JP2005008002A - Device and method for supplying power - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem wherein power saving property lacks since power is uselessly consumed when starting pressure accumulation of an accumulator every time a door is opened/closed. <P>SOLUTION: In a vehicle 10, a master cylinder 26 supplies pressure to a wheel cylinder 28 for regulating rotation of a wheel 30, and a regulator 24 increases tread force of a brake pedal 22 by hydraulic pressure accumulated in the accumulator 20. The hydraulic pressure accumulated in the accumulator 20 is generated by a pump 40. When an occupant is detected by an occupant sensor 14, even if an ignition switch is in an off state, a gravitational acceleration sensor 12 detects a degree of inclination of a road surface and a wheel speed sensor 13 detects rotating acceleration or rotating speed of the wheel 30. When the degree of inclination of the road surface exceeds a threshold value or when the wheel speed sensor 13 detects the rotating acceleration or rotating speed of the wheel 30, a brake ECU 52 turns on a motor 42. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a power supply device. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique for controlling the behavior capability of a vehicle by controlling power supply.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique is known in which a pump drive circuit is operated to increase the pressure of an accumulator to a predetermined set value before turning on an ignition switch of the vehicle in order to increase the braking force of the vehicle (for example, Patent Documents). 1). Since the pressure accumulated in the accumulator decreases with the passage of time when the ignition switch is turned off, the pressure accumulation is started before the ignition switch is turned on again. In this technique, accumulator pressure accumulation is started in conjunction with opening and closing of the vehicle door.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-6-144203 [0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of the above-described conventional technology, since accumulator pressure accumulation starts every time the door is opened and closed, even when the door is actually opened and closed for purposes other than starting operation, useless accumulator pressure accumulation is wasted. Power consumption occurs and lacks power saving.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a power supply device that adapts the control of the behavior capability of the vehicle to the situation of the vehicle.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
One embodiment of the present invention is a power supply device. This device controls the behavior of the vehicle according to the environment detected by the vehicle environment detecting means when the vehicle starting means is off and the vehicle environment detecting means for detecting the environment where the vehicle is placed. Power control means for controlling power supply to the vehicle behavior control means.
[0007]
The vehicle activation means is, for example, an ignition switch. According to this aspect, even when the vehicle activation means of the vehicle is off, the function of controlling the behavior of the vehicle can be automatically turned on according to the environment where the vehicle is placed. Therefore, the control of the behavior ability of the vehicle can be efficiently operated according to the necessity.
[0008]
The vehicle environment detection means may detect an objective situation other than an occupant's operation as an environment where the vehicle is placed. The “objective situation other than occupant movement” mainly indicates objective factors such as changes in the vehicle and vehicle modes that do not result from occupant movement such as opening and closing of doors. Since an objective situation other than the occupant's movement is detected as the environment in which the vehicle is placed, the power supply can be minimized as compared with the case where the vehicle behavior control is turned on each time the occupant's movement is detected. Power saving can be improved.
[0009]
The power supply apparatus may further include occupant detection means for detecting that there is an occupant in the vehicle. The power control means may supply power to the vehicle behavior control means according to the environment detected by the vehicle environment detection means when the occupant detection means detects that an occupant is present in the vehicle. . When power is supplied to the vehicle behavior control means when the presence of an occupant is detected, it is possible to save power by minimizing the power supply compared to turning on the vehicle behavior control regardless of the presence or absence of the occupant. Can be increased.
[0010]
The vehicle environment detection means may detect a slope of a road surface as an environment where the vehicle is placed. The electric power control means may supply electric power to the vehicle behavior control means when an inclination of the road surface detected by the vehicle environment detection means exceeds a threshold value. When power is supplied to the vehicle behavior control means when the slope of the road surface exceeds a threshold value, for example, braking ability and steering ability can be increased before turning on the vehicle starting means for a vehicle parked on a sloped road surface. , Can increase the safety of the vehicle.
[0011]
The vehicle environment detection means may detect the speed of the vehicle as an environment where the vehicle is placed. The power control means may supply power to the vehicle behavior control means when the speed of the vehicle is detected by the vehicle environment detection means. When power is supplied to the vehicle behavior control means when the vehicle speed is detected, the braking ability and steering ability of the moving vehicle can be enhanced even when the vehicle activation means is off. Therefore, for example, when a vehicle parked on a sloping road surface is moved while the vehicle activation means is off, a sufficient braking force and steering force can be obtained, and the safety of the vehicle can be improved.
