JP3802946B2 - Engine starter for vehicle - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle engine starter that starts an engine by energizing an engine start relay while energizing a power supply relay in response to a command from a portable transmitter.
[0002]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is provided a vehicle engine starter that starts a vehicle engine in a stopped state by using a start signal transmitted by radio waves from a portable transmitter, for example.
[0003]
That is, when this type of vehicle engine starter receives a start signal from the portable transmitter, the predetermined engine start conditions (for example, the transmission is not in the travel position, the parking brake is operated, etc.) It is configured to perform engine start control on the assumption that the above condition is satisfied. At the start control, the engine is started by operating the engine start relay while the power supply relay is operating. Like to do.
[0004]
Specifically, first, the power supply relay is operated, and the ACC (accessory) relay, the relay IG (ignition) relay, and the ST (starter) relay are operated in that order in accordance with the operation of the ST relay. Then, the engine starter is energized and the engine is started. Then, when the start of the engine is confirmed, in the state where the operation of the ST relay is finished, the engine rotation is maintained by energizing the ignition circuit through the IG relay and, for example, the air conditioner is energized through the ACC relay. As a result, the passenger compartment is maintained comfortably.
[0005]
By the way, a large current that is passed through the vehicle electrical components of the vehicle flows through the ACC relay, a large current that flows through the ignition circuit flows through the IG relay, and a large current that flows through the starter motor flows through the ST relay. Therefore, there is a circumstance that the relay contacts are easily welded, and when these relay contacts are welded, the state of energization to each load continues through each relay in the operating state of the power relay, and the battery May be consumed in a short time or the starter motor may be damaged.
[0006]
Therefore, in the prior art, as shown in FIG. 6, the ACC output, IG output, and ST output output from each relay when the power supply relay is operated in response to the reception of the start signal are monitored. At this time, when the relay contacts are not welded, the voltage output from each relay is at a low level, but when the contact of the IG relay is welded, for example, as shown in FIG. Since the voltage output of the relay is at a high level, it is determined that the contact of the IG relay is welded based on the IG output, and the power supply relay is turned off. Thereby, even if it is a case where the contact of a relay welds, it can prevent that electricity supply to the load through a relay continues.
[0007]
However, even if the ACC relay, IG relay, or ST relay is lightly welded, it is impossible to start the engine using the portable transmitter thereafter, and the load is energized every time the portable transmitter is operated. The problem of being done is not solved.
[0008]
Thus, when welding of a contact of a relay is detected, it is considered to release the welding by turning on and off the relay. In other words, the welded relay is turned on and off and stress is applied to the welded part of the contact to release the weld, thereby extending the life of the relay and extending the use of the engine start by the portable transmitter. It is intended.
[0009]
However, according to such a configuration, when the relay is completely welded, it becomes impossible to release the welding, so that the load is energized through the relay according to the operation by the portable transmitter, and eventually the battery There remains a risk of short-term wear or damage to the starter motor.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to weld an engine start relay in a configuration in which an engine is started by connecting a power source through an engine start relay in response to an external command. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle engine starter that can prevent problems caused by the above.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention detects a voltage output from the engine starting relay in a vehicle engine starting device having a starting means for starting an engine by connecting a power source through an engine starting relay in response to an external command. Providing an output detection means, provided with a start stop means for stopping the operation of the start means when the output detection means detects a voltage output from the engine start relay in a non-operating state of the engine start relay; When the output detection means detects the voltage output from the engine start relay at the timing when the operation of the engine start relay is completed, the welding release operation is executed by intermittently operating the engine start relay. A welding release means is provided to store a welding history indicating that the engine start relay has been welded. A history storage means is provided, and when the welding history stored in the welding history storage means becomes a predetermined condition, a start prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of the starting means regardless of an external command is provided. (Claim 1).
[0012]
According to such a configuration, when the portable transmitter is operated to start the engine of the vehicle, the starter starts the engine by connecting the power source through the engine start relay.
