tolerances that occur in the production of automobiles. These manufacturing and assembly tolerances occur in a different length Ritzelweg to the meshing. The Ritzelweg can for example have tolerances of 1 to 5 mm. This results in different Einspurzeitpunkte due to the manufacturing and assembly tolerances, which can be compensated according to the invention by detecting the at least one single track value. Thus, in a start-stop operating strategy, a starter pinion can be driven with high precision with a very high quality of a synchronous chronometer speed are meshed into the ring gear both at low but also at very high speeds. The stored reference value is evaluated in such a way that the start time for meshing by means of the meshing device is shifted as a function of the reference value in order to engage in time.

In order to detect the manufacturing and assembly tolerances, which occur essentially between the sprocket and the starter pinion, the Einspurwert is stored by the detection device only as a reference value when the starter pinion when meshing with the ring gear occurs a tooth-on-tooth position , This single-track value differs from vehicle to vehicle and is determined and adjusted individually by the control in order to improve the quality of the single-track quality.

According to an embodiment further developing the invention, a time duration is measured as a single-track value. The reference value is thus the time until the starter pinion is not engageable with the ring gear of the engine because of a tooth-on-tooth position. The period of time varies, especially since the pinion path between the starter pinion and ring gear is slightly different for manufacturing and assembly reasons. In order to compensate for this installation tolerance when the starter pinion meshes during a start-stop operating strategy, the reference value is detected and taken into account for the timed control of the meshing device.

According to an alternative embodiment, a distance of the starter pinion is measured directly as Einspurwert. The reference value is read in as distance from the controller and processed. The control changes the control of the meshing device as a function of the distance and thus compensates for the manufacturing tolerances. The distance can be measured by known detection means.

According to an embodiment further developing the invention, the single-track device is designed as a starter relay, wherein the starter pinion is meshed by means of an energizable winding of the starter relay and a current of the starter relay is detected and evaluated, which is influenced by the movement of the armature in the starter relay. Thus, a Einspurwert is obtained from the winding winding, which is used to determine a reference value for timely control of the starter relay. The winding winding of the starter relay thus serves as a sensor and as an actuator in a dual function. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the single track device is designed as a starter relay with a first and a second current supply, which acts as Einspurwick- by energizing the first winding for meshing, and measured by the detection device, an induced voltage in the second, not energized winding becomes. Thus, a starter relay can be used as an actuator with two separately controllable windings, with a single-track winding and a switching winding for switching the starter current, which also acts as a sensor, multifunctional to compensate for manufacturing tolerances. By a simple electromagnetic principle, by measuring the induced voltage in the non-energized switching winding a period of time is measured to the tooth-on-tooth position, which differs from vehicle to vehicle due to the manufacturing tolerances. This period corresponds to a pinion path, which serves as a reference value for predetermined operating values of a start-stop operating strategy. The start-stop operating strategy is executed by the controller together with a motor controller.

Advantageously, the time duration is measured before the vehicle is put into service. The manufacturing tolerance, which differs from vehicle to vehicle, is usually detected only once in vehicle life. Commissioning is thus the time after production of the vehicle but before handover to the vehicle owner to understand. Commissioning also occurs after repair work on the internal combustion engine or the starter motor, if in this case the installation tolerances could have shifted. Before the vehicle is put into operation, the control adjusts itself by means of "self-learning" diagnostic functions in accordance with the method according to the invention.

According to an alternative embodiment, the manufacturing tolerances are measured by the duration of the control in predefined cycles, such as for constant distances or constant time periods and the reference value is updated if necessary. This is advantageous to compensate occurring tolerances that occur, for example due to wear on the starter pinion or ring gear to increase the life. Premature wear is thus reduced.

The problem is solved by means of a computer program product in that it can be loaded into a program memory with program instructions in order to complete all steps of the program process described above, when the program is executed in a controller.

The computer program product requires no additional components in the vehicle, but can be implemented as a module in existing controls in the vehicle. The computer program product may be used, for example, in the engine controller or a controller for the starting device, i. H. a starter control, be provided. The computer program product has the further advantage that it can be easily adapted to individual and specific customer requirements, as well as an improvement of the operating parameters through improved empirical values and a self-learning function can be implemented.

