JP2012092669A - Engine idle stop control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To limit start-up preparation to be within a necessary and sufficient time period so as to restrain energy consumption of a power supply device or to reduce a load on a preparation target component for start-up preparation, while enabling speeding-up of a start by shortening a time period from a time when a restart condition has been satisfied to a restart of an engine, when the start-up preparation is performed for electric equipment for handling a voltage drop of the power supply device.SOLUTION: A vehicle 1 has a start-up preparation control means 13 for performing control for start-up preparation for preventing or suppressing effects of a voltage drop of a battery 7 caused by operation of a starter motor 9 on electric equipment 20, 21. An engine idle stop control system 12, when a first operation amount is detected by a first clutch switch, causes the start preparation control means 13 to start start-up preparation, and operates the starter motor 9 on condition that a second operation amount larger than the first operation amount is detected by a second clutch switch and the start-up preparation is completed, as a restart condition.

Description

  The present invention relates to an engine automatic stop / restart device that automatically stops an engine mounted on a vehicle when an automatic stop condition is satisfied, and restarts when the restart condition is satisfied. The present invention relates to an engine automatic stop / restart apparatus that restarts an engine after preparing an electrical device included in the engine for starting.

  As a technology for reducing energy consumption (for example, fuel consumption) of engines mounted on vehicles and reducing emissions of environmentally hazardous substances (for example, carbon dioxide), the engine is stopped by the driver when the vehicle is stopped, such as waiting for a signal. There is an engine automatic stop / restart device that performs automatic engine stop (so-called idling stop) when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied, and restarts when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied without requiring an operation. .

  In such an engine automatic stop / restart device, in order to restart the engine when the vehicle starts, the power transmission device that transmits the engine power to the drive wheels is provided to transmit the engine power. When the amount of operation of the clutch pedal for operating the clutch to be shut off is detected and the amount of operation is small, current supply to the ignition circuit or driving of the fuel pump is performed, and the amount of operation becomes larger and the clutch is not engaged. It is known that an engine is started by a starter motor when a connection state is established (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In addition, when the engine is started by a starter motor that uses a battery as a power source, the voltage of the battery drops momentarily when the starter motor that requires a large current is activated, so the same battery as the starter motor is used as the power source. In an electrical device such as a navigation device, inconveniences such as resetting and interruption of operation may occur due to an instantaneous voltage drop during operation of the starter motor. Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of such a situation, an engine automatic stop / restart device that operates a booster circuit that boosts the voltage of the battery and supplies electric power to the battery before the restart by the starter motor is performed. Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

Japanese Utility Model Publication No.59-86335 Japanese Patent No. 3099385 JP 2009-293451 A

By the way, as a preparation for an electric device to cope with a battery voltage drop caused by the operation of the starter motor (hereinafter referred to as “starting preparation”), by starting the operation of the booster circuit before the operation of the starter motor, Compared to when the starter motor is operated after the booster circuit is operated after the restart condition for restarting the engine is satisfied, the time until the engine is restarted after the restart condition is satisfied is shortened. , It is possible to speed up the start. For this reason, from the viewpoint of quick start, it is preferable that the operation start timing of the booster circuit is earlier.
On the other hand, a relatively short time is sufficient for the time required for completing the start-up preparation (for example, the time required for completing the preparation of the booster circuit), and preparation should be made after the preparation is completed. May lead to a decrease in the amount of charge of the battery, and also increases the load of a preparation target component (for example, a booster circuit) to be prepared for starting. When the load on the preparation target part increases, the preparation target part may overheat due to its heat generation, resulting in a decrease in durability of the preparation target part and an increase in cost for taking measures to prevent overheating. There are things to do.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in the engine automatic stop / restart device, when the start-up preparation for the electric device is performed to cope with the voltage drop of the power supply device before the engine restarts. The start-up is shortened by shortening the time from when the restart condition is satisfied to when the engine is restarted, and the start-up preparation is limited to a necessary and sufficient time to suppress or start up the energy consumption of the power supply unit. The purpose is to reduce the load on the preparation target parts.