[0013]
At this time, if the engine start relay is welded, a voltage is output by connecting the power source even though the engine start relay is not operated. Then, the start stop means stops the operation of the start means in response to the output detection means detecting the voltage output from the engine start relay when the engine start relay is not operating. Thereby, when the engine start relay is welded, the engine start is stopped.
[0014]
In addition, when the engine start relay is welded during operation, the welding release means detects the output from the engine start relay regardless of the timing when the operation of the engine start relay ends. Accordingly, it is determined that the engine start relay has been welded, and the welding start operation is performed by intermittently operating the engine start relay. Thereby, when the degree of welding of the engine starting relay is light, the welding of the engine starting relay is released by the welding release operation.
At this time, the welding history storage means stores a welding history indicating that the engine start relay has been welded.
[0015]
The start prohibiting means prohibits connection of the power supply through the engine start relay regardless of an external command when the welding history stored in the welding history storage means becomes a predetermined condition. Thereby, when the possibility of welding of the engine start relay is high, it is possible to prevent a problem that the power source is connected through the engine start relay.
[0016]
In the above configuration, the welding history storage means stores the number of weldings that the engine start relay has welded as a welding history, and the start prohibiting means has a predetermined number of weldings stored in the welding history storage means. When the number of times is reached, it may be determined that the welding history has become a predetermined condition (claim 2).
[0017]
According to such a configuration, when the engine start relay reaches the end of its life, the number of times of welding increases. Therefore, the start prohibiting means relays the relay when the number of times of welding stored in the welding history storage means reaches a predetermined number. However, it is judged that the possibility of welding is long and the connection of the power supply through the engine start relay is prohibited regardless of the command from the outside. As a result, when there is a high possibility that the engine start relay is welded, connection of the power supply through the engine start relay is prevented in advance.
[0018]
The welding history storage means stores, as a welding history, the number of times that the engine start relay has been welded and the number of times that welding has been released by the welding release operation of the welding release means, and the start prohibiting means. May determine that the welding history is a predetermined condition when the difference between the number of weldings stored in the welding history storage means and the number of times of welding release is a predetermined number of times (Claim 3).
[0019]
According to such a configuration, when the engine start relay reaches the end of its life, it becomes difficult to release the welding regardless of the welding release operation of the welding release means, and the difference between the number of times of welding and the number of times of welding release becomes large. The prohibiting means determines that the welding history has become a predetermined condition when a difference between the number of weldings stored in the welding history storage means and the number of times of welding release becomes a predetermined number. Thereby, it is possible to reliably determine the possibility that the engine start relay is welded.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 schematically shows the electrical configuration. In FIG. 1, a portable transmitter 1 is carried by a driver of an automobile, and a start signal Sa and a stop signal Sb of a predetermined code for instructing start and stop of the engine of the automobile according to the operation. Is generated selectively, and the generated signal is transmitted, for example, as a radio wave signal.
[0021]
The receiving unit 2 includes a receiving device 3 installed in a place where radio wave reception is good in the interior of the automobile, and receives the start signal Sa and stop signal Sb from the portable transmitter 1 by the receiving device 3. It is configured to be possible. In addition to the receiving device 3, the receiving unit 2 includes a control circuit 4 that receives the command signals Sa and Sb received by the receiving device 3 (starting means, start stopping means, welding release means, welding history storage of the present invention). And power supply relays 5, 6, ACC relay 7, IG relays 8, 9, and ST relays 10, 11 controlled by the control circuit 4. The relays 7 to 11 correspond to engine start relays of the present invention.
[0022]
In this case, the power relays 5 and 6 are connected to the in-vehicle battery with the contacts 5a and 6a being closed to form a power circuit. The ACC relay 7 is configured to connect a vehicle accessory (air conditioner, audio, etc.) of an automobile to the vehicle battery via the power supply relay 5 with the contact 7a closed. The IG relays 8 and 9 are configured to connect the two ignition systems of the automobile to the in-vehicle battery through the contacts 5a and 6a of the power supply relays 5 and 6 with the contacts 8a and 9a closed. The ST relays 10 and 11 are configured to connect a two-system starter circuit for energizing an engine starter (not shown) with the contacts 10a and 11a closed to the vehicle battery through the contacts 5a and 6a of the power relays 5 and 6, respectively. It has become.