The object is moreover achieved by a controller in that the controller has a program memory and a detection device, by means of which current values characteristic of the starter relay when energizing a winding winding are measurable, these current values are evaluated as measured Einspurwert and can be stored in the program memory for processing , Thus, the control in conjunction with a two-stage starter relay with at least one winding a measuring and sensor system created to compensate for installation tolerances, thus high quality for the correct Einspurzeitpunkt the starter pinion in a synchronous speed of the starter motor with the Sprocket to achieve the internal combustion engine. The service life is thus long, the noise is low and in start-stop operating strategies, the availability of the internal combustion engine is faster than previously known from the prior art.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the controller is formed with a program memory into which, in particular, a computer program product described above can be loaded in order to carry out the method described above.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations.

Brief description of the drawings The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment with reference to drawings. Show it:

1 shows a schematic circuit diagram of drive components of a vehicle,

Fig. 2 is a flowchart for a method according to the invention and

Fig. 3 is a signal-characteristic diagram of a Einspurvorgangs.

Embodiments of the invention

Fig. 1 shows a circuit diagram of a starting device 1. The starting device 1 comprises a starter motor 2 with a starter pinion 3, which is axially displaceable by a starter relay 4 as Einspurvorrichtung on a starter axis 5 from the starter motor 2. The starter pinion 3 is engaged by means of the starter relay 4 in a ring gear 6 of an internal combustion engine 7 for starting the internal combustion engine 7.

In the disengaged state between the sprocket-side end face of the starter pinion 3 and the starter pinion-side end face of the ring gear 6 as installation tolerance a pinion-sprocket spacing T, for example in the order of 1 to 5 mm. The distance T differs from vehicle to vehicle due to manufacturing and assembly tolerances.

The starting device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is provided according to the invention in order to carry out a start-stop operating strategy according to which a quick restart of the internal combustion engine 7 is possible. The engine 7 is turned off by the engine controller 8 due to a start-stop operating strategy. To ensure rapid availability of the internal combustion engine, the starter speed 3 is accelerated to a synchronous speed with the toothed rim 6. The speed of the ring gear approaches with a decreasing speed of the synchronous speed. In order to achieve the best possible synchronization of the two on each other to be moved speeds, according to the invention a control, which is referred to as starter control 9 hereinafter, known in which period of time the starter pinion 3 from the rest position abuts on the ring gear 6. For the determination of this period of time for meshing, which depends on a varying installation tolerance with deviations If T is dependent, the procedure described below is performed. In order to carry out the method according to the invention for improving start-stop operating strategies, in particular with a rapid change in the desired operation of the internal combustion engine, the starting device has in particular the following features and components.

The starter relay 4 is formed according to a particularly preferred embodiment with two separately controllable by the starter control 9 windings, a first and a second winding. The first winding is a so-called single-track winding 10 to einzuspuren the starter pinion 3 separately from an energization of the starter motor 2 in the ring gear 6. A switching winding 11 switches the maximum starter current from the battery 12 to drive the starter motor 2. The Einspurwicklung 10 and the switching winding 11 are connected to the starter control 9 via a special circuit arrangement, which is abstracted and simplified in FIG. It is understood that the circuit arrangement of the starter control 9 with the starter relay 4 and the starter motor 2 may also have other preferred circuit arrangements, wherein the essential components are shown in FIG.

To control the Einspurwicklung 10 and the switching winding, the starter control 9 electronic circuit breakers 13, 14, which may also be designed as a relay. The power switches 13, 14 are driven by a built-in in the starter controller 9 microcomputer 15. The microcomputer 15 is in information contact via a bus system 16, such as a CAN bus, to the motor controller to receive information signals for starting the starter motor 2 and the starting relay 4 and to receive pulse signals for executing a start-stop operating strategy. Start-stop operating strategies are stored in a program memory 17 in the microcomputer 15. The microcomputer 15 has a timer 18 for execution.

