JP6380793B2 - Vehicle control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle control device.

  In a vehicle air conditioning system that performs air conditioning control of a vehicle air conditioning target, a future travel state is predicted based on travel plan information input from a navigation device provided in the vehicle, and temperature control is performed based on the prediction result. An air conditioning system for a vehicle that changes the target temperature of an object has been devised (see Patent Document 1). Thereby, for example, in traveling over a short distance, air conditioning with reduced fuel / power consumption can be performed by setting the cooling target temperature higher than usual.

JP 2011-111140 A

  In the prior art, it is necessary to set a destination with a navigation device before traveling each time. Therefore, it is necessary to set the destination even when traveling to a place where you go on a daily basis, such as commuting or shopping in the neighborhood, that is, where you know well and do not need to set the destination (especially short-distance driving) In some cases, the user's operation load increases and it may be bothersome.

  Against the background of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control device that can determine whether or not the vehicle travels for a short distance without increasing a user's operation load such as a destination setting operation.

The vehicle control device for solving the above problems is based on a schedule information acquisition unit for acquiring user schedule information via communication from a cloud server or a mobile terminal possessed by the user, and the acquired schedule information. An estimation unit that estimates the ground, a current position acquisition unit that acquires the current position of the vehicle, a database that stores a travel route pattern from the departure point to the destination that the vehicle has traveled in the past, and the current position as the departure point A search unit that searches a travel route pattern from the departure place to the estimated destination with reference to the database, a travel distance acquisition unit that acquires a travel distance of the travel route pattern, and whether or not the travel distance falls below a predetermined value A determination unit for determining whether or not when the travel distance is less than a predetermined value, an information generation unit that generates short-distance travel information reflecting that the travel distance is less than the predetermined value; Provided.

  With the above configuration, it is possible to know whether or not the vehicle is traveling for a short distance without increasing the user's operation load such as the destination setting operation. In addition, user schedule information can be used effectively.

The figure which shows the structure of the control apparatus for vehicles. The figure which shows the structural example of a database. The flowchart which shows a driving | running route pattern search process. The flowchart which shows a database accumulation | storage process.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle control device 1 includes an ECU 10 mounted on the vehicle. The ECU 10 includes a well-known CPU 11 (estimation unit, search unit, travel distance acquisition unit, determination unit, information generation unit, travel intention determination unit, parking determination unit, travel route pattern generation unit of the present invention), peripheral circuit, and memory 12 ( Storage unit, registration unit of the present invention, I / O 13 (schedule information acquisition unit, information output unit of the present invention) which is a signal input / output circuit or communication interface circuit, communication unit 14 (current position acquisition unit of the present invention, vehicle) State acquisition unit, information output unit). Various functions of the vehicle control device 1 are realized by the CPU 11 executing the control program stored in the memory 12.

  The memory 12 includes, for example, a nonvolatile storage medium, and includes a temporary storage area 12a for temporarily storing a travel route pattern and a database 12b for storing the travel route pattern (details will be described later).

The communication unit 14 includes at least one of the following configurations.
A DCM (Data Communication Module) for communicating with the mobile terminal 23 owned by the user or the well-known cloud server 24 via the public communication network 25.
A short-range wireless communication unit using a short-range wireless communication technology such as the well-known BLUETOOTH (registered trademark) for directly communicating with the mobile terminal 23.

  The vehicle state detection unit 21 and the position detection unit 22 are connected to the ECU 10 directly or via an in-vehicle LAN. The CPU 11 acquires the vehicle state detected by the vehicle state detection unit 21 and the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detection unit 22 via the I / O 13.

The vehicle state detection unit 21 detects at least one of the following.
-Ignition switch: Detects the start of the vehicle engine.
-Vehicle speed sensor: detects the speed of the vehicle.
・ Shift position sensor: Detects shift position.
・ Parking brake switch: Detects the operating state of the parking brake.

  The position detection unit 22 is for detecting the current position of the vehicle. The position detection unit 22 includes a GPS receiver that receives a GPS signal from a GPS satellite and map data. Based on the received GPS signal, the position of the vehicle on the map data is detected. Specify the current location. A known navigation device may be used as the position detection unit 22, and the ECU 10 may acquire current position information from the navigation device.

