JP2001107768A - Jumper start judging device and vehicular control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To judge a jumper start accurately. SOLUTION: When an engine is started by a jumper start by using a booster cable, it is better to carry out an ecconomical running control, namely prohibit an engine automatic stop start in order to protect a battery. This jumper start judgement is carried out by using a battery voltage, charge current and engine start time. The judgement is carried out before engine start, start time and after start. For example, assuming that the battery voltage is abnormally high before engine start and threshold voltage before start or more, it is considered that its cause is the power generation voltage of an alternator of a partner vehicle connected by the cable and it can be judged that the jumper start is carried out. A more accurate judgement than that it is judged easily that the jumper start is carried out by only the reason that an engine hood is opened at the start time can be carried out. The jumper start judgement can be applied to the vehicular control except the ecconomical running system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an apparatus for determining whether or not a jumper start has been performed. The present invention also relates to a vehicle control device having a jumper start determination function. The vehicle control device is, for example, an engine automatic stop / start control device, and is configured to prohibit automatic stop / start when the battery is weak and a jumper start is performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A jumper start determination device can be used in combination with, for example, an automatic engine stop / start control device. Therefore, here, the prior art and its problems will be described focusing on the automatic engine stop / start device.

[0003] The engine automatic stop and start control device is a device that stops the engine when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied during the operation of the vehicle and then starts the engine when the predetermined start condition is satisfied. is called. When the vehicle is stopped due to a traffic light, traffic jam, or the like, the engine is idling. If the engine is stopped instead of the idling operation, fuel efficiency is improved, the amount of exhaust gas emission is reduced, and noise can be reduced. Therefore,
In the eco-run system, when the vehicle stops, the engine is temporarily stopped, and the engine is restarted the next time the vehicle starts running. This type of system is disclosed in, for example,
No. 74613.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The eco-run system is
It has relatively disadvantageous aspects for on-board batteries.
This is because the accessories are driven by the battery power while the engine is temporarily stopped, and the battery power is consumed during this period. Therefore, the eco-run system needs to be configured to pay attention to the state of the battery and to protect the battery.

A situation in which protection of the battery is particularly necessary is a jumper start. Jumper start, as is well known, is to start the engine by supplying power from another power source when the battery is dead (when the battery is weak). Typically, power is supplied by connecting a battery of another vehicle with a booster cable. When the jumper start is performed, the battery is weak. Therefore, if the engine is automatically stopped by the eco-run control, it is estimated that the next restart is difficult. Therefore,
It is considered desirable to prohibit the eco-run control (automatic stop start) during the trip after the jumper start.

As an example of the jumper start determination,
When the starter switch is turned on while the engine hood is open, it may be determined that a jumper start has been performed. If the engine hood is open,
This is because the booster cable may be connected to the battery.

However, even if the battery is normal, the engine may be started with the engine hood opened. In this case, according to the above-described determination processing, it is erroneously determined that the jumper start has been performed. Therefore, although the battery is normal and there is no problem in permitting the eco-run control, the eco-run control is prohibited, and waste occurs.

It is assumed that after the driver starts the engine with the hood open, the engine is temporarily stopped and then restarted with the hood closed. By performing such an operation, the prohibition of the eco-run control can be released, but this operation is unnecessary at all in the original operation and is troublesome for the driver.

As described above, if the jumper start is determined only by looking at the open / closed state of the engine hood, the determination is inaccurate, and the automatic stop / start control of the engine may be uselessly prohibited. is there.

Although the automatic stop / start control has been described above, a similar problem may occur if the jumper start determination is used for other vehicle control processing.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to accurately and reliably determine a jumper start.

[0012]

Means for Solving the Problems (1) In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, when starting operation of the engine, it is determined that the engine has been started by receiving power supply from a source other than the vehicle. In the jumper start determination device that determines based on the satisfaction of the jumper start determination condition, the jumper start determination condition is set as follows.

(A1) Preferably, the jumper start determination condition includes that a battery voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined pre-start threshold voltage before the engine is started.

(A2) Preferably, the jumper start determination condition includes that a battery charging current is equal to or higher than a predetermined pre-start threshold current before the engine is started.

(B1) Preferably, the jumper start determination condition includes that a time required for starting the engine is equal to or longer than a predetermined threshold starting time.

(B2) Preferably, the jumper start determination condition includes that the battery voltage drops to a predetermined threshold voltage drop width or more when the engine is started.

(C1) Preferably, the jumper start determination condition includes that a charging current after starting the engine is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold current after starting.

Preferably, with respect to the jumper start determination conditions a1 and a2 before the engine is started, it is determined that a jumper start has occurred when those conditions have continued for a predetermined time or more. It is possible to reliably determine whether or not it is the jumper start preparation stage before starting the engine.

Preferably, among the above jumper start determination conditions, the condition using a voltage value is as follows:
The determination voltage value may be variable according to the temperature. The temperature may be a measured value of the battery temperature, or a temperature obtained from a temperature sensor such as an engine water temperature, an outside air temperature, or an intake air temperature may be used, and the battery temperature can be estimated from these temperatures. By such control, the jumper start determination can be more reliably performed.

Preferably, a more reliable determination is made by combining two or more of the above various jumper start determination conditions. It is considered that as more conditions are combined, the certainty of the judgment increases. Further, an appropriate condition suitable for the specification may be selected according to the specification of the vehicle to which the present invention is applied.

Further, by adding a determination condition that the engine hood is open to the above determination condition, the jumper start can be more reliably determined.

According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not a jumper start has been performed by using the appropriate jumper start determination conditions. Thus, it is possible to avoid erroneously determining that the jumper start has been performed even though the jumper start has not been performed.

(2) Another aspect of the present invention is a vehicle control device having the above-described jumper start determining function of the present invention.

