FR2830288A1 - Control equipment for vehicle starter motor, comprises control circuit, semiconductor relay to control electromagnetic switch and means to detect control signal using voltage on semiconductor relay - Google Patents

Abstract

The starter key is connected directly to the coil (6) of a electromagnetic switch (5) which operates the main contactor (2). The electromagnetic switch coil is energized through a semiconductor relay (12) and the relay voltage is used to determine whether the starter key is presenting a control signal or not and whether the control circuit (11) is energized and the relay operative or not

Description

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a starter control device, and more particularly, a starter control device for controlling a starter in order to actuate a vehicle engine or the like.

Description of Related Art
As a conventional device for electrically controlling an electronic switch of a motor starter, for example, a device is generally known as described in document JP 11-190267 A. FIG. 8 represents a connection wiring diagram of a conventional starter control circuit of this type. In FIG. 8, the reference number 1 describes a starter motor unit; 2, a main switch unit; 3, a starter terminal M; 4, a starter terminal B; 5, an auxiliary switch for a starter; 6, an auxiliary switch coil; 7, a starter control device; 8, an S terminal; 9, a terminal B; 10, a Lily terminal, a control circuit unit; 12, a semiconductor relay; 13, a terminal E i 14, a contact lock; and 15, a battery.

 In the conventional starter control circuit shown in Figure 8, a drive signal is directly entered into the control device

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 starter 7 from contact lock 14, engine control unit and the like. The drive signal is detected from terminal S 8 to start the semiconductor relay 12. Next, electrical energy to drive an electromagnetic switch of a starter, for example the auxiliary starter switch (hereinafter referred to as - after auxiliary switch) 5 is issued from terminal B of starter 4.

 Figure 9 shows a functional system diagram of the conventional starter control circuit. In FIG. 9, the reference number 21 describes a protection circuit unit; 22, a drive signal input unit; 23, an arithmetic processing unit; 24, a protection circuit unit; 25, a power supply circuit unit; and 26, an output control unit.

 A drive signal from the contact lock 14 is input to the drive signal input unit 22 through the protection circuit unit 21 provided in the control circuit unit 11 inside the starter control device 7 (see figure 8). Then, it is determined in the arithmetic processing unit 23 whether it is possible to start / stop a starter operation. If the starter operation is on, the drive signal is transmitted to the output control unit 26 to cause the auxiliary switch 5 to operate. In addition, electrical energy from the auxiliary switch coil 6 (Figure 8) for

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 causing the auxiliary switch 5 to operate is supplied from the starter terminal B 4.

 In addition, a method is generally used in which, if the starter control device 7 has not started, the semiconductor relay 12 (FIG. 8) for driving the auxiliary switch 5 is stopped, and when the device of the starter control 7 has started and a drive signal has been detected, the semiconductor relay 12 is switched on to deliver electrical energy in order to attack the auxiliary switch 5.

 Since the starter control device is configured as described above to directly detect a drive signal from the contact lock, the engine control unit or the like, a terminal and an output wire for detect the attack signal must be provided in the starter control device. As a result, a structure in which the auxiliary switch is integrated into the starter controller becomes complicated.

 In addition, when the auxiliary switch is attacked by electrical energy from a starter terminal B voltage, since the starter terminal B is directly connected to the battery terminal B, the starter continues to run if the relay to conduct the auxiliary switch is short-circuited.

 Furthermore, when a part of the control circuit unit, for example when the arithmetic processing unit is turned off, it becomes impossible to

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 deliver electrical energy to attack the auxiliary switch, resulting in the starter being unable to be attacked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been designed in view of the above and other disadvantages, and therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a starter control device capable of simplifying a structure in which an auxiliary switch is integrated into the starter control device, and to prevent a starter from continuing to rotate even in the case where a semiconductor relay is short-circuited as well as attacking the starter even if an arithmetic processing unit is cut.

 The present invention relates to a starter control device for controlling a starter to start a motor comprising: a control circuit for controlling an internal operation of the starter control device; a semiconductor relay for controlling an operation of an electromagnetic switch provided in the starter by means of the control of the control circuit; and drive signal detecting means for detecting the on / off of a drive signal of the electromagnetic switch input from a contact lock by measuring a terminal voltage of the semiconductor relay, wherein the device starter control controls the starter by causing the electromagnetic switch to operate

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 based on a detection result of the attack signal detection means. Therefore, since a terminal for detecting the drive signal becomes optional and the number of terminals is reduced, a structure in which an auxiliary switch is integrated into the starter controller can be simplified. In addition, it is possible to prevent the starter from continuing to run even if the semiconductor relay is short-circuited and the starter can be attacked even if an arithmetic processing unit is cut.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description below, made with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a connection wiring diagram representing a structure of a device starter control according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a structure of the starter control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a table in which changes of a voltage at a terminal L of the starter control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention are arranged;