  In addition, an in-vehicle device such as an air conditioner ECU 26 is connected to the ECU 10. The air conditioner ECU 26 controls the operation of an air conditioner unit that air-conditions the interior of the vehicle. The air conditioner unit includes a known HVAC (Heating Ventilating and Air-Conditioning) unit and a known refrigeration cycle (for example, a single-stage vapor compression refrigeration cycle) for cooling output of the air conditioner unit. The air conditioner ECU 26 includes an operation switch group (not shown) for performing various settings for air conditioning by the user, and a sensor group (not shown) for acquiring information necessary for air conditioning control such as the temperature inside the vehicle. Connected). The air conditioner ECU 26 controls the operation of the air conditioner unit based on the setting contents of the user and the information acquired by the sensor group.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the database 12b. As a travel route pattern, a keyword extracted from the schedule information and at least a departure place and a destination are stored in association with each other. In addition to these, there may be a transit point (a plurality may be provided) from the departure point to the destination, a travel distance from the departure point to the destination, a travel time, and a travel time zone. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which does not contain a keyword in a driving | running route pattern.

  In FIG. 2, a travel route pattern group is configured for each keyword. For example, each of the starting point and the destination is included in the same traveling route pattern group when included in an area having a radius of 100 m or when the distance to each other is 100 m or less. Even if the keyword is the same “meeting”, different travel route pattern groups may be configured when the travel time zones are different. Of course, even when the keyword is “game”, a route pattern group can be configured for each event if “event” can be extracted as a keyword.

  Further, the travel route pattern group may not be configured for each keyword. Further, only one travel route pattern having the same starting point and destination may be registered.

  FIG. 3 shows a travel route pattern search process included in the above-described control program and executed by the CPU 11. First, vehicle state information reflecting the vehicle state is acquired from the vehicle state detection unit 21 (S11). Next, the presence / absence of the user's driving intention is determined based on the vehicle state (S12).

  The above-described configuration includes “a vehicle state acquisition unit that acquires the vehicle state of the vehicle, and a travel intention determination unit that determines the presence or absence of the user's travel intention based on the vehicle state. When it is determined that there is a driving intention, schedule information is acquired. " With this configuration, it is possible to prevent schedule information from being acquired when it is unnecessary.

The determination method uses at least one of the following.
-When the ignition switch changes from the off state to the on state, it is determined that there is a willingness to drive.
When the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value (for example, 10 km / h), it is determined that there is a willingness to travel.
When the shift position changes to “D (drive)” or “R (reverse)”, it is determined that there is a willingness to travel.
-When the parking brake switch changes from the activated state to the released state, it is determined that there is a willingness to drive.

  When it is determined that there is no driving intention (S13: No), this process is terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a will to travel (S13: Yes), the schedule information of the user is acquired from the portable terminal 23 or the cloud server 24 on the current day (may be after the current date and time) (S14). The date / time information may be acquired from another vehicle device as a part of the vehicle state information, or when the position detection unit 22 includes a GPS receiver, the date / time information included in the GPS signal may be acquired. .

The schedule information varies depending on the user, but generally includes at least one of the following.
・ Date and time.
·place.
・ Contents (meetings, matches, etc.).
・ If you meet a person, the name of the other person.

Next, the destination is estimated based on the schedule information (S15). First, keywords (location, contents, etc.) are extracted from the schedule information using a well-known character string analysis technique. Next, the destination is estimated using at least one of the following.
-When a character string indicating a place is included in the keyword, the place is estimated as a destination.
When the keyword does not contain a character string indicating the location, the keyword is regarded as the destination.

  The above-described configuration is “the estimation unit extracts a predetermined keyword from the schedule information and estimates the destination based on the extracted keyword”. With this configuration, it is possible to save the user from setting the destination.

Next, the current position information of the vehicle is acquired from the position detection unit 22 (S16). Next, a search is performed under the following conditions for the travel route pattern previously searched using the current position as the departure place (S17).
・ Departure point coincides with the current position, or the departure point is within a predetermined distance from the current position, and the destination coincides with the estimated destination, or the destination is within the predetermined distance from the estimated destination .
-When the departure point matches the current position, or when the departure point is within a predetermined distance from the current position and the keyword is registered in the database 12b, the keyword matches. At this time, the destination associated with the matched keyword is set as the current destination.
When there is no corresponding travel route pattern (S18: No), this process is terminated.

