Starter contactor having an electronic control circuit, and a vehicle starter having such a contactor

A contactor, for a motor vehicle starter having a starter motor and a power supply circuit for said motor, the said power supply circuit including a pair of fixed contact terminals, the contactor comprising:

• an annular cylindrical armature constituting a casing;
• a movable core mounted in the said armature for axial movement therein;
• a winding within the said casing for effecting said axial movement of the movable core;
• a disc-shaped fixed core disposed at one axial end of the said armature and having a central axial hole;
• a control rod extending through the said axial hole in the fixed core into contact with the said movable core, so as to be displaceable by the latter;
• a hood having the general form of a cylindrical pot and including a skirt portion which defines a housing internally of the hood, the hood further including a base portion joined to its said skirt portion, the said fixed contact terminals being arranged in the said base portion of the hood;
• a movable contact disposed within the said housing and coupled with the said control rod for displacement of the movable contact by the control rod into and out of electrical contact with the said pair of fixed contact terminals;
• and an electronic control circuit for the contactor, the said control circuit comprising a support member and circuit components carried by the support member, wherein the said control circuit is disposed in an axial position within the said hood.