JPH0792034B2 - Automatic engine starter - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is particularly intended for mounting only on an automatic vehicle, and at the time set by the user or when a set time has elapsed from the setting operation,
The present invention relates to improvement of a device for automatically starting an engine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As the temperature lowers, it is necessary to take a longer warm-up time after starting the engine of a motor vehicle. Therefore, in order to eliminate the inconvenience of waiting in a cold car for a long time, especially in the cold morning of winter, a product called a starter timer has been conventionally provided. That is, when the set time set by the user or the set time elapses from the setting operation, the timer circuit operates from the vehicle-mounted battery even if the key switch that is normally operated manually by the user is not operated. Is a device for automatically and forcibly operating the starter motor drive circuit by supplying the operating power of the drive motor to automatically start the vehicle-mounted engine.

However, such an automatic engine starting device is commercially available as a product exclusively for so-called automatic vehicles. This is because safety must be ensured as a device that automatically starts the engine of the vehicle when there is no person. In other words, in the case of manual vehicles, except for some vehicles, the shift lever (also called selector lever or gear change lever) is neutral (neutral: N).
Since there is no vehicle that has a detection circuit for whether or not it is in the position, when the automatic engine starter as in question here is installed in a manual vehicle, the gear of the manual vehicle is in a position other than neutral. If the starter motor is forcibly driven through the starter motor drive circuit based on the instruction of the timer circuit while the vehicle is on, the vehicle may move unexpectedly if the side brake is not pulled properly. There is a risk of

On the other hand, in the case of an automatic vehicle, an electric switch interlocking with the shift lever is provided in almost all types, and if the shift lever is not in the parking position (parking or P position) or in the neutral position, As the electric switch opens and blocks the energization of the starter motor drive circuit from the battery, it simply bypasses or short-circuits the key switch when the timer circuit times out, as seen in conventional devices of this kind. Even with such a simple structure, relatively high safety can be desired. Therefore, such a shift lever-interlocked electric switch is generally called an "inhibitor contact" or an "inhibitor switch" in the sense that it forcibly "prohibits" energization of the starter motor drive circuit under specific conditions.

However, there are some users who accidentally or intentionally purchase this and install it in a manual vehicle, even though they are listed in the store as "only for automatic vehicles". . Moreover, even if it is not such misuse, as described above, the safety of the product of this kind is high. Therefore, the applicant of the present invention has already disclosed it, but in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-288108, an automatic engine start capable of determining whether the vehicle mounted is an automatic vehicle or a manual vehicle. Proposed a device. The contents are of course detailed in the description of the application, but in simple terms, in an automatic vehicle, there is an inhibitor contact that opens and closes depending on the shift lever position as described above in the current line to the starter motor drive circuit. In consideration of the fact that the impedance of the current line changes depending on whether the shift lever is in the parking or neutral position and in the reverse or forward position, the next timer operation is valid only when the change in the impedance is detected. It is the one to be bound.

[0006]

With such a device, the safety is remarkably improved as compared with the previous device, but there are some problems in mounting on a vehicle. This is because there is a considerable difference in the impedance itself in each case when the inhibitor contact is open or closed due to the difference in vehicle manufacturer or the difference in vehicle model. This means that there are cases where it is not possible to deal with all vehicle types. Specifically, impedance detection is generally several mA to several tens mA for the current line to be detected.
It was done by injecting a small amount of current and detecting the voltage generated in the current line at that time, but depending on the vehicle model, even if the inhibitor contact is open, the specific control circuit installed in the vehicle will cause the inhibitor contact to contact. As a result of being connected in parallel with each other, the line impedance could not be fully raised, and therefore the voltage could not reach the detection threshold even if a minute current of about several mA was applied. Therefore, in order to accommodate such vehicles, in actual products, the circuit constants of the current source circuit and the impedance detection circuit (voltage detection circuit) that supply current can be changed by changing the circuit components according to the type of vehicle installed, or , The switch operation etc. for such a change forced the user or the installation worker.

