JP2010280318A - Throttle control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a throttle control device enabling even an unskilled driver who can hardly maintain a constant accelerator operation, to easily maintain a constant vehicle speed. <P>SOLUTION: An engine control means (3) is connected to an accelerator control input detection means (7), and includes: a map data storage means (3A); a one's own vehicle position information acquiring means (3B); a highway road travel determination means (3C) determining whether a road where the one's own vehicle travels is a highway road, from map data and the one's own vehicle position information; and a throttle opening control means (3D) for changing the throttle opening based on the accelerator control input. When determined that the one's own vehicle travels on the highway road, the throttle opening control means (3D) performs control of the rate of change in the throttle opening (moderating control) to change the rate of change in the throttle opening. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a throttle control device, and more particularly to a throttle control device that receives information on whether or not the vehicle is traveling on a highway from a car navigation device and controls the throttle opening degree by an engine control means (ECU).

  Some vehicles are provided with a throttle control device that opens and closes a throttle valve that is electronically operated in accordance with a vehicle running state or an engine operating state to control a throttle opening. In this throttle control device, the throttle opening is changed with respect to the change in the accelerator operation amount, which is the depressed state of the accelerator pedal.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-249053 [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-9013 The vehicle control device according to Patent Document 1 switches the vehicle to a control pattern corresponding to the vehicle position only when the route guidance function of the car navigation device is used. In addition to the automatic transmission, the control pattern of the throttle actuator and the brake is automatically switched. The throttle control device for an internal combustion engine according to Patent Document 2 variably controls the throttle opening change rate according to the transition state of the accelerator operation amount, and improves drivability during acceleration / deceleration.

By the way, in the vehicle control device according to Patent Document 1 described above, the throttle actuator is controlled in accordance with the road information of the vehicle position, but the throttle opening control during highway driving is specifically disclosed. Not. Further, in the throttle control device for an internal combustion engine according to Patent Document 2 described above, control is performed to reduce the throttle opening for the purpose of obtaining power performance and drivability and suppressing emission deterioration. There is no mention of control while driving. Furthermore, in the conventional throttle control device, the change characteristic of the throttle opening with respect to the change in the accelerator operation amount is one type (fixed).
For this reason, conventionally, it has been difficult for a driver to maintain a constant vehicle speed, particularly in a high vehicle speed region.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a throttle control device that can easily maintain a constant vehicle speed even for a driver who is not good at maintaining a constant accelerator operation while the host vehicle is traveling on a highway. There is.

  The present invention relates to a throttle control device for controlling a throttle opening by an engine control means for controlling an engine mounted on a vehicle, wherein the engine control means communicates with an accelerator operation amount detection means for detecting an accelerator operation amount, Map data storage means for storing map data, own vehicle position information acquisition means for acquiring own vehicle position information, map data stored in the map data storage means, and the own vehicle acquired by the own vehicle position information acquisition means Based on the vehicle position information, the throttle opening amount is changed on the basis of the accelerator operation amount detected by the accelerator operation amount detection means and the expressway travel determination means for determining whether the road on which the host vehicle is traveling is on the expressway. Throttle opening control means, and the throttle opening control means is controlled by the highway traveling determination means There which comprises carrying out the throttle opening change rate control for changing the throttle opening change rate when it is determined that the highway.

  According to the throttle control device of the present invention, when the host vehicle is traveling on a highway, the throttle opening is controlled with respect to the accelerator operation later than the normal throttle control. Even a person can easily maintain a constant vehicle speed.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a throttle control device. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of throttle control. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a change state of the throttle opening.

The present invention is intended for the purpose of easily maintaining a constant vehicle speed even for a driver who is not good at maintaining a constant accelerator operation while traveling on a highway. Realize later than.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail and specifically with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an engine mounted on a vehicle, 2 denotes a throttle control device, and 3 denotes an engine control means (ECU) for controlling the engine 1.
The engine 1 is provided with a throttle valve 4 that opens and closes electronically operated by an engine control means 3.
The engine control means 3 includes a car navigation device 5 to which map data and vehicle running state information are input, an accelerator operation amount detection means 7 for detecting an accelerator operation amount that is a depression amount of an accelerator pedal 6, and a throttle valve 4. The throttle opening degree detecting means 8 for detecting the throttle opening amount in the open / closed state is in communication.

