JP2807434B2 - Engine starter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an engine starter provided with start detecting means for detecting the start of an engine, and more particularly, to an engine starter which can be applied to an engine starter which performs remote start of an engine by radio or the like. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been proposed an engine starting device by a wireless operation for starting and controlling an engine mounted on a passenger car from a remote place. The wireless engine starter includes a transmitter for transmitting an engine start command signal and a receiver for receiving the command signal transmitted from the transmitter. This receiver is mounted in the interior of an automobile. When a command signal is received, a switching mechanism such as a relay is turned on, and power is supplied from an in-vehicle battery to a cell motor (starter motor) via the receiver to drive the cell motor. The engine is started by the drive of.

Here, the engine may not be started (complete explosion: complete explosion) during one driving period of the starter motor, and if the start is not completed, it is necessary to drive the starter motor again. Therefore, the engine starting device must be provided with an engine start detecting device for automatically detecting whether or not the engine has started.

Conventionally, a generally known engine start detecting device directly monitors an output voltage of an alternator linked to an engine rotation and determines that the output voltage has risen to detect an engine start. In the method of directly monitoring the output voltage of the alternator,
When installing the wireless engine starter, it is necessary to draw a voltage detection line from the alternator mounted in the engine room to the receiver of the engine starter installed in the vehicle. However, if a voltage detection line is routed in an engine room where high heat and high vibrations are applied, the voltage detection line is inappropriate in terms of durability and the like, and wiring work is troublesome. Further, since it is necessary to form a through hole for passing the voltage detection line in a dash panel or the like, the wiring operation of the voltage detection line requires a considerable amount of work if a supplementary operation of providing a waterproof shield or the like is included.

In order to greatly reduce the time and labor required for wiring such voltage detection lines, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. Sho 62-128819, Sho 63-272962, and Shokai 55-1.
An engine start detection device as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 32368 is known. In this type of engine start detection device, when the starter motor starts, the voltage of the mounted battery suddenly falls, but attention is paid to the fact that the battery voltage rises due to the start of the engine. Attempt to detect starting.

[0006]

However, in practice, after the battery voltage rapidly drops due to the rush current at the start of the starter motor, the rush current disappears and the battery voltage recovers to a certain extent, and the current consumption by the starter motor decreases. The battery voltage undergoes a certain amount of recovery process with ripple and noise accompanying the passive weak power generation by the alternator. After that, the alternator is started by the voltage recovery due to the stop of the starter motor and the engine start (complete explosion). The battery voltage further rises due to the start of full-scale power generation. Therefore, since the transition of the battery voltage after the start of the starter motor is a slow process involving ripples and noises, it is difficult to accurately grasp the recovery process of the voltage rise, and it is difficult to respond to the ripples and noises during the slow rise process. In some cases, a rise in voltage is detected before the engine is started (complete explosion), and erroneous detection of engine start may occur. For example, before the complete explosion of the engine, since the battery voltage is a pulsating voltage with noise due to the power generation of the alternator, there is a possibility that erroneous detection of engine start may occur even though the complete explosion has not occurred. Further, for example, in the case of an engine start method in which the starter motor is driven for a fixed period of time, even if the engine does not start during that time, the drive of the starter motor stops, but when the drive of the starter motor stops, the battery voltage inevitably increases and recovers. Even if the start is not completed, the recovery of the battery voltage is detected and the start completion is determined. Therefore, it cannot be used in the engine start method in which the starter motor is timed. The above start detection method can be adopted only when the start of the starter is stopped after the engine start is determined and the starter is separated from the engine so that the starter is not dragged for a long time at the start of the engine. As described above, in the method of detecting the rise of the battery voltage, there is a disadvantage that erroneous detection of engine start frequently occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an engine starter equipped with engine start detecting means capable of eliminating erroneous detection of engine start and improving detection reliability. is there.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the engine starting apparatus for starting the engine by driving the starter motor by power supply from board battery, or
Not, the present invention includes a sheet-voltage onboard battery cause the starter motor
An engine start detecting means for performing an engine start detecting operation for detecting whether or not the value has exceeded the value immediately before the engine starts.

