JP6172049B2 - Control device for engine starter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is provided movably to a rotating machine that is rotationally driven by energization and a coupling position that meshes with a ring gear coupled to an engine crankshaft or a non-coupled position that does not mesh with the ring gear. The present invention relates to a control device applied to an engine starter that includes a pinion gear to which a force is applied and an electromagnetic solenoid that moves the pinion gear from the unconnected position to the connected position by energization.

  As this type of control device, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, the energization current to the electromagnetic solenoid is before the scheduled contact timing of the pinion gear and the ring gear, and after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of energization to the electromagnetic solenoid. It is known to reduce the above. According to this control device, the moving speed of the pinion gear in the direction from the non-connecting position to the connecting position can be reduced, and the speed at which the pinion gear collides with the ring gear can be reduced. Thereby, durability of an engine starting device can be improved.

JP 2002-122059 A

  Here, in order to make the speed at which the pinion gear collides with the ring gear more appropriate, a configuration capable of grasping the moving speed of the pinion gear is desired. However, if the engine starter is provided with a sensor that directly detects the movement speed of the pinion gear, the number of parts of the engine starter increases.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an engine starter that can grasp the movement speed of the pinion gear without providing a sensor that directly detects the movement speed of the pinion gear. It is to provide a control device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a rotating machine (20) that is rotationally driven by energization, a switch (SUp to SWn), and is electrically connected to a DC power source (34), The power conversion circuit (30) for applying the voltage of the DC power supply to the rotating machine by operating the switch and the ring gear (62) connected to the crankshaft (60) of the engine are not engaged with each other. The pinion gear (52), the solenoid coil (42), and the pinion gear that are movable to a non-connection position or a connection position that meshes with the ring gear are transmitted mechanically to the pinion gear. A movable iron core (44), and moving the movable iron core by electromagnetic force generated by energization of the solenoid coil. An acquisition means for acquiring an applied voltage to the solenoid coil and a change amount of a current value flowing through the solenoid coil; and an electromagnetic solenoid (40) that moves from the connection position to the connection position. An inductance calculating means for calculating an inductance of the solenoid coil based on the applied voltage acquired by the acquiring means and an amount of change in the current value, and the pinion based on the inductance calculated by the inductance calculating means. A position calculating means for calculating the position of the gear, and a speed calculation for calculating a moving speed of the pinion gear in a direction from the non-connected position toward the connected position based on the position of the pinion gear calculated by the position calculating means. Means and the speed calculating means To control the moving speed which is characterized by comprising a current operation means for operating the current flowing through the solenoid coil.

  The movable iron core moves due to the electromagnetic force generated by energizing the solenoid coil. Here, the inductance of the solenoid coil changes according to the position of the movable iron core. Further, since the movable iron core is mechanically connected to the pinion gear, the position of the movable iron core and the position of the pinion gear can be related. For this reason, the inductance of the solenoid coil can be related to the position of the pinion gear. Here, the inductance of the solenoid coil can be calculated from the applied voltage of the solenoid coil and the amount of change in the current value flowing through the solenoid coil. In view of these points, the present invention includes an acquisition unit, an inductance calculation unit, and a position calculation unit. For this reason, the position of the pinion gear can be calculated. Moreover, the said invention is provided with the speed calculation means. For this reason, the moving speed of the pinion gear can be grasped without providing a sensor for directly detecting the moving speed of the pinion gear in the engine starting device. The moving speed of the pinion gear can be controlled by the current operation means.

The whole block diagram of a starter system. The block diagram of motor control. The figure which shows the relationship between a plunger position and an inductance. The figure which shows the relationship between an inductance and an electric current variation | change_quantity. The flowchart which shows the procedure of an engine starting control process.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a control device according to the invention is applied to a vehicle equipped with an engine as an in-vehicle main machine will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle is provided with a starter 10. The starter 10 includes a motor 20, an inverter 30, and an electromagnetic solenoid 40. In the present embodiment, the motor 20 is a multiphase (three-phase) AC rotating machine, and includes a rotor 22 and U, V, and W phase stator coils 24U, 24V, and 24W. The first ends of the U, V, and W phase stator coils 24U, 24V, and 24W are connected to each other at a neutral point N. In the present embodiment, a permanent magnet synchronous machine is used as the motor 20, and in particular, an IPMSM is used.

