JP3819504B2 - Engine starter for vehicle - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle engine starter including an engine starter that starts an engine by connecting a battery to a starter circuit in response to a start command from the outside.
[0002]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been provided a vehicle engine starter that starts a vehicle engine in a stopped state by transmitting a start signal as a radio signal from a portable transceiver, for example.
[0003]
That is, this type of vehicle engine starter receives predetermined start conditions (for example, the condition that the transmission is not in the travel position, the parking brake is operated, etc.) when a start signal is received from the transceiver. The engine is started by connecting a battery and a starter circuit through a starter relay on the assumption that the above is satisfied.
[0004]
At this time, whether or not the engine has been started is determined by comparing the battery voltage before the starter relay operation and the battery voltage after the starter relay operation. Specifically, when the engine is started, the battery voltage after the starter relay operation becomes larger than the battery voltage before the starter relay operation with the power generation of the alternator, so that it is determined that the engine has started based on that. ing. There is also a configuration in which it is determined that the engine has started when it is detected that the battery voltage after the starter relay operation has become a predetermined value or more.
[0005]
However, with these devices as described above, the ease of starting the engine varies depending on the environmental temperature, battery deterioration, etc., so the battery voltage after the starter relay operation may be higher than the battery voltage before the starter relay operation. Even if the battery voltage after the starter relay operation exceeds a predetermined value, the engine may not start. That is, in such a case, it is erroneously determined that the engine has started even though the engine has not started.
[0006]
In particular, when the battery voltage after the starter relay operation becomes larger than the battery voltage before the starter relay operation, it is determined that the engine has started, for example, when the switch of the air conditioner is turned on, Since the battery voltage before the starter relay operation is lowered, the battery voltage after the starter relay operation is likely to be larger than the battery voltage before the starter relay operation, and the above-described problems are likely to occur.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an engine starter that starts an engine by connecting a battery to a starter circuit in response to a start command from the outside. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular engine starter that can satisfactorily determine whether or not the engine has started.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The vehicle engine starter of the present invention includes:
In a vehicle engine starter having engine start means for starting an engine by connecting a battery to a starter circuit in response to a start command from the outside, within a predetermined unit time of the battery in an operation end state of the engine start means Maximum battery voltage detecting means for detecting the maximum battery voltage at every predetermined unit time;
Maximum battery voltage comparison means for comparing the current maximum battery voltage detected by the maximum battery voltage detection means with the previous maximum battery voltage;
Counting means for counting the number of times that this maximum battery voltage comparison means determines that the current maximum battery voltage is greater than the previous maximum battery voltage;
The engine is characterized by comprising engine start determination means for determining that the engine has started based on the fact that the count means has counted the predetermined number of times.
[0009]
According to the vehicle engine starter having the above-described configuration, when the engine is started by an external start command, the maximum battery voltage within the predetermined unit time in the predetermined unit time in the operation end state of the engine starter is detected by the maximum battery voltage detector. The maximum battery voltage comparison unit detects the current maximum battery voltage detected by the maximum battery voltage detection unit and the previous maximum battery voltage. The count means counts the number of times that the current maximum battery voltage is determined to be greater than the previous maximum battery voltage, and the engine start determination means counts the count counted by the count means to a predetermined number. It is determined that the engine has started.
[0010]
In other words, when the engine is started, the battery voltage tends to increase as the battery is charged in the operation end state of the engine starting means. Therefore, the maximum battery voltage tends to increase every predetermined unit time. By checking, it is possible to satisfactorily determine whether or not the engine has started.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, as an embodiment of the present invention, a case where an engine is started using a portable transmitter will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, in FIG. 2 schematically showing an electrical configuration, a portable transmitter 1 is carried by a user of an automobile, and a start signal for instructing start of the engine of the automobile according to the operation thereof. For example, Sa is transmitted by a radio signal.
[0012]
The receiving unit 2 includes a receiving circuit 3 that receives the start signal Sa, and a control circuit 4 that receives the start signal Sa received by the receiving circuit 3 (an engine starting unit, a maximum battery voltage detecting unit, a maximum battery in the present invention). Voltage comparison means, count means, engine start determination means), power supply relays 5 and 6, operation (ACC) relay 7, ignition (IG) relays 8 and 9 and starter (ST) controlled by the control circuit 4 The relays 10 and 11 are provided.
[0013]
The power supply relays 5 and 6 are connected to the battery 12 in a closed state (on state) of the contacts 5a and 6a, respectively, so that a power supply circuit is formed. The accessory relay 7 is configured such that an accessory (air conditioner, audio, etc.) circuit is connected to the battery 12 via the power supply relay 5 when the contact 7 a is closed (on). The ignition relays 8 and 9 are configured such that two ignition circuits are connected to the battery 12 when the contacts 8a and 9a are closed (on state), respectively. The starter relays 10 and 11 are configured such that two systems of starter circuits for energizing an engine starter (not shown) are connected to the battery 12 when the contacts 10a and 11a are closed (on state).
