JP2008183927A - Power plant starter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power plant starter capable of preventing any drunk driving without increasing troublesomeness when a power plant is started. <P>SOLUTION: The power plant starter 1 comprises an alcohol detector 21 for detecting the concentration of alcohol contained in the exhalation and the blood of a driver, and an ECU 20 which determines that the driver is not in a drunk state when the alcohol concentration detected by the alcohol detector 21 is below a predetermined reference value, turns on a starter relay 13 interlockingly with the input of the result of detection, and starts the fuel supply and the ignition to start an engine 10. The ECU 20 prohibits the start of the engine 10 when the alcohol concentration is equal to or higher than the reference value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a starter for a power plant that drives a vehicle.

  Prevention of drunk driving is a social request, and conventionally, a device for preventing drunk driving has been devised. Patent Document 1 discloses an automobile key having a drunk driving prevention function. The key holder body of the key with a drunk driving prevention function is provided with a mechanical key so that it can appear and disappear, and an alcohol detector is incorporated. When the alcohol concentration in the driver's breath is less than a preset reference value, the lock mechanism is released and the mechanical key can be used. On the other hand, when the alcohol concentration exceeds the reference value, the mechanical key cannot be used without releasing the lock mechanism.

After the mechanical key is enabled, the driver opens the door by inserting the mechanical key into the door key cylinder and operating it to the unlock side, as in the case of a normal car key, and then the ignition key. Insert the mechanical key into the cylinder and start the engine by operating the ignition switch.
JP 2004-169524 A

  When the engine is started using the key with the drunk driving prevention function described above, it is necessary to detect alcohol in addition to the conventional starting operation. In other words, in order to start the engine, at least two steps of operation (operation of detecting alcohol and operation of inserting a mechanical key into the ignition key cylinder and operating the ignition switch) are required, which is bothering the driver. There is a risk of giving it.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a power plant starting device that can prevent drunk driving without increasing the troublesomeness at the time of starting.

  The power plant starter according to the present invention includes an alcohol detection unit that detects the alcohol concentration of a driver, and a vehicle that is linked to the detection result when the detection result by the alcohol detection unit is less than a predetermined reference value. And a starting means for starting a power plant that drives the power plant.

  According to the power plant starter according to the present invention, the alcohol concentration in the driver's breath or blood is detected, and when the detection result is less than a predetermined reference value, the power plant is linked to the detection result. It is started. Since alcohol detection and power plant startup are linked in this way, a driver who is not drinking can start a power plant such as an engine only by detecting alcohol, that is, without operating an ignition switch. It becomes possible to make it.

  Here, the alcohol detection means is preferably provided in the vehicle.

  On the other hand, the power plant starting device according to the present invention further includes a transmitter-type electronic key that automatically unlocks the door of the vehicle from the outside of the vehicle, and the alcohol detection means is incorporated in the electronic key, A signal for unlocking the door of the vehicle is transmitted without considering the detection result of the alcohol detection means, and the detection result by the alcohol detection means is transmitted to the starting means, and the detection result received by the starting means from the electronic key is When it is less than the predetermined reference value, it is preferable to start the power plant in conjunction with the detection result.

  In this case, the alcohol detection means is incorporated in the transmitter-type electronic key, and the starting means starts the power plant in conjunction with the alcohol detection result received from the electronic key. Therefore, when the driver is not drinking, it is possible to start a power plant such as an engine only by detecting alcohol outside the vehicle. In addition, since the door of the vehicle is unlocked regardless of the alcohol detection result, even when the driver is drinking, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the driver cannot get into the vehicle.

  According to the present invention, when the alcohol detection result is less than the predetermined reference value, the power plant is started in conjunction with the detection result, so that the drunk driving can be performed without increasing the troublesomeness at the start. Can be prevented.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the figure, the same reference numerals are used for the same or corresponding parts.

[First Embodiment]
First, the configuration of the power plant starter 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the power plant starting device 1.

