JP2010116080A - Power supply device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power supply device for a vehicle improving visibility while suppressing wasteful power consumption. <P>SOLUTION: A vehicle speed determination part 173 determines whether a vehicle speed is higher than a speed threshold or not, and outputs the determined result to a control part 171. A switch determination part 174 determines whether each of head lamp switch SW1, fog lamp switch SW2 and a wiper switch SW3 is in an on-state or an off-state, and outputs the determined result to the control part 171. The control part 171 controls an average voltage applied to a head lamp 24 to become a voltage Vh(>Vd) higher than a predetermined voltage value Vd when the vehicle speed is higher than the speed threshold value or when a wiper is in operation, in the case where the head lamp 24 is turned on. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle power supply device including a battery.

  A power supply device for a vehicle such as an automobile includes an alternator (on-vehicle generator, AC generator), a battery, and the like. The electric power generated by the alternator in conjunction with the engine is used for charging the battery and is supplied to an electric load mounted on the vehicle. In general, the power generation voltage of the alternator is about 14V and the battery voltage is about 12.8V. However, when the voltage of the battery fluctuates according to the usage state of the electric load, the load voltage applied to the electric load also fluctuates. Will do. For this reason, the vehicle power supply device controls the load voltage to be maintained at a predetermined value even when the voltage of the battery fluctuates.

On the other hand, in order to improve fuel efficiency, vehicles are equipped with a charge control system. The charge control system adjusts the power generation voltage of the alternator according to the vehicle running state (for example, acceleration running, deceleration running, constant speed running, idling, etc.) while maintaining the load voltage at a predetermined value. The fuel consumption is reduced while reducing the load (see Non-Patent Document 1).
Harrier New Car Manual, Toyota Motor Corporation, issued February 7, 2003

  However, in the conventional vehicle power supply device, the average value of the load voltage applied to the electric load is always maintained at a predetermined value regardless of the voltage fluctuation of the battery. For example, the electric load is a headlamp, a fog lamp, etc. When the headlamps are required to be visible in front of the vehicle, such as when driving in the rain at night or at high speeds, the voltage applied to the electrical load is constant. There was a problem that the brightness in front of the vehicle could not be improved without changing the brightness.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, and it aims at providing the power supply device for vehicles which can improve visibility, suppressing useless power consumption.

  A vehicle power supply device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a vehicle power supply device including a battery, a voltage control unit that controls a voltage on the output side of the battery, and a vehicle lamp to which a voltage controlled by the voltage control unit is applied And an acquisition unit that acquires information related to visibility during travel of the vehicle, and the voltage control unit determines a voltage applied to the vehicle lamp from a predetermined value according to the information acquired by the acquisition unit. It is characterized by being configured to be higher.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vehicular power supply apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the acquisition unit is configured to acquire a vehicle speed, and the voltage control unit is configured so that the acquired vehicle speed is faster than a speed threshold value. The voltage applied to the vehicle lamp is configured to be higher than a predetermined value.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle power supply device according to the first aspect, wherein the acquisition unit is configured to acquire an operating state of the wiper, and the voltage control unit is configured so that the wiper is operating. The voltage applied to the vehicle lamp is configured to be higher than a predetermined value.

  The vehicle power supply device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to third aspects, the vehicle lamp is at least one of a headlamp or a fog lamp.

  In the present invention, a voltage control unit for controlling the voltage on the output side of the battery, a vehicle lamp to which the voltage controlled by the voltage control unit is applied, and information related to visibility during traveling of the vehicle are acquired. And an acquisition unit. And a voltage control part makes the voltage applied to a vehicle lamp higher than a predetermined value according to the information acquired by the acquisition part. For example, when it is necessary to increase the visibility according to the acquired information, a voltage higher than a predetermined value is applied to the vehicle lamp, and when it is not necessary to increase the visibility, a predetermined voltage is applied to the vehicle lamp. To do. As a result, when it is not necessary to increase the visibility, the voltage applied to the vehicle lamp is set to a predetermined value to suppress wasteful power consumption, and when the visibility needs to be increased, the voltage is increased. Increase the brightness of the car lights and improve visibility.

  In the present invention, the vehicle speed is acquired as information related to visibility. For example, when the vehicle speed is high, it is necessary to improve visibility. And when the acquired vehicle speed is faster than a speed threshold value, the voltage applied to a vehicle lamp is made higher than a predetermined value. Thereby, when a vehicle is faster than a speed threshold value and it is necessary to improve visibility, a vehicle light can be brightened and visibility can be improved.

