EP2521854A1

EP2521854A1 - Controller, starting device, and method for operating the controller

Info

Publication number: EP2521854A1
Application number: EP10798132A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matthias Cwik; Markus Roessle; Ewald Mauritz; Sven Hartmann; Juergen Gross; Stefan Tumback; Falco Sengebusch
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2010-01-07
Filing date: 2010-12-28
Publication date: 2012-11-14
Also published as: WO2011083064A1; DE102010000709A1; CN102753814A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a controller (5) for a starting device (1) of an internal combustion engine (2), wherein the starting device (1) comprises an electric motor (3), in particular a starter motor (3), and a coupling device (4), in particular having a starter pinion (7) for engaging in a crown gear (8) of the internal combustion engine (2), and wherein the electric motor (3) and the coupling device (4) are actuated separately and the electric motor (3) is coupled to the rotating, in particular coasting down, internal combustion engine (2). In order to bring the internal combustion engine (2) into a startable state as quickly and safely as possible, a time curve of an actuation of the electric motor (3) and the coupling device (4) is determined and carried out according to a selected operating strategy.

Description

Description title

Control, starting device and method for operating the controller

State of the art

The invention relates to a method for operating a controller for a starting device of an internal combustion engine, wherein the starting device comprises an electric machine, in particular a starter motor, and a coupling device, in particular with a starter pinion for meshing in a ring gear of the internal combustion engine, and wherein the electric machine and the coupling device are driven separately and the electric machine is coupled to the rotating, in particular expiring, internal combustion engine. The invention further relates to a controller, to a starting device and to a computer program product.

It is known to start an internal combustion engine, in particular a motor vehicle, with a starting device, which comprises an electric machine as a starter motor. For starting, the internal combustion engine and the starter motor are coupled with a mechanical coupling device comprising a starter pinion of the starter motor and a ring gear of the internal combustion engine, by the starter pinion is meshed by means of a Einspurrelais in the ring gear.

In addition, it is known to switch off the internal combustion engine in a short holding phase of the motor vehicle, for example at a red traffic light, and to restart it for further travel, for example to reduce fuel consumption or exhaust emissions. In such a start-stop operation, the starter motor can only be coupled with the restart of the internal combustion engine with this. In order to reduce a time delay when restarting, the starter motor can alternatively be equipped with the still running after switching off, ie rotating, be coupled by the starter pinion is meshed into the rotating ring gear.

Furthermore, it is known that the starting device comprises a control, in particular to control the starter motor and the coupling device separately with the control, for example by the Einspurrelais driven to track the starter pinion in the ring gear regardless of a switching relay for energizing the starter motor via an electrical contact becomes.

DE 10 2006 01 1 644 A1 describes a device and a method for starting the starter motor by tracking the starter pinion in an outgoing ring gear of the internal combustion engine.

It is an object of the invention to provide a controller, a starting device, a computer program product and a method for operating the controller of the type mentioned in such a way that the internal combustion engine is as fast as possible and safe and thus more comfortable bootable.

Disclosure of the invention

According to the invention the object is achieved by the subject matter of claims 1, 8, 9 and 10. The dependent claims define preferred embodiments of the invention.

It is an idea of the invention that, according to a selected operating strategy, a timing of a control of the electric machine and the coupling device is set and executed. Thus, the timing of boundary conditions and / or influences, for example, a specific design or a state of an internal combustion engine and / or a starting device, adapt or select a correspondingly appropriate sequence, so that the electric machine with the internal combustion engine as reproducible and comfortable, ie In particular, noise, wear and low vibration, is coupled. In this case, the timing can be determined such that coupling means, for example a starter pinion and a ring gear, when coupled essentially with synchronous peripheral speed. rotate each other to allow comfortable, fast and safe meshing.

