JPH0320513Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an automatic engine stop/start device that automatically stops or starts an engine depending on the operating condition of a vehicle.

(Prior art) In recent years, some cars have been equipped with a system that automatically stops the engine when it stops at an intersection, etc., and the engine speed reaches the same speed as when idling. is equipped with an automatic engine stop/start control device (hereinafter referred to as an idle stop device) that automatically turns on the starter switch and starts the engine when a normal starting operation, such as pressing the clutch pedal, is performed. There is. By installing such an idle strip device, fuel is saved when the engine is idling, and the engine is operated only when the vehicle is running, resulting in a significant reduction in exhaust gas and fuel savings.

This idle stop device inputs signals from various control devices and sensors related to engine control and operation into an electronic control device, and when these signals reach a predetermined condition, the engine stops. When other predetermined conditions are met, the starter will restart the engine.

(Problems with the prior art) In such an idle stop device, if an abnormality occurs in the automatic operation, the operation of the idle stop device is stopped, an abnormality alarm signal is issued, and a warning light or alarm is activated. The system is activated to notify the driver of an abnormality and prompt them to take necessary action.

However, when the driver starts the vehicle, the electronic control device of the idle stop device, the starter,
If the engine cannot be started due to some kind of malfunction, the driver will be confused and panicked if an alarm is issued. Please note that the above-mentioned warning may make the driver more upset.
This may also interfere with the driver's proper actions.

Therefore, in such a case, the driver forgets to operate the hazard switch, which should be a natural procedure in an emergency, and this causes a problem on the road, such as blocking traffic or causing a traffic accident.

(Purpose of the invention) The purpose of the invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks in vehicles equipped with an idle stop device, and to enable the flasher lamp to blink without the driver's intervention when the vehicle cannot be started. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic engine stop/start device that displays a hazard display.

(Summary of the invention) This invention is an engine equipped with an automatic hazard control that instructs the flasher lamp to automatically display a hazard display when the engine cannot start even if the driver performs a start operation in an idle stop device. An automatic stop and start device is provided.

(Example) Next, an example of the present invention will be described in detail using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic engine stop/start device according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes various sensors that convert the operation and displacement of the engine and various parts of the vehicle into electrical signals, such as an accelerator pedal sensor, a clutch pedal sensor, and an engine cooling water temperature sensor, which send electrical signals to the control unit 2 to indicate the status of each part. Deliver as. Control unit 2 is a central processing unit,
This computer is equipped with a memory for storing control programs and procedures for operating the device according to the present invention, input/output ports, etc. The control unit 2 issues a command to the starter 3 to start the engine when the signals from the various sensors 1 reach a preset condition, and activates the engine stopper 4 when another predetermined condition is reached. and stop the engine. 5 is a warning light, and when the engine cannot be started due to some malfunction in the control unit 2, starter 3, engine, etc. even if the driver performs a start operation on the engine that is waiting to start, the warning light of the control unit 2 is activated. Lights up on command. Reference numeral 7 denotes flasher lamps provided on the front, rear, left and right sides of the vehicle, and the lamps are flashed by a flasher unit 8 and a flasher switch 9 to indicate to the outside the direction in which the vehicle is moving to the left or right. do. Reference numeral 10 denotes a hazard unit including a flashing drive circuit, which is operated by the driver to notify the outside of the vehicle of an abnormality in the vehicle.This operation activates the hazard switch 11, causing the left and right flasher lamps 7 to flash at the same time. to operate as a hazard lamp. 12 is a battery, and 13 is a battery switch.

Next, 20 is an automatic hazard control provided in the control unit 2, which inputs commands to the warning light 5 from the control unit 2 and signals from the AC generator 14, and controls the logic circuit inside the automatic hazard control 20. According to the instruction, the relay 21 is activated, the flasher lamp 7 is made to blink, and a hazard display is performed.

The logic circuit is composed of an OR circuit 22, an AND circuit 23, and a NOT circuit 24.
The negative circuit 24 receives a signal from the AC generator 14,
A command similar to the command to the warning light 5 is input to the OR circuit 22 . Further, the AND circuit 23 receives the signal from the NOT circuit 24 and the output signal from the OR circuit 22, and when both of these signals are positive, the relay 21 is turned ON, and when the hazard unit 10 is operated. Similarly, the flasher lamp 7 is made to flicker, and a signal is also sent to the OR circuit 22 to form a holding circuit.