[0023]
On the other hand, the ACC output detection circuit 20 is connected to the output side of the contact 7a of the ACC relay 7 via a diode 15, and the IG relays 8 and 9 are connected to the output side of the contacts 8a and 9a via the diodes 16 and 17, respectively. An output detection circuit 21 is commonly connected, and an ST output detection circuit 22 is commonly connected to the output side of the contacts 10a and 11a of the ST relays 10 and 11. The output detection circuits 20 to 22 correspond to the output detection means of the present invention.
[0024]
Here, the ACC output detection circuit 20 monitors the output voltage from the contact 7a of the ACC relay 7, and when the output voltage is at a high level, the power source is connected to the vehicle accessory through the ACC relay 7. Determination is made and the detection signal S1 is output to the control circuit 4.
[0025]
The IG output detection circuit 21 monitors the output voltage from the contacts 8a and 9a of the IG relays 8 and 9, and when the output voltage is high level, the power is connected to the ignition circuit through the IG relays 8 and 9. And the detection signal S2 is output to the control circuit 4.
[0026]
The ST output detection circuit 22 monitors the output voltage from the contacts 10a and 11a of the ST relays 10 and 11, and when the output voltage is at a high level, the power is connected to the starter circuit through the ST relays 10 and 11. And the detection signal S3 is output to the control circuit 4.
[0027]
The ACC output detection circuit 20, the IG output detection circuit 21 and the ST output detection circuit 22 are mainly composed of transistors as shown in FIG. That is, the output from the relay is connected to the base of the transistor 24 via the resistor 23. The emitter of the transistor 24 is connected to the 0V line, and the collector is connected to the control circuit 4 via the resistor 25. Therefore, when the output from the relay is at a high level, the transistor 24 is turned on and the low level detection signals S1, S2, S3 are output to the control circuit 4.
[0028]
On the other hand, the parking brake switch 26 outputs a brake operation signal S4 in a state where the parking brake of the automobile is in the operating position. The shift position switch 27 outputs a parking signal S5 in a state where the automatic transmission of the automobile is at the parking position. The bonnet switch 28 outputs a bonnet closing signal S6 in a state where the hood of the automobile is closed. The door lock detection switch 29 outputs a door lock signal S7 when all the door lock mechanisms of the automobile are locked. In this case, the signals S4 to S7 are supplied to the control circuit 4, respectively.
[0029]
The control circuit 4 includes a microcomputer, and controls the operation of the relays 5 to 11 based on the input signals Sa, Sb, S1 to S7 as described above and a preset program. In the following, the control contents of the control circuit 4 and the operation of the parts related thereto will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4 and the timing chart of FIG.
[0030]
When receiving a start signal from the portable transmitter 1 (step S1), the control circuit 4 determines whether or not the possibility of welding is high based on the welding history of each relay stored as described later. (Step S2) When it is determined that the possibility of welding is small, it is first determined whether or not the engine start condition is satisfied in order to start the engine (Step S3). In this case, the engine start condition is that the brake operation signal S4, the parking signal S5, the bonnet closing signal S6, and the door lock signal S7 are all input, that is, the parking brake is operating, The engine start condition is satisfied when the automatic transmission is in the parking position, the hood of the vehicle is closed, and the door lock mechanism is locked.
[0031]
At this time, if the engine start condition is satisfied, it is determined that it is safe to form a power supply circuit for starting the engine, and the power supply relays 5 and 6 are energized (step S4). Thus, the vehicle battery is connected to the ACC relay 7, the IG relays 8 and 9, and the ST relays 10 and 11 through the power supply relays 5 and 6.