In particular, in the present invention, the presence or absence of the above-mentioned voltage excess
Detection period of the engine start detection operation in order to effectively capture
Is longer than the driving period of the starter motor.
You. The period until the drive is stopped is, of course, at least
The supply voltage of the on-board battery immediately after the
Whether it exceeds the value just before starting the motor.
An engine start detection operation is performed.

As one specific example of the engine start detecting means, a sample and hold means for holding a value of a supply voltage of an on-board battery immediately before starting a cell motor for a detection period; Determining means for determining that the supply voltage of the battery has exceeded the value held by the sample and hold means.

The engine start detecting means detects
When the above voltage of the on-board battery is not detected during
Indicates that the start of the engine is detected when the starter is restarted.
Perform the operation.

It is preferable that such an engine starting device is employed in a wireless engine starting device including an on-vehicle receiver having the engine start detecting means and a portable transmitter for transmitting an engine start command signal. Engine car
Applicable to all. In the case of remote start control,
A transmitter that sends an engine start command signal to the transceiver
What is necessary is just to use the provided portable engine start command device.

[Operation] In the engine starting apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, for example, the engine starting state is determined from the output line of the on-board battery that is drawn out to the ignition switch side of the operation unit in the vehicle. Battery output voltage (supply voltage) is taken out. When the starter starts, the battery output temporarily drops sharply from the normal rated output of 12 V. When the engine starts, the battery output rises and stabilizes at a value higher than the value before the start. In the engine start detecting operation of the detecting means, after the start of the starter motor, a point in time when the supply voltage of the mounted battery exceeds the value immediately before the start of the starter motor is detected. It detects the time when the battery voltage exceeds the voltage value just before the start of the starter motor, not the recovery process of the battery voltage, so it can detect the complete explosion of the engine and reduce false detection of engine start. And the detection reliability is improved . Therefore, full-scale practical use of the wireless engine starter can be achieved.

In particular, in the present invention, the overvoltage is detected.
The detection period of the detection operation is longer than the drive period of the starter motor.
It is characterized by that. Immediately after stopping the start of the starter motor
The complete explosion of the engine may occur,
Since the detection operation can be performed later, the start is not completed.
Erroneous detection can be eliminated. In other words,
Since the present invention can reliably detect incomplete starting, the
Restarting and restarting the cell motor without dragging the motor.
The engine start detection operation can be repeated with peace of mind.
A practical detection device suitable for remote engine starter
realizable.

Generally, as long as the driving of the starter motor continues,
Means that the battery voltage is
Although it is difficult to recover to the value,
Immediately after the drive stops, the battery consumption stops without fail.
Qualitatively, the battery voltage value and start-up immediately after
Can be compared to the value just before
The overvoltage can be reliably detected in conjunction with the complete explosion
Thus, the detection of the start of the engine is assured. This
Therefore, the present invention is not limited to
Suitable for driving.

Here, for example, the battery voltage immediately before startup and
Compare the voltage after startup and detect until the voltage exceeds
Extend the period and pull the driving of the starter motor for a long time
Such a detection method is also conceivable. In such a detection method,
If start is not detected, extend the detection period and
Drive is continued, and when the start is detected, the starter motor is driven.
The stop operation is controlled by the detection operation system and drive control.
Requires a feedback loop between the system and start
The device itself becomes complicated. Also, as mentioned above, the cell
As long as the motor does not stop, even if the engine starts,
The rapid recovery of battery voltage is virtually impossible.
Therefore, a considerable amount of time is left before the start is detected,
The battery itself will be greatly consumed. In addition, the engine
The start is detected for the first time after a
The drive stop of Rumota is performed, during which the cell
Motor dragging always occurs. And again
Engine starts, but engine start is not detected
In this case, the driving of the starter will be prolonged forever.
You. For this reason, the starter motor is timed only during the maximum drive period.
Need to be controlled automatically, then restart
In this case, dragging of the starter occurs again and
I will. Therefore, the start of the engine during the driving period of the starter motor
The detection method can reliably detect incomplete starting.
Therefore, it is difficult to repeatedly start the starter motor.

