Claims
- 1. In a starter relay control circuit of a vehicle, the vehicle having an automatic transmission with a "park" position and a "neutral" position, the starter relay control circuit including a battery for providing power to the starter relay control circuit, a starter motor for providing transfer power to a vehicle engine in electrically operable relation with the battery, and an ignition switch for receiving input from a vehicle operator in electrically operable relation with the starter motor and battery, the starter relay control circuit comprising:
- means for relaying power to the starter motor, the means for relaying power having input and output terminals, the means for relaying power having input terminals in electrically operable relation with the ignition switch and the output terminals in electrically operable relation with the starter motor;
- means for controlling the starter motor by creating an open circuit across leads of the starter motor when the engine is running and the ignition switch is engaged in an engine "start" position, the starter motor having input terminals, the starter motor input terminals in electrically operable relation with the means for relaying power;
- an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for energizing and de-energizing the means for relaying power, the ECU including a microprocessor, memory capabilities, at least one bus line, and input and output terminals in electrically operable relation with the means for relaying power; and
- a transmission state switch in electrically operable relation with the ECU and having a conducting closed position and an open position, the transmission state switch only being in the conducting closed position when the transmission is in the "park" position and when the transmission is in the "neutral" position.
- 2. The starter relay control circuit of claim 1 wherein the means for relaying power comprises a starter relay.
- 3. The starter relay control circuit of claim 2 wherein the means for controlling the starter motor comprises the Electronic Control Unit (ECU).
- 4. In a starter relay control circuit of a vehicle, the vehicle having a manual transmission with a clutch having an interlocked position, the starter relay control circuit including a battery for providing power to the starter relay control circuit, a starter motor for providing transfer power to a vehicle engine in electrically operable relation with the battery, and an ignition switch for receiving input from a vehicle operator in electrically operable relation with the starter motor and battery, the ignition switch having an engine "start" position, the starter relay control circuit comprising:
- means for relaying power to the starter motor, the means for relaying power having input and output terminals, the means for relaying power having input terminals in electrically operable relation with the ignition switch and the output terminals in electrically operable relation with the starter motor;
- a transmissions state switch in electrically operable relation with the means for relaying power and having a conducting closed position and an open position, the transmission state switch only being in the conducting closed position when the clutch is in the interlocked position;
- means for controlling the starter motor by creating an open circuit across the leads of the starter motor when the engine is running and the ignition switch is engaged in the engine "start" position, the starter motor having input terminals, the starter motor input terminal in electrically operable relation with the means for relaying power; and
- an engine shaft sensor for imparting an angular position signal representation of engine revolution speed to the starter relay control circuit, the engine shaft sensor in electrically operable relation with the means for controlling the starter motor.
- 5. The starter relay control circuit of claim 4 wherein the means for relaying power comprises a starter relay.
- 6. The starter relay control circuit of claim 5 wherein the means for controlling the starter motor comprises an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for energizing and de-energizing the means for relaying power, the ECU included a microprocessor, memory capabilities, bus lines, and having input and output terminals in electrically operable relation with the means for relaying power.
- 7. The starter relay control circuit of claims 6 wherein the engine shaft sensor is a crankshaft sensor.
- 8. The starter relay control circuit of claim 6 wherein the engine shaft sensor is a camshaft sensor.
- 9. In a starter relay control circuit and associated control system for a vehicle, the vehicle having an automatic transmission with a "park" position and a "neutral" position, the starter relay control circuit including a battery, a starter motor having input leads, the starter motor input leads in electrically operable relation with the battery, an ignition switch in electrically operable relation with the starter motor and battery, the ignition switch having an engine "start" position, a starter relay in electrically operable relation with the starter motor, ignition switch, and vehicle battery, an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in electrically operable relation with at least one relay, the ignition switch, the starter motor, and the vehicle battery, and a transmission gear state switch in electrically operable relation with the ECU and having a conducting closed position and an open position, a starter motor relay control method comprising the steps of:
- determining if the transmission gear state switch is in the conducting closed position only when the transmission is in the "park" position and when the transmission is in the "neutral" position; and
- creating an open circuit across the input leads of the starter motor if the engine is running, the ignition switch is engaged in the "start" position and the transmission gear state switch is operable.
- 10. In a starter relay control circuit and associated control system for a vehicle, the vehicle including an automatic transmission with a "park" position and a "neutral" position, the starter relay control circuit comprising a battery, a starter motor having input leads, the starter motor input leads in electrically operable relation with the starter motor and battery, the ignition switch having an engine "start" position, at least one starter relay in electrically operable relation with the starter motor, ignition switch, and battery, an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in electrically operable relation with at least one relay, the ignition switch, the starter motor, and the vehicle battery, and a transmission gear state switch in electrically operable relation with the ECU and having a conducting closed position and an open position, a starter relay control method comprising the steps of:
- determining whether the transmission gear state switch is in a conducting closed position only when the transmission is in the "park" position and when the transmission is in the "neutral" position;
- determining whether an actual vehicle engine RPM is greater than a target RPM;
- arming a disable timer if the actual vehicle engine RPM is less than the target RPM and enabling the starter relay;
- determining whether the disable timer has disarmed;
- decrementing the disable timer if the disable timer has not disarmed;
- determining whether the actual vehicle engine RPM is greater than the target RPM;
- arming the disable timer if the actual vehicle engine RPM is less than the target RPM and enabling the starter relay; and
- disabling the starter relay if the actual vehicle engine RPM is greater than the target RPM.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
The present application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/531,569 filed Sep. 5, 1995, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/270,344, filed Jul. 5, 1994, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
531569 |
Sep 1995 |
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Parent |
270344 |
Jul 1994 |
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