JP2010090733A - Glow plug control device, glow plug control method, and glow plug control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a glow plug control device, a glow plug control method, and a glow plug control program, capable of starting an engine in a short period of time. <P>SOLUTION: This control device includes: a power distribution command receiving section receiving a power distribution command transmitted when a driver performs power distribution instruction operation instructing power distribution to a glow plug; a power distribution control section starting the power distribution to the glow plug when the power distribution command receiving section receives the power distribution command; and an actuating signal receiving section receiving an actuating signal in response to operation other than the power distribution instruction operation with respect to a vehicle by the driver. The power distribution control section starts the power distribution to the glow plug before receiving the power distribution command when the actuating signal receiving section receives the actuating signal before the power distribution command is received. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a glow plug control device, a glow plug control method, and a glow plug control program.

Conventionally, when the engine switch is operated and the brake pedal is depressed, energization of the glow plug starts. After the glow plug reaches the target temperature due to the energization, the engine starts when the brake pedal is depressed. Known starting system
JP 2006-77592 A (page 7)

However, according to the conventional engine starting system, the driver must wait until the temperature of the glow plug reaches the target temperature after operating the engine switch and stepping on the brake pedal. There is a problem that it takes a long time.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a glow plug control device, a glow plug control method, and a glow plug control program that can start an engine in a short time.

A first invention is a glow plug control device for controlling a glow plug of a vehicle having a glow plug for preheating an engine, and is transmitted when a driver performs an energization instruction operation for instructing energization of the glow plug. An energization command receiving unit that receives an energization command, an energization control unit that starts energization of the glow plug when the energization command receiving unit receives the energization command, and a driver other than the energization instruction operation for the vehicle An operation signal receiving unit that receives an operation signal according to an operation, and the energization control unit receives the operation signal when the operation signal receiving unit receives the operation signal before receiving the energization command. Before the glow plug is energized.
According to the present invention, when the driver performs an operation on the vehicle other than the energization instruction operation before the energization instruction operation, the energization to the glow plug is started before the energization instruction operation is performed. Since the temperature of the glow plug has already risen to some extent at the time of performing the operation, it is possible to shorten the time from when the energization instruction operation is performed until the temperature of the glow plug reaches the target temperature.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the engine can be started in a short time.

2nd invention is the glow plug control apparatus of 1st invention, Comprising: The said operation signal is a signal transmitted when a driver | operator performs the operation | movement with respect to the driver | operator door of the said vehicle.
Since the operation for the driver door is an operation that will be performed every time before the driver performs the energization instruction operation when starting the engine, when the operation for the driver door is performed, The probability that energization is started before performing the energization instruction operation is increased, and in many cases, the engine can be started in a short time.

A third invention is the glow plug control device of the first or second invention, wherein the operation signal is a signal transmitted when the driver performs an operation on the driver's seat of the vehicle.
Since the operation for the driver's seat is an operation that will be performed every time before the driver performs the energization instruction operation when starting the engine, when the operation for the driver's seat is performed, The probability that energization is started before performing the energization instruction operation is increased, and in many cases, the engine can be started in a short time.

A fourth invention is the glow plug control device according to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein the operation signal is a signal transmitted when a driver performs an operation using a key of the vehicle. .
Since the operation using the key is an operation that the driver will perform every time before starting the energization instruction operation when starting the engine, if the operation using the key is performed, The probability that energization is started before operation is increased, and the engine can be started in a short time in many cases.

A fifth invention is the glow plug control device according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, wherein the energization control unit receives the operation signal and starts energization before receiving the energization command. In such a case, control is performed so that the power per unit time before receiving the power-on command is smaller than the power per unit time after receiving the power-on command.
Even if the operation signal is received and energization of the glow plug is started, the driver may not start the engine thereafter.
According to the present invention, power that is wasted when the driver does not start the engine can be reduced.