However, according to the present invention, the operation starts during the driving period.
Do not stop the starter motor after detecting the movement.
No detection operation system and drive control system are linked, just detection
The above-mentioned time relationship was provided between the driving period and the driving period.
The incomplete starting can be reliably detected.
Therefore, the above-mentioned inconvenience can be solved.

[0018] As the engine start detecting means, a sample and hold means for holding the value of the voltage of the on-board battery immediately before starting the cell motor for a detection period, and a holding means for holding the voltage of the on-board battery by the sample and hold means In the configuration having the determination means for determining that the voltage has exceeded the value, even if the value immediately before the start of the starter motor of the battery voltage fluctuates, since the sample and hold means is used, the presence or absence of the voltage excess can be accurately detected. And reliability can be improved. Therefore, when the above-mentioned voltage excess of the mounted battery is not detected within the detection period , the restart of the starter motor and the engine start detection operation can be repeated. At each repetition, it can be determined whether the battery voltage value (update value) immediately before the start of the starter motor exceeds the battery voltage within the detection time. Therefore, even if the battery voltage gradually drops below the rated voltage due to the consumption of the battery power due to the repetition of the driving of the cell motor at the time of starting the engine, the sample-and-hold means is used.
Ri whether the voltage exceeds the complete explosion of the engine can be reliably captured. Therefore, when the excess voltage cannot be detected,
A detector suitable for restarting the starter motor can be realized.
You.

[0019]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of an engine start detection circuit in an engine starter according to an embodiment of the present invention. The circuit of the present embodiment can be applied to, for example, a wireless engine starting device in which a vehicle-mounted engine is started from a remote place by a transmitter. In this case, the circuit of the present embodiment is applied to a vehicle body. It is built into the receiver attached to the side.

In FIG. 1, A is a voltage input terminal of a vehicle battery.
1. A variable resistor VR1 and a voltage dividing resistor R3 for detecting voltage difference adjustment are connected in series in this order. U1 is a comparator whose inverted input terminal (−input terminal) is
The resistor R1 and the variable resistor VR1 are connected via a switching element Q1 made of an ET (field effect transistor).
(The first voltage dividing point of the battery voltage) C. On the other hand, the non-inverting input terminal (+ input terminal) of the comparator U1 is connected to the connection point between the above-described variable resistor VR1 and the resistor R2 (the second voltage division of the battery voltage lower than the first voltage division point). Point) D.

The gate of the switching element Q1 is connected to a control signal input terminal B via a diode D1, from which an on / off control signal for the switching element Q1 is supplied. Further, one end of a capacitor C1 is connected to a position E between the switching element Q1 and the inverting input terminal of the comparator U1, and the other end of the capacitor C1 is grounded.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the operation of the engine start detection circuit having the above configuration will be described.

First, before the start of the starter motor (prior to time T1), the control signal (B) of the switching element Q1 is normally set to a low level, whereby the switching element Q1 is set to an on state. . As a result,
The first divided voltage (A) of the battery voltage supplied from the voltage input terminal A is supplied to the capacitor C1 via the switching element Q1 and charged to this voltage value.
Accordingly, a first partial voltage of the battery voltage of the rated voltage of 12 V (the battery voltage before the start of the cell motor) held by the capacitor C1 appears at the inverting input terminal of the comparator U1, that is, at the point E.

In this state, when an engine start command is transmitted from the transmitter of the wireless engine starter and received by the on-board receiver, the control signal (B) of the switching element Q1 is changed at time T1. Stand up to a high level. As a result, since the switching element Q1 is turned off, until the next on, that is, during the period ΔT in which the control signal (B) is at the high level, the amount of the rated 12V battery voltage at the time T1 is reduced. The pressure value is held in the capacitor C1. When the starter starts at time T2 immediately after time T1, the battery voltage (A) temporarily drops sharply. This is because a rush current is generated by the inductive load of the starter motor. After the battery voltage drops, the battery voltage gradually rises with spontaneous recovery of the battery voltage, weak power generation by the alternator, or incomplete explosion. In response to the fluctuation of the battery voltage, the second partial pressure (D) also increases. It varies with the partial pressure ratio.