"Synchronous rotation" or "synchronous speed" in this text mean that a tooth frequency of the starter pinion and the ring gear substantially match. Synchronous means before and subsequently, that rotating, to be coupled to each other coupling means, in particular the starter pinion and the ring gear, each having such speeds that they have no significant speed difference at their mutual intended or actual points of contact. Using the example of the starter pinion and the ring gear this means that the respective

Ranges in their ratio substantially a ratio of a circumference, in particular a ratio of a number of teeth, respectively of the starter pinion and the ring gear correspond. Incidentally, according to the operation strategy, the timing can be calculated.

For example, unpredictable influences can be taken into account. Also, the timing can be selected from a plurality of different, for example, predetermined, in particular stored or permanently implemented, temporal sequences. This reduces the effort required to determine a time sequence. Different time sequences differ for example by a different order and / or different time intervals each of a switch-on and / or a switch-off of the electric machine and the coupling device. Thus, the control can be easily and flexibly adapted to different needs, in particular to a dynamics of the internal combustion engine and / or the starting device.

The object is also achieved in that a controller is designed with an operating strategy to determine the specific time sequence for controlling the electrical machine and the coupling device, in particular according to a method mentioned above or below. Moreover, the object is also achieved by a starting device which is designed such that, in accordance with an operating strategy, the specific time sequence for controlling the electric machine and the coupling device is determined, in particular according to a method mentioned above or below. The following description of the controller and of the method for operating the controller is therefore correspondingly Also related to the starting device and a method for operating the starting device.

According to a preferred embodiment, a speed and / or a discharge gradient of the internal combustion engine is taken into account by the operating strategy. Thereby, the timing for driving the electric machine and the coupling device particularly easy to be determined in an advantageous manner so that the coupling of the electric machine and the engine substantially synchronous speed and thus reliable, noise, shake ngs- and wear, so comfortable , is feasible.

In order to determine the timing for a reproducible, comfortable coupling more accurately, it is preferred that a future coupling time is predicted and the timing is determined taking into account a prognosis of the coupling time, in particular wherein the timing is adjusted due to at least one further prognosis. By forecasting the coupling time, it is possible to take into account a movement of the internal combustion engine, the electric machine and the coupling device, in particular in their temporal behavior, ie a dynamic, in order to couple the internal combustion engine and the electrical machine as exactly as possible when the coupling means essentially rotate synchronously. By means of the at least one further prognosis, in particular temporally closer to the coupling time point, the coupling time point can be predicted more accurately and the synchronization improved.

The coupling time refers to a time when coupling, in which the coupling means, in particular the starter pinion and the ring gear, begin to touch. The more precisely the peripheral speeds of the coupling means are synchronous at the time of coupling, the lower the wear, vibration and / or noise during coupling.

It is preferred that the electrical machine is already timed before the coupling device is actuated, by selecting the switch-on instant of the electrical machine chronologically before the switching-on time of the coupling device. This allows the electric machine to be reliably locked before the coupling time. hen, in particular to synchronize the starter pinion and the ring gear as possible in their speed and reduce wear during the coupling.

According to a preferred method, the electrical machine and the coupling device are timed overlapping, so at least temporarily parallel, driven in a certain temporal process flow according to a first operating strategy. Thus, the timing of the driving of the electric machine and the coupling device can be shortened and accelerate the start of the internal combustion engine.

Furthermore, such a chronological sequence with a time-overlapping control is advantageous, in particular for a fast-running internal combustion engine, in which an operating speed, that is to say in particular also a single-track speed, and / or a cranking period of the electric machine remain substantially constant over a wide operating range, so that a Ausschiebedauer the Einspurrelais the coupling device, that is, a coupling duration is predictable.

(maybe do more here by the inventor)

The coupling duration denotes the time duration between the switch-on time of the coupling device and the coupling time point. In this case, the coupling duration may be essentially caused by a Ausschiebedauer the Einspurrelais, ie in particular the time to move the starter pinion from a rest position to a non-coupled state to the touch of starter pinion and sprocket.

According to a preferred method, the electrical machine and the coupling device are timed in a certain temporal process sequence, that the switch-on of the electrical machine and the switch-on of the coupling device are spaced in time. Thus, a mutual influence, for example, by inrush currents and by an associated voltage dip, reduce, because then the respective inrush currents also occur in chronological succession.

