JP2003214306A - Engine automatic starter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an engine automatic starter that prohibits start of an engine by a timer operation, if it is determined that a position of a shift lever is in a retreat position or an advance position. <P>SOLUTION: This engine automatic starter that starts the engine by supplying power to a starter motor through a starter driving line, determines what position the shift lever selects from among a parking position, a neutral position, an advance position and a retreat position, and if it is determined that the shift lever has selected either the advance position or the retreat position, the starter prohibits start of the engine by the timer operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for generating an engine start signal at a time arbitrarily set by a driver or by remote control via a radio frequency. When received, according to the engine automatic start device that automatically starts the engine,
In particular, the present invention relates to an automatic engine starting device for restricting use to an automatic vehicle and safely starting an engine automatically. 2. Description of the Related Art An automatic engine starter is a device for automatically starting an engine by remote control or the like without operating an ignition key to warm up the inside of a vehicle for a predetermined time (10 to 15 minutes). It is necessary to start the engine with no passengers on the vehicle, so ensuring safety during use is indispensable. To ensure this safety, the vehicle with the automatic engine starter must be mounted on an automatic vehicle. (Hereinafter referred to as “AT vehicles”). The reason is that a manual transmission vehicle (hereinafter referred to as “MT vehicle”) whose engine starts regardless of the gear position
This is because when the engine is started, the vehicle may unexpectedly move. [0003] On the other hand, in the case of an AT vehicle, all commercially available vehicles are provided with contact opening / closing means for opening and closing in conjunction with a shift lever, and the shift lever is moved to a parking position [P] or a neutral position [N]. Otherwise, the contact closing means is opened to prevent the power supply from the battery to the starter motor, so that the engine does not start. Therefore, by using this contact opening / closing means, the engine automatic start control can be performed only at the gear position where the AT vehicle never starts moving. [0004] In an AT vehicle, the contact lever closing means that closes according to the position of the shift lever exists in a starter drive line from the battery to the starter motor. The mode of the contact opening / closing means differs between the neutral position [N] and the retreat position or the forward position, and in view of the fact that the line impedance of the starter drive line changes, the switch operation of the shift lever causes the change. Only when a change in impedance is detected, the vehicle is determined to be an AT vehicle and automatic engine start by the automatic engine starter is permitted. In the above-described method for determining an AT vehicle, an automatic engine starting device is mounted on the AT vehicle, the vehicle is determined to be an AT vehicle, and automatic engine starting by the automatic engine starting device is permitted. Even in this case, if the shift lever is moved to the reverse position or the forward position without noticing that the engine has been set to start by the timer operation, the timer will operate regardless of the original operation of the ignition key. When the set time is reached, the vehicle suddenly runs due to the timer operation, which causes an unexpected situation such as sudden stop of the engine, which is extremely dangerous. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic engine starting device that prohibits starting of an engine by a timer operation when it is determined that the position of a shift lever is a reverse position or a forward position. Means for Solving the Problems The invention according to claim 1 is:
A shift lever that can select at least one of a parking position, a neutral position, a forward position, and a reverse position by a driver's operation, and a starter drive from a vehicle-mounted battery to a starter motor when the shift lever is in the parking position or the neutral position. A line equipped with a shift lever interlocking means for closing the line and opening the starter drive line when in the retreat position or the forward position, and when the engine automatic start signal comes in, or the starter drive line by the timer operation In an automatic engine starter that supplies electric power to a starter motor via the starter drive line and starts an engine, the shift lever in the starter drive line has a parking position, a neutral position, a forward position, and a reverse position. Stores each impedance value and drives the starter Shift lever position determining means for determining whether the shift lever has selected a parking position, a neutral position, a forward position, or a retreat position from the impedance value detected at the in position, and the shift lever position determining means When it is determined that the shift lever has selected one of the forward position and the reverse position, a timer operation prohibition circuit for prohibiting the start of the engine by the timer operation,
An automatic engine starting device comprising: Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a starter circuit of an AT vehicle to which the automatic engine starting device of the present invention is attached. FIG. 1 shows an A type, and FIG. 2 shows a B type. Note that the structure of the vehicle computers 25 and 26 is different between the A type and the B type, and accordingly, there is a difference in whether the battery voltage is pulled up inside the vehicle computer. In these figures, a key switch 21, a relay contact 22a opened and closed by a relay 22, and a relay 23 are connected in series to a battery 10 mounted on an AT vehicle. The key switch 21 is operated by inserting a so-called “car key”, and is turned off.