The present invention is basically made in view of this point, and provides an automatic engine starting device which can be mounted on many types of automatic vehicles with the same device configuration without changing circuit components. It is something to do.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention prepares a circuit for initial setting, and performs an initial setting operation immediately after mounting the apparatus, so that an appropriate test for each vehicle is performed. The setting current value is determined, and thereafter, it is possible to monitor the impedance of the current line including the inhibitor contact in series with the determined setting current value. That is, at least a shift lever capable of selecting any of a parking position, a neutral position, a backward position, and a forward position, and an electric switch interlocked with the shift lever, the shift lever being at a position other than the parking position and the neutral position. When an automatic starter with an inhibitor contact that prevents the energization of the vehicle-mounted battery to the engine starter motor drive circuit even if the engine start contact is selected by operating the key switch, , Even if the engine start contact is not selected by the key switch, when the set time is reached or the set time has elapsed from the setting operation, the timer circuit that energizes the starter motor drive circuit from the battery to operate it is provided. It is an automatic engine starter that has the following configuration requirements Made to propose a device. (a) A current source circuit that can supply a test current to a current line whose impedance changes when the shift lever is in the parked or neutral position and in the reverse or forward position. (b) A voltage detection circuit that detects the voltage of the current line while the test current from the current source circuit is being supplied to the current line. (c) A current source control circuit that changes the test current supplied to the current line to the current line steplessly or in multiple steps from the minimum value to the maximum value in the initial setting mode. (d) When the shift lever is parked or in the neutral position in the initial setting mode and the detection voltage of the voltage detection circuit reaches or exceeds a predetermined first threshold voltage, Sometimes the value of the test current supplied from the current source circuit is stored as a first current value, and the detected voltage of the voltage detection circuit when the shift lever is in the backward or forward position is the first current value. When reaching or exceeding a second threshold voltage, which is predetermined and has a magnitude equal to or higher than the threshold voltage, the value of the test current supplied from the current source circuit at that time is changed to the second value. Based on the stored first and second current values, a set current value smaller than the first current value and larger than the second current value is calculated and stored. Operational memory circuit to perform. (e) After the initial setting mode is released, the current source control circuit commands the current source circuit in the determination mode to output the set current value stored in the arithmetic storage circuit for the current line. A judgment circuit for judging whether or not the voltage value detected by the voltage detection circuit reaches a predetermined set threshold voltage when a test current is supplied, and if so, generating an abnormality detection signal. (f) A timer operation prohibition circuit for prohibiting the operation of the starter motor drive circuit by the timer circuit when the judgment circuit generates the abnormality detection signal.

The timer circuit, the current source control circuit, the arithmetic storage circuit, the determination circuit, and the timer operation prohibition circuit described above are
Each may be configured as independent hardware, but one, some, or all of them are
Substantially these days, the technology can be simply constructed by a microcomputer.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of an automatic engine starting device for an automatic vehicle constructed according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The automatic engine starting device of the present invention is originally installed in a vehicle. For the circuit around the starter, as shown by enclosing it in a virtual line frame 10 in FIG.
It is designed to be installed later with simple wiring work.
In other words, the outer portion of the frame 10 of the virtual line shows a typical circuit example around the starter motor in the existing automatic vehicle. However, the relay contacts Ca, Cb, Cc are
The contacts are selectively on / off controlled by the device 10.

First, the circuit part already mounted on the vehicle will be described. The battery power supply line from the battery 20 mounted on the vehicle is connected to the input side contact (slider side contact) of the key switch 28. The key switch 28 is very well known,
It is operated by inserting a so-called "car key", and it is usually off contact (OFF), accessory contact (ACC.), Ignition system operating contact
(IG), and engine start contact (ST) that prompts engine start
Has at least four contact positions. When the user attaches the key switch 28 only to the accessory contact ACC.,
Only the so-called accessory load 31 mounted on the vehicle becomes operable, and after the engine start contact ST is attached, the user starts the key switch.
When you release the key inserted in the 28, the key switch 28 automatically returns the ignition system operation contact (ignition contact) IG to the selected position, and the ignition system relation required to continue the rotation of the engine. Load 32 against the battery
The power from 20 continues to be supplied (at this time, the accessory contact ACC., Which is well known, is similarly selected, and the accessory load 31 is also supplied with power).

The engine start contact ST is an inhibitor contact C _O
Is connected to a magnet switch 27, which is a typical example of a starter motor drive circuit, via a current line including a series. A node 14 to which the device 10 of the present embodiment, which will be described later, is connected is taken out from an appropriate portion of this wiring portion.

The magnet switch 27 is a key switch 28.
Is attached to the engine start contact ST, and if the inhibitor contact C _O is closed at this time, the built-in contact is closed by receiving the power supply from the battery 20, thereby directly supplying the power from the battery 20. The starter motor 26 is given and rotated to start the engine. In other words, when the inhibitor contact C _O is open, the key switch
Even if the engine start contact ST is selected by 28, battery power is not applied to the magnet switch 27 and the built-in contact is not closed, so the starter motor 26 also does not rotate.

