JP2007245921A - Starting electric power ensuring system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a starting electric power ensuring system capable of certainly avoiding the situation that subsequent starting of an engine becomes impossible even if stopping operation of the engine is performed by an occupant's determination in such a state that the status of a battery has trouble for the subsequent starting of the engine. <P>SOLUTION: The starting electric power ensuring system has a battery status detection means for detecting the status of the battery; and a starting electric power ensuring means for suppressing stopping of the engine by engine stopping operation and charging the electric power required for the subsequent starting of the engine on the battery when the battery status detection means detects the battery status having trouble in the subsequent starting of the engine. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a starting power securing system, and in particular, a starting power securing system capable of avoiding a situation in which the next engine starting cannot be performed when an engine stop operation is performed by an occupant when the state of charge of a battery is low. To provide.

  Conventionally, it has been considered to avoid a situation where the next engine start is disabled by outputting a warning when the battery capacity is reduced. For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-335656 (Patent Document 1) describes that a battery deteriorates by comparing the rotation speed of a cell motor until the engine is started with the minimum rotation speed required to start the engine. There is described a battery deterioration alarm device provided with alarm means for issuing a battery deterioration alarm when it is determined that the battery is in a state.

  However, even if an alarm device such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided, a situation may occur in which the next engine start cannot be performed because the passenger ignores the alarm. In other words, even if a conventional vehicle does not have enough power to supply enough power for the next engine start and outputs a warning, the engine can be operated using an ignition key or ignition switch at the discretion of the occupant. When the operation for stopping the engine is performed, the engine is unconditionally stopped, which causes a problem that the next engine start may be disabled.

JP 2005-335656 A

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and even if the engine is stopped according to the judgment of the occupant when the battery is in a state that hinders the next engine start, the next engine start is not performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a starting power securing system that can reliably avoid the situation of being impossible.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
Battery state detection means for detecting the state of the battery;
When the battery state detection means detects a battery state that hinders the next engine start, the start power securing means for preventing the engine from being stopped by the engine stop operation and charging the battery with the power necessary for the next engine start And a starting power securing system characterized by comprising:

  According to the above configuration, when the battery state detection unit detects the battery state and detects a battery state that hinders the next engine start, the instruction power securing unit prevents the engine from being stopped. Even if the engine stop operation is performed without being aware of the state, it is possible to prevent the engine from being stopped immediately by this engine stop operation. On the other hand, when the engine continues to operate, the generator that generates power using the rotational force of the engine can continue to operate, and the battery is charged.

  The battery state detection means preferably includes a voltage sensor that measures the output voltage of the battery, and preferably includes a current sensor that measures the output current of the battery. Then, using the relationship between at least two amounts of the battery release voltage immediately before starting, the lowest battery voltage at starting, and the current supplied from the battery when supplying this lowest voltage, It is preferable that this state is obtained every time. However, the present invention does not limit the configuration of the battery state detection means. That is, the state of the battery at each time point may be detected by continuously monitoring the relationship between the current and voltage supplied from the battery during engine operation.

  By using the starting power securing system of the present invention, even if the occupant ignores the state of the battery and performs an operation to stop the engine in a state where sufficient power cannot be supplied for the next engine starting, the starting power securing system Is determined to be necessary, the engine is prevented from being stopped, so that the battery can store sufficient power for the next engine start.

  It should be noted that it is preferable to adjust the length of time for stopping the engine stop according to the state of the battery. In other words, it is preferable to prevent the engine from being stopped for a longer time as the amount of power that can be supplied by the battery is smaller than the amount of power expected for the next engine start.

An ignition switch for inputting an engine stop operation,
An engine power supply unit that is interposed between an engine control unit that controls the engine and the battery, and that enables power supply to the engine control unit to be interrupted;
A control unit that is connected to the engine power supply unit and the ignition switch, and that intermittently controls the engine power supply unit according to an input by the ignition switch;
When the starting power securing unit is executed in the control unit to detect a battery state that hinders the next engine start, power is supplied to the engine control unit in response to an engine stop operation input by the ignition switch. It is preferable that the program is a start power securing program that performs a process of delaying the stop.

  The ignition switch performs not only engine stop operation but also engine start operation. The ignition switch according to the present invention also includes a switch such as an ignition knob in a key-free system that can be operated without inserting an ignition key into the key cylinder. The engine power supply unit starts and stops the engine according to the state of the ignition switch, and maintains engine rotation such as an ignition control ECU and a fuel injection amount control ECU that control the battery and the engine. It is preferably a switching element such as an electromagnetic relay switch or a semiconductor relay switch that is interposed between necessary engine control units and intermittently controls power supply to the engine control unit.