  The invention according to claim 1 includes a control condition detection means (30) for detecting an automatic stop condition and a restart condition of the engine (2) mounted on the vehicle (1), and the control condition detection means (30). Control in which a detection signal is input, the engine (2) is automatically stopped when the automatic stop condition is satisfied, and the engine (2) is restarted when the restart condition is satisfied In the engine automatic stop / restart device comprising means (40), the engine (2) is operated by electric power supplied from a power supply device (7) to start the engine (2). The vehicle (1) includes one or more electric devices (20, 21) that are operated by electric power supplied from the power supply device (7), and the power supply device (7) caused by the operation of the starter (9). ) Low voltage Start preparation control means (13) for controlling start preparation for preventing or reducing the influence of the electric equipment (20, 21) on the electric equipment (20, 21), and the control condition detection means (30) includes the engine (2 ) And the power transmission device (3) for transmitting the power of the engine (2) to the drive wheels (6), the clutch (5a) whose connection state can be changed is operated to transmit and shut off the power. A clutch switch (34) for detecting an operation amount (S) of the clutch operation section (5b); and a preparation completion detecting means (37) for detecting completion of the start preparation, wherein the clutch switch (34) A first clutch switch (34a) for detecting a first operation amount (S1) indicating that an operation of the clutch operating portion (5b) in a non-operating state in which a connected state is set to a completely connected state is started; 1 operation A second clutch switch (34b) that detects a second operation amount (S2) that is greater than (S1) and that is the operation amount (S) that causes the connected state to be disconnected; 40) causes the start preparation control means (13) to start the start preparation when the first operation amount (S1) is detected, and that the second operation amount (S2) is detected and An engine automatic stop / restart device that operates the starter (9) with the start-up preparation being completed as the restart condition.

According to this, the clutch operation unit is operated in order to restart the engine by the operation of the starter, and before the operation amount of the clutch operation unit reaches the second operation amount which is a restart condition for restarting the engine. Then, when the first operation amount is detected, the start preparation control means starts the start preparation for preventing or reducing the influence on the electric device due to the operation of the starter. As a result, in an engine that is prepared for start-up before the starter is started, it is possible to speed up the start by shortening the time from when the restart condition is satisfied to when the engine is restarted.
In addition, since the starter that restarts the engine starts the engine when the operation amount of the clutch operation unit becomes the second operation amount and the start preparation is completed, the start preparation can be limited to a necessary and sufficient time. Thus, it is possible to suppress the energy consumption of the power supply device by the preparation target parts for start preparation and reduce the load of the preparation target parts. Further, by reducing the load on the preparation target component, the durability of the preparation target component is improved, and it is possible to reduce the cost by eliminating or simplifying the measure for preventing overheating due to heat generation of the preparation target component.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the automatic engine stop / restart device according to the first aspect, in the start preparation, the booster circuit (19a) for boosting a voltage applied to the electric device (20, 21) is in an operating state. Or storage of data in an electronic control unit included in the electric device (20, 21).
According to this, when the voltage drop of the power supply device occurs due to the operation of the starter, the operation voltage of the electric device can be secured by the booster circuit, so that the operation of the electric device can be maintained, In addition, since data at the start of start preparation is saved, it is possible to eliminate or reduce the trouble of resetting the electric equipment after restarting the engine.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the automatic engine stop / restart device according to the first or second aspect, the control means (40) is configured such that the first operation amount is detected after the first operation amount (S1) is once detected. When (S1) is no longer detected, the start preparation control means (13) cancels the start preparation.
According to this, when the start preparation is once started, the starter is not operated, and therefore, the clutch operation unit is returned and the first operation amount is detected by the first clutch switch without restarting the engine. When it is lost, the start preparation is canceled, so that it is possible to suppress the energy consumption of the power supply device by the preparation preparation target part and to reduce the load of the preparation target part.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the engine automatic stop / restart device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the control means (40) is configured to detect the first manipulated variable (S1). When the second operation amount (S2) is not detected within a predetermined time (Tb), the start preparation control means (13) cancels the start preparation.
According to this, when the start preparation is once started, the starter is not operated even if a time exceeding a predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the clutch operation unit is operated to the first operation amount, and therefore the engine is restarted. When it is not, start preparation is canceled, so that it is possible to suppress energy consumption of the power supply device by the preparation target part to be prepared for start-up and reduce the load on the preparation target part.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the engine automatic stop / restart device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the control means (40) does not detect the first operation amount (S1), and When the second operation amount (S2) is detected, the start preparation control means (13) starts the start preparation.
According to this, even when the control means cannot recognize the detection of the first operation amount by the first clutch switch, such as when the first clutch switch fails or when the operation speed of the clutch operation unit is high, the start preparation is performed. Therefore, the engine can be restarted while preventing or reducing the adverse effect of the voltage drop of the power supply device due to the starter operation on the electrical equipment.