6th invention is the glow plug control apparatus of 5th invention, Comprising: The said operation signal receiving part receives the said operation signal about several different operation | movement with respect to the said vehicle, The said electricity supply control part is the said operation signal When a current is started and energization is started, a voltage lower than a normal voltage, which is a voltage applied after receiving the energization command, is applied, and the voltage is increased each time one operation signal is received.
In general, the more operations are performed on the vehicle, the higher the possibility that the engine will be started thereafter.
For this reason, when many operations are performed, it is unlikely that power is wasted. When there is a low possibility that power is wasted, by applying a high voltage, it is possible to shorten the time from when the energization instruction operation is performed until the engine is started.
On the other hand, when the operation performed on the vehicle is small, the possibility that the engine will be started after that becomes relatively low, and thus there is a high possibility that power is wasted. When there is a high possibility that electric power is wasted, by applying a low voltage, it is possible to reduce the electric power that is wasted when the driver does not start the engine, compared to the case where the normal voltage is applied.
According to the present invention, the voltage is increased every time the operation signal is received, so that it is possible to reduce wasted power while shortening the time until the engine is started.

7th invention is the glow plug control apparatus of 5th invention, Comprising: The said operation signal receiving part receives the said operation signal about several mutually different operation | movement with respect to the said vehicle, The said electricity supply control part is the said operation signal When one of the operation signals is received, a normal voltage, which is a voltage applied after receiving the energization command, is continuously applied, and then the temperature of the glow plug is set to the target temperature. If the next operation signal is not received even after the first time has elapsed since reaching the target temperature, the normal voltage is intermittently applied.
In general, the shorter the operation interval with respect to the vehicle, the higher the possibility that the engine will be started thereafter.
For this reason, when the next operation is performed before the first time elapses, there is a low possibility that power is wasted. When it is unlikely that power is wasted, continuous application of the normal voltage can be continued to shorten the time from when the energization instruction operation is performed until the engine is started.
On the contrary, when the operation interval is long, the possibility that the engine will be started after that becomes relatively low, and thus there is a high possibility that power is wasted. When there is a high possibility that electric power is wasted, by applying a normal voltage intermittently, electric power that is wasted when the driver has not started the engine can be reduced.
According to the present invention, when the next operation signal is received before the first time elapses, the normal voltage is continuously applied, and the next operation signal is not received even after the first time elapses. In this case, since the application is switched to intermittent application, it is possible to reduce wasted power while shortening the time until the engine is started.

An eighth invention is the glow plug control device according to the seventh invention, wherein the energization control unit is configured to perform the following operation even if a second time has elapsed after the start of intermittent application of the normal voltage. When no operation signal is received, the power supply is stopped.
According to the present invention, wasted power can be further reduced.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is a glow plug control method for controlling the glow plug of a vehicle having a glow plug for preheating an engine, wherein the driver detects an energization instruction operation for instructing energization of the glow plug. A detection stage, a normal energization stage for starting energization of the glow plug when the energization instruction operation is detected in the energization instruction detection stage, and an operation for detecting an operation other than the energization instruction operation for the vehicle of the driver And when the predetermined operation is detected in the operation detection stage before the energization instruction operation is detected in the energization instruction detection stage, and before the energization instruction operation is detected, to the glow plug. A pre-energization stage for starting the energization of.
According to the present invention, the engine can be started in a short time.

A tenth aspect of the invention is a glow plug control program for providing a glow plug control device for controlling the glow plug of a vehicle equipped with a glow plug for preheating the engine, wherein a driver gives an instruction to energize the glow plug. An energization command receiving unit that receives an energization command transmitted when an operation is performed, an energization control unit that starts energizing the glow plug when the energization command receiving unit receives the energization command, and a driver's vehicle When functioning as an operation signal receiving unit that receives an operation signal corresponding to an operation other than the energization instruction operation, and the energization control unit receives the operation signal at the operation signal receiving unit before receiving the energization command Starts energizing the glow plug before receiving the energization command.
According to the present invention, the engine can be started in a short time.

  According to the present invention, the engine can be started in a short time.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
(1) Overall Configuration FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a glow plug control device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, a solid line indicates a communication path or a control path, and a dotted line indicates a power supply path.

  In the present embodiment, a glow plug control device 1 used for a four-cylinder diesel engine (hereinafter referred to as “engine”) will be described as an example. Further, in the present embodiment, the vehicle is a so-called push start type vehicle that starts the engine when the push button 11 is pressed, and starts energizing the glow plugs 12 (12a to 12d) when the push button 11 is pressed. Next, a vehicle that starts the engine when the temperature of the glow plug 12 reaches the target temperature will be described as an example.