  In the present invention, the operation state (for example, operation start, operation stop, etc.) of the wiper is acquired as information related to visibility. For example, when the wiper is operating (including operation start and operation in progress), it is necessary to improve visibility because it is traveling in rainy weather. When the wiper is operating, the voltage applied to the vehicle lamp is set higher than a predetermined value. Thereby, when it is necessary to improve visibility at the time of rainy weather, a vehicle light can be brightened and visibility can be improved.

  In the present invention, the vehicle lamp is at least one of a headlamp and a fog lamp. Thereby, when it is necessary to improve the visibility in front of the vehicle, such as when traveling at high speed or in rainy weather, the headlamp or the fog lamp can be brightened, and the visibility can be improved.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve visibility while suppressing wasteful power consumption.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle power supply device according to the present invention. The vehicle power supply device includes a battery 14, a power supply control unit 17, and the like. In addition, only the power supply control part 17 can also be comprised as a vehicle power supply device.

  An alternator 11 is connected to the battery 14 via a fuse F0. The alternator 11 is provided with a regulator 12 that controls the generated voltage generated by the alternator 11. The battery 14 is charged with electric power generated by the alternator 11. The current sensor 15 detects the charging current and discharging current of the battery 14. A charge control ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 13 controls charging of the battery 14.

  A vehicle speed sensor 16 is connected to the charging control ECU 13. A fuse F <b> 0 is provided in the electric circuit between the alternator 11 and the battery 14. An electric circuit for supplying electric power from the alternator 11 and the battery 14 is branched according to an electric load. An electric load (not shown) is connected to the electric circuit 21 via a fuse F1.

  A fuse F <b> 2 is interposed in the electric path 22, and a headlamp 24 as a vehicle lamp is connected via the FET 18. Further, a fuse F3 is interposed in the electric circuit 23, and a fog lamp 25 as a vehicle lamp is connected through the FET 19. The electric circuit is not limited to the three illustrated. In addition, the structure provided only with the headlamp 24 or the fog lamp 25 may be sufficient.

  A headlamp switch SW1, a fog lamp switch SW2, and a wiper switch SW3 are connected to the power control unit 17.

  The power supply control unit 17 controls the entire control unit 171 as a voltage control unit, a voltage detection unit 172 that detects the voltage Vb of the battery 14, and a vehicle speed determination unit as an acquisition unit that acquires the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 16. 173, a switch determination unit 174 as an acquisition unit that acquires the operation state of the wiper, a PWM control unit 175 that performs PWM control of the FETs 18 and 19, and the like.

  The voltage detector 172 detects the voltage Vb of the battery 14 and outputs it to the controller 171.

  The vehicle speed determination unit 173 compares the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 16 with a speed threshold (for example, 60 km / h), determines whether the vehicle speed is faster than the speed threshold, and sends the determination result to the control unit 171. Output.

  The switch determination unit 174 determines whether each of the headlamp switch SW1, the fog lamp switch SW2, and the wiper switch SW3 is on or off, and outputs a determination result to the control unit 171.

  Based on the voltage Vb of the battery 14 detected by the voltage detection unit 172, the determination results output from the vehicle speed determination unit 173, and the switch determination unit 174, the control unit 171 applies the voltage (average) to the headlamp 24 and the fog lamp 25. A control signal is output to the PWM control unit 175 in order to control the voltage value. For example, when the voltage of the battery 14 fluctuates and becomes high, the ON periods of the FETs 18 and 19 are shortened to maintain the voltages applied to the headlamp 24 and the fog lamp 25 at a constant value.

  For example, when the headlamp 24 is lit and the vehicle speed is slower than the speed threshold or when the wiper is not operating, the control unit 171 increases the forward visibility for traveling the vehicle. Assuming that this is not necessary, the average voltage applied to the headlamp 24 is maintained at a predetermined voltage value Vd. In this case, the PWM control unit 175 performs PWM control (changes the duty ratio) of the FET 18 so that the average voltage applied to the headlamp 24 becomes the predetermined voltage value Vd.

  Similarly, when the fog lamp 25 is lit, the control unit 171 determines the forward visibility for traveling of the vehicle when the vehicle speed is slower than the speed threshold or when the wiper is not operating. Is not required to be increased, the average voltage applied to the fog lamp 25 is maintained at the predetermined voltage value Vd. In this case, the PWM control unit 175 performs PWM control (changes the duty ratio) of the FET 19 so that the average voltage applied to the fog lamp 25 becomes the predetermined voltage value Vd. For the fog lamp 25, the predetermined voltage value may be a value different from Vd.

  On the other hand, when the headlamp 24 is turned on and the vehicle speed is faster than the speed threshold or when the wiper is operating, the control unit 171 increases the forward visibility for traveling the vehicle. As necessary, the average voltage applied to the headlamp 24 is controlled to be a voltage Vh (> Vd) higher than the predetermined voltage value Vd. In this case, the PWM control unit 175 performs PWM control (changes the duty ratio) of the FET 18 so that the average voltage applied to the headlamp 24 becomes a voltage Vh higher than the predetermined voltage value Vd. In this case, the duty ratio may be changed so as to lengthen the period during which the FET 18 is on, or the duty ratio may be 100%.

