JP2008101654A - Rust generation estimating device for vehicular brake - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rust generation estimating device for a vehicular brake capable of estimating generation of rust on a disk rotor of the brake based on weather information in a period when a vehicle is left. <P>SOLUTION: Based on the weather information of the vicinity of the actual location of the vehicle in the elapsed period from the last off-time of an ignition switch to the present time, it is determined whether the vicinity of the actual location was in the weather where the rust was easily generated or not within the elapsed period. When it is determined that the vicinity of the actual location of the vehicle was in the weather where the rust was easily formed within the elapsed period and the elapsed period from the last off-time of the ignition switch to the present time exceeds the determination time, it is determined that the rust is generated on the disk rotor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rust occurrence estimation device for a vehicle brake that estimates whether or not rust has occurred in a disc rotor of a brake.

Patent Document 1 discloses a rust generating device that determines whether or not rust is generated in a disc rotor of a vehicle brake. In this device, it is determined whether or not the wiper operation has been performed during one hour before the last stop by whether or not the wiper switch has been operated during the one hour. When the wiper operation is performed, the vehicle is stopped for a predetermined period with rainwater adhering to the disc rotor, and the disc rotor is highly likely to be rusted. Next, it is determined whether or not the stop state of the vehicle is greater than or equal to the set number of days. Here, the set number of days is the number of days that the disc rotor is likely to rust when rainwater is attached to the disc rotor, and if the vehicle is left for more than the set number of days, the disc It is estimated that rust has occurred on the rotor.
JP 2006-103630 A (paragraphs [0033], [0034], FIG. 2)

  The vehicle brake rust generating device described in Patent Document 1 has a wiper operation for one hour before the last stop, and the disc rotor rusts when the set number of days has passed since the last stop. When there is no wiper operation, it is not estimated that rust has occurred regardless of the weather during which the vehicle is left. However, if it rains while the vehicle is left, or if the humidity is extremely high, rust may occur on the disk rotor.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle brake rust occurrence estimation device capable of estimating the occurrence of rust on a brake disc rotor based on weather information during a period in which the vehicle is left unattended.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the structural feature of the invention according to claim 1 is that the rust of the vehicle brake for estimating whether or not rust has occurred in the disc rotor (22) of the brake disposed in the vehicle. A weather information acquisition means (S31, S331, S332) which is a generation estimation device (10), and acquires weather information around the current position of the vehicle in an elapsed period from the previous OFF time of the ignition switch (15) to the current time. , S 341, S 342) and weather determination means for determining whether or not the vicinity of the current position is likely to generate rust within the elapsed period based on the acquired weather information around the current position (S 333, S 343) And an elapsed time calculating means (S352) for calculating an elapsed time from the previous OFF time of the ignition switch to the current time, and the weather determining means It is determined that the weather is likely to generate rust, and when the elapsed time exceeds the determination time, the estimation means (S36) for estimating that the disk rotor is rusted is provided. is there.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the weather information acquisition means includes a region around the current position of the vehicle in an elapsed period from the previous OFF time of the ignition switch (15) to the current time. It is rain information acquisition means (S331, S332) which acquires the rain information of this, and the said weather determination means is determining the weather which is easy to generate | occur | produce the said rust based on the rain information around the said current position.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the weather information acquisition unit includes a region around the current position of the vehicle in an elapsed period from the previous OFF time of the ignition switch (15) to the current time. Humidity information obtaining means (S341, S342) for obtaining the humidity information, wherein the weather judging means judges the rust-prone weather based on the humidity information around the current position.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the estimation means (S36) sets the determination time as the degree of occurrence of rust at the current position of the vehicle increases. Determination time calculation means (S353, 25) for setting the elapsed time relatively short is provided, the weather determination means (S333, S343) determines that the weather is likely to generate rust, and the elapsed time is When the determination time is exceeded, it is estimated that rust is generated in the disk rotor (22).

