Engine starter controller, engine start apparatus, and engine starter control system

An engine start apparatus comprising:

• a starter controller incorporated in a starter control system for controlling actuation of a first starter and a second starter to start an engine, the system being configured to start actuation of the first starter in response to an engine start-up request, and before completion of engine start-up, terminate the actuation of the first starter and then start actuation of the second starter while the second starter is being rotated by rotation of an engine rotary shaft caused by the actuation of the first starter;
• the second starter that is an alternating-current (AC) starter;
• and
• a rotation detector configured to detect rotation of the second starter based on an induced voltage or induced current generated in coils of the second starter,
• wherein the starter controller comprises:
• a determination unit configured to, under a condition where the engine rotary shaft is rotating after termination of the actuation of the first starter, determine whether or not recognition of rotation of the second starter is complete;
• and
• a fail-safe unit configured to, when the determination unit determines that the recognition of rotation of the second starter is not complete, perform predefined fail-safe processing responding to an abnormality in the second starter, after the termination of the actuation of the first starter.

A starter control system for controlling actuation of a first starter and a second starter to start an engine, the system being configured to start actuation of the first starter in response to an engine start-up request, and before completion of engine start-up, terminate the actuation of the first starter and then start actuation of the second starter while the second starter is being rotated by rotation of an engine rotary shaft caused by the actuation of the first starter, the starter control system comprising:

• a first controller configured to control actuation of the first starter;
• and
• a second controller configured to control actuation of the second starter that is an alternating-current (AC) starter, the second controller being communicable with the first controller, the second controller comprising:
• a determination unit configured to, under a condition where the engine rotary shaft is rotating after termination of the actuation of the first starter, determine whether or not recognition of rotation of the second starter is complete;
• and
• a fail-safe unit configured to, when the determination unit determines that the recognition of rotation of the second starter is not complete, perform predefined fail-safe processing responding to an abnormality in the second starter, after the termination of the actuation of the first starter, wherein:
• the fail-safe unit of the second controller is configured to, in the predefined fail-safe processing, output a signal for re-actuating the first starter;
• and
• the first controller is configured to, upon receipt of the signal for re-actuating the first starter from the second controller, re-actuate the first starter.