JP2000104649A - Method and device for automatically starting engine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the certainty of recognition of engine start while restricting the unnecessary cranking as much as possible by prohibiting the monitoring of battery voltage during the predetermined time after driving a starter while recognizing the engine start when the battery voltage is monitored after driving the starter and the continuous rise over the predetermined time is detected. SOLUTION: A discrimination whether the start command signal S is input from a start command signal output means such as a timer 11 or a receiving demodulator circuit 62 or not is performed. In the case of YES, an operation command is output to a starter 22 and equipment 21 related with the starting, and a discrimination whether the battery voltage monitoring prohibiting time is passed or not is performed. In the case of YES, a discrimination whether the battery detecting voltage value is renewed or not is performed, and in the case of YES, the battery detecting voltage value of this time and the detecting voltage value of the last time are compared with each other, and in the case where the value of this time is larger than the value of the last time, a discrimination whether the continuous rising tendency of the battery voltage is continued for a constant time or more is performed. In the case of YES, engine start is recognized, and cranking is stopped, namely, drive of the starter 22 is stopped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for setting a time when a user sets a time or when a set time has elapsed from a setting operation.
Alternatively, the present invention relates to an engine automatic start control for automatically starting and idling an engine when an engine start signal transmitted via a radio frequency from a remote controller is received.In particular, in order to avoid a disadvantage of driving a starter uselessly long, To reliably recognize the start of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automatic vehicle up to a short time ago, it was necessary to increase the warm-up operation time after starting the engine as the air temperature decreased. The adverse effect on itself has been almost negligible. However, the interior of the vehicle immediately after starting the engine is often cold enough to freeze in winter and hot enough to burn in summer. Therefore, rather than with regard to engine performance, in order to eliminate the discomfort of the driver and to be able to get into the car when heating or cooling is moderately good, products such as starter timers, A product called a remote control starter has been developed. The former is included in the control circuit when the set time preset by the user is reached or when the set time has elapsed from the setting operation by the user, even if the key switch normally operated by the user is not operated. A timer circuit is a device that automatically and forcibly operates the starter by supplying operating power from a vehicle-mounted battery to a starter, and automatically starts the vehicle-mounted engine. Includes the infrared wavelength range, etc.)
For example, a user operates an engine start switch provided in the remote controller even from inside a house, etc., to generate an engine start signal, and a control circuit which receives the signal gives operating power from a battery mounted on the vehicle to the starter, This is a device for automatically and forcibly operating this to start an engine mounted on a vehicle. Of course, some products have both functions. This book summarizes these,
Automatic engine starter. "

However, in such an automatic engine starting device, it is necessary to reliably recognize that the engine has started to operate after the starter has been driven. Otherwise, the starter will continue to be driven for uselessly for a long time, and the battery mounted on the vehicle will be quickly consumed. So, conventionally,
Several methods have been proposed for recognizing whether or not the engine has started, and although not completely satisfactory, the following three methods can be put to practical use.

[0004] Voltage difference detection method: This is a method for detecting a difference between the battery voltage before cranking by the starter and the battery voltage after cranking after a certain time has passed. Since the battery voltage after cranking, that is, the battery voltage after the engine has been started stably, is higher than the voltage before cranking, that is, the voltage when the engine has not been started, a constant rising difference between the two. Is detected within a certain period of time, it is recognized that the engine has started. FIG. 2 shows an example of a temporal change of the battery voltage V used later for describing the present invention. In the figure, the battery voltage V when the engine is stopped (starter is off) at the left end.
, The battery voltage V after the engine starts running becomes higher. Therefore, in this voltage difference detection method, FIG.
As shown by the imaginary line in the part indicated as the conventional example, the average of the battery voltage that repeatedly rises and falls even after the engine starts operating is a predetermined value with respect to the battery voltage before the starter drive. When the voltage difference Vd exceeds Vd, it is recognized that the engine is started, and the starter is stopped there. A virtual line portion in the “starter state” shown at the bottom of FIG. 2 indicates the starter off according to the conventional example.

Power generation signal detection method: This is a method of detecting the voltage of an alternator L terminal (hereinafter, simply referred to as "L terminal") at which a signal rises when the alternator starts power generation when the engine starts. L when the engine is not running
While the terminal voltage is a slight voltage, when the engine is started and power generation is started by the alternator, the L terminal voltage rises to a sufficiently significant value. Therefore, in this power generation signal detection method, when it is detected within a certain time that the L terminal voltage becomes equivalent to the battery voltage, it is recognized that the engine has started, and the starter is stopped. Also in FIG. 2, the engine start is recognized at the point F when the L terminal voltage rises.