According to the invention, the starter control 9 has a detection device 20, which measures an induced voltage across the switching winding 11 to ground with a voltage measuring device 27 over time and transmits these voltage values to the microcomputer 15.

Alternatively, the detection device 20 has a current measuring device 26 which detects the current of Einspurwicklung 10 and transmitted the course of these values over time to the microcomputer 15.

The microcomputer 15 evaluates the measured values with the aid of the timer 18 and adjusts accordingly, with respect to the figures described below, the starting pulse for the meshing of the starter pinion 3 by means of the starter relay 4 with respect to time.

To perform cold starts, the engine controller 8 is activated by closing a switch 19, for example on the ignition, which closes a separate relay 21 to energize the starter relay 4 and the starter motor 2.

In order for the engine control unit 8 to be able to detect switch-off conditions, it is connected to a second bus system, for example a LIN bus 22. The LIN bus 22 provides sensor values, such as vehicle speed, throttle, clutch, and / or brake pedal position, etc., to infer whether the shutdown conditions exist for a start-stop operating strategy.

In order to measure the distance of the installation tolerance T, which has a significant effect on the time taken for the engagement of the starter pinion 3 in the ring gear 6, is measured by the Einspurwicklung 10, the period from the start pulse by energizing until the impeller 3 on the ring gear 6 , This is important in order to derive the effective time for meshing and to enable a synchronous meshing even at high speeds of the ring gear 6 and the starter ritzeis 3 at the right time, so as to minimize noise and wear and to increase the efficiency of the starting device optimize.

2 shows as a flow chart by way of example the method sequence of a starter control 9 in order to set the installation tolerance of the pinion-gear rim distance T. The procedure is preferred before starting the start-stop

Operating strategy performed. Alternatively, it is possible to repeat the procedure in certain cycles, for example, for constant distances, eg every 50,000 or 100,000 km or at time intervals, for example once or every year before each cold start, to check the distance due to Wear and tear could have changed. Of course, the procedure is also after a repair to the participating vehicle com- repeat components. The process sequence may also be feasible for large temperature differences, which may lead to a variable installation tolerance at a distance T.

In step S1, the starter controller 9, in particular the microcomputer 10, receives a signal to execute the procedure loaded into the program memory 17 as a computer program with program instructions, for example after the production of the vehicle when the vehicle is first operated with the ignition key is started and the switch 19 is actuated.

In step S2, the Einspurwicklung 10 is energized via the power switch 13, so that the starter pinion 3 moves towards the ring gear 6.

In step S3 detects the detection device 20 with a Spannungsmessein- direction 27 over time, an induced voltage from the switching winding 11 in the starter relay 4 due to the movement of the armature 24, which moves the starter pinion 3 axially on the axis 5 via a fork lever 25. The voltage values obtained over time are transmitted from the detection device 20 to the microcomputer 15. The microcomputer 15 evaluates the voltage values over time according to a characteristic value curve and calculates the duration of the Einspurvorgangs up to a characteristic value curve. There are two characteristic values, one first and one second. The first characteristic value curve corresponds to a non-intermeshed starter pinion 3, i. a tooth-to-tooth position of starter pinion 3 and ring gear 6. The second characteristic Wertwear course indicates a meshed in the ring gear 6 starter pinion 3 at.

Alternatively or additionally, the detection device 20 is formed with a current measuring device 26, which measures the current 110 of the Einspurwicklung 10. The current 110 is reduced due to the movement of the armature 24 by an induced voltage. The cause of the induced voltage is the inductance change of the coil by the moving armature. The microcomputer 15 either evaluates a value profile from the voltage measuring device 27 or from the current measuring device 26 or both measured value profiles. The first characteristic value curve results from a curve of the current or voltage which is typical for achieving a tooth-tooth position, for example due to local plateaus and / or extreme values on a specific, application-dependent Level.