Preferably, the vehicle control device includes an automatic engine stop / start means for automatically stopping and starting the engine based on predetermined stop and start conditions during operation of the engine; Automatic stop / start prohibition means for prohibiting automatic stop / start during engine operation by the engine automatic stop / start means when the jumper start determination condition is satisfied.

This embodiment corresponds to an automatic engine stop / start system, so-called eco-run system. According to the present invention,
By using the appropriate jumper start determination condition, it is possible to accurately determine whether the jumper start has been performed. Thus, it is possible to avoid erroneously determining that the jumper start has been performed and prohibiting the eco-run control even though the jumper start has not been performed. The eco-run can be performed in more situations while ensuring appropriate protection of the battery, thereby contributing to improvement of fuel efficiency, reduction of exhaust gas, and reduction of noise.

(3) A vehicle control device according to another aspect of the present invention includes an engine speed control means for controlling the engine speed to a target speed during idling operation of the engine, and a predetermined speed at the start of operation of the engine. An engine speed changing unit that increases the target speed when the jumper start determination condition is satisfied. The increase width of the idling rotation speed may be set in advance, and the battery voltage,
The increase width may be made variable according to the state of the current, the charge amount, or the like.

According to this aspect, when the jumper start is performed, the idling rotation speed is increased and the battery is positively charged, so that the charged amount of the battery is recovered at an early stage, and the protection of the battery is achieved. In particular, since the jumper start determination is accurately performed, unnecessary increase in the idling rotational speed can be avoided. That is, it is not necessary to increase the idling rotational speed by erroneously determining that the jumper start has been performed even though the jumper start has not been performed. Therefore, wasteful consumption of fuel and the like can be avoided while appropriately protecting the battery.

(4) A vehicle control device according to another aspect of the present invention includes an electric load control means for controlling the operation of the electric load of the vehicle in response to an electric load request, and a predetermined jumper start when starting operation of the engine. Electric load limiting means for limiting the operation of the electric load when the determination condition is satisfied.

According to this aspect, when the jumper start is performed, the operation of the electric load is limited, so that the power consumption in a state where the charged amount of the battery is reduced can be reduced, and the battery is protected. Also in this case, particularly, the jumper start determination is accurately performed, so that the unnecessary electric load need not be limited, and the battery can be appropriately protected.

(5) A vehicle control device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a battery state detecting means for detecting a battery voltage and a battery charge amount after engine startup, and a predetermined jumper start determination condition at the time of starting operation of the engine. Battery deterioration detecting means for detecting battery deterioration when the rate of change of the battery voltage with respect to the battery charge amount exceeds a predetermined value. Preferably, the battery deterioration detecting means detects battery deterioration when a state in which the rate of change of the battery voltage exceeds a predetermined value has continued for a predetermined time, thereby making a reliable determination.

According to this aspect, the deterioration of the battery can be detected by further utilizing the determination result of the jumper start as described below. When the jumper start is performed, charging starts with the battery voltage being extremely low, and the battery may have deteriorated. In the charging mode after the jumper start, whether the battery has deteriorated or not has deteriorated (that is, whether the battery capacity (storage capacity) has decreased or not). A difference appears in the “rate of change in voltage with respect to charge amount”. If the battery is deteriorated, the rate of change will increase. Therefore, battery deterioration can be detected by comparing the change rate with a predetermined value. It is preferable to provide a notifying means for notifying the battery deterioration when the battery deterioration is detected. For example, an indicator lamp may be displayed. As described above, according to the present invention,
Battery deterioration can be detected using an accurate jumper start determination result, and appropriate protection of the battery can be achieved.

(6) The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments of the jumper start determination device and the vehicle control device. The vehicle control device may use the jumper start determination result in connection with a function different from the above-described automatic stop / start function. Another embodiment of the present invention is, for example, a jumper start determination method, a vehicle control method, and, for example, an automatic engine stop / start apparatus and method, and an engine control apparatus or method.

[0033]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as embodiments) will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the jumper start determination device of the present invention is provided in an engine control system having an automatic stop / start control function.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an engine control system provided with an automatic stop / start control device. The engine 1 may be a normal internal combustion engine. The engine 1 is provided with a starter motor 2, an alternator 3, and an auxiliary device (such as an air conditioner) 4. The starter motor 2 is connected to an ignition key device 5. The starter motor 2, the alternator 3 and the auxiliary machine 4 are connected to a battery 6.

The engine 1 is provided with a rotation sensor 7 for detecting a rotation speed signal NE indicating the engine rotation speed. The rotation sensor 7 outputs, for example, a pulse signal corresponding to the engine speed. The engine ECU 10
An electronic control unit that controls the engine 1 and controls the engine 1 using a rotation speed signal NE and signals from various other sensors. The eco-run ECU 12 is an engine ECU
It is an electronic control unit that is positioned at a higher rank than the top 10, and has an automatic stop / start control function of the engine.

In order to monitor the state of the battery 6, the eco-run ECU 12 receives a signal from the battery voltage sensor 14, the battery current sensor 16, and the battery temperature sensor 18.
Battery voltage VB, battery charging current IB, and battery temperature TB are input, respectively. Instead of the battery temperature sensor 18, an engine water temperature sensor, an outside air temperature sensor,
Another sensor such as an intake air temperature sensor may be substituted. From the temperatures obtained from these temperature sensors, the level of the battery temperature can be estimated.

A hood switch 20 is connected to the eco-run ECU 12. The hood switch 20 is provided with a hood opening / closing signal FS indicating whether the engine hood (bonnet) is open or closed, that is, whether the hood is open or closed.
Is sent to the eco-run ECU 12. Eco-run ECU1
2, the engine speed signal NE is obtained via the engine ECU 10.

