JP5805614B2 - Engine start control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an engine start control device, and more particularly to an engine start control device capable of notifying an occupant of a decrease in the remaining amount of a vehicle-mounted battery.

  Conventionally, it is known to apply an ACG starter motor that also serves as a generator and is coaxially fixed to a crankshaft to a starter motor that cranks the crankshaft when the engine is started. According to such an ACG starter motor, there is no reduction gear, jumping gear, or the like between the crankshaft, so that no mechanical operating noise is generated and the engine can be started with high silence.

  Patent Document 1 combines the above-described ACG starter motor with idle stop control that stops the engine at the time of temporary stop such as waiting for a signal to suppress fuel consumption and restarts the engine quickly in response to the throttle operation. An engine start control device is disclosed.

JP 2010-163879 A

  However, if an ACG starter motor with high quietness at the time of starting the engine is used as in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the occupant starts without feeling any change even when the charge amount of the battery is reduced. There was a possibility that it would be difficult for the passenger to grasp the state of the battery. On the other hand, there is a problem that if an indicator or the like is provided to notify a decrease in the remaining battery level, there is a problem that the number of parts and the cost increase, and there is a desire to notify more strongly even when an indicator is provided.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the prior art and provide an engine start control device capable of notifying an occupant of a decrease in the remaining amount of a battery by control at the time of engine start.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ACG starter motor (18) that functions as a starter motor when an engine is started and also functions as a generator after the engine is started, and stores electric power generated by the ACG starter motor (18) and stores the engine. An engine start control device comprising a battery (19) for supplying electric power to the ACG starter motor (18) at the time of start and an engine start control means (40) for controlling electric power supplied to the ACG starter motor (18). The state of charge (E) of the battery (19) is determined to be less than a predetermined value by the state of charge detection means (41) for detecting the state of charge of the battery (19) and the state of charge detection means (41). And the amount of time until the engine starts when the engine is started is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount of charge (E) There is a first feature that includes a starting time delay control means for executing a start-up time delay control for longer than a case (46).

  Further, the start time delay control includes control for reducing the rotational torque of the ACG starter motor (18) as compared with the case where the charge amount (E) of the battery (19) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The point has the second feature.

  The start time delay control includes a control for providing a predetermined delay time from when the engine is requested to start until the ACG starter motor (18) is actually energized. There are features.

  Further, in the start time delay control, the engine output of the engine ignition device (54) and the fuel injection device (55) is reduced as compared with the case where the charge amount of the battery (19) is a predetermined value or more. There is a fourth feature in that control is included in the direction of movement.

  Further, the start time delay control means (46) has a fifth feature in that, in addition to the start time delay control, the control for causing the ACG starter motor (18) to vibrate when the engine is started. .

  Further, the start time delay control includes a control for reducing the rotational torque of the ACG starter motor (18) and a time from when the engine start request is made until the ACG starter motor (18) is actually energized. The start time delay control means (46) includes a control for providing a predetermined delay time, and the start time delay control means (46) delays the start time so that the time until the engine starts increases as the charge amount (E) of the battery decreases. The contents of the control are switched in stages, and the engine start control means (40) idles to temporarily stop the engine when a predetermined engine stop condition is satisfied and restart the engine when the predetermined engine restart condition is satisfied. The start time delay control is configured so as to be able to execute stop control. It can be executed both when the engine is restarted by the control and when the engine is started according to the operation of the starter switch (31) from the engine stop state, and when the engine is started according to the operation of the starter switch (31). Compared with the applied start time delay control, the start time delay control applied at the time of engine restart from the idle stop control is set so that the time until the engine is completely started is shortened. The point has a sixth feature.

  According to the first feature, when the state of charge of the battery is determined to be less than the predetermined value by the state of charge detecting means for detecting the state of charge of the battery and the state of charge detecting means, the engine is started when the engine is started. Start time delay control means for executing start time delay control for making the charging time longer than that when the charge amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Therefore, the engine has a configuration in which the ACG starter motor is directly connected to the crankshaft of the engine. Even when the mechanical noise at start-up is low, by increasing the time until the engine starts, the occupant recognizes that the remaining battery level is low without installing a new battery level indicator or other parts. Can be made.

  According to the second feature, the start time delay control includes a control for reducing the rotational torque of the ACG starter motor as compared with a case where the charge amount of the battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Decreasing the rotation speed increases the time until the engine is started, thereby allowing the occupant to recognize that the remaining battery level is low.

