IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0197160
(2011-08-03)
|
등록번호 |
US-8487573
(2013-07-16)
|
우선권정보 |
JP-2010-175619 (2010-08-04) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
8 |
초록
▼
A relay is provided in a power supply line from a battery to a motor of a starter in a vehicle. The relay is selectively switched between a contact side state where contacts short-circuit and a resistor side state where the contacts open and a resistor is inserted into the power supply line in serie
A relay is provided in a power supply line from a battery to a motor of a starter in a vehicle. The relay is selectively switched between a contact side state where contacts short-circuit and a resistor side state where the contacts open and a resistor is inserted into the power supply line in series. When an engine is started, an ECU controlling the starter energizes the motor by driving the relay to the resistor side only for a first predetermined time in order to suppress inrush current and voltage fall due to the inrush current. The ECU detects a contact side state fixation abnormality of the relay based on a battery voltage at the time when the motor is energized by driving the relay to the resistor side.
대표청구항
▼
1. A starter controller used for a vehicle having: a starter that cranks an engine of the vehicle by torque of a motor;switching means that is provided in a power supply line from a power supply to the motor of the starter and that is selectively driven between an on-state for connecting the power s
1. A starter controller used for a vehicle having: a starter that cranks an engine of the vehicle by torque of a motor;switching means that is provided in a power supply line from a power supply to the motor of the starter and that is selectively driven between an on-state for connecting the power supply line and an off-state for disconnecting the power supply line; andinrush current suppressing means that is provided in series with the switching means in the power supply line and that is driven between a first state for suppressing a current passed to the motor and a second state for not suppressing the current passed to the motor when the switching means is driven to the on-state, the starter controller comprising:start energization processing means for performing start energization processing for driving the inrush current suppressing means to the first state, for driving the switching means to the on-state, and for driving the inrush current suppressing means from the first state to the second state after elapse of a predetermined time as energization processing for energizing the motor such that the starter cranks the engine when the engine is started in response to starting operation by a driver of the vehicle; andabnormality detecting means for detecting whether an uncontrollable abnormality has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means based on a voltage of the power supply line at the time when the switching means is driven to the on-state. 2. The starter controller as in claim 1, wherein the inrush current suppressing means is selectively driven between the first state where a resistor is inserted into the power supply line in series and the second state where the resistor is not inserted into the power supply line. 3. The starter controller as in claim 2, wherein the abnormality detecting means detects whether a fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means cannot switch the state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means based on an output voltage of the power supply at the time when the switching means is driven to the on-state. 4. The starter controller as in claim 3, wherein the abnormality detecting means determines whether the output voltage of the power supply becomes lower than a predetermined determination value of second state fixation when the inrush current suppressing means is driven to the first state and the switching means is driven to the on-state, andthe abnormality detecting means determines that a fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the second state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the output voltage becomes lower than the determination value of second state fixation. 5. The starter controller as in claim 4, wherein the starter has a pinion gear that is rotated by the motor and that cranks the engine when the pinion gear is rotated in a state where the pinion gear is engaged with a ring gear of the engine,the starter is constructed to be switchable between a state where the pinion gear is engaged with the ring gear and a state where the pinion gear is disengaged from the ring gear regardless of whether the motor is energized or not, andthe abnormality detecting means performs second state fixation abnormality detection processing at non-start timing for disengaging the pinion gear from the ring gear, for driving the inrush current suppressing means to the first state, for driving the switching means to the on-state, for determining whether the output voltage of the power supply at that time becomes lower than a first determination value of second state fixation, and for determining that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the second state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the output voltage becomes lower than the first determination value of second state fixation as processing for detecting whether the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the second state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means during operation of the engine. 6. The starter controller as in claim 4, wherein the abnormality detecting means performs second state fixation abnormality detection processing at start timing for determining whether the output voltage of the power supply becomes lower than a second determination value of second state fixation and for determining that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the second state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the output voltage becomes lower than the second determination value of second state fixation as processing for detecting whether the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the second state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means when the starter controller performs the start energization processing to drive the inrush current suppressing means to the first state and to drive the switching means to the on-state. 7. The starter controller as in claim 4, further comprising: first informing means for informing the vehicle driver of the occurrence of the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the second state, when the abnormality detecting means determines that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the second state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means. 8. The starter controller as in claim 3, wherein the abnormality detecting means determines whether the output voltage of the power supply becomes lower than a predetermined determination value of first state fixation when the inrush current suppressing means is driven to the second state and the switching means is driven to the on-state, andthe abnormality detecting means determines that a fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the first state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the output voltage does not become lower than the determination value of first state fixation. 