Patent ID: 9163604
Filing Date: 2015-10-20
Classification: F02N,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An engine starting device, comprising: crank signal generation means for outputting a crank signal including information indicating a reference position of a crankshaft of an engine; and engine control means for identifying, by determining the reference position based on the crank signal received from the crank signal generation means, a predetermined crank position of the crankshaft, and after stopping the engine when a stop condition for the engine is established, starting the engine when an engine restart condition is established, wherein the engine control means: estimates, in a course of stopping the engine when the stop condition for the engine is established, based on an engine rpm at the identified predetermined crank position, whether or not the engine rotates backward before reaching the predetermined crank position for a next time, and after estimating that the engine rotates backward, sets an inhibition range which is prescribed from a starter drive inhibition start timing to a starter drive inhibition reset timing, and a permission range which is other than the inhibition range, and when the restart condition is established during rotation of the engine, inhibits restart in the inhibition range and carries out the restart in the permission range; determines that the engine rotates backward before reaching the predetermined crank position for a next time, as a result of the engine control means determining that the engine rpm at the predetermined crank position is in the predetermined rpm range, in the course of stopping the engine when the stop condition for the engine is established, and sets the predetermined rpm range at a forward rotation range, and a lower limit of the predetermined rpm range at an rpm offset from 0 rpm; and determines that the engine does not rotate backward or, even when the engine rotates backward, the backward rotation is in the permission range as a result of the engine control means determining that the engine rpm at the predetermined crank position is not in the predetermined rpm range, and is below a lower limit of the predetermined rpm range, in the course of stopping the engine when the stop condition for the engine is established.