[0012]
The vehicle environment detection means may detect acceleration of the vehicle as an environment where the vehicle is placed. The power control means may supply power to the vehicle behavior control means when acceleration of the vehicle is detected by the vehicle environment detection means. In the case where electric power is supplied to the vehicle behavior control means when the acceleration of the vehicle is detected, the braking ability and steering ability of the moving vehicle can be enhanced even when the vehicle starting means is off. Therefore, for example, when a vehicle parked on a sloping road surface is moved while the vehicle activation means is off, a sufficient braking force and steering force can be obtained, and the safety of the vehicle can be improved.
[0013]
The vehicle environment detection means may detect a friction coefficient between a tire of the vehicle and a road surface as an environment where the vehicle is placed. The power control means may supply power to the vehicle behavior control means when a friction coefficient between the tire and the road surface detected by the vehicle environment detection means falls below a threshold value. When power is supplied to the vehicle behavior control means when the friction coefficient between the tire and the road surface is below the threshold, the braking ability and the steering ability can be increased according to the decrease in the friction coefficient even when the vehicle starting means is off. it can. Therefore, when the vehicle parked on the low μ road surface is moved while the vehicle starting means is off, sufficient braking force and steering force can be obtained, and the safety of the vehicle can be improved.
[0014]
The vehicle behavior control means may increase the braking ability by the electric power supplied by the electric power control means. The vehicle behavior control means here includes at least one of components such as a hydro booster that increases braking force, an accumulator that supplies pressure to the hydro booster, and a pump motor that generates pressure to be accumulated in the accumulator. But you can. In an environment where braking is required, a sufficient braking force can be obtained even when the vehicle activation means is off, so that the passenger does not feel uncomfortable when the braking force is insufficient.
[0015]
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a power supply method. The method includes a step of detecting an environment in which the vehicle is placed, and a braking capability of the vehicle according to an environment in which the vehicle is detected in the detecting step when the vehicle activation means is off. Starting to rise.
[0016]
According to this aspect, even when the vehicle activation means of the vehicle is off, the braking ability of the vehicle can be increased according to the environment in which the vehicle is placed. Therefore, the control of the behavior ability of the vehicle can be efficiently operated according to the necessity.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a vehicle including vehicle behavior control means and a power supply system according to the first embodiment. The vehicle 10 in this figure includes a master cylinder 26, a reservoir 54, a brake pedal 22, a pump 40, a motor 42, an accumulator 20, a wheel cylinder 28, a wheel 30, a lower limit pressure switch 44, which functions as a part of vehicle behavior control means, and An upper pressure switch 46 is provided. The vehicle 10 includes a brake electronic control device (hereinafter referred to as a “brake ECU”) 52, a gravitational acceleration sensor 12, a wheel speed sensor 13, an occupant sensor 14, and A brake switch 48 is further provided. The brake ECU 52 controls each component of the vehicle behavior control means.
[0018]
When the brake pedal 22 is depressed by an occupant, the brake switch 48 sends a signal indicating the depression of the brake pedal 22 to the brake ECU 52. The brake ECU 52 detects the depression of the brake pedal 22 by the occupant based on the signal received from the brake switch 48. The brake pedal 22 is connected to the master cylinder 26, and the depression force of the brake pedal 22 is transmitted to the master cylinder 26. A regulator 24 is provided inside the master cylinder 26. The master cylinder 26 and the regulator 24 are arranged on the same axis, and these together constitute a hydro booster. The regulator 24 adjusts the hydraulic pressure accumulated in the accumulator 20 in accordance with the depression force of the brake pedal 22 and supplies the adjusted pressure to the wheel cylinder 28. The wheel cylinder 28 uses the pressure supplied from the master cylinder 26 to suppress the rotation of the wheel 30 and brake the vehicle 10.