  In addition, when the fog lamp 25 is lit, the control unit 171 needs to improve the forward visibility for traveling of the vehicle when the vehicle speed is higher than the speed threshold or when the wiper is operating. As a result, the average voltage applied to the fog lamp 25 is controlled to be a voltage Vh (> Vd) higher than the predetermined voltage value Vd. In this case, the PWM control unit 175 performs PWM control (changes the duty ratio) of the FET 19 so that the average voltage applied to the fog lamp 25 becomes the voltage Vh higher than the predetermined voltage value Vd. For the fog lamp 25, the applied voltage may be different from Vh. Also in this case, the duty ratio may be changed so as to lengthen the period during which the FET 19 is on, or the duty ratio may be 100%.

  Next, the operation of the vehicle power supply device of the present embodiment will be described. The alternator 11 generates power in conjunction with an engine (not shown). The regulator 12 performs constant voltage control or step-up / step-down control on the generated voltage generated by the alternator 11 by adjusting the field current of the alternator 11.

  The alternator 11 rectifies the generated power with a rectifier (not shown) inside the alternator 11, and then charges the battery 14 through the fuse F0. The charging current charged in the battery 14 is detected by the current sensor 15 and output to the charging control ECU 13. Further, the charging control ECU 13 detects the voltage Vb of the battery 14.

  The charging control ECU 13 acquires the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 16, determines the traveling state of the vehicle (for example, idling, acceleration traveling, steady traveling, deceleration traveling, etc.) based on the acquired vehicle speed, and sets the determined traveling state. Accordingly, the battery 14 is charged.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an example of the charge control operation by the charge control ECU 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the running state of the vehicle includes, for example, idling, acceleration running, steady running, and decelerating running. According to each running state, the power generation mode of the alternator 11, the battery capacity of the battery 14, and the alternator 11 generated voltage and vehicle speed pattern are different.

  For example, the power generation voltage of the alternator 11 is lowered from the normal (steady) value VN to VL. As a result, the engine load due to the power generation by the alternator 11 can be reduced, and the fuel consumption of the engine can be reduced.

  On the other hand, in the case of deceleration traveling, the power generation voltage of the alternator 11 is increased from the normal (steady) value VN to VH. This increases the charging current to the battery 14 and increases the power supplied to another electrical load (not shown) via the fuse F2.

  In this case, the voltages VL, VN, and VH indicated by the generated voltage in FIG. 2 are about 12.5V, 13.5V, and 14.5V, respectively.

  FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the voltage applied to the headlamp 24. The same applies to the fog lamp 25. As shown in FIG. 3A, it is assumed that the operation of the wiper starts at time t1, and the operation of the wiper stops at time t2. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3B, the average output voltage applied to the headlamp 24 is applied with a predetermined voltage value Vd until time t1, and the voltage Vh higher than the predetermined voltage value Vd at time t1. Is applied. As an example, Vd can be set to about 12V, and Vh can be set to about 13.5V. Thereby, the headlamp 24 becomes bright and visibility is improved. At time t2, the voltage applied to the headlamp 24 returns to the predetermined voltage value Vd.

  In the example of FIG. 3, the change in the voltage applied to the headlamp 24 according to the operation state of the wiper has been described. However, the vehicle speed may be used instead of the operation of the wiper. In this case, if the vehicle speed becomes faster than the speed threshold value at time t1, and the vehicle speed becomes slower than the speed threshold value at time t2, the voltage applied to the headlamp 24 changes in the same manner as in FIG. .

  As described above, when it is necessary to improve the visibility according to the acquired information (for example, the wiper operating state, vehicle speed, etc.), a voltage higher than a predetermined value is applied to the headlamp 24 and / or the fog lamp 25 for visual recognition. When it is not necessary to improve the performance, a voltage having a predetermined value is applied to the headlamp 24 and / or the fog lamp 25. As a result, when it is not necessary to increase the visibility, it is possible to suppress wasteful power consumption, and when it is necessary to increase the visibility, the voltage is increased to increase the brightness of the headlamp 24 and / or the fog lamp 25. Increase the visibility.

  Further, the vehicle speed is acquired as information related to visibility. For example, when the vehicle speed is high, it is necessary to improve visibility. And when the acquired vehicle speed is faster than a speed threshold value, the voltage applied to the headlamp 24 and / or the fog lamp 25 is made higher than a predetermined value. Thereby, when a vehicle is faster than a speed threshold value and it is necessary to improve visibility, the headlamp 24 and / or the fog lamp 25 can be brightened, and visibility can be improved.