  A vehicle on which the power plant starter 1 is mounted includes an engine 10 as a power plant that drives the vehicle. The engine 10 of the present embodiment is a conventional port injection type gasoline engine, but may be a cylinder injection type gasoline engine, a diesel engine, or the like. The present invention can also be applied to vehicles other than gasoline engine vehicles, that is, hybrid vehicles using a hybrid system combining an engine and an electric motor as a power plant, electric vehicles using an electric motor as a power plant, and the like. it can.

  In the engine 10, a mixture of air sucked from the intake pipe and fuel injected from the injector is ignited and burned in the cylinder to generate driving force. The exhaust gas after combustion is exhausted through an exhaust pipe. The driving force output from the engine 10 is transmitted to driving wheels via a transmission, a differential, a drive shaft, and the like.

  The engine 10 is provided with a starter motor 11 for starting the engine. The starter motor 11 is driven by electric power supplied from the battery 12 via the starter relay 13. A pinion gear is attached to the drive shaft of the starter motor 11, and the engine 10 is cranked and started by driving the ring gear of the engine 10 by the pinion gear. The connection between the pinion gear and the ring gear is released when the engine 10 is started. The starter used for starting the engine 10 is not limited to an electric starter motor, and a hydraulic starter can also be used.

  The starter relay 13 intermittently (on / off) power supply to the starter motor 11. The starter relay 13 is connected to an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as “ECU”) 20 and is intermittently connected based on a start signal STAR from the ECU 20.

  The ECU 20 holds the stored contents by a microprocessor that performs calculations therein, a ROM that stores programs for causing the microprocessor to execute each process, a RAM that stores various data such as calculation results, and the battery 12. A backup RAM or the like.

  The ECU 20 is connected to various sensors such as a crank position sensor for detecting the crank position, an air flow meter for detecting the intake air amount, an accelerator opening sensor for detecting the accelerator pedal opening, and a water temperature sensor for detecting the cooling water temperature. Yes.

  The ECU 20 includes an injector driver that drives the injector, an output circuit that outputs an ignition signal, a motor driver that drives an electric motor that opens and closes an electronically controlled throttle valve, and the like.

  The ECU 20 calculates control values such as the fuel injection amount and ignition timing based on the output values from the various sensors described above, and drives the injectors, spark plugs, and the like based on the calculated control values to operate the engine 10. Control.

  In addition, an alcohol detector 21 is connected to the ECU 20 and a detection result by the alcohol detector 21 is input. When the detection result is less than a predetermined reference value, the ECU 20 determines that the driver is not drinking and outputs a start signal STAR that turns on the starter relay 13 in conjunction with the input of the detection result. At the same time, fuel supply and ignition are started, and the engine 10 is started. That is, the ECU 20, the starter motor 11, and the starter relay 13 function as starting means described in the claims.

  Here, when determining a drinking state with the alcohol concentration in expiration, the predetermined reference value described above is set between 0 and 0.15 (mg / l). The reference value is preferably close to zero, but is set in consideration of the detection accuracy of the detector.

  The alcohol detector 21 detects the breath of the driver and the concentration of alcohol contained in the blood, and is attached to, for example, a steering handle or a seat belt of a vehicle.

  The alcohol detector 21 only needs to detect the alcohol concentration of the driver, and the detection method is not particularly limited. For example, a handy blow type or stationary blow type using a semiconductor sensor, a fuel cell sensor, an infrared sensor or a chemical substance sensor, a far-inhalation type alcohol detector, a contact type alcohol detector using an optical contact sensor, or the like is used. be able to.

  Here, the semiconductor sensor uses the characteristic that the amount of electrons flowing in the semiconductor is absorbed and changed by the alcohol, and detects the alcohol concentration from the change in the electric resistance value caused by the change in the amount of electrons. The fuel cell sensor utilizes the characteristics of a fuel cell capable of producing electrons from alcohol, and detects the alcohol concentration from a current value corresponding to the number of electrons produced. The infrared sensor utilizes the characteristic that infrared rays are absorbed by alcohol, and detects the alcohol concentration by converting infrared rays absorbed by alcohol into an electrical signal with a photodetector and analyzing it. The chemical substance sensor detects the alcohol concentration by utilizing the characteristic that the chemical substance and the alcohol change color due to a chemical reaction. The optical contact sensor utilizes the fact that there is a correlation between blood alcohol concentration and venous blood flow, and detects blood alcohol concentration based on the venous blood flow of the fingertip detected by the sensor. To do.