[0014]
A battery voltage dividing circuit 13 is connected to the battery 12. The battery voltage dividing circuit 13 outputs the battery voltage of the battery 12 to the control circuit 4 in a state where the battery voltage is divided to be equal to or lower than a power supply voltage (for example, 5 V).
[0015]
The control circuit 4 is supplied with signals from a parking brake switch 14, a shift position switch 15, a bonnet switch 16, and a door opening / closing detection switch 17 in order to determine engine start conditions. Specifically, the parking brake switch 14 gives a brake operation signal S1 when the parking brake of the vehicle is in the operating position, and the shift position switch 15 performs parking when the automatic transmission of the vehicle is in the parking position. A signal S2 is provided. A bonnet closing signal S3 is given from the bonnet switch 16 when the hood of the automobile is closed, and a door closing signal S3 is given from the door opening / closing detection switch 17 when all the door lock mechanisms of the automobile are locked. S4 is given.
[0016]
The control circuit 4 includes a microcomputer and operates based on a preset control program. Hereinafter, the control contents of the control circuit 4 at the time of starting the engine and the operation of the parts related thereto will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 1 and the battery voltage fluctuation diagram shown in FIG. The control program includes various timers and counters described later, and these various timers and counters operate as appropriate.
[0017]
First, when the user operates the transmitter 1 to get on, a start signal Sa is transmitted from the transmitter 1. When the start signal Sa is given (determined as “YES” in step S1), the control circuit 4 determines whether or not an engine start condition is satisfied in order to start the engine (step S2). In this case, the engine start condition is that the brake operation signal S1, the parking signal S2, the bonnet closing signal S3 and the door closing signal S4 are all input, that is, the parking brake is operating, automatic The engine start condition is satisfied when the transmission is in the parking position, the hood of the vehicle is closed, and the door lock mechanism is in a locked state.
[0018]
When the engine start condition is satisfied (determined as “YES” in step S2), the control circuit 4 determines that it is safe to form a power supply circuit for starting the engine, and the power supply relay 5 and 6 are turned on (step S3). As a result, the accessory relay 7, the ignition relays 8 and 9, and the starter relays 10 and 11 are connected to the battery 12 through the power supply relays 5 and 6.
[0019]
Next, the control circuit 4 turns on the accessory relay 7 and the ignition relays 8 and 9 to start the engine (steps S4 and S5). As a result, an accessory circuit such as an air conditioner and audio is connected to the battery 12 through the contact 7a of the accessory relay 7, and the ignition circuit is connected to the battery 12 through the contacts 8a and 9a of the ignition relays 8 and 9 (FIG. (See t1 in 3).
[0020]
Subsequently, when a first predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) elapses (determined as “YES” in step S6), the control circuit 4 prevents the energization voltage to the starter circuit from decreasing. Is turned off (step S7), and the starter relays 10 and 11 are turned on (step S8). As a result, the starter circuit operates, that is, the engine starts. At this time, the battery voltage of the battery 12 rapidly decreases as the starter circuit is energized (see t2 in FIG. 3).
[0021]
When the second predetermined time elapses ("YES" is determined in step S9), the control circuit 4 turns off the starter relays 10 and 11 (step S10), and turns on the accessory relay 7 (step S10). S11). At this time, the battery voltage of the battery 12 rapidly increases in response to the starter relays 10 and 11 being turned off and the energization of the starter circuit being terminated (see t3 in FIG. 3).
[0022]
At this time, the control circuit 4 turns on (starts) the 90-second timer and the 0.5-second timer (steps S12 and S13). Thus, as will be described in detail later, the determination end time of the engine start determination in the control circuit 4 is set 90 seconds later by the 90 second timer, and the determination start time is set 0.5 seconds later by the 0.5 second timer. . The reason why the determination start time is 0.5 seconds after the starter relay is turned off is to wait until the starter circuit is energized when the starter relay is turned off.
[0023]
Subsequently, when the 0.5 second timer is turned off (determined as “YES” in step S14), the control circuit 4 inputs the battery voltage of the battery 12 through the battery voltage dividing circuit 13 (step S15), 3 seconds. The timer is turned on (started) (see step S16 and t4 in FIG. 3), and the maximum battery voltage V (n) of the battery voltages supplied from the battery 12 is monitored (step S17).