  The glow plug control device 1 is communicably connected to the indoor power supply ECU 14 and the engine ECU 15 via the in-vehicle LAN 13. The glow plug control device 1 is electrically connected to a battery 16 configured as a DC power source, four glow plugs 12 (12a to 12d), and the like.

  The glow plugs 12 (12a to 12d) rise in temperature in response to power supply from the battery 16, and are installed in each cylinder of the engine.

  The indoor power supply ECU 14 is a control computer that controls the power supply in the passenger compartment, and is always energized. A door lock sensor 17, a door opening / closing sensor 18, a seat seating sensor 19, a card key device 20, a push button 11, and the like are electrically connected to the indoor power supply ECU 14.

  The door lock sensor 17 is provided in a driver door locking mechanism (not shown) and detects unlocking of the driver door. As the door lock sensor 17, a switch that is turned on when the door lock mechanism is in a locked state and turned off when the door is unlocked can be used. When the indoor power supply ECU 14 detects unlocking by the door lock sensor 17, the indoor power supply ECU 14 transmits a door unlock signal (an example of an operation signal) to the glow plug control device 1.

  The door opening / closing sensor 18 is provided on the driver door and detects the opening / closing of the driver door. As the door opening / closing sensor 18, a switch that is turned on when the driver door is opened and turned off when the driver door is closed can be used. The indoor power supply ECU 14 transmits a door open / close signal (an example of an operation signal) to the glow plug control device 1 when the door open / close sensor 18 detects the door open / close.

  The seat seating sensor 19 is embedded in a driver seat (not shown) and detects seating on the driver seat. As the seat seating sensor 19, a pressure sensor, a vibration sensor, or the like can be used. The indoor power supply ECU 14 transmits a seat seating signal (an example of an operation signal) to the glow plug control device 1 when the seat seating sensor 19 detects the seating on the driver's seat.

  The card key device 20 is a device for authenticating a card key 21 (an example of a vehicle key), and has an insertion slot into which the card key 21 is inserted. The card key device 20 authenticates the card key 21 when the card key 21 is inserted, and notifies the indoor power supply ECU 14 of successful authentication when the authentication is successful. The indoor power supply ECU 14, when notified of successful authentication from the card key device 20, sets the push button 11 in an operable state and transmits a card key insertion signal (an example of an operation signal) to the glow plug control device 1.

  The push button 11 is a button for the driver to instruct the start of the engine as described above, and is a button for the driver to instruct the glow plug control device 1 to energize the glow plug 12. When the push button 11 is pressed, the indoor power supply ECU 14 transmits an engine start command to the engine ECU 15 and transmits an energization command to the glow plug control device 1. The operation of pushing the push button 11 is an example of “energization instruction operation”.

  The engine ECU 15 is a control computer that controls the engine. The engine ECU 15 is connected to a plurality of temperature sensors 21 (only one is shown in the figure).

  A plurality of temperature sensors 21 (only one is shown in the figure) is provided in each glow plug 12 (12a to 12d), and detects the temperature of the glow plug 12 and outputs it to the engine ECU 15. For example, the temperature sensor 21 may directly measure the temperature of the glow plug 12 or may estimate the temperature from the resistance value of the glow plug 12.

  When the engine ECU 15 receives an engine start command from the indoor power supply ECU 14, the temperature sensor 21 detects the temperature of the glow plug 12, and waits for the temperature of the glow plug 12 to rise to the target temperature before starting the engine.

  The glow plug control device 1 is a device that controls energization of the glow plug 12 and starts energization of the glow plug 12 when receiving an energization command from the indoor power supply ECU 14. The glow plug control device 1 includes a control unit 25 and a plurality of FETs 26 (26a to 26d) including power MOSFETs.

  The control unit 25 (an example of an energization command receiving unit, an energization control unit, and an operation signal receiving unit) includes a plurality of terminals P (P1, P2, P3, P4), a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown).

