Abstract: A method for estimating the aging of a battery of a motor vehicle with a combustion engine, the vehicle including an electric starter, a temperature sensor for the temperature of the coolant, a speed sensor for the speed of the combustion engine and a computer for managing the drive system of the vehicle. The method includes, each time the combustion engine is started, the steps of the computer determining the value of the speed of the combustion engine and the value of the temperature, if the determined value of the speed is higher than a speed threshold, incrementing a first counter, if the determined value of the speed is lower than the speed threshold, incrementing a second counter, detecting the aging of the battery when the value of the second counter is higher than a predetermined alert threshold.

Abstract: A performance testing system including an engine, a starter under test that is configured to start the engine, and a motor configured to generate power transferred to the engine to run the engine after the engine is started by the starter.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a no-start fault of a vehicle push-button start system including a push-button switch, where the system starts a vehicle engine if the switch is pressed and a vehicle brake is applied. The method includes detecting that a no engine crank condition has occurred if the switch is pressed and the brake is applied, and if so, performs a no crank diagnosis. The method also includes determining that a starter control relay has not been enabled after the system is in a crank power mode, and if so, performs a starter not-enabled diagnosis. The method also includes determining that the starter control relay has been disabled before the engine is running, and if so, performs a start disable diagnosis. The method also includes determining that the engine has stalled within some minimum time after it has successfully been started, and if so, performs an engine stall diagnosis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit breaker for protecting an electrical system. The circuit breaker comprises a semiconductor switching element (T1) with a first and a second electrical terminal connected to a mains supply line (LIN) and a control terminal. Such switching element (T1) is controlled by enabling/disabling a control signal (S) applied to the control terminal for switching between an open/closed status and a closed/open status for connecting/disconnecting at least one load (LD) to/from the supply line (LIN). Moreover, the circuit breaker comprises a drive (DV) adapted to enable/disable the control signal (S).

Abstract: The invention relates to a starter (100), to a device for starting a starter motor, to a device for detecting an engaged state of a starter pinion, to a method for starting a starter motor, to a method for detecting an engaged state of a pinion (101) in a corresponding gearwheel, to a computer program and to a computer program product, wherein the method for detecting an engaged state of a pinion (101) in a corresponding gearwheel, in particular an engaged state of a starter pinion in a gear rim of a starter (100), comprises applying a current to a starter relay (110) for switching the pinion (101) and detecting at least one current flow parameter of the current flow, wherein the detected current flow parameter is set in relation to potential pinion positions and a pinion position associated with the detected current flow parameter is selected and is thus detected.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a meshing process of a meshing pinion of a starter motor for a vehicle drive, in which an armature of the starter motor is moved by a magnet, has the following steps: detecting a solenoid signal when a solenoid of the magnet is energized in order to obtain a signal profile, in particular a current profile; generating a differential profile by differentiating the signal profile; determining zero crossings in the differential profile; and monitoring the meshing process on the basis of the determined zero crossings.

Abstract: A diagnostic system configured to testing a performance of a vehicle component may include a processor configured to process test information from the vehicle component and control the vehicle component to be tested. The diagnostic system may also include a memory configured to store the test information of the vehicle component and software that operates the vehicle component. The diagnostic system may further include a monitoring module configured to monitor a power supply provided to perform the testing of the vehicle component and cuts off the power supply when the power exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting the start of combustion in a cyclically operating internal combustion engine in which a fuel/air mixture is ignited by means of a corona discharge, wherein, to generate the corona discharge, an electrical resonant circuit is excited, in which an ignition electrode that is electrically insulated with respect to combustion chamber walls constitutes a capacitor together with the combustion chamber walls, and, to identify the start of combustion, an electrical variable of the resonant circuit is evaluated. The position of an extremum is evaluated, said extremum occurring in the course of the electrical variable after ignition of the corona discharge and before extinguishment thereof, or the course of the electrical variable is compared with a reference course, wherein a threshold value is predefined and fuel combustion is concluded on the basis of a deviation by more than the threshold value.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting a tow start operation of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle. In this case, a signal representing the activity and/or inactivity of a starter unit of the internal combustion engine is detected. A tow start operation of the internal combustion engine is determined when, following detection of a successful start-up process of the internal combustion engine, the signal representing the activity and/or inactivity of the starter unit has not displayed any activity of the starter unit since the beginning of the start-up process of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a starter (100), to a device for starting a starter motor, to a device for detecting an engaged state of a starter pinion, to a method for starting a starter motor, to a method for detecting an engaged state of a pinion (101) in a corresponding gearwheel, to a computer program and to a computer program product, wherein the method for detecting an engaged state of a pinion (101) in a corresponding gearwheel, in particular an engaged state of a starter pinion in a gear rim of a starter (100), comprises applying a current to a starter relay (110) for switching the pinion (101) and detecting at least one current flow parameter of the current flow, wherein the detected current flow parameter is set in relation to potential pinion positions and a pinion position associated with the detected current flow parameter is selected and is thus detected.

