JP2010200448A - Power generation control device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power generation control device for a vehicle which can prevent a sense of discomfort caused by the light and shade of a headlight in switching an adjusting voltage, and can secure an effect for improving fuel economy resulting from switching of the adjusting voltage. <P>SOLUTION: The power generation control device includes a voltage adjuster 20 which controls an output voltage of a generator 10 for a vehicle so that the output voltage becomes an adjusting voltage, a switching signal generator 30 which generates a voltage signal for switching the adjusting voltage between a low voltage side voltage and a high voltage side voltage according to the traveling state of the vehicle, and an illuminance detection circuit 33 which detects the illuminance of the surroundings of the vehicle. The switching signal generator 30 gradually switches the adjusting voltage when the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection circuit 33 does not reach a reference value, and instantaneously switches the adjusting voltage when the illuminance is the reference value or above. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle power generation control device that controls a power generation state of a vehicle generator mounted on a passenger car, a truck, or the like.

  Conventionally, when switching the adjustment voltage according to the driving state of the vehicle for the purpose of improving fuel efficiency, the adjustment voltage is gradually increased to prevent the driver from feeling uncomfortable due to the change in the brightness of the headlight due to the voltage change when the headlight is turned on. There is known a vehicular power generation control device that is changed to reduce the brightness of a headlight (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-5-103433 (page 2-4, FIG. 1-3)

  By the way, gradually changing the adjustment voltage in the vehicle power generation control device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the effect of improving the fuel consumption by switching the adjustment voltage is reduced.

  Especially in recent years, there are countries and regions that obligate or recommend daylighting of headlights for the purpose of preventing traffic accidents, and there are also carriers who voluntarily implement daylighting of headlights in Japan. It has increased. In such day and night lighting, it is considered that even if the brightness of the headlight changes, the driver cannot detect the change because the surroundings are bright.

  The present invention was created in view of the above points, and its purpose is to prevent a sense of incongruity due to the occurrence of light / darkness of the headlight when switching the adjustment voltage, and to ensure a fuel efficiency improvement effect by switching the adjustment voltage. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular power generation control device capable of performing

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a vehicle power generation control device according to the present invention is configured to control the output voltage or battery voltage of a vehicle generator so as to obtain an adjustment voltage, and according to the traveling state of the vehicle. A switching signal generating means for generating a voltage switching signal for switching the adjustment voltage between the low voltage side voltage and the high voltage side voltage; and an illuminance detecting means for detecting the illuminance around the vehicle. When the illuminance detected by the above does not reach the reference value, the adjustment voltage is gradually switched.

  When the illuminance around the vehicle does not reach the reference value, that is, when the surroundings of the vehicle are dark, it is possible to prevent a sense of incongruity due to the occurrence of brightness of the headlight (headlight) when switching the adjustment voltage by gradually switching the adjustment voltage. . On the other hand, if the illuminance around the vehicle exceeds the reference value, that is, if the surroundings of the vehicle are bright, the driver will not feel uncomfortable even if the adjustment voltage is switched instantaneously and the brightness of the headlights occurs. It is possible to ensure the fuel efficiency improvement effect by switching the adjustment voltage instantaneously.

  Further, the illuminance detection means described above detects the illuminance in the headlamp illumination area together with the illuminance around the vehicle, and the switching signal generation means is configured to detect when the illuminance in the headlamp area is larger than the illuminance around the vehicle by a predetermined value or more It is desirable to gradually switch the adjustment voltage. Alternatively, the switching signal generating means described above determines whether or not the headlamp is lit, and when the headlamp is lit, the illuminance around the vehicle detected by the illuminance detecting means reaches a reference value. If not, it is desirable to gradually switch the adjustment voltage.

  The case where the illuminance in the headlamp illumination area is greater than the illuminance around the vehicle by a predetermined value or more is when the headlamp is lit. In such a case, the target voltage should be switched gradually. By doing so, it is possible to reliably prevent a sense of incongruity due to the occurrence of brightness of the headlamp when the target voltage is switched.

  Further, it is desirable that the switching signal generating means described above switches the adjustment voltage to a low voltage when the vehicle is in an acceleration state and switches the adjustment voltage to a high voltage when the vehicle is in a deceleration state. As a result, the power generation amount can be increased during deceleration of the vehicle and the power generation amount can be decreased during acceleration to suppress combustion consumption during acceleration / deceleration.