[0024]
When the 3-second timer is turned off (determined as “YES” in step S18), the control circuit 4 temporarily stores the maximum battery voltage V (n) until the 3-second timer is turned off (step S18). S19). Subsequently, the control circuit 4 monitors the maximum battery voltage V (n + 1) for the next 3 seconds by performing the same process as in steps S16 to S18 (see steps S20 to 22 and t5 in FIG. 3).
[0025]
Next, the control circuit 4 compares the maximum battery voltage V (n) obtained in step S17 with the maximum battery voltage V (n + 1) obtained in step S21, and the maximum battery voltage V (n + 1) is the maximum battery voltage V. When greater than (n) ("YES" is determined in step S23), the counter is incremented (step S24).
[0026]
Then, the control circuit 4 determines the count of the counter, and when the count is smaller than 5 (determined as “YES” in step S25), the maximum battery voltage V (n + 1) obtained this time is determined as the maximum battery voltage V (n). Is temporarily stored (step S26). Then, the control circuit 4 determines whether or not the 90-second timer is turned off. When the 90-second timer is turned on (determined as “YES” in step S27), the control circuit 4 returns to step S20, and the above-described steps S20 to S20 are performed. 25 processes are executed. That is, the control circuit 4 repeatedly executes the processes of steps S20 to S27 unless the count of the counter becomes 5 in step S25 or unless the 90-second timer is turned off in step S27.
[0027]
Now, when the engine is started, the battery voltage after the starter relay operation tends to increase as the battery 12 is charged as shown in FIG. 3, and accordingly, the maximum battery voltage V (n + 1) is the previous time. Tends to be larger than the maximum battery voltage V (n). In response to this, the control circuit 4 determines that the current maximum battery voltage V (n + 1) has become greater than the previous maximum battery voltage V (n) five times, that is, the counter count is 5 When it becomes (NO at step S25), it is determined that the engine has started (step S28), the engine is warmed up (step S29), and the process is terminated.
[0028]
On the other hand, when the engine does not start, the battery voltage after the starter relay operation does not tend to increase. Therefore, when the 90-second timer is turned off ("YES" in step S27), the control circuit 4 And the counter count is reset (step S30), and the process is terminated.
[0029]
Thus, in this embodiment, the control circuit 4 monitors the maximum battery voltage for 3 seconds after the starter relay operation every 3 seconds, and the obtained maximum battery voltage V (n + 1) is the previous maximum voltage. The engine is determined to have started when it has been detected five times that the battery voltage V (n) has been exceeded. Therefore, when the engine is started, the battery voltage tends to increase as the battery 12 is charged. Thus, the engine is started by checking the increasing tendency of the maximum battery voltage every 3 seconds in this way. This makes it possible to make a good judgment.
[0030]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified or expanded as follows.
The transmitter 1 may be a stationary type instead of a portable type.
From the transmitter 1, a start signal may be transmitted as a magnetic signal.
[0031]
Various timers are not limited to 90 seconds, 0.5 seconds, and 3 seconds, and may be set to arbitrary times.
The count of the counter is not limited to five, and may be set to an arbitrary number.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As apparent from the above description, in the vehicle engine starter according to the first aspect, when the engine is started, the maximum battery voltage detecting means is the maximum battery voltage within a predetermined unit time when the engine is started. The maximum battery voltage comparing means compares the current maximum battery voltage with the previous maximum battery voltage, and the counting means determines that the current maximum battery voltage is greater than the previous maximum battery voltage. The determined number of times is counted, and the engine start determining means is configured to determine that the engine has started based on the predetermined number of times.
[0033]
Therefore, when the engine is started, the battery voltage tends to increase as the battery is charged when the engine starting means is in an operation-completed state. Therefore, the maximum battery voltage tends to increase every predetermined unit time. By checking, it is possible to satisfactorily determine whether or not the engine has started.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing control contents in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an electrical block configuration diagram. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing fluctuations in battery voltage.
In the drawing, 4 is a control circuit (engine starting means, maximum battery voltage detecting means, maximum battery voltage comparing means, counting means, engine starting determining means), and 12 is a battery.

Claims (1)

In a vehicle engine starter having an engine starter for starting an engine by connecting a battery to a starter circuit in response to a start command from the outside,
Maximum battery voltage detecting means for detecting a maximum battery voltage within a predetermined unit time of the battery every predetermined unit time in an operation end state of the engine starting means;
Maximum battery voltage comparison means for comparing the current maximum battery voltage detected by the maximum battery voltage detection means with the previous maximum battery voltage;
Counting means for counting the number of times that this maximum battery voltage comparison means determines that the current maximum battery voltage is greater than the previous maximum battery voltage;
An engine start device for a vehicle, comprising: an engine start determination unit that determines that the engine has started based on a predetermined number of times counted by the count unit.

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