Patent ID: 7860636

Claim:
An eco-run control device that is mounted on a vehicle, drives a starter, and is capable of performing an eco-run control operation to stop an engine if predetermined stop requirements are satisfied and later restart the engine if predetermined restart requirements are satisfied, the eco-run control device comprising: a transmitting unit that transmits an engine start request signal to the engine control device while the engine is being shifted to a stopped state through the eco-run control operation if the predetermined start requirements are satisfied; and a starter drive control unit that determines whether to start the engine, wherein: (1) the starter drive control unit drives the starter if the engine control device receives the engine start request signal from the transmitting unit and the engine control device transmits a starter drive allowing signal to the starter drive control unit, and (2) the starter drive control unit drives the starter if the engine speed is decreased to a predetermined speed or lower even if the starter control unit does not receive the starter allowing signal from the engine control device, such that the starter drive control unit drives the starter after the transmitting unit transmits the engine start request signal to the engine control device, but before the starter drive control unit receives the starter drive allowing signal from the engine control device.