F), at least four stator contact positions: an accessory contact (ACC), an ignition contact (IG), and an engine start contact (ST) for facilitating engine start. The user switches the key switch 21 to the accessory contact ACC
When it is attached to the vehicle, the radio mounted on the vehicle and other so-called accessories become operable. After attaching to the engine start contact ST, the user operates the key inserted in the key switch 21 by hand when the engine is started. Is released, the key switch 21 automatically turns on the ignition contact IG.
And the power from the battery 10 is continuously supplied to the ignition system necessary for maintaining the rotation of the engine. [0010] The battery 10 is connected in series with the relay 2.
2 and the shift lever interlocking switch 24 are connected. The relay 22, the relay contact 22a, and the shift lever interlocking switch 24 constitute a shift lever interlocking means according to the first aspect. In an AT vehicle, a shift lever (not shown) operated by a user usually includes a parking (parking) position [P], a reverse (reverse) position [R], a neutral (neutral) position [N], and a forward ( Drive) position [D] at least four positions, and the shift lever interlock switch 24 is connected to the contact point selected by the shift lever among the contact groups P, R, N, and D corresponding to the four positions. You. The drive position [D] is usually further subdivided into a second gear selection position, a low gear selection position, and an ultra low gear selection position. Each position is uniformly represented by the drive position D. Of the contact groups P, R, N, D, only the contacts P, N are grounded, and the contacts R, D are opened or substantially opened, for example, grounded via a high resistance. I have. Further, a starter motor M is connected to the battery 10 via a relay contact 23a which is opened and closed by a relay 23. One end of the relay 23 is grounded. Further, the starter circuit includes a vehicle computer 25 for integrally controlling the entire AT vehicle and the engine.
26 are arranged. In the A-type vehicle computer 25 shown in FIG. 1, one line 25a is connected to the engine start contact ST side of the key switch 21, the other line 25b is connected to the battery 10, and the lines 25a and 25b are connected to the vehicle computer. 25 are separated from each other. On the other hand, the B-type vehicle computer 26 shown in FIG. 2 has one line 26a connected to the engine start contact ST side of the key switch 21, the other line 26b connected to the battery 10, and these lines 26a, 26b Inside the vehicle computer 25, they are connected to each other via a resistor or a unidirectional diode, and the line 26a is pulled up to the battery voltage inside the vehicle computer 26. The engine start contact ST of the key switch 21
The line between the relay contact 22a and the terminals x and y
Are formed, and these terminals x and y are connected to the automatic engine starting device 1 to be mounted. When the automatic engine starter 1 is mounted, the voltage of the line between the engine start contact ST and the relay contact 22a is read from the terminal x, and the terminal y is connected to the terminal y in response to the operation of the starter drive circuit 8. The current flows. Next, a configuration in which the automatic engine starting device 1 is mounted on an AT vehicle will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 3, the automatic engine starter 1 mainly includes a microcomputer 2. The microcomputer 2 includes a timer circuit 3, a timer operation inhibiting circuit 4,
Discrimination switching means 50, shift lever position discrimination means 5
1, first vehicle discriminating means 52, second vehicle discriminating means 5
3. The software is programmed so that the functions of the starter drive commanding means 6 and the start-related device commanding means 7 are exhibited. For convenience, the circuits 3 and 4 and the means 50, 51, 52, 53, 6 and 7 will be described below as being configured as independent hardware. The microcomputer 2 includes a receiving circuit 12, an operation unit 30, a display unit 40, a line voltage detecting unit 61, an impedance detecting unit 62, a battery voltage detecting unit 63, a starter driving circuit 8, a battery 10, and starting related equipment. 9 is connected. The receiving circuit 12 receives a signal wirelessly transmitted by the user using the remote controller 11, and outputs the signal to the start-related device command means 7 and the starter drive command means 6 as an engine automatic start signal s. The operation unit 30 is composed of an input operation key group or an input operation switch.
