JP2012245964A - Engine stop device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an engine stop device which can inhibit surrounding exhaust gas concentration from increasing when an occupant gets out of a vehicle while an engine operates.SOLUTION: The engine stop device 100 for warning that an electronic key is brought out during an engine operation includes: an exhaust gas sensor 11 for detecting the exhaust gas concentration outside the vehicle; and engine stop means 13 and 14 for stopping the engine when the exhaust gas concentration detected by the exhaust gas sensor exceeds a threshold while the vehicle is parked during the engine operation.

Description

  The present invention relates to an engine stop device that warns when an electronic key is taken out of a vehicle during engine operation.

  On ordinary roads, when an occupant gets off the vehicle, it is preferable to stop the engine. If you get off without stopping the engine, there is a risk of being stolen, and the driver will get off after stopping the engine except in exceptional circumstances.

  However, depending on the situation such as a parking lot at home, the driver does not always get off after stopping the engine. Thus, in a keyless entry system in which the electronic key and the vehicle communication device communicate wirelessly to start the engine, a function of warning the driver to take out the electronic key may be installed. When the vehicle communication device detects that the electronic key is not inside the vehicle or is outside the vehicle, the vehicle buzzer issues a buzzer in the vehicle, a warning by display, and a warning by the buzzer outside the vehicle. However, such warnings are not compulsory, so if the driver ignores the warning or does not notice it, the driver will leave the vehicle with the electronic key while the engine is still running. Will occur.

  Therefore, a technique for avoiding this situation has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a keyless entry system that automatically stops an engine when the vehicle is stopped, the engine is operating, and the driver leaves the vehicle and moves outside the outside-door sensing area. Yes.

  However, the keyless entry system disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a disadvantage in that the engine is stopped when the driver consciously carries the electronic key in the engine operating state and goes out of the vehicle. For example, when it is desired to observe a vehicle in an engine operating state from the outside, there is no way for the driver to observe the vehicle.

  On the other hand, even when the driver consciously operates the engine and carries the electronic key out of the vehicle, an increase in exhaust gas concentration should be considered. For example, if the engine operating state continues in a narrow space such as a garage, the exhaust gas concentration in the garage increases. In addition, there is a possibility that exhaust gas flows into the room through piping.

  Here, a technique for preventing exhaust gas from flowing into the vehicle has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Patent Document 2 discloses an automobile exhaust gas backflow safety device that stops an engine after confirming that the vehicle is not running when the carbon monoxide concentration in the vehicle reaches a reference value.

JP 2007-31003 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-156574

  However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 is a technique for limiting the exhaust gas concentration in the vehicle, and cannot limit the exhaust gas concentration accumulated in the space when the driver goes out of the vehicle. Conventionally, vehicles have exhaust gas regulations, and the concentration of carbon monoxide exhaust gas discharged outside the vehicle is limited to a predetermined value or less. However, it does not deal with exhaust gas accumulated in a narrow space.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an engine stop device that can suppress an increase in the concentration of surrounding exhaust gas when an occupant leaves the vehicle while the engine is operating.

  The present invention is an engine stop device that warns when an electronic key is taken out of a vehicle while the engine is operating. The exhaust gas sensor detects the exhaust gas concentration outside the vehicle, and the exhaust gas sensor is installed during parking of the vehicle while the engine is operating. Engine stop means for stopping the engine when the detected exhaust gas concentration exceeds a threshold value.

  It is possible to provide an engine stop device that can suppress an increase in surrounding exhaust gas concentration when the occupant leaves the vehicle while the engine is operating.

It is an example of the figure explaining the outline of an engine stop device. It is an example of the block diagram of an engine stop apparatus. It is an example of the flowchart figure which shows the procedure in which an engine stop apparatus stops an engine based on exhaust gas concentration.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Outline]
FIG. 1 is an example of a diagram illustrating an outline of an engine stop device of the present embodiment. A vehicle with the engine operating is parked in a relatively small space such as a garage. The driver is outside the car. If such a situation continues for a long time, the exhaust gas in the space may rise excessively. Further, exhaust gas may flow into the room through piping or the like, and the indoor exhaust gas concentration may increase.