  According to the said structure, a starting electric power securing means can be formed only with software, and it is not necessary to perform a hardware-like design change. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the starting power securing system can be reduced as much as possible.

A key cylinder to which an engine stop operation is input by turning the ignition key;
An engine power supply unit that enables power supply to an engine control unit that controls the engine to be intermittent with an input operation by the key cylinder;
The starting power securing means is connected to the engine power feeding section and monitors the power feeding state to the engine control section by the engine power feeding section, and the battery state detecting means detects a battery state that hinders the next engine starting. And when the said engine electric power feeding part is cut | disconnected, the control part which outputs the engine stop suppression signal for continuing the electric power feeding to the said engine electric power feeding part may be sufficient.

  The key cylinder can perform not only the engine stop operation but also the engine start operation in accordance with the rotation operation of the ignition key. Further, the power supply from the battery to each electric load is intermittently corresponding to the rotation position of the ignition key. It has a switch configured to be controllable. The state of the key cylinder includes a state in which power is supplied to the electric load divided into a plurality of stages such as off, accessory, and on, and a state in which power is supplied to the starter motor in the on state, and from the key cylinder in the on state. The engine power supply unit is configured to output an ignition power supply signal for supplying power to the engine control unit. The engine power feeding unit is preferably a switching element such as an electromagnetic relay switch or a semiconductor relay switch.

  When the ignition key is turned from the ON state to the accessory or OFF state, this is an engine stop operation, and the engine power supply unit operates to stop power supply to the engine control unit. On the other hand, since the control unit is connected to the engine power supply unit and monitors the power supply state to the engine control unit, the battery state detection unit detects a battery state that hinders the next engine start. When the engine power supply unit operates to stop the ignition power supply signal to the engine control unit, the engine power supply unit outputs an engine stop suppression signal, and power supply to the engine control unit by the engine power supply unit is continued.

  The monitoring of the power supply state to the engine control unit by the control unit is preferably performed by monitoring the signal supplied from the key cylinder to the engine power supply unit. It is also possible to monitor the voltage or current in the power supply line from the engine power supply unit to the engine control unit. The engine stop suppression signal output from the control unit to the engine supply unit is preferably a substitute for the ignition power supply signal output from the key cylinder to the engine power supply unit.

  According to the above configuration, when the engine stop operation is input to the key cylinder in accordance with the turning operation of the ignition key, and when the engine power supply unit operates to stop the power supply to the engine control unit, the battery When the state detection means detects a battery state that hinders the next engine start, the control unit can prevent the engine from stopping by outputting an engine stop suppression signal. If configured as described above, even if the most widely used key cylinder is operated and the engine is stopped, the engine is stopped if the battery condition hinders the next engine start. This can prevent the battery from being charged.

It has a load power feeding unit that controls power feeding to the electrical load interposed between the electrical load and the battery,
While the starting power securing means prevents the engine from being stopped, it is preferable that the load power supply unit is used to block power supply to the electric load. That is, the battery can be efficiently charged by operating the engine in a state where power supply to the electric load is cut off.

  It is preferable to provide notification means for notifying the passenger that the engine is being operated for charging the battery while the starting power securing means prevents the engine from being stopped. The notification means is preferably a display means arranged at a position that can be confirmed from the driver's seat, for example.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even if the occupant ignores the state of the battery and performs an operation to stop the engine in a state in which sufficient power cannot be supplied for the next engine start, When it is determined to be necessary, the engine is prevented from being stopped, so that the battery can store sufficient power for the next engine start.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a starting power securing system according to the first embodiment. This starting power securing system 1 uses an electric power supplied from a battery 2 to drive a motor 3 such as an alternator (internal combustion engine). An example of an engine) A part of an engine starting system for starting 4 is configured.

  5 is a generator such as an alternator that generates electric power using the rotational force of the engine 4, and 6 is an engine control unit that performs control necessary for the operation of the engine 4, such as control of ignition timing and fuel supply control to the engine 4, Reference numeral 7 denotes an electric load disposed in each part of a vehicle such as a four-wheeled vehicle, and 8 denotes a relay switch that functions as a power supply unit that can intermittently supply power to the electric load 7 including the starter 3 and the engine control unit 6. In the following description, the electrical load 7 and the relay switch 8 are indicated by reference numerals 7A, 7B... And 8A, 8B.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a power supply control ECU which is the center of the starting power securing system 1, 11 denotes an ignition switch connected to the power supply control ECU 10, and 12 denotes display means which is connected to the power supply control ECU 10 and can be confirmed from the driver's seat. It is a notification means. Reference numeral 15 denotes a control unit such as a CPU that performs central processing in the power supply control ECU 10, reference numeral 16 denotes an input means such as an AD converter, reference numeral 17 denotes an output interface, and reference numeral 18 denotes a current for measuring a current supplied from the battery 2. It is a total.

