JP2799854B2 - Engine starter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a case where an automatic vehicle is a legitimate object to be mounted, and an engine start signal transmitted from a remote controller at a time set by a user, when a set time has elapsed since a setting operation, or by a remote controller. The present invention relates to an improvement in an engine starting device that starts an engine when receiving an instruction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automatic vehicle up to a short time ago, it was necessary to increase the warm-up operation time after starting the engine as the air temperature decreased. The adverse effect on itself has been almost negligible. However, the interior of the vehicle immediately after starting the engine is often cold enough to freeze in winter and hot enough to burn in summer. Therefore, rather than the engine performance, rather than the driver's discomfort, so that it is only necessary to get in the car when heating or cooling is moderately good, products and remote controls conventionally called starter timers Products called starters have been developed. In the former, when the set time set by the user is reached, or when the set time has elapsed from the setting operation by the user, even if the key switch normally operated by the user is not operated,
A timer circuit included in a control circuit supplies operating power from a vehicle-mounted battery to a starter motor drive circuit, automatically and forcibly operates the starter motor driving circuit, and automatically starts a vehicle-mounted engine. Uses the radio (including the infrared wavelength range in special cases), and allows the user to operate the engine start switch provided on the remote controller even at a place away from the vehicle, for example, from inside a house. This is a device that issues a start signal, and a control circuit that receives the start signal also supplies operating power from a battery mounted on the vehicle to a starter motor drive circuit, automatically and forcibly operates the starter motor drive circuit, and starts an engine mounted on the vehicle. .

[0003] However, such an engine starting device is
It is marketed as a product for so-called automatic vehicles. This is because safety as a device for starting the engine of the vehicle when the driver is not in the vehicle must be ensured. In other words, in the case of a manual vehicle, except for some vehicles, vehicles having a detection circuit for determining whether or not a selector lever (also called a shift lever or a gear change lever) is at a neutral (neutral: N) position are Therefore, when such an engine starter is mounted on a manual vehicle, if the starter motor is forcibly driven by the control circuit when the vehicle gear is in a position other than neutral, the side brake There is a danger that the vehicle will move unexpectedly if the pulling condition is too low.

On the other hand, in the case of an automatic vehicle, all types of commercially available vehicles are provided with contact means for opening and closing in conjunction with a selector lever, and the selector lever is at a parking position (parking or P position). When the engine is not in the neutral position, the contact means opens to prevent the battery from supplying power to the starter motor drive circuit. Even a simple configuration in which a switch is simply bypassed or short-circuited, a relatively high level of safety can be desired. Therefore, such contact means linked with the selector lever is generally called an "inhibitor contact" or an "inhibitor switch" in the sense that energization of the starter motor drive circuit is forbidden under specific conditions.

[0005] However, some users have purchased such an engine starting device by mistake or intentionally, despite the fact that they are clearly alerted to "only for automatic vehicles" and arranged in stores. Some are mounted on cars. Moreover, even if it is not such misuse, as described above, the safety of this type of product has never been higher. Therefore, the applicant has previously reported
No. 8934, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-92034 as an improvement
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-209, an engine starting device that detects whether a mounted vehicle is an automatic vehicle or a manual vehicle by focusing on a change in impedance of a starter line has been proposed. Although the contents are described in detail in each of the publications, in short, in a current line (a starter line) in which a battery current supplied from a battery mounted on the vehicle to a starter motor drive circuit via an engine start contact of a key switch flows. In an automatic vehicle, there is an inhibitor contact that opens and closes depending on the position of the selector lever as described above. Therefore, when the selector lever is at the parking position P or the neutral position N, and when the selector lever is at the reverse position R or the forward position D. In view of the fact that the line impedance of the starter line changes, only when the change of the impedance is detected in accordance with the switching operation of the selector lever, it is determined that the vehicle is an automatic vehicle and the engine start by the control circuit is not permitted. .

[0006]

Although such a device certainly improved the safety remarkably as compared with the previous device, it also caused some problems in mounting on a vehicle. The reason is that there is a considerable difference in the impedance itself in each case when the inhibitor contact is open and when the inhibitor contact is closed, due to differences between vehicle manufacturers and vehicle types, and if there is only a difference, For example, for example, by the contrivance disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-92034, it is possible to set a determination threshold for detecting an optimal impedance change for each vehicle in advance under the initial setting mode, Depending on the type of vehicle, even when the inhibitor contact is open, the line impedance of the starter line does not rise completely due to the fact that a specific control circuit mounted on the vehicle is in parallel with the inhibitor contact, and therefore the impedance of the starter line is substantially reduced. This is because there was a car model that could not detect the change, though it was very small. It is not desirable to be able to cope with such a vehicle model, even if only a small part, and this is a fact that cannot be ignored as a provider of the device.

