The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 16, 2013
Filed:
Aug. 03, 2011
Ryouta Nakamura, Handa, JP;
Ryouta Nakamura, Handa, JP;
Denso Corporation, Kariya, JP;
Abstract
A relay is provided in a power supply line from a battery to a motor of a starter in a vehicle. The relay is selectively switched between a contact side state where contacts short-circuit and a resistor side state where the contacts open and a resistor is inserted into the power supply line in series. When an engine is started, an ECU controlling the starter energizes the motor by driving the relay to the resistor side only for a first predetermined time in order to suppress inrush current and voltage fall due to the inrush current. The ECU detects a contact side state fixation abnormality of the relay based on a battery voltage at the time when the motor is energized by driving the relay to the resistor side.