As described above, the inhibitor contact C _O is unique to the automatic vehicle and is turned on / off in conjunction with a shift lever (not shown). That is, a shift lever operated by a user in an automatic vehicle usually has at least four positions of a parking position P, a reverse position R, a neutral position N, and a forward drive position D. However, the drive position D is usually subdivided into a second gear selection position, a low gear selection position, an ultra low gear selection position, and the like. For the sake of simplicity in this book, all the above-mentioned positions involved in the forward movement are uniformly represented by the drive position D.
Such a shift lever has a shift lever interlocking switch 25 having an electric contact position corresponding to the selected position at that time.
Are combined. In the case shown in the figure, the sliding contact of the shift lever interlocking switch 25 is connected to the battery 20 via the selective drive relay R _O of the inhibitor contact C _O , whereas the contact which can be selected in the shift lever interlocking switch 25. Of the groups P, R, N, D, the contacts R, D are opened or are substantially opened, for example by being grounded via a high resistance, and only the contacts P, N are grounded. There is.

Because of this, when the gear selection shift lever (not shown) is attached to a position other than the parking position P or the neutral position N, that is, the reverse position R or the forward position D, the corresponding interlock switch 25 Is also located at one of the substantially open contacts R and D, so if the user operates the key switch 28 in this state, the engine start contact ST
Even if is selected, the relay R _O is not supplied with sufficient battery power to drive it, and the inhibitor contact C _O is also not closed.Therefore, the battery power is not supplied to the magnet switch 27 and the engine is started. Absent. The starter motor drive circuit 27 can be operated by operating the key switch 28.
Since the shift lever is attached to the parking position P or the neutral position N, and the shift lever interlocking switch 25 is also attached to the contact position P or the neutral position N as a result, power is supplied to the relay R _O and the inhibitor contact C Only when _O is closed. However, depending on the vehicle model, the inhibitor contact C _O is not driven by the relay R _O but is configured by the shift lever interlocking switch 25 itself.
That is, only when the shift lever is in the parking position P or the neutral position N, the current line from the engine start contact ST of the key switch 28 to the starter motor drive circuit 27 is closed so as to directly link with the shift lever. In some cases, the inhibitor contact C _O is configured as a mechanical interlocking contact.

As is clear from the above operation, in the existing automatic vehicle, the impedance of the current line including the inhibitor contact C _O in series is determined under the condition that the engine start contact ST of the key switch 28 is opened. , And it greatly depends on whether the inhibitor contact C _O is open or closed. Since the inhibitor contact C _O is closed when the vehicle is in the parking position P or the neutral position N, for example, the node 14
Seen from above, the node 14 is a starter motor drive circuit.
The impedance detected at the node 14 becomes the first value, which is relatively low, because it is grounded via a relatively low impedance that can be expected at 27, but the inhibitor contact C _O has the retracted position R. Alternatively, when it is attached to the forward drive position D, the second impedance becomes relatively high. If only the magnet switch 27 is connected to the engine start contact ST of the key switch 28 via the inhibitor contact C _O , naturally, the second view seen from the node 14 when the inhibitor contact C _O is opened. The impedance of is theoretically infinite. However, in practice, as shown in FIG. 2 in parallel, generally, some on-board circuit 29 such as various control circuits is already provided in parallel with the series circuit of the inhibitor contact C _O and the magnet switch 27. In many cases, depending on the input impedance of the circuit 29, the first and second impedances described above also differ for each vehicle type.

As described above, this causes a problem in the conventional device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-288108. That is, even if an attempt is made to convert the voltage into a voltage appearing at the node 14 and detect the impedance by injecting a minute current of several mA to several tens mA from the node 14 in FIG. 2, the inhibitor contact C _O may be closed depending on the vehicle model. The line impedance does not rise even when it is open, of course, and even when it is open, so the voltage detected does not rise to the detection threshold.
Although the installed vehicle is an automatic vehicle,
I sometimes misjudged that it was not. On the other hand, in the present invention, by a means to be described later, whether or not the mounted vehicle is correctly an automatic vehicle, and further, whether or not the shift lever is parked or in the neutral position is determined by a single circuit configuration in many vehicle types. You can judge. Note that FIG.
Among them, the node 14 described above is a node provided for the purpose of explaining the device of the embodiment of the present invention, and actually, in addition to the existing circuit portion, even if a terminal-like one is newly provided as an additional component. It is good, but generally, it can be pulled out from here by using one contact of a wiring connector attached to the corresponding wiring portion.