[0019]
The reservoir 54 is provided above the master cylinder 26 and supplies brake fluid to the pump 40. The pump 40 pumps up brake fluid from the reservoir 54 by the rotational force of the motor 42 to generate hydraulic pressure, and supplies the generated hydraulic pressure to the accumulator 20. The accumulator 20 accumulates the hydraulic pressure supplied from the pump 40. The lower limit pressure switch 44 is turned on when the hydraulic pressure of the accumulator 20 falls below the lower limit value, and outputs a signal indicating that the hydraulic pressure of the accumulator 20 has reached the lower limit value to the brake ECU 52. The upper limit pressure switch 46 is turned on when the hydraulic pressure of the accumulator 20 exceeds the upper limit value, and outputs a signal indicating that the hydraulic pressure of the accumulator 20 has reached the upper limit value to the brake ECU 52. The hydraulic pressure accumulated in the accumulator 20 gradually decreases when left for a long time. When the brake ECU 52 receives a signal indicating that the hydraulic pressure of the accumulator 20 has reached the lower limit value from the lower limit pressure switch 44, the brake ECU 52 turns on the motor 42 to drive the motor 42 and the pump 40. The brake ECU 52 continues to drive the motor 42 and the pump 40 until a signal indicating that the hydraulic pressure of the accumulator 20 has reached the upper limit value is received from the upper limit pressure switch 46.
[0020]
The gravitational acceleration sensor 12 detects the gravitational acceleration in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 10 as an environment in which the vehicle 10 is placed, and calculates the slope of the road surface based on the gravitational acceleration. The gravitational acceleration sensor 12 may detect the vertical acceleration of the vehicle 10, and in that case, a sensor for detecting the deceleration of the vehicle 10 may be provided separately. The wheel speed sensor 13 detects the rotational acceleration of the wheel 30 and integrates the rotational acceleration to calculate the rotational speed. The occupant sensor 14 monitors the operation of each function of the vehicle 10 and detects the presence or absence of an occupant. The occupant sensor 14 may detect that there is an occupant when receiving a signal indicating that the brake pedal 22 is depressed, for example, from the brake switch 48. The occupant sensor 14 detects the presence or absence of an occupant by detecting movements of the vehicle 10 that do not occur without the occupant, such as door opening / closing, switching on various lamps, stepping on a foot pedal other than the brake pedal 22, and sitting. .
[0021]
The brake ECU 52 is energized when the occupant sensor 14 detects the presence of an occupant in the vehicle 10 even when the ignition switch is off. After energization, the brake ECU 52 turns on the motor 42 when the road slope detected by the gravitational acceleration sensor 12 exceeds a threshold value or when the wheel speed sensor 13 detects acceleration or speed. The drive of the pump 40 is started. Therefore, even in the ignition-off state, the brake ECU 52 can grasp the necessity of braking in the vehicle 10 based on the situation outside the vehicle 10 and can start increasing the braking capability at an early stage. For example, when a vehicle parked on a sloping road surface is moved with the ignition switch off, the braking capacity can be increased in advance, so that the shortage of the braking capacity immediately after the start of movement can be avoided and the safety of the vehicle can be improved. .
[0022]
In situations where there is no need to increase braking capacity, such as when there are no passengers in the vehicle 10, for example, even if the slope of the road surface exceeds a threshold value, the accumulator 20 does not start accumulating, and unnecessary power consumption is avoided. can do. When the vehicle 10 parked on a sloping road surface is moved with the ignition switch off, if the braking ability is insufficient, the occupant may feel uncomfortable that the vehicle 10 slides down. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the uncomfortable feeling that the vehicle 10 slides down by increasing the braking capacity in advance to avoid the shortage of the braking capacity immediately after the start of movement. Note that, for example, when the ignition switch is off, the system normally stands by with only the occupant sensor 14 energized, and when the occupant is detected, the brake ECU 52, the gravitational acceleration sensor 12, and the wheel speed sensor 13 are further energized. It may be.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of the power supply system according to the first embodiment. When the ignition switch is switched from OFF to ON (S10Y), the brake ECU 52 is energized (S16), the motor 42 is turned on (S22), and the accumulator 20 starts accumulating pressure. While the ignition switch remains off (S10N) and the occupant sensor 14 does not detect an occupant (S12N), S10 and S12 are repeated to continue on / off detection of the ignition switch and detection of the occupant. When the ignition switch is off (S10N) and the occupant sensor 14 detects the occupant (S12Y), the brake ECU 52 is energized (S14). Here, when the wheel speed sensor 13 detects the rotational speed of the wheel 30 or the rotational acceleration of the wheel 30 (S18Y), the brake ECU 52 turns on the motor 42 (S22), and pressure accumulation in the accumulator 20 is started. That is, the vehicle 10 is moving despite the ignition switch being off, and the motor 42 is turned on because it is necessary to obtain a sufficient braking force.