In a query Al, the microcomputer 15 discriminates whether or not the characteristic value profile evaluated in the step S3 is in a predetermined tolerance range or not. H. whether the characteristic value course is the first or second characteristic value course. If the first characteristic value course is within the tolerance range, the microcomputer 15 detects a tooth-on-tooth position of the starter pinion 3 and the toothed rim 6.

If the detected characteristic value profile is outside the tolerance range, i. H. If the second characteristic value profile is present, then there is no tooth-on-tooth position and the starter pinion 3 has been meshed into the toothed rim 6. Thus, the distance of the installation tolerance T could not be measured yet.

If no tooth-tooth position has been reached, the starter pinion 3 is spewed out again, in which the current is turned off by the Einspurwicklung 10. Steps S2, S3 and A1 are repeated. In order to achieve a different starting position of the starter pinion 3, the starter motor 2 can be additionally turned on with a small cranking current via a control which has been omitted for reasons of simplification.

In step S4, therefore, the starter pinion 3 is rotated relative to the ring gear 6 in order to detect the distance T as a time duration in a renewed passage of step S2 and S3 and query Al.

If the evaluated, first characteristic value curve lies within the tolerance range, then the duration of the tracking is stored as a single-track duration value in step S5. This on-track duration value forms a reference value to derive therefrom the ideal on-track time duration, and hence the ideal, i.e., ideal, one-track duration. best possible starting time to track the starter pinion 3 by execution of a computer program product derived from the microcomputer 15.

According to an alternative embodiment, a counter is installed in a query A2 to repeatedly pass through the distance T through the method with the steps S2 and S3 and thus to confirm the reference value. For example, the reference value is only finally saved if the reference value from step S5 has been confirmed three times or an average is being formed. This happens in step S6. Also to compensate for measurement errors, the Einspurvorgang is performed several times. The Einspurvorgang with a tooth-on-tooth position occurs in about 70% of cases. Repetitions are required due to a tooth-gap position in at least about 30% of cases.

In step S6, the reference value is stored in the program memory at least for the life of the vehicle or until the next reference measurement.

In step 7, the microcomputer 15 calculates the start time to and shifts the start time to either forward or backward from a target neutral reference value.

In step S8, the method is completed and the starter control 9 is set for a start-stop operating strategy, in which the pinion 3 is synonymous with a high speed synchronously in the ring gear 6 can be tracked very well.

FIG. 3 shows by way of example a time-current-voltage-path diagram with characteristics of the voltage UlO of the single-turn winding 10, the current 110 of the one-turn winding 10, the axial travel R3 of the starter pinion 3, the axial travel A24 of the armature 24 and the induced voltage Uli the switching winding 11 each for a tooth-on-tooth position with a distance of the installation tolerance T of, for example, 1 mm, denoted -1 and a complete meshing operation of the starter pinion 3 in the ring gear 6, hereinafter - max.

FIG. 3 illustrates that, as an important idea of the invention, the current 110 of the single-track winding 10 and / or the induced voltage Uli is measured and evaluated over time, ie how the starter relay 4 can be used simultaneously as an actuator and sensor.

As a result of the movement of the armature 24, the magnetic flux changes in the single-track winding 10 and a voltage U is induced, which is directed counter to the voltage UlO applied from the outside and thus reduces the current in accordance with the characteristic curves 14-1 and 14-max. The current profile is detected and evaluated in the starter control 9 or another separate control or, for example, when the starter control 9 is integrated in the engine control 8.

When energizing the Einspurwicklung 10 of the current 110 increases with decreasing slope due to the inductance of the winding in the starter relay 4. Accordingly, at the voltage measuring device 27 in the current path of the switching winding 11, the induced voltage Uli by the movement of the armature 24 and the magnetic flux through the Einspurwicklung 10 in the starter control 9 measurable and evaluated according to the method described for Fig. 2. Likewise, by means of the current measuring device 26, the current HO can be measured and evaluated by the single-track winding.

If the front side of the starter pinion 3 abuts on the ring gear 6 due to a tooth-to-tooth position, for example after a pinion travel of 1 mm at a specific time ti, then the induced voltage decreases in accordance with the characteristic Ull-1, whereas the characteristic Ull -Max of the induced voltage at a complete movement of the armature 24 due to engagement of a tooth-to-gap position increases sharply, as shown in Fig. 3.