  According to the third feature, the start time delay control includes a control for providing a predetermined delay time from when an engine start request is made until the ACG starter motor is actually energized. By delaying the start, the time until the engine is started becomes longer, which allows the occupant to recognize that the remaining amount of the battery is low.

  According to the fourth feature, in the starting time delay control, the engine ignition device and the fuel injection device are controlled in a direction in which the engine output decreases as compared with the case where the charge amount of the battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Therefore, without changing the control for the ACG starter motor, the time until the engine is started is increased by the retard control of the ignition device and the thinning-out control of the ignition device and the fuel injection device. It is possible to make the occupant recognize that there is little state.

  According to the fifth feature, in addition to the start time delay control, the start time delay control means executes control for causing the ACG starter motor to vibrate when the engine is started. Therefore, only the time until the engine start is increased. Instead, by generating vibration in the ACG starter motor, it is possible to actively notify the occupant that the remaining amount of the battery is low.

  According to the sixth feature, the control includes a control for reducing the rotational torque of the ACG starter motor, and a control for providing a predetermined delay time from when an engine start request is made until the ACG starter motor is actually energized. The start time delay control means switches the content of the start time delay control stepwise so that the time until the engine starts as the battery charge decreases, and the engine start control means The engine is temporarily stopped when the condition is satisfied, and the idle stop control for restarting the engine when the predetermined engine restart condition is satisfied can be executed, and the start time delay control is performed from the engine stop state to the idle stop. When restarted by control and when the starter switch is operated while the engine is stopped The start time delay applied when the engine is restarted from the idle stop control as compared to the start time delay control applied when the engine is started according to the operation of the starter switch. Since the control is set so that the time until the engine completes starting is shortened, rapid restart from the idle stop control is maintained as much as possible, and a difference from the start time by the starter switch is provided. This makes it easier for the occupant to recognize that the time to start the engine is longer when starting with the starter switch.

1 is a side view of a motorcycle to which an engine start control device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a motorcycle. It is a block diagram which shows an idle stop control apparatus and its periphery structure. It is a list which shows the aspect of start time delay control. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of starting time delay control. It is a graph which shows the energization waveform of an ACG starter motor.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle 1 to which an engine start control device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the motorcycle 1. The motorcycle 1 is a scooter type vehicle in which low floors 12 on which passengers can put their feet are provided on the left and right in the vehicle width direction of a spanning portion 11 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. A head pipe 3 that pivotally supports a steering stem 4 is coupled to a front end portion of the vehicle body frame 2. A pair of left and right steering handles 5 are attached to the upper portion of the steering stem 4, and a pair of left and right front forks 6 that rotatably support the front wheel WF are attached to one lower portion. A front fender 7 that covers the front wheel WF is attached to the front fork 6.

  In front of the head pipe 3, a battery 19 for supplying electric power to the electric load of each part and an ECU 40 for controlling an engine ignition device, a fuel injection device, and the like are disposed. A headlamp 9 and a wind screen 10 are attached to the front cowl 8 disposed so as to cover the battery 19 and the ECU 40. In addition, turn signal devices 20 are built in both ends of the headlamp 9 in the vehicle width direction.

  A rear frame 17 that supports the seat cowl 16 and the seat 15 is coupled to the rear end of the vehicle body frame 2. The fuel tank 13 is disposed inside the straddle portion 11 so as to cover the vehicle body frame 2 from above. At the rear of the fuel tank 13, a unit swing type power unit 14 on which a rear wheel WR is rotatably supported is attached.

  A four-cycle single-cylinder internal combustion engine (engine) is provided at the front portion of the power unit 14, and a transmission case 24 that houses a belt-type continuously variable transmission is integrally provided at one rear portion. An air cleaner box 25 is attached to the upper part of the transmission case 24. The power unit 14 is pivotally supported on the front side of the rear frame 17 and supported so as to be suspended from the rear shock 26 on the rear side of the rear frame 17.

  The power unit 14 according to the present embodiment includes an ACG starter motor 18 in which a starter motor (cell motor) that starts the engine and a generator that generates electric power with the rotational driving force of the engine are integrated. The ACG starter motor 18 is directly connected to the crankshaft of the engine without using a reduction gear or the like. For this reason, the mechanical operation sound during cranking for starting the engine is extremely small, and the engine can be started smoothly. The ACG starter motor 18 during traveling can also be used as auxiliary power for engine driving force.

  FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the motorcycle 1. The same reference numerals as those described above denote the same or equivalent parts. The steering handle 5 has a configuration in which an operating lever for front and rear brakes, handle switches 23 and 24, and a handle grip gripped by an occupant are attached to the left and right ends of the handle bar 21. The handle bar 21 is fixed to a handle post 22 provided at the upper end of the steering stem 4 (see FIG. 1). A meter unit 30 provided with various instruments is disposed on the front side of the vehicle body of the handle post 22.

  The handle switch 23 on the right side in the vehicle width direction is provided with a starter switch 31 for cranking and starting the engine. On the other hand, the handle switch 24 on the left side in the vehicle width direction is provided with an optical axis changeover switch 32, a horn switch 33, and a winker switch 34 of the headlamp 9. When the starter switch 31 is pressed with the vehicle powered on, cranking by the ACG starter motor 18 is executed and the engine is started.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an engine start control device and its peripheral configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. The engine start control device according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to execute idle stop control that temporarily stops the engine when a predetermined condition is met during a temporary stop such as waiting for a signal, and restarts it in accordance with the driver's intention to start. ing.

  The ECU 40 serving as the engine start control device detects the state of charge of the battery 19 based on the output signal of the engine start control means 45 that controls the ignition device 54 and the fuel injection device 55 and the voltage sensor 50 that detects the voltage of the battery 19. Charging state detection means 41, a charge value counter 43, and a timer 44 are included. The charge value counter 43 is, for example, a measuring instrument that is incremented every second while the engine speed exceeds a predetermined value and decrements every second while the engine speed is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The state of charge of the battery 19 is estimated and detected by comparing the counter value with the threshold value, and the battery state is detected independently or in parallel with the voltage sensor 50.

  The engine start control means 45 includes a start time delay control means 46 for delaying the time required for engine start, and an idle stop control means 47 for executing idle stop control. The idle stop control means 47 detects that the state of charge of the battery 19 is good and then temporarily stops the engine when a predetermined condition such as the vehicle speed is satisfied, and when a start operation is detected during the temporary stop. Execute idle stop control to restart the engine.

  The engine start control means 45 includes a vehicle speed sensor 51 that detects the vehicle speed of the motorcycle 1, a throttle opening sensor 52 that detects the opening of the throttle, and a pressure-sensitive sensor that detects whether or not an occupant is seated on the seat 15. Information from the seating sensor 53 and the starter SW 31 is input. In addition to the battery state described above, the predetermined condition for permitting the engine stop by the idle stop control is that the vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value (for example, 5 km / h) and the throttle opening is less than a predetermined value (for example, 5 degrees). It can also be set that the passenger is seated.

  Here, since the ACG starter motor 18 does not generate electric power during the temporary stop of the engine by the idle stop control, the discharge of the battery 19 proceeds due to an electric load such as a lighting device or various control devices as time elapses. Become. In particular, when the headlamp 9 is always lit, the remaining amount of charge of the battery 19 may be greatly reduced because the headlamp 9 continues to be lit even during the temporary stop by the idle stop control. However, in the configuration in which the ACG starter motor 18 having high quietness at the time of starting the engine is applied, even when the remaining charge amount of the battery 19 is low, it is difficult to feel a large change at the start time and the occupant does not notice the decrease in the remaining battery amount There was a possibility.

  In response to this problem, the engine start control device according to the present embodiment performs start time delay control for increasing the time until the engine is actually started when the engine is started in a state where the charge amount of the battery 19 is reduced. Thus, the occupant can recognize that the battery 19 is weak (the battery is low). Here, the engine start includes both the restart from the idle stop state and the first engine start by the operation of the starter switch (starter SW) 31.

  FIG. 4 is a list showing modes of start time delay control according to the present embodiment. In the start time delay control according to the present embodiment, the delay time is set as a standby time from the energization request to the ACG starter motor 18 until the energization is actually started, and the energization mode to the ACG starter motor 18 is changed. The delay control is executed by energizing so that the rotational torque generated by the ACG starter motor 18 is reduced. The energization request to the ACG starter motor 18 is, for example, a detection of the pressing operation of the starter SW 31 at the normal start (at the first start after power-on and at the start after the engine stall), while from the idle stop state. At the time of restart, the occupant's throttle operation, detection of the starter SW, and automatic restart when the amount of charge is low.

  In the present embodiment, since “starting time delay control” is executed in stages, the first predetermined value> the second predetermined value> the third predetermined value within the range of zero to full charge in the remaining battery level (voltage) E. Are set, and the mode of “starting time delay control” is made different depending on the amount of remaining battery E to be compared with the predetermined value.

