Vehicle Starter Current Limitation Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing starter systems for vehicles face challenges in reliably starting the engine under unfavorable conditions such as low temperatures and low supply voltages, as they often require permanent current limitation which can delay or prevent engine starting.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that dynamically measure physical variables like temperature and voltage to decide on starter current limitation, allowing the starter to operate with full supply voltage during unfavorable conditions by switching a limiter into bypass mode after a predetermined time, ensuring maximum starting torque.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If starter current is permanently limited during starting process, then voltage drop is reduced and electrical consumers are protected, but engine starting reliability deteriorates under unfavorable conditions (low temperature and low supply voltage)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine starting reliabilityVSAvoidvoltage drop
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic current limitation by switching between two operational modes: initially limiting starter current to protect the electrical system from voltage drops, then automatically switching to unlimited current mode after detection of successful engine starting. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by providing current limitation only when necessary, rather than permanently restricting current which would harm starting reliability under unfavorable conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the current limitation parameter based on detected operating conditions. By monitoring parameters such as rotational speed, voltage, and current characteristics, the system determines when engine starting is successful and adjusts the current limitation parameter accordingly - maintaining limitation during critical starting phase, then removing limitation when starting is confirmed, thus protecting the electrical system while ensuring reliable engine starting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If starter current is not limited during starting process, then engine starting reliability is improved, but voltage drop increases causing electrical consumers to switch off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage dropVSAvoidengine starting reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic current limitation by switching between two operational modes: initially limiting starter current to protect the electrical system from voltage drops, then automatically switching to unlimited current mode after detection of successful engine starting. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by providing current limitation only when necessary, rather than permanently restricting current which would harm starting reliability under unfavorable conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the current limitation parameter based on detected operating conditions. By monitoring parameters such as rotational speed, voltage, and current characteristics, the system determines when engine starting is successful and adjusts the current limitation parameter accordingly - maintaining limitation during critical starting phase, then removing limitation when starting is confirmed, thus protecting the electrical system while ensuring reliable engine starting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If starter operates with full supply voltage continuously, then maximum starting torque is available, but electrical system experiences excessive current load and voltage drops

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestarting torqueVSAvoidvoltage drop
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic current limitation by switching between two operational modes: initially limiting starter current to protect the electrical system from voltage drops, then automatically switching to unlimited current mode after detection of successful engine starting. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by providing current limitation only when necessary, rather than permanently restricting current which would harm starting reliability under unfavorable conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic monitoring of operating parameters (rotational speed, voltage, current) during the starting process to detect engine starting success. Based on this periodic detection, the current limitation is dynamically adjusted - maintaining limitation during the critical starting phase when voltage drops are harmful, then removing limitation after successful starting is confirmed, thus providing maximum torque only when needed without causing excessive continuous current load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2609322B1Method and device for operating a starter of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.11.24 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2609322B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2609322B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2609322B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a starter (203) of a vehicle, according to which a physical quantity is measured, characterized in that, depending on the measured physical quantity, a starter current of the starter (203) is limited or not limited, wherein, in the event that the starter current is limited, the limitation is ended after a predetermined time. The invention further relates to a device (201) for operating a starter of a vehicle and to a control program.