JP2007255254A - Engine starting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an engine starting system superior in startability of an engine, even if a battery is in a deteriorated state, without hindering operation of electric equipment, when the battery is normal. <P>SOLUTION: When a key switch 4 is put in an accessory position, a voltage monitoring distribution unit 3 determines a voltage state of the battery 2. When the battery 2 becomes a predetermined output voltage value or less by the deterioration, electric power supply to an electric power system unnecessary for operation of the engine 5 is put in a cutoff state, and is put in a state capable of supplying electric power only to an engine system, to be prepared for starting the engine 5. Thus, when starting the engine 5, electric power of the battery 2 can be intensively supplied only to the electric equipment required for starting the engine, and the startability of the engine 5 can be improved. When voltage of the battery exceeds a predetermined value, since the electric power supply to the electric equipment is not cut off, the operation of the electric equipment is not hindered. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an engine start system that starts an engine by a starter motor that operates using a battery as a power source.

Many electric parts are mounted on vehicles, and the capacity of batteries and alternators is also increasing.
A starter motor for starting the engine also requires a relatively large amount of power.
Therefore, by reducing engine friction or the like, the load on the starter motor is reduced to improve engine startability.

However, since a large amount of power is required for the starter motor, the battery voltage decreases and malfunctions occur in the operation of electrical components such as car audio, or the battery deteriorates and sufficient power cannot be supplied to the starter motor. In some cases, engine startability may deteriorate due to insufficient output of the starter motor.
In order to prevent this, the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 reduces the voltage while securing the power to be supplied to the starter motor by shutting off the power supply of the accessory system such as a radio when starting the engine. This prevents malfunctions in the operation of electrical components.
JP 2002-332943 A

  However, in the conventional apparatus, the energization line of the accessory system is controlled to be in a cut-off state in order to prevent a failure in the electrical component due to a voltage drop that occurs when the engine is started with the battery deteriorated. Even when the battery voltage is sufficient, there is a problem that the operation of the electrical component is hindered because the energization line of the accessory system is uniformly controlled to be in a cut-off state.

  Therefore, in view of such problems, the present invention provides an engine start system that has good engine startability even when the battery is in a deteriorated state, and does not hinder the operation of electrical components when the battery is normal. The purpose is to provide.

  Engine system electrical components including a battery, a starter motor operated by the battery power, non-engine system electrical components other than the engine system, driven by engine rotation to generate power and supply generated power to the battery An engine start system that starts an engine by starting a starter motor when an engine start instruction is detected by the start instruction detecting means in a vehicle comprising an alternator that performs an engine start instruction detecting means for detecting an engine start instruction When the engine start instruction is detected by the battery voltage detecting means for detecting the voltage of the battery and the start instruction detecting means, the non-engine is operated from the battery according to the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detecting means. Energization control means for controlling energization to electrical components of the system; And a start completion detecting means for detecting that the start of the engine is completed. Energization of the electrical components of the engine system is cut off, and when the completion of engine start is detected by the start completion detection means, the interruption of the energization of the non-engine system electrical components is released and detected by the battery voltage detection means When the voltage of the battery that has been exceeded exceeds the first predetermined value, the electrical components of the non-engine system are set in the energized state.

According to the present invention, when the engine is started, when the first voltage value is equal to or lower than the predetermined value due to deterioration of the battery or the like, the power supply to the non-engine system electrical components not involved in the engine start is cut off. By doing so, electric power can be concentrated and supplied to the electrical components of the engine system, and the startability of the engine can be improved.
Further, when the battery voltage exceeds the first predetermined value, the power supply to the non-engine system electrical components is not cut off, so that the operation of the electrical components is not hindered.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of examples.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the embodiment.
A battery 2 mounted on the vehicle, a key switch 4 serving as a switch of the vehicle electrical system, and an electrical component of the engine system and an electrical component of the transmission system according to the voltage state of the battery 2 when the key switch 4 is operated. Power supply / distribution unit 3 that supplies power to the electrical components of the product, the chassis system, the electrical system of the accessory system, and the electrical system of the other system, and is driven by the engine 5 to generate power and supply the generated power to the battery 2 The engine starting system 1 is composed of the alternator 7 that performs the above operation.