  The engine control means 3 includes a map data storage means 3A for storing map data acquired from the car navigation device 5, a host vehicle position information acquisition means 3B for acquiring host vehicle position information from the car navigation device 5, and a map data storage. Expressway travel determination means 3C for determining whether the road on which the host vehicle is traveling is on the expressway from the map data stored in the means 3A and the own vehicle position information acquired by the own vehicle position information acquisition means 3B; Throttle opening degree control means 3D for changing the throttle opening amount based on the accelerator operation amount detected by the accelerator operation amount detecting means 7 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the throttle opening control means 3D, when an accelerator operation is performed (time t1) (indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 3), when the host vehicle is traveling on a general road, the accelerator operation is performed. The throttle opening immediately increases (time t2), and when a predetermined time (T1) elapses (time t3) from when the accelerator operation is performed (time t1), the throttle opening becomes a predetermined value (TH). When so-called normal throttle control (indicated by a broken line in FIG. 3) is performed, when the highway traveling determination means 3C determines that the host vehicle is traveling on the highway, the normal throttle control (FIG. 3) is performed. Compared with the accelerator operation), the throttle opening change rate is changed with respect to the accelerator operation, that is, when a predetermined time (T2) elapses from when the accelerator operation is performed (time t1). Throttle opening to reach a predetermined value (TH) to the time t4), Iyuwaru throttle opening change rate control (smoothing control) is performed (indicated by the solid line in FIG. 3). Here, there is a relationship of T1 <T2.
Further, the throttle opening control means 3D determines that the driver has an intention to accelerate when the throttle opening exceeds 50%. The rate control (shown by the solid line in FIG. 3) is returned to the normal throttle control (shown by the broken line in FIG. 3).

Next, throttle control according to this embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the program of the engine control means 3 is started (step A01), it is first determined whether or not the host vehicle is on a highway (step A02).
If this step A02 is YES and the host vehicle is on a highway, it is determined whether or not the throttle opening is 50% or less (step A03). This step A03 is YES and the throttle opening is 50% or less. In this case, throttle opening change rate control (smoothing control) for changing the throttle opening change rate is performed (step A04).
As a result, when the host vehicle is traveling on an expressway, the throttle opening is controlled later than the normal throttle control with respect to the accelerator operation, so even a driver who is not good at keeping the accelerator operation constant, That is, it is possible to easily maintain a constant vehicle speed even in a traveling state of a vehicle in which the accelerator pedal 6 cannot be maintained at a constant depression amount and is constantly moving.
On the other hand, if step A02 is NO and the host vehicle is not on a highway, and if step A03 is NO and the throttle opening exceeds 50%, the driver is willing to accelerate. It judges and returns to normal throttle control (step A05).
As a result, even when the host vehicle is traveling on a highway, when the throttle opening exceeds 50%, the driver judges that he / she wants to accelerate and returns to normal throttle control. The risk of worsening can be eliminated.
After the process of step A04 or after the process of step A05, the program is returned (step A06).

  As a result, in this embodiment, since the engine control means (ECU) 3 receives information from the car navigation device 5 as to whether or not the host vehicle is traveling on the highway and controls the throttle opening, Smooth travel of the vehicle can be ensured while traveling on the road.

  The throttle control device of the present invention can also be applied to a vehicle equipped with equipment other than a car navigation device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Engine 2 Throttle control device 3 Engine control means 3A Map data storage means 3B Own vehicle position information acquisition means 3C Expressway travel determination means 3D Throttle opening control means 4 Throttle valve 5 Car navigation device 6 Accelerator pedal 7 Accelerator operation amount detection means 8 Throttle opening detection means

Claims (2)

  In a throttle control device for controlling a throttle opening by an engine control means for controlling an engine mounted on a vehicle, the engine control means communicates with an accelerator operation amount detection means for detecting an accelerator operation amount and stores map data. Map data storage means, own vehicle position information acquisition means for acquiring own vehicle position information, map data stored in the map data storage means, own vehicle position information acquired by the own vehicle position information acquisition means, And a throttle opening degree control unit for changing the throttle opening amount based on the accelerator operation amount detected by the accelerator operation amount detection unit. Means for controlling the throttle opening, and the vehicle is controlled by the highway traveling determination means by the own vehicle. Throttle control apparatus characterized by carrying out the throttle opening change rate control for changing the throttle opening change rate when it is determined that the row.   2. The throttle control device according to claim 1, wherein the throttle control means returns the throttle opening change rate control to normal throttle control when the throttle opening exceeds 50%.

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