Patent ID: 7533746
Filing Date: 2009-05-19
Classification: F02N,H02J,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An engine control apparatus adapted to be mounted on a vehicle including: a first battery, supplying power to an electrical load of the vehicle when an engine is in a normal operation; a second battery, supplying power to the electrical load of the vehicle when the engine is in an economical operation; a voltage regulator regulating voltages of the first battery and the second battery; and a current limiter, incorporated in the voltage regulator and limiting a current value flowing from the voltage regulator to the second battery to a limiting value, the engine control apparatus comprising: an engine stopping unit, stopping the engine when a first predetermined condition is established; an engine starting unit, starting the engine when a second predetermined condition is established; a current detecting unit, detecting the current value when the second battery is charged; and a changing unit, changing the limiting value between a first limiting value and a second limiting value which is higher than the first limiting value according to the detected current value in a case where the voltage of the second battery is no more than a second predetermined value and the voltage of the first battery is no less than a first predetermined value.