Patent ID: 6888266

Claim:
In a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a cranking motor coupled with the engine to crank the engine, and a battery coupled with the cranking motor, the improvement comprising: a capacitor comprising first and second terminals; first and second electrical paths interconnecting the first and second terminals, respectively, with the cranking motor and a system ground; a first switch comprising a circuit positionable between at least an open and closed position, said first switch coupled to the battery; a second switch comprising a first circuit coupled between said first switch and said system ground and a second circuit coupled between the first and second terminals of the capacitor, wherein said second switch is moveable between an on position and a momentary position; and a relay included in one of the first and second electrical paths and coupled to said second switch, said relay moveable between at least a closed-circuit condition, in which the relay completes said one of the first and second electrical paths, and an open-circuit condition, in which the relay interrupts said one of the first and second electrical paths, wherein the battery applies a first control voltage through said circuit of said first switch when said circuit of said first switch is in the closed position and through said first circuit of said second switch when said second switch is in the on position, and wherein said capacitor applies a second control voltage through said second circuit of said second switch when said second switch is in the momentary position, and wherein said relay is moveable to said closed-circuit condition in response to at least one of said first and second control voltages being applied thereto.