Abstract:
In a method for operating a temperature-limiting device of an electrical unit activatable for a limited time period by way of an activation signal, the temperature-limiting device permits activation of the electrical unit upon occurrence of the activation signal only if a counter value is greater than or less than a reference value, the counter value being incremented or decremented by a determined temperature equivalence value upon each activation of the electrical unit.
Abstract:
An internal combustion engine employs a starting system. A method for evaluating the starting system includes determining a cranking resistance ratio between a starter and a battery of the starting system during engine cranking. The cranking resistance ratio is normalized based upon an operating temperature of the starting system, and the starting system is evaluated based upon the normalized cranking resistance ratio.
Abstract:
A method for determining the speed of a starter for starting internal combustion engines. The starter speed may be ascertained in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner in that it is calculated from different electrical variables and is calibrated by comparison to the internal combustion engine speed.
Abstract:
An engine rotational speed determining device is disclosed which includes a signal inputting means and a rotational speed determining means. The signal inputting means inputs a signal that indicates current supplied to an electric motor, which starts an internal combustion engine, during a starting operation of the engine by the motor. The rotational speed determining means determines a rotational speed of the engine in the starting operation based on a change in the current indicated by the signal input by the signal inputting means.
Abstract:
A method and an apparatus for protecting an engine starter of a motor vehicle against overheating with enhanced reliability by controlling turn-on/off of the starter in dependence on a conducting current of the starter, a starter temperature and an ambient temperature. The apparatus includes a voltage detecting means (1) for measuring a supply voltage (Vs) of the engine starter, a voltage waveform information detecting means (11) for detecting at least one of frequency information and amplitude information of a waveform representing variation of the supply voltage (Vs) as voltage waveform information (T), and a conduction time control means (12, 12A) for controlling a conduction time period of the engine starter in accordance with the voltage waveform information (T).
Abstract:
The apparatus for controlling an electrical starter motor for cranking a cranking mechanism of an internal combustion engine to start the engine includes a circuit for making an electrical connection between a voltage source and the starter motor by which the starter motor is coupled with a cranking gear of the engine by means of a shiftable transmission when the circuit is energized and an electronic control unit for controlling at least one of a voltage, a current and an on-time of the electrical starter motor in a stepwise manner in a two-stage control process including a first stage in which the starter motor is coupled with the cranking gear and operated at a reduced rotation speed to reduce wear. The electronic control unit is electrically connected between the voltage source and the starter motor and is an electronic relay that includes a central processing unit and at least two electronic power switches for switching the voltage of the starter motor.
Abstract:
A control device for a hybrid vehicle having a drive-train with a hybrid drive unit including an internal combustion engine and an electric machine. A clutch is connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine. An automatic or automated transmission is connected between the hybrid drive unit and a drive output. When the hybrid vehicle has been driving and comes to a standstill with its internal combustion engine stopped, the control device automatically determines, on the one hand, a starting mode for the subsequent re-starting of the internal combustion engine when the hybrid vehicle is at rest, and the control device, on the other hand, automatically changes at least the transmission and the clutch connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine of the hybrid drive unit to a condition appropriate for the starting mode determined by emitting appropriate control signals.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an idle stop control device that automatically shuts down an engine when a first condition is satisfied, and then restarts the engine using a starter to which electricity is fed through a brush when a second condition is satisfied, the idle stop control device including a start-operation brush wear amount computing unit that is configured to compute a brush wear amount in a single start operation, a total brush wear amount computing unit that is configured to compute a total brush wear amount by integrating the brush wear amount in a single start operation, and an automatic engine shutdown prohibiting unit that is configured to prohibit an automatic engine shutdown when the total brush wear amount is equal to or larger than a warranty driving wear amount of the starter.
Abstract:
An internal combustion engine employs a starting system. A method for evaluating the starting system includes determining a cranking resistance ratio between a starter and a battery of the starting system during engine cranking. The cranking resistance ratio is normalized based upon an operating temperature of the starting system, and the starting system is evaluated based upon the normalized cranking resistance ratio.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of controlling the power supply to an electric starter that drives heat engine of a vehicle, in which the starter power supply is stopped after each supply phase for a first pre-determined period TOFF. According to the invention, the starter power supply is inhibited for a second pre-determined period TREP which is longer than the first period TOFF, when the number NON of consecutive starter supply phase ON1, ON2, ON3, ON4 exceeds a pre-determined value NMAX without the heat engine reaching an autorotation state.