The electrical components of the engine system include a starter motor 6 for starting the engine 5, an engine control module (not shown), a water temperature sensor, a crank angle sensor, a knock sensor, and an electronic control throttle.
The transmission system electrical components include, for example, an automatic transmission control module, its associated sensors, and actuators. The chassis system electrical components include, for example, an ABS control module, its associated sensors, actuators, and vehicle behavior stabilization devices. There is.
The accessory system electrical component includes, for example, a car audio, and the other electrical component includes, for example, an electric assist power steering device, a control module including a motor and an actuator such as an air conditioner.
Note that the electrical equipment of the transmission system, the electrical equipment of the chassis system, the electrical equipment of the accessory system, and the electrical equipment of other systems constitute the electrical equipment of the non-engine system in the present invention.

The key switch 4 can be switched to each position of the power OFF, the accessory, the ignition, and the starter.
The driver operates the key switch 4 from the power OFF position to the starter position via the accessory position and the ignition position, and activates the starter motor 6 to start the engine 5.
The key switch 4 is automatically returned from the starter position to the ignition position by a spring biasing force or the like.

The voltage monitoring / distributing unit 3 is supplied with electric power from the battery 2 when the key switch 4 is in the accessory position, and determines whether or not the voltage value of the battery 2 is equal to or lower than a first predetermined value.
When the voltage value of the battery 2 exceeds the first predetermined value, electric power is supplied to electrical components such as an engine system and a transmission system according to the state of the key switch 4 (power supply at normal time).
Specifically, during normal operation, the voltage monitoring / distributing unit 3 puts only the electrical components of the accessory system into the energized state when the key switch 4 is in the accessory position, and the engine when the key switch 4 is in the ignition position. All systems except the starter motor 6 of the system are energized.

On the other hand, when the voltage value of the battery 2 is less than or equal to the first predetermined value, the voltage monitoring / distributing unit 3 requires the power of the battery 2 to operate the engine 5 when the key switch 4 is in the ignition position. Supply only the minimum power system.
Specifically, when the key switch 4 is in the accessory position, the voltage monitoring distribution unit 3 energizes only the electrical components of the accessory system, and when the key switch 4 is in the ignition position, the voltage monitoring / distributing unit 3 operates the engine 5. Power is supplied only to the engine system (excluding the starter motor 6) that is necessary for the minimum, and the power supply to other systems (transmission system, chassis system, accessory system, and other systems) is cut off.
When the driver operates the key switch 4 to the starter position, activates the starter motor 6 to start the engine 5, and detects that the voltage of the battery 2 exceeds the second predetermined value, Supply power to the electrical components of the grid.
Since the power generated by the alternator 7 is supplied to the battery 2, it is possible to detect whether the alternator 7 is generating a normal voltage value by detecting the voltage value of the battery 2.

Further, when the power supply is changed from the cut-off state to the energized state, the voltage monitoring / distributing unit 3 outputs an abnormality detection process prohibition signal to the control module provided in the system in which the power is cut off.
When an abnormality detection processing prohibition signal is input to the control module, the abnormality detection processing is stopped.
The abnormality detection process determines whether power is supplied to the control module when the engine 5 is started. If power is not supplied, it is assumed that an abnormality has occurred in the control module or the power system. It is something to detect.
As a result, when power supply from the voltage monitoring distribution unit 3 is started to the control module of the electrical system in which the power is cut off, the voltage monitoring distribution unit 3 intentionally cuts off the power when the engine is started. It is possible to prevent the control module from erroneously detecting an abnormality despite being in the state.

Next, the operation procedure of the voltage monitoring / distributing unit 3 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of engine start processing by the voltage monitoring / distributing unit 3.
This process is started when the driver operates the key switch 4 and the key switch 4 becomes an accessory.
In step 200, the voltage monitoring / distributing unit 3 supplies power to the electrical components of the accessory system.
Next, in step 201, the voltage value of the battery 2 is detected, and in step 202, it is determined whether or not the detected voltage of the battery 2 is equal to or lower than a first predetermined value.

