Abstract: A rotating electric machine drive system includes: a rotating electric machine equipped with: a rotor having one magnetic pole configured by permanent magnets, and a salient pole portion that is magnetically convex in a radial direction; and a stator wound with a multiphase stator winding; an inverter for supplying electric power to the stator winding; and a control unit for controlling energization current of the inverters. The control unit performs energization control of the stator winding such that a fundamental wave current at a fundamental frequency synchronized with a rotational speed of the rotor, and a harmonic current that is triple the fundamental frequency flow in the stator winding, and such that energization of the harmonic current generates a stator magnetic field having a specified lead phase or delay phase with respect to a third-order magnetic field of the rotor.

Abstract: A rotating electric machine drive system includes: a rotating electric machine equipped with: a rotor having one magnetic pole configured by permanent magnets, and a salient pole portion that is magnetically convex in a radial direction; and a stator wound with a multiphase stator winding; an inverter for supplying electric power to the stator winding; and a control unit for controlling energization current of the inverters. The control unit performs energization control of the stator winding such that a fundamental wave current at a fundamental frequency synchronized with a rotational speed of the rotor, and a harmonic current that is triple the fundamental frequency flow in the stator winding, and such that energization of the harmonic current generates a stator magnetic field having a specified lead phase or delay phase with respect to a third-order magnetic field of the rotor.

Abstract: A control device performs fuel injection without cranking when engine-speed Ne is within a first-range (Ne>N1) and an engine-restart request occurs. The device performs the cranking after the synchronization in rotation-speed between pinion and ring gears, and the gear meshing operation between them when the engine-speed Ne is within a second range (N1?Ne>N2) and the engine-restart request occurs. The device performs the cranking after the gear meshing operation and drives a starter to rotate the pinion gear when the engine-speed Ne is within a third-range (N3?Ne) and the above request occurs. When the above request occurs in an engine restart ready-range (N2?Ne>N3), the control device performs the cranking after the engine-speed Ne is decreased to a value within the third-range (N3?Ne) and after the completion of the gear meshing operation.

Abstract: In a control device, an engine self-restart means tries the engine restart when an engine restart request is issued while the engine rotation speed is within a first rotation speed range. A pre-gear synchronizing control means executes gear rotation speed synchronization between pinion and ring gears, and then retries the engine restart when the engine restart request is issued while the engine rotation-speed is within a second rotation speed range. A pre-gear meshing control means executes gear-meshing between the pinion and ring gears and then retries the engine restart when the engine restart request is issued while the engine rotation speed is within a third rotation speed range. On detecting the engine-restart failure of the engine self-restart control, the control device prohibits the execution of pre-gear synchronizing control until a predetermined time counted form the failure detection time is elapsed, and executes the pre-gear meshing control after the predetermined time period is elapsed.

Abstract: In a system for controlling a starter, the starter includes a pinion shiftable between an engagement position and a disengagement position. The starter includes 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 includes 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 are individually arranged. The second switch unit includes 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.

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

Abstract: In a system, a starter includes a motor for rotatably driving an output shaft with a pinion and an actuator that shifts the pinion toward a ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. A monitor unit monitors a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine. The rotational speed of the internal combustion engine drops after an automatic control for stop of the engine. When an engine restart request occurs with the rotational speed being within a preset range during the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine dropping by the automatic control for stop of the engine, a drive unit drives the actuator to shift the pinion toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. The drive unit rotatably drives the motor with the pinion being engaged with the ring gear to thereby crank the crankshaft.

Abstract: An engine start system which may be employed in automotive idle stop systems. The engine start system includes a pinion gear to be pushed to a ring gear coupled to an engine for achieving meshing engagement with the ring gear. After the pinion gear engages the ring gear, the engine start system starts to rotate the pinion gear using a starter motor to crank the engine. Specifically, when an engine restart request is made following an engine stop request, the engine start system waits until after the speed of the engine drops below a preselected gear engagable speed and then moves the pinion gear toward the ring gear without rotating the pinion gear. This minimizes the consumption of fuel in the vehicle in supplying electric power to the starter motor and a maximum level of mechanical noise arising from the engagement of the pinion gear with the ring gear.

Abstract: In a system, a starter includes a motor for rotatably driving an output shaft with a pinion and an actuator that shifts the pinion toward a ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. A monitor unit monitors a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine. The rotational speed of the internal combustion engine drops after an automatic control for stop of the engine. When an engine restart request occurs with the rotational speed being within a preset range during the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine dropping by the automatic control for stop of the engine, a drive unit drives the actuator to shift the pinion toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. The drive unit rotatably drives the motor with the pinion being engaged with the ring gear to thereby crank the crankshaft.

Abstract: In a system for cranking a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, a starter is provided with a motor working to, when energized, rotatably drive an output shaft with a pinion and an actuator working to, when energized, shift the pinion toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. A power supply is electrically connected to the motor and operative to output electrical power. A first mechanical relay is electrically connected between the power supply and the motor, and works to turn on and off a supply of a current based on the electrical power to the motor for rotating the pinion. A switching element is electrically connected across the first mechanical relay, and works to turn on and off the supply of the current to the motor for rotating the pinion.

