JP2008157105A - Starter motor control device of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To urge repairing by imparting to a driver a sense of incongruity to a degree not largely impairing convenience, when abnormality is caused in an apparatus mounted on a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: When starting an engine by operating a starter motor based on operation of a push-button switch operated by the driver, when an abnormality detecting means detects abnormality of a brake switch, the starter motor is not instantly operated even if the driver operates the push button switch, and since the starter motor is operated after a predetermined delay time set by a delay means passes, the repairing of the brake switch can be urged by imparting the sense of incongruity of a degree of not largely impairing the convenience to the driver. The repairing can be strongly urged to the driver by gradually strengthening the sense of incongruity when starting the engine, by lengthening the delay time in response to an increaser in a detecting frequency of the stored abnormality, by storing the abnormality detecting frequency in a storage means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle starter motor control device including a starter motor that starts an engine, a starter switch operated by a driver, and a control unit that operates the starter motor based on an operation of the starter switch.

  Generally, a rotary switch is used as a key switch of a vehicle, and a power supply state is switched by inserting and rotating a corresponding key. For example, if the key is rotated to the right from the OFF position where the key has been inserted, it switches to the ACC position (accessory position) for supplying power to the audio equipment, etc., and if the key is further rotated to the right, the engine operating state is maintained. When the key is further rotated to the right from there, the starter motor is switched to the ST position (starting position) where the starter motor is operated while the key is held at that position.

  When the key is released after the engine is started, the key automatically returns from the ST position to the ON position, and when the key is rotated counterclockwise, the key is switched to the ACC position and the engine is stopped. When it is rotated to the OFF position, it is possible to switch to the OFF position and remove the key. Accordingly, when the key is removed, the power supply state is always in the OFF position and does not remain in the ACC position.

A power supply control device for a vehicle that switches the power supply state by operating a push button switch without using the above-described conventional key switch is known from Patent Document 1 below. This vehicle power supply control device includes a push button switch that is activated by the operation of a driver carrying an authentication element such as a chip card or a transponder. When the push button switch is pressed from the OFF position, the switch is switched to the ACC position. When the push button switch is pressed from the ACC position, it switches to the ON position. The state where the push button switch is continuously pressed from the ON position is the ST position. When the push button switch is released from the ST position, the switch is switched to the ON position. When the switch is pressed, the position is switched to the ACC position, and when the push button switch is pressed from the ACC position, the position is switched to the OFF position.
JP 2000-85533 A

  By the way, when the starter motor is operated using this type of push button switch, to prevent the vehicle from popping out, “the brake pedal is depressed” and “the shift position is set to the parking position (or neutral position). If the two conditions of “something” are not satisfied, the operation of the starter motor is prohibited.

  However, if the brake switch that detects that the brake pedal is depressed fails, the electronic control unit cannot confirm that the brake pedal is depressed, so even if the brake pedal is actually depressed, There is a possibility that operation of the starter motor is prohibited. In order to solve such problems, if the starter motor can be operated simply by issuing an alarm to notify the abnormality when the brake switch fails, the vehicle will continue to operate without repairing the brake switch. To be possible, the driver may not promptly repair the brake switch.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to prompt the driver to repair by giving the driver a sense of incongruity that does not significantly impair convenience when an abnormality occurs in equipment mounted on the vehicle. To do.

  To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a starter motor for starting an engine, a starter switch operated by a driver, and the starter motor based on an operation of the starter switch. In the vehicle starter motor control device including the control means to be operated, the control means detects abnormality of the equipment mounted on the vehicle, and when the abnormality detection means detects the abnormality, There is proposed a starter motor control device for a vehicle, comprising delay means for operating the starter motor after a predetermined delay time has elapsed after the starter switch is operated.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the control unit includes a storage unit that stores the number of times the abnormality detection unit has detected an abnormality, and the delay unit includes the delay unit. A starter motor control device for a vehicle is proposed in which the delay time is extended in accordance with an increase in the number of times of abnormality detection stored in the storage means.

  The electronic control unit 15 of the embodiment corresponds to the control means of the present invention, the push button switch 16 of the embodiment corresponds to the starter switch of the present invention, and the brake switch 17 of the embodiment corresponds to the vehicle of the present invention. Corresponds to the equipment installed in the.

  According to the configuration of the first aspect, when the control means activates the starter motor based on the operation of the starter switch by the driver and starts the engine, the abnormality detection means detects an abnormality of the device mounted on the vehicle. Even if the driver operates the starter switch, the starter motor does not operate immediately, and the starter motor operates after a predetermined delay time set by the delay means has elapsed, so that the convenience is not significantly impaired. The driver can be given a sense of incongruity and prompted to repair the equipment mounted on the vehicle.