According to a further preferred alternative method, the electrical machine and the coupling device are sequentially timed, that is to say sequentially, in a specific time sequence according to a second operating strategy. controlled, in particular with a certain pause period between the driving of the electric machine and the driving of the coupling device. Timed one after the other means that the switch-off time of the electrical machine is selected in time before the switch-on time of the coupling device or vice versa. Thus, a mutual influence, for example by operating currents and a voltage drop associated with it, can be avoided.

Incidentally, in this alternative method, it is particularly preferred for the electric machine to be timed ahead of the coupling device, in particular by selecting the switch-off instant of the electrical machine before the switch-on time of the coupling device, that is to say not controlling the electrical machine and the coupling device overlapping in time become. Thus, the coupling device is not influenced by a high current consumption of the electrical machine. As a result, a dynamics of the coupling device is maintained and the

The coupling duration is essentially constant, so that the coupling time is more accurately predictable and the time sequence can be determined more accurately. Consequently, the coupling of the electric machine and the internal combustion engine, including the starting of the internal combustion engine, is better reproducible.

In order to be able to react to a time-varying desired coupling time, the temporal process sequence preferably comprises at least the specific interval duration between the activation of the electrical machine and the activation of the coupling device. Thus, the coupling duration and a turn-on can be temporally shifted by means of the pause time duration to each other and control the e- lectric machine and the Einspurrelais more accurate and reproducible, so that at the time of coupling a substantially synchronous speed of the coupling means is achieved. In this case, the cranking duration designates the time duration required for cranking the electric machine to this speed.

Furthermore, the temporal sequence, which is determined on the basis of a first prognosis, can be adapted technically simply, with a second, subsequent prognosis, by, preferably only, adjusting the pause period. The pause time duration is simpler than the coupling duration or the pacing duration adaptable, in that the corresponding switch-on time is varied over time. In contrast, a defined riierung the turn-on and the coupling duration possible only with a larger circuit and tax technical effort. In addition, by means of the pause time duration, a response to a shortened or prolonged turn-on duration or coupling duration, for example due to external influences, a temperature or aging phenomena, in particular to ensure a desired coupling time and / or to achieve better synchronized peripheral speeds at the coupling time.

According to a further preferred embodiment, an actual switch-on time is detected when the electric machine is actuated, and the switch-off time of the electrical machine is determined and adjusted as a function of the actual switch-on time. Thus, a switching delay between the switch-on of the electric machine and the actual switch-on, namely a time from which the electric machine is actually energized, take into account and increase the temporal accuracy of the time sequence. Thus, the coupling is safer, less wear, noiseless and thus comfortable realized.

The object is also achieved by a computer program product which can be loaded into a program memory with program instructions of a microcomputer in order to carry out all the steps of a previously or subsequently described method, in particular if the computer program product is executed in the controller. In this case, the microcomputer is preferably part of the controller, wherein the controller, in particular in a plurality of control devices in a system, a plurality of microcomputers and memory, and a plurality of computer program products or distributed to the plurality of control devices realized computer program product may have. The computer program product requires little or no additional components in the controller and may preferably be implemented as a module in an already existing controller. The computer program product has the further advantage of being easy on individual and particular

Customer requirements is customizable, and an improvement or optimization of individual process steps with little effort is cost-effective. 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 the drawings. Show it:

1 shows a starting device with a controller,

2 shows a method for operating the controller,

3 and 4 another method for operating the controller and

FIGS. 5 and 6 show another method of operating the controller.

Embodiments of the invention

1 shows a starting device 1 of an internal combustion engine 2, which has a starter with a starter motor 3 and a coupling device 4, wherein the coupling device 4 comprises a Einspurrelais 6 and a starter pinion 7 for meshing in a ring gear 8 of the internal combustion engine 2. The starting device 1 and the internal combustion engine 2 are arranged in a motor vehicle, not shown, that is designed for a start-stop operation of the internal combustion engine 2. In the start-stop operation, as explained below, the starter pinion 7 after turning off the engine 2 in the still rotating outgoing internal combustion engine 2, namely in the rotating ring gear 8, meshed to high availability by a resistance of the internal combustion engine 2 possibly to allow earlier onward journey of the motor vehicle.

