Starter motor control circuit and method
AssigneeChrysler Corporation
InventorsRobert E. Hojna, Steven L. Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a starter control system for an engine equipped with a starter motor, starter relay, ignition switch, and electronic control unit (ECU), a first circuit and method whereby the ECU will deactivate the starter relay if the operator of a vehicle attempts to re-start the vehicle when the measured engine speed is greater than the minimum engine running speed, under both initial starting and engine running conditions and a second circuit and method whereby the ECU will warn the vehicle operator if the starter pinion gear has not disengaged from the engine ring gear after the measured engine speed has exceeded the minimum engine running speed thereby eliminating the need for an overrunning clutch on the starter assembly.
Claims17
A method of controlling a starter control system comprising:
- determining a current speed of an engine;
- determining a voltage level at a starter armature if the current speed is greater than a minimum engine running speed;
- activating a warning signal if the voltage level at the starter armature is greater than a given threshold value.
A method of determining if a starter pinion gear has disengaged from an engine ring gear at a starter armature comprising:
- determining if a measured speed of an engine is greater than a minimum engine running speed;
- determining if the starter armature is off if the current speed is greater than the minimum speed;
- determining if a voltage level at the starter armature is greater than a preselected threshold if the starter armature is off;
- and
- causing a load variation between the starter pinion gear and the engine ring gear if the voltage level is greater than the pre-selected threshold.
A method of preventing damage to a starter pinion gear from an engine ring gear without a clutch comprising:
- determining a measured speed of an engine;
- determining a voltage level at a starter armature if the measured speed is greater than a minimum engine running speed;
- and
- causing a load variation between the starter pinion gear and the engine ring gear if the voltage level is greater than a pre-selected threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.