[0006] Battery voltage rise transition period detection method: Although not yet disclosed, this is a method disclosed by the present applicant in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-158225. Referring to FIG. 2 again, when the starter is turned on from off, as shown in the “starter state” at the bottom, it is shown at point A on the time-dependent waveform of the battery voltage V at the top. As described above, once the battery voltage V drops sharply, the load on the starter is reduced when the engine starts rotating due to cranking,
The power consumption decreases and the battery voltage V increases. But,
It is rare for the engine to shift to stable idling immediately after cranking, and it is more likely to stop. Therefore, as seen in the state after the point B in the drawing, the battery voltage once increased also decreases again. However, if the engine tries to start its own rotation again by the subsequent cranking, the battery voltage will rise again as shown in the state after the point C, and if it still tends to stop, as shown in the state after the point D, The voltage tends to decrease again. While repeating the increase and decrease of the battery voltage that causes a relatively large voltage difference several times as described above, eventually, although a finer battery voltage fluctuation component is included,
As a whole, on average, it enters stable transition period E,
When this happens, the engine is starting to idle. In FIG. 2, the L terminal voltage shown in the middle stage rises at this point F. However, in the battery voltage rising transient detection method described here, the L
The terminal voltage is not monitored, and in order to detect the appearance of the time domain indicated by E in FIG. 2, during the cranking (during the starter driving), the battery voltage V continues for a predetermined time or more. When a rising state is detected, the engine start is recognized, and the starter is stopped there. Accordingly, if the operation is performed without malfunction, the engine start is recognized when the average voltage of the battery voltage V continues to increase over a certain period of time G, and the starter is turned off as indicated by a point H.

[0007]

The above-mentioned method has a large drawback. In the former voltage difference detection method, erroneous recognition is likely to occur due to various factors on the vehicle side, such as the battery capacity, the state of the battery, and the power generation capacity of the alternator. Although the amount and time of increase in the battery voltage vary greatly depending on these factors, the determination conditions are set uniformly with respect to the voltage difference Vd. In many cases, the start was not recognized. In addition, since the time until the engine will start idling is determined empirically in advance and the rising difference is detected after the predetermined cranking time has elapsed, cranking by the starter motor is unnecessarily long. In many cases, the battery power is continued for a long time, and the battery power is wasted. As is clear from FIG. 2, the starter can be cut off earlier according to the other method, and the load becomes extremely light when the starter is cut off. Rises rapidly and becomes relatively stable and higher than when the engine is stopped, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, but in this conventional method, the time until it becomes, that is, The time required to stop the starter tends to be long, and as shown by the imaginary line in the figure, it gradually rises until then.

In the conventional power generation signal detection method, if the rise of the L terminal voltage can be detected, it is certain that the engine start time can be almost certainly recognized, and as described with reference to FIG. 2, until the starter is stopped. Time is short. However, since the L terminal is usually located in a very complicated place in the engine room, the wiring from the L terminal is a special wiring, requires time, and the work itself is difficult. Naturally, the cost is also high. For this reason, this technique is considerably disadvantageous compared to the technique based on monitoring of the battery voltage, and is a technique that one does not want to adopt for commercialization. Also, in some vehicle models, the L terminal voltage is such that even if the engine stably starts idling, it does not start until cranking is over. Of course, this approach is not applicable to such vehicles.

On the other hand, in the case of the conventional method of detecting a transient rise in the battery voltage, a unique value is not determined for the voltage difference Vd or the cranking time. Even if various differences are detected, since the event that the battery voltage continuously rises for a predetermined time or more is detected, the starter is stopped in a short time after the start of the engine operation when viewed from the time after the starter is driven. Ability is high. However, even if the electrical capacity load, the state of the battery itself, various ambient temperature environments, and the like are too large, even in the same vehicle, this cannot be tolerated, and there is a risk of erroneous detection. For example, even in a region E after the engine is started in FIG. 2, the battery voltage repeatedly rises and falls. In order not to judge this as a decrease, it is necessary to provide a judgment threshold value for the fall voltage, and then determine how much time in the area E is set as the judgment time G. No. of course,
In most cases, the threshold or time determined in this way is
It is possible not to respond to a change from the point A to the point D at the beginning of the starter driving. However, the rise time of the battery voltage from point A to point B or the rise time of the battery voltage from point C to point D may satisfy the predetermined determination time G described above, During the period, the battery voltage was continuously increased, and the engine start was not erroneously recognized.