  The FETs 26a to 26d (an example of an energization control unit) are provided on power supply lines that connect the battery 16 and the glow plugs 12a to 12d, respectively. The FETs 26a to 26d are connected to the output terminals P1 to P4 of the control unit 25, respectively. The FET 26 is turned on / off by an on / off signal output from the control unit 25. When the FET 26 is turned on, the glow plug 12 is energized.

  The control unit 25 outputs an on / off signal as a pulse signal to the FET 26. The controller 25 controls the voltage level of the voltage applied to the glow plug 12 by PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control of this pulse signal.

(2) Operation for Vehicle Other than Energization Instruction Operation As described above, in the present embodiment, when the push button 11 is pressed, in other words, when the energization instruction operation is performed, the indoor power supply ECU 14 sends an energization instruction to the glow plug control device 1. When the glow plug control device 1 receives the energization command, the glow plug control device 1 starts energizing the glow plug 12.
However, if energization of the glow plug 12 is started after the push button 11 is pressed, it takes a long time for the temperature of the glow plug 12 to reach the target temperature, and the engine starts after the push button 11 is pressed. The waiting time is long.

  Therefore, the glow plug control device 1 performs not only when the push button 11 is pressed but also when a predetermined operation other than “pressing the push button 11” is performed on the vehicle before the push button 11 is pressed. Also, energization of the glow plug 12 is started. In this way, when a predetermined operation is performed before the push button 11 is pressed, the temperature of the glow plug 12 has already risen to some extent when the push button 11 is pressed, and the push button 11 is pushed. The time (time lag) from when the button 11 is pressed until the temperature of the glow plug 12 reaches the target temperature can be shortened. Therefore, the engine can be started in a short time. However, when a predetermined operation is not performed before the push button 11 is pressed, energization is started after the push button 11 is pressed.

  The predetermined operation described above may be any operation as long as it is an operation on the vehicle, but is preferably an operation that the driver will perform every time before the push button 11 is pressed when starting the engine. This is because if the operation is to be performed every time before the push button 11 is pressed, the probability that energization is started before the push button 11 is pressed increases, and in many cases, the engine can be started in a short time. . The predetermined operation does not have to be one, and energization may be started when any of a plurality of different predetermined operations is performed.

In the present embodiment, as the predetermined operation described above, an operation with respect to a driver door of a vehicle, an operation with respect to a driver seat of the vehicle, and an operation using a key of the vehicle will be described as examples.
The operation on the driver door of the vehicle includes an operation of unlocking the driver door of the vehicle, an operation of opening and closing the driver door, and the like. In many cases, the driver performs an operation of unlocking the driver door before pushing the push button 11 when driving the vehicle. Further, in many cases, the driver performs an operation of opening and closing the driver door in order to get into the vehicle before pressing the push button 11 when driving the vehicle. Therefore, if energization is started when the driver door is unlocked, or energization is started when the driver door is opened and closed, energization is started before the push button 11 is pressed. The probability that The unlocking of the driver's door and the opening / closing of the driver's door can be known by the aforementioned door unlocking signal and door opening / closing signal, respectively.

  The operation on the driver's seat includes seating on the driver's seat. The driver sits on the driver's seat every time before pushing the push button 11 when driving the vehicle. Therefore, if energization is started when the driver is seated on the driver's seat, the probability that energization is started before the push button 11 is pressed increases. The seating on the driver's seat can be known by the seat seating signal described above.

  The operation using the vehicle key is an operation of inserting the card key 21 into the card key device 20 described above. In the case of a vehicle equipped with the card key device 20, the driver inserts the card key 21 into the card key device 20 every time before pushing the push button 11 when driving the vehicle. Therefore, if energization is started when the card key 21 is inserted into the card key device 20, the probability that energization is started before the push button 11 is pressed increases. The insertion of the card key 21 can be known by the card key insertion signal described above.

(3) Energization control to the glow plug When the glow plug control device 1 receives the operation signal before receiving the energization command, the glow plug control device 1 starts energizing the glow plug 12 before receiving the energization command. In this energization, the glow plug control device 1 performs control so that the power per unit time before receiving the energization command is smaller than the power per unit time after receiving the energization command. This will be specifically described below.