  According to the present invention, in the engine automatic stop / restart device, the engine is started from when the restart condition is satisfied when the start-up preparation for the electric device is performed to cope with the voltage drop of the power supply device before the engine restart. It is possible to speed up the start by shortening the time until restart of the engine, and limit the start preparation to a necessary and sufficient time, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the power supply or reducing the load of the parts to be prepared for the start preparation. become.

1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle including an engine automatic stop / restart device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the structure of the engine automatic stop restart apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the restart control by the engine automatic stop restart apparatus of FIG. It is a time chart of the restart control in the Example of an engine automatic stop restart apparatus of FIG. 1, and a comparative example. It is another time chart of the restart control in the Example of the engine automatic stop restart apparatus of FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Referring to FIG. 1, an engine automatic stop / restart apparatus 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an automatic stop of an engine 2 that is an internal combustion engine as a driving motor mounted on a vehicle 1 that is a four-wheel vehicle, A restart that is a start from the automatic stop state is performed.

  The vehicle 1 includes an engine 2, a power transmission device 3 that transmits power generated by the engine 2 to the drive wheels 6, one or more on-vehicle electric devices 20 and 21 such as a navigation device 22, and an engine that controls the engine 2. A vehicle control device 10 including a control device 11 and an engine automatic stop / restart device 12, a battery 7 as a power supply device, and a key switch 8 are provided.

The engine 2 includes a crankshaft 2a as an engine output shaft and a starter motor 9 as an electric starter that rotationally drives the crankshaft 2a at the time of starting.
The power transmission device 3 performs transmission and interruption of power between the engine 2 and the transmission 4 and a manual transmission 4 that shifts the power input from the crankshaft 2 a and outputs the power to the drive wheels 6. And a clutch device 5. The clutch device 5 is disposed between the crankshaft 2a and the input shaft 4a of the transmission 4 and can change the connection state of the clutch 5a and the clutch 5a whose connection state can be changed for power transmission / cutoff. And a clutch pedal 5b as a clutch operating unit operated by the driver.

In addition to the navigation device 22, the electric devices 20 and 21 that are operated by the electric power supplied by the battery 7 include an electric power steering device 23, an ABS (anti-lock braking system), and a travel stabilization device 24 that includes a traction control device. , An audio device 25, an air conditioner 26, a power window 27, and the like.
The key switch 8 for switching between connection and disconnection between the battery 7 and vehicle electrical components (including engine electrical components such as a starter motor 9 provided in the engine 2, the control device 10, and the electric devices 20 and 21) is located at the starter position. The battery 7 and the starter motor 9 are connected via the starter relay 9a, and the vehicle electrical components other than the starter motor 9 and the battery 7 are connected in the on position, and the vehicle electrical components are connected in the off position. The connection with the battery 7 is cut off.

  The control device 10 including a computer is for the engine control device 11 that performs combustion control (for example, air-fuel ratio control and ignition control) in the engine 2, the engine automatic stop / restart device 12, and the starter motor 9 to start the engine 2. Before starting the operation, the starter motor 9 is provided with start preparation control means 13 for controlling the start preparation for the electric devices 20 and 21 in preparation for the operation of the starter motor 9.

Here, the preparation for starting is to prevent or alleviate an adverse influence (for example, resetting or stopping the operation of the electric devices 20 and 21) that the voltage drop of the battery 7 generated when the starter motor 9 operates on the electric devices 20 and 21. It is a process performed to do.
In preparation for start-up, a process for turning on the booster circuit 19a of the DC-DC converter 19 provided between the battery 7 and the navigation device 22 as the specific electric device 20 (for example, boosting when boosting is unnecessary). This is a process for turning off the relay 19b for bypassing the circuit 19a.), And data at the start of the start-up preparation to the electronic control units 23a to 27a included in the electric devices 21 other than the navigation device 22 Processing to save the file is included.