  The inverter 30 is a three-phase inverter including three sets of serially connected bodies of a $ -phase upper arm switch S \ p (\ = U, V, W) and a $ -phase lower arm switch S \ n. Specifically, the connection point of the upper and lower arm switches S ¥ p, S ¥ n is connected to the second end of the ¥ phase stator coil 24 </ b> ¥ (the ¥ phase terminal of the motor 20). The inverter 30 also includes a control circuit 32 for operating the upper and lower arm switches S ¥ p, S ¥ n. In the present embodiment, an IGBT that is a semiconductor switching element is used as the switch S ¥ # (# = p, n). Further, a free wheel diode D ¥ # is connected in reverse parallel to the switch S ¥ #.

  The positive terminal of the battery 34 as a “DC power supply” is connected to the positive terminal Tp (the collector of the upper arm switch S ¥ p) of the inverter 30, and the negative terminal Tn of the inverter 30 (the emitter of the lower arm switch S ¥ n). Is connected to the negative terminal of the battery 34. A first terminal of a solenoid coil 42 constituting the electromagnetic solenoid 40 is connected to the negative terminal of the battery 34. A neutral point N is connected to the second end of the solenoid coil 42. In addition to the solenoid coil 42, the electromagnetic solenoid 40 includes a plunger 44 (corresponding to “movable iron core”) and a return spring 46.

  The starter 10 further includes a one-way clutch 50, a pinion gear 52, a lever 54, and a stopper 56. The pinion gear 52 is mechanically connected to the plunger 44 via a one-way clutch 50 and a lever 54. The pinion gear 52 is connected to the rotor 22 via the one-way clutch 50. The one-way clutch 50 transmits torque from the rotor 22 to the pinion gear 52 only when the relative rotational speed obtained by subtracting the rotational speed of the pinion gear 52 from the rotational speed of the rotating shaft of the rotor 22 is not negative. This is a member that does not transmit torque between the rotor 22 and the pinion gear 52 when negative. The stopper 56 is a member that prevents the movement of the pinion gear after the pinion gear 52 meshes with the ring gear 62.

  The pinion gear 52 can mesh with a ring gear 62 connected to the crankshaft 60 of the engine. Specifically, when all the upper arm switches S ¥ # are turned off and the solenoid coil 42 is not energized, the plunger 44 is positioned at the initial position by the urging force of the return spring 46 acting on the plunger 44. As a result, the pinion gear 52 is located at a position where it does not mesh with the ring gear 62 (hereinafter referred to as a non-connected position). On the other hand, when at least one of the upper arm switches S ¥ # is turned on and the solenoid coil 42 is energized using the battery 34 as a power supply source, the electromagnetic force (attraction force) of the electromagnetic solenoid 40 becomes the urging force of the return spring 46. By defeating, the plunger 44 is moved from the initial position to the final position in the axial direction. As the plunger 44 moves toward the final position, the pinion gear 52 is pushed from the non-connection position toward a position that engages with the ring gear 62 (hereinafter, connected position), and then reaches the stopper 56. In a state where the pinion gear 52 is engaged with the ring gear 62, when the pinion gear 52 is rotationally driven by the motor 20, initial rotation is applied to the crankshaft 60 (cranking is performed).

  When the energization from the battery 34 to the solenoid coil 42 is interrupted, the attraction force of the solenoid coil 42 disappears, and the plunger 44 is moved to the initial position by the urging force of the return spring 46 acting on the plunger 44. It is done. As a result, the pinion gear 52 is moved to the unconnected position, and the meshing between the pinion gear 52 and the ring gear 62 is released.

  The control circuit 32 receives the detected value of the U-phase current sensor 64U that detects the current (hereinafter referred to as U-phase current) flowing in the U-phase stator coil 24U and the current (hereinafter referred to as V-phase current) that flows in the V-phase stator coil 24V. The detected value of the V-phase current sensor 64V to be detected, the detected value of the W-phase current sensor 64W for detecting the current flowing in the W-phase stator coil 24W (hereinafter referred to as W-phase current), and the voltage for detecting the input voltage of the inverter 30 The detection value of the sensor 66 is input. The control circuit 32 performs engine start control including push-out control of the pinion gear 52 and rotation drive control of the motor 20 by turning on / off the switch S ¥ # to perform cranking.