At the time of "operation start", the driver operates the ignition key device 5. The driver inserts a key into the ignition key device 5 and turns the key. The key is turned to the ignition on position and then to the starter on position. When the driver releases the key, the key returns to the ignition on position. These key operations are transmitted to the engine ECU 10 and the eco-run ECU 12.

When the ignition key is turned on, the engine ECU 10 and the eco-run ECU 12 are activated. When the key position is the starter ON, the starter motor 2 is driven by the electric power of the battery 6 to crank the engine 1. Thereby, the engine 1 is started and the operation is started.

During the operation, the eco-run ECU 12 performs automatic stop / start control of the engine 1. The eco-run ECU 12 monitors whether a predetermined engine stop condition is satisfied based on the driving state of the vehicle.

In a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission, one example of the engine stop condition is (1) the vehicle speed is 0, and (2)
The shift lever is in the neutral position, and (3) the clutch pedal is depressed (the clutch is disconnected). In a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, an example of the engine stop condition is that (1) the vehicle speed is 0, (2) the shift lever is in the neutral position, and (3) the brake is depressed. . These pieces of information may be obtained using a shift lever position sensor, a clutch operation detection switch, and a brake operation detection switch (not shown).

When the engine stop condition is satisfied, the eco-run ECU 12 sends a stop request signal ST to the engine ECU 10. The engine ECU 10 outputs a stop request signal ST
To stop the engine 1.

After stopping the engine 1, the eco-run ECU 12 monitors whether a predetermined engine restart condition is satisfied. In a vehicle with a manual transmission, the engine start condition is, for example, depression of a clutch pedal (connection of a clutch).

When the engine start conditions are satisfied, the eco-run ECU 12 controls the starter motor 2 to drive it. The starter motor 2 is driven by the electric power of the battery 6, cranks the engine 1, and thereby restarts the engine 1.

With the above-described automatic stop / start control of the engine (eco-run control), the engine is temporarily stopped instead of idling in a situation such as at a traffic light or in a traffic jam. Therefore, fuel efficiency is improved, the amount of exhaust gas emission is reduced, and noise can be reduced.

Next, the jumper start judgment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the jumper start, the engine 1 is started by supplying power from a battery of another vehicle. Battery 6 is connected to a battery of another vehicle by a booster cable BC. While the engine of the other vehicle is running, the ignition key device 5 is operated to start the engine.

When the jumper start is performed, the battery 6 is generally weak. The weak battery means that the battery capacity is reduced, that is, the so-called sag amount is large. If the engine is automatically stopped by the eco-run control while the battery is weak, it may be difficult to restart the engine thereafter. Therefore, when a jumper start is performed, it is considered better to prohibit the eco-run control. In the present invention, the jumper start is determined as follows.

FIG. 2 shows the entire processing of the jumper start determination of the present invention. The jumper start determination in FIG. 2 is performed by the eco-run ECU 12 every time “operation starts”. The operation start state is further divided into “before engine start”, “at the time of engine start”, and “after engine start”.

In FIG. 2, when the ignition key is operated at S1 and the ignition key is turned on, at S2,
The battery voltage, current sensor signal, hood switch signal and engine speed signal are input.

In "jumper start judgment before engine start" S3, a jumper start judgment before the engine start (ignition ON state) is performed. Here, it is determined whether or not the following conditions a1 to a3 are satisfied in the engine stopped state (rotation speed 0), thereby determining whether or not a jumper start preparation operation is performed before the engine is started. The preparation work is a work of connecting the battery of the other vehicle with the booster cable.

<Judgment condition a1>"Battery voltage VB≥pre-start threshold voltage" First, a normal state before start without jumper start is considered. Before start-up, the battery voltage is within an appropriate range determined from the specified voltage value. For example, the voltage of a general 12V battery is at most about 12V. On the other hand, after starting the engine,
The alternator is driven by the engine output, and the alternator starts generating power. The generator voltage of the alternator is set to be much higher than the voltage value before the battery is started. Therefore, the battery voltage after starting the engine has a high value corresponding to the power generation voltage of the alternator.

When the jumper start is performed, the battery is connected to the battery of the opponent vehicle, the engine of the opponent vehicle is started, and the alternator of the opponent vehicle starts power generation. Therefore, in the vehicle to which power is supplied, the battery voltage shows an abnormally high value even though the engine is stopped, that is, the alternator is not generating power.

The present invention pays attention to this point, and sets a threshold voltage for judging a jumper start between a battery voltage in a normal ignition-on state (alternator non-generation state) and a battery voltage in an alternator generation state. It is set to a value, and it is determined whether or not the jumper start is performed using the threshold voltage before the start. For example, the above 12V
In the battery, the threshold voltage before starting is preferably about 13.5V. If the battery voltage VB input from the battery voltage sensor is equal to or higher than the pre-start threshold voltage, it is determined that a jumper start is performed (the battery of another vehicle is connected).

<Judgment condition a1 '> As a modified example of the judgment condition a1, the threshold voltage before starting may be varied according to the battery temperature TB. It is preferable to set the pre-start threshold voltage at high and low temperatures to be smaller than at normal temperature. This takes into account that the battery voltage tends to decrease in a temperature range outside the normal temperature, and thus the jumper start can be determined more accurately by taking the temperature into consideration.

Instead of using the battery temperature directly, a temperature obtained from another sensor such as an engine water temperature sensor, an outside air temperature sensor, or an intake air temperature sensor may be used.
From these temperatures, the level of the battery temperature can be estimated.
Cost can be reduced by omitting the sensor.

<Judgment condition a2>"Battery charging current IB ≧ starting current threshold current" Here, a normal pre-starting state when jumper start is not performed is first considered. Before starting the engine, the battery charging current on the discharging side should be detected. Then, after the engine is started, the alternator starts generating power, so that the battery charging current on the charging side is detected, that is, the current flows toward the battery.

