JP2004190606A - Vehicle starter device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle starter device capable of positively driving a starter motor to start an engine even if a 42V battery is used. <P>SOLUTION: This vehicle starter device for rotating the starter motor installed on a vehicle and driving a pinion gear to start the engine, comprises a series connection circuit consisting of a relay circuit 7 and a FET8 disposed between the starter motor M1 and a DC power supply, and a CPU6 for controlling so that a FET8 is turned on after the relay circuit 7 is turned on in turning on an ignition switch 2 and so that the relay circuit 7 turned off after the FET8 is turned off with the ignition switch 2 is turned off. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a starter device for driving a starter motor of a vehicle, and more particularly to a technique for coping with a case where a battery voltage is increased.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A starter device mounted on a vehicle is configured such that a power supply voltage of a pinion gear circuit is supplied from a downstream side of an ignition switch, and a starter motor rotates to drive a pinion gear to start an engine.
[0003]
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a conventional starter device. As shown in FIG. 2, the starter device includes a starter motor M101 connected to a 12-volt battery 104, a pinion gear circuit 101, and an ignition switch. 102 and a relay circuit 103. When the shift lever of the vehicle is set to the P range (parking) or the N range (neutral), the relay circuit 103 is turned on. When the ignition switch 102 is turned on at this time, the relay circuit 103 is turned on via the pinion gear circuit 101. As a result, a drive voltage is applied to the starter motor M101. As a result, the starter motor M101 is driven to rotate and the pinion gear is driven, so that the engine can be started.
[0004]
By the way, recently, a higher voltage of a battery mounted on a vehicle has been proposed, and a battery having a battery voltage of 36 volts and an alternator voltage of 42 volts is being adopted. Therefore, if the circuit shown in FIG. 2 is used as it is with a 42 volt power supply, there is a problem that an arc is generated at the contact point of the ignition switch 102 when the ignition switch 102 is turned on and off. Furthermore, welding may occur when the contacts of the relay circuit 103 are turned on and off.
[0005]
Although a relay for 42 volts has also been developed, it is necessary to adopt a double contact structure due to problems in the internal structure, and it is not possible to ensure the same circuit performance as that of 12 volts. Further, due to the influence of the L component (inductance component), a large load is applied to the relay contacts when the starter motor is turned off, which causes a problem in durability and is not practical.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-303235
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, if the conventional starter circuit for a 12-volt power supply is used as it is in a 42-volt circuit, problems such as arc generation and welding of relay contacts will occur. Was desired.
[0008]
The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to reliably drive a starter motor even when a battery voltage is increased, and to provide an engine. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle starter device that can start the vehicle.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 of the present application is directed to a starter device for a vehicle that rotates a starter motor mounted on a vehicle to drive a pinion gear and starts an engine. A series connection circuit of a relay circuit and a contactless switch interposed between the relay circuit and the ignition switch, and when the ignition switch is turned on, after turning on the relay circuit, the contactless switch is turned on, and the ignition switch is turned on. And turning off the non-contact switch and then turning off the relay circuit when the switch is turned off.
[0010]
Further, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that in the series connection circuit, the relay circuit is arranged on a power supply side, and the non-contact switch is arranged on the starter motor side.
[0011]
In the invention according to claim 3, the control means monitors a voltage at a connection point between the relay circuit and the non-contact switch, and when the relay circuit is on and the non-contact switch is off, When the voltage monitoring means detects that the voltage at the connection point is at the "L" level, it is determined that the non-contact switch is out of order.
[0012]
The invention according to claim 4, wherein the control means monitors a voltage at a connection point between the relay circuit and the non-contact switch, and when the relay circuit is off, the voltage at the connection point is monitored by the voltage monitoring means. Is detected to be at the "H" level, it is determined that the relay circuit is out of order.
[0013]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the control unit determines that one of the non-contact switch and the relay circuit has failed, the control unit includes a notification unit that notifies the failure. It is characterized by the following.
[0014]
The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that a power supply voltage supplied to the starter motor via the series connection circuit is higher than a voltage supplied to the ignition switch.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle starter device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the starter device 1 has an ignition switch 2 connected to a 12 volt power supply, a control unit 3, a starter motor M1 connected to a 36 volt battery 4, and a pinion gear circuit 5. ing.
[0016]
The control unit 3 includes a CPU (control means) 6 for generally controlling the starter device 1, a relay circuit 7 and a FET (contactless switch) interposed between the 42-volt power supply and the pinion gear circuit 5. 8, a transistor 9 for switching between conduction and non-conduction of the relay coil 7c of the relay circuit 7, and a transistor 10 for driving an indicator for displaying an indicator when the FET 8 fails.
[0017]
A connection point P1 between the relay circuit 7 and the FET 8 is connected to the emitter of the transistor 21 via the diode D1 and the resistor R1, and the collector of the transistor 21 is connected to a DC power supply (VB). The base of the transistor 21 is connected to the terminal T9 of the CPU 6. Further, the connection point P1 is connected to the ground via the resistor R3 and the transistor 22, and the base of the transistor 22 is connected to the terminal T10 of the CPU 6.
