JP2000170631A - Engine starting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an engine starting device having an engine start detecting device capable of reducing incorrect detection of engine start and capable of improving reliability of detection. SOLUTION: An engine start detecting means of this engine starting device is provided with a condenser C1 for holding for a specified period a first divided voltage value C of battery voltage A just before the drive of a self-starting motor by turning off of a switching element Q1, and a comparator U1 for judging that second divided voltage D exceeds a holding value after supply of the holding value held in the condenser C in the specified period and the second divided voltage D of the battery voltage A. When the comparator U1 judges that the second divided voltage D exceeds the holding value, the battery voltage A exceeds a value before starting of the self-starting motor, and it is detected that an engine is completely exploded and started.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an engine starter provided with start detecting means for detecting the start of an engine, and more particularly, to an engine starter which can be applied to an engine starter which performs remote start of an engine by radio or the like. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been proposed an engine starting device by a wireless operation for starting and controlling an engine mounted on a passenger car from a remote place. The wireless engine starter includes a transmitter for transmitting an engine start command signal and a receiver for receiving the command signal transmitted from the transmitter. This receiver is mounted in the interior of an automobile, and upon receiving a command signal, turns on a switching mechanism such as a relay and feeds and drives a cell motor (starter motor) from a vehicle-mounted battery via the switching mechanism. The engine is started by driving.

Here, the engine may not be started (complete explosion: complete explosion) during one driving period of the starter motor, and if the start is not completed, it is necessary to drive the starter motor again. Therefore, the engine starting device must be provided with an engine start detecting device for automatically detecting whether or not the engine has started.

Conventionally, a generally known engine start detecting device directly monitors an output voltage of an alternator linked to an engine rotation and determines that the output voltage has risen to detect an engine start. In the method of directly monitoring the output voltage of the alternator,
When installing the wireless engine starter, it is necessary to draw a voltage detection line from the alternator mounted in the engine room to the receiver of the engine starter installed in the vehicle. However, if a voltage detection line is routed in an engine room where high heat and high vibrations are applied, the voltage detection line is inappropriate in terms of durability and the like, and wiring work is troublesome. Further, since it is necessary to form a through hole for passing the voltage detection line in a dash panel or the like, the wiring operation of the voltage detection line requires a considerable amount of work if a supplementary operation of providing a waterproof shield or the like is included.

In order to greatly reduce the time and labor required for wiring such voltage detection lines, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. Sho 62-128819, Sho 63-272962, and Shokai 55-1.
An engine start detection device as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 32368 is known. In this type of engine start detection device, when the starter motor starts, the voltage of the mounted battery suddenly falls, but attention is paid to the fact that the battery voltage rises due to the start of the engine. Attempt to detect starting.

[0006]