When a jumper start is performed, the battery of the other vehicle is connected, the engine of the other vehicle is started, and the alternator of the other vehicle is generating power. The generated current of the other vehicle flows into the battery of the vehicle targeted for jumper start via the other battery. Therefore, even before the engine starts,
A charging current is detected.

The present invention pays attention to this point, determines an appropriate pre-startup threshold current, and makes a jumper start determination using this threshold current. The magnitude of the pre-start threshold current may be any value regardless of whether it is positive or negative as long as it is located on the charging side of the normal battery current value before start. In a general vehicle equipped with the above 12V battery, a suitable threshold current before starting is, for example, about 5A. And the detected charging current IB
Is greater than the pre-start threshold current, it is determined that a jumper start has been performed.

<Determination Condition a3>"Engine Hood Open" Here, it is determined whether the engine hood is open or closed based on the engine hood switch signal. When performing a jumper start, it is necessary to open the engine hood to connect the booster cable to the battery.

However, this condition only indicates that a jumper start may be performed. This is because the engine may be started with the engine hood open even if the jumper is not started.

The battery may be installed in a place other than the engine room, for example, in a trunk. In such a case, an open / close switch may be provided on the cover at the battery installation position, and the open / close signal sent from the switch may be used for the determination process.

As described above, it is detected that the engine hood is opened, the battery is connected to the battery of the partner vehicle, and the engine of the partner vehicle is running. That is, it is detected that the apparatus is ready for jumper start.

Further, according to the present invention, it is determined that the jumper start is performed when the above three conditions are simultaneously continued for a predetermined threshold preparation time or more. This is because it is unlikely that the engine will start when the jumper is ready to start. Therefore, jumper start determination can be performed more reliably by setting the threshold time. The threshold preparation time is, for example, about 2 seconds.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the above-described pre-start jumper start determination processing. S21 to S23 determine whether the above three determination conditions a1 to a3 are simultaneously satisfied. In S21, it is determined whether the battery voltage is equal to or higher than the pre-start threshold voltage, in S22, it is determined whether the battery current is equal to or higher than the pre-start threshold current, and in S23, it is determined whether the engine hood is open.

If one of S21 to S23 is NO, S
Proceeding to 24, it is determined whether a starter-on signal has been input. The starter on signal is input when the ignition key device is operated and the key is turned to the starter on position. If S24 is NO, the process returns to S21. S
If 24 is YES, the starter is turned on before all of the determination conditions a1 to a3 are satisfied, so the process proceeds to S31 and determines that the jumper is not started.

If YES in steps S21 to S23, the process proceeds to step S25 to start the timer, and
In S30, it is determined whether or not these three determination conditions a1 to a3 are simultaneously satisfied for at least the threshold preparation time.

S26 to S28 correspond to S21 to S2, respectively.
This is the same determination step as in step 3. If one of S26 to S28 is NO, since the simultaneous establishment of the three determination conditions has not continued for the "threshold preparation time" or more, it is determined that the jumper is not started in S31.

If S26-S28 are both YES,
Proceeding to S29, it is determined whether a starter-on signal has been input. If S29 is NO, the process returns to S26. S29
If YES is determined in S30, it is determined whether or not "the threshold preparation time" has elapsed from the start of the timer.

If NO in S30, the simultaneous establishment time of the three determination conditions is shorter than the threshold preparation time.
It is determined that it is not a jumper start in 1. S30 is Y
In the case of ES, since the simultaneous establishment time is equal to or longer than the threshold preparation time, it is determined in S32 that the jumper is started.

Returning to FIG. 2, based on the judgment before the engine start in S3, if the jumper is not started, S4 is NO and the control proceeds to the normal control in S9. The eco-run control is performed as usual, that is, during the operation, the engine is automatically stopped and automatically started when a predetermined condition is satisfied. On the other hand, if it is determined in S3 that a jumper start is to be performed, S4 is YES, and then a jumper start determination at the time of engine start (starter on) is performed in S5.

[Jumper Start Judgment at Engine Start] In the above-described pre-start jumper start judgment, it is judged whether or not a person such as a driver has prepared for jumper start. However, due to driver misunderstanding,
In fact, the battery may not be weak. In this case, the operation is performed even though the jumper start is unnecessary. The driver intends to start the jumper by connecting the cable, but the jumper start is unnecessary, and the jumper start is not actually performed. Here, a situation (unnecessary execution) in which the jumper start is not substantially performed is detected.

<Judgment condition b1> “Engine start time ≧ Threshold start time” The engine start time is from the starter ON (start of starter motor driving) until the engine speed reaches a predetermined speed (for example, about 500 times). Is the elapsed time. The starting time is relatively long when the battery is weak. However, if the battery is not weak, the start-up time can be very short.

Focusing on this point of the present invention, the threshold start time for jumper start determination is defined as the time between the start time at the time of jumper start (when the battery is weak) and the start time at times other than the jumper start. And the jumper start determination is performed using the threshold start time.
A suitable value for the threshold start time in a general vehicle is, for example, about 4 seconds.

If the start time is longer than the threshold start time, it is determined that a jumper start has been performed. on the other hand,
If the start time is shorter than the threshold start time, it is determined that the battery charge amount is actually sufficient and the jumper start is unnecessary, that is, the jumper start is not substantially performed.

<Determination Condition b2> “Voltage drop width ≧ threshold voltage drop width” At the start of the engine, a battery voltage drop (voltage drop) generally occurs. When the battery is weak, the voltage drop is relatively large. On the other hand, if the battery is not weak, the voltage drop width is small.