Incidentally, the starting device 1 comprises a controller 5 with a microcomputer 9, a memory 10 and two power switches 14, 15, which are designed for the separate control of the Einspurrelais 6 and the starter motor 3. In an alternative embodiment, the starter motor 2 may be replaced by a switching relay instead of Circuit breaker 15 are energized, the switch relay itself, for example, by the power switch 15 is controlled.

By energizing the Einspurrelais 6 via the circuit breaker 14, the starter pinion 7 is wound in the ring gear 8 via a lever 1, regardless of energization of the starter motor 3 by means of the circuit breaker 15. In this case, the starting device 1 of a battery 13 of the motor vehicle supplied with electrical power.

Furthermore, the controller 5 has an interface 12 to a motor controller and to further control devices of the motor vehicle, in particular in order to detect a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine 2.

FIG. 2 shows a method for operating the controller 5, in which a desired future coupling time t4 is predicted in a step S1. For this purpose, the speed or, alternatively, a speed gradient of the internal combustion engine 2 is detected via the interface 12 in order to predict the coupling time t4 at which the internal combustion engine 2 should have a suitable speed for the coupling. The coupling time t4 denotes a time from which the starter pinion 7, which is moved for meshing by means of the Einspurrelais 6 to the ring gear 8, this touches.

In a step S2, a specific time sequence, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 as examples, is determined by calculating back from the predicted coupling time t4, taking into account a turn-on duration and a coupling duration. For this purpose, a switch-on and a switch-off t1 and t3 for the energization of the starter motor 3 by means of the circuit breaker 15 and a switch-on t2 for energizing the Einspurrelais 6 are determined by means of the circuit breaker 14, in such a way that at the predicted coupling time t4, the starter pinion 7 and the ring gear 8 as synchronously rotate with respect to the peripheral speeds.

In a step S3, the starter motor 3 and the coupling device 4 are finally controlled by the controller 5 according to the timing determined in step S2. Altogether, the steps explained above and below are of one Computer program product stored in the memory 10, executed with the microcomputer 9. In this case, during the coupling period, the starter pinion 7 is moved toward the toothed ring 8 for meshing. As soon as the starter pinion 7 touches the ring gear 8, the coupling time t4 is reached and steps S1-S5 are ended.

Otherwise, a further prediction of the coupling time t4 is carried out by the controller 5 in a step S4, in particular to take account of disturbance variables, for example a temperature of the starter motor 3, which would lead to a shift of the actual coupling time with respect to the predicted coupling time t4.

In a step S5, the previously determined chronological sequence is adapted according to the further prognosis carried out in step S4 and subsequently implemented with step S 3 in order to ensure a comfortable, in particular low noise, low vibration and low wear engagement for starting the internal combustion engine 2.

FIGS. 3 and 4 as well as FIGS. 5 and 6 each show an embodiment of certain temporal procedures for a first and a second operating strategy of a method for operating the controller 1, in which the starter motor 3 and the coupling device 4 are separately driven to the Starter motor 3 and the off and expiring, so still rotating, internal combustion engine 2 to be coupled together. In the method, the starter motor 3 and the internal combustion engine 2 are as comfortable as possible, in particular noise, wear and vibration, coupled together by the starter pinion 7 is eingespurt in the rotating ring gear 8 as explained below.