In view of this, the engine stop device of the present embodiment is characterized by detecting such a situation and automatically stopping the engine. The engine stop device stops the engine when the following situation is detected.
(1) The vehicle is parked (2) The occupant is outside the vehicle (3) The engine is operating (4) The exhaust gas concentration has exceeded the threshold [Configuration Example]
FIG. 2 shows an example of a configuration diagram of the engine stop device. The engine stop device 100 includes an air conditioner ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 12, a power management ECU 13, a verification ECU 14, a body ECU 15, an exhaust gas sensor 11, an IG relay 16, an ACC relay 17, an indoor antenna 18, an outdoor antenna 19, an RF tuner 20, and It has courtesy SW21. Although it is the engine ECU that finally stops the engine, any ECU (not shown or not shown) may request the engine ECU to stop the engine. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the verification ECU 14 determines whether or not the engine should be stopped.

  The air conditioner ECU 12, the power management ECU 13, the verification ECU 14, and the body ECU 15 are connected via a CAN (Controller Area Network) bus. Each ECU can communicate via the CAN bus 22.

  The power management ECU 13 is connected to the IG relay 16 and the ACC relay 17. The ACC relay 17 is a relay that turns on or off the power supplied from the battery to a device called an accessory device (audio, navigation, room light, etc.). The IG relay 16 is a relay that turns on or off the power supplied from the battery to devices (such as a meter system, a wiper, an ignition coil, and an injector) that are necessary for traveling. Each ECU is connected to a battery and stands by in a power saving state such as a sleep mode even when IG-OFF is used.

  The power management ECU 13 controls on / off of the IG relay 16 and the ACC relay 17 in accordance with the driver's operation and the vehicle state, and manages engine start and stop. The engine starting procedure will be described later.

  The verification ECU 14 is connected to the indoor antenna 18, the outdoor antenna 19, and the RF tuner 20. In the door lock state, the verification ECU 14 uses the outdoor antenna 19 to form a detection area for the electronic key 30 outside the vehicle. The detection area is a range where the request radio wave reaches from the outdoor antenna 19. There are actually a plurality of outdoor antennas 19, and for example, a detection area is formed in a range of less than 1 meter from the driver's door, a range of less than 1 meter from the passenger door, and a range of less than 1 meter from the trunk.

  In addition, the verification ECU 14 forms a detection area for the electronic key 30 in the vehicle using the indoor antenna 18 in a predetermined situation such as when the driver's door is opened and closed, the brake pedal is depressed, and the ignition is turned on.

  The electronic key 30 that has received the request radio wave transmits a response radio wave modulated by the ID code. Since one or more RF tuners 20 are mounted on a predetermined portion of the vehicle, the verification ECU 14 determines whether the ID code transmitted from the electronic key 30 matches the ID code registered in advance. 30 is authenticated. Note that the verification ECU 14 transmits only one request radio wave at the same time so that only one detection area is formed at a time, and in which detection area the electronic key 30 exists in any one RF tuner 20. Determine.

  A courtesy SW 21 is connected to the body ECU 15. The courtesy SW21 is a sensor that detects opening and closing for each of the doors of the driver's seat, the passenger's seat, the rear seat right door, and the rear seat left door. The body ECU 15 detects opening / closing of each door by the courtesy SW21.

  An exhaust gas sensor 11 is connected to the air conditioner ECU 12. The air conditioner ECU 12 uses the information detected by various sensors such as the set temperature (desired temperature), the room temperature, the amount of solar radiation, the outside air temperature, the engine water temperature, the intake air temperature, and the like. Determine the temperature. The general air conditioning temperature control procedure is as follows. First, air or outside air in the passenger compartment is introduced by a blower motor, and cooled and dehumidified by an evaporator. Next, the conditioned air once cooled and dehumidified in the air mix is heated with a heater. The blowing temperature is determined by the heating amount of the heater. The air-conditioning air outlet can be switched by an occupant's operation.