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the weather around the current position is rusted within the elapsed period based on the weather information around the current position of the vehicle in the elapsed period from the time when the ignition switch was previously turned off until the current time. It is determined whether or not the weather has become easy. If it is determined that the weather around the current position of the vehicle has become prone to rust within the elapsed period, and the elapsed time from the previous ignition switch off time to the current time exceeds the determination time, the disc rotor It is estimated that rust has occurred. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately and easily estimate the occurrence of rust on the disc rotor of the brake based on the weather information of the elapsed period.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the rainfall information around the current position of the vehicle during the elapsed period from the previous OFF time of the ignition switch to the current time is acquired, and it is rained around the current position based on the rainfall information. Therefore, it can be accurately and easily estimated that rain has fallen during the elapsed period and rust has occurred in the disc rotor of the brake.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, the humidity information around the current position of the vehicle during the elapsed period from the previous OFF time of the ignition switch to the current time is acquired, and the humidity around the current position is predetermined based on the humidity information. Since it is determined whether or not the humidity has been exceeded, it is possible to accurately and easily estimate that the humidity has exceeded a predetermined humidity and rust has occurred on the disc rotor of the brake during the elapsed period.

  According to the invention of claim 4, based on the weather information around the current position of the vehicle in the elapsed period from the previous OFF time of the ignition switch to the current time, the weather around the current position is rusted within the elapsed period. It is determined whether the weather is likely to occur. The determination time compared with the elapsed time is set to be relatively shorter with respect to the elapsed time as the degree of rust occurrence, which is the susceptibility to occurrence of rust at the current position of the vehicle, is increased. When it is determined that the weather is likely to generate rust, and the elapsed time exceeds the determination time, it is estimated that rust is generated on the disk rotor. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately and easily estimate the occurrence of rust on the disc rotor of the brake according to the weather information of the elapsed period and the current position of the vehicle.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a vehicle brake rust occurrence estimating apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. The brake ECU 12 that controls the operation of the brake 11 and the navigation ECU 13 of the navigation system 13 are each connected to a line 16 to which a predetermined voltage is applied when the ignition switch 15 is turned on, and are connected to an in-vehicle LAN 17 to communicate with each other. It has become. The navigation ECU 14 is connected to the Internet 19 via a wireless communication device 18 such as a mobile phone, and can be connected to a weather server 20 that provides weather information via the Internet 19. Further, the navigation ECU 14 is connected to a global positioning system (hereinafter referred to as GPS) 21 so that the current position of the vehicle can be grasped. The brake 11 is a disc brake that generates a braking force by pressing a brake pad against a disc rotor 22 fixed to a wheel by a wheel cylinder 23, for example.

  The memory of the brake ECU 12 stores a rust occurrence estimation program 30 shown in FIG. When the ignition switch 15 is turned on, the brake ECU 12 and the navigation ECU 14 are activated, and the brake ECU 12 executes the rust occurrence estimation program 30, and navigation information such as the current position of the vehicle and the distance from the coastline of the current position, The time, the previous turn-off time of the ignition switch, and weather information for a predetermined period in the past are received from the navigation ECU 14 (step S31, hereinafter referred to as S31). The navigation ECU 14 reads the current time from the time measuring device 24, reads the time when the ignition switch 15 was previously turned off from the time measuring device 24, and stores it in the memory as the time when the ignition switch was last turned off. Further, the navigation ECU 14 is connected to the weather server 20 via the Internet 19 by the wireless communication device 18, acquires weather information for a past predetermined period, and stores it in the memory. The weather information includes rainfall information and humidity information. The navigation ECU 14 acquires the current position of the vehicle from the GPS 21, calculates the distance from the coastline of the current position of the vehicle using the map information stored in the map memory, and calculates the current position of the vehicle and the coastline of the current position from the coastline. Navigation information such as distance is stored in the memory.

