JP2001182581A - Idle control device for engine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a smooth start in a good response, reflecting a driver's will, during a right turn at a crossing where a quick timely vehicle start is required. SOLUTION: It is determined whether a winker switch 27 is turned on (operate) or off (stop) in S201. When the switch 27 is turned on (operate), the control device determines that a vehicle does not tend to stop as it is and performs a normal idle control. When it is determined that the switch 27 is turned off (stop) in S201, the step proceeds to S203 and it is determined whether steering angle δfrom a steering sensor 28 exceeds a set steering angle δset or not. When it exceeds the set steering angle δset, normal idle control is performed, and when it is the set steering angle δset or less, idle stop control is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an engine idle control device for stopping an engine according to operating conditions when a vehicle is idling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various technologies for idling stop control for stopping an engine according to operating conditions during idling have been proposed for vehicles in view of environmental problems and improvement in fuel efficiency and quietness. Has been put to practical use.

To perform such idle stop control,
It is necessary to accurately determine whether or not to execute the idle stop. For example, the condition for idling stop control of a hybrid vehicle including a motor that also functions as a generator or a generator, a traveling motor, and an engine is when power generation by idle driving of the engine is not necessary, or when an air conditioner compressor or the like is driven. When the engine power for the engine or the idle power by the motor used for the engine rotation control and the power generation is unnecessary, or the idle drive of the engine or the motor for driving the oil pump which is the hydraulic source for the transmission control is unnecessary. In such a case, control is performed by determining these conditions.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 10-318012 discloses a hybrid vehicle in which idling of an engine is inhibited when a steering wheel is turned back, so that parking in a parking lot can be performed smoothly. It has been disclosed.

[0005]

In the case of a right turn at an intersection or the like, especially when there is a right turn lane, the vehicle is often stopped with the steering wheel almost in a straight-ahead state. It is desired to start. However, in such a hybrid vehicle according to the prior art, in such a situation, since the steering wheel is in a straight running state, the engine is in an idle stop state, and the engine is restarted at the time of starting, so that the engine responds against the will of the driver. There is a problem that it is difficult to start smoothly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a responsive and smooth start reflecting the driver's will in a state such as a right turn at an intersection where a quick start of the vehicle is required in view of timing. It is an object of the present invention to provide an engine idle control device that can perform the control.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an engine idling control apparatus comprising an idling stop means for stopping an idling engine operation in accordance with an operating state of a vehicle. In the idle control device for an engine described above, the idle stop means inhibits engine stop when the blinker switch is operating when stopping the engine operation at the time of idling.

That is, in the engine idle control device according to the first aspect of the present invention, if the turn signal switch is operated irrespective of the steering angle, the idle stop of the engine is prohibited. In a situation where the turn signal switch, which requires quick start of the vehicle, is operated, the engine can be prohibited from idling stop to prepare for start.

The engine idle control apparatus according to the present invention further includes idle stop means for stopping engine operation during idling in accordance with the operating state of the vehicle. In an engine idle control device mounted together with a traveling motor,
The above-mentioned idle stopping means is characterized in that when stopping the engine operation at the time of the above-mentioned idling, the stop of the engine is prohibited when the turn signal switch is operating.

That is, the engine idle control device according to the second aspect of the present invention is an engine of a hybrid vehicle having a motor also serving as a generator or a generator and a traveling motor, wherein the turn signal switch is operated regardless of the steering angle. If the turn-on switch of the blinker switch is required to start the vehicle promptly at the timing of a right turn at an intersection or the like, the idle stop of the engine is prohibited. .

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 relate to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a drive control system of a hybrid vehicle, FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an entire idle control, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an idle stop control routine. . In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a hybrid vehicle as a vehicle.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the hybrid vehicle according to the present embodiment is a parallel hybrid vehicle using both an engine and two motors A and B, and includes an engine 1 and an output shaft of the engine 1. A motor A (motor / generator) 2 which is directly connected to the engine 1a to perform startup, power generation and power assist of the engine 1; and a single pinion type planetary gear unit 3 which is connected to the output shaft 1a of the engine 1 extending from the motor A2. , Controls the function of this single pinion type planetary gear unit 3
A motor B (traveling motor) 4 that serves as a driving force source during reverse running and recovers deceleration energy, and a continuously variable transmission 5 that performs speed change and torque amplification and performs a power conversion function during running. Drive system.