The present invention has basically been made in view of this point, and it is not possible to clearly identify and judge that an automatic vehicle is detected by detecting a change in the impedance of a starter line depending on the position of a selector lever. It is intended to provide an engine starting device that can be applied to a simple vehicle and that permits the engine to be started only when the vehicle is correctly mounted on an automatic vehicle.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, an automatic vehicle has an inhibitor contact as described above. Therefore, when the selector lever is at the forward position D or the reverse position R, the key switch is temporarily turned off. Even if the starter motor is driven by attaching to the engine start contact or closing the bypass contact means for bypassing the engine start contact, the starter motor is not driven because the inhibitor contact is open and the battery is not driven. It was noted that there was no large current flow out of the battery, and no battery voltage drop was observed at this time. Conversely, if the vehicle is a manual vehicle, if the engine starting device is forcibly attached to it, regardless of the position of the selector lever, a key switch can be attached to the engine starting contact or a bypass that bypasses this engine starting contact When the contact means is closed, the starter motor always rotates because there is no inhibitor contact, and at this time, the battery voltage drops significantly.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention is to attach the device to a vehicle,
At the stage of turning on the power to the device, the test mode is entered. In this test mode, the presence or absence of the occurrence of the battery voltage drop as described above is detected, and based on this, the vehicle to which the device is attached is correctly an automatic vehicle. We decided to judge whether it was a manual car or not. That is, (A) at least when the selector lever, which can manually select at least one of the parking position, the neutral position, the retreat position, and the forward position, is at the parking position or the neutral position, the engine start contact is manually operated by the key switch. In order to drive the starter motor for starting the engine when selected, the selector lever intervenes in the starter line where the battery current flows from the battery mounted on the vehicle to the drive circuit of the starter motor via the engine start contact, and the selector lever is parked. When it is attached to a position other than the position or the neutral position, the starter line is released in conjunction with this,
Automatic vehicles having an inhibitor contact that prevents the starter motor from driving even if the engine start contact is selected by operating a key switch;
(B) Even if the engine start contact is not selected by the key switch,
Alternatively, when a set time has elapsed from the setting operation, or when an engine start signal transmitted from a remote controller is received, an engine start operation is generated, a close command is issued, and bypass contact means for bypassing the engine start contact is provided. In the engine starting device having the prerequisite components (A) and (B) of having a control circuit to be closed, the engine starting device having the following components (a) and (b) is further added. suggest. (a) After turning on the power to the control circuit, in a test mode before the control circuit enters the operation mode, start the engine by operating the key switch with the selector lever in a position other than the parking position or the neutral position. A voltage drop judging circuit for detecting whether a voltage drop has occurred in the battery voltage when a contact is manually selected or the bypass contact means is closed by a control circuit closing command. (b) when the voltage drop determination circuit does not detect the voltage drop, ends the test mode in the control circuit;
An operation permitting / prohibiting circuit for permitting the control circuit to enter an operation mode capable of performing an original engine starting operation of the apparatus, while prohibiting the control circuit from entering the operation mode when a voltage drop is detected.

In the present invention, the above-mentioned constitutional requirements (a), (b)
In addition, when the operation permitting / prohibiting circuit prohibits the control circuit from entering the operation mode, the engine starting device further includes a display unit capable of displaying a display to that effect. Here, for example, the display unit can be configured by a so-called liquid crystal display device or the like, and here, for example, a display indicating that this device cannot be used, or at least an error display indicating that it cannot be recognized as an automatic car can be visually displayed. .

Further, according to the present invention, the above constituent features (a) and (b)
In addition to the above, when the voltage drop determination circuit does not detect a voltage drop, a storage circuit for volatilely storing recognition information that the attached vehicle is regarded as an automatic vehicle is provided, and an operation permission / prohibition circuit is provided. Proposes an engine starting device which permits an engine starting operation in an operation mode of a control circuit only when recognition information is stored in the storage circuit. Here, the fact that the storage circuit stores information "volatilely" means that when the device power is turned off, the recognition information stored in the storage circuit disappears, and then the power is turned on again. Sometimes it means you have to go through test mode again. This means that
For example, taking into account the fact that the device may be reattached to another vehicle, it is necessary to confirm whether or not the installed vehicle is an automatic vehicle, which means that the safety of the device This is a desirable consideration in securing

According to another aspect of the present invention, in addition to having the above-mentioned components (a) and (b), the control circuit has a function of detecting a state of a foot brake provided in the vehicle. And
After the start of the test mode, the control circuit stops the test mode when the depression of the foot brake is no longer detected, and also proposes an engine starting device that does not enter the operation mode. Also, an engine starting device having a display unit capable of displaying an indication when the operation is stopped is proposed.

In such a case, as an embodiment of the present invention according to a lower-level concept, there is provided a display unit which can make a display requesting depression of a foot brake by a command of a control circuit issued in an initial stage of a test mode. When the circuit does not detect depression of the foot brake for a certain period of time after such a display is made, an error message is displayed on the display unit and the test mode is stopped, and
Engine starting devices that do not enter operating mode are also proposed.

Further, in another aspect of the present invention, a command to close the bypass contact means issued from the control circuit in the test mode is used to receive an engine start signal transmitted from a remote controller (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote controller). However, when the control circuit does not detect depression of the foot brake, the control circuit does not issue a command to close the bypass contact means even if the engine start signal is received. The present invention also proposes a device, and when using the remote controller in this way, the control circuit has a display unit capable of giving a display requesting a transmission operation by the remote controller in accordance with a command of the control circuit, and the control circuit waits for a predetermined time after the display is made. When an engine start signal is not received from the remote control during that time, an error message is displayed on the display device and To stop the strike mode, and also proposes an engine starting device that do not fall in the operational mode.

According to the present invention, instead of using the remote controller in the test mode, a command for closing the bypass contact means issued from the control circuit in the test mode is accompanied by the control circuit detecting the depression of the foot brake. An automatic starting device is also proposed.

Further, in a specific embodiment of the present invention,
Having at least the above configuration requirements (a) and (b), (c) the change in impedance in the starter line between when the selector lever is in the parking position or the neutral position and when the selector lever is in the retreat position or the forward position. (D) the impedance change determination circuit performs the detection operation prior to the test mode after the power supply to the control circuit; and (e) the impedance change determination circuit performs a detection operation of performing the detection operation. When a change in impedance is detected by the detection operation, the control circuit enters the operation mode without going through the test mode; (f) Conversely, when no change in impedance is detected, the control circuit enters the test mode. An engine starting device characterized by the following; This is, when the determination of the automatic car according to the impedance detection principle disclosed in the above-mentioned publication failed, the constituent elements of the present invention (a), (b)
This means that an automatic vehicle judgment related to detection of a drop in battery voltage, which is a method characteristic of the present invention, is performed.

In addition to the above, even when the engine starting device according to the present invention enters the operation mode, as another aspect according to the present invention, (g) the control circuit causes the engine starting operation in the operation mode, When closing the bypass contact means for issuing the closing command and bypassing the engine start contact, the contact means are also closed together by a closing command issued by the control circuit, and the closing of the bypass contact means is performed. As a result, the engine is started, and after the bypass contact is opened by the opening command of the control circuit, the current from the battery is continuously supplied to the ignition line for continuing to rotate the engine, so that the engine enters the ignition line in series, The ignition that is kept closed to continue to bypass the ignition contact selected by manual operation of the key switch (H) after starting the engine, the control circuit opens the ignition line bypass contact means when the control circuit detects that the foot brake has been depressed; Also suggest. In other words, this is significant in avoiding the inconvenience of driving a vehicle whose engine has been started by the engine starting device of the present invention without inserting a key. Without these components (g) and (h), a driver who has already entered the vehicle with the engine started can drive the vehicle as it is. On the other hand, with the configuration requirements (g) and (h), even if the driver who gets into the vehicle tries to drive as it is, the driver always steps on the foot brake before setting the selector lever to the forward or backward position, At that time, the engine can be stopped by opening the ignition line bypass contact means, thereby preventing operation without inserting the key. On the other hand, if the driver who gets into the vehicle follows the normal driving method and inserts the key into the key switch first and starts driving, the key switch is naturally turned at least to the position where the ignition contact is selected. This ensures that the ignition line is closed, and then when the foot brake is depressed to shift the selector lever to the forward or backward position, the ignition line bypass contact means is opened by a command of the control circuit. The engine does not stop even if it is done, and the driver can start driving in a regular manner. At the same time, the present engine starting device can complete the current engine starting operation there.

