Patent ID: 9322384
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: F02D,F02P,F23Q

Claim Text:
1. A method of controlling the driving of a glow plug in a glow plug drive control system which enables driving to energize the glow plug, the system comprising: a glow switch, a stabilizing coil, and a glow plug that are series-connected, a battery voltage being applied to one end of the glow switch, another end of the glow plug connected to a ground; and an electronic control unit that controls the opening and closing of the glow switch, the method comprising: in an initial drive state, performing opening and closing of the glow switch, with a first frequency of PWM signals, the initial drive state occurring on commencement of driving the glow plug; and in a normal drive state, performing opening and closing of the glow switch with a second frequency of PWM signals, the normal drive state occurring when a predetermined drive shift condition has been met; wherein the first frequency is higher than the second frequency; and wherein the predetermined drive shift condition is the cumulative energy that has been expended for driving the glow plug since the commencement of the driving of the glow plug, and it is determined that the predetermined drive shift condition has been met when it has been determined that the cumulative energy has reached a predetermined value.