  Next, the brake ECU 12 determines whether or not the current program is executed for the first time after the ignition switch 15 is turned on (S32), and if it is the first time, the rust occurrence estimated state A program (S33) is executed. . If it is not the first time, program execution is terminated. As shown in FIG. 3, from the navigation information transmitted from the navigation ECU 14 and stored in the memory, the current time, the previous turn-off time of the ignition switch, the weather information of the past predetermined period (S331), the current time from the previous ignition-off time The rainfall information around the current position in the elapsed period up to the time is acquired (S332), and it is determined whether or not it has rained in the elapsed period around the current position of the vehicle (S333). If it has rained, the rust occurrence estimated state A flag is set (S334). If it has never rained, the rust occurrence estimated state A flag is reset (S335), and the disc rotor 22 of the brake 11 is rusted. It is output whether it is in the rust generation | occurrence | production estimated state A that the possibility of generation | occurrence | production is high (S336).

  Steps S331 and S332 constitute rain information acquisition means for acquiring rain information around the current position of the vehicle during the elapsed period from the previous ignition off time to the current time. And step S333 constitutes a rain determining means for determining whether or not it has rained around the current position based on the rainfall information around the current position.

  Next, the brake ECU 12 executes a rust occurrence estimated state B program (S34). As shown in FIG. 4, from the navigation information transmitted from the navigation ECU 14 and stored in the memory, the current time, the previous OFF time of the ignition switch, and the weather information of the past predetermined period (S341), Humidity information is acquired (S342), and it is determined whether or not the humidity has exceeded a predetermined humidity (for example, 80%) in the elapsed period around the current position of the vehicle (S343). If the predetermined humidity has been exceeded, the rust occurrence estimated state B flag is set (S344), and if not exceeded, the rust occurrence estimated state B flag is reset (S345) and the disc rotor 22 of the brake 11 is reset. It is output whether it is the rust generation | occurrence | production estimated state B that the possibility of rust generation | occurrence | production is high (S346).

  Steps S341 and S342 constitute humidity information acquisition means for acquiring humidity information around the current position of the vehicle during the elapsed period from the previous ignition off time to the current time. In step S343, humidity determination means is configured to determine whether or not the humidity around the current position exceeds a predetermined humidity based on the humidity information around the current position.

  Even if it rains in the vicinity of the current position of the vehicle during the elapsed period from the previous ignition off time to the current time, or the humidity exceeds a predetermined humidity, the disc rotor 22 may rust if the elapsed period is short. The nature is low. If it rains in the vicinity of the current position of the vehicle during the elapsed period, or the humidity exceeds the predetermined humidity and the elapsed time from the previous ignition off time to the current time exceeds the determination time, the disc rotor 22 is rusted. It can be estimated that it has occurred.

  This determination time varies depending on the degree to which rust is likely to be generated at the current position of the vehicle, that is, the degree of rust occurrence. The degree of rusting decreases with the distance from the coastline at the current position of the vehicle, for example, and does not change after a certain distance or more, so the determination time increases according to the distance from the coastline as shown in FIG. The distance is set so as to be constant when the predetermined distance is exceeded, and is registered in the memory of the brake ECU 12 as the determination time map 25.

  Next, the brake ECU 12 executes a rust occurrence time passage determination program (S35). As shown in FIG. 6, the current position of the vehicle transmitted from the navigation ECU 14 and stored in the memory, the distance from the coastline of the current position, the current time, and the previous OFF time of the ignition switch are read (S351), and the current time The elapsed time is calculated by subtracting the previous OFF time of the ignition switch from (S352). Next, the determination time is calculated from the determination time map 25 shown in FIG. 5 according to the distance from the coastline of the current position of the vehicle (S353).

  The brake ECU 12 determines whether or not the elapsed time exceeds the determination time (S354). If exceeded, the brake ECU 12 sets the rust generation time elapsed state flag (S355). If not, the brake ECU 12 resets the rust generation time elapsed state flag ( S356), whether or not the time required for rust generation has elapsed is output indicating whether or not the rust generation time has elapsed (S357).