The control circuit, the voltage drop determination circuit, the operation permission / prohibition circuit, and the impedance change determination circuit described above can of course be configured as individual hardware. However, in realizing the respective functions, ,
At least one, some, or all of them can be configured using a microcomputer according to recent control technology.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of an automatic vehicle engine starting device constructed according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The circuit around the mounted starter is attached later by a simple wiring operation as shown by a frame surrounded by a virtual line in FIG. In other words, the portion outside the imaginary line frame shows a typical circuit example around a starter motor in an existing automatic vehicle that does not have the retrofitted engine starting device 30. However, even outside the frame 30, the relay contact C
a, Cb, and Cc are additional contact means that are selectively opened and closed by the apparatus 30.

First, a description will be given of a circuit or a device mounted on a normal automatic vehicle. A battery power supply line from a battery 10 mounted on the vehicle is connected to an input side contact (slider side contact) of a key switch 13. Have been.
The key switch 13 is very well known, and is operated by inserting a so-called "car key". Usually, an off contact (OFF), an accessory contact (ACC.), An ignition contact (IG), and an engine start prompting an engine start It has at least four stator contact positions for contacts (ST). When the user attaches the key switch 13 only to the accessory contact ACC., Only the on-vehicle radio and the so-called accessory load 11 can be operated, and after attaching the engine start contact ST, the engine is started. With the key switch 13
Release the key inserted in the
13 automatically returns the ignition contact IG to the selected position, and continues to supply power from the battery 10 via the ignition line 22 to the load 12 related to the ignition system necessary for maintaining the rotation of the engine (at this time, As is well known, the accessory contact ACC. Is selected as well, and the accessory load 11 continues to be powered).

The engine start contact ST is connected to a magnet switch 15, which is a typical example of a starter motor drive circuit, via a current line (starter line) 21 including an inhibitor contact C _O in series described above. . As for the magnet switch 15, the key switch 13 is an engine start contact.
If the inhibitor contact C _O is closed at this time and the inhibitor contact C _O is closed at this time, the internal contact is closed by receiving power from the battery 10, whereby the battery 10 is connected via the closed contact. Electric power is directly supplied to the starter motor 14 to rotate the starter motor 14 and start the engine. In other words, when the inhibitor contact C _O is open, even if the engine start contact ST is selected by the key switch 13, battery power is not applied to the magnet switch 15 and the built-in contact is not closed. I don't even go around. The starter motor drive circuit may take other circuit forms, and in special cases, a magnet switch
The starter line 21 may be directly connected to the starter motor 14 without the 15 provided. The starter motor drive circuit in this case is a wiring system around the starter motor. In any case, the starter line 21 referred to in this document is the one shown in FIG.
When the key switch 13 is attached to the engine start contact ST, the current flows at least from the battery 10 as a trigger for rotating the starter motor 14 as shown in the circuit example shown in FIG.

As described above, the inhibitor contact C _O is specific to the automatic vehicle, and is turned on and off in conjunction with a selector lever (not shown). In other words, the selector lever operated by the user in an automatic car is usually
Parking (parking) position P, reverse (reverse) position R,
Neutral (neutral) position N, forward (drive) position D
In general, the drive position D is further subdivided into a second gear selection position, a low gear selection position, an ultra low gear selection position, and the like. In this document, for simplicity, all of the above positions involved in the forward movement are uniformly represented by the drive position D,
A selector lever interlocking switch 16 having an electric contact position corresponding to a selected position at each time is also coupled to such a selector lever.

[0023] In the illustrated, the selector lever interlock switch 16 is connected its sliding contact in the ignition line 22 via the selection drive relay RYo of inhibitor contacts C _O, selected in the selector lever interlock switch 16 for In the group of contacts P, R, N, and D on the stator side that can be performed, the contacts R and D are opened or substantially opened, for example, grounded through a high resistance. , N are grounded. Therefore, when the gear selection selector lever (not shown) is set at a position other than the parking position P or the neutral position N, that is, at the reverse position R or the forward position D, the corresponding interlocking switch 16 also has the substantial open contacts R and D.
Therefore, even if the key switch 13 is operated by the user in this state and the engine start contact ST is selected in addition to the ignition contact IG, the relay RYO is given sufficient battery power to drive. Since the inhibitor contact C _O is not closed, the battery power is not supplied to the magnet switch 15 or the starter drive circuit 15 (the battery current does not flow through the starter line 21), and the starter motor 14 does not rotate.

The starter motor drive circuit 15 is operated by operating the key switch 13 because the selector lever is set at the parking position P or the neutral position N, and the selector lever interlocking switch 16 is also set at the contact position P or the neutral position N. As a result, battery power is supplied from the ignition contact IG of the key switch 13 to the inhibitor contact relay RYo via the ignition line 22 and only when the inhibitor contact C _O is closed. However, depending on the vehicle type, the inhibitor contact C _O may not be driven by the relay RYO, but may be constituted by the selector lever interlocking switch 16 itself. That is, only when the selector lever is in the parking position P or the neutral position N, the starter line 21 extending from the engine start contact ST of the key switch 13 to the starter motor drive circuit 15 is closed directly to the selector lever. In some cases, the inhibitor contact C _O is configured as a linked mechanical interlocking contact. As is apparent from the following description, the present invention can be applied to such a vehicle model.