  According to the configuration of claim 2, the number of times that the abnormality detection unit has detected an abnormality is stored in the storage unit, and the delay unit extends the delay time in accordance with the increase in the number of detected abnormalities. If the driver leaves the abnormal part without repairing it, the driver will be strongly urged to repair the engine by increasing the sense of discomfort at the start of the engine.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a starter motor control device for a vehicle, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the function of a push button switch, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a time chart for explaining the engine starting action at the time of abnormality (part 1), and FIG. 5 is a time chart for explaining the engine starting action at the time of abnormality (part 2). It is.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle has a first device group 11 such as an engine ignition control device and an automatic transmission shift control device that are indispensable for maintaining traveling, and an acoustic device, an air conditioner, and a navigation system other than the first device group 11. , And a second device group 12 such as a power window and a power seat. The first and second device groups 11 and 12 are supplied with power from the battery 13 via the switching means 14. The switching means 14 includes a first power supply state A (ON position) in which power is supplied to both the first device group 11 and the second device group 12 simultaneously, and a second power supply state B (in which power is supplied only to the second device group 12. ACC position) and the third power supply state C (OFF position) in which power supply to the first device group 11 and the second device group 12 is cut off can be selected.

  Connected to the electronic control unit 15 are a push button switch 16 operated by the driver, a brake switch 17 for detecting depression of the brake pedal by the driver, and a parking position sensor 18 for detecting the parking position of the automatic transmission. The electronic control unit 15 controls the operation of the switching means 14, the starter motor 20 and the notification means 21 (buzzer and lamp) based on signals from the push button switch 16, the brake switch 17 and the parking position sensor 18. . The electronic control unit 15 detects an abnormality in a vehicle-mounted device such as the brake switch 17 and activates the notification unit 21 and a storage unit 23 that stores the accumulated number of abnormalities detected by the abnormality detection unit 22. And a delay means 24 for setting a time (delay time) from when the push button switch 16 is pressed until the starter motor 20 is operated according to the accumulated number of abnormalities stored in the storage means 23.

  FIG. 2 shows the function of the push button switch 16 for switching the first power supply state A, the second power supply state B, and the third power supply state C, and cuts off the power supply to the first device group 11 and the second device group 12. When the push button switch 16 is pressed from the third power supply state C (OFF position), it switches to the second power supply state B (ACC position) in which power is supplied only to the second device group 12, and the push button is switched from the second power supply state B. Pressing the switch 16 switches to the first power supply state A (ON position) in which power is supplied to both the first device group 11 and the second device group 12. If the push button switch 16 is continuously pressed from the first power supply state A, the starter motor 20 operates during that time to start the engine (ST position).

  However, when the shift position of the automatic transmission is not in the parking position in the second power supply state B, even if the push button switch 16 is pressed, the first power supply state A is not switched and the second power supply state B is maintained. Further, in the first power supply state A, if the shift position of the automatic transmission is not in the parking position or if the brake switch 17 is OFF, the push button switch 16 may be kept pressed to prevent the vehicle from jumping out. The starter motor 20 does not operate. If the abnormality of the brake switch 17 is detected by the abnormality detection means 22, when the push button switch 16 is pressed, the starter motor 20 is activated after a predetermined delay time has elapsed. Details of the control will be described later.

  When the push button switch 16 is released after the engine is started, it automatically returns to the first power state A, and when the push button switch is pressed from the first power state A, it switches to the second power state B, and the second power state B When the push button switch 16 is pressed, the automatic transmission shifts to the third power state C when the shift position of the automatic transmission is at the parking position, and continues to the second power state B when the shift position is not at the parking position. Further, when the push button switch is pressed from the first power supply state A, when the shift position of the automatic transmission is in the parking position and the vehicle is stopped (vehicle speed 0 km / h), the second power supply state B is skipped. Switch to the third power supply state C.

  Switching between the first power supply state A, the second power supply state B, and the third power supply state C is performed when the electronic control unit 15 that receives a signal from the push button switch 16 operates the switching means 14.

  In the first power supply state A, if the driver depresses the brake pedal, the brake switch 17 is ON, and the parking position sensor 18 detects the parking position, the push button switch 16 is pressed. The starter motor 20 operates and the engine starts only while the button switch 16 is pressed. In this case, if the brake switch 17 is broken, it cannot be determined whether the driver is stepping on the brake pedal or not. If the operation of the starter motor 20 is uniformly prohibited at this time, the engine cannot be started and the convenience is remarkably impaired although the automatic transmission is in the parking position and there is no risk of the vehicle jumping out.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when the abnormality detection means 22 detects an abnormality in the brake switch 17, the notification means 21 is activated to notify the driver of the abnormality in the brake switch 17, and immediately even if the push button switch 16 is pressed. The starter motor 20 is not operated, and the delay means 24 operates the starter motor 20 after a predetermined delay time has elapsed. Therefore, the driver feels a sense of incongruity and strongly recognizes the occurrence of the abnormality, and is prompted to repair the brake switch 17.