  The battery 2 is connected to an alternator 5 through a fuse F1 and is charged by the electric power generated by the alternator 5. When the electric power supplied from the alternator 5 to each electric load 7 is insufficient, the battery 2 supplies electric power. It is configured to be able to do. The battery 2 and the starter 3 are connected via a fuse F2 and a relay switch 8C, and the battery 2 and the engine control unit 6 are connected via a fuse F2 and a relay switch 8D. On the other hand, the electrical loads 7A,..., 7B,... Are connected via a fuse F3 and relay switches 8A, 8B.

  Each of the relay switches 8A to 8D is connected to the control unit 15 via the interface 17, and the control unit 15 includes a starting power securing program Pa that functions as a starting power securing unit and a battery state that functions as a battery state detecting unit. The detection program Pb is executed.

  The power supply control ECU 10 enables an engine start operation and an engine stop operation by an operation input using an ignition switch 11, and the ignition switch 11 is, for example, an ignition knob of a key-free system. In general, the power supply state in an automobile has several states such as an off state, an accessory state, and an on state, and the power supply control ECU 10 in the present embodiment also performs power supply control having the above three states. It will be explained as a thing.

  The electric load 7 is divided into several groups of electric loads 7A, 7B, etc., and the electric loads 7A such as meters belonging to one group are electric loads that start feeding in the accessory state and the on state. . Further, the electric loads 7B such as the air conditioners A / C belonging to another group and the engine control unit 6 are started to supply power in the ON state. Further, the starter 3 is supplied with power only when the engine is started.

  Next, an example of control by the control means 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 simply shows the processing from the time t0 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) at which the ignition switch is turned on to start the engine 4 until the engine stop is completed. FIG. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the battery 2 is in a good state.

  In FIG. 2, S <b> 1 is a step of detecting the state of the battery 2. At this time, the control unit 15 monitors the output voltage of the battery 2 using the AD converter (functioning as a voltage sensor in this embodiment) and monitors the current supplied from the battery 2 using the current sensor 18. In the present specification, the deterioration level and the state of charge of the battery 2 are confirmed using a change in voltage supplied from the battery 2 and a change in current supplied from the battery 2 at a starting time t0 by a method that omits details. The state of the battery 2 can be obtained by using two or more amounts among the release voltage of the battery 2, the lowest voltage at the time of starting the engine, and the current when the lowest voltage is output. Therefore, the current sensor 16 can be omitted.

  S2 is a step of determining whether or not there is an engine stop operation. And the control part 15 repeats the process of step S2 until engine stop operation is performed. When an engine stop operation is input at time t1 shown in FIG. 3, the next step S3 is executed.

  S <b> 3 is a step of stopping the power supply to the electric load 7. That is, the power supply to the electric load 7 including the air conditioner A / C is stopped at the time t1 when the engine stop operation is input.

  S4 is a step of confirming the state of the battery 2, and is a step of determining whether or not the state of the battery 2 is a state that hinders the next engine start. The state of the battery 2 to be confirmed here is that the battery 2 was charged (or discharged) during traveling from the state of the battery 2 at the time of start confirmed using the battery state detection means Pa at the engine start time t0. ) A judgment is made by comparing the current state calculated using the integrated value of the current with the threshold value th. If it is determined that there is no hindrance to the next engine start, the process jumps to step S7, and if it is determined that there is a hindrance to the next engine start, the next step S5 is executed.

  S5 is a step of displaying on the display means 12 that the engine stop is prevented. That is, even if the occupant operates the ignition switch 11 to stop the vehicle, the engine 2 continues to operate, but by displaying on the display means 12 that can be confirmed from the driver's seat that the engine cannot be stopped, the vehicle It can be confirmed that this is not a malfunction.

  S6 is a step for determining whether or not the charging of the battery 2 is completed. That is, it is determined whether or not the remaining capacity of the battery 2 has reached the threshold value Th, and the process of step S6 is repeated until the threshold value Th is reached. It should be noted that the period ΔT from the time t1 when the ignition switch 11 is operated to the time t2 when the charging is completed may be calculated in advance from the conditions such as the remaining capacity of the battery 2, the degree of deterioration, the ambient temperature, etc. Needless to say.