Focusing on this point, the present invention sets the threshold voltage drop width between the voltage drop width at the time of a normal jumper start and the voltage drop width at times other than the jumper start. A jumper start judgment is made using the decrease width. In the case of a general vehicle equipped with the above 12V battery, an appropriate threshold voltage drop is, for example, about 6V.
It is.

The voltage drop at the start is monitored, and if the drop is equal to or larger than the threshold voltage drop, it is determined that the jumper start has actually been performed. On the other hand, when the voltage drop width is smaller than the threshold voltage drop width, the battery storage amount is actually sufficient, and jumper start is unnecessary,
It is determined that the jumper start was not substantially performed.

<Determination Condition b2 '> As a modified example of the determination condition b2, the threshold voltage decrease width may be variably set according to the battery temperature TB. It is preferable to set the threshold voltage drop at high and low temperatures larger than at normal temperature.
This takes into account that the battery performance is degraded in the high temperature region and the low temperature region outside the normal temperature, and it is considered that the jumper start determination can be performed more accurately by such a variable setting.

As described in the determination condition a1 ', instead of using the battery temperature directly, a temperature obtained from another sensor such as an engine water temperature sensor, an outside air temperature sensor, or an intake air temperature sensor may be used. From these temperatures, the level of the battery temperature can be estimated. Cost can be reduced by omitting the sensor.

As described above, according to the present invention, by performing the jumper start determination at the time of starting the engine,
The event "Jumper start work was performed but the battery was not weak" can be detected. Another advantage is that the determination can be made at a different angle from the determination before starting. Even if there is an erroneous determination before starting, the erroneous determination can be eliminated at the stage of starting. Thus, the certainty of the jumper start determination can be increased.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the jumper start determination process at the time of starting the engine. Here, it is determined whether or not the determination conditions b1 and b2 are simultaneously satisfied. S
When the starter is turned on at 40, it is determined at S41 whether or not the engine has been started. When the engine speed exceeds the predetermined speed, S41 becomes YES.

If YES in S41, the starting time is calculated in S42, and it is determined whether or not the starting time is longer than the threshold starting time. The start time is a time required from the starter ON to the completion of the start as described above.

If the determination in S42 is NO, the process proceeds to S44 and determines that there is no jumper start. S42 is Y
In the case of ES, the process proceeds to S43, and it is determined whether or not the voltage drop width during the starting period is equal to or larger than the threshold voltage drop width. S43 is NO
If it is, the process proceeds to S44 and it is determined that the jumper is not started. If S43 is YES, it is determined that the jumper is started in S45.

Returning to FIG. 2, based on the judgment at the time of starting the engine in S5, if the jumper is not started, S6 is NO and the routine proceeds to the normal control in S9. On the other hand, if it is determined in S5 that the jumper start has been performed,
S6 is YES, and a jumper start determination after the next engine start is performed in S7.

"Jumper start determination after engine start" In the processing up to this point, whether or not the jumper start has been performed is reliably determined by the determination before the engine start and at the time of the engine start. Here, in order to make the determination even more reliable, the jumper start determination after the engine is started (ignition-on return state) is performed from a different angle from before and after the start.

<Judgment Condition c1> “Battery charging current IB ≧ threshold current after starting” After starting the engine is a state in which the engine has been started at the time of starting the operation. This is the state after reaching. When the jumper start is performed and the battery is weak, the charged amount is decreasing. When the charged amount is low, a large amount of charging current flows into the battery after starting. This is because a conventional general alternator is configured to perform low voltage control. On the other hand, if the charged amount is not actually reduced, the charging current does not increase so much.

Focusing on this point, the present invention sets the threshold current after starting between the normal charging current after starting at the time of jumper start and the charging current at times other than the jumper start. Jumper start determination is performed using the threshold current. The value of the threshold current after starting is, for example, about 10 A.

If the battery charging current is equal to or greater than the threshold current after starting, it is determined that jumper start has been performed.
However, if the battery charging current is smaller than the threshold current after starting, it is determined that the jumper start has not been performed. In this case, it is probable that the driver has not performed the jumper start because the previous determination is incorrect. Also, as described for the determination at the time of start, the jumper start was performed in a state where the charged amount was sufficient,
Jumper start may not have been necessary. For example, a driver or the like intends to perform a jumper start using a booster cable, but in fact, the power storage amount is sufficient.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the above-described jumper start determination processing after starting. In S51, it is determined whether or not the battery current is equal to or more than the threshold current after the start. If YES, it is determined in S52 that "jumper start", and NO
If it is, it is determined in S53 that "it is not a jumper start".

Returning to FIG. 2, if jumper start is not performed based on the determination after the engine is started in S7, S8 is NO and normal control is performed in S9. On the other hand, if a jumper start is performed in S7, S
8 is YES, and the control is changed in a direction to protect the battery in S10.

In the case of this embodiment, the eco-run control (automatic stop / start control) is prohibited in S10. Eco-run control
It continues until the current trip ends, that is, until the driver turns off the ignition key.

In the present embodiment, the eco-run control is completely prohibited during a trip in order to enhance battery protection. However, the prohibition of the eco-run control may be partial. A mode in which control is changed in a direction to protect the battery in an arbitrary manner is included in the scope of the present invention.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. According to the present invention, it is accurately and reliably determined that the jumper start has been performed in a state where the amount of settling of the battery is large, and the battery is protected when the jumper start is performed. Conversely, when the jumper start is not performed, the eco-run control is actively performed.

If the jumper start determination is performed only by opening and closing the engine hood as in the conventional case, it is determined that the jumper start has been performed even though the jumper start has not actually been performed. As a result, the eco-run control is wastefully performed. May be banned. On the other hand, according to the present invention, the jumper start determination can be performed accurately and reliably. Further, the use of this determination result can avoid wasteful prohibition of the eco-run control, and can increase the opportunities to execute the eco-run control. This makes it possible to make more use of the advantages of eco-run control such as improved fuel efficiency, reduced exhaust gas emissions, and reduced noise.

