JPH11247745A - Starter control device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To actuate a starter even in a drive mode that the power of an engine is transmitted to wheels when an emergency state is detected in a starter control device for vehicles, which can start the engine only when the power of the engine is not transmitted to the wheel. SOLUTION: In a starter control device for vehicles, which allows the actuation of a starter only when the neutral switch 2 of a speed change gear is turned ON, an electronic control device 6 for electronically controlling an emergency switch 4, a hazard switch 5 and an engine, when detecting an emergency state in a vehicle, turns a power relay 3 ON to bypass the neutral switch 2. When a key switch is turned to the position of a starter contact S, a starter control means turns a starter relay 1 ON, even in a drive mode in which the power of the engine is transmitted to wheels to allow a starter to be operated. This constitution allows the vehicle to run by starter cranking.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a starter control device for a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a vehicle starter control device called a neutral engine start which is provided with a measure for preventing a sudden start of the vehicle when the engine is started. Such a starter control device is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. That is, as a power cutoff detecting means for detecting a power cutoff state in which the power of the engine is not transmitted to the wheels between the starter contact "S" of the key switch of the engine and the relay coil 1c of the starter relay 1, the gear position of the transmission is neutral. A neutral switch 2, which is turned on when in the position, is connected in series. The starter relay 1 has a contact 1a on one side connected to a power supply + B and a contact 1b on the other side connected to a starter (not shown). As the power cutoff state detecting means, there is a type in which a clutch switch that is turned on when a clutch pedal is depressed is connected in series instead of the neutral switch 2.

The neutral switch 2 or the clutch switch constitutes an engine starting condition that "the gear position of the transmission is in the neutral position or the clutch is completely disengaged". When the gear position of the transmission is other than the neutral position or the clutch pedal is not depressed when the starter is started, the relay coil 1a of the starter relay 1 is energized even if the driver operates the key switch to the starter position. And the contacts 1a and 1b are turned off so that the starter is not driven.

Thus, even if the driver inadvertently operates the key switch to the starter position in order to start the engine, the start of the engine is prevented, and the start of the vehicle is prevented. As such a technique, there is one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 64-36658.

[0005]

However, in the starter control device having the above-described structure, the engine is started only when the gear position of the transmission is in the neutral position or when the clutch is depressed (disengaged) by depressing the clutch pedal. Places that must not be stopped because starting is possible, for example, if the engine suddenly stops due to engine stall at a railroad crossing, put the transmission gear in the low position and connect the clutch. Drive state,
There is a problem that the vehicle cannot be escaped by so-called starter cranking in which the starter is operated by turning the key switch to the starter contact S position.

Therefore, according to the present invention, in a starter control device for a vehicle capable of starting the engine only when the power of the engine is not transmitted to the wheels, the power of the engine is transmitted to the wheels when an emergency state is detected. It is an object of the present invention to provide a starter control device for a vehicle in which a starter can be operated even in a transmitted drive state.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when an emergency state is detected, the starter control means allows the starter to operate even in a drive state. Therefore, even if the starter control device enables the starter to be operated only when the power of the engine is not transmitted to the wheels in the power transmission cutoff state, the starter stops due to an engine stall in a place where it cannot be stopped during the operation of the engine. When the emergency state detecting means detects an emergency state, the starter control device becomes operable. As a result, the driver can drive the starter by the key switch in a drive state in which the power of the engine is transmitted to the wheels, and escape from the stopped position by starter cranking.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, an emergency switch is provided in the vehicle cabin as means for detecting an emergency condition, and when an emergency condition occurs, the driver turns on the emergency switch. This allows the starter to operate. It is preferable that a dedicated emergency switch is provided as the emergency switch, or that the switch is also used as a hazard switch for turning on a hazard lamp of the vehicle.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an electronic control unit for controlling an engine is used as a means for detecting an emergency state.
When the electronic control unit detects an abnormality in the engine, it determines that an emergency state has occurred and outputs a fail-safe signal to enable the starter control unit to operate. A quick response is possible by detecting the occurrence of the emergency state by the electronic control device and enabling the starter to operate.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be illustratively described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a starter control device for a vehicle as an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a starter contact S of a key switch for starting an engine and a relay coil 1c of a starter relay 1 are shown.
A neutral switch 2 that is turned on only when the gear position of the transmission is at a neutral position is connected in series, and a power relay 3 as an emergency state detecting means is connected to the neutral switch 2 in parallel. It is connected to the. The power relay 3 is a normally-open contact type relay, and the contacts 3 a and 3 b are connected to the neutral switch 2.
Are connected to the contacts 2a, 2b. One end of the relay coil 3c of the power relay 3 is connected to the contact 2a on the star contact S side of the key switch of the neutral switch 2,
At the other end, the connection terminals 4a, 5a on one side of the emergency switch 4 as the emergency state detection means, one side of the hazard switch 5, and the electronic control unit 6 are connected in parallel. Emergency switch 4,
The connection terminals 4b, 5b on the other side of the hazard switch 5
Grounded. Contact 1a on one side of starter relay 1
Is connected to a power supply + B, and the contact 1b on the other side is connected to a starter (not shown).