On the other hand, when there is a corresponding travel route pattern (S18: Yes), the travel distance or travel time from the departure point to the destination in the travel route pattern is acquired using at least one of the following (S19).
・ Obtain travel distance or travel time when it is included in the travel route pattern.
・ Calculate the straight distance between the departure point and destination (or current position and estimated destination). Further, a value obtained by dividing the calculated linear distance by the average traveling speed of the vehicle (for example, 40 km / h) is defined as a traveling time. Parameters necessary for calculation are acquired from the position detection unit 22.

  Since the travel time can be calculated by dividing the travel distance by a predetermined vehicle speed, it is sufficient that at least the travel distance can be acquired.

  When a plurality of travel route patterns are searched, priority may be given to a schedule or current date / time included in the travel time zone.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the travel distance or travel time is below a predetermined value (for example, 5 km or 10 minutes). When exceeding a predetermined value (S20: No), this process is complete | finished. On the other hand, when it falls below the predetermined value (S20: Yes), short distance travel information reflecting that the travel distance or travel time falls below the predetermined value is created (S21). The short distance travel information may be either a message (character or voice) or control command information.

  Next, the created short distance travel information is output (S22). This configuration is “equipped with an information output unit that outputs short-distance travel information”. With this configuration, for example, by outputting short-distance travel information to another device, control corresponding to short-distance travel in the device (for example, control in which the consumption of fuel or battery power is suppressed compared to normal control). Can be executed.

The output method uses at least one of the following.
-Direct output to the portable terminal 23 (the user is likely to be in the vehicle). The portable terminal 23 outputs the received message from a display unit or a voice output unit (both not shown).
-Output as control command information to other in-vehicle devices such as the air conditioner ECU 26. When the air conditioner ECU 26 receives the control command information, the air conditioner ECU 26 controls the operation of the air conditioner unit so that the consumption of electric power or fuel is less than usual. For example, in the case of cooling operation, operation control is performed using a target temperature that is a predetermined temperature (for example, 2 ° C.) higher than the target temperature in the passenger compartment set by the user.

  Even when the short-distance traveling information is output to another in-vehicle device, the in-vehicle device performs the operation control so as to execute a minimum necessary function until the arrival at the destination and not to execute an additional function. For example, the audio apparatus does not reproduce content (video, music) longer than the estimated travel time. Also, large data from outside the vehicle is not downloaded. This configuration is “the short-distance travel information includes a control command for suppressing the operation of at least some of the functions of other in-vehicle devices mounted on the vehicle”. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the consumption of fuel or battery power during short-distance travel.

  FIG. 4 shows a database accumulation process that is included in the control program and executed by the CPU 11. First, vehicle state information is acquired from the vehicle state detection unit 21 as in step S11 of FIG. 3 (S31). Next, it is determined whether the vehicle is parked based on the vehicle state (S32). The determination method uses at least one of the following.

-It is determined that the vehicle is parked when the ignition switch changes from the on state to the off state.
When the shift position changes to “P (parking)”, it is determined that the vehicle is parked.
・ It is determined that the vehicle is parked when the parking brake switch changes from the released state to the activated state.

  When it determines with the vehicle not parked (S33: No), this process is complete | finished. On the other hand, when it is determined that the vehicle is parked (S33: Yes), the travel route pattern (see FIG. 2) on which the vehicle has traveled this time is determined (S34).

  When the above-described configuration is “a vehicle state acquisition unit that acquires the vehicle state of the vehicle, a parking determination unit that determines whether or not the vehicle is parked based on the vehicle state, and when the vehicle is parked, And a travel route pattern generation unit that generates a travel route pattern in which the destination, the departure point, and the travel route are associated with the acquired schedule information. With this configuration, a travel route pattern corresponding to the schedule information can be obtained, and a destination and a travel route pattern can be estimated from the schedule information.

  Next, referring to the temporary storage area 12a of the memory 12 (S35), it is determined whether or not a travel route pattern similar to the travel route pattern determined this time (hereinafter referred to as “similar pattern”) is stored. A traveling route pattern in which the departure point and the destination are within a predetermined distance is set as a similar pattern. When similar patterns are stored in the temporary storage area 12a (S36: Yes), the number of stored similar patterns is checked.

  When more than a predetermined number (for example, two) of similar patterns are stored in the temporary storage area 12a (S37: Yes), the currently determined travel route pattern and similar patterns are stored as one travel route pattern group. 12 are registered in the database 12b (S38). Alternatively, only the travel route pattern determined this time is registered in the database 12b, and the similar pattern is deleted.