  The switching signal generating means described above can switch the adjustment voltage to an intermediate voltage that is higher than the low-voltage side voltage and lower than the high-voltage side voltage when the running state of the vehicle is in a steady state other than the acceleration state or the deceleration state. desirable. Thereby, by setting an appropriate adjustment voltage in a steady state other than during acceleration / deceleration, it is possible to ensure a good charge / discharge balance for the battery.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the vehicle electric power generation control apparatus of one Embodiment. It is a timing diagram which shows the mode of the change of the adjustment voltage when the driving | running | working state of a vehicle changes.

  Hereinafter, a vehicle power generation control device according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle power generation control device according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

  In FIG. 1, a vehicular generator 10 is driven to rotate by an engine (not shown) to generate power. The output terminal of the vehicle generator 10 is connected to the battery 2 and various electric loads (not shown) via a charging line, and a charging current and an operating current are supplied to these.

  The vehicle generator 10 includes an excitation winding 11 included in a rotor, a three-phase armature winding 12 included in a stator, and a rectifier circuit 13 that performs full-wave rectification on the three-phase output of the armature winding 12. It is comprised including. The control of the output voltage of the vehicular generator 10 is performed by appropriately intermittently controlling the energization of the excitation winding 11 by the voltage regulator 20.

  The voltage regulator 20 is for controlling the output voltage of the vehicle generator 10 to be a target voltage. In place of the output voltage, the battery voltage (terminal voltage of the battery 2) may be detected and controlled so that the battery voltage becomes the target voltage. The voltage regulator 20 corresponds to a voltage adjusting unit.

  The voltage regulator 20 includes a power transistor 21, a freewheeling diode 22, a communication circuit 23, and a drive circuit 24. The power transistor 21 is connected in series with the excitation winding 11, and an excitation current flows through the excitation winding 11 when the power transistor 21 is in an on state. The freewheeling diode 22 is connected in parallel to the exciting winding 11 and recirculates the exciting current flowing through the exciting winding 11 when the power transistor 21 is in the off state. The communication circuit 23 receives the signal sent from the switching signal generator 30 and outputs the adjustment voltage included in this signal to the drive circuit 24. The drive circuit 24 receives the adjustment voltage from the communication circuit 23, and performs intermittent control of the power transistor 21 so that the output voltage (or battery voltage) of the vehicle generator 10 matches the adjustment voltage.

  The switching signal generator 30 is for generating a voltage switching signal for switching the target voltage between the low voltage side voltage and the high voltage side voltage in accordance with the running state of the vehicle. The switching signal generator 30 may be provided as a single device at a position separated from the vehicle generator 10, but the engine ECU (electronic control unit) or the like may have the function of the switching signal generator 30. Good.

  The switching signal generator 30 includes a traveling state determination circuit 31, a voltage switching circuit 32, an illuminance determination circuit 33, a voltage gradual change circuit 34, a switch 35, and a signal generation circuit 36. The switching signal generator 30 corresponds to switching signal generating means. The voltage regulator 20 and the switching signal generator 30 described above constitute a vehicle power generation control device that controls the power generation state of the vehicle generator 10.

  The traveling state determination circuit 31 determines the traveling state of the vehicle based on battery voltage, battery current, vehicle speed, engine negative pressure, throttle fully closed signal, and the like. For example, it is determined whether the vehicle is in an acceleration state, a deceleration state, or a steady state.

  The voltage switching circuit 32 switches the target voltage according to the running state. For example, three types of target voltages are prepared, which are preset low-voltage side voltage, high-voltage side voltage, and intermediate voltage thereof, and one of the target voltages is selected and set as the adjustment voltage according to the running state. The

  The illuminance determination circuit 33 determines whether or not the illuminance around the vehicle reaches a reference value (for example, 500 lux). For example, an optical sensor is installed at a position where the illuminance around the vehicle can be detected (for example, on a dashboard in the vehicle), and the illuminance determination circuit 33 determines the illuminance and reference determined based on the output signal of the optical sensor. The above determination is made by comparing the value.

  The voltage gradual change circuit 34 sets an adjustment voltage that is gradually changed (gradually changed) from the battery voltage to the target voltage when the illuminance around the vehicle is less than the reference value, and adjusts when the illuminance around the vehicle is above the reference value. A gradual change prohibition signal for instantaneously switching to the target voltage without gradually changing the voltage from the battery voltage is output to the switch 35.