[0032]
Then, the control circuit 4 determines whether or not the relays 7 to 11 are actually welded (step S5). That is, although the possibility of welding was determined as described above, it was only predicted the possibility of welding, so it is confirmed whether the relays 7 to 11 are actually welded.
[0033]
Here, when any of the relays 7 to 11 is welded, the output from the contact point of the welded relay is connected to the vehicle battery and becomes high level regardless of the non-operating state of the relay. Therefore, a detection signal is output to the control circuit 4 from the output detection circuit provided corresponding to the welded relay.
[0034]
Therefore, when only one of the detection signals S1 to S3 is input from the output detection circuits 20 to 22 when only the power supply relays 5 and 6 are operated, the control circuit 4 corresponds to the output detection circuits 20 to 22. It can be determined that the relay is welded.
[0035]
At this time, when there is no welded relay, the control circuit 4 starts the engine starting operation.
That is, the ACC relay 7 and the IG relays 8 and 9 are energized (steps S6 and S7). As a result, the vehicle battery is connected to an accessory circuit such as an air conditioner and audio through the contact 7a of the ACC relay 7, and the vehicle battery is connected to the ignition circuit through the contacts 8a and 9a of the IG relays 8 and 9. .
[0036]
Subsequently, after waiting until a predetermined waiting time (for example, 5 seconds) elapses (step S8), the ST relay with the ACC relay 7 turned off in order to prevent the energization voltage to the starter circuit from being lowered. 10 and 11 are energized. As a result, the starter circuit operates and the engine is started by the engine starter.
[0037]
Then, it is monitored whether the engine is started when the ST relays 10 and 11 are on. When the engine is started (step S11), or until the set time elapses after the ST relays 10 and 11 are turned on. If not started (step S12), the ST relays 10 and 11 are turned off (step S13), and then the ACC relay 7 is turned on (step S14).
[0038]
Here, the control circuit 4 determines whether or not the ST relays 10 and 11 are welded in response to turning off the ST relays 10 and 11 (step S15). That is, it is determined whether the detection signal S3 is input from the ST output detection circuit 22 with the ST relays 10 and 11 turned off.
[0039]
At this time, when it is determined that the ST relays 10 and 11 are not welded, a stop signal is input from the portable transmitter 1 (step S16), or when the set time has elapsed (step S17), the IG relay 8 , 9 (step S18), the engine is stopped.
[0040]
Here, the control circuit 4 determines welding of the IG relays 8 and 9 in response to turning off the IG relays 8 and 9 (step S19). When it is determined that the IG relays 8 and 9 are not welded, the ACC relay 7 is turned off (step S20), the welding of the ACC relay 7 is determined (step S21), and it is determined that the IG relays 8 and 9 are not welded. When it returns to the initial state.
[0041]
By the way, the energizing current to the accessory circuit flows through the contact 7a of the ACC relay 7, the energizing current to the ignition circuit flows through the contacts 8a and 9a of the IG relays 8 and 9, and the contacts 10a and 11a of the ST relays 10 and 11 respectively. Since the energization current flows to the starter circuit, the contacts 7a to 11a of the relays 7 to 11a are caused by the energization current when the number of times of starting the engine using the portable transmitter 1 increases as described above. May be welded. When the relay contact is thus welded, the relay contact is turned on regardless of the non-operating state of the relay, and the accessory circuit is connected through the relay contact welded in the operating state of the power relays 5 and 6. Thus, the ignition circuit and the starter circuit are energized. For this reason, when the battery is consumed in a short time or the operation of the starter motor is continued, the starter motor may be damaged by starting the engine.
[0042]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control circuit 4 prevents problems caused by welding the relay as follows.
That is, when the control circuit 4 determines whether there is any relay welded in the ON state of the power supply relays 5 and 6 (step S4), the control circuit 4 returns to the initial state when detecting the welding. The engine start operation is stopped by returning. Thus, it is possible to prevent the energization of the accessory circuit, the ignition circuit, or the starter circuit from being continued due to the power relays 5 and 6 being turned on.