  The above configuration is “when the storage unit temporarily stores the generated travel route pattern and the storage unit has a predetermined number of travel route patterns similar to the generated travel route pattern, the generated travel route pattern is replaced with a new travel route pattern. And a registration unit for registering in the database as a route pattern ”. With this configuration, since only the route on which the user travels on a daily basis is registered in the database, an increase in the usage amount of the database can be suppressed.

  On the other hand, when a predetermined number of similar patterns are not stored in the temporary storage area 12a (S37: No), the travel route pattern determined this time is stored in the temporary storage area 12a (S40).

  Further, when the similar pattern is not stored in the temporary storage area 12a (S36: No), it is determined whether or not the travel route pattern determined this time is already registered in the database 12b. When not registered in the database 12b (S39: No), the travel route pattern is stored in the temporary storage area 12a (S40).

  On the other hand, when the travel route pattern determined this time has already been registered in the database 12b, that is, when a similar pattern has been registered (S39: Yes), it is additionally registered in the corresponding travel route pattern group (S41). Alternatively, this process is terminated without registration. Further, the similar pattern may be overwritten (updated to the latest information).

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the knowledge of those skilled in the art can be used without departing from the spirit of the claims. Various modifications based on this are possible.

1 vehicle control device 10 ECU
11 CPU (estimation unit, search unit, travel distance acquisition unit, determination unit, information generation unit, travel intention determination unit, parking determination unit, travel route pattern generation unit)
12 Memory (storage unit, registration unit)
12a Temporary storage area 12b Database 13 I / O (current position acquisition unit, vehicle state acquisition unit, information output unit)
14 Communication unit (schedule information acquisition unit, information output unit)

Claims (9)

A schedule information acquisition unit for acquiring user's schedule information via communication from a cloud server or a mobile terminal possessed by the user;
An estimation unit for estimating a destination based on the acquired schedule information;
A current position acquisition unit for acquiring the current position of the vehicle;
A database that stores a travel route pattern from a departure place to a destination where the vehicle has traveled in the past;
A search unit that uses the current position as a starting point, refers to the database, and searches for a travel route pattern from the starting point to the estimated destination;
A travel distance acquisition unit for acquiring a travel distance of the travel route pattern;
A determination unit for determining whether the travel distance is less than a predetermined value;
When the travel distance is less than the predetermined value, an information generation unit that generates short distance travel information reflecting that the travel distance is less than the predetermined value;
A vehicle control device comprising:   The vehicle control device according to claim 1, further comprising an information output unit that outputs the short-distance traveling information. The information output unit outputs the short distance travel information to another in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle,
The vehicle control device according to claim 2, wherein the short-distance traveling information is used for operation control of the other in-vehicle device. The vehicle control device according to claim 3, wherein the short-distance traveling information includes a control command for suppressing operation of at least a part of functions of the other in-vehicle device. The estimation unit is configured to extract a predetermined keyword from the schedule information extracted based on the keyword, the vehicle control according to any one of claims 1 to claim 4 estimates the destination apparatus. When the extracted keyword includes a character string indicating a location when the extracted keyword includes a character string indicating a location, the estimated unit determines that the extracted keyword does not include a character string indicating a location. The vehicle control device according to claim 5, wherein the vehicle is regarded as a destination. A vehicle state acquisition unit for acquiring a vehicle state of the vehicle;
Based on the vehicle state, a travel intention determination unit that determines the presence or absence of the user's travel intention;
With
Said schedule information acquisition unit, when it is determined that there is traveling intention to the user, the vehicle control system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 for obtaining the schedule information. A vehicle state acquisition unit for acquiring a vehicle state of the vehicle;
A parking determination unit for determining whether the vehicle is parked based on the vehicle state;
When it is determined that the vehicle is parked, a travel route pattern is generated that associates the destination, the departure location, and the travel route with the acquired schedule information, with the current position of the vehicle at the time of parking as the destination. A route pattern generation unit;
The vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , further comprising: A storage unit for temporarily storing the generated travel route pattern;
A registration unit that registers the generated travel route pattern in the database as a new travel route pattern when the storage unit has a predetermined number of travel route patterns similar to the generated travel route pattern;
A vehicle control device according to claim 8 .

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