A set time to automatically start the engine using 0,
Alternatively, the set time for automatically starting the engine when the set time has elapsed since the setting operation can be input in a data format corresponding to the set time. The timer circuit 3 determines whether the time reaches the time set by the operation unit 30 or not.
Alternatively, when the set time in the operation section 30 has elapsed, the engine automatic start signal s is generated and output to the starter drive command means 6 and the start-related equipment command means 7 in the same manner as the above-mentioned receiving circuit 12. The display section 40 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays a set time and a set time set by the user on the operation section 30. Further, the time elapsed from the setting operation is counted down from the set time and displayed as the remaining time. The line voltage detecting means 61 detects the voltage at the terminal x and outputs the voltage value to the shift lever position determining means 51 and the first vehicle determining means 52. The impedance detecting means 62 detects the impedance appearing at the terminal x, and outputs the impedance value to the shift lever position determining means 51 and the first vehicle determining means 52. The battery voltage detecting means 63 detects the voltage of the battery 10 and outputs the battery voltage value to the second vehicle determining means 53. The starter drive circuit 8 includes, for example, the battery 1
It is composed of a contact for closing a circuit from 0 to the terminal y and a relay for driving the contact, or a semiconductor switching element capable of closing the circuit. In the following description, the starter drive circuit 8, the terminal y, the above-described relay contact 22a and the relay 23
Is defined as a starter drive line SL. In this case, the terminal x is connected to the starter drive line S
It can be regarded as equivalent to the terminal y on L. In the automatic engine starter 1 and the starter circuit having the above-described configurations, when the user automatically starts the engine, first, a timer operation based on a call from the remote controller 11 or a setting operation on the operation unit 30 is performed. , The engine automatic start signal s is output to the starter drive command means 6, and the starter drive command means 6 operates the starter drive circuit 8 based on the engine automatic start signal s to close the connection between the battery 10 and the terminal y. To achieve. On the other hand, in the starter circuit, the shift lever is moved to the parking position [P].
Or, if the switch is in the neutral position [N], the shift lever interlock switch 24 is connected to the contact point P or N. Therefore,
The voltage of the battery 10 is supplied to the relay 22, and the relay contact 22a closes the starter drive line SL. That is, the entire starter drive line SL is closed.
At this time, the relay 23 is driven by the battery 10,
Relay contact 2 between battery 10 and starter motor M
3a, the starter motor M is driven to rotate,
The engine starts. On the other hand, when the shift lever is at the forward position [D] or the backward position [R], the shift lever interlocking switch 24 is connected to the contact point D or R. Therefore, the driving of the relay 22 by the battery 10 is not performed, the relay contact 22a remains open, and the starter drive line SL is not closed, so that the relay contact 23a is not closed, and the starter motor M does not rotate. That is, when the shift lever is at the forward position [D] or the reverse position [R], the automatic start by the engine automatic start signal is not performed. By the way, if the automatic engine starting device 1 has only the configuration which satisfies the above-mentioned original engine automatic starting function, even if the present device 1 is mounted on an MT vehicle, the function will be exhibited. This is dangerous if the starter motor M is forcibly driven when the apparatus 1 is mounted on the MT vehicle and the gear is engaged. Therefore, the present apparatus 1 has a function of determining whether or not the attached vehicle is an AT vehicle correctly by passing through the following test modes. And AT
Only when it is confirmed that the vehicle is a vehicle, it is allowed to exhibit the original function of automatically starting the engine. Next, the AT executed by the automatic engine starter 1 is executed.
The procedure of vehicle confirmation will be described. After the automatic engine starter 1 has been mounted on the AT vehicle, a display indicating that the shift lever is to be placed in the parking position [P] or the neutral position [N] is displayed on the display unit 40, and the user is instructed. The user performs as indicated and the vehicle is A
In the case of a T-vehicle, the relay contact 22a is closed.