Referring also to FIG. 1 showing an internal circuit configuration example of the automatic engine starting device 10 of the present invention in this embodiment, the device 10 of the present embodiment has a microcomputer 11 (hereinafter, microcomputer) as a main control circuit 11. is doing. The microcomputer 11 is also used in the device 10 described below.
Is programmed by software so as to perform the functions of the current source control circuit 12, the timer circuit 17, the timer operation prohibition circuit 18, the judgment circuit 19, and the arithmetic storage circuit 22 which are necessary for the computer. However, for the sake of convenience, it may be convenient to explain that each of these circuits is configured as independent hardware (a hardware configuration is also possible in practice), and so may be the case.

Naturally, the device 10 of the present invention has an automatic engine starting function using a timer, which is a basic function to be provided to the user, as in the existing starter timer. For example, the user automatically sets the time at which the engine should be started automatically, or automatically when a set time elapses from the time of operation, via a timer operation unit 15 that can be configured by an appropriate input operation key group or input operation switch. The set time for starting the engine can be entered in the corresponding data format. The input set time or set time data can be displayed on a liquid crystal display device, etc.
It is displayed to the user on the timer display section 21 by an appropriate display means.

The timer circuit 17 has a timepiece function or a timekeeping function as in various ordinary timer devices, and forcibly drives the starter motor 26 when a set time set by the user is reached or when a set time elapses. For the relay RC in this embodiment, which is a circuit, the corresponding relay contact Cc is closed by energizing it for at least a fixed time, and the key switch 28
And bypassing the inhibitor contact C _O gives the operating power from the battery 20 to the magnet switch 27 is the starter motor drive circuit, forcibly drives the starter motor 26.
At the same time, the relays RA and RB are energized, and their contacts Ca and
The ignition switch operating contact IG of the key switch 28 and the accessory contact ACC. Are also short-circuited to the battery side by Cb.
Supply power to 1 and 32.

However, with such a configuration alone,
The above operation can occur even when the device 10 is mistakenly installed in a manual vehicle, or even in an automatic vehicle when the shift lever is in a position other than the parking or neutral position. It may be mounted on a manual vehicle, and even in an automatic vehicle, the relay RC may be energized and the starter motor 27 may be forcibly driven when the shift lever is in the reverse or forward position as described above. If so, this is dangerous. Therefore, in the present device 10, by performing the following initial setting operation, it is possible to determine whether the mounted vehicle is correctly an automatic vehicle, and a predetermined shift lever related to permission of the timer operation after being mounted. It has a position check function.

After the device 10 is first installed in a vehicle and the wiring as shown in FIG. 1 is performed, it is described in an instruction manual or the like for a user or an installation operator (hereinafter referred to as an operator). In accordance with the procedure, the following simple operations are performed in sequence, and accordingly, the apparatus 10 also enters the initial setting mode and performs the characteristic operation of the present invention.

First, in a state where electric power is being supplied from the vehicle-mounted battery 20 to the control circuit or the microcomputer 11,
Ask the operator to operate the test switch. When the control circuit or the microcomputer 11 detects that the test switch is operated, the device 10 is put into the initial setting mode. This test switch may be a switch provided exclusively for it, but as described earlier, a group of input operation keys or an input operation switch for inputting a set time or a set time to the timer circuit 17. Since there is an operation unit 15 consisting of a group, initial setting is performed by using a specific key or switch among these key groups or switches as a test switch or operating a specific combination of them in a specific way. Can be put into mode.

Following the test switch operation, the operator is requested to have the shift lever parked or in the neutral position. This request may be only the description in the instruction manual, but since there is the timer display portion 21, it is possible to give an instruction to that effect. On the other hand, regardless of whether or not the shift lever is operated correctly, the device 10 starts the determination operation as to whether or not the attached vehicle is an automatic vehicle when it enters the initial setting mode. That is, first, the current source control circuit 12 in the control circuit 11 operates to give an instruction to the current source circuit 13, and the current source circuit 13 sends a command to the node 14
A test current is caused to flow through a current line including an inhibitor contact C _O in series via. However, as shown in FIG. 3, the test current at this time is set to be a current that varies from the minimum value to the maximum value in a stepless or multistep manner within a predetermined time width. Although described as stepless here, on the other hand, the voltage detection circuit 16 whose configuration example is shown by the buffer amplifier and the A / D converter in FIG. Line voltage value (node
14 voltage value) is detected.