When the engine is completely detonated and started by the drive by the starter motor, the battery voltage (A) exceeds the rated voltage of 12 V at time T3, rises to about 13.5 V, and is almost stabilized at this voltage value. Comparator U1
In, the first divided value (E) of the rated 12 V battery voltage sampled and held at the time point T1 is continuously supplied to the inverting input terminal, and the non-inverting input terminal is connected to the non-inverting input terminal as described above. Since the second divided voltage (D) of the battery voltage that fluctuates at the rising edge is supplied, when the first divided voltage (D) exceeds the hold voltage (E) at the time T3, the output signal of the comparator U1 is output. (F) is inverted and rises to a high level, and the start of the engine is detected by the high level output.

The second voltage division (D) is set to be slightly lower than the first voltage division by the variable resistor VR1. The influence of noise, ripple, and the like is suppressed, and the excess from the voltage value immediately before the cell is started is reliably captured.

Thereafter, at time T4, when the control signal (B) of the switching element Q1 falls to a low level,
Since the switching element Q1 is turned on, the capacitor C1
At the time point T1, the divided value of the battery voltage sampled and held at time T1 is released.

On the other hand, when the battery voltage (A) changes during the voltage hold period ΔT from time T1 to time T4,
Second voltage division (D) with respect to hold voltage E at time T1
Is not exceeded, the output of comparator U1 does not rise to a high level. That is, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 2, when the battery voltage (A) does not exceed 12 V or more, it is determined that the engine has not started. If the engine has not been started yet, the above operation is repeated at predetermined intervals, for example, according to a preset sequence, and the engine is restarted. Such repetition of starting of the engine involves repetition of start / stop of the starter motor, so that the battery is consumed even during the repetition period, does not recover to the rated voltage, and the battery voltage gradually decreases. However, in this example, the battery voltage value immediately before the start of the cell motor is sampled and held as an updated value. Therefore, even if the value of the battery voltage immediately before the start of the start of the cell motor fluctuates, the excess voltage can be accurately detected. Can be
Reliability can be improved.

As described above, the start detection circuit of the present embodiment focuses on the fact that the output voltage of the vehicle-mounted battery at the time of starting the engine is higher after starting the engine than before starting the starter motor.
This is to catch the voltage excess. Therefore,
Unlike the related art, there is no need to determine the start of the engine based on the output voltage from the alternator, so that it is not necessary to draw an output voltage detection line from the alternator. Also,
It is difficult to accurately detect the recovery process of the battery voltage rise, and there is a strong risk of erroneous detection.However, in this example, the excess voltage is captured, so detection immediately after the start of the start of the starter motor is also possible. In addition, erroneous detection of engine start can be reduced, and detection reliability can be improved.
Therefore, practical use of the wireless engine starter can be achieved.

In the above example, it is appropriate that the battery voltage hold period ΔT is set so as to be equal to or longer than the drive period of the starter motor. When the start of the starter motor is stopped, the battery voltage inevitably rises and recovers.
The full-scale power generation of the alternator causes the battery voltage to further rise and exceed the value immediately before the start of the starter motor. However, when the engine is not completely started, the battery voltage rises and recovers but does not exceed it. For this reason, the engine may start (complete explosion) immediately after the stoppage of the start of the starter motor, so that the frequency of erroneous detection can be reduced.

Further, for example, as a fail-safe mechanism of the detection circuit of the present embodiment, a detection circuit for detecting the start of the engine from the output of the alternator may be additionally provided.

[0033]

As described above, the present invention provides an engine
Do not drive the starter until the start of the motor is detected.
In order to effectively detect the presence of
Power supply of on-board battery immediately after stop of cell motor drive
Pressure exceeded the value just before starting the starter motor
It has a feature in the engine start detection operation that
That therefore, in which the following effects.

