Patent ID: 8428855

Claim:
A system for controlling a starter to start an internal combustion engine, the starter comprising: a pinion shiftable between an engagement position and a disengagement position, the pinion being engaged with a ring gear rotatable together with a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine when located at the engagement position, the pinion being disengaged with the ring gear when located at the disengagement position; an actuator configured to shift the pinion from the disengagement position to the engagement position when energized; and a motor configured to rotate the pinion when energized, the system comprising: a control circuit; a first switch unit configured to switch between energization and deenergization of the actuator under control of the control circuit; and a second switch unit configured to switch between energization and deenergization of the motor under control of the control circuit, the first switch unit and the second switch unit being individually arranged, the second switch unit comprising: a first relay configured to switch between energization and deenergization of the motor under control of the control circuit; and a second relay configured to control activation of the first relay, the first switch unit including a third relay designed as a semiconductor relay and configured to switch between energization and deenergization of the actuator.