The arithmetic storage circuit 22 in the control circuit 11 has a function of comparing the voltage value detected as described above with the preset first threshold voltage Va, and When the voltage value to be reached reaches or exceeds this first threshold voltage Va, the test current value that should be supplied from the current source circuit 13 via the node 14 at that time is the first current value. It is stored in the storage unit as Ia. When the control circuit 11 is composed of a microcomputer, the storage section can be composed of a so-called RAM attached to the microcomputer. In order to improve the reliability of the data, it is preferable to repeat such fetching of the current value Ia several times. Therefore, also in FIG. 3, it is shown that the current source circuit 13 repeatedly supplies a test current whose current value is changed repeatedly at a predetermined cycle.
In particular, it is possible that the operator does not immediately put the shift lever in the parking position or the neutral position even after entering the initial setting mode. It is better to take in the corresponding first current value Ia at this time after the threshold voltage Va has been cut off.

However, when the operator correctly places the shift lever in the parking or neutral position, as described above, the inhibitor contact C _O is closed, and as a result, the current line including the inhibitor contact C _O is relatively moved. Since the impedance is low, and therefore the corresponding increase in the test current, the rate of increase in the detection voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit 16 does not increase as shown in FIG. The maximum detection voltage is also small. Therefore, the first threshold voltage Va is high enough to be able to discriminate against noise, but in any of various existing vehicles, at least the test current reaches the maximum value. It is selected to be low enough to exceed the first threshold voltage. Specifically, according to an experimental example of the applicant, it has been found that the magnitude of the test current itself may be about several tens mA at maximum in all existing automatic vehicles, for example, 20 m.
Since a minimum voltage increase of 3V or more is expected at the node 14 even with a minute current of about A, the first threshold voltage Va can be set to 2.6V or the like, for example. In other words, the first current, which is the test current value when the detected voltage reaches or exceeds the first threshold voltage Va, which may be different for each vehicle type, due to such a setting. The value Ia can be taken.

Nevertheless, if the detection voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit 16 does not exceed the first threshold voltage Va within a certain period of time, or if at least the first current value Ia cannot be properly captured. Is clearly considered to be some kind of abnormality, so the judgment circuit 19 provided in the control circuit 11 functions effectively even in this initial setting mode, issues an abnormality detection signal, and starts the subsequent initial setting mode. The operation of the device 10 is invalidated, and an error display is displayed to the operator preferably via a display unit that can be configured by the timer display unit 21 or the like. A circuit that does not cause or disables the timer operation is shown as a timer operation prohibition circuit 18 in FIG.

On the other hand, if the acquisition of the first current value Ia is successful, the display unit such as the timer display unit 21 notifies the operator that the acquisition has been completed.
This notification is also a display prompting the operator to put the shift lever in a position other than the parking or neutral position, for example, the backward or forward position. After displaying this display, the device 10
The control circuit 11 attempts to capture the second current value Ib. That is, similarly to the above, under the command of the current source control circuit 12, the test current, which continuously changes from the minimum value to the maximum value in a constant cycle as shown in FIG. The voltage is supplied, and the voltage generated at the node 14 at this time is detected by the voltage detection circuit 16 and compared with the second threshold voltage Vb set in the arithmetic storage unit 22. As mentioned earlier, the current contact impedance seen by node 14 is relatively high because the inhibitor contact C _O is open when the shift lever is in a position other than the parked or neutral position, and as shown in FIG. In addition, the detection voltage rising according to the rising pattern of the test current supplied from the current source circuit 13 has a high rate of increase, and the magnitude of the maximum value of the test current is sufficiently large. Therefore, the second threshold voltage Vb
Can be chosen quite freely, the first threshold voltage Va
However, it is desirable to have hysteresis characteristics to configure this type of threshold voltage comparison circuit with a simple circuit. Also, it is preferable to select a high value, for example, about 3.1 V in comparison with the above case. Of course, it should not be too high, and in all existing automatic vehicles it must be less than the voltage value at which the maximum value of the test current rises at least up to that value when the shift lever is in the reverse or forward position.

Under such comparison with the second threshold voltage Vb, when the detected voltage of the voltage detection circuit 16 reaches or exceeds the second threshold voltage Vb, the current source circuit 13 The test current value of the magnitude that should be supplied to the current line including the inhibitor contact C _O in series via the node 14 is the second current value.
It is stored as Ib in the storage unit in the arithmetic storage unit 22 (if the control circuit 11 is a microcomputer as described above, the RAM attached to the microcomputer may be used). If the second current value Ib is not successfully captured within a certain time, it is considered to be some kind of abnormality, and the captured second current value Ib is the same as the first current value Ia previously captured. If it is a value very close to this, it is considered that the installed vehicle was a manual vehicle (in the case of a manual vehicle, as described above,
(The impedance of the starter line does not change even if the shift lever position changes.) In such a case, the judgment circuit
Similarly to the above, 19 emits an abnormality detection signal, which is desirably displayed on the display unit such as the timer display unit 21 and the device 10
Do not cause the timer operation by. Of course, when the second current value Ib is larger than the first current value Ia, there is obviously some abnormality. Although the impedance should be higher when the inhibitor contact C _O is open,
This is because the opposite result will be obtained. Therefore, in this case as well, the determination circuit 19 may be configured to issue an abnormality detection signal.