Next, a modification of this embodiment will be described. It is needless to say that the present embodiment can be appropriately changed within the scope of the present invention.

(1) Jumper start determination a
It is not necessary to perform all of 1, a2, a3, b1, b2, and c1, and only some of them may be performed. This is because these determination conditions are independent of each other, and each can determine jumper start. Therefore, if at least one of the above determinations is made, it is within the scope of the present invention. However, it is preferable to increase the certainty of the determination by combining two or more conditions. Which condition should be adopted may be determined according to the specification of the vehicle to which the present invention is applied, and a condition conforming to the specification may be appropriately used.

(2) In the above embodiment, it is determined that the jumper start has been performed only when all the conditions are satisfied. However, when one or more conditions are satisfied, it may be determined that the jumper start has been performed without the other conditions being satisfied. Alternatively, when one or more conditions are satisfied, it may be determined that the jumper start has been performed without checking whether other conditions have been satisfied. Considering what is called a logical expression, the above embodiment employs a logical expression in which all conditions are connected by AND. In this modification, AND and OR may be freely mixed and any other logical expression may be adopted.

By adopting such a configuration, that is, a configuration that does not require that all conditions are satisfied, the possibility that it is determined that jumper start has been performed increases, and a control system that places more importance on battery protection can be made. It is preferable that the protection of the battery and the active use of the eco-run system be harmonized by appropriately determining the combination of the conditions.

(3) The present invention also relates to an eco-run system of a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission, an eco-run system of a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, an eco-run system of a hybrid vehicle, and a so-called MG eco-run system (a relatively-eco-friendly system for an eco-run). A system in which a large starter motor is provided) can be similarly applied.

(4) The jumper start determination of the present invention may be used for other than the eco-run control as exemplified in another embodiment described later. The present invention can be suitably applied to any vehicle control and in-vehicle device control using the jumper start determination.

Embodiment 2 In the above embodiment, the jumper start determination device is provided in the eco-run system. In the following embodiment, a jumper start determination device is provided in another vehicle control device.

In the present embodiment, the vehicle control device controls the power generation amount of the alternator (rotation speed control, not field control), and uses the result of the jumper start determination for this control.

FIG. 6 shows a vehicle control device according to this embodiment. The same components as those in the apparatus of FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. 6 is different from the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in that an eco-run ECU is not provided in the apparatus shown in FIG. Battery voltage VB, battery current IB, and battery temperature TB are input to engine ECU 10. The hood switch 20 is also connected to the engine ECU 10.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 6, the jumper start determination is made by the engine ECU 10. The determination process is the same as the determination process of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.
The description here is omitted. Accurate judgment is performed by using an appropriate judgment condition characteristic of the present invention.

The engine ECU 10 further performs an engine speed control process for controlling the engine speed to the target speed during idling operation of the engine as a part of the engine control process. This target rotation speed is adjusted based on the result of the jumper start determination.

Referring to FIG. 7, a jumper start determination flag is input in S60. The jumper start determination is the process described above with reference to S1 to S8 in FIG. 2 and is performed at the time of starting the engine operation, a flag is set as a result, and the state of the flag is input. If jumper start is performed, the determination in S61 is YES
And the idling target rotation speed is increased in S62. That is, the adjusted idle speed obtained by adjusting the reference idle speed in the increasing direction is used. The increase width is set in advance. The increase width may be made variable in accordance with the state of the battery such as the voltage, current and charge amount. In other words, as the state of charge of the battery becomes worse, the increase in the idling rotational speed is increased.

After the idle speed UP, the battery voltage VB is input in S63, and it is determined in S64 whether or not the battery voltage VB is equal to or higher than a predetermined battery target voltage V1 (target charging voltage). If S64 is NO, monitoring of the battery voltage is continued. If YES in S64, the increase in the idle speed is stopped in S65, and the routine returns. Therefore, the reference idle target speed is used again.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the jumper start is performed, the idling rotation speed is increased and the battery is positively charged. Protection is achieved.
In particular, since the jumper start determination is accurately performed, unnecessary increase in the idling rotational speed can be avoided. That is, it is not necessary to increase the idling rotational speed by erroneously determining that the jumper start has been performed even though the jumper start has not been performed. Therefore, wasteful consumption of fuel and the like can be avoided while appropriately protecting the battery.

In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a device having no eco-run function. However, the present invention may be applied to an eco-run system. This is the same in the following embodiments.

Embodiment 3 In the present embodiment, the vehicle control device performs an electric load control, and uses a jumper start determination result for this control. The electric load is, for example, a seat heater, a mirror heater, and a blower.

FIG. 8 shows a vehicle control device according to this embodiment. The electric load device 30 is provided with an electric load control unit 32, and the control unit 32 controls the operation of the electric load device 30 according to the electric load request. The electric load request is generated according to a driver's operation of a switch or the like and detection values of various sensors.

The control unit 32 of the electric load device 30 complies with the instruction of the engine ECU 10. The engine ECU 10 makes a jumper start determination. The determination process is the same as the determination process of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and a description thereof will not be repeated. Accurate judgment is performed by using an appropriate judgment condition characteristic of the present invention. Engine E
The CU 10 sends a control signal to the electric load device 30 based on the determination result. The control unit 32 may be constituted by a computer, but may be constituted by a simpler circuit including no computer.