  The switch 35 adjusts the adjustment voltage set by the voltage gradual change circuit 34 (adjustment voltage gradually changing from the battery voltage to the target voltage) and the adjustment set by the voltage switching circuit 32 according to the presence or absence of the gradual change prohibition signal. One of the voltages (adjusted voltage in which one of the high-voltage side voltage and the low-voltage side voltage is set) is validated, and the validated regulated voltage is output. Specifically, the switch 35 validates the adjustment voltage set by the voltage gradual change circuit 34 when the gradual change prohibition signal is not input, and the voltage switching circuit when the gradual change prohibition signal is input. Enable the adjustment voltage set by 32.

  The signal generation circuit 36 transmits the adjustment voltage output from the switch 35 to the voltage regulator 20. For example, it is output toward the voltage regulator 20 in a predetermined signal format (for example, a signal format according to the LIN protocol). This signal is received by the communication circuit 23 in the voltage regulator 20, and the extracted adjustment voltage is input from the communication circuit 23 to the drive circuit 24.

  The vehicle power generation control device of this embodiment has such a configuration, and the control operation will be described next. FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing how the adjustment voltage changes when the running state of the vehicle changes. In FIG. 2, the state of change in the adjustment voltage when the illuminance around the vehicle does not reach 500 lux is shown by a one-dot chain line, and the state of change in the adjustment voltage when the illuminance around 500 lux or more is shown by a solid line.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, the traveling state of the vehicle changes from steady state A → deceleration state B → steady state C → acceleration state D → steady state E. Such a change in the traveling state is determined by the traveling state determination circuit 31. The voltage switching circuit 32 sets the target voltage to the high-voltage side voltage VH corresponding to the deceleration state, the target voltage to the low-voltage side voltage VL (VL <VH) corresponding to the acceleration state, and the target voltage corresponding to the steady state. The intermediate voltages VM (VL <VM <VH) are set.

  When the illuminance around the vehicle does not reach 500 lux, that is, when the surroundings become dark, the adjustment voltage is switched as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. Specifically, the adjustment voltage is switched as in the following (1) to (4).

(1) Steady state A → Deceleration state B
When the traveling state determination circuit 31 detects the change in the traveling state, the voltage switching circuit 32 sets the high-voltage side voltage VH to the target voltage in order to increase the power generation amount of the vehicle generator 10. When the illuminance determination circuit 33 determines that the illuminance around the vehicle has not reached 500 lux, the voltage gradual change circuit 34 gradually changes the adjustment voltage from the current battery voltage to the target voltage (high-voltage side voltage VH). To change. At this time, the gradual change prohibition signal is not output from the voltage gradual change circuit 34. Since the gradual change prohibition signal is not input to the switch 35, the adjustment voltage set by the voltage gradual change circuit 34 (adjustment voltage that gradually changes from the battery voltage to the target voltage) becomes effective. The adjusted voltage is output toward the voltage regulator 20.

(2) Deceleration state B → steady state C
When the traveling state determination circuit 31 detects the change in the traveling state, the voltage switching circuit 32 sets the intermediate voltage VM to the target voltage in order to restore the power generation amount of the vehicle generator 10 from the power generation amount at the time of deceleration. Set. Further, since the illuminance around the vehicle does not reach 500 lux, the voltage gradual change circuit 34 gradually changes the adjustment voltage from the current battery voltage (high-voltage side voltage VH) to the target voltage (intermediate voltage VM). At this time, the gradual change prohibition signal is not output from the voltage gradual change circuit 34. Since the gradual change prohibition signal is not input to the switch 35, the adjustment voltage set by the voltage gradual change circuit 34 becomes valid, and this adjustment voltage is output from the signal generation circuit 36 toward the voltage regulator 20.

(3) Steady state C → Acceleration state D
When the change in the running state is detected by the running state determination circuit 31, the voltage switching circuit 32 sets the low-voltage side voltage VL to the target voltage in order to reduce the amount of power generated by the vehicle generator 10. Further, since the illuminance around the vehicle does not reach 500 lux, the voltage gradual change circuit 34 gradually changes the adjustment voltage from the current battery voltage (intermediate voltage VM) to the target voltage (low voltage VL). At this time, the gradual change prohibition signal is not output from the voltage gradual change circuit 34. Since the gradual change prohibition signal is not input to the switch 35, the adjustment voltage set by the voltage gradual change circuit 34 becomes valid, and this adjustment voltage is output from the signal generation circuit 36 toward the voltage regulator 20.