  The exhaust gas sensor 11 is disposed, for example, in a front bumper. The exhaust gas sensor 11 detects, for example, a carbon monoxide concentration, a Nox concentration, a hydrogen chloride concentration, an oxygen concentration, etc., and notifies the air conditioner ECU 12 of them. When the exhaust gas concentration exceeds the threshold value, the air conditioner ECU 12 performs control such as switching the air introduced by the blower motor from the outside of the vehicle to the room or switching the intake ratio between the outside air and the air in the vehicle.

〔engine start〕
1. The driver carries the electronic key 30 and gets on the vehicle.
2. Since the driver depresses the brake pedal when starting the engine, the power management ECU 13 detects the depression of the brake pedal.
3. The power management ECU 13 requests the verification ECU 14 to verify the electronic key 30 by depressing the brake pedal.
4). The verification ECU 14 forms a detection area including the driver's seat using the indoor antenna 18 (transmits a request radio wave).
5. The electronic key 30 carried by the driver transmits a response radio wave to the RF tuner 20.
6). The verification ECU 14 notifies the power management ECU 13 of verification OK when authentication of the ID code included in the response radio wave is established.
7). In order to start the engine, the driver sets the shift position to P (or N) and presses the push-type engine switch. An engine switch (not shown) is a push button type momentary switch, and an urging force by an elastic body is applied from the inside toward the initial position. That is, an ON signal is output only while the driver is pressing.
8). When the power management ECU 13 detects that the engine start condition is satisfied, the power management ECU 13 turns on the ACC relay 17 and the IG relay 16 in order.
9. The power management ECU 13 requests the engine ECU to start the engine (or the power management ECU 13 may turn on the starter relay directly).
10. The engine ECU turns on the starter relay and starts the engine.
11. The power management ECU 13 detects the engine start by obtaining the engine speed or the engine start notification from the engine ECU.

This is a vehicle engine starting method using only the internal combustion engine as the driving force of the vehicle, but the system is also used in a vehicle (EV) powered by an electric motor or a vehicle (HV) powered by an electric motor. The starting method is almost the same. In the case of EV or HV, the procedure is as follows (the procedures 1 to 8 are omitted).
9. The power management ECU 13 requests the HV-ECU to start the system.
10. The HV-ECU reads the program, executes initial processing and self-diagnosis, and determines whether or not it is in a startable state. If it can be activated, a Ready-ON signal is output to the power management ECU 13. In the Ready-ON mode, the HV-ECU automatically starts the engine when the engine should be started in accordance with the SOC and the driver's operation.
11. The power management ECU 13 detects a system start by acquiring a Ready-ON signal from the HV-ECU. The power management ECU 13 can acquire the engine speed via the CAN bus.

[Warning to take out electronic key while engine is running]
Although convenience is improved by the electronic key 30, the driver's attention to the electronic key 30 may be reduced due to the convenience. For this reason, the vehicle provides various alarms for taking out the electronic key 30 and closing it.