Next, the operation of the automatic engine stop/start device configured as described above is explained. When the engine is waiting to start, the driver performs operations such as clutch pedal operation, change gear operation, and accelerator pedal operation to start the engine. When this is done, instructions from various sensors 1 are input to the control unit 2. When these instructions satisfy predetermined conditions, the control unit 2 issues a command to start the engine to the starter 3, and the engine starts.
In this case, if there is a problem with the control unit 2, starter 3, engine, or other parts, the engine will not start. In such a case, the control unit 2 automatically turns on the warning light 5 to notify the driver that the engine cannot be started, and also sends a signal to the OR circuit 22 of the automatic hazard control 20.

On the other hand, the signal input to the OR circuit 22 makes one input terminal of the AND circuit 23 positive. Since the engine does not start, the AC generator 14
does not generate electricity. The other input of the AND circuit 23 is positive in order to receive the signal from the AC generator 14 in the stopped state via the NOT circuit 24, and the AND circuit 23 operates the relay 21, and the AND circuit 23 operates the relay 21. 22 as well. Therefore, the relay 21 causes the flasher lamp 7 to blink, indicating the occurrence of an abnormality to the outside of the vehicle.
Note that the signal sent to the OR circuit 22 forms a holding circuit, so when the engine rotates normally and the AC
The flasher lamp 7 continues to flicker until the generator 14 sends out the signal.

Figure 2 is a process flow diagram of this embodiment. When the driver depresses the clutch (step A) and shifts the gear to neutral (step B) while the engine is waiting to start, the starter is turned on and the starter counter is set. Perform counting. Next, when the starter is activated (step C) and the engine starts to rotate normally (step D), the starter counter is reset. Next, after determining whether the hazard lamps are lit (step E), the system program for normal driving is introduced.
During this time, if the starter does not operate (step C) or if the engine does not start even if it operates (step D), the program proceeds to step F, which determines the position of the clutch. In this step F, release the clutch pedal, and if the count on the starter counter is within 3 times, return to the flow of step A, and if the count on the starter counter exceeds 3 times, the flash lamp will blink according to the judgment in step G. That will happen.

In other words, even if the driver repeatedly depresses the clutch pedal to start the vehicle, the engine will not start.
When the starter counter counts three times or more, the relay in the automatic hazard control is activated, causing the flasher lamp to flicker to provide a hazard display to the outside of the vehicle. The lamp will automatically turn off when the engine starts.

(Effects of the invention) As explained in detail above, according to the invention,
In the automatic engine stop/start device, if the engine cannot be started even if the driver performs the start operation due to a problem with the automatic stop/start device, the starter, the engine, or any other problem, the flasher lamp will automatically flash and activate the hazard warning lamp. A display is displayed to automatically indicate to people outside the vehicle that the vehicle is unable to drive due to some reason, which also reduces the amount of agitation caused to the driver and prevents traffic accidents. . In addition, if the engine fails to start due to a simple operational error on the part of the driver, and the engine can be started easily by trying again, the hazard display will not be displayed, causing upset or inconvenience to those around the driver. There is no such thing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a structural block diagram of an embodiment of an automatic engine stop/start device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a processing flow diagram of the embodiment. 1...Various sensors, 2...Control unit, 5...Warning light, 7...Flash lamp,
10...Hazard unit, 11...Hazard switch, 14...AC generator, 20...Automatic hazard control, 21...Relay.

Claims (1)

[Scope of claim for utility model registration] Automatic engine stop that automatically stops the engine when the vehicle stops and the engine speed drops below a predetermined value, and then restarts the engine by operating a device that indicates the driver's intention to start the vehicle. The starting device includes a warning light that lights up in response to a signal indicating that the engine cannot be started during an engine starting operation, a generator that generates voltage by the rotational force of the engine, and a signal that lights up the warning light and indicates that the generated voltage of the generator is zero. An automatic engine stop/start device comprising: an AND circuit that takes an AND with a signal; and a hazard signal light that is activated by the AND signal of the AND circuit and repeatedly flashes.