(4) Acceleration state D → steady state E
When the change in the running state is detected by the running state determination circuit 31, the voltage switching circuit 32 sets the intermediate voltage VM to the target voltage in order to restore the power generation amount of the vehicle generator 10 from the power generation amount during acceleration. Set. Further, since the illuminance around the vehicle does not reach 500 lux, the voltage gradual change circuit 34 gradually changes the adjustment voltage from the current battery voltage (low voltage VL) to the target voltage (intermediate voltage VM). At this time, the gradual change prohibition signal is not output from the voltage gradual change circuit 34. Since the gradual change prohibition signal is not input to the switch 35, the adjustment voltage set by the voltage gradual change circuit 34 becomes valid, and this adjustment voltage is output from the signal generation circuit 36 toward the voltage regulator 20.

  Thus, even when the target voltage is switched when the surroundings of the vehicle are dark, the actual adjustment voltage is set so as to gradually change, so that the headlight does not suddenly become dark and dark, and the driver Can reduce the sense of discomfort.

  On the other hand, when the illuminance around the vehicle is 500 lux or more, that is, when the surrounding is bright, the adjustment voltage is switched as shown by the solid line in FIG. Specifically, the adjustment voltage is switched as in the following (5) to (8).

(5) Steady state A → Deceleration state B
When the traveling state determination circuit 31 detects the change in the traveling state, the voltage switching circuit 32 sets the high-voltage side voltage VH to the target voltage in order to increase the power generation amount of the vehicle generator 10. When the illuminance determination circuit 33 determines that the illuminance around the vehicle is 500 lux or more, the voltage gradual change circuit 34 outputs a gradual change prohibition signal. Since the gradual change prohibition signal is input to the switch 35, the adjustment voltage set by the voltage gradual change circuit 34 becomes invalid, and the target voltage (high voltage side voltage VH) set by the voltage switching circuit 32 becomes the adjustment voltage. The adjustment voltage is output from the signal generation circuit 36 toward the voltage regulator 20.

(6) Deceleration state B → steady state C
When the traveling state determination circuit 31 detects the change in the traveling state, the voltage switching circuit 32 sets the intermediate voltage VM to the target voltage in order to restore the power generation amount of the vehicle generator 10 from the power generation amount at the time of deceleration. Set. Further, since the illuminance around the vehicle is 500 lux or more, the gradual change prohibition signal is output from the voltage gradual change circuit 34. Since the gradual change prohibition signal is input to the switch 35, the adjustment voltage set by the voltage gradual change circuit 34 becomes invalid, and the target voltage (intermediate voltage VM) set by the voltage switching circuit 32 is used as the adjustment voltage. The signal generation circuit 36 outputs the adjusted voltage toward the voltage regulator 20.

(7) Steady state C → Acceleration state D
When the change in the running state is detected by the running state determination circuit 31, the voltage switching circuit 32 sets the low-voltage side voltage VL to the target voltage in order to reduce the amount of power generated by the vehicle generator 10. Further, since the illuminance around the vehicle is 500 lux or more, the gradual change prohibition signal is output from the voltage gradual change circuit 34. Since the gradual change prohibition signal is input to the switch 35, the adjustment voltage set by the voltage gradual change circuit 34 becomes invalid, and the target voltage (low voltage VL) set by the voltage switching circuit 32 becomes the adjustment voltage. The adjustment voltage is output from the signal generation circuit 36 toward the voltage regulator 20.

(8) Acceleration state D → steady state E
When the change in the running state is detected by the running state determination circuit 31, the voltage switching circuit 32 sets the intermediate voltage VM to the target voltage in order to restore the power generation amount of the vehicle generator 10 from the power generation amount during acceleration. Set. Further, since the illuminance around the vehicle is 500 lux or more, the gradual change prohibition signal is output from the voltage gradual change circuit 34. Since the gradual change prohibition signal is input to the switch 35, the adjustment voltage set by the voltage gradual change circuit 34 becomes invalid, and the target voltage (intermediate voltage VM) set by the voltage switching circuit 32 is used as the adjustment voltage. The signal generation circuit 36 outputs the adjusted voltage toward the voltage regulator 20.