However, in practice, after the battery voltage rapidly drops due to the rush current at the start of the starter motor, the rush current disappears and the battery voltage recovers to a certain extent, and the current consumption by the starter motor decreases. The battery voltage undergoes a certain amount of recovery process with ripple and noise accompanying the passive weak power generation by the alternator, and then the alternator is started by the voltage recovery due to the stop of the starter motor and the engine start (complete explosion). The battery voltage further rises due to the start of full-scale power generation. Therefore, since the transition of the battery voltage after the start of the starter motor is a slow process involving ripples and noises, it is difficult to accurately grasp the recovery process of the voltage rise, and it is difficult to respond to the ripples and noises during the slow rise process. In some cases, a rise in voltage is detected before the engine is started (complete explosion), and erroneous detection of engine start may occur. For example, before the complete explosion of the engine, since the battery voltage is a pulsating voltage with noise due to the power generation of the alternator, there is a possibility that erroneous detection of engine start may occur even though the complete explosion has not occurred. Further, for example, in the case of an engine start method in which the starter motor is driven for a fixed period of time, even if the engine does not start during that time, the drive of the starter motor stops, but when the drive of the starter motor stops, the battery voltage inevitably increases and recovers. Even if the start is not completed, the recovery of the battery voltage is detected and the start completion is determined. Therefore, it cannot be used in the engine start method in which the starter motor is timed. The above start detection method can be adopted only when the start of the starter is stopped after the start of the engine is determined, and the starter is separated from the engine so that the starter is not dragged for a long time at the start of the engine. As described above, in the method of detecting the rise of the battery voltage, there is a disadvantage that erroneous detection of engine start frequently occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an engine starter equipped with engine start detecting means capable of eliminating erroneous detection of engine start and improving detection reliability. is there.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to an engine starter for driving a cell motor by power supply from an on-board battery to start an engine, wherein a detected signal corresponding to a supply voltage of the on-board battery is provided. Engine start detecting means for performing an engine start detecting operation for detecting whether or not the level exceeds a predetermined difference value as compared with a reference level corresponding to the supply voltage before the start of the starter motor. The engine start detecting means detects the level of the detected signal corresponding to the supply voltage of the mounted battery at least immediately after the stop of the driving of the cell motor, in other words, the level of the detected signal corresponding to the supply voltage of the mounted battery over the period including immediately after the stop of the driving of the cell motor. The level of the detection signal is compared with a reference level corresponding to the supply voltage before the start of the starter motor to determine whether the difference exceeds a predetermined difference value or more.

In the engine starting apparatus of the present invention having the above-described structure, for example, a battery output for judging an engine starting state from an output line of a vehicle-mounted battery that is drawn to the side of an ignition switch of an operation unit in the vehicle. The voltage (supply voltage) is extracted. This battery output is
At the time of start of the starter motor, the rated output temporarily drops suddenly from the rated output of 12 V, and then gradually rises. When the engine starts, the starter further rises and stabilizes at a value higher than the value before the start. In the engine start detection operation of the start detection means, it is determined whether or not the level of the detected signal according to the supply voltage of the on-board battery exceeds a reference level corresponding to the supply voltage before the start of the starter motor by a predetermined difference value or more. It has come to catch. It is not a battery voltage rise recovery process, but rather a time point when the voltage exceeds the voltage value before the start of the starter motor, so it is possible to detect after the complete explosion of the engine and reduce false detection of engine start, Detection reliability is improved. Therefore, full-scale practical use of the wireless engine starter can be achieved.

[0010] As long as the driving of the starter motor continues, the battery voltage is difficult to recover to the value before starting even if the engine is completely exploded. It is possible to effectively compare the level immediately after the stop of the drive with the reference level before the start-up, so that the complete voltage explosion of the engine can be combined to detect a certain voltage excess, so that the detection of the engine start is reliable. Become. Further, the complete explosion of the engine may occur immediately after the stoppage of the start of the cell motor. However, even in such a case, the detection operation can be performed immediately after the stop of the start of the starter motor. The restarting of the starter motor and the operation of detecting the engine start can be repeated with ease without causing dragging of the starter motor, and a practical detection device particularly suitable for a remote engine starter can be realized. The present invention is suitable for driving a starter motor in a timed manner.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the level of the detected signal is not directly compared with the battery voltage as it is, but is converted into a detected signal corresponding to the battery voltage. The time when the level is exceeded and the time when the level exceeds the reference level by a predetermined difference value or more are captured. If the difference does not exceed the predetermined difference value, no comparison detection is performed, so that erroneous detection due to noise from the starter motor, the generator, or the like can be prevented.

In the present invention, as the engine start detecting means, a sample and hold means for holding a reference level immediately before the start of the self-motor of the voltage of the mounted battery for a certain period of time, and a signal to be detected held by the sample and hold means Comparing means for determining whether or not the reference level exceeds a predetermined difference value. Even when the reference level of the battery voltage immediately before the start of the starter motor fluctuates, the excess voltage can be accurately detected, and the reliability can be improved. Therefore, when the above-mentioned excess voltage of the mounted battery is not detected within the detection period, the engine start detection operation can be repeated. At each repetition, it is possible to determine whether the battery voltage within a certain detection time thereafter exceeds a reference level (update value) immediately before the start of the start of the starter motor. Even if the battery voltage gradually drops below the rated voltage due to repeated consumption of the battery power, the sample-and-hold means can reliably detect the voltage excess after the complete explosion of the engine. Therefore, it is possible to realize a starting device suitable for restarting the starter.