The booster circuit 19 a boosts the voltage applied to the navigation device 22 by boosting the voltage of the battery 7. The DC-DC converter 19 having the booster circuit 19a is a preparation target component that is a target for start preparation, similarly to the electronic control units 23a to 27a of the electric device 21.
In addition, in the data storage process in the electronic control units 23a to 27a of each electrical device 21, in the electronic control units 23a to 27a composed of computers, the central processing unit stores the data in the nonvolatile memory. I do.

The engine automatic stop / restart device 12 and the start preparation control means 13 are connected to the DC-DC converter 19 and each electrical device 21 by the LIN 15a or CAN 15b which is the in-vehicle network 15, and signals are transmitted by communication.
Specifically, each electric device 21, the engine automatic stop / restart device 12, and the start preparation control means 13 transmit signals by the CAN 15b, so that signals are transmitted at a transmission speed greater than LIN. On the other hand, since the engine automatic stop / restart device 12, the start preparation control means 13 and the DC-DC converter 19 transmit signals by the LIN 15a, the cost is reduced as compared with the case where the CAN is used.

  The start preparation control means 13 is a start notice signal generating means for outputting a detection signal as a start notice signal for announcing the start of operation of the starter motor 9, and a first clutch switch 34a (see FIG. 2) described later is a first manipulated variable S1. Based on the start preparation execution instruction from the control means 40 (see FIG. 2) when detecting (see FIG. 4), the DC-DC converter 19 and the electronic control units 23a to 27a of the electric devices 21 are connected to the in-vehicle network. 15, a preparation start signal is transmitted to start the start-up preparation in the DC-DC converter 19 and each electric device 21, while the DC-DC converter 19 and each electric device 19 are started based on the start preparation stop command from the control means 40. A preparation stop signal is transmitted to the electronic control units 23a to 27a of the device 21 through the in-vehicle network 15 to start To cancel the.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the engine automatic stop / restart device 12 starts the control condition detection means 30 for detecting the automatic stop condition and the restart condition of the engine 2, the stop means 14 for stopping the engine 2, and the engine 2. And a control means 40 for controlling the starter motor 9 as a starting means. Each detection signal of the control condition detection unit 30 is input to the control unit 40.

The stop means 14 provided in the engine 2 stops the operation (for example, fuel supply by the fuel injection valve) of a device (for example, a fuel injection valve) involved in combustion.
Based on the detection signal input from the control condition detection means 30, the control means 40 automatically activates the engine 2 by operating the stop means 14 when the key switch 8 is on and the automatic stop condition is satisfied. The idling stop state is established by stopping, and when the restart condition is satisfied, the starter motor 9 is operated to restart the engine 2.

The control condition detection means 30 includes a manual start / stop operation detection means 31 that detects the operation position of the key switch 8 including the off position and the on position, and the vehicle 1 (see FIG. 1) stops (that is, the vehicle speed is zero). ), A shift switch 33 that detects the shift position of the transmission 4, and an operation amount S (corresponding to the clutch operation position) that is the depression amount (ie, stroke) of the clutch pedal 5b. A clutch switch 34 for operating, a foot brake switch 35 serving as a service brake switch for detecting the operation / non-operation of a foot brake serving as a service brake, and an operation from a release position and a release position of an accelerator pedal serving as an accelerator operation unit. An accelerator sensor 36, and a preparation completion detection means 37 for detecting completion of start preparation; Provided.
The shift switch 33 includes a neutral switch 33 a that detects the neutral position of the transmission 4 and a travel switch 33 b that detects a travel position that is a shift position in the transmission 4.

  3 and 4, the clutch switch 34 starts to be depressed, which is the operation of the clutch pedal 5b, so that the operation amount S becomes zero (at this time, the clutch pedal 5b is released and is not in operation). The clutch 5a is in the fully engaged state when it is in the disengaged position, which is the operating state, and is depressed toward the maximum operation amount (corresponding to the maximum depression position as the maximum operation position of the clutch operation position). A first clutch switch 34a for detecting a first operation amount S1 (corresponding to the first operation position of the clutch operation position) indicating that the second operation amount S2 (clutch operation position) is larger than the first operation amount S1. The second clutch switch 34b detects the second operation position.