The first predetermined value of the voltage of the battery 2 is, for example, 6V (power is supplied to the electrical components of all systems) when the battery mounted on the vehicle has an output voltage of rated 12V. In this state, a threshold value of a voltage value at which the starter motor 6 does not operate normally is set.
When the voltage of the battery 2 is equal to or lower than the first predetermined value, the process proceeds to step 203, and when it exceeds the first predetermined value, the process proceeds to step 212.

In step 203, the system other than the accessory system and the engine system is set in a power-off state.
Thereby, even when the key switch 4 is in the ignition position, the power of the battery 2 is not supplied to the system in which the energization is cut off.

In step 204, it is determined whether or not the driver has operated the key switch 4 from the accessory position to the ignition position.
This process is continued until the key switch 4 is in the ignition position. When it is detected that the key switch 4 is in the ignition position, the accessory system is de-energized in step 205.
In step 206, the electrical components of the engine system excluding the starter motor 6 are energized to prepare for engine start.

In step 207, it is determined whether or not the key switch 4 has been operated to the starter position.
This process is continued until it is determined that the key switch 4 has been operated to the starter position. When it is determined that the key switch 4 has been operated to the starter position, the process proceeds to step 208.
In step 208, the power of the battery 2 is supplied to the starter motor 6, and the starter motor 6 is operated.
At this time, the power of the battery 2 is supplied only to the electrical components of the engine system including the starter motor 6.

In step 209, it is determined whether the voltage value of the battery 2 has exceeded a second predetermined value.
If it can be determined that the voltage value of the battery 2 has exceeded the second predetermined value, the process proceeds to step 210. If not, the process is continued.
In step 210, the electric power of the battery 2 is supplied to all the electrical components except the starter motor 6.

In step 211, an abnormality detection processing prohibition signal for prohibiting execution of abnormality detection processing is output to the control module provided in each electrical system.
The control module to which the abnormality detection processing prohibition signal is output is a control module provided in a system other than the engine system control module, that is, in the system in which power is cut off in step 203.
This prevents the control module that has received the signal from erroneously determining that an abnormality has occurred when the power is switched from the cut-off state to the energized state.
In addition, the abnormality detection process prohibition signal is a signal for prohibiting execution of the abnormality detection process. In addition to this, various signals for preventing erroneous detection, such as a signal for resetting information in which an abnormality is detected, are used. Can be included.
After the output of the abnormality detection process prohibition signal, the engine start process is terminated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 202 that the voltage of the battery 2 exceeds the predetermined value, the power of the battery 2 is supplied to each system at normal times according to the position of the key switch 4 in step 212. To start the engine.
In this embodiment, step 201 constitutes the battery voltage detecting means in the present invention, and steps 202, 203, 210 to 212 constitute energization control means in the present invention. Step 204 constitutes the start instruction detecting means in the present invention, and Step 209 constitutes the start completion detecting means in the present invention.

The present embodiment is configured as described above. When the key switch 4 is in the accessory position, the voltage monitoring / distributing unit 3 determines the voltage state of the battery 2, and the first predetermined value is determined by the deterioration of the voltage of the battery 2 or the like. In the case of the following, in order to prepare for the start of the engine 5, the power supply to the power system unnecessary for the operation of the engine 5 is cut off, and the power can be supplied only to the engine system. As a result, when the driver operates the key switch 4 to start the engine 5, the power of the battery 2 can be concentrated and supplied only to the electrical components necessary for starting the engine, improving the startability of the engine 5. Can be made.
Further, when the battery 2 is in a normal state, the power supply to the electrical components such as the transmission system and the chassis system is not cut off, so that the operation of the electrical components is not hindered. (Effects corresponding to claim 1)

  Further, after the energization other than the engine system is cut off, when the voltage value of the battery 2 exceeds the second predetermined value, all the systems are energized so that the start of the engine 5 is completed. It can be easily detected simply by measuring the voltage value. (Effects corresponding to claim 2)

