Abstract: An engine control apparatus includes a brake depression degree detecting device for detecting a degree of depression of a brake pedal in a vehicle. A brake depression degree judging device operates for judging whether or not the detected degree of depression of the brake pedal is smaller than a prescribed value. A deceleration detecting device operates for detecting a deceleration of the vehicle. An automatic engine stop and restart controlling device operates for automatically stopping an engine powering the vehicle when the deceleration detecting device detects a deceleration of the vehicle and the brake depression degree judging device judges that the detected degree of depression of the brake pedal is not smaller than the prescribed value.

Abstract: An engine-starting apparatus includes an electric motor and an overrunning clutch that transmits a rotational torque of the electric motor to an internal combustion engine. A coupling speed for re-coupling the clutch for re-cranking the engine while it is still rotating by the inertia is set to a point where an inertial speed of the engine becomes equal to or a little higher than an inertial speed of the electric motor. The electric motor is switched on again when its speed decreases to the coupling speed or lower. In this manner, shocks and noises generated in the re-coupling of the clutch are avoided, and the engine can be smoothly re-cranked while it is still rotating by its inertia.

Abstract: An electric power supply system for a starter comprises a capacitor. This capacitor is charged by a battery through a charging circuit including resistors that charges the capacitor by dividing a voltage of the battery by the resistors. This capacitor is discharged to the starter through a discharge circuit that applies to the starter a charged voltage of the capacitor in addition to the voltage of the battery. When the starter is driven, the connection of the capacitor is switched from the charging circuit to the discharging circuit by an ECU and switching relays.

Abstract: In an engine starter of the present invention, a driving shaft to output a rotating force and a crankshaft of an engine are linked continuously. The engine starter comprises a one-way clutch to prevent an overrun of an armature after the engine starts. In the one-way clutch, a connecting rotation number in which an inner ring and an outer ring change from a disconnected state to a connected state in a decreasing process of engine revolutions is set above a lower limit of the engine revolutions above which the engine under suspension of the fuel supply is able to get restarted by itself by resuming of fuel supply. Therefore, the engine is always able to get restarted quickly even in a low-rotation range.

Abstract: An electric power supply system for a starter comprises a capacitor. This capacitor is charged by a battery through a charging circuit including resistors that charges the capacitor by dividing a voltage of the battery by the resistors. This capacitor is discharged to the starter through a discharge circuit that applies to the starter a charged voltage of the capacitor in addition to the voltage of the battery. When the starter is driven, the connection of the capacitor is switched from the charging circuit to the discharging circuit by an ECU and switching relays.

Abstract: An engine automatic stop and start system monitors a booster negative pressure and a braking operation. A combination of the booster negative pressure and the brake operation can effectively indicate that a booster negative pressure will be insufficient to ensure a brake function. The controller evaluates the booster negative pressure and the brake operation, and restarts the engine when it is estimated that the booster negative pressure may be decreased below a threshold. As a result, it is possible to restart the engine before the booster negative pressure is decreased.

Abstract: An engine-starting apparatus includes an electric motor and an overrunning clutch that transmits a rotational torque of the electric motor to an internal combustion engine. A coupling speed for re-coupling the clutch for re-cranking the engine while it is still rotating by the inertia is set to a point where an inertial speed of the engine becomes equal to or a little higher than an inertial speed of the electric motor. The electric motor is switched on again when its speed decreases to the coupling speed or lower. In this manner, shocks and noises generated in the re-coupling of the clutch are avoided, and the engine can be smoothly re-cranked while it is still rotating by its inertia.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus includes a brake depression degree detecting device for detecting a degree of depression of a brake pedal in a vehicle. A brake depression degree judging device operates for judging whether or not the detected degree of depression of the brake pedal is smaller than a prescribed value. A deceleration detecting device operates for detecting a deceleration of the vehicle. An automatic engine stop and restart controlling device operates for automatically stopping an engine powering the vehicle when the deceleration detecting device detects a deceleration of the vehicle and the brake depression degree judging device judges that the detected degree of depression of the brake pedal is not smaller than the prescribed value.

Abstract: An engine automatic speed control apparatus which exhibits a smooth transition from brake release to an engine drive state. An ECU determines braking force such that a vehicle does not move in correspondence with the slope of a road surface according to a road surface slope sensor while monitoring an operated quantity of a brake pedal according to a brake pedal operated-quantity sensor. The ECU stops an engine when braking force is applied via the brake pedal such that the vehicle does not move. After stopping the engine, the ECU determines braking force such that the vehicle does not move in correspondence with slope of the road surface according to the road surface slope sensor, and restarts the engine when braking force becomes less than braking force required to maintain the vehicle in a stopped state. The ECU then restarts the engine in the interval from relaxing of braking force via the brake pedal until the brake pedal is released.

Abstract: A speed reduction device including an overrunning clutch has a drive shaft having an eccentric ring and an inner gear plate disposed to be rotatable relative to the eccentric ring. The gear plate has a plurality of teeth and engagement holes. The device further has fixing pins fixed to the housing in engagement with the engagement holes of the inner gear plate to restrict rotation of the inner gear plate to thereby allow swinging of the gear plate, an outer ring disposed around the inner gear plate and connected to a driven shaft and a torque transmitting member which engages the teeth of the inner gear plate to transmit torque from the inner gear plate to the outer ring. The torque transmitting member is arranged to disengage the teeth of the inner gear plate by centrifugal force when the outer ring rotates at a speed higher than a threshold value.