The planetary gear unit 3 has a sun gear 3a, a carrier 3b rotatably supporting a pinion meshing with the sun gear 3a, and a ring gear 3c meshing with the pinion. The sun gear 3a and the ring gear 3c
And a lock-up clutch 6 for engaging and releasing the lock.

The continuously variable transmission 5 has an input shaft 5a.
The drive belt 5e is wound around a primary pulley 5b supported on the output shaft 5c and a primary pulley 5b supported on the output shaft 5c.
Description will be given as T5.

That is, in the drive system of the hybrid vehicle in the present embodiment, the planetary gear unit 3 having the lock-up clutch 6 interposed between the sun gear 3a and the ring gear 3c includes the output shaft 1a of the engine 1 and the input shaft 5a of the CVT 5. And the sun gear 3a of the planetary gear unit 3 is coupled to the output shaft 1a of the engine 1 via the motor A2, and the carrier 3b is connected to the CV
The motor B4 is connected to the input shaft 5a of T5, and is connected to the ring gear 3c. And the output shaft 5c of the CVT 5
A differential mechanism 8 is continuously provided via a reduction gear train 7, and a drive wheel 10 of a front wheel or a rear wheel is continuously provided to the differential mechanism 8 via a drive shaft 9.

In this case, as described above, the engine 1 and the motor A2 are connected to the sun gear 3a of the planetary gear unit 3, and the motor B4 is connected to the ring gear 3c to obtain an output from the carrier 3b. Since the output is shifted and torque amplified by the CVT 5 and transmitted to the drive wheels 10, the two motors A2 and B4 can be used for both power generation and drive power supply, and a relatively small output motor Can be used.

Further, the sun gear 3a of the planetary gear unit 3 is
And the ring gear 3c, it is possible to form a drive shaft directly connected to the engine from the engine 1 to the CVT 5 in which the two motors A2 and B4 are arranged, and efficiently transmit the driving force to the CVT 5 Alternatively, a braking force from the driving wheel 10 side can be used.

Next, a description will be given of a control system (hybrid control system) which controls the above-mentioned drive system and controls the running of the hybrid vehicle. Reference numeral 15 is composed of a microcomputer and a functional circuit controlled by the microcomputer, and includes an engine 1, two motors A2,
A control device for centrally controlling B4 and CVT5.

The control device 15 detects a driver's driving condition by detecting an operation of depressing an accelerator pedal or a brake pedal, a steering angle, and the like, and detects an operating condition of auxiliary equipment such as lights and an air conditioner. A switch / sensor group is connected to detect the current vehicle running state such as vehicle speed, uphill or downhill, road surface condition, and the like. Further, the control device 15 further includes the operating states of the engine 1, the two motors A2, B4, and the CVT 5,
The state of a main battery for the two motors A2 and B4 and a state of a 12V battery (both not shown) for normal accessories are monitored, and based on various information detected and monitored, control of the engine 1 described later is performed. It controls the driving of the motors A2 and B4 via an inverter (not shown), controls the charging of the batteries, controls the speed ratio of the CVT 5 and the supply hydraulic pressure, and the like.

The control device 15 determines predetermined conditions in accordance with an idle control program to be described later, controls an ISC (idle speed control) valve, a throttle valve opening, and the like to control the engine. 1 is subjected to idle control (normal idle control), or idle stop control for stopping engine operation during idling by fuel cut. That is, the control device 15 has a function as idle stop means.

More specifically, the control device 15
The 12V battery charge obtained from the terminal voltage of the 12V battery detected by the battery voltage detector 21, the accelerator opening θ obtained from the accelerator pedal depression amount detected by the accelerator pedal sensor (APS) 22, the braking by the brake switch 23 ON (depressing brake pedal) / OFF (release brake pedal), SOC
The output voltage of the main battery obtained by the detector 24,
A main battery remaining capacity (SOC) based on the output current and the battery temperature, a vehicle speed V detected by the vehicle speed sensor 25,
Turn on (run) the air conditioner from the air conditioner switch 26 /
Normal idle control and idle stop control are determined by determining input parameters of OFF (stop), ON (operation) / OFF (stop) of the turn signal switch 27 from the turn signal switch 27, and the steering angle δ from the steering angle sensor 28. And is switched.