Generally, as long as the driving of the starter motor continues.
Means that the battery voltage is
Although it is difficult to recover the value,
Immediately after stopping the operation, the battery consumption stops without fail.
Battery voltage value and start-up immediately after stop of driving of cell motor
It can be effectively compared to the previous value, and
Jin's complete explosion could catch a certain voltage excess
As a result, the engine start detection can be reliably performed. Ma
Also, the complete explosion of the engine
Although it may occur, even in such a case, immediately after the stop of the start of the starter motor
The detection operation is possible with
It is possible to eliminate erroneous detection. In other words,
Akira confirmed that the start-up was not completed immediately after the stop
Because it can be detected, it does not generate dragging of the starter
In addition, the restart of the starter and the operation to detect the engine start are cheaper.
In particular, remote engine starting devices
And a practical detection device suitable for the device.

As an engine start detecting means, a mounting bar
Check the value of the battery supply voltage immediately before starting the cell motor.
Sample holding means for holding over the outgoing period, and mounting
The supply voltage of the battery is held by the sample and hold means.
Determination means for determining that the stored value has been exceeded
In the configuration having
Even if the value just before starting the data fluctuates,
Excess can be captured. As a result, the
If the above voltage of the mounted battery is not detected,
Restart and engine start detection can be repeated.
You. In other words, the start of the starter motor at the start of the engine is repeated.
Battery power consumption due to repetition
Even if the re-voltage drops gradually,
Overvoltage after complete engine explosion
Therefore, when the excess voltage cannot be detected,
A practical detection device capable of restarting can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of an engine start detection circuit in an engine start device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a signal waveform diagram for explaining an operation of the circuit of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: battery voltage input terminal B: control signal input terminal C: first voltage dividing point of battery voltage D: second voltage dividing point of battery voltage R1, resistor VR1 variable resistor C1 capacitor U1 Comparator Q1: Switching element ΔT: Voltage hold period.

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. An engine starter for starting an engine by driving a cell motor by power supply from an on-board battery, wherein a supply voltage of the on-board battery exceeds a value immediately before starting the on- cell motor. includes an engine start detecting means for performing an engine start detecting operation to capture whether,
The detection period of the engine start detection operation is the cell motor.
An engine starter characterized by being longer than the drive period of the engine. 2. The engine starting device according to claim 1 , wherein said engine start detecting means includes said on-board battery.
Of the supply voltage immediately before the start of the starter motor
Sample and hold means for holding over a detection period;
The supply voltage of the on-board battery is
A judgment is made to determine that the value has exceeded the held value.
An engine starting device, comprising: another means . 3. The engine starting device according to claim 1 , wherein said engine start detecting means includes:
Do not catch the overvoltage of the onboard battery within the detection period.
The engine starts when the starter motor is restarted.
An engine starting device for performing a motion detection operation . 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
The prescribed engine start device is provided with the engine start detection means.
Transmits an engine start command signal and an in-vehicle receiver
With a portable transmitter and a wireless engine starter
Engine starting apparatus characterized by some. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
Characterized by comprising a prescribed engine start detecting means
And engine car . 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
In-vehicle receiver with specified engine start detection means
Equipped with a transmitter that sends an engine start command signal
A portable engine start command device, comprising: 7. A cell mode by power supply from an on-board battery.
An engine starter that drives the engine to start the engine
Therefore, at least immediately after the stop of the starter motor drive
Immediately before starting the starter motor, the supply voltage of the on-board battery
Engine start detection to determine whether it has exceeded the value
The engine start detecting means for performing the starting operation.
Engine starting device characterized by the following. 8. The engine starting device according to claim 7,
Wherein the engine start detecting means includes
Detect the value of the supply voltage immediately before starting the starter motor
Sample and hold means for holding over a period of time;
The supply voltage of the onboard battery is held by the sample and hold means
Discriminator that determines that the stored value has been exceeded
An engine starting device comprising: a step;