On the other hand, when the second current value Ib has been successfully fetched correctly, it is desirable that the initial setting mode is finished for the operator, preferably via the display unit such as the timer display unit 21. , And if necessary, return the test switch to the original state or have the user perform the end operation. However, this device
In the control circuit 11 of 10, after the second current value Ib is fetched, then the set current value Is to be used at the time of the original timer operation of the apparatus after the initial setting mode is calculated, and this value is stored in the arithmetic storage unit 22. Initialization mode is canceled by storing. This set current value Is is smaller than the first current value Ia and the second current value
The arithmetic average can be adopted as a rational setting method for any vehicle, as long as it is larger than Ib. That is, it is desirable that the set current value Is = (Ia + Ib) / 2.

In this way, the set current value Is is determined,
When stored in the arithmetic storage unit 22, the device 10 is ready for use as an automatic engine starting device. However, in the preferred embodiment described here, the set current value Is stored and calculated in the above is effectively used, and the following checks are performed at appropriate times.

After releasing the initial setting mode, the user
When the timer is set using the timer operating unit 15 in an attempt to use 10, the control circuit 11 of the device 10 enters the determination mode, and first the current source control circuit 13 issues an instruction to the current source circuit 12 to calculate the storage unit. The above-mentioned set current value Is stored in 22
A test current of a magnitude (a constant current) is caused to flow into the node 14, and at the same time, the arithmetic storage unit 22 compares the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit 16 with a preset threshold voltage. The set threshold voltage at this time is the same value as the first set threshold voltage Va used under the initial setting mode, or
Alternatively, it may be a value in the vicinity thereof, particularly a slightly larger value. For simplicity, the same value Va is set here.

However, if the shift lever is set to the parking position or the neutral position during the timer setting operation by the user, the detected voltage will not exceed the set threshold voltage Va. As described in the initial setting mode, the first threshold voltage Va is reached or exceeded when the current Ia is larger than the set current value Is. This is because the threshold voltage is not exceeded. In this case, the judgment circuit 19 does not need to block the timer operation, but on the contrary, the voltage detection circuit 16 detects a voltage exceeding the set threshold voltage Va while the set current Is is being supplied. In this case, it is conceivable that the shift lever is in a position other than the parking position or the neutral position, that is, the forward position or the reverse position. Therefore, in such a case, the determination circuit 19 clears or invalidates the set time data or the set time data set by the user before or after that, or by itself. The timer operation prohibition circuit 18 is actuated by the abnormality detection signal generated by to prevent the forced start of the starter motor drive circuit (magnet switch) 27 by the timer circuit 17 and preferably displays an error display on the display such as the timer display 21. Prompt the user to confirm the shift lever position. As already mentioned many times, there is a danger if the forced drive of the starter motor 26 based on the time-up of the timer circuit 17 is allowed with the judgment that the shift lever is in the forward position or the reverse position. is there. It is desirable to make such a determination at least for a certain period of time even after the determination circuit generates the abnormality detection signal in the above. This is because there is a high possibility that the user who notices the error display will reset the shift lever to the parking or neutral position. Then, within the fixed time, the first threshold voltage Va
When the determination circuit 19 confirms that the state in which the value does not exceed the value continues to be stable, a message to that effect is displayed and the timer setting operation by the user may be permitted again.