As will be understood from the above configuration, an inhibitor contact in an existing automatic vehicle is understood.
The impedance of the starter line 21 including C _O in series is
Under the condition that the engine start contact ST of the key switch 13 is open, it differs depending on whether the inhibitor contact _CO is open or closed. When in the parking position P or the neutral position N, the inhibitor contact point C _O is closed, so that, for example, when viewed from the battery-side terminal position of the inhibitor contact point C _O , this portion is a relatively low first position that can be expected in the starter motor drive circuit 15. It will be grounded via the value impedance. On the other hand, if the selector lever is attached to the retreat position R or the forward position D and the inhibitor contact C _O is open,
The impedance seen at the battery-side terminal position of the inhibitor contact C _O is a relatively high second impedance. Therefore, if only the starter drive circuit 15 is connected to the engine start contact ST of the key switch 13 via the inhibitor contact C _O , naturally, it is viewed at the corresponding battery side terminal position when the inhibitor contact C _O is open. The above-mentioned second impedance becomes infinite in principle.

In practice, however, as shown in FIG. 1, various control circuits and the like related to engine start are generally provided in parallel with a series circuit of the inhibitor contact C _O and the starter drive circuit 15. In many cases, some kind of in-vehicle circuit 17 is already provided, so the above-mentioned first and second impedances differ depending on the vehicle type depending on the input impedance of the circuit 17, and in some cases, the first and second impedances are almost completely different. There were very few vehicles with no difference.
As a result, there has been a case where it is impossible to determine whether or not the vehicle is an automatic vehicle in accordance with the impedance detection according to the teachings of the above-mentioned publications. That is, the inhibitor contact
A current supply control circuit 34 provided in the engine starter 30 from the battery terminal of _CO to the starter line 21.
Current supply circuit (generally constant current supply circuit) 42
For example, if a small current of about several mA to several tens of mA is supplied, and it is converted into a voltage appearing at the corresponding terminal through an appropriate buffer 43 to detect the impedance of the starter line 21, depending on the type of vehicle, the inhibitor contact C _O Even when the vehicle is closed, even when it is open, the line impedance does not rise completely and the detected voltage does not rise to the detection threshold. In some cases, this was not the case. On the other hand, in the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not the attached vehicle is an automatic vehicle correctly with a single circuit configuration in many types of vehicles by means described later.

Now, referring to FIG. 1, referring to an example of the internal circuit configuration of an embodiment of the engine starting device 30 of the present invention, the main switch 46 of the device 30 is closed,
10 has a main control circuit 31 that operates when power is supplied from the power supply 10. The control circuit 31 also includes a microcomputer (hereinafter, abbreviated as a microcomputer, and uses the same reference numeral 31 as the control circuit). The microcomputer 31 includes an arithmetic storage circuit 32 and a timer circuit necessary for the engine starter 30 in the present embodiment, which will be described later.
33, the software is programmed so as to perform the functions of the current supply control circuit 34, the operation permission / prohibition circuit 35, the impedance change determination circuit 36, and the voltage drop determination circuit 37. However, for convenience, it may be more convenient to describe each of the circuits 31 to 37 as being configured as independent hardware.
One, some, or all of them can be configured by hardware).

The engine starter 30 according to the present embodiment
Has an automatic engine start function using a timer, which is one of the basic functions to be provided to the user, as in the existing starter timer under the original "operation mode" of the apparatus. However, the present invention, as already described,
This is an improvement on the recognition of whether this type of engine starter was correctly attached to the automatic vehicle before putting the device into operation mode, and the timer operation, which is one of the basic functions in such operation mode of the engine starter, In itself, this is not directly specified. The configuration shown is only an example. More particularly, a starter timer which is known or will be developed and which requires a recognition operation of an automatic vehicle before it is put into use (before entering the operating mode). Can be applied to all aspects of the present invention.

Under this premise, an example of a circuit configuration related to the illustrated starter timer will be described. The user can operate the operation unit which can be constituted by, for example, an appropriate input operation key group or an input operation switch with the main switch 46 turned on.
The set time at which the engine should be started automatically or the set time at which the engine should be started automatically when the set time has elapsed since the setting operation can be input in a corresponding data format via 39. The input set time or set time data is stored in the arithmetic storage circuit 32 and is displayed to the user on the display unit 38 by a suitable display means such as a liquid crystal display device. Display 38
Can be used as a device for displaying various kinds of information to the user or the driver, as described later.However, in order to save battery power, the display is displayed when battery power is not supplied to the ignition line 22. The microcomputer 31 has the ignition line 22
A detection signal of the line voltage detection circuit 44 for notifying the occurrence of a voltage is provided. The line voltage detecting circuit 44 is, for example, simply a voltage dividing circuit. When a battery voltage is applied to the ignition line 22 and the line 22 is turned on, a voltage (battery voltage) appearing on the line 22 is detected. A configuration in which a signal is applied to the microcomputer 31 as a voltage signal in a voltage range that can be handled by the microcomputer 31, or as a switching circuit including a transistor, a signal in a specific form when a battery voltage is applied to the ignition line 22, for example, It can be configured as a circuit that supplies a signal of the logic level “H” or “L” to the microcomputer 31. In any case, the data input operation by the user is performed in a state in which battery power is supplied to at least the ignition line 22 (a state in which the key switch 13 selects at least the ignition contact IG). .

In the case where the control circuit 31 is formed by using a microcomputer as in the present embodiment, in particular, in addition to the case where the line voltage detection circuit 44 is formed by a voltage dividing circuit, it will be described later. When the analog voltage of each part is taken into the microcomputer 31 as described above, the input analog voltage is converted into a digital value as necessary.
Many of the 31s have a built-in analog-to-digital converter (A / D converter) for that purpose. In the case shown in the figure, the use of such a microcomputer is assumed. Therefore, the A / D converter is omitted from the drawing. However, if the A / D converter is not built-in, an external analog-to-digital converter is naturally used. Will be used. Furthermore, even in the past, depending on the model,
In the case where the main switch 46 is turned on and the ignition line 22 is not energized, the clock frequency of the microcomputer is set to a relatively low frequency so as to suppress power consumption by the microcomputer 31 itself. Such an ingenuity can be arbitrarily adopted even in an engine starting device to which is applied. Also, it should be noted that, in the case shown in the figure, the circuits 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, and 45 shown as external circuits to the microcomputer 31 and the foot brake interlocking contacts 18, which will be described later, It is natural that an appropriate interface circuit may be provided between the side brake interlocking contact 19 and the microcomputer 31 as necessary, as is well known in this kind of technical field. For example, as described later, between each of the relays RYa to RYc in the line closing circuit 45 and the output terminal of the closing command signal of the microcomputer 31 as necessary,
A driver circuit or the like using a transistor may be inserted.