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 Fig. 4 is a graph showing the pulse of a starter terminal B voltage of the starter control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a graph showing the pulse of a starting terminal voltage B in the case in which a part of a DC component is removed from a Zener diode in the starter control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a graph showing the pulse of a starter terminal B voltage in the case where resistors are connected in series to divide the voltage in the starter control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a graph showing the pulse of a starter terminal voltage B in the case where a DC component is withdrawn by a differentiation circuit in the starter control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a connection wiring diagram showing a structure of a conventional starter protection device; and Figure 9 is a diagram showing a structure of a conventional starter control circuit.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

 Figure 1 shows a connection wiring diagram of a starter control device in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 represents a functional system diagram of a starter control circuit provided in the starter control device of FIG. 1. In these figures, the reference number 1 designates a starting motor unit; 2, a main switch unit; 3, a starter terminal M; 4, a starter terminal B; 5, an auxiliary switch; 6, an auxiliary switch coil; 7, a starter control device; 9, a terminal B; 10, an L terminal; 11, a control circuit unit; 12, a semiconductor relay; 13, an E terminal; 14, a contact lock; and 15, a battery. In addition, in FIG. 2, the reference number 23 designates an arithmetic processing unit; 24, a protection circuit unit; 25, a power circuit unit; 26, an output control unit and 30, an output signal detection unit.

 As will appear by comparing Figures 1 and 8, this embodiment is different from the classic example described above in that the terminal S 10 shown in Figure 8 is not provided in this embodiment. In addition, as will appear by comparing Figures 2 and 9, this embodiment is also different from the classic example described above in that, following the elimination of the terminal

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 S 10, the protection circuit unit 21 and the drive signal input unit 22 for the terminal S 10 shown in FIG. 9 are not provided and in that the signal detection unit d Attack 30 for detecting an attack signal is added in this embodiment.

 A method for controlling the starter control device shown in Figures 1 and 2 will be described. First, a drive signal input from the contact lock 14, an engine control unit (not shown) or the like energizes the auxiliary switch coil 6 of the auxiliary switch 5 as current. This excitation current and a voltage at the terminal L 10, which is generated by an operating resistance of the semiconductor relay 12 provided on a control substrate connected to the auxiliary switch 5, are detected by the detection unit. drive signal 30, whereby the on / off of the drive signal entered from the contact lock 14, the engine control unit or the like is determined. If the attack signal is on, the attack signal is transmitted to the output control unit 26 to cause the auxiliary switch 5 to operate. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, it is considered that the electrical energy which causes the auxiliary switch 5 to operate is delivered by a circuit of the contact lock 14.

 In other words, a voltage at terminal L 10 operating as a terminal of the output control unit 26 connected to the switch

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 auxiliary 5 changes as shown in the table of figure 3. In the table of figure 3, the reference symbol (1) indicates an excitation current of an auxiliary switch coil multiplied by the running resistance of the semiconductor relay and (2) designates a battery voltage.

In addition, a state in which a drive signal is on and a semiconductor relay is off indicates a state in which a starter protection device is in operation.

 The drive signal detection unit 30 measures the voltages represented by the reference symbols (1) and (2) in the table of FIG. 3, whereby it becomes possible to determine the start / stop of a drive signal input from the contact lock 14, the engine control unit or the like even if the terminal S and the output wire are not provided.

 In addition, since a potential difference caused by the excitation current of the auxiliary switch coil multiplied by the operating resistance of the semiconductor relay is small, it becomes possible to detect the potential difference more precisely. if it is amplified by an amplifier circuit such as an operational amplifier.

 Consequently, since the potential difference caused by the excitation current of the auxiliary switch coil multiplied by the operating resistance of the semiconductor relay is detected, the on / off of an input drive signal

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 from the contact lock 14, the engine control unit or the like is determined by the arithmetic processing unit 23 formed by a microcomputer or the like. Thus, the connection wiring for sending the drive signal becomes optional, a structure of the starter controller is simplified and the cost of the starter controller is reduced.

 Then, when the drive signal detection unit 30 detects a drive signal, the arithmetic processing unit 23 automatically starts (turns on) the power circuit unit 25 of the starter controller 7, while if the drive signal detection unit 30 does not detect the signal within a specified time interval, the arithmetic processing unit 23 automatically suspends (shuts down) the circuit unit d power supply 25. Thus, it becomes possible to reduce the current consumption of the control circuit unit 11.