  As described above, the alcohol detector 21 is connected to the ECU 20 and outputs a detection result of the alcohol concentration, that is, data corresponding to the alcohol concentration, to the ECU 20. The ECU 20 does not determine whether or not the alcohol concentration is less than the reference value, but determines whether or not the detected alcohol concentration is less than the reference value on the alcohol detector 21 side, and determines the determination result. It is good also as a structure output to ECU20.

  Next, the operation of the power plant starter 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the engine starting process by the power plant starting device 1.

  In step S <b> 100, the alcohol concentration in the breath is detected by the driver blowing the breath on the alcohol detector 21. Further, the alcohol concentration detected by the alcohol detector 21 is read into the ECU 20.

  In subsequent step S102, a determination is made as to whether or not the detected alcohol concentration is less than a reference value (eg, 0.1 mg / l). Here, when the alcohol concentration is less than the reference value, it is determined that the driver is not drinking alcohol, and the engine 10 is automatically started in conjunction with the detection result (step S104). More specifically, the start signal STAR is automatically output from the ECU 20 to the starter relay 13 in conjunction with the detection result, the starter relay 13 is turned on, and power is supplied to the starter motor 11. Then, the starter motor 11 is driven to crank the engine 10, fuel supply and ignition are started, and the engine 10 is started. When it is determined that the engine 10 has started based on the engine speed of the engine 10 or the like, the starter relay 13 is turned off.

  On the other hand, when the detected alcohol concentration is equal to or higher than the reference value, it is determined that the driver is drinking, and the process exits the present process without starting the engine 10.

  According to the present embodiment, the alcohol concentration in the driver's breath or blood is detected, and when the detection result is less than a predetermined reference value, the engine 10 is started in conjunction with the detection result. Since the alcohol detection and the start of the engine 10 are linked in this way, a driver who is not drinking can start the engine 10 only by detecting the alcohol, that is, without operating the ignition switch. it can. On the other hand, when the driver is drinking, starting of engine 10 is prohibited. Therefore, it is possible to prevent drunk driving without increasing the troublesomeness at the time of starting.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the drinking check is directly performed as the engine starting operation, so that the driver is recognized that the engine starting method is the drinking check by repeating such an operation. be able to.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment described above, as a vehicle on which the power plant starter according to the present invention is mounted, by inserting a mechanical key into a key cylinder attached to a door and operating it on the unlock side (or lock side), A vehicle that employs a door lock system that unlocks (or locks) the door is assumed. The power plant starter according to the present invention can also be applied to a vehicle that employs a so-called keyless entry system that unlocks (or locks) a door from a distance without performing key operations. Then, next, the case (2nd Embodiment) when this invention is applied to the vehicle by which the keyless entry system is employ | adopted is demonstrated.

  First, the configuration of the power plant starter 2 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the power plant starter 2 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 3, the same or similar components as those of the power plant starting device 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In addition to the components of the power plant starter 1, the power plant starter 2 further includes a keyless entry system. That is, by transmitting the vehicle identification code and function code by weak radio waves, the transmitter electronic key 30 for automatically unlocking (or locking) the vehicle door from the outside of the vehicle, and the vehicle identification code and function code are received, The vehicle interior receiver that collates the identification code and discriminates the function code, and outputs the code data when it is recognized that the identification code matches the own vehicle code and the function code is “unlocked (or locked)”. 31 and a door lock device 32 that receives code data, turns on an unlock relay (or lock relay), and unlocks (or locks) all doors.