<Forgetting to turn off the power>
This warning is a warning that warns the driver that he / she has forgotten to turn off the power when, for example, the driver gets off from the driver's seat door while the IG is on.
・ Shift position is P
・ ACC or IG is on (ACC relay or IG relay is on)
-Driver's door changes from open to closed-There is no electronic key in the passenger compartment <Leaving warning>
This warning is a warning that warns the driver that the driver has forgotten to turn off the power, for example, when the driver leaves the vehicle with IG on. However, conventionally, the operating engine is not automatically stopped even when the driver leaves the vehicle.
・ Shift position is P
・ ACC or IG is on ・ All doors are closed ・ Electronic key is on the outside ・ Steering lock <Passenger key take-out warning>
The electronic key 30 is not necessarily taken by the driver. For example, when the passenger in the passenger seat takes out the electronic key 30 from the vehicle in which the engine is operating, the vehicle can warn.
-ACC or IG is on-Doors other than the driver's seat change from open to closed-No vehicle speed (to the extent that it can be regarded as zero)
-There is no electronic key in the passenger compartment [Engine stop based on exhaust gas concentration]
FIG. 3 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which the engine stop device stops the engine based on the exhaust gas concentration. In the following description, it is assumed that the verification ECU 14 mainly performs processing, but in detail, the verification ECU 14 communicates with other ECUs via the CAN bus 22 to execute processing.

  The verification ECU 14 determines whether or not the vehicle is parked (S10). The fact that the vehicle is parked is detected, for example, because the parking brake is on and the shift position is P. In addition, you may detect that it is parking from any one. Moreover, you may add on condition that a vehicle speed is substantially zero.

  When it is determined that the vehicle is parked (Yes in S10), the driver closes the driver's seat door from open (S20). Such a situation includes a case where the driver opens the driver's seat door once from the driver's seat and closes it as it is, and a case where the driver opens the driver's seat door from the driver's seat and gets off and closes from the outside.

  In order to determine this, the verification ECU 14 determines whether or not the electronic key 30 is present in the passenger compartment (S30). The verification ECU 14 forms a detection area in the passenger compartment by opening and closing the driver's seat door. For this reason, if the driver is in the vehicle, the electronic key 30 can transmit a response radio wave. However, when the driver gets off, the electronic key 30 cannot transmit the response radio wave. Therefore, the verification ECU 14 can determine whether or not the electronic key 30 is in the room depending on whether or not a response radio wave is received from the electronic key 30.

  Further, in S20, it is described that the driver's seat door changes from open to closed, but there is a possibility that the electronic key has been taken out even when the passenger seat door changes from open to closed. Therefore, S20 includes not only the driver's seat door but also that one or more doors have changed from open to closed.

  When the electronic key 30 is in the room (Yes in S30), the processing from S10 is repeated. Thus, when the electronic key 30 is in the room, the engine is not stopped. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the engine from being stopped when the driver is in the room and warms the car or is waiting for a signal.

  When there is no electronic key 30 in the passenger compartment (No in S30), the power management ECU 13 determines whether or not the engine is operating, and notifies the verification ECU 14 of the determination result (S40). If the engine is not operating, it is not necessary to stop the engine, and the process ends. Whether or not the engine is operating is determined, for example, from the fact that the engine speed is a predetermined value or more.

  When the engine is operating (Yes in S40), the verification ECU 14 starts counting the timer (S50). The reason why the exhaust gas concentration is not determined until a certain time has elapsed is to detect a stable exhaust gas concentration. For example, in a narrow garage, the exhaust gas sensor 11 may temporarily detect a high concentration of exhaust gas due to exhaust gas hitting a wall. Therefore, a stable exhaust gas concentration can be detected by counting a certain time with a timer.

  When the engine is in operation, at this next point, the above-mentioned power-off forgetting to drop off warning or leaving warning is sounded.

  The verification ECU 14 waits until the timer count reaches n minutes or more (S60). n minutes is the time when the exhaust gas concentration is assumed to be stable in the space. n minutes is previously set in the verification ECU 14 as the time until the exhaust gas concentration is stabilized in the space for one vehicle. The driver may be able to set n as a numerical value or according to the number of parking spaces.

  When n minutes have elapsed since the engine operation was confirmed (Yes in S60), the verification ECU 14 determines whether or not the exhaust gas concentration acquired by the air conditioner ECU 12 has exceeded a threshold value (N [ppm]) (S70). The threshold value (N [ppm]) can be determined individually depending on the type of exhaust gas. Further, considering that the oxygen concentration is reduced by the exhaust gas, it may be determined whether or not the oxygen concentration is a predetermined value or less.