  Next, engine start control will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of processing relating to engine start control executed by the control circuit 32. In the present embodiment, the control amount is the rotational speed.

  The two-phase conversion unit 32a is a fixed coordinate system based on the detection value IU of the U-phase current sensor 64U, the detection value IV of the V-phase current sensor 64V, the detection value IW of the W-phase current sensor 64W, and the electrical angle θ of the motor 20. U-phase current IU, V-phase current IV, and W-phase current IW are converted into d-axis current Idr and q-axis current Iqr, which are currents in the rotating coordinate system. The electrical angle θ may be a detection value of a rotation angle sensor (for example, a resolver), or may be an estimated value obtained from well-known sensorless control using an observer or the like.

  The command current calculation unit 32b calculates a d-axis command current Id * and a q-axis command current Iq *, which are current command values in the rotating coordinate system, based on the speed command value ω *. Incidentally, the speed command value ω * may be input from, for example, a control device higher than the control circuit 32 (for example, a control device that supervises vehicle control) or may be generated by the control circuit 32.

  The command voltage calculation unit 32c uses the d, q axis command voltages Vd *, Vq as the operation amount for feedback control of the d axis current Idr, the q axis current Iqr to the d axis command current Id *, the q axis command current Iq *. * Is calculated. Specifically, the d-axis command voltage Vd * is calculated by proportional integral control based on the deviation ΔId of the d-axis current Idr and the d-axis command current Id *, and the deviation between the q-axis current Iqr and the q-axis command current Iq *. The q-axis command voltage Vq * is calculated by proportional-integral control based on ΔIq.

  The three-phase converter 32d (corresponding to “command voltage calculation means”) converts the d and q-axis command voltages Vd * and Vq * into the three-phase command voltage V ¥ * in the fixed coordinate system of the motor 20 based on the electrical angle θ. (¥ = U, V, W). The duty generation unit 32e calculates a value “2 × V ¥ * / VINV” obtained by standardizing the command voltage V ¥ * with the input voltage VINV detected by the voltage sensor 66 as the ¥ phase duty signal D ¥. These duty signals D ¥ are operation amounts for performing feedback control of the d and q axis currents Idr and Iqr to the command currents Id * and Iq *.

  The two-phase modulation unit 32f (corresponding to “two-phase modulation unit”) maintains the difference between the respective phases of the respective duty signals D ¥, and matches the minimum duty signal among them with the potential of the negative terminal of the battery 34. Two-phase modulation processing is performed. Specifically, the two-phase modulation unit 32f first calculates a minimum duty signal among the duty signals D ¥ as the first correction amount ΔDa. The two-phase modulation unit 32f calculates the ¥ phase correction duty signal D ¥ 2 by subtracting the first correction amount ΔDa from the ¥ phase duty signal D ¥.

  The solenoid control unit 32g (corresponding to “operation amount adding means”) calculates a second correction amount ΔDb. The second correction amount ΔDb is an operation amount for moving the pinion gear 52 from the non-connection position to the connection position. Specifically, as the second correction amount ΔDb increases, the electromagnetic force increases, and the moving speed of the pinion gear 52 in the direction from the non-connected position to the connected position increases.

  The correction unit 32h adds the second correction amount ΔDb output from the solenoid control unit 32g to the ¥ phase correction duty signal D ¥ 2 output from the two-phase modulation unit 32f, so that the ¥ phase command duty signal D ¥ * Is calculated.

  The generation unit 32i generates an operation signal g ¥ # for setting the three-phase output voltage of the inverter 30 to a voltage simulating the command voltage D ¥ *. In the present embodiment, the operation signal g ¥ # is generated by PWM processing based on a magnitude comparison between the ¥ phase command duty signal D ¥ * and the carrier signal tc (for example, a triangular wave signal). Specifically, when the ¥ phase command duty signal D ¥ * is greater than the carrier signal tc, the logic of the ¥ phase upper arm operation signal g ¥ p is set to “H”, and the logic of the ¥ phase lower arm operation signal g ¥ n is set. Is “L”. On the other hand, when the ¥ phase command duty signal D ¥ * is equal to or lower than the carrier signal tc, the logic of the ¥ phase upper arm operation signal g ¥ p is set to “L”, and the logic of the ¥ phase lower arm operation signal g ¥ n is set to “H”. " In the present embodiment, the logic “H” operation signal g ¥ # is a signal for instructing the on operation of the switch S ¥ #, and the logic “L” operation signal g ¥ # is an off operation of the switch S ¥ #. Is a signal for instructing. Here, the logics of the $ -phase upper arm operation signal g \ p and the corresponding $ -phase lower arm operation signal g \ n are basically inverted from each other. In the present embodiment, as described above, the command voltage is standardized in the duty generation unit 32e. For this reason, the maximum value of the carrier signal tc is set to a value of 1 or more, and the minimum value is set to 0.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 1, the operation signals g \ p and g \ n generated by the generation unit 32i are output to the switches S \ p and S \ n. Thus, when the speed command value ω * is a value other than 0, each of the U, V, and W phase stator coils 24U, 24V, and 24W has sinusoidal alternating currents that are 120 degrees out of phase with each other in electrical angle. Will flow.