The present invention is mainly aimed at improving this point, and does not require special and difficult wiring work.
Unnecessary cranking is suppressed as much as possible to increase the certainty of engine start recognition.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a further improvement of the above-described conventional method of detecting a transient period of rising battery voltage. In addition to the configuration of the method, that is, the battery voltage is monitored after the starter is driven, and the engine is recognized to be started when a continuous rise is detected for a predetermined time, and the battery is also started for a predetermined time after the starter is driven. Voltage monitoring is prohibited (engine start recognition is not performed).

In this way, a time region (such as between points A to D in FIG. 2) in which a relatively large battery voltage fluctuation occurs immediately after the starter drive does not need to be taken into consideration.
Permissible range for battery voltage drop in the time domain that should be considered as continuous rise (voltage value range to ignore)
Can be made smaller, and the reliability is further increased as compared with the conventional method.

Further, in a desirable lower mode of the present invention, at least one of a battery voltage monitoring prohibition time, a predetermined time in the battery voltage monitoring mode, a fall allowable range, a latest detected value of the battery voltage and a continuous rising time up to that time. One, some, or all of the parameters are used as engine start recognition parameters, which are stored in an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory. At least one, some, or all of them.

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention.
3 shows a temporal waveform diagram in which a typical example of a temporal change in battery voltage from starter driving to engine start is traced as faithfully as possible. FIG. 3 shows an example of an apparatus configuration suitable for use in the method of the present invention.

First, for convenience, the device configuration will be described. Starting-related device command means 13 for instructing the starting-related device 12 to perform a predetermined operation based on the expression of a start command signal S for starting the engine. The battery voltage V from the battery 23 mounted on the vehicle is supplied to the starter 22 based on the start command signal S.
In general, there is a starter drive commanding means 12 for driving a starter switch mechanism 24 having a contact which is selectively closed to bypass a key switch (not shown).

On the other hand, the voltage fluctuation of the battery 23 is monitored,
As will be described later in detail, when a continuous rise of the battery voltage V for a predetermined time is detected, it is recognized that the transition from cranking to engine start has occurred, and the starter drive command means 12 stops supplying the battery voltage V to the starter 22. There is also a battery voltage monitoring means 14 for performing the operation. Further, there is a start recognition parameter management unit 15 that manages various parameters necessary for the battery voltage monitoring unit 14 to recognize the start of the engine. An external device 41 is connected to the start recognition parameter management unit 15 via the external communication unit 16. Various parameters can be set and changed by operating appropriate setting means such as switches (not shown) provided in the external device 41. The external device 41 operates a basic data group in principle. The external device 41 is carried by a manufacturer's service person or repaired.
At the time of adjustment, it is assumed that the operation is performed on the maintenance side, and it is assumed that general users can not touch it.However, parameters that can be left to the user's change operation, ambient temperature and Data that should be changed according to the situation, such as the degree of battery consumption, can be changed, for example, by operating the start recognition parameter changer 33 provided in the operation unit 30 provided at an appropriate position in the vehicle compartment. And the result of the change is
It is provided to the start recognition parameter management means 15 via 16. Further, the start recognition parameter management means 15 is desirably connected to a nonvolatile storage means 42 for storing the various parameters in a nonvolatile and rewritable manner, and the battery is removed for replacement or the like. Even if there is, the previous information is retained.

The start command signal output means includes, for example, a time setting unit 31 provided in the operation unit 30 and a timer 11 which operates according to the setting.
The time is output from the timer 11 when the time set by the driver with the time setting device 31 is reached or when the set predetermined time has elapsed. The set time or set time by the user is preferably displayed on a set time display section 51 in a display section 50 provided at an appropriate place in the vehicle interior (generally provided integrally with the operation section). It is preferable that the user can easily set while watching the display.

The start command signal output means can also include a remote controller (remote controller) 61 and a receiving / demodulating circuit 62, for example. When the reception and demodulation circuit 62 mounted on the vehicle demodulates and detects a radio frequency signal in an arbitrary modulation form generated by operating the reception demodulation circuit,
From 62, a start command signal S is issued. The present invention can be applied to any of the automatic engine starting devices equipped with one or both of the timer system and the remote control system.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned starting-related equipment command means 13,
The starter drive commanding means 12, the battery voltage monitoring means 14, and the start recognition parameter managing means 15 are combined to form a basic engine start control unit 10, so to speak. In addition, according to the recent technology, 10 can be realized by a microcomputer that operates around a central processing unit (CPU) (hereinafter simply referred to as “microcomputer”; That is, these means groups can be configured as functions of software executed by the CPU according to a predetermined control program stored in the ROM. Further, the timer 11, the external communication means 16, and an A / D converter 17 described later are also built in the microcomputer, and exchange signals with the CPU via a bus.