As the power cutoff state detecting means, a clutch switch which is turned on when a clutch pedal is depressed may be connected in series instead of the neutral switch 2. The neutral switch 2 or the clutch switch constitutes an engine starting condition that "the gear position of the transmission is in the neutral position or the clutch is completely disengaged", that is, the power cutoff state.

The emergency switch 4 and the hazard switch 5
When the push operation is performed, the switch is turned on and the power relay 3
Of the relay coil 3c. When the relay coil 3c is energized, the contacts 3a and 3b are connected, and the neutral switch 2 is bypassed. That is, the emergency switch 4 or the hazard switch 5 cancels the engine start condition. The emergency switch 4 and the hazard switch 5 are disposed near the driver's seat on the instrument panel to facilitate operation, and can be operated immediately by a driver when an emergency occurs. .

The electronic control unit 6 controls various operating states of the vehicle, and includes an engine electronic control unit that controls the operating state of the engine as one of the control targets. For example, in the case of a gasoline engine, the engine electronic control unit inputs various information signals of the engine and electronically controls a fuel injection amount, a fuel injection timing, an ignition timing, and the like according to an operation state of the engine. In this case, the fuel injection amount, fuel injection timing, and the like are electronically controlled. The electronic control unit 6 has a function as an emergency state detecting means. When an information signal important for the operation of the engine is not input or output due to any cause such as disconnection or a sensor failure, the electronic control unit 6 is fail-safe. A signal is output to enable conduction of the relay coil 3c of the power relay 3. When the relay coil 3c is energized, the contact 3
a and 3b are connected, and the neutral switch 2 is bypassed. That is, the electronic control unit 6 cancels the engine start condition. When the engine start condition is released, the electronic control unit 6 notifies the driver by turning on or blinking a warning means, for example, a warning lamp (not shown) provided on an instrument panel. still,
A warning sound may be generated by a buzzer instead of the warning lamp to notify the driver.

In some vehicles, the electronic control unit 6 is not equipped with an engine electronic control unit for electronically controlling the engine. In such a vehicle, the emergency state detecting means is the emergency switch 4 and the hazard switch 5. . Further, as described above, the emergency state detecting means does not necessarily need to be provided with the two switches of the emergency switch 4 and the hazard switch 5, but may be provided with any one of the switches.

When the hazard switch 5 is also used as an emergency switch, the number of parts can be suppressed from increasing, and the switch is operated first by a driver in an emergency state. Further, when a dedicated switch called the emergency switch 4 is provided, there is an advantage that the switch is used only in an emergency state without being used for other purposes.

The operation will be described below. If the driver sets the gear position of the transmission to the neutral position when the driver starts the vehicle in a normal state, the neutral switch 2 is turned on, and cranking can be performed. Next, when the driver operates the key switch to the position of the starter contact S, a current flows from the power supply to the relay coil 1c of the starter relay 1 through the starter contact S and the neutral switch 2, and the starter coil 1c is energized.
a and 1b are connected, the starter operates, and the engine is started. In this state, the gears of the transmission are in the neutral position and the vehicle is stopped. This allows
Even if the driver inadvertently operates the key switch to the starter contact S position to start the engine, the start of the engine is prevented and the start of the vehicle is prevented. Next, the driver operates the transmission to start the vehicle.

