Apparatus and method for protecting starter for engine against overheating

摘要

A method and an apparatus for protecting an engine starter of a motor vehicle against overheating with enhanced reliability by controlling turn-on/off of the starter in dependence on a conducting current of the starter, a starter temperature and an ambient temperature. The apparatus includes a voltage detecting means (1) for measuring a supply voltage (Vs) of the engine starter, a voltage waveform information detecting means (11) for detecting at least one of frequency information and amplitude information of a waveform representing variation of the supply voltage (Vs) as voltage waveform information (T), and a conduction time control means (12, 12A) for controlling a conduction time period of the engine starter in accordance with the voltage waveform information (T).