  FIG. 2 is an example of a timing chart of energization to the glow plug 12. In the illustrated example, a door lock release signal is received at time T1, a door open / close signal at time T2, a seat seating signal at time T3, a card key insertion signal at time T4, and an energization command at time T5. At time T6, the temperature of the glow plug 12 reaches the target temperature.

  When the door lock release signal is received at time T1, the glow plug control device 1 starts energizing the glow plug 12. In this energization, the glow plug control device 1 continuously applies a voltage lower than the normal voltage, which is a voltage to be applied when an energization command is received at time T5, and thereafter transmits an operation signal at times T2, T3, and T4. The voltage is increased step by step every time it is received.

When the push button 11 is pressed at time T5, an energization command is transmitted from the indoor power supply ECU 14 to the glow plug control device 1, and the glow plug control device 1 starts normal energization for raising the temperature of the glow plug 12 to the target temperature. In this normal energization, the glow plug control device 1 continuously applies a preset normal voltage.
After starting normal energization at time T5, when the temperature of the glow plug 12 reaches the target temperature at time T6, the engine is started by the engine ECU 15. When the temperature of the glow plug 12 reaches the target temperature at time T6, the glow plug control device 1 shifts from normal energization so far to temperature maintenance control for maintaining the target temperature.

(4) Effects of the Embodiment According to the glow plug control device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, a predetermined value other than “push the push button 11” on the vehicle before the push button 11 is pushed. When the operation is performed, energization of the glow plug 12 is started without waiting for the push button 11 to be pressed. In this way, when a predetermined operation is performed, the temperature of the glow plug 12 has already risen to some extent when the push button 11 is pressed, so that the temperature of the glow plug 12 after the push button 11 is pressed is increased. The time lag until reaching the target temperature (from time T5 to time T6) can be shortened. Therefore, according to the glow plug control device 1, the engine can be started in a short time.

  Furthermore, according to the glow plug control device 1, since a voltage lower than the normal voltage is applied when the door lock release signal is received at time T1, the power per unit time before receiving the energization command is received after receiving the energization command. Less than the power per unit time. Thereby, it is possible to reduce electric power that is wasted when the driver does not start the engine.

  However, since a voltage lower than the normal voltage is applied, the temperature of the glow plug 12 does not reach the target temperature at the time when the energization command is received (time point T5). The time lag to reach will not disappear completely. However, the time lag is shorter than at least when energization is started after receiving an energization command. In addition, when giving priority to shortening of a time lag, you may apply a normal voltage from the time T1.

Further, according to the glow plug control device 1, the voltage is increased every time one operation signal is received. In general, the more operations are performed on the vehicle, the higher the possibility that the engine will be started thereafter. For this reason, when many operations are performed, it is unlikely that power is wasted. When there is a low possibility that power is wasted, a time lag can be shortened by applying a high voltage.
On the other hand, when the operation performed on the vehicle is small, the possibility that the engine will be started after that becomes relatively low, and thus there is a high possibility that power is wasted. When there is a high possibility that electric power is wasted, by applying a low voltage, it is possible to reduce the electric power that is wasted when the driver does not start the engine, compared to the case where the normal voltage is applied.
Therefore, if the voltage is increased every time the operation signal is received, it is possible to reduce wasteful power consumption while shortening the time until the engine is started.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
When the glow plug control device according to the second embodiment receives the operation signal before receiving the energization command, the glow plug control device continuously applies the normal voltage to the glow plug 12 and then the temperature of the glow plug 12 reaches the target temperature. If the next operation signal is not received even after the first time has elapsed since reaching the target temperature, switching to the intermittent application of the normal voltage is performed. The glow plug control device stops energizing the glow plug 12 when the next operation signal is not received even after the second time has elapsed since the start of intermittent application.

  In the following description, the glow plug control device acquires the temperature of the glow plug 12 from the temperature sensor 21 via the engine ECU 15. The temperature sensor 21 may be connected to the glow plug control device and directly acquired from the temperature sensor 21.

  FIG. 3 is an example of a timing chart of energization to the glow plug 12. In the illustrated example, a door lock release signal is received at time T11, a door open / close signal at time T14, a seat seating signal at time T18, a card key insertion signal at time T19, and an energization command at time T20. And the temperature of the glow plug 12 has reached the target temperature before the time T20.