Now, for example, suppose that the engine suddenly stops while crossing a railroad crossing, and the vehicle stops inside the railroad crossing. When such an emergency occurs, the driver
The emergency switch 4 or the hazard switch 5 is operated to switch on. When the emergency switch 4 or the hazard switch 5 is turned on, the relay coil 3c of the power relay 3 becomes conductive. Next, the driver operates the transmission to set the gear position to a low gear, for example, the first gear, connect the clutch, and turn the key switch to the starter contact S position.

When the key switch is operated to the position of the starter contact S, the starter contact S and the relay coil 3 are switched from the power supply.
c, an electric current flows through the emergency switch 4 or the hazard switch 5, the relay coil 3c is energized, and the contacts 3a and 3b are connected. As a result, the neutral switch 2 is bypassed, and the engine start condition is released.
A current flows from the power supply to the relay coil 1c of the starter relay 1, the contacts 1a and 1b are connected, and the starter operates. When the starter operates, the engine is driven, and the wheels are driven via the first speed of the transmission. In this way, the driver can escape the vehicle from the railroad crossing by starter cranking.

In a vehicle equipped with the electronic control unit 6, when the engine electronic control unit detects an engine stall and cancels the engine start condition, the alarm lamp is turned on or blinks. The driver can sense that the engine starting condition has been released by the alarm lamp, operate the transmission to shift the gear position to the first gear, connect the clutch, and operate the key switch in the same manner as described above. Rotate to the starter contact S position. As a result, the relay coil 3c is energized, the contacts 3a and 3b are connected, a current flows from the power supply to the relay coil 1c of the starter relay 1, the contacts 1a and 1b are connected, and the starter is operated. This allows the driver to run the vehicle by starter cranking and escape from the railroad crossing.

The starter control device according to the present invention can be applied to a vehicle provided with any of an automatic transmission (A / T) and a manual transmission (M / T). is there. In the above embodiment, the contacts of the power relay 3 are connected in parallel to the neutral switch 2, and the emergency switch 4, the hazard switch 5, and the electronic control unit 6 turn on the power relay 3 to bypass the neutral switch 2. However, when the emergency switch 3 and the hazard switch 4 are used, it is not always necessary to use the power relay 3, and the emergency switch 4, the hazard switch 5, and the like are connected to the neutral switch 2 in parallel. The neutral switch 2 may be directly bypassed by the switch. By doing so, the power relay 3 becomes unnecessary, and the cost can be reduced.

[0021]

According to the present invention, even in a starter device which permits the starter operation only when the power of the engine is not transmitted to the wheels in order to prevent popping out when the key switch is turned on, the emergency state is maintained. When it occurs, the starter control device can be operated even in the drive state where the power of the engine is transmitted to the wheels, so that even if the engine stops due to engine stall at a place such as a railroad crossing, Escape by starter cranking becomes possible.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the emergency switch provided in the vehicle compartment is used as the emergency detection means, the driver can easily operate when an emergency occurs.
According to the third aspect of the invention, by using the fail-safe signal of the electronic control unit for engine control as the emergency detection means, it is possible to promptly cope with an emergency. Further, the cost can be reduced without adding a special switch as an emergency detection unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle starter control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a conventional vehicle starter control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Starter relay 2 Neutral switch (power cut-off state detection means) 3 Power relay (emergency state detection means) 4 Emergency switch (emergency state detection means) 5 Hazard switch (emergency state detection means) 6 Electronic control unit (emergency state detection means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A power cutoff detecting means for detecting a power cutoff state in which power of an engine is not transmitted to wheels, and a starter control means for permitting the starter to start only when the power cutoff state is detected by the power cutoff state detecting means. A starter control device for a vehicle, comprising: an emergency state detection unit that detects an emergency state of the vehicle, wherein the starter control unit transmits power of the engine to wheels when an emergency state is detected by the emergency state detection unit. A starter control device for a vehicle, characterized in that the starter operation is permitted even in a transmitted drive state. 2. The vehicle starter according to claim 1, wherein said emergency state detection means detects an emergency state when an emergency switch provided in the vehicle compartment is on. Control device. 3. The electronic control unit according to claim 1, wherein the emergency state detection means is an electronic control unit that controls the engine and detects an emergency state when an abnormality of the engine is detected. A starter control device for a vehicle according to claim 1.