Eco-run Control Device Voltage Drop Failure Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eco-run control systems face issues with erroneous detection of starter driving circuit failures due to voltage differences between the microcomputer and starter driving circuit, leading to improper execution of eco-run control, especially during voltage reductions.
Innovation Solution
An eco-run control device and method that includes a test unit to determine starter driving unit failure before engine stop, a nullifying unit to nullify failure tests during voltage drops, and a prohibiting unit to prevent eco-run control when the starter driving unit is out of order, ensuring accurate failure detection and preventing erroneous shutdowns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the microcomputer tests the failure of the starter driving circuit when voltage drops occur, then the failure detection frequency is improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to erroneous detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by checking the voltage state before performing the failure test. The microcomputer determines whether voltage has dropped prior to testing the starter driving circuit, and only performs the test when voltage is normal. This prevents erroneous detection caused by voltage drops while maintaining regular failure detection capability during stable operation.
2Loss of energy
If the eco-run control is executed without verifying voltage stability, then the fuel savings are improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to inability to restart the engine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary voltage stability verification before executing eco-run control. The microcomputer checks whether voltage has dropped during the test period, and only permits eco-run control when voltage is confirmed stable. This ensures the starter driving circuit can reliably restart the engine while still achieving fuel savings during normal voltage conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces voltage stability as an intermediary condition between the failure test result and the eco-run control execution. Even when the starter driving circuit passes the failure test, eco-run control is only executed if voltage stability is confirmed. This intermediary check prevents erroneous operation while maintaining system efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If the failure test is performed continuously without voltage consideration, then the detection capability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary action by implementing a simple voltage check before the failure test. The microcomputer determines voltage state and conditionally performs the test only when voltage is normal. This approach maintains high detection capability while avoiding complex continuous monitoring and evaluation systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An eco-run control device is provided. A control unit is configured to perform an eco-run control of stopping an engine on the basis of stop conditions and of restarting the engine on the basis of restart conditions. A starter driving unit is configured to drive a starter for restarting the engine. A test unit is configured to perform a failure test of the starter driving unit to determine whether the starter driving unit is out of order before the control unit stops the engine by the eco-run control. A nullifying unit is configured to nullify the failure test by the test unit when it is detected that a power supply voltage supplied to the starter driving unit drops below a predetermined value. A prohibiting unit is configured to prohibit the control unit from performing the eco-run control when the test unit determines that the starter driving unit is out of order. The prohibiting unit prohibits the control unit from performing the eco-run control in a case where the nullifying unit nullifies the failure test by the test unit during a test period in which the test unit performs the failure test.