[0024]
Even when the wheel speed sensor 13 does not detect the rotation speed of the wheel 30 or the rotation acceleration of the wheel 30 (S18N), when the slope of the road surface detected by the gravitational acceleration sensor 12 exceeds the threshold (S20Y), The brake ECU 52 turns on the motor 42 (S22). That is, even when the rotational speed of the wheel 30 or the rotational acceleration of the wheel 30 is so small that the wheel speed sensor 13 cannot detect, the brake ECU 52 may recognize the necessity of turning on the motor 42 based on the slope of the road surface. it can. In particular, pressure accumulation can be started earlier than when the motor 42 is turned on after the rotational speed of the wheel 30 or the rotational acceleration of the wheel 30 has increased so that the wheel speed sensor 13 can detect.
[0025]
When the slope of the road surface detected by the gravitational acceleration sensor 12 does not exceed the threshold value (S20N), the process returns to S10, the ignition switch on / off detection, the occupant detection, the wheel 30 rotation speed and the wheel 30 rotation acceleration detection, the road surface Continue to detect the slope.
[0026]
Embodiment 2
The power supply system according to the second embodiment of the present invention differs from the first embodiment of the present invention in that the brake ECU 52 controls the vehicle behavior control means in accordance with the friction coefficient between the wheels 30 and the road surface. Hereinafter, the difference from the first embodiment will be mainly described.
[0027]
The brake ECU 52 in the present embodiment calculates the friction coefficient μ between the wheel 30 and the road surface based on the rotational speed of the wheel 30 detected by the wheel speed sensor 13 and the gravitational acceleration detected by the gravitational acceleration sensor 12. The vehicle speed of the vehicle 10 is calculated based on the rotation speed of the wheel 30, but if the wheel 30 slips during braking, the rotation speed of the wheel 30 does not coincide with the actual vehicle speed. Therefore, the brake ECU 52 estimates the actual vehicle speed based on the rotation speed of the wheel 30 received from the wheel speed sensor 13 immediately before braking and the integrated value of the gravitational acceleration (deceleration) received from the gravitational acceleration sensor 12. The brake ECU 52 calculates the friction coefficient μ between the wheel 30 and the road surface based on the estimated vehicle speed and the rotation speed of the wheel 30. The brake ECU 52 turns on the motor 42 when the calculated friction coefficient μ between the wheel 30 and the road surface falls below a predetermined threshold value. Therefore, even in the ignition-off state, the brake ECU 52 can grasp the necessity of braking in the vehicle 10 based on the situation outside the vehicle 10 and can improve the braking capability at an early stage. The brake ECU 52 calculates and stores the friction coefficient μ between the wheels 30 and the road surface before the ignition switch of the vehicle 10 is turned off. When the occupant sensor 14 detects an occupant with the ignition turned off, the brake ECU 52 turns on the motor 42 when the friction coefficient μ between the wheel 30 and the road surface stored in advance is below a threshold value.
[0028]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of the power supply system according to the second embodiment. As a premise, when the ignition switch is turned off, the brake ECU 52 stores the friction coefficient μ between the wheels 30 and the road surface. When the ignition switch is switched from OFF to ON (S50Y), the brake ECU 52 is energized (S56), the motor 42 is turned on (S60), and pressure accumulation in the accumulator 20 is started. While the ignition switch remains off (S50N) and the occupant sensor 14 is not detecting an occupant (S52N), S50 and S52 are repeated to continue on / off detection of the ignition switch and detection of the occupant. When the ignition switch is off (S50N) and the occupant sensor 14 detects the occupant (S52Y), the brake ECU 52 is energized (S54). Here, when the friction coefficient μ between the wheel 30 and the road surface stored in the brake ECU 52 falls below the threshold value (S58Y), the brake ECU 52 turns on the motor 42 (S60), and pressure accumulation in the accumulator 20 is started. When the friction coefficient μ between the wheel 30 and the road surface stored in the brake ECU 52 does not fall below the threshold value (S58N), the process returns to S50, and the on / off detection of the ignition switch and the detection of the occupant are continued.
[0029]
The present invention has been described above based on the embodiment. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications thereof are also effective as aspects of the present invention. Hereinafter, some modifications will be described.
