Idling Stop Starter Control for Voltage Drop Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The idling stop function in vehicles often fails to activate the engine due to battery voltage drops, causing the microcomputer to reset and unable to manage the voltage drop, leading to repeated engine activation failures.
Innovation Solution
An idling stop device with a microcomputer, detector, storage, and controller that detects battery voltage drops, stores information about the drop, and uses PWM signals to gradually increase the starter motor current, preventing further voltage drops during engine activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the starter motor is activated to start the engine, then the engine can be activated, but the battery voltage is greatly dropped causing the microcomputer to reset
Solution Approach 1:
The detector detects battery voltage in advance before engine activation. The storage unit stores voltage information beforehand, so when voltage drop occurs during starter motor activation, the microcomputer can retrieve the pre-stored voltage information to determine whether the drop was caused by battery deterioration or other factors, enabling appropriate subsequent actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The detector continuously monitors battery voltage and provides feedback to the storage unit and microcomputer. When voltage drops below a threshold during engine activation, this feedback mechanism allows the system to recognize the voltage drop condition and use the stored voltage information to make informed decisions about whether to allow repeated activation attempts or indicate battery replacement needs.
2Reliability
If the microcomputer monitors battery voltage to prevent voltage drop, then battery management is improved, but the microcomputer itself resets when voltage drops below its operating threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The detector acts as an intermediary component that monitors battery voltage independently of the microcomputer's operational state. It stores voltage information in the storage unit even when the microcomputer resets due to voltage drop. This intermediary mechanism ensures that voltage monitoring continues effectively without requiring the microcomputer to remain operational throughout the entire voltage drop event.
3Reliability
If the engine activation is prevented when battery voltage is low, then battery protection is achieved, but the engine cannot be activated even when the voltage drop is due to temporary conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The storage unit stores battery voltage information in advance before activation conditions are fully evaluated. When the engine cannot be activated due to voltage concerns, the microcomputer refers to this pre-stored information to determine whether the voltage drop pattern matches that of battery deterioration or temporary conditions. This allows differentiated responses: protecting the battery when deterioration is detected while permitting activation when voltage drops are temporary and recoverable.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows the microcomputer to recognize and manage battery voltage drops, preventing engine activation failures by gradually increasing the starter motor current, thus maintaining engine functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a detector configured to detect whether a drive voltage of the microcomputer, which is obtained by dropping a voltage of a battery of the vehicle is less than a threshold value
Implementation Method 2
a storage configured to store, irrespective of a state of the microcomputer, information indicating that the detector has detected that the drive voltage is less than the threshold value
Implementation Method 3
a controller configured to drop an increasing speed of a current for driving the starter motor when the microcomputer activates the stator motor under the condition that the information is stored in the storage
Data Source
AI summary
An idling stop device installed in a vehicle includes a microcomputer, a detector, a storage, and a controller. The microcomputer automatically stops an engine of the vehicle when a prescribed stopping condition is satisfied, and automatically activates a starter motor of the engine when a prescribed activating condition is satisfied. The detector detects whether a drive voltage of the microcomputer, which is obtained by dropping a voltage of a battery of the vehicle is less than a threshold value. The storage stores, irrespective of a state of the microcomputer, information indicating that the detector has detected that the drive voltage is less than the threshold value. The controller drops an increasing speed of a current for driving the starter motor when the microcomputer activates the stator motor under the condition that the information is stored in the storage.