The second operation amount S2, which is the operation amount S when the clutch 5a is in the disconnected state, is the operation amount S when the clutch pedal 5b is depressed toward the maximum depression position rather than the first operation amount S1. This is the operation amount S at or near the maximum depression position.
As shown in FIG. 4, the first clutch switch 34a detects that the operation amount S has become equal to or greater than the first operation amount S1, and the second clutch switch 34b has the operation amount S becomes equal to or greater than the second operation amount S2. Detect that. Therefore, the first and second clutch switches 34a and 34b maintain the state in which the first and second operation amounts S1 and S2 are detected, respectively.

  Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the preparation completion detection unit 37 detects whether or not the preset preparation time Ta (see FIG. 4) has elapsed since the start preparation was started, or the DC-DC converter 19 and the electric device. The completion of the start preparation is detected by returning a preparation completion signal through the in-vehicle network 15 from 21.

  The automatic stop condition is that the neutral position of the transmission 4 is detected by the neutral switch 33a in a state where the key switch 8 is detected to be in the ON position by the manual start / stop operation detecting means 31. The first and second clutch switches 34a and 34b do not detect the first and second operation amounts S1 and S2 (see FIG. 4) of the clutch pedal 5b (for example, the clutch pedal 5b is in the released position and the clutch 5a is in a fully connected state), the vehicle speed sensor 32 detects that the vehicle 1 is stopped, the foot brake switch 35 detects the operation of the foot brake, and the accelerator sensor 36 releases the accelerator. The position is detected. Then, when all these automatic stop conditions are satisfied, the control means 40 automatically stops the engine 2.

  The restart condition is that the second operation amount S2 is detected by the second clutch switch 34b while the manual start / stop operation detecting means 31 detects that the key switch 8 is in the ON position. And the completion of start preparation is detected by the preparation completion detection means 37, the neutral position of the transmission 4 is detected by the neutral switch 33a, and the foot brake non-operation is detected by the foot brake switch 35. That the operation from the accelerator release position is detected by the accelerator sensor 36. When the at least one restart condition is satisfied, the control unit 40 restarts the engine 2.

The restart control method executed by the control means 40 of the engine automatic stop / restart device 12 will be described with reference to FIGS.
In step S1, it is determined whether or not the automatic stop condition is satisfied and the engine automatic stop / restart device 12 is in the state in which the engine 2 is automatically stopped. When the automatic stop state is in the automatic stop state, the process proceeds to step S2. When the engine 2 is not in the automatic stop state, the processes after step S2 are not executed.

  In step S2, it is determined whether or not the clutch pedal 5b is depressed more than the first operation amount S1, that is, whether or not the first clutch switch 34a detects the first operation amount S1 and is turned on. When the first clutch switch 34a is in the on state, in step S3, a start preparation execution command is output to the start preparation control means 13, which starts the DC-DC converter 19 and the electronic equipment 21. The control units 23a to 27a are made to start preparation. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S4, and whether or not the clutch pedal 5b is depressed more than the second operation amount S2, that is, whether or not the second clutch switch 34b detects the second operation amount S2 and is turned on. Determined.

When the first clutch switch 34a is turned on and the second clutch switch 34b is turned on, the routine proceeds to step S5, where it is determined by the preparation completion detection means 37 whether the start preparation is completed. When the preparation completion detection means 37 detects that the start-up preparation in the DC-DC converter 19 and the electronic control units 23a to 27a is completed, the control means 40 starts from the battery 7 to operate the starter motor 9 in step S6. The starter relay 9a is controlled so as to be turned on so that electric power is supplied to the starter motor 9.
In step S5, when the start preparation is not completed, the starter motor 9 is maintained in the non-operating state until the start preparation is completed.