  When receiving the door lock release signal at time T11, the glow plug control device starts continuous application of the normal voltage to the glow plug 12. In the illustrated example, the temperature of the glow plug 12 reaches a predetermined target temperature at time T12. In the illustrated example, since the next operation signal has not been received even after the first time (A time in the figure) has elapsed from the time T12, the glow plug control device intermittently outputs the normal voltage at the time T13. Switch to application.

  When the door open / close signal is received at time T14, the glow plug control device resumes continuous application of the normal voltage. Since the next operation signal is not received even after the first time (time B in the figure) has elapsed since the temperature of the glow plug 12 reached the target temperature at time T15, the glow plug control device Switch to intermittent energization at T16. In the illustrated example, since the next operation signal has not been received even after the second time (C time in the figure) has elapsed since the start of intermittent energization at time T16, the glow plug control device At time T17, the energization to the glow plug 12 is stopped.

  The same applies when a seat seating signal is received at time T18 and when a card key insertion signal is received at time T19. Further, the processing after the time T20 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, the glow plug control device continues the continuous application of the normal voltage when the next operation is performed before the first time elapses. When performing a plurality of operations on the vehicle, it is generally said that the shorter the operation interval, the higher the possibility of starting the engine thereafter. For this reason, when the operation interval is short, the possibility that power is wasted is low. When there is a low possibility that power is wasted, the continuous application of the normal voltage can be continued to shorten the time from when the push button 11 is pressed until the engine is started.

  On the contrary, when the operation interval is long, the possibility of starting the engine after that becomes relatively low, so that the possibility that power is wasted increases. When there is a high possibility that power will be wasted, the normal voltage is applied intermittently, so that the power that is wasted when the driver does not start the engine is reduced compared to the case where the normal voltage is applied continuously. Can be reduced.

  Therefore, when the next operation signal is received before the first time elapses, continuous application of the normal voltage is continued, and when the next operation signal is not received even after the first time elapses, it is intermittent. By switching to a specific application, it is possible to reduce wasteful power consumption while shortening the time until the engine starts.

  Furthermore, if the next operation signal is not received even after the second time has elapsed since the start of intermittent application of the normal voltage, the power consumption can be further reduced by stopping energization.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the push start method in which the engine is started when the card key 21 is inserted and the push button 11 is pressed has been described as an example. However, in a vehicle employing the push start method, an ignition is used instead of a card key. Some use keys. More specifically, there is a system in which an engine is started when an ignition key is inserted into a key cylinder and rotated to a vehicle start position (ignition position) and then a push button is pressed. The present invention can also be applied to a vehicle employing such a method. In this case, the operation of rotating the ignition key to the ignition position corresponds to the insertion of the card key 21 in the above embodiment.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the push start type vehicle that starts the engine when the push button 11 is pressed has been described as an example. However, the push button 11 is not provided, and a key is inserted into a key cylinder (an example of an operation unit). It may be a key start type vehicle that starts the engine when it is rotated to the ignition position.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the unlocking of the driver door and the opening and closing of the driver door are described as examples of “operation on the driver door”. It may be an operation of moving up and down.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the seating on the driver's seat has been described as an example of the “operation on the driver's seat”. However, the operation on the driver's seat may be, for example, an operation for adjusting the reclining of the seat. Then, an operation of fastening the seat belt may be used.

  (5) In the above embodiment, the operation of inserting the card key 21 into the card key device 20 as “operation using a key” has been described as an example. For example, the card key 21 and the card key device 20 are configured to be capable of wireless communication. Alternatively, an operation in which the driver having the card key 21 enters the communicable area around the vehicle may be used. When this operation is performed, communication between the card key 21 and the card key device 20 may be performed to authenticate the card key 21, and energization of the glow plug 12 may be started when the authentication is successful.

  (6) In the embodiment described above, “operation on the driver's door”, “operation on the driver's seat”, and “operation using the key” are described as examples of the predetermined operation on the vehicle. May be operations other than these. For example, operations such as turning a steering wheel, stepping on a brake pedal, stepping on a clutch pedal, operating a vehicle-mounted radio, operating a navigation system, or turning on a headlight lighting switch may be used.