Abstract: An alternator and starter tester system having a starter current zero test. The current is measured before and after a solenoid of a starter motor is energized and deenergized to determine if the starter motor should be failed. This allows the operator to quickly determine if the starter motor is stuck on during normal starter motor testing.

Abstract: A diagnostic device for the starter of a combustion engine is provided. The electrical system of a motor vehicle includes a battery in whose connecting line a battery disconnect switch is provided, and the electrical system of the motor vehicle is monitored by a vehicle electrical system state detection device which includes starter diagnostic functionality.

Abstract: A method for checking engagement of a pinion of a starter system with a ring gear of a drive unit to be started, including measuring a variable indicating a speed of the pinion or a speed of the drive unit to be started, and checking the engagement on the basis of the measured variable.

Abstract: An engine starter motor tester applies power to a motor under test at the level normally applied while that motor is installed in a vehicle and monitors the ripple in the driving current. The ripple rate, scaled by the number of windings used in the construction of the motor, provides a direct reading of the shaft speed of the unloaded motor. This number allows a valid inference concerning the state of health of the motor, and is more certain than an estimate for an unloaded motor based on operator experience and motor “sound”. A complete test apparatus includes a stored lookup table, allowing the user to key in a product brand and model number and read directly both the RPM and the test apparatus's rating of the motor under test, expressed in terms such as percentage of life remaining.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a cranking capability of a starting system for an internal combustion engine. An average power output of a battery is determined for the starting system during a start engine cranking interval. A temperature of the starting system is determined at an initiation of the start engine cranking interval. A predetermined average power output capability for a battery having a full state of charge at the determined temperature is looked up. A predetermined minimum average power output required of the battery for starting the respective engine at the determined temperature is looked up. A state of function based on the determined average power outputs is determined. The cranking capability of the starting system is identified in response to the determined state of function.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a cranking capability of a starting system for an internal combustion engine. An average power output of a battery is determined for the starting system during a start engine cranking interval. A temperature of the starting system is determined at an initiation of the start engine cranking interval. A predetermined average power output capability for a battery having a full state of charge at the determined temperature is looked up. A predetermined minimum average power output required of the battery for starting the respective engine at the determined temperature is looked up. A state of function based on the determined average power outputs is determined. The cranking capability of the starting system is identified in response to the determined state of function.

Abstract: A method for testing a circuit of a D.C. electrical system in a motor vehicle that includes connecting a load bank (30) to a D.C. electrical source such as a battery bank (24) or an alternator (26) and wirelessly operating the load bank (36) to set the load that the load bank imposes on the D.C. source during circuit testing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for measuring uneven wear of starter brushes for a vehicle which can accurately measure and compare the lengths of the starter brushes and easily determine whether or not eccentricity of an armature occurs, the device comprising: a hollow support; a receiving plate formed integrally with the outer circumferential surface of an upper portion of the hollow support to accommodate a plurality of brushes; a lifting body liftably inserted into the inside of the hollow support; a plurality of detection rods slidably connected to the outer circumferential surface of an upper portion of the lifting body and moving forward or backward toward the brushes; a lift driving means for driving the lifting body; a plurality of measuring sensors for measuring the lengths of the brushes by means of the detection rods; and an LCD panel for displaying the measured lengths; and a control unit for controlling the lift driving means, the measuring sensors and the LCD panel.

Abstract: An alternator and starter tester system having a starter current zero test. The current is measured before and after a solenoid of a starter motor is energized and deenergized to determine if the starter motor should be failed. This allows the operator to quickly determine if the starter motor is stuck on during normal starter motor testing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for measuring uneven wear of starter brushes for a vehicle which can accurately measure and compare the lengths of the starter brushes and easily determine whether or not eccentricity of an armature occurs, the device comprising: a hollow support; a receiving plate formed integrally with the outer circumferential surface of an upper portion of the hollow support to accommodate a plurality of brushes; a lifting body liftably inserted into the inside of the hollow support; a plurality of detection rods slidably connected to the outer circumferential surface of an upper portion of the lifting body and moving forward or backward toward the brushes; a lift driving means for driving the lifting body; a plurality of measuring sensors for measuring the lengths of the brushes by means of the detection rods; and an LCD panel for displaying the measured lengths; and a control unit for controlling the lift driving means, the measuring sensors and the LCD panel.