In this way, the device 10 in this embodiment determines whether or not the position of the shift lever is appropriate for automatic engine starting when setting the set time or set time data for the timer circuit 17. However, the timer circuit 17 further times up and the relay group R
The check operation is performed again just before energizing A, RB, and RC. In other words, the judgment mode is again entered at this time. However, the operation itself for the determination may be exactly the same as that already described, and under the command of the current source control circuit 12, the current source circuit 13
A set current value Is, which is a constant current, is caused to flow from the node 14 through the node 14, and the determination circuit 19 determines whether or not the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit 16 at this time remains below the set threshold voltage Va, Energization of the relay groups RA, RB, and RC by the timer circuit 17 is permitted only when the timer circuit 17 stays, but otherwise, an abnormality detection signal generated by the determination circuit 19 causes the timer operation prohibition circuit 18 to operate.
To prevent the timer circuit 17 from energizing the relay groups RA, RB, and RC, and at the same time, based on the abnormality detection signal from the judgment circuit 19, preferably display an error display on the display unit such as the timer display unit 21. , Inform the user that the shift lever is not in the proper position to start the engine. However, what is slightly different from the previous timer setting is that when the judgment circuit 19 judges an abnormality at this time, even if the shift lever is subsequently returned to the parking or neutral position, the timer operation of this time is possible again. Is not to do it. Since the user is returning to the vehicle to notice the error display, there is no need to cause the timer operation for that time until that time, and the time at which the timer should start has passed in the first place. .

On the other hand, in such a determination, as a result of the above determination, the starter motor 26 is allowed to operate, and the relay groups RA, R
It may be possible to continue the operation after the B and RC are energized. This is because it is not always the case that the shift lever is operated while the starter motor 26 is rotating, and this is also a desirable consideration in order to ensure higher safety.

The determination operation of the device of the present invention has been described above in detail. As is clear from this, in the device of the present invention, the set current value Is, which is the basic data used for checking the shift lever position, is the type of vehicle to which the device is attached. It will be optimal for each. Therefore, it is possible to solve the problem that a device configured according to a certain circuit constant cannot be used in a specific vehicle type as in the conventional case. Further, since the set current value Is that is most suitable for the vehicle actually mounted is given to the control circuit 11, the erroneous judgment is greatly reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the test current generated from the current source circuit 13 at the time of initial setting has a stepless variable waveform, but it can be digitally varied in a stepwise manner with appropriate resolution. It may be. From the above description, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can similarly set the set current value Is in such a case. Further, the electromechanical relays RA, RB, RC can be changed to so-called solid state relays using semiconductor devices or the like.

Further, regarding the safety, as also shown in FIG. 1, a signal is taken out from an electric contact 35 interlocked with the state of the side brake of the vehicle, and if the side brake is not pulled, a judgment circuit is obtained. 19 is also configured to issue an abnormality detection signal for this point as well, either to invalidate the setting operation by the timer operating unit 15 or to starter motor drive circuit based on a command from the timer circuit 17 even when the time is up.
It is even better to configure 27 forced operation to be prohibited.
This is the case in the prototype example of the present applicant, and similarly, at this time, an error display is displayed on the timer display section 21 by the abnormality detection signal generated by the determination circuit 19.

In addition, since there is a great demand for battery saving in recent vehicles, for example, the state indicating circuit 34 of the accessory contact ACC. In the key switch provided in the vehicle (in the drawing, simply referred to as the accessory contact 34). ), The timer display unit 21 may be stopped when the accessory contact ACC. Is off. When the accessory contact point ACC. Is off, it means that the key switch 28 is in the off position OFF, and more generally, the user removes the key and often leaves the vehicle. Therefore, it is useless to display the timer until such a time. Such consideration is extremely desirable as a function added to the products offered to the market. Further, when a microcomputer is used as the control circuit 11 of the present apparatus, one having a low clock mode in a standby state and a high clock mode in an actual operating state is used, and the operation in the above-described initial setting mode is performed in the high clock mode. When doing so, a state indicating circuit 33 (in FIG. 1, simply the ignition contact 33 in FIG. 1) that can take out a signal indicating the open / closed state of the ignition system operating contact IG of the key switch 28.
It is determined by the user whether or not at least the key switch 28 is in a state in which the ignition contact 33 is selected by the user based on the contact opening / closing state instruction signal. Also good.

[0040]

According to the present invention, whether or not the vehicle to which the automatic engine starting device based on the timer operation is attached is properly an automatic vehicle, and even if the vehicle is an automatic vehicle, the shift lever position is set to the parking or neutral position. It is possible to deal with a single circuit configuration (with a single product) without changing circuit components or circuit constants to determine whether or not it is when it should be. Further, since the optimum judgment standard can be obtained for each vehicle type, judgment errors can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram according to a circuit diagram when the present device is attached to a starter motor drive circuit in an existing automatic vehicle.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of the device of the present invention in an initial setting mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Automatic Engine Starter According to the Present Invention 11 Control Circuit or Microcomputer 12 Current Source Control Circuit 13 Current Source Circuit 14 Node 15 Timer Operation Unit 16 Voltage Detection Circuit 17 Timer Circuit 18 Timer Operation Inhibition Circuit 19 Judgment Circuit 20 Vehicle Battery 21 Timer display section 22 Calculation storage section 25 Shift lever interlock switch 26 Starter motor 27 Starter motor drive circuit or magnet switch 28 Key switch R _O , RA, RB, RC relay C _O Inhibitor contact Ca, Cb, Cc relay contact.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-6-115376 (JP, A) JP-A-61-8469 (JP, A) Actually-opened JP-A-61-192570 (JP, U)