  When the second clutch switch 34b is not in the on state in step S4, the process proceeds to step S7 where the depression of the clutch pedal 5b is released or the operation amount S is decreased and the first clutch switch 34a is changed from the on state. It is determined whether or not an off state has been reached. When the first clutch switch 34a is once turned on and then turned off, the process proceeds to step S8 to stop the start preparation that was started in step S3. It is output to the control means 13 and the start preparation control means 13 causes the DC-DC converter 19 and the electronic control units 23a to 27a to stop the start preparation and cancel the start preparation.

On the other hand, when the state in which the first clutch switch 34a is in the on state continues in step S7, the process proceeds to step S9, and a predetermined time Tb (a figure waiting time) after starting preparation is started. It is determined whether or not (see 5) has elapsed. When the predetermined time Tb has elapsed, the routine proceeds to step S8, where the start preparation is canceled.
When the predetermined time Tb has not elapsed, the process of step S4 is executed, and the starter motor 9 is maintained in the non-operating state.

  Here, the predetermined time Tb set in advance in consideration of the preparation time Ta is set longer than the preparation time Ta (see FIG. 5). Accordingly, when the clutch pedal 5b is depressed slowly or over time until the second operation amount S2 is reached, is the start preparation completed when the second operation amount S2 is detected? Or, since the frequency near the completion increases, the time from the detection of the second operation amount S2 to the start of operation of the starter motor 9 is further shortened, and at the shortest, the starter motor 9 is detected at the detection time of the second operation amount S2. Operation starts.

  When the operation amount S of the clutch pedal 5b is the operation amount S at which the clutch pedal 5b does not reach the first operation amount S1 in step S2, that is, when the first clutch switch 34a is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S10. Then, it is determined whether or not the second clutch switch 34b is turned on. When the second clutch switch 34b is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S2, and the first clutch switch 34a is turned on or the second clutch switch 34b is turned on. Until this state is reached, the automatic stop state in which the start preparation is not performed is maintained.

  On the other hand, when the second clutch switch 34b is turned on in step S10, the process proceeds to step S11 and start preparation is started. In the processes in steps S2, S10, and S11, the second clutch switch 34b is turned on within an operation delay time until the first clutch switch 34a is turned on due to the large depression speed of the clutch pedal 5b. The first and second clutch switches 34a and 34b are turned on almost simultaneously and when the first clutch switch 34a is out of order. Therefore, even when the first clutch switch 34a is out of order, preparation for starting is performed, and the engine 2 is restarted by the starter motor 9 after completion of the preparation.

  After the start preparation is started in step S11, the start preparation motor 9 proceeds to step S6 when the start preparation is completed according to the start preparation state detected by the preparation completion detection means 37 in step S5. When start preparation is not completed, the starter motor 9 is held in an inoperative state until the start preparation is completed.

Next, operations and effects of the embodiment configured as described above will be described.
In the vehicle 1, start preparation control for performing start preparation control before starting the starter motor 9 to prevent or reduce the influence of the voltage drop of the battery 7 caused by the operation of the starter motor 9 on the electric devices 20 and 21. The engine automatic stop / restart device 12 includes a clutch switch 34 and a preparation completion detection unit 37 that detects the completion of the start preparation. The clutch switch 34 is configured to set the clutch 5a in a completely connected state. A first clutch switch 34a that detects the first operation amount S1 indicating that the operation of the clutch pedal 5b in the operation state has started, and a second operation amount S2 that makes the connection state of the clutch 5a non-connection state are detected. And the control means 40 of the engine automatic stop / restart device 12 detects the first operation amount S1. Occasionally, to start the start preparation to start preparation control unit 13, as the restart condition that that second operation amount S2 is detected and the starting preparation has been completed, to operate the starter motor 9.