  Each time the abnormality detection means 22 detects an abnormality, the storage means 23 stores the number of times of abnormality accumulation, and the delay time by the delay means 24 is extended as the number increases. As a result, if the brake switch 17 is not immediately repaired, the delay time from when the push button switch 16 is pressed to when the starter motor 20 is activated every time the engine is started gradually increases. Can be repaired more strongly.

  An example of the above action will be described based on the time charts of FIGS.

  The time chart of FIG. 3 shows the operation when the brake switch 17 is normal. When the power supply state is the first power supply state A and the automatic transmission is in the parking position, the driver presses the brake pedal at time t1 and the brake switch 17 is turned on. When pressed, the starter motor 20 immediately operates, and the engine starts at time t3. Thereafter, when the push button switch 16 is released at time t4, the starter motor 20 stops.

  The time chart of FIG. 4 shows an operation when the brake switch 17 is abnormal and the abnormality detection number stored in the storage means 23 is one (first abnormality detection). . When the power supply state is the first power supply state A and the automatic transmission is in the parking position, if the brake switch 17 remains OFF even when the driver depresses the brake pedal at time t1, the abnormality detection means 22 is abnormal. And the notification means 21 is activated to notify the driver. When the push button switch 16 is pushed at time t2 from this state, the starter motor 20 does not operate immediately, but at time t5 delayed by 1 second, the starter motor 20 operates and the engine starts at time t6. Thereafter, when the push button switch 16 is released at time t7, the starter motor 20 stops.

  The time chart of FIG. 5 shows the operation when the brake switch 17 is not abnormally turned on and the number of times of abnormality detection stored in the storage means 23 is N times. When the power supply state is the first power supply state A and the automatic transmission is in the parking position, if the brake switch 17 remains OFF even when the driver depresses the brake pedal at time t1, the abnormality detection means 22 is abnormal. And the notification means 21 is activated to notify the driver. When the pushbutton switch 16 is pressed at time t2 from this state, the starter motor 20 does not operate immediately. At time t5 ′ delayed by N seconds, the starter motor 20 operates and the engine starts at time t6 ′. Thereafter, when the push button switch 16 is released at time t7 ', the starter motor 20 stops.

  In this way, every time the number of abnormality detections stored in the storage means 23 increases by one, the delay time of the operation of the starter motor 20 by the delay means 24 increases by one second, so that the driver at the start of the engine The feeling of discomfort that is received gradually increases and the convenience is reduced, so that repair of the abnormal part can be strongly encouraged. The maximum delay time is limited to 20 seconds.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment, the push button switch 16 is illustrated as the starter switch of the present invention, but the form of the starter switch is not limited to the push button switch 16.

  In the embodiment, the abnormality detection means 22 detects an abnormality of the brake switch 17, but the present invention can detect an abnormality of any on-vehicle device other than the brake switch 17 and prompt repair.

Block diagram showing the configuration of a starter motor control device for a vehicle Explanatory diagram of push button switch functions Time chart explaining the operation of engine start under normal conditions Time chart for explaining the action of engine start at the time of abnormality (Part 1) Time chart for explaining the action of engine start at the time of abnormality (Part 2)

Explanation of symbols

15 Electronic control unit (control means)
16 Push button switch (starter switch)
17 Brake switch (equipment mounted on the vehicle)
20 Starter motor 22 Abnormality detection means 23 Storage means 24 Delay means

Claims (2)

A starter motor (20) for starting the engine;
A starter switch (16) operated by the driver;
Control means (15) for operating the starter motor (20) based on the operation of the starter switch (16);
In a vehicle starter motor control device comprising:
The control means (15) includes an abnormality detection means (22) for detecting an abnormality of the device (17) mounted on the vehicle, and the starter switch (16) when the abnormality detection means (22) detects an abnormality. And a delay means (24) for operating the starter motor (20) after a predetermined delay time elapses after the operation (1).   The control means (15) includes storage means (23) for storing the number of times the abnormality detection means (22) has detected an abnormality, and the delay means (24) is an abnormality stored in the storage means (23). The starter motor control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the delay time is extended according to an increase in the number of times of detection.

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