  Moreover, the operation state (for example, operation start, operation stop, etc.) of the wiper is acquired as information related to visibility. For example, when the wiper is operating (including operation start and operation in progress), it is necessary to improve visibility because it is traveling in rainy weather. When the wiper is operating, the voltage applied to the headlamp 24 and / or the fog lamp 25 is set higher than a predetermined value. Thereby, when it is necessary to improve visibility in rainy weather etc., the headlamp 24 and / or the fog lamp 25 can be brightened, and visibility can be improved.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the vehicle power supply device according to the present invention. The control unit 171 determines whether or not the headlamp 24 or the fog lamp 25 is lit (S11). If neither is lit (NO in S11), the process of step S11 is continued. When the headlamp 24 or the fog lamp 25 is lit (YES in S11), the control unit 171 maintains the voltage applied to the lit headlamp 24 or the fog lamp 25 at the predetermined voltage value Vd (S12). The maintained voltage Vd may be different between the headlamp 24 and the fog lamp 25.

  The control unit 171 determines whether or not the wiper has started to operate (S13). If the operation has not started (NO in S13), the controller 171 determines whether or not the vehicle speed is faster than a threshold (speed threshold) (S14). ). If the vehicle speed is not faster than the threshold value (NO in S14), the control unit 171 continues the processing from step S12. If the vehicle speed is faster than the threshold value (YES in S14), the controller 171 applies the light to the headlamp 24 or fog lamp 25 that is lit. Is maintained at a voltage higher than the predetermined voltage value Vd (S15). When the operation of the wiper starts (YES in S13), the control unit 171 performs step S15 without performing step S14.

  The control unit 171 determines whether or not the operation of the wiper has stopped (S16). If the operation has not stopped (NO in S16), the control unit 171 determines whether or not the vehicle speed is slower than the threshold (speed threshold) ( S17). When the vehicle speed is slower than the threshold (YES in S17), the voltage applied to the headlamp 24 or the fog lamp 25 that is lit is maintained at the predetermined voltage value Vd (S18). When the operation of the wiper is stopped (YES in S16), the control unit 171 performs step S18 without performing step S17.

  The control unit 171 determines whether or not all the headlamps 24 and the fog lamps 25 are turned off (S19). When all the headlamps 24 and the fog lamps 25 are not turned off (NO in S19), the processing from step S13 is continued and all are turned off. If yes (YES in S19), the process is terminated.

  If the vehicle speed is not slower than the threshold (NO in S17), the control unit 171 determines whether or not all the headlamps 24 and fog lamps 25 are turned off (S20). If all are not turned off (NO in S20). ), The process after step S15 is continued, and when all are turned off (YES in S20), the process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve visibility while suppressing wasteful power consumption.

  In the above-described embodiment, the brightness of the vehicle lamp is increased in order to increase the visibility for the driver. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the driving of the succeeding vehicle traveling behind the host vehicle is not limited thereto. You may make it improve the visibility with respect to the own vehicle seeing from a person. In this case, for example, the brightness of the vehicle lamp provided at the rear of the vehicle may be increased. Further, by installing an ultrasonic sensor or the like at the rear of the vehicle, the brightness of the vehicle lamp can be increased according to the speed difference between the own vehicle and the following vehicle, the inter-vehicle distance, and the like.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the vehicle power supply device which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the charge control operation example by charge control ECU. It is a time chart which shows the voltage applied to a headlamp. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the power supply device for vehicles which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Battery 17 Power supply control part 171 Control part 172 Voltage detection part 173 Vehicle speed determination part 174 Switch determination part 175 PWM control part 18, 19 FET
24 Head lamp 25 Fog lamp SW3 Wiper switch

Claims (4)

In a vehicle power supply device comprising a battery,
A voltage controller for controlling the voltage on the output side of the battery;
A vehicle lamp to which a voltage controlled by the voltage controller is applied;
An acquisition unit that acquires information related to visibility when the vehicle is running,
The voltage controller is
A power supply device for a vehicle, wherein a voltage applied to the vehicle lamp is set higher than a predetermined value in accordance with information acquired by the acquisition unit. The acquisition unit
Configured to get the vehicle speed,
The voltage controller is
The vehicular power supply device according to claim 1, wherein when the acquired vehicle speed is faster than a speed threshold, the voltage applied to the vehicle lamp is set higher than a predetermined value. The acquisition unit
Configured to obtain the operating status of the wiper,
The voltage controller is
2. The vehicle power supply device according to claim 1, wherein when the wiper is operating, a voltage applied to the vehicle lamp is set higher than a predetermined value. The car light is
The vehicle power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vehicle power supply device is at least one of a headlamp and a fog lamp.

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