| 主权项 |
1. An engine starting apparatus comprising:
a starter which, when it is required to start an engine, moves a pinion to establish engagement with a ring gear coupled to the engine and energizes an electric motor to produce and transmit torque to the ring gear through the pinion for cranking the engine, after the pinion engages the ring gear, the starter working to rotate the pinion so as to continue to exert the torque on the ring gear at least until after fuel in the engine is burned for the first time after the engine is started by the starter; and a firing-up determiner which works to determine that the engine has been fired up when at least one of a first firing-up condition, a second firing-up condition, and a third firing-up condition is met after the pinion engages the ring gear, the first firing-up condition being a condition in which a rate of decrease in current flowing in the electric motor exceeds a given value, the second firing-up condition being a condition in which a rate of increase in voltage appearing at a terminal of the starter exceeds a given value, the third firing-up condition being a condition in which a rate of increase in voltage appearing at a terminal of a power source for the electric motor exceeds a given value. |