Referring to FIG. 9, a jumper start determination flag is input at S70. The jumper start determination is the process described above with reference to S1 to S8 in FIG. 2 and is performed at the time of starting the engine operation, a flag is set as a result, and the state of the flag is input. If jumper start is performed, the determination in S71 is YES
, And the electric load is cut in S72. Here, a signal for restricting the operation of the electric load is sent from engine ECU 10 to electric load device 30. In response to the control signal, the electric load control unit 32 limits the operation of the electric load. Here, as the electric load device subject to operation restriction, a device that does not hinder operation is appropriate. For example, the operation of at least one of the seat heater, the mirror heater, and the blower is limited. It is also preferable to prohibit some operations such as the MAX mode of the blower.

After the electric load is cut, the battery voltage VB is input in S73, and it is determined in S74 whether or not the battery voltage VB is equal to or higher than a predetermined battery target voltage V1 (target charging voltage). If S74 is NO, monitoring of the battery voltage is continued. If S74 is YES, the electric load cut is stopped in S75 and the process returns.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the jumper start is performed, the operation of the electric load is limited, so that the power consumption in a state where the charged amount of the battery is reduced can be reduced, and the protection of the battery can be prevented. Is achieved. Since the jumper start determination is accurately performed, the unnecessary electric load need not be limited, and the battery can be appropriately protected.

Embodiment 4 FIG. In this embodiment, after the jumper start determination, the vehicle control device further determines battery deterioration.

FIG. 10 shows a vehicle control device according to this embodiment. In this device, the jumper start determination is performed by the engine ECU 10. The determination process is the same as the determination process of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and a description thereof will not be repeated. Accurate judgment is performed by using an appropriate judgment condition characteristic of the present invention.

After the engine ECU 10 obtains the determination result, the engine ECU 10
Further, battery deterioration is determined. When the jumper start is performed, the battery voltage has dropped due to discharge, and the battery may have deteriorated. However, the battery has not deteriorated and the battery capacity may still be sufficient. In the present embodiment, this difference is determined based on the following principle.

FIG. 11 shows a change in the alternator adjustment voltage with respect to the charged amount after the jumper is started. The charge amount corresponds to a numerical value obtained by integrating the current flowing into the battery, and the unit is ampere × time (A · s). When the battery is deteriorated and when it is not,
As shown in the figure, the change rate (slope) of the battery voltage with respect to the charged amount appears differently. When the battery is deteriorated, the rate of change of the voltage is large. The more the deterioration is, the greater the change ratio is.

This difference in voltage change ratio occurs for the following reason. When the battery is deteriorated, the battery capacity is small, and therefore, the voltage reaches the target value with a small amount of charge. When the battery is not deteriorated, the voltage does not reach the target value after the battery capacity is large and therefore the charge amount is large.

In the present embodiment, battery deterioration is determined by focusing on this point. The engine ECU 10 functions as a battery state detecting unit, and monitors a battery voltage and a battery charge amount after the engine is started. The battery voltage is obtained from a voltage sensor. The charge amount can be obtained by integrating the battery charge current. The charging current is detected by a current sensor.

Then, engine ECU 10 compares the rate of change of the voltage with respect to the charged amount with a predetermined determination threshold value,
If the rate of change exceeds the threshold, it is determined that the battery has deteriorated. The determination threshold value is set to an appropriate value between the voltage change rate in the normal battery state and the voltage change rate in the deteriorated state. The battery deterioration state is a state in which the capacity has dropped below a predetermined level.

When it is determined that the battery is deteriorated, the charge lamp shown in FIG. 10 is turned on, and the driver is notified of the battery deterioration. Battery deterioration may be notified using a configuration other than the charge lamp. The sound or the notification sound may be output from a speaker, or the battery deterioration information may be presented in characters or the like using a display.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the battery deterioration determination process. In S80, a jumper start determination flag is input. The jumper start determination is made in S1 to S in FIG.
8 is the process described above, which is performed at the start of the engine operation, and the result flag is set, and the state of the flag is input. If the jumper start has been performed, the determination in S81 is YES, and the current battery voltage, the battery voltage target value, and the integrated charge value are input in S82. The integrated charge value corresponds to the charge amount described above,
It is represented by the following equation.

[0126]

(Equation 1) Here, i is a charging current value detected by the current sensor, and t0 is a unit time.

Further, in S83, the ratio η of the voltage change to the integrated charge value is calculated according to the following equation. η is a value obtained by converting the charging rate into a slope.

[0128]

(Equation 2) Then, it is determined whether or not the state in which the voltage change rate η is equal to or greater than the determination threshold K1 continues for a predetermined time T seconds or more. K1
Is a determination value of whether or not the battery has deteriorated, as described above.

If NO in S84, the process proceeds to S85,
It is determined whether or not the current battery voltage has become equal to or higher than the target value. If S85 is NO, the process returns to S82 and continues. If S85 is YES, the process proceeds to S86 and determines that the battery charging is completed.

On the other hand, if S84 is YES, it is determined in S87 that the battery has deteriorated, and the driver is notified of the battery deterioration assuming that the life of the battery has expired.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the determination result of the jumper start is further used to
Battery deterioration can be detected. When the jumper start is performed, charging starts with the battery voltage being extremely low, and the battery may have deteriorated. This deterioration is determined based on the change rate of the charging voltage. Thus, occurrence of battery deterioration can be notified to the driver. Conversely, there may be a case where the battery has not deteriorated even though the jumper start has been performed. In such a case, it is possible to avoid waste such as performing a measure such as replacing the battery.

The various embodiments of the present invention have been described above. Of course, those skilled in the art can further modify and change the embodiments within the scope of the present invention.
For example, the jumper start determination process and related control processes are mainly performed by the eco-run ECU and the engine EC.
Made in U. However, these processes may be performed by any component, and for example, an ECU for battery management may be provided. In short, if a function similar to that of the above-described embodiment is substantially ensured, the determination and control processing may be performed by any component in any manner, and the function may be divided into a plurality of components. .