Abstract: In a system, a starter includes a motor for rotatably driving an output shaft with a pinion and an actuator that shifts the pinion toward a ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. A monitor unit monitors a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine. The rotational speed of the internal combustion engine drops after an automatic control for stop of the engine. When an engine restart request occurs with the rotational speed being within a preset range during the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine dropping by the automatic control for stop of the engine, a drive unit drives the actuator to shift the pinion toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. The drive unit rotatably drives the motor with the pinion being engaged with the ring gear to thereby crank the crankshaft.

Abstract: In a system, a starter includes a motor for rotatably driving an output shaft with a pinion and an actuator that shifts the pinion toward a ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. A monitor unit monitors a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine. The rotational speed of the internal combustion engine drops after an automatic control for stop of the engine. When an engine restart request occurs with the rotational speed being within a preset range during the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine dropping by the automatic control for stop of the engine, a drive unit drives the actuator to shift the pinion toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. The drive unit rotatably drives the motor with the pinion being engaged with the ring gear to thereby crank the crankshaft.

Abstract: In a control device, an engine self-restart means tries the engine restart when an engine restart request is issued while the engine rotation speed is within a first rotation speed range. A pre-gear synchronizing control means executes gear rotation speed synchronization between pinion and ring gears, and then retries the engine restart when the engine restart request is issued while the engine rotation-speed is within a second rotation speed range. A pre-gear meshing control means executes gear-meshing between the pinion and ring gears and then retries the engine restart when the engine restart request is issued while the engine rotation speed is within a third rotation speed range. On detecting the engine-restart failure of the engine self-restart control, the control device prohibits the execution of pre-gear synchronizing control until a predetermined time counted form the failure detection time is elapsed, and executes the pre-gear meshing control after the predetermined time period is elapsed.

Abstract: A control device performs fuel injection without cranking when engine-speed Ne is within a first-range (Ne>N1) and an engine-restart request occurs. The device performs the cranking after the synchronization in rotation-speed between pinion and ring gears, and the gear meshing operation between them when the engine-speed Ne is within a second range (N1?Ne>N2) and the engine-restart request occurs. The device performs the cranking after the gear meshing operation and drives a starter to rotate the pinion gear when the engine-speed Ne is within a third-range (N3?Ne) and the above request occurs. When the above request occurs in an engine restart ready-range (N2?Ne>N3), the control device performs the cranking after the engine-speed Ne is decreased to a value within the third-range (N3?Ne) and after the completion of the gear meshing operation.

Abstract: In a system, a starter includes a motor for rotatably driving an output shaft with a pinion and an actuator that shifts the pinion toward a ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. A monitor unit monitors a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine. The rotational speed of the internal combustion engine drops after an automatic control for stop of the engine. When an engine restart request occurs with the rotational speed being within a preset range during the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine dropping by the automatic control for stop of the engine, a drive unit drives the actuator to shift the pinion toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. The drive unit rotatably drives the motor with the pinion being engaged with the ring gear to thereby crank the crankshaft.

Abstract: In a system for controlling a starter, the starter includes a pinion shiftable between an engagement position and a disengagement position. The starter includes 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 includes 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 are individually arranged. The second switch unit includes 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.

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

Abstract: In a system for cranking a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, a starter is provided with a motor working to, when energized, rotatably drive an output shaft with a pinion and an actuator working to, when energized, shift the pinion toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. A power supply is electrically connected to the motor and operative to output electrical power. A first mechanical relay is electrically connected between the power supply and the motor, and works to turn on and off a supply of a current based on the electrical power to the motor for rotating the pinion. A switching element is electrically connected across the first mechanical relay, and works to turn on and off the supply of the current to the motor for rotating the pinion.

Abstract: An engine start system which may be employed in automotive idle stop systems. The engine start system includes a pinion gear to be pushed to a ring gear coupled to an engine for achieving meshing engagement with the ring gear. After the pinion gear engages the ring gear, the engine start system starts to rotate the pinion gear using a starter motor to crank the engine. Specifically, when an engine restart request is made following an engine stop request, the engine start system waits until after the speed of the engine drops below a preselected gear engageble speed and then moves the pinion gear toward the ring gear without rotating the pinion gear. This minimizes the consumption of fuel in the vehicle in supplying electric power to the starter motor and a maximum level of mechanical noise arising from the engagement of the pinion gear with the ring gear.

Abstract: In a system, a starter includes a motor for rotatably driving an output shaft with a pinion and an actuator that shifts the pinion toward a ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. A monitor unit monitors a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine. The rotational speed of the internal combustion engine drops after an automatic control for stop of the engine. When an engine restart request occurs with the rotational speed being within a preset range during the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine dropping by the automatic control for stop of the engine, a drive unit drives the actuator to shift the pinion toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. The drive unit rotatably drives the motor with the pinion being engaged with the ring gear to thereby crank the crankshaft.