[0030]
In the first embodiment of the present invention, when the occupant sensor 14 detects an occupant, the gravitational acceleration sensor 12 and the wheel speed sensor 13 detect the slope of the road surface, the rotational acceleration of the wheel 30, and the rotational speed of the wheel 30, respectively. It was set as the structure to do. In the modification, the gravitational acceleration sensor 12 and the wheel speed sensor 13 may detect the road surface inclination, the rotational acceleration of the wheel 30, and the rotational speed of the wheel 30 without detecting the occupant by the occupant sensor 14, respectively. Good. In this case, the vehicle 10 may not have the occupant sensor 14. According to this modification, the safety of the vehicle can be enhanced regardless of the presence or absence of a passenger.
[0031]
The vehicle 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is configured to include the gravitational acceleration sensor 12 and the wheel speed sensor 13. The vehicle 10 in the modification may be configured to include only one of the gravitational acceleration sensor 12 and the wheel speed sensor 13. Even in this case, it is possible to detect any one of the slope of the road surface, the rotational acceleration of the wheels 30, and the rotational speed of the wheels 30, so that the braking ability is increased based on the environment where the vehicle 10 is placed, thereby improving the safety of the vehicle. Can be made.
[0032]
In the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the brake ECU 52 is configured to start increasing the braking capacity when the motor 42 is turned on. In a modified example, a predetermined ECU may turn on vehicle behavior control means such as a power steering pump in accordance with the environment in which the vehicle 10 is placed, so that the steering ability can be increased even when the ignition is off. Good.
[0033]
The vehicle 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the brake ECU 52 calculates the friction coefficient μ between the wheels 30 and the road surface. The vehicle 10 in the modification may be configured to determine whether or not the current location is a low μ road surface based on position information and weather information acquired by a car navigation device. For example, if it is found that the weather is rain or snow based on the weather information acquired by the car navigation device, the brake ECU 52 can determine that the current location is a low μ road surface.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the control of the behavior ability of a vehicle can be adapted to the situation of the vehicle.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle including a power supply system and vehicle behavior control means according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of the power supply system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of a power supply system according to a second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle, 12 Gravity acceleration sensor, 13 Wheel speed sensor, 14 Passenger sensor, 20 Accumulator, 22 Brake pedal, 24 Regulator, 26 Master cylinder, 28 Wheel cylinder, 30 Wheel, 40 Pump, 42 Motor, 44 Lower limit pressure switch, 46 Upper limit pressure switch, 48 brake switch, 52 brake ECU, 54 reservoir.

Claims (9)

Vehicle environment detection means for detecting the environment in which the vehicle is placed;
Power control means for controlling power supply to the vehicle behavior control means for controlling the behavior of the vehicle according to the environment detected by the vehicle environment detection means when the vehicle activation means is off;
A power supply device comprising: The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle environment detection unit detects an objective situation other than an occupant's operation as an environment in which the vehicle is placed. Further comprising occupant detection means for detecting the presence of an occupant in the vehicle;
The power control means supplies power to the vehicle behavior control means according to the environment detected by the vehicle environment detection means when the occupant detection means detects that an occupant is present in the vehicle. The power supply device according to claim 1 or 2. The vehicle environment detection means detects a slope of a road surface as an environment where the vehicle is placed,
4. The power control unit according to claim 1, wherein the power control unit supplies power to the vehicle behavior control unit when the slope of the road surface detected by the vehicle environment detection unit exceeds a threshold value. 5. The power supply device described in 1. The vehicle environment detection means detects the speed of the vehicle as an environment where the vehicle is placed,
4. The power supply according to claim 1, wherein the power control unit supplies power to the vehicle behavior control unit when the speed of the vehicle is detected by the vehicle environment detection unit. 5. apparatus. The vehicle environment detection means detects acceleration of the vehicle as an environment where the vehicle is placed,
4. The power supply according to claim 1, wherein the power control means supplies power to the vehicle behavior control means when acceleration of the vehicle is detected by the vehicle environment detection means. apparatus. The vehicle environment detection means detects a friction coefficient between a tire of the vehicle and a road surface as an environment where the vehicle is placed,
The power control means supplies power to the vehicle behavior control means when the friction coefficient between the tire and the road surface detected by the vehicle environment detection means falls below a threshold value. The power supply apparatus in any one. The power supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the vehicle behavior control means increases the braking ability by the electric power supplied by the electric power control means. Detecting the environment in which the vehicle is placed;
Starting the increase in braking capacity of the vehicle according to the environment in which the vehicle detected in the detecting step is placed when the vehicle activation means is off;
A power supply method comprising:

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