The idle control is executed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. This idle control program is executed for a predetermined period of time (for example, 10 ms).
First, a step (hereinafter, abbreviated as “S”)
At 101, it is determined whether the 12V battery charge is sufficient,
In S102, it is determined whether the accelerator opening θ is 0 (fully closed), in S103, it is determined whether the brake switch 23 is ON, and in S104, it is determined whether the SOC of the main battery is equal to or more than a set value (for example, 50%). Then, in S105, it is determined whether the vehicle speed V is 0 km / h, and in S106, it is determined whether the air conditioner is ON (driving).

As a result of the judgments in S101 to S106, if at least one of the conditions cannot be satisfied,
Proceeding to S107, normal idle control, that is, I
The engine 1 is idle-controlled by controlling an SC (idle speed control) valve or a throttle valve opening.

That is, the case where the determinations in S101 to S106 cannot be satisfied means that the battery needs to be charged (S101 (12V battery), S104 (main battery)), or that the vehicle may start quickly. (S102, S103, S105) or when engine power is required for air conditioner power (S102).
106), and in such a case, idle control is performed while the engine 1 is operating.

On the other hand, as a result of the determinations in S101 to S106, if all the determinations are satisfied, the process proceeds to S108, and shifts to idle stop control processing described in the flowchart of FIG.

When the process proceeds to the idle stop control in S108, first, in S201, it is determined whether or not the turn signal switch 27 is ON (operation) or OFF (stop). Determines that the possibility of stopping the vehicle is low as it is, and proceeds to S202, where normal idle control is performed as in S107.

On the other hand, when the turn signal switch 27 is determined to be OFF (stop) in S201, the process proceeds to S203, and the steering angle δ from the steering angle sensor 28 is set to the set steering angle δset.
(For example, 10 ° left and right), and if it exceeds the set steering angle δset, it is unlikely that the vehicle will be stopped even if the turn signal switch 27 is not operated, that is, the turning Therefore, there is a high possibility that the vehicle will start immediately, so the process proceeds to S202 and normal idle control is performed.

If the steering angle δ from the steering angle sensor 28 is equal to or smaller than the set steering angle δset in step S203, the turn signal switch 27 is not operated and the rotation of the steering wheel is small, so that the driver can directly It is determined that there is a high possibility of stopping the vehicle, and the process proceeds to S204, where idle stop control is performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the turn signal switch 27 is operating at the time of idling,
Since the engine 1 is not stopped irrespective of the rotation of the steering wheel, in a state such as a right turn at an intersection where a quick start of the vehicle is required at a time when timing is required,
The driver's will can be accurately reflected and a smooth start can be performed with good response.

In this embodiment, the vehicle is described as an example of a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine and a generator motor or a generator and a traveling motor. But it goes without saying that it can be applied. Further, as an example of a hybrid vehicle, the present invention can be applied to other control forms and structural forms.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the engine idle control apparatus for stopping the engine operation at the time of idling according to the driving state of the vehicle, when the engine operation at the time of idling is stopped, the turn signal switch is used. When is operating, the engine stop is prohibited.
In a state such as a right turn at an intersection where a quick start of the vehicle is required with a timing ascertained, the engine does not stop when idling, and a smooth start with good response can be performed reflecting the driver's will.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a drive control system of a hybrid vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the entire idle control;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an idle stop control routine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 engine 2 motor A 4 motor B 5 CVT 15 control device (idle stop means) 21 12V battery voltage detector 22 APS 23 brake switch 24 SOC detector 25 vehicle speed sensor 26 air conditioner switch 27 turn signal switch 28 steering angle sensor

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) F02N 15/00 B60K 9/00 C

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An engine idle control device provided with idle stop means for stopping engine operation during idling in accordance with a driving state of a vehicle, wherein the idle stop means stops the engine operation during idling. An engine idle control device for prohibiting engine stoppage when a turn signal switch is in operation. 2. An idle control apparatus for an engine, comprising: an idling stop means for stopping an engine operation during idling according to a driving state of the vehicle, wherein the idling stop means stops the engine operation when idling. An idling control device for an engine, wherein the stopping means inhibits the engine from stopping when the blinker switch is operating when stopping the engine operation during idling.