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A shift lever capable of selecting at least one of a parking position, a neutral position, a reverse position, and a forward position, and an electric switch interlocked with the shift lever, wherein the shift lever is in the parking position or the above-mentioned position. An automatic contact having an inhibitor contact for preventing energization from the vehicle-mounted battery to the engine starter motor drive circuit even if the engine start contact is selected by operating the key switch when the engine start contact is in a position other than the neutral position Whether the set time is reached even when the vehicle is attached and the engine start contact is not selected by the key switch,
An automatic engine starting device having a timer circuit for energizing the starter motor drive circuit from the battery to operate the starter motor drive circuit when a set time has elapsed since the setting operation; including the inhibitor contact in series, and the shift lever A current source circuit capable of supplying a test current to a current line whose impedance changes depending on whether the vehicle is in the parking or neutral position and in the reverse or forward position; A voltage detection circuit for detecting the voltage of the current line while being supplied to the current line; a command current to the current source circuit in the initial setting mode to supply the test current from the minimum value to the maximum A current source control circuit that changes continuously or in multiple steps depending on the value; When the detected voltage of the voltage detection circuit reaches or exceeds a predetermined first threshold voltage when the vehicle is parked or in the neutral position, it is supplied from the current source circuit at that time. The value of the test current is stored as a first current value, and when the shift lever is in the backward or forward position, the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit is equal to or larger than the first threshold voltage. When a predetermined second threshold voltage is reached or exceeded, a value of the test current supplied from the current source circuit at that time is stored as a second current value, and the memory is stored. An operation storage circuit for obtaining and storing a set current value smaller than the first current value and larger than the second current value based on the first and second current values; Under the judgment mode after the mode is solved When the current source control circuit commands the current source circuit to supply the test current of the set current value stored in the arithmetic storage circuit to the current line, the voltage value detected by the voltage detection circuit is A judgment circuit for judging whether or not a predetermined set threshold voltage is reached, and generating an abnormality detection signal when the predetermined threshold voltage is reached; and, when the judgment circuit generates the abnormality detection signal, the starter by the timer circuit. An automatic engine starting device having a timer operation prohibiting circuit for prohibiting the operation of a motor drive circuit. 2. The automatic engine starting device according to claim 1, wherein the set current value is an arithmetic average value of the first current value and the second current value. . 3. A device according to claim 1 or 2;
The automatic engine starter, wherein the set threshold voltage set in the determination circuit is the same as or near the first threshold voltage. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein when the detection voltage of the voltage detection circuit reaches or exceeds the first threshold voltage in the initial setting mode. The first current value is the value of the test current,
Also when the detection voltage of the voltage detection circuit reaches or exceeds the second threshold voltage and is the same as or smaller than the second current value which is the value of the test current when the voltage exceeds the second threshold voltage, An automatic engine starting device, wherein the judgment circuit generates the abnormality detection signal. 5. The device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the detection voltage of the voltage detection circuit is the first threshold voltage or the second threshold under the initialization mode. The automatic engine starting device, wherein the determination circuit generates the abnormality detection signal even when one of the value voltages is not reached. 6. The automatic engine starting device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein a test switch capable of selectively setting the initial setting mode is provided. . 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the determination mode is set in accordance with an operation of setting the set time or set time on the timer circuit. An automatic engine starting device characterized by: 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the determination mode is the time when the set time is reached or the set time has elapsed from the setting operation, An automatic engine starting device, wherein the timer circuit is set before operating the starter motor drive circuit. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the determination mode is set even while the timer circuit is energizing the starter motor drive circuit from the vehicle-mounted battery. Automatic engine starter. 10. Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8. The device according to 8 or 9, wherein at least one or some or all of the timer circuit, the current source control circuit, the arithmetic storage circuit, the determination circuit, and the timer operation prohibition circuit are microcomputers. An automatic engine starter characterized by being configured. 11. Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
11. The automatic engine starting device according to claim 8, which has a display section for displaying the fact that the judgment circuit generates the abnormality detection signal when the judgment circuit generates the abnormality detection signal.