Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Denso Corporation

Shuuichi Nagata

Masanori Ohmi

Masahiko Osada

Hideto Hanada

Ken Kuretake

Mikio Saito

Takeshi Tachibana

Hidenori Yokoyama

Masato Hanai

Yoshinori Okazaki

Kousuke Suzui

A refresh charge control device which counts a time after achieving a fully charged condition of a battery by last refresh charge and an accumulative value of a charge and discharge electric current. Plural relationship between the time and the accumulative value is determined as conditions for carrying out the refresh charge of the battery. When either one of those relationship is established, the refresh charge of the battery is performed for fully charging the battery. It is judged whether a condition that a vehicle speed is equal to or faster than a predetermined vehicle speed continues for a predetermined time. Even the condition that the vehicle speed is equal to or faster than the predetermined vehicle speed continues for the predetermined time, the refresh charge of the battery is performed for fully charging the battery irrespective of the relationship between the time and the accumulative value.

Refresh charge control device and method

In the case of an engine automatic stop and start system in which an engine is stopped while a vehicle is stopped and the engine is started when the vehicle is started, it is necessary to shorten an engine starting time when a driver desires to move the vehicle. Further, it is desirable to efficiently compensate the electric power consumed by the starter. The vehicle contains an existing low voltage power source and a high voltage power source with an excellent charging efficiency. When the engine switches from a running condition to a stopped condition while the vehicle is stopped, a change-over switch switches and applies the voltage of the high voltage power source to a starter motor. This causes the starter motor to rotate at high speeds, thereby starting the engine very quickly. Therefore, it is possible to reduce overall energy losses and improve vehicle fuel consumption.

Starting system for vehicle

Growing community of inventors

Toyota, Japan

Shuuichi Nagata