To continue the operation, the start-related device command means 13 receives the start command signal S and causes the start-related device 21 to perform a predetermined operation. For example, in the case of a gasoline-powered vehicle, a command signal is output to at least the ignition coil to generate a high voltage based on the battery voltage V and supply the high voltage to the ignition plug, thereby causing spark discharge in the cylinder.

The starter drive command means 12 outputs a start command signal S
Upon receiving the switch signal, a switch-on signal is sent to the starter switch mechanism 24 to close the current path indicated by the contacts schematically and apply the battery voltage V to the starter 22. A starter (including a motor drive circuit and a starter motor) 22 drives the starter motor by the battery voltage V, and rotates the crankshaft via a ring gear and a flywheel (not shown) to crank the engine.

The battery voltage monitoring means 14 digitizes and takes in the battery voltage V which fluctuates with the cranking by the A / D converter 17 and obtains an average when a plurality of pieces of converted data are taken in. Value. Therefore, every time the averaging operation is performed, the detected value of the battery voltage V is updated.

As mentioned earlier, FIG. 2 shows a typical example of the change over time of the battery voltage V. Off in the figure
When the starter 22 starts the cranking operation as indicated by on, the battery voltage V temporarily increases as shown by a point A due to the inrush large current at the time of the initial drive of the starter 22, as shown in the figure. After being depressed, it begins to rise. However, in general, the engine hardly shifts to the idling state as it is, and the engine tends to stop. Therefore, as shown after the point B, the starter load increases, the battery voltage V drops again, and the engine starts to rotate. Then, the load on the starter becomes light, and the battery voltage V tends to increase again as shown after the point C. If the engine starts to rotate again due to the subsequent cranking, the battery voltage V rises again as shown in the state after the point C, and if the engine still tends to stop, the point D
As will be seen hereinafter, the battery voltage V tends to decrease again. It is normal to repeatedly increase and decrease the battery voltage, which causes a relatively large voltage difference several times, and the time of the rising period also varies.

Therefore, in the conventional method described above, AB
In the case where the battery voltage V falls for a long time after that, for example, during the interval between C-D or the like, but the battery voltage V rises considerably in this portion after that, the battery voltage V becomes stable. There was no danger of misidentifying it as a rising period, determining that the engine was starting, and then turning off the starter there.

Therefore, in the present invention, the battery voltage monitoring means
Reference numeral 14 denotes a battery voltage monitoring prohibition time during a certain time J shown in FIG. 2 from the time of the starter driving, not immediately after the starter driving, and enters the battery voltage monitoring mode after the lapse of this time J. Like that. That is,
As is clear from the above description, there is almost no vehicle in which the engine immediately shifts to a stable starting state just because the starter is driven, and a certain amount of time is required. Naturally, you don't need to know when the engine has started,
It is not necessary to detect even if the battery voltage rises for a certain period of time or more. However, as in the conventional method described above, the cranking time is fixed and set in advance longer, and after that time, the battery voltage before cranking is started and the current battery voltage is compared with the current battery voltage. In the method of doing, cranking is often uselessly continued.

In view of this, the present invention desirably allows the setting to be changed, but with respect to the time required from the starter driving to the engine start, the battery voltage monitoring inhibition time described above is set to be shorter than the time which can be known empirically for the time being. J is determined, and after elapse of the time J, it is detected whether or not the battery voltage continues to increase for a predetermined time or more.

After entering the voltage monitoring mode after the lapse of the predetermined time J, the battery voltage monitoring means 14 determines the battery voltage for a predetermined time G or more as shown in a time region E in FIG. Although it is detected whether or not the rising tendency continues, the battery voltage component at this time generally falls even if the engine starts to start and enters a continuous transition period of the battery voltage as shown in the time region E. Minutes are expected.

Therefore, in practice, it is preferable to set a permissible falling range with respect to this falling portion, and to ignore this as long as the voltage value does not fall below this range, assuming that there is no drop. Accordingly, this is also the case in this embodiment, and a fall within the permissible range is not regarded as a fall, but is recognized as being in a continuous rising transition period. Of course, if the vehicle descends beyond the allowable range, it is not recognized that the ascending process is continuing.Therefore, the time during which the continuous ascent is continued is measured, and the average is calculated through the A / D converter 17. The received battery detection voltage data is discarded, and the occurrence of the battery voltage rising state again is awaited.