  (7) Although the case where the normal voltage is applied continuously or intermittently has been described as an example in the second embodiment, a voltage lower than the normal voltage may be applied continuously or intermittently. Moreover, a normal voltage may be applied when applying continuously, and a voltage lower than a normal voltage may be applied when applying intermittently.

  (8) In the second embodiment, when the next operation signal is not received even after the first time has elapsed since the temperature of the glow plug 12 has reached the target temperature, the application is switched to intermittent application. If the next operation signal is not received even after elapses, a voltage lower than the normal voltage may be continuously applied.

The block diagram of the glow plug control apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The timing chart of the electricity supply which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The timing chart of the electricity supply which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Glow plug control device 21 ... Card key (vehicle key)
25 ... Control unit (energization command receiving unit, energization control unit, operation signal receiving unit)
26a-26d ... FET (energization controller)

Claims (10)

A glow plug control device for controlling the glow plug of a vehicle having a glow plug for preheating an engine,
An energization command receiving unit that receives an energization command transmitted when a driver performs an energization instruction operation to instruct energization of the glow plug;
An energization control unit that starts energizing the glow plug when the energization command receiving unit receives the energization command;
An operation signal receiving unit that receives an operation signal corresponding to an operation other than the energization instruction operation for the vehicle of the driver;
With
When the operation signal is received by the operation signal receiving unit before receiving the energization command, the energization control unit starts energizing the glow plug before receiving the energization command. . The glow plug control device according to claim 1,
The operation signal is a signal transmitted when the driver performs an operation on the driver door of the vehicle. The glow plug control device according to claim 1 or 2,
The operation signal is a signal transmitted when the driver performs an operation on the driver's seat of the vehicle. A glow plug control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The operation signal is a signal transmitted when the driver performs an operation using the key of the vehicle. A glow plug control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
When the energization control unit receives the operation signal before receiving the energization command and starts energization, the power per unit time before receiving the energization command is after the energization command is received. Control to be less than the power per unit time. The glow plug control device according to claim 5,
The operation signal receiving unit receives the operation signal for a plurality of different operations on the vehicle,
When the energization control unit receives the operation signal and starts energization, the energization control unit applies a voltage lower than a normal voltage that is applied after receiving the energization command, and receives one operation signal. Increase the voltage each time. The glow plug control device according to claim 5,
The operation signal receiving unit receives the operation signal for a plurality of different operations on the vehicle,
When the energization control unit receives the operation signal and starts energization, when receiving the one operation signal, the energization control unit continuously applies a normal voltage that is applied after receiving the energization command, Thereafter, when the temperature of the glow plug reaches the target temperature, the normal voltage is intermittently applied when the next operation signal is not received even after the first time has elapsed since the temperature reached. A glow plug control device according to claim 7,
The energization control unit stops energization when the next operation signal is not received even after the second time has elapsed since the start of intermittent application of the normal voltage. A glow plug control method for controlling the glow plug of a vehicle having a glow plug for preheating an engine,
An energization instruction detection stage in which a driver detects an energization instruction operation instructing energization of the glow plug;
A normal energization stage for starting energization of the glow plug when the energization instruction operation is detected in the energization instruction detection stage;
An operation detection stage for detecting an operation other than the energization instruction operation for the vehicle of the driver;
When the predetermined operation is detected in the operation detection stage before the energization instruction operation is detected in the energization instruction detection stage, energization to the glow plug is started before the energization instruction operation is detected. A pre-energization stage to
Including glow plug control method. A glow plug control device for controlling the glow plug of a vehicle including a glow plug for preheating an engine;
An energization command receiving unit that receives an energization command transmitted when a driver performs an energization instruction operation to instruct energization of the glow plug;
An energization control unit that starts energizing the glow plug when the energization command receiving unit receives the energization command;
Function as an operation signal receiving unit that receives an operation signal corresponding to an operation other than the energization instruction operation for the vehicle of the driver;
A glow plug control program for starting energization of the glow plug before receiving the energization command when the energization control unit receives the operation signal at the operation signal receiving unit before receiving the energization command. .

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