In this case, from a computer program product which is executed in the microcomputer 9, a coupling time t4, in which the ring gear 8 has a suitable speed n2 suitable for coupling, predicts and calculates a specific time sequence from this by calculating the time axis t according to an operating strategy for driving the starter motor 3 and the Einspurrelais 6 determines. In particular, a coupling duration and a starting duration are taken into account, which are essentially determined by a design of the starting device 1. Incidentally, the Ausschiebedauer the Einspurrelais 6, the cranking duration of the starter motor 3 and a course of the speed n2 of the engine 2 are subject to certain fluctuations, for example, by aging effects, temperature and / or voltage of the battery 13 due, so that the predicted coupling time t4 is associated with a certain uncertainty, namely due to a starting duration uncertainty D1 of the starter motor 3, a Ausschiebedauerunsi- safety D2 of Einspurrelais 6 and a speed prognosis uncertainty D3 of the internal combustion engine 2. The respective temporal process flow essentially comprises a switch-t1 and a switch-off t3 of the starter motor and a switch-on time t2 of the Einspurrelais 6. Here, separately and independently of each other, the starter motor 3 is energized by means of the power switch 15 and the Einspurrelais 6 by means of the circuit breaker 16 through the battery 13.

For a prognosis, it is further determined that a rotational speed n2 of the sprocket 8 at the predicted coupling time t4 should be, for example, approximately 100 revolutions per minute and the rotational speed n1 of the starter pinion 7 should exceed a certain rotational speed difference in order to ensure reliable meshing, and that during the Leaking of the engine 2 and the speed n2 of the ring gear 8 increasingly decreases.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a specific temporal process sequence along the time axis t of a first operating strategy, according to which the starter motor 3 and the coupling device 4 are controlled to overlap in time. It shows the Fig.

3 schematically shows the control of the starter motor 3 and the Einspurrelais 6, in which on the y-axis between on and off state I will differ. 4 shows the speed n1 of the starter pinion 7, the speed n2 of the ring gear 8 and the current R of the Einspurrelais 6 on the y-axis over time t.

At the switch-on time t1, the starter motor 3 is driven to turn it on. Even before the end of the turn-on time, the Einspurrelais 6 is driven to the switch-on time t2 to move the starter pinion 7 to the ring gear 8 out. In this case, the starter motor 3 and the coupling device 4 are actuated, at least temporarily, parallel to one another, namely between the switch-on time t 2 and the output switching time t3. This shortens the time sequence for meshing and enables a faster restart of the internal combustion engine 2.

The switch-off time t3 is determined such that the peripheral speed with a speed n1 of the starter pinion 7 is substantially synchronous with the peripheral speed with the speed n2 of the ring gear 8 at the predicted coupling time t4. In this case, the aforementioned speed difference is taken into account and also that the rotational speed of the starter pinion 7 decreases from the switch-off time t3 on.

After the switch-off time t3, the coupling device 4 continues to be energized, so that the starter pinion 7, which rotates substantially synchronously with the ring gear 8, is moved towards it and finally touches it from the coupling time point t4. In this case, the Ausschiebedauer, due to the parallel control of the starter motor 3, namely by a voltage dip due to its Einschalt- and operating current to be increased. Starting at the coupling time t4, the starter pinion 7 can be meshed with the ring gear 8 in order to start the internal combustion engine, if appropriate at a later time in accordance with the start-stop operation.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show a specific time sequence along the time axis t of a further preferred alternative method, according to which the starter motor 3 and the coupling device 4 are actuated sequentially in time according to a second operating strategy. 5 shows schematically the control of the starter motor 3 and the Einspurrelais 6 with ON and OFF states I on the y-axis. 6 shows the speed n1 of the starter pinion 7, the speed n2 of the ring gear 8 and the current R of the Einspurrelais 6 on the y-axis over the time t. This method example differs from that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in FIG

Substantially in that the switch-off time t3 of the starter motor 3 is arranged at a time interval before the switch-on time t2 of the Einspurrelais 6. Thus, the above-mentioned mutual influence between the starter motor 3 and Einspurrelais 6 prevent and get a known dynamics of the Einspurrelais 6 to reproducibly realize the Ausschiebedauer so that the predicted coupling Timing t4 is more accurate than the method according to the first operating strategy.