It is preferable that such an engine starting device is employed in a wireless engine starting device including an on-vehicle receiver having the engine starting detecting means and a portable transmitter for transmitting an engine starting command signal.

The engine start detecting means is preferably applied to an engine vehicle. Further, a portable engine start command device including a transmitter for transmitting an engine start command signal to the above-mentioned on-vehicle receiver can be easily realized.

[0015]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of an engine start detection circuit in an engine start device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The circuit of the present embodiment can be applied to, for example, a wireless engine starting device in which an onboard engine is started from a remote place by a transmitter.
In this case, the circuit of this example is incorporated in a receiver mounted on the side of the vehicle body.

In FIG. 1, A is a voltage input terminal of a vehicle battery.
1. A variable resistor VR1 and a voltage dividing resistor R3 for detecting voltage difference adjustment are connected in series in this order. U1 is a comparator whose inverted input terminal (−input terminal) is
The resistor R1 and the variable resistor VR1 are connected via a switching element Q1 made of an ET (field effect transistor).
(The first voltage dividing point of the battery voltage) C. On the other hand, the non-inverting input terminal (+ input terminal) of the comparator U1 is connected to the connection point between the above-described variable resistor VR1 and the resistor R2 (the second voltage division of the battery voltage lower than the first voltage division point). Point) D. The gate of the switching element Q1 is connected to a control signal input terminal B via a diode D1, from which an on / off control signal of the switching element Q1 is supplied. Further, one end of a capacitor C1 is connected to a position E between the switching element Q1 and the inverting input terminal of the comparator U1, and the other end of the capacitor C1 is grounded.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the operation of the engine start detection circuit having the above configuration will be described. First, before the start of the starter motor (before the time point T1), the control signal (B) of the switching element Q1 is normally set to a low level, whereby the switching element Q1 is set to an ON state. As a result, the first voltage division (A) of the battery voltage supplied from the voltage input terminal A is determined by the switching element Q
1 and supplied to the capacitor C1 and charged to this voltage value. Accordingly, a first partial voltage of the battery voltage of the rated voltage of 12 V (the battery voltage before the start of the cell motor) held by the capacitor C1 appears at the inverting input terminal of the comparator U1, that is, at the point E.

In this state, when the engine start command is transmitted from the transmitter of the wireless engine starter and received by the on-board receiver, the control signal (B) of the switching element Q1 is changed at time T1. Stand up to a high level. As a result, since the switching element Q1 is turned off, until the next on, that is, during the period ΔT in which the control signal (B) is at the high level, the amount of the rated 12V battery voltage at the time T1 is reduced. The pressure value is held in the capacitor C1. When the starter starts at time T2 immediately after time T1, the battery voltage (A) temporarily drops sharply. This is because a rush current is generated by the inductive load of the starter motor. After the battery voltage drops, the battery voltage gradually rises with spontaneous recovery of the battery voltage, weak power generation by the alternator, or incomplete explosion. In response to the fluctuation of the battery voltage, the second partial pressure (D) also increases. It varies with the partial pressure ratio.

Then, when the engine is completely exploded by the drive by the starter motor and started, the battery voltage (A) exceeds the rated voltage of 12 V at time T3, rises to about 13.5 V, and is almost stabilized at this voltage value. Comparator U1
In, the first divided value (E) of the rated 12 V battery voltage sampled and held at the time point T1 is continuously supplied to the inverting input terminal, and the non-inverting input terminal is connected to the non-inverting input terminal as described above. Since the second divided voltage (D) of the battery voltage that fluctuates at the rising edge is supplied, when the first divided voltage (D) exceeds the hold voltage (E) at the time T3, the output signal of the comparator U1 is output. (F) is inverted and rises to a high level, and the start of the engine is detected by the high level output.