[0018]
A connection point P2 between the resistor R1 and the diode D1 is connected to a terminal T1 of the CPU 6 via the resistor R2. Further, the transistor 10 is connected to a failure notification indicator (notification means) 11.
[0019]
The CPU 6 has terminals T1 to T10, of which the terminal T2 is connected to a starter signal output terminal of the ignition switch 2 via a resistor and a fuse. A signal for detecting when the shift lever of the vehicle is set to the P range or the N range is input to the terminal T3.
[0020]
The terminal T6 is connected to the gate of the FET 8, and outputs a drive voltage to the FET 8. The terminal T4 is connected to the base of the transistor 9, and outputs a drive voltage to the base.
[0021]
The terminal T5 is connected to a connection point P1 between the relay circuit 7 and the FET 8, and inputs a voltage generated at the connection point P1. The terminal T1 is connected to the connection point P2 via the resistor R2 as described above.
[0022]
The terminal T7 is connected to the base of the transistor 10, and outputs a drive voltage to the base. With this output signal, the indicator 11 can be switched on and off. The terminal T8 is a connection terminal for multiplex communication.
[0023]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. When the ignition switch 2 is operated and a voltage is applied to the start terminal (when the ignition is turned on), this voltage is supplied as a start signal to the terminal T2 of the CPU 6 via a fuse and a resistor.
[0024]
When a start signal is supplied and a signal indicating that the signal is in the P range or the N range is input to the terminal T3, the CPU 6 outputs a drive signal to the gate of the transistor 9 from the terminal T4. The transistor 9 is turned on by this drive signal, and a current flows through the relay coil 7c of the relay circuit 7, so that the relay coil 7c is excited. As a result, the relay contact 7a is turned on.
[0025]
In this state, since the FET 8 is turned off, a large transient current does not flow when the relay contact 7a is turned on. That is, no arc is generated.
[0026]
Next, the CPU 6 outputs a drive signal from the terminal T6, whereby the FET 8 is turned on. Therefore, the voltage output from the 42 volt power supply is supplied to the pinion gear circuit 5 via the relay circuit 7 and the FET 8, and the starter motor M1 can be driven to rotate.
[0027]
Further, when the ignition is turned off, the supply of the start signal to the CPU 6 is stopped, so that the CPU 6 stops outputting the drive signal to the gate of the FET 8. As a result, the FET 8 is turned off, and the circuit connecting the 42-volt power supply and the pinion gear circuit 5 is cut off, so that no current flows through the relay circuit 7. Then, in this state, the output of the drive signal to the gate of the transistor 9 is stopped.
[0028]
As a result, the relay coil 7c of the relay circuit 7 is de-energized, and the contact 7a is turned off. When the contact 7a is turned off, no current has already flowed through the relay circuit 7, so that a transient current does not flow and the occurrence of an arc can be prevented. That is, even when a 42-volt power supply is used, it is possible to avoid occurrence of troubles such as generation of an arc in the relay circuit 7 and welding of the contact 7a.
[0029]
When the FET 8 is short-circuited for any reason, that is, when the FET 8 is always on regardless of the presence or absence of the drive signal, the relay circuit 7 is turned on and the FET 8 is turned off (the CPU 6 When a drive signal is not output from the terminal T6), these connection points P1 become "L" level (approximately 0 volt). In this case, when a drive signal is output from the terminal T9 of the CPU 6 and the transistor 21 is turned on, the signal supplied to the terminal T1 of the CPU 6 becomes “L” level. When the "L" level signal is detected, it is determined that a failure has occurred in the FET 8, and a drive signal is output from the terminal T7 to the base of the transistor 10.
[0030]
Thus, the transistor 10 is turned on, and the indicator 11 is turned on. As a result, the occupant of the vehicle can immediately recognize that the FET 8 has failed.
[0031]
Further, when the relay circuit 7 is always on due to a trouble such as welding, for example, when the ignition switch 2 is turned off, the FET 8 is turned off, and the relay circuit 7 is turned off (the transistor 9 is turned off). When the drive signal is not output to the base), the point P1 becomes “H” level. That is, when the drive signal is output from the terminal T10 of the CPU 6 to turn on the transistor 22, the voltage signal supplied to the terminal T5 of the CPU 6 becomes “H” level.
[0032]
Then, when this “H” level signal is given, CPU 6 determines that relay circuit 7 is out of order, and outputs a drive signal from terminal T7 to the base of transistor 10.
[0033]
Thus, the transistor 10 is turned on, and the indicator 11 is turned on. As a result, the occupant of the vehicle can immediately recognize that the relay circuit 7 is out of order.
[0034]
When a failure occurs, the failure data can be transmitted to another device by outputting the failure data to the multiplex communication network via the terminal T8.