The control circuit 31 or, particularly, the timer circuit therein
33 has a clock function or a timer function as in the case of ordinary various timer devices. When the set time set by the user is reached or the set time elapses, the "time-up operation" starts and the line is closed. By driving the starter line closing relay RYc in the circuit 45, the corresponding relay contact Cc
Close and bypass the key switch 13 to inhibit contact
A battery is connected to the upstream side of C _O , and the relay contact Ca for bypassing the ignition contact IG of the key switch connected to the ignition line 22 while energizing the ignition line closing relay RYa is also closed. Therefore, as long as the selector lever is at the parking position P or the neutral position N and the selector lever interlocking switch 16 shown is also at the corresponding position, the battery 10 is connected to the relay RYO for closing the inhibitor contact C _O via the ignition line 22. When the power is supplied, the inhibitor contact C _O is closed, and various electric loads 12 necessary for maintaining the rotation of the engine are also supplied. Therefore, even when the key switch 13 is in the off position, the operating power from the battery 10 is given to the starter motor drive circuit 15 via the closed relay contact Cc and the inhibitor contact C _O , and the starter motor 14 is forcibly driven. After a certain period of time, or as described above, the detection voltage from the line voltage detection circuit 44 configured to be able to detect the voltage of the ignition line 22 (and, consequently, the battery voltage) by being configured as a voltage dividing circuit or the like is used to start the engine. When the start of the engine is confirmed by the control circuit 31 by detecting the rise of the relay RYc, the energization of the relay RYc is released based on the command of the control circuit 31, and the bypass contact means (by the engine start contact ST) bypasses the engine start contact ST. Even if the relay contact Cc) is opened and the drive of the starter motor 14 is stopped, at least for a preset time,
The relay RYa keeps energizing, and the engine keeps rotating. The set time can also be set to a desired time within the maximum settable time range, for example, up to a maximum of 20 minutes by the user's setting operation on the operation unit 39, and The set time can also be displayed on the display unit 38 for confirmation. When the relays RYc and RYa are energized, the relay RYb is generally energized as well, and the relay contact Cb is closed so that the accessory contact AC of the key switch 13 is closed.
C. is also short-circuited to the battery side, and supplies battery power to the accessory load 11 as well. Here, in the conventional device, even if the relay contact Cc is closed for a certain period of time, if the control circuit 31 does not confirm the engine start by the above-described engine start confirmation method, the relay is again performed for a certain period of time. There is also a configuration in which the contact Cc is closed and this is repeated up to a predetermined number of times. Naturally, such a configuration can also be arbitrarily adopted in the engine starting device to which the present invention is applied.

The engine starter 30 of the present embodiment further has a so-called remote control starter function in the operation mode. That is, when a user operates an engine start switch provided on a remote controller (not shown), a radio wave obtained by modulating an engine start signal by an appropriate modulation method is emitted from the remote controller. This radio wave is input to the radio wave receiving / demodulating circuit 40 via the antenna 41, demodulated and given to the control circuit 31, and the control circuit 31 determines that the signal is an engine start signal matched with each device 30. In other words, if the bit synchronization signal specified by the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses, the frame synchronization signal, and the calling code and error correction code specified by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications are signals that have been confirmed as engine start signals for each device, The microcomputer 31 generates a “remote control start operation” and performs substantially the same operation as the “time-up operation” by the timer operation described above. That is, the control circuit 31
In effect, the load control circuit in the timer circuit 33 is diverted and acts on the line closing circuit 45, and the relay group relays RYa, RYb, RYc are energized to drive the starter motor 14, After driving for a certain period of time or when the control circuit 31 confirms that the engine has started, the energization of the relay RYc is released and the starter motor 14 is stopped. twenty two
And the accessory line is kept energized. In addition, similarly to the time-up operation described above, the fact that the control circuit 31 has not succeeded in starting the engine for a certain period of time is determined by, for example, an ignition obtained from a line voltage detection circuit 44 configured to be capable of detecting a voltage. In view of the voltage information and the like via the line 22, when it is detected that the battery voltage has not risen, the relay RYc is driven again for a certain time,
Such an operation may be repeated up to a predetermined number of times.

However, as described above with respect to the starter timer, the present invention also relates to the remote control starter, which is an improvement relating to recognition of whether or not such a device is correctly mounted on an automatic vehicle. This is not directly specified for the configuration itself. The configuration shown is merely an example, and the present invention is applicable to a known remote control starter or a remote control starter that needs to recognize whether or not the vehicle is an automatic vehicle before using it. All can be applied. More specifically, the present invention is not limited to an engine starter having both a starter timer function and a remote control starter function as in the illustrated embodiment, and may be applied to an engine starter having only one of the functions. it can.

The side brake interlocking contact 19 shown in the figure is for notifying the control circuit 31 whether or not a side brake (not shown) is being applied. Such information can be extracted from the side brake interlock switch, for example, as a change in a voltage signal. As can be easily imagined, when the side brake is not applied, the engine is started (the line is closed) during the above-mentioned "time-up operation" or "remote control start operation" in order to ensure safety. The operation of the circuit 45 is prohibited, and the closing of the bypass contact means Cc under the test mode of the present invention described later is prevented.

However, if only the configuration under the operation mode that satisfies the basic functions of the starter timer and the remote control starter described above is used, the time-up operation or the remote control can be performed even when the apparatus 30 is mounted on a manual vehicle. A start operation can occur. This is dangerous if the vehicle is mounted on a manual vehicle and the relays RYa and RYc are energized when the gears are engaged and the starter motor 14 is forcibly driven. Therefore, the present device 30 has a function of determining whether or not the attached vehicle is an automatic vehicle by passing through a test mode as described below before entering the operation mode.