  Next, a method for calculating the position of the pinion gear 52 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the plunger 44 moves from the initial position toward the final position by the attractive force generated by energizing the solenoid coil 42. In the present embodiment, the inductance Ln of the solenoid coil 42 gradually increases as the position of the plunger 44 moves from the initial position toward the final position. Further, since the pinion gear 52 is mechanically connected to the plunger 44, the position of the plunger 44 and the position of the pinion gear 52 can be related. For this reason, the inductance Ln of the solenoid coil 42 and the position of the pinion gear 52 can be related. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the inductance Ln of the solenoid coil 42 is a change in the value of the current flowing through the solenoid coil 42 during a specified time T (for example, the processing cycle of the control circuit 32). It varies depending on the amount ΔIn. Specifically, the current change amount ΔIn1 when the inductance Ln is small is larger than the current change amount ΔIn2 when the inductance Ln is large. If attention is paid to these points, the inductance Ln and the position of the pinion gear 52 can be uniquely related.

  FIG. 5 shows the procedure of the engine start control process according to this embodiment. This process is repeatedly executed by the control circuit 32 at a predetermined processing cycle, for example. In the present embodiment, the control circuit 32 performs the “acquisition unit”, “inductance calculation unit”, “position calculation unit”, “speed calculation unit”, “current operation unit”, “target value setting unit”, and “cranking”. It corresponds to “means”.

  In this series of processes, first, in step S10, energization of a direct current to the solenoid coil 42 is started in order to start pushing out the pinion gear 52. Here, the DC current increases as the second correction amount ΔDb increases. In this embodiment, the speed command value ω * is set to 0 and the ¥ phase command voltage V ¥ * output from the three-phase conversion unit 32d is set to 0 until an affirmative determination is made in step S32 described later. The Therefore, the second correction amount ΔDb becomes the ¥ phase command duty D ¥ * as it is. Therefore, the ratio “Ton / Tsw” (duty ratio) of the ON operation period Ton of the upper arm switch S ¥ p with respect to one switching cycle Tsw of the switch S ¥ # increases as the second correction amount ΔDb increases.

  In the subsequent step S12, the $ -phase current detected by the $ -phase current sensor 64 \ and the input voltage VINV detected by the voltage sensor 66 are acquired. In the subsequent step S14, the change amount ΔIn of the ¥ phase current I ¥ at the specified time T (processing cycle) is calculated based on the acquired ¥ phase current I ¥. Further, the applied voltage Vn to the solenoid coil 42 is calculated based on the obtained $ phase current I \ and the input voltage VINV and the current change amount ΔIn. In the present embodiment, paying attention to the relationship among the input voltage VINV, the voltage drop amount in each stator coil 24 ¥, and the voltage drop amount in the solenoid coil 42, the applied voltage Vn is calculated by the method described below.

  The resistance of each stator coil 24U, 24V, 24W is set to “Rm”, the inductance of each stator coil 24U, 24V, 24W is set to “Lm”, the resistance of the solenoid coil 42 is set to “Rn”, and the solenoid coil 42 is set. Let “I” be the current flowing through the. In this case, the relationship “(Rm / 3 + Rn) × I + (Lm × ΔIn) / (3 × T) + Vn = VINV” is established. For this reason, the applied voltage Vn to the solenoid coil 42 can be calculated by “VINV− (Rm / 3 + Rn) × I− (Lm × ΔIn) / (3 × T)”. Here, the current I flowing through the solenoid coil 42 can be grasped by the \ phase current I \ (for example, the average value of the \ phase current I \ at the specified time T). The above-described method is for the on-period of the upper arm switch S ¥ p. In the off period of the upper arm switch S ¥ p, the applied voltage Vn can be calculated by “− (Rm / 3 + Rn) × I− (Lm × ΔIn) / (3 × T)”.

