Apparatus and a method for controlling an engine
AssigneeNissan Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsTakahisa Koseki, Tetsuya Iwasaki, Takashi Nakazawa, Masahiko Yuya
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An invention that judges whether an engine is being cranked by a starter based on the conditions that a prior cranking control has ended, the engine rotates at or less than a limit rotation velocity leading to an engine stall, and a battery voltage falls to or below a predetermined value. When such conditions are met, then engine cranking control is started. The engine can be shifted to the cranking control without an input signal from a starter switch and the engine can be promptly cranked.
Claims16
An engine control apparatus, comprising:
- a starter that cranks the engine;
- a rotation velocity detector that detects engine rotation velocity;
- a battery voltage detector that detects a battery voltage;
- a controller that starts engine cranking control when the controller determines that the engine is being cranked by the starter,
- wherein the controller determines that the engine is being cranked by the starter based on when a prior cranking control ends, the engine rotation velocity is equal to or less than a first predetermined limit velocity that leads to an engine stall, and the battery voltage for driving the starter falls to or below a predetermined low voltage value.
An engine control apparatus, comprising:
- starter means for cranking the engine;
- rotation velocity detection means for detecting an engine rotation velocity;
- battery voltage detection means for detecting a battery voltage of a battery that drives the starter;
- cranking judgement means for judging that the engine is being cranked by the starter based on when a prior cranking control ends, the engine rotation velocity is equal to or less than a limit rotation velocity leading to an engine stall, and the battery voltage falls to or below a predetermined value;
- and
- cranking control means for starting the cranking control when the cranking judgement means judges that the engine is being cranked by the starter.
A method for controlling an engine, comprising:
- providing a starter that cranks an engine;
- detecting an engine rotation velocity;
- detecting a battery voltage for a battery that serves the starter;
- judging that the engine is being cranked by the starter based on when a prior cranking control ends, the engine rotation velocity is equal to or less than a limit rotation velocity that leads to an engine stall, and the battery voltage falls to or below a predetermined value;
- and
- starting a cranking control after judging that the engine is being cranked by the starter.
An engine control apparatus, comprising:
- a starter that cranks the engine;
- a rotation velocity detector that detects engine rotation velocity;
- a battery voltage detector that detects a battery voltage of a battery that serves the starter;
- a controller that starts engine cranking control when the controller determines that the engine is being cranked by the starter,
- wherein the controller determines that the engine is being cranked by the starter based on when, during engine rotation, the battery voltage falls to or below a predetermined low voltage value, and the engine rotation velocity remains at or below a predetermined engine rotation velocity at an engine combustion completion for a predetermined period of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.