Abstract: An engine stopping/starting control unit having improved accelerating performance. A charging limiting device is provided which limits the charge provided to a generator when the vehicle is stopped. The decreased charging allows for better performance when the vehicle accelerates from a stopped states. Also, the vehicle headlight can be dimmed while the vehicle is stopped, which reduces the load on the generator. An acceleration detector detects when the vehicle accelerates during running, and can decrease the generator load in response to the acceleration.

Abstract: In estimating the residual capacity of a battery according to the maximum output estimating process, a reference point is established in advance at the intersection of a plurality of current/voltage characteristic linear curves corresponding to various residual capacities of the battery or in an area in the vicinity of the intersections of the curves. A current/voltage characteristic linear curve is determined so as to pass through the reference point and a measured operating point of the battery which corresponds to the present discharging current and output voltage values measured when the battery is discharged. Then, a maximum transfer power value of the battery is determined from the current/voltage characteristic linear curve thus determined, and the present residual capacity of the battery is estimated from the maximum transfer power value.

Abstract: To provide an electric vehicle in which a low voltage power, obtained by conversion from a high voltage power of a main battery by a DC--DC convertor, is supplied to an operation control unit and electric equipment loads such as a lamp and is also used to charge a low voltage secondary battery, in which the main battery and the low voltage secondary battery are prevented from being over-discharged even when a main switch is left in the on-state. A low voltage power VR outputted from a DC--DC convertor is supplied to an exciting winding of a relay and is also supplied to a low voltage secondary battery through a diode. The low voltage power VR is supplied to low voltage loads through a contact of the relay. The DC--DC convertor is so constructed that the output of the low voltage power therefrom is stopped when the output voltage of the DC--DC convertor is reduced to a value less than a specified range due to the reduction in the battery capacity of the main battery.

Abstract: In estimating the residual capacity of a battery according to the maximum output estimating process, a reference point is established in advance at the intersection of a plurality of current/voltage characteristic linear curves corresponding to various residual capacities of the battery or in an area in the vicinity of the intersections of the curves. A current/voltage characteristic linear curve is determined so as to pass through the reference point and a measured operating point of the battery which corresponds to the present discharging current and output voltage values measured when the battery is discharged. Then, a maximum transfer power value of the battery is determined from the current/voltage characteristic linear curve thus determined, and the present residual capacity of the battery is estimated from the maximum transfer power value.

Abstract: A starter device for an internal combustion engine which includes a starter motor, a pinion shaft rotated by the starter motor, a movable cylindrical member fitted on the pinion shaft and coupled thereto by a helical spline coupling, a pinion gear fitted for free rotation on the pinion shaft, a unidirectional clutch provided between the pinion gear and the movable cylindrical member, and the pinion gear and movable cylindrical member being coupled together for axial movement in unison with each other.