 In addition, the semiconductor relay 12 for driving the auxiliary switch 5 is adjusted so as to be constantly in working condition and the arithmetic processing unit 23 is adjusted to switch off the semiconductor relay 12 for driving the switch auxiliary 5. In addition, the electrical energy of the auxiliary switch 5 is supplied from the side of the contact lock. Thus, even if the arithmetic processing unit 23 is cut off or if the semiconductor relay 12 is short-circuited, since an operation of the starter is subjected to a

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 signal for contact lock attack and the starter is found to be in the same operating state as a starter which is not fitted with the control circuit, the starter is never out of function.

 Thus, since it becomes optional to place a second microcomputer to control the arithmetic processing unit 23 constituted by a microcomputer or to place a second semiconductor relay as integrated security, the cost can be easily reduced.

 Since a starter protection device is generally incorporated in an apparatus mounted with a starter control circuit, a starter protection device is also provided in this embodiment. Functions of the starter protection device include, for example, a function to prevent coasting, a function to protect a starter from overheating, and a function to prevent re-engagement of a starter ring gear.

 A method of using the pulse of a starter terminal B voltage is well known among the functions of the starter protection device.

The voltage pulse at the starter terminal B 4 will be described briefly with reference to FIG. 4.

à contacts 14 pour actionner un démarreur, étant donné qu'un courant important (courant par à-coups) circule temporairement en direction du démarreur, une tension When a user operates the lock

with contacts 14 for actuating a starter, since a large current (jolt current) flows temporarily towards the starter, a voltage

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 starter terminal B drops abruptly at a point (a) as shown.

 Subsequently, in a period (b), when a motor starts to be turned by the starter, since an excitation current at the starter gradually decreases, the starter terminal voltage B gradually increases.

 Then, in a period (c), when the engine is in a state in which it is rotated by the starter (start-up state), since a torque of engine rotation fluctuates as a function of a compression method and a rebound stroke, a waveform of the starter terminal B voltage changes periodically in the same way as the fluctuation of the engine torque.

 Then, in a period (d), when the engine starts to operate, since a load applied to the starter decreases by means of a torque generated by the engine, the starter terminal voltage B increases.

 Then, in a period (e), when the starter is in a state in which it is rotated by the engine even if the engine has started to operate (freewheeling state), since the starter is found to be in an uncharged state, the starter terminal B voltage changes to a constant voltage.

 Finally, at a point (f), since the starter is switched off when the contact lock 14 is switched off, the terminal voltage B

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 of starter motor returns to an initial value before engine operation.

 The starter terminal B voltage states in periods (c) and (e) are called pulses. A method of using these pulses to implement the freewheeling prevention function and the overheating prevention function is generally known.

 However, the pulse of the starter terminal voltage B has a waveform in which an AC component is added to a DC component. Since a voltage is high with this waveform, it is difficult to process the pulse as it is in the arithmetic processing unit. Consequently, the DC component must be subtracted to some extent or removed.

 In the case of subtraction of the DC component, there is a method for removing part of the DC component using a Zener diode or the like as shown in Figure 5 or a method for connect resistors in series to split the voltages as shown in figure 6. However, it is necessary to use separate control circuit substrates for 12 V and 24 V batteries, which makes it difficult to do so. to use a common control circuit substrate for 12 V and 24 V batteries. In addition, in the process of dividing the voltage, a width of the pulse in the

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 starter terminal B voltage states in periods (c) and (e) is reduced.

 The direct current component of the starter terminal B voltage pulse can be easily removed by placing a differentiation circuit consisting of a capacitor and a resistor as shown in Figure 7.

 The direct current component of the pulse of the starter terminal voltage B is removed by the differentiation circuit, whereby the processing in the arithmetic processing unit 23 becomes easy, the width of the pulse in the states of the starter terminal B voltage in periods (c) and (e) is not reduced, and the processing accuracy is improved. In addition, it becomes possible to easily use the common control circuit substrate for 12 V and 14 V batteries.

 As described above, in this embodiment, the starter control device 7 is arranged such that a drive signal from the contact lock 14, from the engine control unit , or the like is detected directly by the drive signal detection unit 30. Thus, the terminal S for detecting a drive signal and the connection wiring for sending the drive signal, which are generally used, become optional in the starter controller 7. As a result, a structure in which the auxiliary switch is integrated

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 (electromagnetic switch) 5 with the starter control device 7 can be simplified.

 In addition, in this embodiment, since the starter control device 7 is arranged so that the auxiliary switch (electromagnetic switch) is electrically controlled from the contact lock 14, it is possible to prevent that the starter continues to rotate even if the semiconductor relay 12 is short-circuited. Accordingly, it is optional to provide a second microcomputer, a second semiconductor relay or the like as built-in security, and cost reduction can be achieved. However, the operation of the starter is subject to the contact lock 14.