A tooth-to-tooth position can also be derived from the characteristic curve HO of the current of the single-track winding 10, since the current continues to increase according to the characteristic 110-1 in the case of a stop, for example after a 1 mm pinion travel, since the induced voltage U decreases. because the movement of the armature 24 is stopped.

By contrast, with a maximum movement of the armature 24, the induced voltage U increases in accordance with the characteristic curve Ull-max, so that the current 110-max is again reduced somewhat.

In a mounting position with a small distance of the starter pinion 3 to the ring gear 6, the delay of the armature 24 and the renewed increase of the current 110-1 occurs earlier than at the time ti. Conversely, shifts in a mounting position with a greater distance from the starter pinion 3 to the ring gear 6, the time ti to the rear. By measuring this time duration ti, it is possible to deduce the installation position or the distance and to correct and store the set-in time accordingly with a reference value. The method described in FIG. 2 3 and the procedure represented by the characteristic curves in FIG. 3 can be set either at the beginning of the service life of a vehicle or after each key start or after defined constant distances of a traveled path or an elapsed time duration.

FIG. 3 shows a time X ₂ . At this point in time, the starter control has determined that the measured value, either the current 110 of the tracking winding 10 and / or the induced voltage Uli on the switch winding 11, causes maximum movement of the armature 24, since the starter pinion 3 is due to a tooth gap position completely meshed with the ring gear 6. The time X ₂ is therefore outside the tolerance range of the query Al of Fig. 2, so that the starter control 9 detects a complete meshing and optionally repeated measuring operations according to the procedure described in FIG.

All figures show only schematic not to scale representations. Moreover, reference is made in particular to the drawings for the invention as essential.

Claims

claims

1. A method of a control for a starting device (1) with a starter motor (2), a Einspurvorrichtung and a starter pinion (3) for meshing in a ring gear (6) of an internal combustion engine (7) in a motor vehicle, wherein the Einspurvorrichtung for meshing the starter pinion (3) by the controller, in particular for a start-stop operating strategy, is driven, characterized in that at least one Einspurwert is detected by the Einspurvorrichtung for meshing the starter pinion (3) by means of a detection device (20), as a reference value in the controller is stored and evaluated.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the Einspurwert is measured by the detection device in which the starter pinion (3) when meshing with the ring gear (6) forms a tooth-on-tooth position.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the Einspurwert is measured as a time period for meshing the starter pinion (3).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the Einspurwert is measured as the path of the starter pinion (3).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the Einspurvorrichtung is designed as a starter relay (4), by means of a current-carrying winding of the starter relay (4) the starter pinion (3) is sprung and a current of the starter relay ( 4) is detected and evaluated, which is influenced by the movement of the armature (24) in the starter relay (4).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the single track device as a starter relay (4) formed with two separately, bestromba- ren windings, wherein at least one first winding is formed as Einspurwicklung (10), and when engaging the detection device (20) measures an induced voltage (Uli) in the second non-energized winding.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the time period is measured before the start of the vehicle.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the time period is measured by the controller in predefined cycles and the reference value is updated.

A computer program product loadable into a program memory (17) with program instructions for carrying out all the steps of a method according to at least one of claims 1 to 4 when the program is executed in a controller.

10. Control for a starting device (1) with a starter motor (2), a starter relay (4) and a starter pinion (3) for starting an internal combustion engine

(7) in a vehicle, wherein the controller is formed with a microcomputer (15), by means of which a start-stop operating strategy is executable, characterized in that the controller comprises a program memory (17) and a detection device (20) the current values characteristic of the starter relay (4) during energization of a winding winding can be measured, these current values can be evaluated as measured single track value and can be stored in the program memory (17) for processing.

11. The controller of claim 10, comprising a program memory (17), characterized in that the controller has a program memory (17), in which in particular a computer program product according to claim 8 is loadable, preferably to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 7 ,