  With this configuration, the clutch pedal 5b is operated to restart the engine 2 by the operation of the starter motor 9, and the operation amount S of the clutch pedal 5b is a restart condition for restarting the engine 2. In order to prevent or reduce the influence on the electric devices 20 and 21 due to the operation of the starter motor 9 through the start preparation control means 13 before the amount S2 is reached and when the first operation amount S1 is detected. Preparation for starting is started. As a result, in the engine 2 that is prepared for start-up before the starter motor 9 starts operating, it is possible to speed up the start by shortening the time from when the restart condition is satisfied to when the engine 2 is restarted.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, according to the embodiment of the present invention, start preparation is started when the clutch pedal 5b is depressed to the first operation amount S1, so that the clutch pedal 5b is started. Even when the starter motor 9 starts to be actuated by being depressed to the second operation amount S2 during preparation, compared to the comparative example in which the preparation for starting is started when the clutch pedal 5b is depressed to the second operation amount S2. The time from when the restart condition is satisfied until the engine 2 is restarted is shortened by time ΔT.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, when the clutch pedal 5b is operated from the time when the clutch pedal 5b is depressed to the first operation amount S1 to the second operation amount S2 over a time longer than the preparation time Ta, When the preparation is completed before the time point at which the second operation amount S2 is detected, the starter motor 9 immediately starts operating when the clutch pedal 5b is depressed to the second operation amount S2. Compared to when the start preparation is started when the clutch pedal 5b is depressed to the second operation amount S2, the time until the engine 2 is restarted after the restart condition is satisfied is shortened.

  Moreover, the starter motor 9 that restarts the engine 2 starts the engine 2 when the operation amount S of the clutch pedal 5b becomes the second operation amount S2 and the start preparation is completed. The time consumption can be limited, and the energy consumption of the battery 7 (ie, the reduction in the amount of charge) by the booster circuit 19a and the electronic control units 23a to 27a of the DC-DC converter 19 that is a preparation target component for start-up preparation is suppressed. Further, the load on the booster circuit 19a and the electronic control units 23a to 27a can be reduced. Further, by reducing the load on the booster circuit 19a and the electronic control units 23a to 27a, the durability of the booster circuit 19a and the electronic control units 23a to 27a is improved, and the heat generation of the booster circuit 19a and the electronic control units 23a to 27a is improved. It is possible to reduce the cost by eliminating or simplifying the overheating prevention measures due to.

  Since the preparation start signal from the start preparation control means 13 is transmitted to the booster circuit 19a of the DC-DC converter 19 and the electronic control units 23a to 27a of the electric device 21 through the LIN 15a or the CAN 15b, which is the in-vehicle network 15, by communication. The time from the detection of the first operation amount S1 by the first clutch switch 34a to the start of start preparation in the booster circuit 19a and the electronic control units 23a to 27a is shortened, and the start preparation can be completed earlier. Become. Furthermore, since the start completion preparation completion signal detected by the preparation completion detection unit 37 is also input to the control unit 40 through the LIN 15a or the CAN 15b, the start of the operation of the starter motor 9 by the control unit 40 can be accelerated. As a result, it is possible to speed up the restart of the engine 2 that is prepared for starting.

  In preparation for starting, the step-up circuit 19a that supplies power to the navigation device 22 is put into an operating state, or the electronic control units 23a to 27a included in the electric device 21 such as the electric power steering device 23 and the travel stabilization device 24 are connected. Data storage. Thereby, when the voltage drop of the battery 7 occurs due to the operation of the starter motor 9, the operation voltage of the navigation device 22 can be secured by the booster circuit 19a, so that the operation of the specific electrical device 20 can be maintained. It becomes possible. In addition, since the data at the start of start preparation is stored in the electronic control units 23a to 27a, it is possible to eliminate or reduce the trouble of resetting the electric device 21 after the engine 2 is restarted.

  The control unit 40 causes the start preparation control unit 13 to cancel the start preparation when the first operation amount S1 is no longer detected after the first operation amount S1 is once detected. Thereby, when the start preparation is once started, the starter motor 9 is not operated. Therefore, the engine 2 is not restarted, the clutch pedal 5b is returned, and the first operation amount S1 is set by the first clutch switch 34a. Is no longer detected, the preparation for starting is canceled, so that the booster circuit 19a and the electronic control units 23a to 27a for starting preparation suppress the energy consumption of the battery 7 and the load on the booster circuit 19a and the electronic control units 23a to 27a is reduced. Is possible.

  The control means 40 causes the start preparation control means 13 to cancel the start preparation when the second operation amount S2 is not detected within a predetermined time Tb after the first operation amount S1 is detected. Thereby, when the start preparation is once started, the starter motor 9 is not operated even when a time exceeding the predetermined time Tb has elapsed from the time when the clutch pedal 5b is operated to the first operation amount S1, and therefore the engine 2 When the engine is not restarted, the start preparation is canceled, so that the booster circuit 19a and the electronic control units 23a to 27a preparing for the start up suppress the energy consumption of the battery 7 and the load on the boost circuit 19a and the electronic control units 23a to 27a. Can be reduced.