[0043]
Further, when the control circuit 4 determines that the relay is welded even though the power supply relays 5 and 6 have been turned on while the power relays 5 and 6 are turned on, the control circuit 4 performs the welding release operation. Thus, the welding is released (step S22).
[0044]
Here, the welding cancellation | release operation | movement with respect to ST relays 10 and 11 is demonstrated based on FIG. In FIG. 4, the control circuit 4 adds 1 to the ST relay welding history counter in accordance with the execution of the welding release operation (step S221). The ST relay welding history counter stores the number of times the ST relays 10 and 11 are welded.
[0045]
Subsequently, the ST relays 10 and 11 are turned on and off for a set number of times (steps S222 to S226). That is, as the ST relays 10 and 11 are turned on and off, stress is applied to the welded portions of the contacts 10a and 11a. Therefore, when the degree of welding is light, the welding is released.
[0046]
Then, after executing the above-described welding release operation, the control circuit 4 proceeds to the next step and continues welding of the ST relays 10 and 11 based on the input state of the detection signal S3 from the ST output detection circuit 22. If the welding of the ST relays 10 and 11 is released, 1 is added to the ST relay welding release counter (step S24). This ST relay welding release counter stores that the welding of the ST relays 10 and 11 has been released.
[0047]
On the other hand, when it is determined that the welding of the ST relays 10 and 11 is continued regardless of the above-described welding release operation, energization of all the relays is stopped (step S25).
[0048]
On the other hand, when the control circuit 4 determines that the IG relays 8 and 9 are turned off when the IG relays 8 and 9 are turned off (step S19), the control circuit 4 executes the welding release operation when it is determined that the IG relays 8 and 9 are welded (step S26). At this time, when the welding is released by the welding release operation, 1 is added to the welding release counter (step S28), and when the welding is not released, all the relays are turned off (step S29).
[0049]
Similarly, when the control circuit 4 determines that the welding has been performed when the ACC relay 7 is turned off (step S21), the control circuit 4 executes the welding release operation when determining that the welding has been performed (step S30). At this time, when the welding is released by the welding release operation, 1 is added to the welding release counter (step S32), and when the welding is not released, all the relays are turned off (step S33).
[0050]
Even if the welding is not released regardless of the execution of the welding release operation as described above, since the welding may be released spontaneously due to vibration during traveling of the automobile, the control circuit 4 is When the start signal Sa is received from the type transmitter 1, the engine is started.
[0051]
Now, if the relay is lightly welded, even if the relay is welded, it can be recovered from the welding by the above-mentioned welding release operation of the control circuit 4, or can be returned naturally by running the automobile, When the number of weldings increases and the life of the relay is reached, the possibility that the welding is not released increases.
[0052]
Therefore, when receiving the start signal Sa from the portable transmitter 1, the control circuit 4 determines whether or not the possibility of welding is high based on the welding history of the relay (step S2). That is, when the number of times of welding stored in the welding history counter is equal to or greater than the specified value, it is determined that the possibility of welding is high. Further, even if the number of weldings is small, it is determined that the possibility of welding is high when the difference between the number of weldings and the number of welding cancellations stored in the welding release counter becomes large.
[0053]
When the possibility of welding becomes large in this way, there is a high possibility that the welding has not been released when welding was performed by the previous relay being turned on, and even if it was not welded, Since there is a high possibility that the welding is not released, there is a possibility that a failure is caused in each circuit by energizing the load of the relay as the engine is started.
[0054]
Therefore, when it is determined that the possibility of welding is high, the control circuit 4 stops the engine start (“YES” in step S2). In this case, since the control circuit 4 does not start the engine even if it receives the start signal Sa thereafter, even if the engine starting operation is performed by the portable transmitter 1, the load is energized through the welded relay. It can be prevented in advance.
[0055]
In order to enable the engine to be started by the portable transmitter 1, the relay is stored by resetting the control circuit 4 after exchanging relays or all relays having a high possibility of welding based on the welding history. Clear the welding history.