9. The starter controller as in claim 8, wherein the starter has a pinion gear that is rotated by the motor and that cranks the engine when the pinion gear is rotated in a state where the pinion gear is engaged with a ring gear of the engine,the starter is constructed to be switchable between a state where the pinion gear is engaged with the ring gear and a state where the pinion gear is disengaged from the ring gear regardless of whether the motor is energized or not, andthe abnormality detecting means performs first state fixation abnormality detection processing at non-start timing for disengaging the pinion gear from the ring gear, for driving the inrush current suppressing means to the second state, for driving the switching means to the on-state, for determining whether the output voltage of the power supply at that time becomes lower than the determination value of first state fixation, and for determining that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the first state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the output voltage does not become lower than the determination value of first state fixation as processing for detecting whether the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the first state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means during the operation of the engine. 10. The starter controller as in claim 9, wherein the starter controller is configured to limit an energization time of the motor by the start energization processing to a predetermined limit time when the abnormality detecting means determines that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the first state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means. 11. The starter controller as in claim 8, further comprising: second informing means for informing the vehicle driver of the occurrence of the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the first state, when the abnormality detecting means determines that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the first state, has occurred. 12. The starter controller as in claim 5, wherein the starter controller is configured to engage the pinion gear with the ring gear when the motor is energized by the start energization processing,the abnormality detecting means performs second state fixation abnormality detection processing at start timing for determining whether the output voltage of the power supply becomes lower than a second determination value of second state fixation and for determining that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the second state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the output voltage becomes lower than the second determination value of second state fixation as processing for detecting whether the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the second state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means when the starter controller performs the start energization processing to drive the inrush current suppressing means to the first state and to drive the switching means to the on-state, andthe second determination value of second state fixation is set at a value smaller than the first determination value of second state fixation. 13. The starter controller as in claim 5, wherein the abnormality detecting means performs the second state fixation abnormality detection processing at non-start timing when running speed of the vehicle is higher than zero. 14. The starter controller as in claim 9, wherein the abnormality detecting means performs the first state fixation abnormality detection processing at non-start timing when running speed of the vehicle is higher than zero. 15. The starter controller as in claim 1, wherein the inrush current suppressing means is a switching element that is provided to the power supply line and constructed such that the switching element is driven to the first state when drive of switching control for alternately switching the switching element between an on-state and an off-state is performed and is driven to the second state when drive for continuing the on-state of the switching element is performed. 16. The starter controller as in claim 15, wherein the abnormality detecting means detects whether the uncontrollable abnormality has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means based on the output voltage of the power supply at the time when the switching means is driven to the on-state. 17. The starter controller as in claim 16, wherein the abnormality detecting means determines whether the output voltage of the power supply becomes lower than a predetermined determination value of on-state fixation when the inrush current suppressing means is driven to the first state or the off-state and the switching means is driven to the on-state, andthe abnormality detecting means determines that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the on-state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the output voltage becomes lower than the determination value of on-state fixation. 18. The starter controller as in claim 17, wherein the starter has a pinion gear that is rotated by the motor and that cranks the engine when the pinion gear is rotated in a state where the pinion gear is engaged with a ring gear of the engine,the starter is constructed to be switchable between a state where the pinion gear is engaged with the ring gear and a state where the pinion gear is disengaged from the ring gear regardless of whether the motor is energized or not, andthe abnormality detecting means performs on-state fixation abnormality detection processing at non-start timing for disengaging the pinion gear from the ring gear, for driving the inrush current suppressing means to the first state or the off-state, for driving the switching means to the on-state, for determining whether the output voltage of the power supply at that time becomes lower than a first determination value of on-state fixation, and for determining that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the on-state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the output voltage becomes lower than the first determination value of on-state fixation as processing for detecting whether the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the on-state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means during the operation of the engine. 19. The starter controller as in claim 17, wherein the abnormality detecting means performs on-state fixation abnormality detection processing at start timing for determining whether the output voltage of the power supply becomes lower than a second determination value of on-state fixation and for determining that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the on-state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the output voltage becomes lower than the second determination value of on-state fixation as processing for detecting whether the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the on-state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means when the starter controller performs the start energization processing to drive the inrush current suppressing means to the first state and to drive the switching means to the on-state. 