 Furthermore, in this embodiment, the semiconductor relay for driving the auxiliary switch (electromagnetic switch) is adjusted so as to always be in a working state and the control circuit is adjusted to deliver a signal in order to set stopping the semiconductor relay and for delivering electrical energy to the auxiliary switch from the terminal side S. Thus, even if part of the control circuit (for example, the arithmetic processing unit 23) is cut, since it is possible to deliver electrical energy to drive the auxiliary switch (electromagnetic switch), the starter can be driven.

 Furthermore, in this embodiment, the pulse of the starter terminal voltage B is processed by the differentiation circuit in the device in

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 which the pulse of the starter terminal voltage B is used for the starter protection function, whereby it becomes possible to easily use the substrate in common for 12 V and 14 V batteries.

 The present invention is a starter control device for controlling a starter to start a motor, which comprises: a control circuit for controlling an internal operation of the starter control device; a semiconductor relay for controlling an operation of an electromagnetic switch provided in the starter by means of the control of the control circuit; and drive signal detecting means for detecting the on / off of a drive signal of the electromagnetic switch input from a contact lock by measuring a terminal voltage of the semiconductor relay, wherein the device starter control controls the starter by causing the electromagnetic switch to operate based on a detection result of the attack signal detection means. Therefore, since a terminal for detecting the drive signal becomes optional and the number of terminals is reduced, a structure in which an auxiliary switch is integrated into the starter controller can be simplified. In addition, it is possible to prevent the starter from continuing to turn even if the semiconductor relay is short-circuited and the starter can be attacked even if the arithmetic processing unit is switched off.

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 In addition, the starter controller is provided with power control means to start a power supply to the control circuit if the drive signal detection means detects that the drive signal is on, while if the drive signal detection means detect that the drive signal is stopped, they suspend the power supply to the control circuit after a determined period of time has passed since the signal attack was stopped.

 In addition, the semiconductor relay for driving the electromagnetic switch is adjusted so as to be constantly in an energized state and to be in a state blocked by a signal from the control circuit. Consequently, even if the control unit is switched off, an operation of the electromagnetic switch is subject to a drive signal input from the contact lock and it is possible to prevent the starter from being deactivated.

 In addition, since the electrical energy of the electromagnetic switch is supplied from the contact lock, it is possible to prevent the starter from continuing to rotate even if the semiconductor relay is short-circuited.

 In addition, since the starter protection means for protecting the starter are provided in the control circuit, it is possible to prevent the freewheel, to protect against overheating and to prevent re-engagement of a starter ring gear.

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 In addition, the starter controller has a differentiation circuit for measuring a power supply voltage of the starter, subtracting a direct current component from the power supply voltage and detecting a current component. AC only, and the starter protection means protect the starter against freewheeling and overheating. As a result, it becomes possible to easily use a common substrate for 12 V and 14 V batteries.

Claims (6)

1. A starter control device for controlling a starter (1) for starting a motor comprising: a control circuit (11) for controlling an internal operation of the starter control device; a semiconductor relay (12) for controlling an operation of the electromagnetic switch (5) provided in the starter (1) by the control of the control circuit (11); and drive signal detection means (30) for detecting the on / off of a drive signal of an electromagnetic switch (5) entered from a contact lock (14) by measuring a voltage of semiconductor relay terminal (12), wherein the starter controller controls the starter by causing the electromagnetic switch (5) to operate based on a detection result of the drive signal detection means (30) .  2. starter control device according to claim 1, comprising power supply control means (23) for starting a power supply of the control circuit (11) if the drive signal detection means (30) detect the fact that the attack signal is on, while if the attack signal detection means (30) detects the fact that the attack signal is stopped, they interrupt the supply <Desc / Clms Page number 20>  in energy of the control circuit (11) after a determined period of time has passed since the drive signal was switched off.  3. A starter control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the semiconductor relay (12) for controlling the electromagnetic switch (5) is always in an energized state and is found to be in a state blocked by a signal from of the control circuit (11).  4. A starter control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electrical energy of the electromagnetic switch (5) is supplied from the contact lock (14).  5. starter control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein starter protection means (24) for protecting the starter (1) are provided in the control circuit.  6. A starter control device according to claim 1, comprising a differentiation circuit for measuring a power supply voltage of the starter, subtracting a DC component from the power supply voltage and detecting an AC component only, wherein starter protection means (24) protects the starter from freewheeling and overheating based on the AC component.