First, after the device 30 is mounted on the vehicle, the main switch 46 is turned on to activate the battery 10 mounted on the vehicle.
While receiving the supply of power from the device 30 to the device 30, the installation operator can operate the key switch 13 to start the engine, or even not start, at least attach the ignition contact IG to the selected position, Energize ignition line 22. As described above, the device 30 in this embodiment monitors the state of the ignition line 22 based on the detection signal of the line voltage detection circuit 44 to prevent useless consumption of battery power, and displays the display unit 38.
Is displayed only at least when the ignition line 22 is energized.

When this condition is satisfied, the apparatus according to the present embodiment first performs an initial test mode for detecting an impedance change according to the method taught by the above-mentioned publication before entering the test mode unique to the present invention. To enter the,
A display requesting the operation of the test switch is displayed on the display unit 38 (whatever the expression method), and the operator operates the test switch. The control circuit or microcomputer 31 detects that this test switch has been operated,
The device 30 is put into the initial test mode. This test switch may be a switch provided exclusively therefor. However, as described above, a group of input operation keys or a group of input operation switches for inputting a set time or a set time to the timer circuit 33 may be used. Since there is an operation unit 39 consisting of
A specific key or switch among these keys or switches can be used as a test switch, or a specific combination of them can be operated in a specific manner to enter the impedance change detection mode. .

Following the operation of the test switch, the operator is requested to put the shift lever in the parking or neutral position. This request may be made only in the instruction manual, but since the display unit 38 is provided, an instruction to that effect can be given using this display unit. On the other hand, regardless of whether the shift lever is operated correctly, the current supply control circuit
34 operates to command the current supply circuit 42, and the starter line including the inhibitor contact C _O in series from the current supply circuit 42
A small test current of about several mA to several tens mA is applied to 21, and a voltage proportional to the impedance appearing on the starter line 21 at this time is supplied via a buffer 43 to a control circuit.
The data is stored in the arithmetic storage circuit 32.

Next, a display is displayed on the display section 38 urging the operator to put the shift lever in a position other than parking or neutral, for example, a retreat or forward position. After displaying this display, the impedance change determination circuit 36 provided in the device 30 monitors the voltage (corresponding impedance) taken in via the buffer 43 over a certain period of time, and first calculates and stores it. It is determined whether the voltage or impedance stored in the circuit 32 has changed.
If this change is recognized for the reasons described above, the device 30
Can be regarded as correctly mounted on the automatic vehicle, so that the operator is desirably informed via the display 38 that the device is operably mounted, and the test switch is turned on if necessary. , Or ask them to quit (although this manual operation may be unnecessary in general)
The operation permission / prohibition circuit 35 provided in the device 30 gives an operation permission to the device 30, and thereafter, attaches the operation mode to
The function of the starter timer or the remote control starter described above can be used.

On the other hand, an impedance change determination circuit
When 36 could not detect the change in impedance, the previous device judged that it was a manual car and did not operate the device, but as described earlier, despite being correctly attached to the automatic car, In some vehicles, the impedance change cannot be detected due to the influence of the input impedance of the in-vehicle circuit 17 and the like. to go into.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of the present apparatus 30 in the test mode after the impedance change is not detected. Step 10 to part 38
A request to depress the foot brake is displayed as shown in 1 (the expression method is arbitrary). Information as to whether or not the foot brake has been depressed can be easily obtained from the foot brake interlocking contact 18 or the like that is standardly mounted on the vehicle by simply adding wiring or the like. As described above, an appropriate interface such as a voltage detection circuit or a voltage dividing circuit may be required.

Here, as shown in steps 102 and 103,
If the control circuit 31 cannot confirm that the foot brake has been depressed within a predetermined time, the control circuit 31 proceeds to step 10.
In 3 it is determined that the time is up and an error is displayed on the display unit 38 as shown in step 104 (the expression method is also arbitrary)
At the same time, the test mode is stopped there, and naturally, the operation mode is not entered. Unless the main switch 46 is turned off and turned on again, the control circuit (microcomputer) 31 is not reset, and once the power is turned off and turned on again, the test operation described above is restarted from the beginning.

On the other hand, when the control circuit 31 confirms that the foot brake is depressed, the control circuit 31 proceeds to step 105, and displays a request on the display unit 38 indicating that the selector lever should be attached to the position D or the position R (expression method is: (Optional), and then the operation proceeds to the operation of closing the bypass contact means Cc for bypassing the engine start contact ST of the key switch 13. In the present embodiment, since the engine starting device 30 having the remote control starter function is also assumed, bypass contact means by remote control operation (not shown) including operation confirmation of the remote control function is included.
Close Cc. For this reason, an operation request display for driving the starter motor (the expression method is also arbitrary) is also displayed on the display unit 38.

As shown in steps 106 and 107, if the operator does not operate the remote controller in a predetermined manner within a predetermined time (the control circuit 31 performs radio wave reception / transmission in accordance with the operation in the operation mode already described). If the predetermined engine start signal is not successfully detected via the demodulation circuit 40), step 108
As shown in (5), the control circuit 31 gives an error display (arbitrary expression method) on the display unit 38, stops the test mode there, and does not enter the operation mode. That is, as before,
Unless the main switch 46 is turned off and turned on again, the control circuit
31 is not reset, and once the power is turned off and turned on again, the test operation described above is restarted from the beginning.

On the other hand, if the control circuit 31 succeeds in detecting the predetermined engine start signal within a certain period of time, as shown in step 109, the control circuit 31 The bypass contact means Cc is closed for a predetermined time via the line closing circuit 45, and in this state, as shown in step 110, the voltage drop determining circuit 37 determines whether or not a voltage drop has occurred in the battery voltage. . In this regard, in this embodiment, as described above, since the line voltage detection circuit 44 that captures the voltage of the ignition line 22 is provided, this is used to monitor and detect the battery voltage required for the determination of the voltage drop. can do. Here, if the device 30 is correctly mounted on the automatic vehicle and the operator has correctly set the selector lever to the position D or R according to the above display, the inhibitor contact C _O is opened. As a matter of course, there is no outflow of current through the starter line 21, and thus outflow of large current supplied to the starter motor 14, and the battery voltage hardly drops.

Therefore, in this case, the control circuit is substantially
The operation permission / prohibition circuit 36, which can also be configured as a part of the test 31, displays on the display unit 38 that the test has been completed normally as desired in step 113 (the expression method is arbitrary). "
As shown at 114, an operation permission is given to the apparatus to permit the apparatus to enter an operation mode for performing the above-described operation of the engine starting apparatus.