[0035]
In this way, in the starter device 1 according to the present embodiment, the power supply of 42 volts and the pinion gear circuit 5 are connected using the series connection circuit of the relay circuit 7 and the FET 8. When the starter motor M1 is driven, the relay circuit 7 is turned on first, and then the FET 8 is turned on. When the starter motor M1 is stopped, the FET 8 is turned off first, and then the relay circuit 7 is turned off. Is turned off.
[0036]
Therefore, when the relay circuit 7 is turned on and off, no current flows in the series connection circuit, so that a large transient current does not flow, and the occurrence of an arc can be prevented. . That is, even when the ignition switch 2 for 12 volts is used, the occurrence of arc can be prevented.
[0037]
Further, since the relay circuit 7 and the FET 8 are connected in series, even if one of the relay circuit 7 and the FET 8 is turned on by mistake, the trouble that the starter motor M1 malfunctions is avoided. can do.
[0038]
Furthermore, when the FET 8 is out of order and constantly turned on, an excessive transient current may flow when the relay circuit 7 is turned on and off. In the present embodiment, when the FET 8 is constantly turned on, this can be detected and the indicator 11 can be turned on, so that the driver can be immediately notified of the occurrence of a failure.
[0039]
Similarly, even when the relay circuit 7 is constantly turned on due to welding or the like, the occurrence of a failure can be notified by lighting the indicator 11.
[0040]
Further, in the starter device 1 according to the present embodiment, since the relay circuit 8 is provided on the upstream side (power supply side) of the FET 8, even if the polarity of the battery power supply is reversed, the relay circuit 8 is provided. 7 can be prevented from being turned on by mistake.
[0041]
As described above, the vehicle starter device of the present invention has been described based on the illustrated embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration of each unit is replaced with an arbitrary configuration having a similar function. be able to.
[0042]
For example, in this embodiment, the case where the voltage of the battery power supply is 36 volts and the alternator voltage is 42 volts has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other power supply voltages. .
[0043]
In addition, when the relay circuit 7 and the FET 8 are out of order, the indicator 11 is used to notify the failure. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, other notification means such as a voice may be used. Can be.
[0044]
Further, in the present embodiment, the FET 8 is used as the non-contact switch, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other non-contact switches can be used.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the power supply of 42 volts and the pinion gear circuit are connected using the series connection circuit of the relay circuit and the contactless switch. Then, when driving the starter motor, first turn on the relay circuit and then turn on the non-contact switch. When stopping the starter motor, turn off the non-contact switch first and then turn on the relay circuit. Is turned off.
[0046]
Therefore, when the relay circuit is turned on and off, no current flows in the series connection circuit, so that a large transient current does not flow, and the occurrence of an arc can be prevented. In other words, even when an ignition switch for 12 volts is used, it is possible to prevent arcing and prevent welding of relay contacts.
[0047]
Further, even when a failure occurs in the relay circuit or the contactless switch, the failure is reported by a reporting means such as an indicator, so that the occupant of the vehicle can immediately recognize the failure. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a starter device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a conventional starter device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Starter device 2 Ignition switch 3 Control unit 4 42 volt battery 5 Pinion gear circuit 6 CPU (control means)
7 Relay circuit 7a Relay contact 7c Relay coil 8 FET (contactless switch)
9, 10 transistor 11 indicator (notification means)
M1 starter motor

Claims (6)

A starter device for a vehicle that rotates a starter motor mounted on a vehicle to drive a pinion gear and starts an engine.
A series connection circuit of a relay circuit and a non-contact switch, interposed between the starter motor and the DC power supply,
When the ignition switch is turned on, after turning on the relay circuit, the non-contact switch is turned on,
When the ignition switch is turned off, after turning off the non-contact switch, control means for controlling to turn off the relay circuit,
A starter device for a vehicle, comprising: 2. The vehicle starter device according to claim 1, wherein in the series connection circuit, the relay circuit is arranged on a power supply side, and the non-contact switch is arranged on the starter motor side. 3. The control means monitors a voltage at a connection point between the relay circuit and the non-contact switch, and when the relay circuit is on and the non-contact switch is off, the voltage monitoring means monitors the voltage at the connection point. 3. The vehicle starter device according to claim 2, wherein when detecting that the voltage is at the "L" level, it is determined that the non-contact switch has failed. The control means monitors a voltage at a connection point between the relay circuit and the non-contact switch, and when the relay circuit is off, the voltage monitoring means confirms that the voltage at the connection point is at “H” level. 4. The vehicle starter device according to claim 2, wherein upon detection, the relay circuit is determined to be faulty. 4. The control device according to claim 3, further comprising: a notifying unit configured to notify the malfunction when one of the contactless switch and the relay circuit is determined to be faulty. 5. The vehicle starter device according to claim 4. The vehicle power supply according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a power supply voltage supplied to the starter motor via the series connection circuit is higher than a voltage supplied to the ignition switch. Starter device.

Images