The second voltage division (D) is set to be slightly lower than the first voltage division by the variable resistor VR1. The influence of noise, ripple, and the like is suppressed, and the excess from the voltage value immediately before the cell is started is reliably captured.

Thereafter, at time T4, when the control signal (B) of the switching element Q1 falls to a low level,
Since the switching element Q1 is turned on, the capacitor C1
At the time point T1, the divided value of the battery voltage sampled and held at time T1 is released.

On the other hand, when the battery voltage (A) changes during the voltage hold period ΔT from time T1 to time T4,
Second voltage division (D) with respect to hold voltage E at time T1
Is not exceeded, the output of comparator U1 does not rise to a high level. That is, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 2, when the battery voltage (A) does not exceed 12 V or more, it is determined that the engine has not started. If the engine has not been started yet, the above operation is repeated at predetermined intervals, for example, according to a preset sequence, and the engine is restarted. Such repetition of starting of the engine involves repetition of start / stop of the starter motor, so that the battery is consumed even during the repetition period, does not recover to the rated voltage, and the battery voltage gradually decreases. However, in this example, the battery voltage value immediately before the start of the cell motor is sampled and held as an updated value. Therefore, even if the value of the battery voltage immediately before the start of the start of the cell motor fluctuates, the excess voltage can be accurately detected. Can be
Reliability can be improved.

As described above, the start detection circuit of the present embodiment focuses on the fact that the output voltage of the on-vehicle battery at the time of starting the engine is higher after starting the engine than before starting the starter motor.
This is to catch the voltage excess. Therefore,
Unlike the related art, there is no need to determine the start of the engine based on the output voltage from the alternator, so that it is not necessary to draw an output voltage detection line from the alternator. Also,
It is difficult to accurately detect the recovery process of the battery voltage rise, and there is a strong risk of erroneous detection.However, in this example, the excess voltage is captured, so detection immediately after the start of the start of the starter motor is also possible. In addition, erroneous detection of engine start can be reduced, and detection reliability can be improved.
Therefore, practical use of the wireless engine starter can be achieved.

In the above example, it is appropriate to set the battery voltage hold period ΔT so as to be longer than the drive period of the starter motor. When the start of the starter motor is stopped, the battery voltage inevitably rises and recovers.
The full-scale power generation of the alternator causes the battery voltage to further rise and exceed the value immediately before the start of the starter motor. However, when the engine is not completely started, the battery voltage rises and recovers but does not exceed it. For this reason, the engine may start (complete explosion) immediately after the stoppage of the start of the starter motor, so that the frequency of erroneous detection can be reduced.

Further, for example, as a fail-safe mechanism of the detection circuit of the present embodiment, a detection circuit for detecting the start of the engine from the output of the alternator as in the related art may be provided.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, the level of the detected signal according to the supply voltage of the mounted battery immediately after the stop of the start of the starter motor is compared with the reference level corresponding to the supply voltage before the start of the starter motor. Therefore, the present invention is characterized by comprising engine start detecting means for performing an engine start detecting operation for detecting whether or not the difference exceeds a predetermined difference value.

Since the battery consumption reliably stops immediately after the start of the start of the starter motor, the level immediately after the stop of the start of the starter motor can be effectively compared with the reference level before the start of the starter. Since it is possible to detect an excessive voltage, it is possible to reliably detect the start of the engine. Also, a complete explosion of the engine may occur immediately after the stop of the start of the starter motor, but even in such a case, the detection operation can be performed immediately after the stop of the start of the starter motor.
It is possible to eliminate erroneous detection of detecting that the starting is not completed.
The restarting of the starter motor and the operation of detecting the engine start can be repeated with ease without causing dragging of the starter motor, and a practical detection device particularly suitable for a remote engine starter can be realized. The present invention is suitable for driving a starter motor in a timed manner.