The times t3 and t4, ie the turn-on duration and the Ausschiebedauer are temporally spaced by a certain pause period p. As a result, the time schedule can be adjusted flexibly to different, varying start-up and / or release times with the control 5 by merely adjusting the pause time duration p, by the desired coupling time t4, taking into account the starting duration uncertainty D1, the Ausschiebedauerunsicherheit D2 and the speed forecast uncertainty D3 reliably realize. In particular, a shortening or lengthening of the starting duration of the starter motor 3 or even a different course of the rotational speed n 2 when the internal combustion engine 2 is running out can be easily taken into account by adjusting the pause time p. The on and off times of the starter motor 3 and the Einspurrelais 6 are calculated back taking into account the above uncertainties D1, D2, D3 from the calculated, predicted coupling time t4.

During the temporal process sequence between t3 and t4, at least one further prognosis of the coupling time t4 can be carried out and the time sequence, preferably the pause time duration p, corrected. Thus, short-term interference that would lead to an undesirably high value of a speed difference at the coupling time t4, easily and reliably counteracted. In particular, different, for example, temperature or wear-related, Andre durations can be compensated.

According to another method, an accuracy in the prediction of the coupling time t4 is increased by taking into account a switching delay during the driving, for example by evaluating an actual switch-on time t1 and correspondingly adjusting the switch-off time t3 and possibly the pause duration. 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 . Method for operating a controller (5) for a starting device (1) of an internal combustion engine (2), wherein the starting device (1) is an electric machine (3), in particular a starter motor (3), and a coupling device (4), in particular with a Starter pinion (7) for meshing in a ring gear (8) of the internal combustion engine (2), wherein the electric machine (3) and the coupling device (4) are controlled separately and the electric machine (3) with the rotating, in particular expiring, Internal combustion engine (2) is coupled, characterized in that according to a selected operating strategy, a timing of a control of the electric machine (3) and the coupling device (4) is set and executed.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that from the operating strategy, a speed and / or a discharge gradient of the internal combustion engine (2) is taken into account.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a future coupling time (t4) is predicted and the timing is determined taking into account a forecast of the coupling time (t4), in particular wherein the timing is adjusted due to at least one further forecast.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electrical machine (3) is timed before the driving of the coupling device (4).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the electrical machine (3) and the coupling device (4) are driven overlapping in time in a temporal process flow according to a first operating strategy.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in a temporal procedure according to a second operating strategy, the electrical machine (3) and the coupling device (4) time borrowed successively, in particular with a certain pause period (p) between the control of the electric machine (3) and the driving of the coupling device (4).

Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that an actual switch-on (t1) is detected by the driving of the electric machine (3) and a switch-off (t3) in response to the actual switch-on (t3) is adapted thereto.

Control (5) for a starting device (1) of an internal combustion engine (2), wherein the starting device (1) is an electric machine (3), in particular a starter motor (3), and a coupling device (4), in particular with a starter pinion (7) for meshing in a ring gear (8) of the internal combustion engine (2), comprising, the electric machine (3) and the coupling device (4) are separately controllable with the controller (5) and the electric machine (3) with the rotating, in particular expiring , Internal combustion engine (2) is coupled, characterized in that the controller (5) is formed with a selectable operating strategy to determine a certain timing for driving the electric machine (3) and the coupling device (4) and then to control, and Although in particular according to a method according to one of claims 1 to 7.

Starting device (1) for an internal combustion engine (2), wherein the starting device (1) an electric machine (3), in particular a starter motor (3), and a coupling device (4), in particular with a starter pinion (7) for meshing in a ring gear (8) of the internal combustion engine (2), and a controller (5), in particular according to claim 8, comprising the electric machine (3) and the coupling device (4) are separately controllable and the electric machine (3) with the rotating, in particular expiring, internal combustion engine (2) can be coupled, characterized in that the starting device (1) is designed such that according to an operating strategy, a certain timing for driving the electric machine (3) and the coupling device (4) is determinable and executable, and Although in particular according to a method according to one of claims 1 to 7.

Computer program product which can be loaded into a program memory (10) with program instructions of a microcomputer (9) in order to carry out all steps of a method according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, in particular if the computer program product in a controller (5) according to claim 8 or a starting device (1) according to claim 9 is executed.