  In the subsequent step S16, the inductance Ln of the solenoid coil 42 is calculated based on the variation ΔIn, the applied voltage Vn, and the specified time T. Specifically, the inductance Ln is calculated by dividing the product of the applied voltage Vn and the specified time T by the current change amount ΔIn.

  In the subsequent step S18, the position L of the pinion gear 52 is calculated using a map or a mathematical formula in which the inductance Ln and the position X of the pinion gear 52 are uniquely associated with the inductance Ln calculated in step S16. calculate. Here, the map or formula is determined in advance by experiments or the like.

  In subsequent step S20, based on the calculated position X of the pinion gear 52, it is determined whether or not the pinion gear 52 has reached (more specifically, contacted) the ring gear 62. If a negative determination is made in step S20, it is determined that the ring gear 62 has not been reached, and the process proceeds to step S22. In step S22, the moving speed Vpi of the pinion gear 52 is calculated by time differentiation of the position X of the pinion gear 52. In the present embodiment, a value obtained by subtracting the position X (n−1) of the pinion gear 52 calculated in the previous processing cycle from the position X (n) of the pinion gear 52 calculated in the current processing cycle is the processing cycle. The moving speed Vpi is calculated by dividing.

  In the subsequent step S24, a second correction amount ΔDb for controlling the moving speed Vpi to the first target speed Vtgt1 is calculated. The first target speed Vtgt1 is set from the viewpoint of suppressing an increase in sound when the pinion gear 52 collides with the ring gear 62 or avoiding a decrease in the reliability of the starter 10. Here, the second correction amount ΔDb is set to be larger as the first target speed Vtgt1 is higher. Note that after completion of the process of step S24, the process returns to step S12.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step S20, it is determined that the pinion gear 52 has reached the ring gear 62, and the process proceeds to step S26. In step S26, the second correction amount ΔDb is set to a constant value. This process is a process for preventing the pinion gear 52 from being detached from the ring gear 62 by pressing the pinion gear 52 against the ring gear 62.

  In the subsequent step S28, the position X of the pinion gear 52 and the moving speed Vpi of the pinion gear 52 are calculated in the same manner as the method described in the processes of steps S12 to S18 and S22. In subsequent step S30, a second correction amount ΔDb for controlling the moving speed Vpi calculated in step S28 to the second target speed Vtgt2 is calculated. The second target speed Vtgt2 is set from the viewpoint of suppressing an increase in sound when the pinion gear 52 collides with the stopper 56 or avoiding a decrease in the reliability of the starter 10. The second target speed Vtgt2 may be set to the same value as the first target speed Vtgt1, or may be set to a different value.

  In subsequent step S32, based on the position X of the pinion gear 52 calculated in step S28, it is determined whether or not the pinion gear 52 has reached (more specifically, contacted) the stopper 56. If a negative determination is made in step S32, it is determined that the stopper 56 has not been reached, and the process returns to step S28. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S32, it is determined that the stopper 56 has been reached, and the process proceeds to step S34. In step S34, the rotational drive of the motor 20 is started to rotationally drive the pinion gear 52. More specifically, the speed command value ω * is set to a value larger than 0. In the present embodiment, the speed command value ω * is set so as to gradually approach a specified speed greater than zero.

  In the subsequent step S36, the process waits until the engine speed NE (rotational speed of the crankshaft 60) becomes equal to or higher than the threshold speed Nα. This process is a process for determining whether or not the engine speed NE has increased to such an extent that combustion of the engine can be started. The engine rotational speed NE may be detected by a sensor that detects the rotational speed of the crankshaft 60, or may be calculated from the rotational speed of the motor 20, for example. If an affirmative decision is made in step S36, this series of processing is temporarily terminated.

  When a sensor that directly detects the moving speed of the pinion gear 52 is used, the mounting position of this sensor is a position near the pinion gear 52. If the sensor is installed at this position, there is a concern that water, grease, or foreign matter may adhere to the sensor. Here, according to the present embodiment, the position of the pinion gear 52 and the movement speed of the pinion gear 52 can be calculated without using a sensor that directly detects the movement speed of the pinion gear 52.