  The vehicle interior receiver 31 is also connected to the ECU 20B, and when it is recognized that the identification code matches the own vehicle code, the vehicle interior receiver 31 outputs this to the ECU 20B as code data.

  When the detection result by the alcohol detector 21 is less than a predetermined reference value and the identification code matches the own vehicle code, the ECU 20B determines that the driver is not drinking and the key is authenticated. Then, in conjunction with the input of the alcohol detection result, a start signal STAR for turning on the starter relay 13 is output, fuel supply and ignition are started, and the engine 10 is started. That is, the ECU 20B, the starter motor 11, and the starter relay 13 also function as starting means described in the claims. Other configurations are the same as or similar to those of the first embodiment described above, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, the operation of the power plant starter 2 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of engine start processing by the power plant starter 2.

  In step S200, key authentication is executed. That is, the key is authenticated depending on whether or not the identification code transmitted from the transmitter electronic key 30 matches the vehicle code. The key authentication result is read into the ECU 20B.

  Subsequently, in step S202, the driver blows expiration on the alcohol detector 21, whereby the alcohol concentration in the expiration is detected. Further, the alcohol concentration detected by the alcohol detector 21 is read into the ECU 20B.

  In subsequent step S204, a determination is made as to whether the detected alcohol concentration is less than a reference value (for example, 0.1 mg / l) and whether the identification code matches the own vehicle code. Here, if the alcohol concentration is less than the reference value and the identification code matches the own vehicle code, it is determined that the driver is not drinking and the key is authenticated, and the alcohol is The engine 10 is automatically started in conjunction with the detection result (step S206). More specifically, the start signal STAR is automatically output from the ECU 20 </ b> B to the starter relay 13 in conjunction with the detection result, the starter relay 13 is turned on, and power is supplied to the starter motor 11. Then, the starter motor 11 is driven to crank the engine 10, fuel supply and ignition are started, and the engine 10 is started. When it is determined that the engine 10 has started based on the engine speed of the engine 10 or the like, the starter relay 13 is turned off.

  On the other hand, when the detected alcohol concentration is equal to or higher than the reference value, or when the identification code does not match the vehicle code, it is determined that the driver is drinking or the key is not authenticated, The engine 10 is exited without starting.

  Also in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above, a driver who is not drinking can start the engine 10 only by detecting alcohol, that is, without operating an ignition switch. On the other hand, when the driver is drinking, starting of engine 10 is prohibited. Therefore, it is possible to prevent drunk driving without increasing the troublesomeness at the time of starting.

[Third Embodiment]
In 2nd Embodiment mentioned above, the case where the power plant starting device which concerns on this invention was applied to the vehicle by which the keyless entry system was employ | adopted was demonstrated. The power plant starter according to the present invention is also applicable to a vehicle that employs a so-called key-free system that can unlock (or lock) the door and start the engine without performing a key insertion operation. Can be applied. Then, next, the case where this invention is applied to the vehicle by which the key free system is employ | adopted (3rd Embodiment) is demonstrated.

  First, the configuration of the power plant starter 3 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the power plant starting device 3. In FIG. 5, the same or equivalent components as those of the power plant starter 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the present embodiment, the alcohol detector 21C is incorporated in the transmitter electronic key 30C, and the transmitter electronic key 30C transmits the alcohol detection result by weak radio waves in addition to the vehicle identification code and the function code. This is different from the second embodiment described above. Further, when the vehicle interior receiver 31C recognizes that the identification code matches the own vehicle code, the key authentication result and the alcohol detection result are output as code data to the ECU 20B in the second embodiment described above. Different.

  Further, when the alcohol detection result input from the vehicle interior receiver 31C is less than a predetermined reference value and the identification code matches the own vehicle code, the ECU 20C is in a state where the driver is not drinking, Further, it is determined that the key has been authenticated, and the engine 10 is started in conjunction with the input of the alcohol detection result. That is, the ECU 20C, the starter motor 11, and the starter relay 13 also function as starting means described in the claims. Other configurations are the same as or similar to those of the above-described second embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, the operation of the power plant starter 3 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of engine start processing by the power plant starter 3.