  The control unit 40 causes the start preparation control unit 13 to start preparation when the first operation amount S1 is not detected and the second operation amount S2 is detected. Thus, even when the control means 40 cannot recognize the detection of the first operation amount S1 by the first clutch switch 34a, such as when the first clutch switch 34a is broken or the operation speed of the clutch pedal 5b is high, the preparation for starting is made. Therefore, the engine 2 can be restarted while preventing or reducing the adverse effect of the voltage drop caused by the operation of the starter motor 9 on the electric devices 20 and 21.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a part of the configuration of the above-described embodiment is changed will be described with respect to the changed configuration.
The start preparation control means 13 may cause the electronic control unit of the navigation device 22 to store data in the non-volatile memory in the same manner as the electric device 21 as start preparation.
A booster circuit 19 a as a preparation target component may be provided for the electric device 21 other than the navigation device 22.
The clutch operation unit may be a member other than the clutch pedal 5b (for example, a member such as a lever or a button operated by hand).
The engine 2 may be a combustion engine other than the internal combustion engine, or may be an electric motor.
The vehicle 1 may include a hybrid engine composed of an electric motor and an internal combustion engine as a driving prime mover. The vehicle 1 may be a vehicle other than a four-wheeled vehicle, for example, a two-wheeled vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Engine 3 Power transmission device 5a Clutch 5b Clutch pedal (clutch operation part)
7 battery (power supply)
9 Starter motor (starter)
12 Engine automatic stop / restart device 13 Start preparation control means 19a Booster circuit 20, 21 Electrical equipment 23a to 27a Electronic control unit 30 Control condition detection means 34 Clutch switch 34a First clutch switch 34b Second clutch switch 37 Preparation completion detection means S Operation amount S1 First operation amount S2 Second operation amount Tb Predetermined time

Claims (5)

Control condition detecting means for detecting an automatic stop condition and a restart condition of an engine mounted on a vehicle, and a detection signal from the control condition detecting means are inputted, and the engine is detected when the automatic stop condition is satisfied. In the engine automatic stop / restart device comprising: a control means for automatically stopping the engine and restarting the engine when the restart condition is satisfied,
The engine includes an electric starter that operates by power supplied from a power supply device to start the engine.
The vehicle is prepared for starting to prevent or reduce the influence of one or more electric devices operated by the power supplied by the power supply device and a voltage drop of the power supply device caused by the operation of the starter on the electric device. Starting preparation control means for controlling
The control condition detection means includes a clutch operating unit that operates a clutch whose connection state can be changed to transmit / cut off power between the engine and a power transmission device that transmits power of the engine to driving wheels. A clutch switch for detecting an operation amount; and a preparation completion detection means for detecting completion of the start preparation,
The clutch switch includes a first clutch switch for detecting a first operation amount indicating that an operation of the clutch operation unit in a non-operation state in which the connection state is set to a complete connection state is started, and the first operation amount. A second clutch switch that detects a second operation amount that is greater than the operation amount and that makes the connected state in a disconnected state,
The control means causes the start preparation control means to start the start preparation when the first operation amount is detected, and that the second operation amount is detected and the start preparation is completed. An engine automatic stop / restart device for operating the starter as a restart condition.   2. The start preparation includes operating a booster circuit that boosts a voltage applied to the electrical device, or storing data in an electronic control unit included in the electrical device. The engine automatic stop / restart device described.   The control means causes the start preparation control means to cancel the start preparation when the first operation amount is no longer detected after the first operation amount is once detected. 2. The engine automatic stop / restart device according to 2.   The control means causes the start preparation control means to cancel the start preparation when the second operation amount is not detected within a predetermined time after the first operation amount is detected. The engine automatic stop / restart device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   5. The control means causes the start preparation control means to start the start preparation when the first operation amount is not detected and the second operation amount is detected. 6. The engine automatic stop / restart device according to any one of the above.

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