And the terminal y is closed to close the entire starter drive line SL, and a minute current from the battery 10 flows into the starter drive line SL. At this time, the impedance detection means 62 monitors the voltage appearing at the terminal x and indirectly detects the impedance of the starter drive line SL (in this case, the resistance value Z1 of the coil of the relay 23).
The first vehicle determination means 52 reads the impedance value Z1. Next, an indication to the effect that the shift lever is to be moved to the forward position [D] or the reverse position [R] is displayed on the display unit 40, and the user is instructed. The user performs as indicated,
If the vehicle is an AT vehicle, the relay contact 22a opens. In this state, the starter drive circuit 8 is driven to close between the battery 10 and the terminal y, and the current from the battery 10 flows into the starter drive line SL. At this time, the impedance detecting means 62 monitors the voltage appearing at the terminal x and indirectly detects the impedance. This impedance becomes the impedance value Z2 of the vehicle computer because the relay contact 22a is open.
It should be noted that in an AT vehicle, in most cases, Z1ＺZ
2. The first vehicle discriminating means 52 compares the impedance values Z1 and Z2, and if there is a change in both, determines that the vehicle to which the present device 1 is attached is an AT vehicle. If the first vehicle discriminating means 52 can determine that the vehicle is an AT vehicle from the impedance value detected by the impedance detecting means 62 in this way, the function of automatically starting the engine is permitted. In the microcomputer 2, first, the line voltage detecting means 61 measures the voltage of the starter drive line at the forward position [D] of the shift lever. In this case, regardless of whether a very small current flows into the starter drive line or not, the voltage value of the starter drive line is almost equal to that of an A type vehicle that generates a voltage equivalent to the battery voltage.
Since there are two types of V type B vehicles, it is determined which of these two types of vehicles belongs. An A-type vehicle that generates a voltage corresponding to the battery voltage on the starter drive line is determined to be an AT vehicle. On the other hand, in the case of a B-type vehicle, when there is no inflow of a small current, the voltage of the starter drive line when the shift lever is in the forward position [D] is almost 0 V.
In the case of a type vehicle, a small current is supplied. When a small current is supplied, the shift lever is almost 0 V at the stop position [P], but 1 to 5 V (depending on the vehicle) at the forward position [D] due to a change in impedance.
Is generated, and this vehicle is determined to be an AT vehicle. When the determination result is obtained, the first vehicle determination means 52 stops flowing the minute current. On the other hand, the first vehicle discriminating means 52
When the result of the determination that the vehicle is an AT vehicle is not obtained, the determination switching means 50 of the automatic engine starting device 1
Switching to the second vehicle discriminating means 53 and discriminating the AT vehicle is performed by detecting the battery voltage at the shift position [D] or the reverse position [R] with the shift lever.
If it cannot be determined that the vehicle is an AT vehicle by the second means, it is determined that the vehicle is an MT vehicle, and the function of automatically starting the engine is prohibited. Later, the result of this determination is used in the engine automatic start control (shift repeller position determination). The first and second vehicle discriminating means 52,
When a determination result indicating that the vehicle is an AT vehicle is obtained by using the engine 53, the automatic engine starting device 1 firstly displays a display indicating that the shift lever is to be put into the parking position [P] or the neutral position [N]. To the user who has completed the installation of this device. At this time, the microcomputer 2
When the voltage of the starter drive line when the shift lever is in the forward position [D] is a voltage equivalent to the battery voltage, the constant current does not flow in, and the shift lever position discriminating means 51 causes the shift lever position determination means 51 to change the voltage of the starter drive line. Perform position detection. On the other hand, in the case of a vehicle in which the voltage of the starter drive line when the shift repeller is in the forward position [D] is almost 0 V, a constant current is supplied, and the shift lever position determining means 51 detects the impedance change and detects the shift lever position. Perform detection. When the shift lever position determining means 51 determines that the shift lever is in the reverse position [R] or the forward position [D], the microcomputer 2 activates the timer operation inhibiting circuit 4 to activate the timer circuit. 3
To prohibit starting of the engine by the timer operation. When the shift lever position determining means 51 determines that the shift lever is at the parking position [P] or the neutral position [N], the timer operation prohibiting circuit 4 is not operated, and the timer circuit 3 is set by the timer operation. Start the engine at the set time or continue the engine start. Further, the automatic engine starting device automatically starts the engine by remote control, timer operation, or the like without operating the ignition key, for a predetermined time (10 seconds).