On the other hand, when the engine is started, as shown in a time region E in FIG. 2, the battery voltage V tends to continuously increase for a predetermined time G or more. When G has elapsed, it is determined that the engine has started, and the starter drive command means 12 is instructed to open the energizing path from the battery 23 to the starter 22 by the starter switch mechanism 24, and the power supply to the starter 22 is cut off to stop the engine. The ranking is stopped (point H in FIG. 2).

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus of the present invention as a method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

First, in the first step 102 of the engine start sequence 101, it is determined whether or not the start command signal S has been input from the start command signal output means such as the timer 11 or the reception demodulation circuit 62. Proceed to the next step 103, otherwise return directly.

In step 103, an operation command is issued to the starter 22 and the starting-related equipment 21, and the process proceeds to the next step 104. In this step 104, the battery voltage monitoring inhibition time J
It is determined whether or not has elapsed, and if it has elapsed, the process proceeds to the next step 105, and otherwise returns.

Step 105 and subsequent steps correspond to the voltage monitoring mode. In step 105, as described above, it is determined whether or not the battery detection voltage value acquired by averaging has been updated. Proceed to the next step 106, otherwise return.

In step 106, the currently detected battery detection voltage value is compared with the previous detection voltage value. If the current value is equal to or greater than the previous value, the process proceeds to the next step 107; Branch to and proceed. In this branched step 110, it is determined whether or not the detected voltage value of the battery voltage V has not risen at least, but stays in a falling amount that does not exceed the allowable range, that is, the detected voltage value obtained by the averaging is compared with the previous detected voltage value. Also, it is determined whether or not the detected voltage value obtained by the averaging this time is below a certain difference, and if the detected voltage value is beyond the allowable range, in the next step 112, the elapsed time measurement value and the The process returns after initializing a continuous rise degree data group, which is a material for determining a battery detection voltage value or the like.

If the voltage remains within a certain allowable range, it is considered in the next step 111 that the detected voltage value has increased, and
Move to step 107.

In step 107, it is determined whether or not the continuous rising tendency of the battery voltage has continued for a certain time (G in FIG. 2) or more. If it is determined that the battery voltage has continued for a certain time, the process proceeds to the next step 108. If not, return.

If it is determined in step 107 that the battery voltage has been continuously increasing for a certain period of time, the process proceeds to step 108.
It is recognized that the engine has been started as shown in (1), and the cranking is stopped, that is, the driving of the starter 22 is stopped as shown in the next step 109.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, some more preferable lower aspects can be proposed. For example, a battery voltage monitoring prohibition time J before entering the voltage monitoring mode, a predetermined time G for determining whether or not the battery voltage is continuously increasing under the battery voltage monitoring mode, a falling allowable range for recognizing a rising tendency, The parameters required for control, such as the latest detected value of the battery voltage and the continuous rise time up to that point, in this embodiment,
Since the battery 23 is stored in the electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory 42, even if the battery 23 is once removed due to replacement or the like, the data before that is preserved. Then, an external device connected to the external communication means 16
All or some, or at least one of these data is configured to be rewritable by a start recognition parameter changer 33 operably provided by the user in the operation unit 41 or the operation unit 30. If it is not possible to recognize the start of the engine due to a change in the surrounding environment mainly due to the above factors, the data can be rewritten to change the setting so that the recognition can be performed. It is preferable that the parameter set values set at each time can be displayed to the user on the start recognition parameter set value display unit 53 provided on the display unit 50.

Further, up to now, it has been assumed that the automatic engine start control according to the present invention always functions. However, the operation unit 30 is provided with a selection switch 32, and by setting the selection switch 32, It may be possible to select whether to operate the engine automatic start control of the present invention or to operate the conventional automatic start control. In this case, the setting of the selection switch 32 is preferably displayed on the selection mode display section 52 of the display section 50. For example, in an environment of an extremely cold region, the engine start tends to be unstable, and in an extreme situation where the engine start cannot be recognized even if the start recognition parameter is changed, the conventional operation which has been described by the operation of the selection switch 32 has been described. It is also possible to stabilize the start by selecting one of the methods, for example, the known automatic start control of the conventional method, and intentionally lengthening the cranking time, so that the engine start control suitable for the situation is possible Thus, the malfunction of the engine start recognition can be more reliably prevented.