  Step S352 constitutes elapsed time calculating means for calculating the elapsed time from the previous OFF time of the ignition switch to the current time. Step S353 and the determination time map 25 constitute determination time calculation means for setting the determination time relatively short with respect to the elapsed time as the degree of rust occurrence at the current position of the vehicle increases.

  Next, the brake ECU 12 executes the rust occurrence estimation state program (S36) shown in FIG. 7, and reads the rust occurrence estimation state A, the rust occurrence estimation state B, and the rust occurrence time elapsed state stored in the memory (S361). . It is determined whether the rust occurrence estimated state A or the rust occurrence estimated state B and the rust occurrence time has elapsed (S362). If the determination is affirmative, a rust occurrence estimated state flag is set (S363). If the determination is negative, the rust occurrence estimated state flag is reset (S364), whether or not the rust occurrence estimated state is output (S365), and the execution of the rust occurrence estimation program 30 is terminated.

  In the above embodiment, the determination time is shortened as the degree of rust occurrence at the current position of the vehicle increases. However, the determination time is constant, and the elapsed time from the ignition switch last off time to the current time is multiplied by a coefficient. The elapsed time may be increased according to the degree of rust occurrence at the current position of the vehicle.

  In the above embodiment, the timing device 24 is included in the navigation system 13, but it may be connected to the in-vehicle LAN independently of the navigation system and store the previous ignition OFF time in the brake ECU.

The block diagram which shows the rust generation | occurrence | production estimation apparatus of the brake for vehicles. The flowchart which shows a rust generation | occurrence | production estimation program. Rust generation estimated state A program flow diagram. Rust generation estimation state B program flow diagram. The figure which shows the determination time map. The flowchart of a rust generation time progress judging program. Flow diagram of the rust occurrence estimation state program.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Rust generation | occurrence | production estimation apparatus of the brake for vehicles, 11 ... Brake apparatus, 12 ... Brake ECU, 13 ... Navigation system, 14 ... Navi ECU, 15 ... Ignition switch, 18 ... Wireless communication apparatus, 19 ... Internet 19, 20 ... Weather Server, 21 ... GPS, 22 ... disc rotor, 25 ... judgment time map.

Claims (4)

A vehicle brake rust generation estimation device (10) for estimating whether or not rust has occurred in a brake disk rotor (22) disposed in a vehicle,
Weather information acquisition means (S31, S331, S332, S341, S342) for acquiring weather information around the current position of the vehicle in the elapsed period from the previous off time of the ignition switch (15) to the current time;
Weather determination means (S333, S343) for determining whether or not the surroundings of the current position are likely to generate rust within the elapsed period based on the acquired weather information around the current position;
An elapsed time calculating means (S352) for calculating an elapsed time from the previous OFF time of the ignition switch to the current time;
When the weather determination means determines that the weather is likely to generate rust, and the elapsed time exceeds the determination time, the estimation means (S36) for estimating that the rust is generated on the disk rotor;
An apparatus for estimating rust occurrence of a vehicle brake, comprising: The rain information acquisition means according to claim 1, wherein the weather information acquisition means acquires rain information around the current position of the vehicle during an elapsed period from the previous OFF time of the ignition switch (15) to the current time. S332),
The apparatus for determining rust occurrence of a vehicle brake, wherein the weather determination means determines the weather in which the rust is likely to occur based on rainfall information around the current position. 2. The humidity information acquisition means according to claim 1, wherein the weather information acquisition means acquires humidity information around the current position of the vehicle during an elapsed period from the previous OFF time of the ignition switch (15) to the current time. S342),
The apparatus for estimating rust occurrence of a vehicle brake, characterized in that the weather determination means determines the weather in which the rust is likely to occur based on humidity information around the current position.   The determination time according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the estimation means (S36) sets the determination time relatively short with respect to the elapsed time as the degree of rust occurrence at the current position of the vehicle increases. When the weather determination means (S333, S343) determines that the weather is likely to generate rust and the elapsed time exceeds the determination time, the disk rotor (computing means (S353, 25)) is provided. 22) It is estimated that rust is generated in the vehicle brake rust generation estimation device.

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