  First, when the battery state is “battery remaining amount E ≧ first predetermined value (for example, 70%)”, that is, when it is determined that the battery remaining amount E has a sufficient margin, The start delay control is not executed both at the time of restart from the idle stop.

  Next, when the battery state is “first predetermined value> battery remaining amount E ≧ second predetermined value (for example, 50%)”, at the time of start-up by the starter SW, delay control without delay time is executed, It is set so that the start time delay control is not executed when restarting from the idle stop. Here, the delay time is a standby time from when the starter SW 31 is operated by the occupant until the ACG starter motor 18 is energized.

  Further, when the battery state is “second predetermined value> battery remaining amount E ≧ third predetermined value (for example, 30%)”, there is a delay time (for example, 2 seconds) at the start by the starter SW, and from the idle stop When restarting, set to execute delay control without delay time. Here, a delay time may be set even when restarting from an idle stop. In this case, a delay time from when the occupant detects a throttle operation to when energization of the ACG starter motor 18 is started. The delay time may be set shorter than that at the start by the starter SW (for example, 1 second).

  When the battery state is “battery remaining amount E <third predetermined value (for example, 30%)”, that is, when the remaining battery amount E is low enough to cause the battery to run out, the starter SW starts In FIG. 5, the delay control with the delay time is executed and the forced restart is executed from the idle stop state. This forced restart corresponds to an operation that automatically restarts without waiting for the occupant's throttle operation to avoid battery exhaustion when the remaining battery level E is less than the third predetermined value during the idle stop control. To do. At the time of this forced restart, in order to preserve the remaining battery capacity, it is desirable not to perform the delay control or to set it very short even if it is performed.

  In the start time delay control described above, the time until the engine is actually started is set to be shorter when restarting from the idle stop than when starting with the starter SW. In order to make it easier to recognize that there is a desire to start quickly when restarting from the stop, and that the start time delay control is executed at the start by the starter SW by providing a difference with respect to the start by the starter SW. is there.

  In the above embodiment, the delay control is performed by energizing the ACG starter motor 18 so that the rotational torque generated by the ACG starter motor 18 is small. However, for example, for the ignition device 54 and / or the fuel injection device 55, By performing control to lower the engine output from the time (for example, retard timing control of ignition timing, thinned ignition or thinned injection), the time until the engine is actually started can be lengthened.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of start time delay control. First, in step S1, the remaining battery level E is detected, and in step S2, it is determined whether the remaining battery level E is less than a third predetermined value. If a negative determination is made in step S2, the process proceeds to step S3, and it is determined whether or not the remaining battery level E is less than a second predetermined value. Subsequently, when a negative determination is made in step S3, the process proceeds to step S4, and it is determined whether or not the remaining battery level E is less than a first predetermined value. If a negative determination is made in step S4, that is, if the remaining amount E of the battery 19 is greater than or equal to the first predetermined value and it is determined that the start time delay control is not required, no start time delay control is performed in step S5. To complete the series of controls.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step S2 is affirmative in step S2, that is, if the battery remaining amount E is smaller than the third predetermined value, the control from step S6 is executed. In step S6, the entry condition to the idle stop control is not established, and thus, the entry to the idle stop control is prohibited even when predetermined conditions such as the vehicle speed, the throttle opening degree, and the seating state are satisfied, and the remaining battery level is reduced. Further reduction is avoided.

  Subsequently, in step S7, it is determined whether or not the engine is temporarily stopped due to idle stop. If a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step S8. In step S8, the start time delay control means 46 sets the start time delay control at the time of start by the starter SW to the delay control with the delay time, and the series of control is finished. On the other hand, when a positive determination is made in step S7, forced restart is executed.

  If the determination in step S3 is affirmative in step S3, that is, if it is determined that the remaining battery level E is greater than or equal to the third predetermined value and less than the second predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S10, and from idle stop The start time delay control at the time of restart is set to delay control without delay time, and the start time delay control at start by the starter SW is set to delay control with delay time, and the series of control is completed.

  If the determination in step S4 is affirmative in step S3, that is, if it is determined that the remaining battery level E is greater than or equal to the second predetermined value and less than the first predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S11, and idle The start time delay control at the time of restart from the stop is set to none, the start time delay control at the time of start by the starter SW is set to the delay control without the delay time, and the series of control is finished.