20. The starter controller as in claim 17, further comprising: first informing means for informing the vehicle driver of the occurrence of the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the on-state, when the abnormality detecting means determines that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the on-state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means. 21. The starter controller as in claim 16, wherein the abnormality detecting means determines whether the output voltage of the power supply becomes lower than a predetermined determination value of off-state fixation when the inrush current suppressing means is driven to the second state and the switching means is driven to the on-state, andthe abnormality detecting means determines that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the off-state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the output voltage does not become lower than the determination value of off-state fixation. 22. The starter controller as in claim 21, wherein the starter has a pinion gear that is rotated by the motor and that cranks the engine when the pinion gear is rotated in a state where the pinion gear is engaged with a ring gear of the engine,the starter is constructed to be switchable between a state where the pinion gear is engaged with the ring gear and a state where the pinion gear is disengaged from the ring gear regardless of whether the motor is energized or not, andthe abnormality detecting means performs off-state fixation abnormality detection processing at non-start timing for disengaging the pinion gear from the ring gear, for driving the inrush current suppressing means to the second state, for driving the switching means to the on-state, for determining whether the output voltage of the power supply at that time becomes lower than the determination value of off-state fixation, and for determining that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the off-state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the output voltage does not become lower than the determination value of off-state fixation as processing for detecting whether the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the off-state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means during the operation of the engine. 23. The starter controller as in claim 21, further comprising: second informing means for informing the vehicle driver of the occurrence of the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the off-state, when the abnormality detecting means determines that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the off-state, has occurred. 24. The starter controller as in claim 18, wherein the starter controller is configured to engage the pinion gear with the ring gear when the motor is energized by the start energization processing,the abnormality detecting means performs on-state fixation abnormality detection processing at start timing for determining whether the output voltage of the power supply becomes lower than a second determination value of on-state fixation and for determining that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the on-state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the output voltage becomes lower than the second determination value of on-state fixation as processing for detecting whether the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the on-state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means when the starter controller performs the start energization processing to drive the inrush current suppressing means to the first state and to drive the switching means to the on-state, andthe second determination value of on-state fixation is set at a value smaller than the first determination value of on-state fixation. 25. The starter controller as in claim 18, wherein the abnormality detecting means performs the on-state fixation abnormality detection processing at non-start timing when running speed of the vehicle is higher than zero. 26. The starter controller as in claim 22, wherein the abnormality detecting means performs the off-state fixation abnormality detection processing at non-start timing when running speed of the vehicle is higher than zero. 27. The starter controller as in claim 16, wherein the abnormality detecting means monitors the output voltage of the power supply when the starter controller performs the start energization processing to drive the inrush current suppressing means to the first state and to drive the switching means to the on-state,the abnormality detecting means determines that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the on-state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the output voltage becomes lower than a predetermined determination value of on-state fixation, andthe abnormality detecting means determines that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the off-state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the output voltage does not become lower than a determination value of off-state fixation higher than the determination value of on-state fixation. 28. The starter controller as in claim 16, wherein the starter has a pinion gear that is rotated by the motor and that cranks the engine when the pinion gear is rotated in a state where the pinion gear is engaged with a ring gear of the engine,the starter is constructed to be switchable between a state where the pinion gear is engaged with the ring gear and a state where the pinion gear is disengaged from the ring gear regardless of whether the motor is energized or not,the abnormality detecting means disengages the pinion gear from the ring gear, drives the inrush current suppressing means to the first state, drives the switching means to the on-state, and monitors the output voltage of the power supply at that time during the operation of the engine,the abnormality detecting means determines that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the on-state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the output voltage becomes lower than a predetermined determination value of on-state fixation, andthe abnormality detecting means determines that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the off-state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the output voltage does not become lower than a determination value of off-state fixation higher than the determination value of on-state fixation. 29. The starter controller as in claim 3, wherein the abnormality detecting means senses change speed of the output voltage at the time when the starter controller performs the start energization processing to drive the inrush current suppressing means to the first state and to drive the switching means to the on-state, andthe abnormality detecting means determines that the fixation abnormality, in which the inrush current suppressing means remains in the second state, has occurred in the inrush current suppressing means if the change speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.
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