Patent ID: 8299639

Claim:
A starter for starting an internal combustion engine with a first output shaft to which a ring gear is coupled, the starter comprising: a motor having a second output shaft to which a movable pinion member is coupled and operative to, when energized, rotate the second output shaft; a solenoid device comprising: a solenoid actuator linked to the movable pinion member, the solenoid actuator being configured to, when activated, shift the movable pinion member toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear; and a solenoid switch configure to, when activated, energize the motor, the solenoid actuator and the solenoid switch being integrated with each other to provide the solenoid device; and a controller module configured to individually control an activation of the solenoid actuator and an activation of the solenoid switch, the controller module being mounted on the solenoid device.