  In addition, when the power of the battery 2 is switched from the cut-off state to the energized state, the abnormality detection processing prohibition signal is output to the control module provided in the electrical component in which the power is cut off, for example, Even though the power supply is intentionally cut off, the control module provided in the electrical component with the power cut off detects that it is not in the energized state when the engine 5 is started. Can be prevented. (Effects corresponding to claim 3)

In the present embodiment, the voltage monitoring / distributing unit 3 is configured to detect the voltage state of the battery 2 by receiving the power of the battery 2 when the key switch 4 is in the accessory position. A power supply 10 such as a battery indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1 is connected to the monitoring / distribution unit 3, and the power supply 10 is used to detect the voltage state of the battery 2 and to cut off power to electrical components not related to the start of the engine 5. An operation can also be performed.
In this case, since the electric power of the battery 2 is not consumed by the voltage monitoring / distributing unit 3, the electric power of the battery 2 can be more efficiently concentrated on the start of the engine 5, and the startability of the engine 5 can be further improved. Can be improved. (Effect of Claim 4)

In this embodiment, when the key switch 4 is in the accessory position, the power of the accessory system is supplied and then the voltage of the battery 2 is detected. When the key switch 4 is in the ignition position, only the engine system can be energized. However, when the key switch 4 is in the accessory position, the voltage of the battery 2 is first detected. When the voltage of the battery 2 is equal to or lower than the predetermined value, all systems other than the engine system are de-energized. It can also be in a state.
In this case, since the electric power of the battery 2 is not consumed by the electrical components of the accessory system before the engine is started, more electric power can be supplied to the starter motor 6 and the startability of the engine 5 can be improved. It can be improved further.

Further, when the voltage of the battery 2 is equal to or lower than the first predetermined value, in step 203, the energization other than the accessory system and the engine system is cut off. When electrical components that are not involved are included, the electrical components that are not involved in starting the engine among the electrical components of the engine system can be cut off.
In this case, the electric power of the battery 2 can be concentrated and supplied only to the electrical components necessary for starting the engine, and the startability of the engine can be further improved.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of an Example. It is a figure which shows the flow of a starting process of an engine.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Engine starting system 2 Battery 3 Voltage monitoring distribution unit 4 Key switch 5 Engine 6 Starter motor 7 Alternator 10 Power supply

Claims (4)

An electric component of an engine system including a battery, a starter motor that is operated by electric power of the battery, an electric component of a non-engine system excluding the engine system, and the electric power generated by being driven by the rotation of the engine. In a vehicle comprising an alternator to be supplied and a start instruction detecting means for detecting an engine start instruction, an engine for starting the engine by starting the starter motor when the engine start instruction is detected by the start instruction detecting means A starting system,
Battery voltage detection means for detecting the voltage of the battery;
Energization for controlling energization from the battery to electrical components of the non-engine system in accordance with the voltage of the battery detected by the battery voltage detection means when an engine start instruction is detected by the start instruction detection means Control means;
Start completion detecting means for detecting completion of engine start,
The energization control means includes
When the voltage of the battery detected by the battery voltage detecting means is equal to or lower than a first predetermined value, the energization from the battery to the electrical components of the non-engine system is cut off and the engine is detected by the start completion detecting means. When the completion of starting is detected, the interruption of the energization to the non-engine system electrical components is released,
An engine starting system characterized in that when the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detecting means exceeds a first predetermined value, the non-engine system electrical components are energized. The start completion detecting means determines that the start of the engine is completed when the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detecting means exceeds a second predetermined value after operating the starter motor. The engine start system according to claim 1, wherein The energization control means includes
When releasing the interruption of energization to the non-engine system electrical components, the control module provided in the non-engine system electrical components that have been energized by the cancellation causes an abnormality detection malfunction due to the start of energization. The engine start system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an abnormality detection processing prohibition signal for preventing the failure is output. Having a power source other than the battery,
The engine start system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the battery voltage detection unit and the energization control unit are operated by electric power of the power source.

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