  FIG. 6 is a graph showing an energization waveform of the ACG starter motor. As described above, the engine start control device according to this embodiment, for example, deletes the hatched portion in the figure B from the range shown in the figure A by switching the energization angle applied to the ACG starter motor 18 from 180 degrees to 120 degrees. The rotational torque can be reduced.

  In addition, the engine start control device more actively notifies the occupant of the state in which the remaining battery level is low, so that the ACG starter motor 18 vibrates during cranking by switching the energization angle at a predetermined cycle or shifting the phase. Can be controlled to occur. Thereby, when the engine is started, vibrations different from the normal time are generated, so that the occupant can be notified of a decrease in the remaining battery level. The vibration of the ACG starter motor 18 can also be generated by reducing the rotational torque to the extent that it balances with the compression load of the engine (rotational load necessary for passing through the compression stroke).

  As described above, according to the engine start control device of the present invention, the engine start control unit 40 starts the engine when the charge state detection unit 41 determines that the charge amount of the battery 19 is less than the predetermined value. Since the start time delay control that increases the time until the engine is started is sometimes executed, the remaining time of the battery can be increased by increasing the time until the engine is started without newly installing components such as a battery level indicator. It is possible to notify the occupant of the decrease in the vehicle.

  The shape and form of the engine and ACG starter motor, the setting of the first / second / third predetermined value, the setting of the delay time, the mode of delay control, the entry condition to the idle stop control, etc. are not limited to the above embodiment. However, various modifications are possible. For example, the start time delay control according to the present embodiment may be applied to an engine start control device that does not execute idle stop control. In order to more effectively notify the battery charge reduction, an indicator, a speaker, or the like that operates in conjunction with the execution of the delay control can be provided. The engine start control device according to the present invention is not limited to a motorcycle but can be applied to various vehicles such as a straddle-type three / four-wheeled vehicle.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Motorcycle, 18 ... ACG starter motor, 19 ... Battery, 31 ... Starter SW (starter switch) 40 ... Control part (engine start control apparatus), 43 ... Charge value counter, 44 ... Timer, 45 ... Engine start control means , 46 ... start time delay control means, 47 ... idle stop control means, 50 ... voltage sensor, 51 ... vehicle speed sensor, 52 ... throttle opening sensor, 53 ... seating sensor, 54 ... ignition device, 55 ... fuel injection device

Claims (5)

The ACG starter motor (18), which functions as a starter motor when the engine starts and functions as a generator after the engine starts, stores electric power generated by the ACG starter motor (18), and supplies electric power to the ACG starter motor (18) when the engine starts. An engine start control device comprising a battery (19) to be supplied and an engine start control means (40) for controlling electric power supplied to the ACG starter motor (18).
Charging state detection means (41) for detecting the charging state of the battery (19);
When it is determined by the charge state detection means (41) that the charge amount (E) of the battery (19) is less than a predetermined value, the time until the engine is started when the engine is started is determined as the charge amount ( E) start time delay control means (46) for executing start time delay control that is longer than when E) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value ;
The start time delay control includes a control for providing a predetermined delay time from when the engine is requested to start to energize the ACG starter motor (18). Control device.   The start time delay control includes a control for reducing the rotational torque of the ACG starter motor (18) as compared with the case where the charge amount (E) of the battery (19) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The engine start control device according to claim 1, wherein   In the start time delay control, the engine output of the engine ignition device (54) and the fuel injection device (55) is reduced as compared with the case where the charge amount of the battery (19) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The engine start control device according to claim 1, further comprising: The starting time delay control means (46), in addition to the starting time delay control, claims 1 and executes a control to cause vibrations at the start of the engine to the ACG starter motor (18) 3 The engine start control device according to any one of the above. The start time delay control includes a control for reducing the rotational torque of the ACG starter motor (18) and a predetermined time from when the engine is requested to start to energize the ACG starter motor (18). Control with delay time,
The start time delay control means (46) switches the content of the start time delay control stepwise so that the time until the engine starts increases as the charge amount (E) of the battery decreases.
The engine start control means (40) is configured to execute an idle stop control for temporarily stopping the engine when a predetermined engine stop condition is satisfied and restarting the engine when a predetermined engine restart condition is satisfied. And
The start time delay control can be executed both in the case of restarting from the engine stop state by the idle stop control and in the case of starting from the engine stop state according to the operation of the starter switch (31).
Compared with the start time delay control applied when the engine is started according to the operation of the starter switch (31), the start time delay control applied when the engine is restarted from the idle stop control is started. 2. The engine start control device according to claim 1, wherein a time until completion is set to be short.