Further, according to the present invention, the level of the detected signal is converted into a detected signal corresponding to the battery voltage, instead of directly comparing the battery voltage as it is. Instead of the time when the level is exceeded, the time when the level exceeds the reference level by a predetermined difference value or more is grasped. If the difference does not exceed the predetermined difference value, no comparison detection is performed, so that erroneous detection due to noise from the starter motor, the generator, or the like can be prevented.

As the engine start detecting means, a sample and hold means for holding a reference level of the voltage of the on-board battery immediately before starting the self-motor for a certain period of time, and a reference for holding a detected signal by the sample and hold means Comparing means for determining whether or not the level exceeds a predetermined difference value. Even when the reference level of the battery voltage immediately before the start of the starter motor fluctuates, the excess voltage can be accurately detected, and the reliability can be improved. Therefore, when the above-mentioned excess voltage of the mounted battery is not detected within the detection period, the engine start detection operation can be repeated. At each repetition, it is possible to determine whether the battery voltage within a certain detection time thereafter exceeds a reference level (update value) immediately before the start of the start of the starter motor. Even if the battery voltage gradually drops below the rated voltage due to repeated consumption of the battery power, the sample-and-hold means can reliably detect the voltage excess after the complete explosion of the engine. Therefore, it is possible to realize a starting device suitable for restarting the starter.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of an engine start detection circuit in an engine start device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a signal waveform diagram for explaining an operation of the circuit of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of Symbols] A: Battery voltage input terminal B: Control signal input terminal C: First voltage dividing point of battery voltage D: Second voltage dividing point of battery voltage R1, 2: Resistor VR1: Variable resistor C1: Capacitor U1: Comparator Q1: Switching element ΔT: Voltage hold period

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An engine starter for starting an engine by driving a cell motor by power supply from an on-board battery, wherein a level of a signal to be detected corresponding to a supply voltage of the on-board battery is equal to the supply voltage before the start of the on-cell motor. An engine start detecting means for performing an engine start detecting operation for detecting whether or not the difference exceeds a predetermined difference value by comparing with a corresponding reference level, wherein a detection period of the engine start detecting operation is longer than a driving period of the starter motor. An engine starting device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. An engine starter for starting an engine by driving a cell motor by power supply from an on-board battery, wherein at least a level of a detected signal corresponding to a supply voltage of the on-board battery immediately after the stop of driving of the on-board battery is reduced. An engine starting device, comprising: engine starting detecting means for performing an engine starting detecting operation for detecting whether or not a predetermined difference value is exceeded by comparing with a reference level corresponding to the supply voltage before starting. 3. An engine starter for starting an engine by driving a cell motor by power supply from an on-board battery, wherein the level of a detected signal corresponding to a supply voltage of the on-board battery immediately after the stop of the on-cell battery is activated by the start of the cell motor. An engine starting device, comprising: engine starting detecting means for performing an engine starting detecting operation for detecting whether or not the difference exceeds a predetermined difference value by comparing with a reference level according to the supply voltage. 4. An engine starter for starting an engine by driving a cell motor by power supply from an on-board battery, wherein a level of a detected signal corresponding to a supply voltage of the on-board battery over a period including immediately after stopping the start of the on-cell motor. Comprises an engine start detecting means for performing an engine start detecting operation for detecting whether or not a predetermined difference value is exceeded by comparing with a reference level corresponding to the supply voltage before the start of the starter motor. Engine starting device. 5. The engine start device according to claim 1, wherein the engine start detecting means is configured to detect the reference level of a supply voltage of the on-board battery immediately before starting the cell motor. And a comparing means for determining whether or not the mounted detection signal exceeds the reference level held by the sample and hold means by the predetermined difference value or more. An engine starting device, comprising: 6. An engine starter according to claim 1, wherein the engine starter includes an onboard receiver having the engine start detecting means, and a portable transmitter for transmitting an engine start command signal. An engine starter, comprising: a wireless engine starter provided with the engine starter. 7. An engine vehicle comprising the engine start detecting means defined in any one of claims 1 to 4.