  In this embodiment, the neutral point N of the motor 20 is connected to the battery 34 via the solenoid coil 42, and the battery 34 is connected to the neutral point N via the inverter 30. Therefore, without providing a dedicated semiconductor switch for controlling the push-out of the pinion gear 52, the push-out control of the pinion gear 52 and the rotation drive of the pinion gear 52 are performed by the on / off operation of the switch S ¥ # constituting the inverter 30. Both control and control can be performed.

  Further, the position X of the pinion gear 52 was calculated using a map or a mathematical formula in which the inductance Ln and the position X of the pinion gear 52 are related. For this reason, the calculation load for calculating the position X of the pinion gear 52 can be reduced.

  In addition, on the condition that the pinion gear 52 has reached the stopper 56, the motor 20 is rotationally driven to impart initial rotation to the ring gear 62. When the pinion gear 52 is positioned in the vicinity of the stopper 56, the inductance Ln is the largest, and the magnetic flux generated by the solenoid coil 42 is also increased. Accordingly, the suction force of the plunger 44 is increased, and the moving speed of the pinion gear 52 is maximized immediately before the pinion gear 52 reaches the stopper 56. Under such circumstances, if the pinion gear 52 is caused to collide with the stopper 56 while being rotationally driven, there may be a problem that the sound generated by the collision increases or the reliability of the starter 10 decreases. For this reason, on condition that the pinion gear 52 has reached the stopper 56, the motor 20 is rotationally driven to apply initial rotation to the ring gear 62, thereby reducing the sound generated due to the collision, A decrease in reliability can be avoided.

  In addition, a current sensor 64 ¥ for detecting the phase current was used for calculating the inductance Ln. For this reason, it is possible to avoid adding a new current sensor for calculating the inductance Ln.

(Other embodiments)
The above embodiment may be modified as follows.

  In the above embodiment, the target speed is fixed to the first target speed Vtgt1 in the period from the start of the movement of the pinion gear 52 from the initial position until the pinion gear 52 reaches the ring gear 62. Not exclusively. For example, the target speed may be set to the first specified speed in the first half of the period, and the target speed may be switched to the second specified speed lower than the first specified speed in the second half of the period. Thereby, it is possible to achieve a balance between rapidly engaging the pinion gear 52 with the ring gear 62 and reducing the collision speed between the pinion gear 52 and the ring gear 62. Further, for example, the first half of the period from when the pinion gear 52 reaches the ring gear 62 until it reaches the stopper 56 is set to the third specified speed, and the target speed is lower than the third specified speed in the latter half of the period. You may switch to 4 regulation speed.

  The “AC rotating machine” is not limited to IPMSM, but may be SPMSM, for example. Further, the “AC rotating machine” is not limited to a permanent magnet field type synchronous machine including a permanent magnet in the rotor, and may be a wound field type synchronous machine including a field winding in the rotor, for example.

  Further, the rotating machine is not limited to an AC motor, and may be a DC motor as described in Patent Document 1, for example. In this case, the solenoid coil and the field coil are connected in parallel to a battery serving as a DC power source, without being connected in series to the field coil constituting the DC motor. Even with this configuration, the inductance of the solenoid coil can be calculated based on the voltage applied to the solenoid coil and the amount of change in the current flowing through the solenoid coil. For this reason, the position and moving speed of the pinion gear can be calculated. In the case of the above configuration, the power conversion circuit that applies the voltage of the battery to the DC motor to rotate the DC motor is a magnet switch that electrically opens and closes each of the solenoid coil and the field coil and the battery. It becomes a circuit containing.

  The switching element constituting the inverter 30 is not limited to the IGBT, but may be a field effect transistor, for example.

  The current sensor for detecting the current for calculating the inductance Ln is not limited to the one exemplified in the above embodiment. For example, a current sensor may be provided in an electrical path connecting the solenoid coil 42 and the negative terminal of the battery 34, and the current for inductance Ln calculation may be detected by this current sensor. Further, for example, a current sensor may be provided on the emitter side of each of the U, V, W phase lower arm switches SUn, SVn, SWn, and the current for detecting the inductance Ln may be detected by these current sensors.