On the contrary, even if it is impossible,
If the selector lever 30 is mounted, even if the selector lever is moved to a position other than the neutral position N, a large current will be supplied to the starter motor 14 with the closing of the bypass contact means Cc. The circuit 37 always detects that the battery voltage has dropped. Therefore, in this case, preferably, as shown in step 111, it is determined that the device is not properly mounted or that the operator did not follow the instruction (for example, the selector lever was not set at the position D or R). After making a display on the display unit 38,
As shown in step 112, thereafter, the control circuit 31 or the apparatus 30 is prohibited from entering the above-described operation mode.

To release this prohibition state, the main switch 46 is once turned off. Thereafter, when the main switch 46 is turned on again, the control circuit 31 enters the first stage of the test mode described above. Therefore, when the operation mode is prohibited due to a worker's operation error, the above-described test operation can be performed again, and if the operation mode is incorrectly or intentionally attached to the manual vehicle, Therefore, the apparatus does not enter the operation mode even if the test operation is repeated many times, and the safety of the apparatus is ensured.

If no voltage drop has occurred by the voltage drop determination circuit 37 in step 110, the recognition information that the attached vehicle is regarded as an automatic vehicle is stored in the arithmetic storage circuit 32. The operation permission / inhibition circuit 35 is stored in the “volatile” storage circuit, and only when the recognition information is stored in the volatile storage circuit (as long as the recognition information is stored), the original operation mode of the control circuit 31 is set. It is even better to allow the engine start operation below.
This means that the recognition information stored in the storage circuit disappears when the power supply of the device is turned off, and that the test mode has to be performed again when the power supply is turned on again next time. Therefore, it is troublesome in that, for example, when the battery is replaced, there is no need to go through the test mode again by shutting off the power even when the mounted vehicle is not changed. In this case, a test mode for recognizing whether or not each of the attached vehicles is an automatic vehicle must pass, so that the safety of the device can be ensured.

In the above-described test sequence, the depression of the foot brake is confirmed by checking the state of the foot brake interlocking contact 18, but this is naturally a desirable consideration for safety. Rather, after the start of the test mode, the confirmation of the depression of the foot brake is continuously performed when the test circuit is in the test mode. When the control circuit 31 does not confirm the depression of the foot brake, the test mode is stopped there. Naturally, the operation mode is not completed, so the operation mode is not entered), and a display to that effect (an expression method is also arbitrary) may be made on the display unit 38. Also in this case, the test mode is not restarted unless the main switch 46 is once turned off and turned on again.

In the above-described test sequence, the closing of the bypass contact means Cc was performed by the remote control operation of the operator. However, the closing command of the bypass contact means Cc is not sent to the control circuit in the previous step 102. It is also possible to change the control circuit 31 so that it is automatically issued for a certain period of time as the step 31 detects the depression of the foot brake. In this case, the display unit 38 in the subsequent step 105
Can be made only by a request for shifting the selector lever. Further, in some cases, the operator can operate the key switch 13 on the display unit to change the display to a message indicating that the engine start contact ST is to be selected in step 105. In this case, if a voltage drop is detected within a certain period of time after the display, the process proceeds to step 111 to prohibit the operation of the device, otherwise, the process proceeds to step 113 to operate the device. Can be configured.

The display section 38 which makes various displays in each of the above-described steps may be a single or common display device as a component, or may be provided exclusively for each. good. Generally, it is convenient to use a single device using a liquid crystal display as described above.

In addition to the above, the present invention discloses not only the above-described device in the test mode but also another device for ensuring safety even when the engine starter 30 enters the operation mode. That is, when the control circuit 31 detects the depression of the foot brake after the engine is started, at least the ignition line bypass contact means Ca is opened there. This is to avoid the inconvenience of driving a vehicle whose engine has been started by the engine starting device of the present invention without inserting a key. Engine starter 30
Is started without inserting the key. Therefore, if not configured in this manner, a driver who gets into a vehicle in which the engine has already been started can drive the vehicle as it is if he / she wants to do so. This is in some ways dangerous, and without the key, the engine cannot be turned off manually.

On the other hand, when the engine is started by the engine starting device 30, if the bypass contact means Ca for the ignition line is opened by depressing the foot brake, the driver Even if the driver attempts to drive the vehicle as it is, the engine can be stopped when the foot brake is depressed before the selector lever is moved to the forward or backward position, thereby preventing the driver from driving without inserting the key. On the other hand, if the driver who gets into the vehicle follows a normal driving method and first tries to start driving after inserting the key into the key switch 13, the key switch 13 should be turned on at least the ignition contact IG naturally. Since the selected position is applied, this ensures that the ignition line 22 is closed, even if the foot brake is subsequently depressed to shift the selector lever to the forward or reverse position, and thereby the key switch 13 Even if the ignition line bypass contact means Ca for bypassing the engine is opened by a command of the control circuit 31, the engine does not stop and the driver can start driving in a regular manner, so that no inconvenience occurs. . Further, the present engine starting device 30 can complete the current engine starting operation there, if necessary, without waiting for the lapse of a predetermined time during which the ignition line 22 should be closed.

Although the preferred embodiment of the engine starting device according to the present invention has been described in detail, it is apparent that the present invention can be used not only as an aid to the conventional judgment method accompanying the impedance change, but also as a circuit configuration of the present invention. It is also possible to provide an engine starter 30 equipped with only the determination method. In addition, at the time of error display in each of the above-described cases, not only the visual display on the display unit 38 but also audible notification using appropriate audible notification means (not shown) can be freely adopted. It is. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the line closing circuit 45 includes the relays RYa, RYb, RY
c, and the contact means selectively closed by the line closing circuit 45 to selectively bypass each contact of the key switch 13 is constituted by relay contacts Ca, Cb, Cc. It is also possible to replace this with another switch means such as a semiconductor switch.