  S7 is a step of stopping the engine. That is, the engine 8 is stopped by turning off the relay switch 8C and stopping the power supply to the engine control unit 6. Accordingly, the processing of steps S2 to S7 is the starting power securing program Pa that constitutes the starting power securing means in the present embodiment.

  By configuring as in the present embodiment, the starting power securing system can configure the starting power securing system 1 simply by executing the starting power securing program Pa in the control unit 15 of the conventional power supply control ECU 10. Can be reduced.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration of a starting power securing system 1 ′ according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 20 denotes a starting power securing unit, K denotes an ignition key, 21 denotes a key cylinder rotated by the ignition key K, and 22 and 23 denote two switch circuits in the key cylinder 21. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that power supply control to the electric loads 7 </ b> A, 7 </ b> B, the engine control unit 6, and the starter 3 is performed using the key cylinder 21.

  Further, the key cylinder 21 supplies power signals (accessory power supply signal ACC, ignition power supply signals IG1 and IG2, starter power supply signal ST) to the relay coils 8c of the relay switches 8A to 8D according to the rotation position of the ignition key K. Is output. On the other hand, in each of the relay switches 8A to 8D, the relay switch 8s of each of the relay switches 8A to 8D is switched to a conductive state by the power supply signals ACC, IG1, IG2, and ST.

  The configuration of the starting power securing unit 20 is substantially the same as that of the power supply control unit 10, but the control unit 15 is connected to the output unit 8a of the relay switch 8D via the AD converter 16, and the relay switch 8D. The engine power supply state to the engine control unit 6 is monitored, and the engine stop operation by a driver or other passenger can be confirmed. Further, by connecting the control unit 15 to the input unit 8b to the relay coil 8c in the relay switch 8D instead of the key cylinder 21 via the interface 17, the relay coil 8c is driven instead of the ignition power supply signal IG2. Is configured to be able to supply a signal (engine stop suppression signal IG2 ').

  In addition, since another structure and an effect are the same as that of 1st embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  According to the starting power securing system 1 ′ of the second embodiment, in the power supply control system in which power supply to each electric load 7 is mechanically controlled using the key cylinder 21, the occupant uses the ignition key K and the engine 2. When the battery 2 is in a state that hinders the next engine start, the engine 4 can be prevented from stopping.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the starting electric power ensuring system of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the control program in the said starting electric power ensuring system. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the said starting electric power ensuring system. It is another figure explaining operation | movement of the said starting electric power ensuring system. It is a figure which shows the structure of the starting electric power ensuring system of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1 'Starting power securing system 2 Battery 4 Engine 8A, 8B Load feeding part 8D Engine feeding part 12 Notification means 15 Control part 21 Key cylinder IG2' Engine stop suppression signal K Ignition switch Pa Starting power securing means (Starting power securing program )
Pb battery state detection means

Claims (5)

Battery state detection means for detecting the state of the battery;
When the battery state detection means detects a battery state that hinders the next engine start, the start power securing means for preventing the engine from being stopped by the engine stop operation and charging the battery with the power necessary for the next engine start And a starting power securing system. An ignition switch for inputting an engine stop operation,
An engine power supply unit that is interposed between an engine control unit that controls the engine and the battery, and that enables power supply to the engine control unit to be interrupted;
A control unit that is connected to the engine power supply unit and the ignition switch, and that intermittently controls the engine power supply unit according to an input by the ignition switch;
When the starting power securing unit is executed in the control unit to detect a battery state that hinders the next engine start, power is supplied to the engine control unit in response to an engine stop operation input by the ignition switch. The starting power securing system according to claim 1, which is a starting power securing program for performing a process of delaying the stop. A key cylinder to which an engine stop operation is input by turning the ignition key;
An engine power supply unit that enables power supply to an engine control unit that controls the engine to be intermittent with an input operation by the key cylinder;
The starting power securing means is connected to the engine power feeding section and monitors the power feeding state to the engine control section by the engine power feeding section, and the battery state detecting means detects a battery state that hinders the next engine starting. The starting power securing system according to claim 1, which is a control unit that outputs an engine stop suppression signal for continuing power supply to the engine power supply unit when the engine power supply unit is disconnected. It has a load power feeding unit that controls power feeding to the electrical load interposed between the electrical load and the battery,
4. The starting power according to claim 1, wherein while the starting power securing means prevents the engine from being stopped, the load power supply unit is used to cut off the power supply to the electric load. 5. Secure system.   5. The notification device according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit configured to notify an occupant that the engine is being operated for charging the battery while the starting power securing unit prevents the engine from being stopped. 6. Starting power securing system.

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