(Up to 15 minutes) A warm-up operation is performed in the vehicle. When a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of the engine, the warm-up operation ends and the engine stops. As described above, when the vehicle is moved by a remote operation, a timer operation, or the like, the engine is suddenly stopped suddenly after a certain period of time (10 to 15 minutes) has elapsed since the start of the engine. Therefore, when the engine is automatically started by remote operation or timer operation,
Even if the start of the engine is started or the start of the engine is continued at the parking position [P] or the neutral position [N], thereafter, the shift lever is moved to the forward position [D] or the reverse position [R]. In this case, the start of the engine is stopped by the shift lever position determining means 51. Therefore, when the vehicle starts or moves backward, the ignition key is operated to start the engine, and then the shift lever is moved to the forward position [D] or the reverse position [R] to move the vehicle. Become like According to the automatic engine starting device of the present invention, when the automatic engine starting device is mounted on the AT vehicle, and the automatic starting device is permitted by the automatic engine starting device by determining that the vehicle is an AT vehicle, If the shift lever is moved to the reverse position [R] or the forward position [D] with the timer set to start the engine,
Even if the start of the engine by the timer operation is prohibited and the set time of the timer is reached, the start of the engine is not started by the timer operation. If the shift lever is inadvertently moved to the reverse position [R] or the forward position [D] with the timer set to start the engine, the original ignition key Since the start of the engine is not started unless is operated, the occurrence of a dangerous situation such as sudden running of the vehicle by the timer operation can be reliably prevented, and safety is ensured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a starter circuit of an AT vehicle to which an automatic engine starting device of the present invention is attached, wherein the AT vehicle is an A type. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a starter circuit of an AT vehicle to which the automatic engine starting device of the present invention is attached, wherein the AT vehicle is a B type. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic engine starting device of the present invention. [Description of Signs] 1 Automatic engine starter 2 Microcomputer 3 Timer circuit 4 Timer operation prohibition circuit 6 Starter drive command means 7 Start-related equipment command means 8 Starter drive circuit 9 Start-related equipment 10 Battery 11 Remote control 12 Receiving circuit 21 Key switch Reference Signs List 22 relay 22a relay contact 23 relay 23a relay contact 24 shift lever interlock switch 25 vehicle computer 25a line 25b line 26 vehicle computer 26a line 26b line 30 operation unit 40 display unit 50 determination switching unit 51 shift lever position determination unit 52 first vehicle Determination means 53 second vehicle determination means 61 line voltage detection means 62 impedance detection means 63 battery voltage detection means M starter motor SL starter drive line x terminal y terminal

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) F02N 11/08 F02N 11/08 NU 1-26 chome Hanshin Electric Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3G093 AA05 BA09 BA13 BA21 BA26 CA01 DA12 DB11 FA12 FB05

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A shift lever capable of selecting at least one of a parking position, a neutral position, a forward position, and a retreat position by a driver's operation, and when the shift lever is in a parking position or a neutral position. A starter drive line from a battery mounted on the vehicle to a starter motor is closed, and a shift lever interlocking means for opening a starter drive line when the vehicle is at a retreat position or a forward position is attached to a vehicle. The starter drive line is closed by a timer operation, and power is supplied to the starter motor through the starter drive line to start the engine. In the automatic starter, the shift lever is parked in the starter drive line. Position, neutral position, forward position, reverse position Shift lever position determining means for storing a shift value, and determining whether the shift lever has selected a parking position, a neutral position, a forward position, or a reverse position from the impedance value detected on the starter drive line; and A timer operation prohibiting circuit for prohibiting the start of the engine by the timer operation when it is determined that the shift lever selected by the lever position determining means has selected one of the forward position and the reverse position. Engine automatic starter.