[0056]

The engine starting device according to the present invention has an excellent function of judging whether or not the vehicle to which the device is attached is correctly an automatic vehicle, can maintain high safety, and can be mounted on an automatic vehicle correctly. However, it is possible to attach and use a vehicle that cannot be recognized as an automatic vehicle by the conventional determination method associated with impedance detection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram relating to a circuit configuration in an embodiment of an automatic engine starting device configured according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram based on a flowchart relating to a method for determining whether or not the vehicle is an automatic vehicle by the circuit shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Battery mounted on vehicle 13 Key switch 14 Starter motor 15 Starter motor drive circuit 16 Selector lever interlock switch 18 Foot brake interlock contact 30 Automatic engine starting device according to the present invention 31 Control circuit that can be configured using microcomputer 32 Arithmetic storage circuit 33 Timer Circuit 34 Current supply control circuit 35 Operation permission / inhibition circuit 36 Impedance change judgment circuit 37 Voltage drop judgment circuit 38 Display section 39 Operation section 40 Radio wave reception / demodulation circuit 42 Current supply circuit 44 Line voltage detection circuit 45 Line closing circuit 46 Main Switch Ca Bypass contact means for closing ignition line Cc Contact means for engine start contact bypass (for closing starter line) C _O Inhibitor contact

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-7-54741 (JP, A) JP-A-6-115376 (JP, A) JP-A-5-215052 (JP, A) JP-A 64-12926 (JP) JP-A-58-164438 (JP, A) JP-A-7-97953 (JP, A) JP-A-6-49771 (JP, U) JP-A-6-49770 (JP, U) JP-A-6-49770 (JP, U) 3-51174 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 60-190977 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F02N 11/08-11/10 F02N 15/00

Claims (13)

(57) [Claims] An engine is started by manual operation of a key switch only when a selector lever capable of manually selecting at least one of a parking position, a neutral position, a retreat position, and a forward position is at the parking position or the neutral position. In order to drive the starter motor for starting the engine when the contact is selected, the starter motor is interposed in a starter line through which a battery current supplied from a battery mounted on the vehicle to a drive circuit of the starter motor via the engine start contact is provided. When the selector lever is located at a position other than the parking position or the neutral position, the starter line is opened in conjunction with this, and even if the engine start contact is selected by operating the key switch, the starter motor An automatic vehicle having an inhibitor contact for preventing the driving of Even if the engine start contact is not selected by the switch, when the set time is reached in the operation mode, when the set time has elapsed from the setting operation, or when the engine start signal transmitted from the remote controller is received. An engine starting device having a control circuit for causing an engine starting operation to occur and issuing a closing command to close bypass contact means for bypassing the engine starting contact; In a test mode before the circuit enters the operation mode, the engine start contact is manually selected by operating the key switch in a state where the selector lever is attached to a position other than the parking position or the neutral position. Or, when the bypass contact means is closed by the closing command of the control circuit, A voltage drop judging circuit for detecting whether a voltage drop has occurred in the battery voltage; and when the voltage drop judging circuit has not detected the voltage drop, the test mode in the control circuit is terminated. An operation permitting / prohibiting circuit for permitting the control circuit to enter the operation mode while prohibiting the control circuit from entering the operation mode when detecting the voltage drop. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying an indication when the operation permission / inhibition circuit inhibits the control circuit from entering the operation mode. An engine starting device; 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:
When the voltage drop determination circuit does not detect the voltage drop, a storage circuit for volatilely storing recognition information that the attached vehicle is considered to be an automatic vehicle is provided; And permitting the engine starting operation in the operating mode of the control circuit only when the recognition information is stored in the storage circuit. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit has a function of detecting a state of a foot brake provided in the vehicle; The engine starting device, wherein the control circuit stops the test mode when the control circuit stops detecting the depression of the foot brake and does not enter the operation mode. 5. The engine starting device according to claim 4, wherein the control circuit has a display unit capable of displaying an indication when the test mode is stopped. 6. The device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein:
A display unit capable of displaying a request for depressing a foot brake in accordance with a command from the control circuit issued at an early stage of the test mode; the control circuit performs the display for a predetermined time after the display is performed; An engine start device for displaying an error message on the display unit, stopping the test mode, and not entering the operation mode when the depression of the foot brake is not detected. 7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the command for closing the bypass contact means issued from the control circuit in the test mode is transmitted from the remote controller. When the control circuit does not detect the depression of the foot brake of the vehicle, the control circuit issues the closing command even when the engine start signal is received. Not starting; an engine starting device; 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a display unit capable of displaying a request for requesting the remote controller to perform the transmission operation in accordance with a command from the control circuit; and for a predetermined time after the display is performed. If the control circuit does not receive the engine start signal from the remote controller during the time, the control circuit outputs an error display on the display unit, suspends the test mode, and switches to the operation mode. Not enter; an engine starting device; 9. The apparatus according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein said closing command of said bypass contact means issued from said control circuit under said test mode is controlled by said control circuit to operate said foot brake. An engine starting device, which is automatically issued from the control circuit when a depression is detected. 10. The method according to claim 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,
10. The apparatus according to 8 or 9, wherein one or more or all of the control circuit, the voltage drop determination circuit, and the operation permission / inhibition circuit are configured using a microcomputer. Engine starting device. 11. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
11. The apparatus according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein an impedance change occurs in the starter line between when the selector lever is in the parking position or the neutral position and when the selector lever is in the retreat position or the forward position. Further comprising an impedance change judging circuit for performing the detecting operation; the impedance change judging circuit performs the detecting operation prior to the test mode after the power supply to the control circuit; When the change in the impedance is detected by the detection operation, the control circuit enters the operation mode without going through the test mode; however, the change in the impedance is not detected by the detection operation of the impedance change determination circuit. The control circuit enters the test mode. Starting device. 12. The engine starting device according to claim 11, wherein said impedance change judging circuit is constituted by a microcomputer. 13. The apparatus of claim 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, wherein the control circuit causes the engine to start in the operating mode, and issues the closing command. When the bypass contact means for bypassing the engine start contact is closed, the contact means is closed together by a closing command issued by the control circuit, and the engine is started by closing the bypass contact means, Even after the bypass contact is opened by the opening command of the control circuit, the key switch that is connected in series with the ignition line to continue to supply current from the battery to the ignition line to keep the engine running. Further includes an ignition line bypass contact means for maintaining a closed state so as to continue to bypass an ignition contact selected by manual operation of the ignition switch. After the engine has started, the control circuit opens the ignition line bypass contact means upon detecting depression of the foot brake.