  In step S300, the alcohol concentration in the exhalation is detected when the driver blows the exhalation on the alcohol detector 21C incorporated in the transmitter electronic key 30C outside the vehicle.

  In the subsequent step S302, the vehicle identification code, the function code, and the alcohol concentration detected in step S300 are transmitted from the transmitter electronic key 30C.

  Subsequently, in Step S304, the vehicle interior receiver 31 receives the vehicle identification code, the function code, and the alcohol detection result transmitted from the transmitter electronic key 30C.

  Next, in step S306, it is determined whether or not the identification code transmitted from the transmitter electronic key 30C matches the vehicle code. If the identification code matches the own vehicle code, the process proceeds to step S308. On the other hand, when the identification code does not match the own vehicle code, the process is temporarily exited without unlocking the door and without starting the engine 10.

  If the identification code matches the own vehicle code (when the key is authenticated), the vehicle door is unlocked in step S308. That is, the vehicle door is unlocked according to the key authentication result regardless of the alcohol detection result.

  In the subsequent step S310, it is determined whether or not the detected alcohol concentration is less than a reference value (for example, 0.1 mg / l). Here, if the alcohol concentration is less than the reference value, it is determined that the driver is not drinking, and the engine 10 is automatically started in conjunction with the alcohol detection result (step S312). .

  On the other hand, when the detected alcohol concentration is equal to or higher than the reference value, it is determined that the driver is drinking, and the process exits the present process without starting the engine 10.

  According to this embodiment, when the driver is not drinking, the engine 10 can be started only by detecting alcohol outside the vehicle. On the other hand, when the driver is drinking, starting of engine 10 is prohibited. Therefore, it is possible to prevent drunk driving without increasing the troublesomeness at the time of starting.

  In addition, since the door of the vehicle is unlocked regardless of the alcohol detection result, even when the driver is drinking, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the driver cannot get into the vehicle.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above embodiment, the power plant starter according to the present invention is applied to a vehicle configured to start an engine of a gasoline vehicle with a starter, but is configured to start an engine of a hybrid vehicle with an electric motor. The present invention can also be applied to vehicles that have been used or electric vehicles.

  In the above embodiment, the engine is prohibited from starting when the alcohol concentration of the driver is equal to or higher than the reference value. However, the engine is started, but the shift position is fixed at the parking position (P). It is good also as a structure which prohibits driving | running | working of a vehicle. With such a configuration, the vehicle air conditioning can be made to function by starting the engine in, for example, extremely cold regions or extremely hot regions.

It is a block diagram showing the composition of the power plant starting device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the engine starting process by the power plant starting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the power plant starting apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the engine starting process by the power plant starting apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the power plant starting apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the engine starting process by the power plant starting apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2, 3 ... Power plant starter, 10 ... Engine, 11 ... Starter motor, 12 ... Battery, 13 ... Starter relay, 20, 20B, 20C ... ECU, 21, 21C ... Alcohol detector, 30, 30C ... Transmission Mechanical electronic key, 31, 31C ... in-vehicle receiver, 32 ... door lock device.

Claims (3)

Alcohol detection means for detecting the alcohol concentration of the driver;
A power plant starting device comprising: a starting unit that starts a power plant that drives the vehicle in conjunction with the detection result when a detection result by the alcohol detection unit is less than a predetermined reference value; .   The power plant starter according to claim 1, wherein the alcohol detection unit is provided in the vehicle. A transmitter-type electronic key for automatically unlocking the vehicle door from the outside of the vehicle;
The alcohol detection means is incorporated in the electronic key,
The electronic key transmits a signal for unlocking the door of the vehicle without considering the detection result of the alcohol detection means, and transmits the detection result of the alcohol detection means to the starting means,
The said starting means starts the said power plant in response to this detection result, when the said detection result received from the said electronic key is less than the said predetermined reference value. Power plant starter.

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