  The electromagnetic solenoid 40 may be configured such that the inductance Ln of the solenoid coil 42 gradually decreases as the plunger 44 moves from the initial position to the final position. In short, if the solenoid 44 is configured such that the sign of the change rate of the inductance Ln is the same and the inductance Ln gradually changes as the plunger 44 moves from the initial position to the final position. The inductance Ln and the position of the pinion gear 52 can be uniquely related.

  In the above embodiment, the motor 20 is driven to rotate after the pinion gear 52 reaches the stopper 56, but the present invention is not limited to this. The motor 20 may be driven to rotate before the pinion gear 52 reaches the stopper 56. In this case, the duty generating unit 32e outputs a ¥ phase duty signal D ¥ that is a sine wave signal. Then, based on the signal in which the second correction amount ΔDb is superimposed on the ¥ phase correction duty D ¥ 2 in the correction unit 32h, the operation signal g ¥ # is generated in the generation unit 32i.

  20 ... motor, 30 ... inverter, 40 ... electromagnetic solenoid, 52 ... pinion gear.

Claims (5)

A rotating machine (20) that is rotationally driven by energization;
Power having a switch (SUp to SWn) and electrically connected to a DC power source (34), and applying a voltage of the DC power source to the rotating machine by operating the switch so as to drive the rotating machine. A conversion circuit (30);
A pinion gear (movable to a non-engagement position that does not mesh with the ring gear (62) coupled to the crankshaft (60) of the engine or a connection position that meshes with the ring gear and to which the rotational force of the rotating machine is transmitted. 52),
A solenoid coil (42) and a movable iron core (44) mechanically connected to the pinion gear, and the pinion gear is moved by moving the movable iron core by electromagnetic force generated by energization of the solenoid coil. And an electromagnetic solenoid (40) that moves the unconnected position to the connected position.
The rotating machine is an AC rotating machine that is rotationally driven by an AC current,
The neutral point (N) of the stator coil (24U to 24W) constituting the rotating machine is electrically connected to the DC power source via the solenoid coil,
The switch includes an upper arm switch (SUp to SWp) and a lower arm switch (SUn to SWn) connected in series to the upper arm switch,
Obtaining means for obtaining an applied voltage to the solenoid coil and a change amount of a current value flowing through the solenoid coil;
An inductance calculating means for calculating an inductance of the solenoid coil based on the applied voltage acquired by the acquiring means and the amount of change in the current value;
Position calculating means for calculating the position of the pinion gear based on the inductance calculated by the inductance calculating means;
Based on the position of the pinion gear calculated by the position calculating means, speed calculating means for calculating a moving speed of the pinion gear in a direction from the non-connected position toward the connected position;
An engine having current operating means for operating a current flowing through the solenoid coil by operating the upper arm switch and the lower arm switch so as to control the moving speed calculated by the speed calculating means; Control device for starter. Further comprising target value setting means for setting a target value of the moving speed according to the position of the pinion gear;
2. The control device for an engine starter according to claim 1, wherein the current operation means operates a current flowing through the solenoid coil so as to control the moving speed to the target value. 3. The current operation means includes
Command voltage calculating means for calculating a three-phase command voltage for the rotating machine for rotating the rotating machine;
Two-phase modulation means for performing two-phase modulation processing for maintaining a minimum command voltage among the three-phase command voltages to match a potential of a negative terminal of the DC power supply while maintaining a difference between the phases of the three-phase command voltage ,
An operation amount adding means for adding an operation amount for moving the pinion gear to each of the three-phase command voltages subjected to the two-phase modulation processing;
And control of the moving speed, to perform both the rotation drive control of the rotating machine, based on the three-phase command voltage the operation amount is added, according to claim 1 and means for operating the switch or 3. A control device for an engine starting device according to 2 . The engine starting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the position calculating unit calculates the position of the pinion gear using a map or a mathematical expression in which the inductance and the position of the pinion gear are associated with each other. Control device. The electromagnetic solenoid is configured such that the inductance of the solenoid coil gradually increases as the movable iron core moves from a position corresponding to the unconnected position to a position corresponding to the connected position.
The engine starter further includes a stopper (56) that prevents movement of the pinion gear in a direction from the non-connection position to the connection position at the connection position.
On the condition that the pinion gear has reached the stopper based on the position of the pinion gear calculated by the position calculating means, the rotating machine is driven to rotate to apply a rotational force to the ring gear. The control device for an engine starter according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising cranking means.

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