The automatic engine start method and apparatus according to the present invention can be widely applied to a starter-type engine regardless of a gasoline engine, a diesel engine, or other engine modes. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the constituent elements 11 to 17, which are shown to be equivalently configured by the microcomputer 10, may be replaced with individual hardware if necessary.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, the battery voltage is monitored only after a certain period of time has elapsed since the starter drive, and when the battery voltage has been continuously increasing for a predetermined period of time, the engine is started. Is recognized as having started, the accuracy of engine start recognition is improved, cranking can be stopped with a slight time difference from the actual engine start, and unnecessary cranking after engine start is minimized. In addition, the cranking time can be substantially the same as when the driver starts the engine by manually operating the ignition switch. Useless consumption of battery power can also be suppressed. Also, no special wiring for engine start recognition is required at all, and an easily accessible battery voltage is monitored, so that workability and the number of parts are reduced, which is reasonable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of engine start control according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a typical example of a temporal change of a battery voltage.

FIG. 3 is an apparatus configuration diagram applicable to the method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Microcomputer constituting engine start control unit 11 Timer 12 Starter drive command means 13 Start-related device command means 14 Battery voltage monitoring means 15 Start recognition parameter management means 16 External communication means 17 A / D converter 21 Start-related equipment 22 Starter 23 Battery 30 Operation unit 31 Time setting unit 32 Selection switch 33 Start recognition parameter change unit 41 External device 42 Non-volatile storage means 50 Display unit 51 Setting time display unit 52 Selection mode display unit 53 Start recognition parameter setting value display unit 61 Remote control 62 Receive Demodulation circuit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Megumi Toya 2-1-2-6 Tsutodori, Nada-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Hanshin Electric Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3G084 BA28 DA09 DA13 EA07 EA11 EB06 EB12 EC03 FA03 FA36

Claims (8)

[Claims] When a set time is reached, when a set time has elapsed from a set operation, or when an engine start signal transmitted from a remote controller is received, a starter is energized from a battery mounted on the vehicle to supply the starter. A method for automatically starting the engine by driving and idling the engine; a predetermined time from the start of driving of the starter is a battery voltage monitoring prohibition time; after the battery voltage monitoring prohibition time has elapsed, a battery voltage monitoring mode is entered; When the battery voltage has been continuously increasing for a predetermined time or more in the battery voltage monitoring mode, it is recognized that the engine has started, and the power supply to the starter from the battery is stopped. To start the engine automatically. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the battery voltage monitoring mode, a fall of the battery voltage before a lapse of the predetermined time does not decrease until the battery voltage falls outside a predetermined allowable range. If this is not the case, it is ignored instead of being considered as falling, and it is determined that the battery voltage is in the upward trend. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the battery voltage monitoring inhibition time, the predetermined time in the battery voltage monitoring mode and the allowable fall range, the latest detected value of the battery voltage, and a continuous increase to that time. At least one, some, or all of the time is stored in a rewritable nonvolatile memory as an engine start recognition parameter; at least one, some, or all of the stored parameters are rewritable by an external operation. A method characterized by: 4. An automatic engine starting device for automatically starting and idling an engine upon receiving a start command signal; start command signal output means capable of selectively generating the start command signal; Starter drive commanding means for applying a battery voltage to the starter based on the following; and starting monitoring the battery voltage after a lapse of a predetermined time from the application of the battery voltage to the starter; And a battery voltage monitoring means for stopping the power supply to the starter when the battery is detected to have a continuous rising tendency. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said start command signal output means includes a timer, and when a set time set by a user is reached, or when the set time elapses from a setting operation by the user. A means for outputting the start command signal when the start command signal is issued. 6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said start command signal output means outputs said start command signal when receiving an engine start signal transmitted from a remote controller by radio frequency. A device characterized by the following: 7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the battery voltage monitoring means does not decrease until the fall of the battery voltage before the predetermined time period exceeds a predetermined allowable range. If this is the case, the battery voltage is ignored instead of being considered as falling, and it is determined that the battery voltage is in the upward trend. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the battery voltage monitoring prohibition time, the predetermined time during which the battery voltage monitoring means monitors the battery voltage, the allowable fall range during monitoring, At least one or several of the latest detected values and the continuous rise time up to that,
Or a non-volatile memory for rewritably storing all of the parameters as a group of engine start recognition parameters; and an operation switch or external communication means for rewriting at least one or some or all of the parameters by an external operation. An apparatus characterized by the above.