[0056]
According to the above configuration, the control circuit 4 stores the welding history when the relay related to engine start is welded, and determines that the possibility of welding is high based on the welding history at the next engine start. The engine is configured not to start when the power relay is operated, so unlike the conventional example in which the load is energized through the welded relay when the power relay is operated, the battery may be consumed in a short time. It is possible to prevent the starter motor from being damaged.
[0057]
In addition, since the welding release operation is performed when the relay is welded, the relay welding is prevented from continuing and the engine can be started in accordance with the operation on the portable transmitter 1. Become.
[0058]
Furthermore, since the determination of the possibility of welding of the relay is made based on the number of times of welding of the relay and the number of times of welding release, it is possible to reliably determine the possibility of welding.
[0059]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified or expanded as follows.
When starting is stopped when the number of welding histories reaches the specified value, or when starting is stopped because the relay is welded, a notification means such as a lamp or a buzzer is provided to prompt replacement of the relay. May be.
[0060]
The ST output detection circuit 22 outputs a detection signal S3 to the control circuit 4 in response to a voltage output being output from either of the two ST relays 10 and 11, It is also possible to provide an output detection circuit correspondingly to store the welding history of each of the ST relays 10 and 11 based on the detection signal from each output detection circuit. The same applies to the IG relays 8 and 9.
[0061]
Instead of starting the engine in response to a command from the portable transmitter 1, the engine may be started when the command from the stationary transmitter or the set time of the timer is reached.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the vehicle engine starter of the present invention, when the engine is started in response to a command from the outside, the engine is started when the engine start relay is welded. When the welding is stopped despite the timing when the operation of the relay for starting the engine is terminated, the welding history is memorized, the welding release operation is executed, and the possibility of welding based on the welding history is high. In this configuration, the engine start relay is prohibited by welding the engine start relay in a configuration in which the engine is started by connecting a power source through the engine start relay in response to an external command. There is an excellent effect that it can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram showing a specific configuration of an output detection circuit.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a welding release operation of the control circuit.
FIG. 5 is a timing diagram of voltage output from each relay.
6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 is a portable transmitter, 4 is a control circuit (starting means, start stopping means, welding release means, welding history storage means, start prohibiting means), 5 and 6 are power relays, and 7 is an ACC relay (engine starting relay). ), 8 and 9 are IG relays (engine start relays), 10 and 11 are ST relays (engine start relays), 20 is an ACC output detection circuit (output detection means), and 21 is an IG output detection circuit (output detection means). , 22 is an ST output detection circuit (output detection means).

Claims (3)

In a vehicle engine starter provided with start means for starting an engine by connecting a power source through an engine start relay in response to a command from the outside,
Output detection means for detecting a voltage output from the engine start relay;
Start stopping means for stopping the operation of the starting means when the output detecting means detects a voltage output from the engine starting relay in a non-operating state of the engine starting relay;
When the output detection means detects the voltage output from the engine start relay at the timing when the operation of the engine start relay is completed, the welding release operation is executed by intermittently operating the engine start relay. Welding release means,
Welding history storage means for storing a welding history indicating that the engine start relay has been welded;
Vehicular engine comprising start prohibiting means for prohibiting operation of the starting means regardless of an external command when the welding history stored in the welding history storage means becomes a predetermined condition Starter. The welding history storage means stores the number of times the engine start relay has been welded as a welding history,
2. The vehicle engine start according to claim 1, wherein the start prohibiting unit determines that the welding history is a predetermined condition when the number of weldings stored in the welding history storage unit reaches a predetermined number. apparatus. The welding history storage means stores, as a welding history, the number of times that the engine start relay has been welded and the number of times that welding has been released by the welding release operation of the welding release means,
The start prohibiting unit determines that the welding history is a predetermined condition when a difference between the number of weldings stored in the welding history storage unit and the number of times of welding release is a predetermined number. The vehicle engine starter according to claim 1.

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