[0133]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not a jumper start has been performed by using an appropriate jumper start determination condition. Thus, it is possible to avoid erroneously determining that the jumper start has been performed even though the jumper start has not been performed. Then, using this determination result, appropriate vehicle control including eco-run control can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an eco-run system including a jumper start determination device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a jumper start determination process of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a jumper start determination process before starting the engine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a jumper start determination process at the time of starting the engine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a jumper start determination process after the engine is started in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a vehicle control device that performs idling rotation control and includes a jumper start determination device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a process of using a jumper start determination result by the device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle control device provided with a jumper start determination device and performing electric load control according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a process of using a jumper start determination result by the device of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle control device provided with a jumper start determination device and performing a battery deterioration determination according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a diagram showing the principle of battery deterioration determination in the device of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a battery deterioration determination process using a jumper start determination result by the device of FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 engine, 2 starter motor, 3 alternator, 4 auxiliary equipment, 5 ignition key device, 6 battery, 7 rotation sensor, 10 engine ECU, 12
Eco-run ECU, 14 Battery voltage sensor, 16 Battery current sensor, 18 Battery temperature sensor, 20
Food switch.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takanori Moriya 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Motor Corporation F-term (reference) 3G093 AA04 BA21 BA22 CA01 DA01 DA05 DB00 DB09 DB10 DB11 DB19 DB20 DB23 FA11 FB05

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A jumper start judging device for judging that an engine has been started by receiving power supply from a source other than the host vehicle at the time of starting operation of the engine by satisfying a predetermined jumper start judging condition. The jumper start determination device for a vehicle, wherein the jumper start determination condition includes that a battery voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined pre-start threshold voltage before the engine is started. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jumper start determination condition further includes that a battery charging current is equal to or greater than a predetermined pre-start threshold current before the engine starts. Vehicle jumper start determination device. 3. A jumper start judging device for judging that the engine has been started by receiving supply of electric power from a source other than the own vehicle at the time of starting operation of the engine when predetermined jumper start judgment conditions are satisfied. The jumper start determination device for a vehicle, wherein the jumper start determination condition includes that a battery charging current is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold current before starting the engine. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a jumper start is determined to have been performed when the jumper start determination condition relating to before the engine start has continued for a predetermined time or more. Vehicle jumper start determination device. 5. A jumper start judging device for judging that an engine has been started by receiving supply of electric power from a source other than the vehicle at the start of operation of the engine by satisfying predetermined jumper start judgment conditions. A jumper start determination device for a vehicle, wherein the jumper start determination condition includes that a time required for starting the engine is equal to or longer than a predetermined threshold start time. 6. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the jumper start determination condition further includes: when the engine is started, the battery voltage drops to a predetermined threshold voltage drop width or more. Jumper start judgment device. 7. A jumper start judging device for judging that the engine has been started by receiving power supply from a source other than the own vehicle at the time of starting operation of the engine by satisfying a predetermined jumper start judging condition. A jumper start determination device for a vehicle, wherein the jumper start determination condition includes that a battery voltage drops to a predetermined threshold voltage drop width or more when the engine is started. 8. A jumper start judging device for judging that the engine has been started by receiving electric power supply from a source other than the own vehicle at the time of starting operation of the engine, by satisfying a predetermined jumper start judging condition. A jumper start determination device for a vehicle, wherein the jumper start determination condition includes that a charging current after starting the engine is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold current after starting. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jumper start determination condition further includes that a time required for starting the engine is equal to or longer than a predetermined threshold start time. Vehicle jumper start determination device. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jumper start determination condition further includes: when the engine is started, the battery voltage drops to a predetermined threshold voltage drop or more. A jumper start determining device for a vehicle. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jumper start determination condition further includes: a time required for starting the engine is equal to or longer than a predetermined threshold starting time; A jumper start determination device for a vehicle, comprising: a step of reducing a voltage to a predetermined threshold voltage drop width or more. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jumper start determination condition further includes that a charging current after starting the engine is equal to or higher than a predetermined post-starting threshold current. A jumper start determining device for a vehicle. 13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the jumper start determination condition further includes that a charging current after starting the engine is equal to or higher than a predetermined post-starting threshold current. A jumper start determining device for a vehicle. 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jumper start determination condition further includes that an engine hood is open. 15. A vehicle control device having the jumper start determination device according to claim 1, wherein the engine is automatically stopped and automatically started based on predetermined stop conditions and start conditions during operation of the engine. Automatic stop / start means for performing automatic stop / start during engine operation when predetermined jumper start determination conditions are satisfied at the time of starting operation of the engine. Means, and a vehicle control device comprising: 16. A vehicle control device comprising the jumper start determination device according to claim 1, wherein the engine speed is controlled to a target speed during idling operation of the engine. And an engine speed changing means for increasing the target speed when a predetermined jumper start determination condition is satisfied at the time of starting operation of the engine. 17. A vehicle control device having the jumper start determination device according to claim 1, wherein an electric load control means controls operation of an electric load of the vehicle in response to an electric load request. A vehicle control device comprising: an electric load limiting unit that limits the operation of the electric load when a predetermined jumper start determination condition is satisfied at the time of starting operation of the engine. 18. A vehicle control device having the jumper start determination device according to claim 1, wherein a battery state detection means for detecting a battery voltage and a battery charge amount after starting the engine, and Battery deterioration detection means for detecting battery deterioration when a predetermined jumper start determination condition is satisfied at the start of operation and the rate of change of the battery voltage with respect to the battery charge amount exceeds a predetermined value. Characteristic vehicle control device. 19. The vehicle control device according to claim 18, wherein the battery deterioration detecting means detects battery deterioration when a state in which the rate of change of the battery voltage exceeds a predetermined value continues for a predetermined time. A vehicle control device characterized by the above-mentioned.