  As described above, when the target voltage is switched when the surroundings of the vehicle are bright, the adjustment voltage is immediately switched to the target voltage. Therefore, the fuel consumption associated with the adjustment voltage switching due to the regenerative braking in the deceleration state and the reduction of the power generation load in the acceleration state. An improvement effect can be secured. Further, the headlight suddenly becomes bright and dark due to the switching of the adjustment voltage. However, since the periphery of the vehicle is bright, the driver hardly feels uncomfortable due to the light and darkness of the headlight.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation implementation is possible within the range of the summary of this invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the reference value to be compared with the illuminance around the vehicle is set to 500 lux, but this reference value can be changed as appropriate within a range where the brightness of the headlight is not perceived by the driver or the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, the adjustment voltage switching signal is transmitted in a format according to the LIN protocol. However, other types of signals, for example, PWM signals and other non-transmitting voltage signals are used and are suitable for these signals. The communication circuit 23 may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the adjustment voltage is gradually switched when the illuminance around the vehicle does not reach the reference value (500 lux). “When the illuminance of the headlight area (irradiation area by the headlight) is larger than the illuminance around the vehicle by a predetermined value or more” or “when the headlight is lit” may be added. Whether or not this additional condition is satisfied is determined by the illuminance determination circuit 33, for example. Thereby, the adjustment voltage is gradually switched only when the periphery of the vehicle is dark and the headlight is turned on.

  In the above-described embodiment, the voltage regulator 20 and the switching signal generator 30 are connected via a communication line, and a signal including the regulation voltage is transmitted from the switching signal generator 30 to the voltage regulator 20. However, the voltage regulator 20 may have some or all of the functions of the switching signal generator 30.

  According to the present invention, when the illuminance around the vehicle does not reach the reference value, that is, when the surroundings of the vehicle are dark, the adjustment voltage is gradually switched to thereby feel uncomfortable due to the occurrence of brightness of the headlight (headlight) when switching the adjustment voltage. Can be prevented. On the other hand, if the illuminance around the vehicle exceeds the reference value, that is, if the surroundings of the vehicle are bright, the driver will not feel uncomfortable even if the adjustment voltage is switched instantaneously and the brightness of the headlights occurs. It is possible to ensure the fuel efficiency improvement effect by switching the adjustment voltage instantaneously.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Battery 10 Generator 11 for vehicles 11 Excitation winding 12 Armature winding 13 Rectifier circuit 20 Voltage regulator 21 Power transistor 22 Freewheeling diode 23 Communication circuit 24 Drive circuit 30 Switching signal generator 31 Running state determination circuit 32 Voltage switching circuit 33 Illuminance determination circuit 34 Voltage gradual change circuit 35 Switch 36 Signal generation circuit

Claims (5)

Voltage adjusting means for controlling the output voltage or battery voltage of the vehicular generator so as to be the adjusted voltage;
A switching signal generating means for generating a voltage switching signal for switching the adjustment voltage between the low-voltage side voltage and the high-voltage side voltage according to the running state of the vehicle;
Illuminance detection means for detecting the illuminance around the vehicle;
And the switching signal generation means gradually switches the adjustment voltage when the illuminance detected by the illuminance detection means does not reach a reference value. In claim 1,
The illuminance detection means detects the illuminance of the headlamp irradiation area together with the illuminance around the vehicle,
The vehicle power generation control device, wherein the switching signal generating means gradually switches the adjustment voltage when the illuminance of the headlamp region is larger than the illuminance around the vehicle by a predetermined value or more. In claim 1,
The switching signal generating means determines whether or not the headlamp is lit, and when the headlamp is lit and the illuminance detected by the illuminance detecting means does not reach a reference value, A vehicular power generation control device that gradually switches the adjustment voltage. In any one of Claims 1-3,
The switching signal generating means switches the adjustment voltage to the low-voltage side voltage when the vehicle is in an acceleration state, and switches the adjustment voltage to the high-voltage side voltage when the vehicle is in a deceleration state. Vehicle power generation control device. In claim 4,
The switching signal generating means switches the adjustment voltage to an intermediate voltage that is higher than the low-voltage side voltage and lower than the high-voltage side voltage when the running state of the vehicle is in a steady state other than the acceleration state or the deceleration state. A vehicle power generation control device.

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