When the exhaust gas concentration is equal to or less than the threshold value (N [ppm]), the verification ECU 14 repeats this determination. If one or more of the following conditions is satisfied when the exhaust gas concentration is equal to or lower than the threshold value (N [ppm]), the verification ECU 14 stops the comparison between the exhaust gas concentration and the threshold value.
・ No longer parked (parking brake off or shift position is D)
-There is an electronic key 30 in the passenger compartment. If the exhaust gas concentration exceeds the threshold (N [ppm]) (Yes in S70), the verification ECU 14 requests the power management ECU 13 to stop the engine (S80). As a result, the power management ECU 13 at least turns off the IG relay 16, so that fuel injection and fuel ignition necessary for engine operation do not occur and the engine stops. The power management ECU 13 may also turn off the ACC relay 17 to prevent the battery from running out. In the case of an EV vehicle or an HV vehicle, the verification ECU 14 may request the HV-ECU to stop the engine, and the HV-ECU causes the engine ECU to stop the engine.

  As described above, the engine stop device 100 according to the present embodiment automatically stops the engine when the exhaust gas concentration exceeds the threshold value during the engine operation, and therefore can prevent the exhaust gas in a narrow space from rising excessively.

  In the present embodiment, the vehicle whose engine is started / stopped by the keyless entry system has been described as an example. However, the engine stop device 100 of the present embodiment can be applied to a vehicle that starts and stops the engine using a mechanical key. .

  In the case of a mechanical key, the driver cannot remove the mechanical key from the key cylinder unless turning to IG-OFF (or LOCK). For this reason, the situation where the driver goes out of the vehicle with the mechanical key while the engine is operating does not occur. However, since the mechanical key does not communicate with the vehicle except for the immobilizer, it is difficult to detect whether the mechanical key is carried outside the vehicle in the first place.

  Therefore, in the case of a mechanical key vehicle, a detection sensor (for example, a weight sensor, an infrared sensor, a camera, or the like) that detects a person is arranged in the driver's seat or the like to detect that the passenger is not in the passenger compartment. By doing so, even in the case of a mechanical key vehicle, it is possible to prevent the exhaust gas concentration in the space from rising due to parking while the driver operates the engine.

[When there are passengers in the passenger compartment]
If it is determined in S30 that the electronic key 30 is present in the vehicle interior, the engine is not stopped. However, even if it is determined that the electronic key 30 is not present in the vehicle interior, there may be a passenger in the vehicle interior. For example, a passenger who does not carry the electronic key 30 is in the vehicle. However, in this case as well, if the engine is in an operating state, the exhaust gas concentration in the passenger compartment may increase, so it is preferable to stop the engine. Further, since all of the conditions of S10 to S70 are not satisfied due to waiting for a signal during traveling, there is no inconvenience even when the engine is stopped.

  If it is determined in S30 that the electronic key 30 is present in the passenger compartment, it is also effective for the verification ECU 14 to detect the exhaust gas concentration in the passenger compartment and warn the occupant when the threshold M (ppm) is exceeded. . This is because if the exhaust gas concentration in the space outside the vehicle increases, the exhaust gas concentration in the passenger compartment may also increase. By doing so, the occupant can stop the engine spontaneously and prevent the exhaust gas concentration in the passenger compartment from rising. Since the interior of the vehicle is narrower than the outside of the vehicle, the threshold value M is set to a value larger than the threshold value N.

11 Exhaust gas sensor 12 Air conditioner ECU
13 Power management ECU
14 Verification ECU
15 Body ECU
30 Electronic key 100 Engine stop device

Claims (1)

An engine stop device that warns when the electronic key is taken out of the vehicle during engine operation,
An exhaust gas sensor for detecting the exhaust gas concentration outside the vehicle;
An engine stop means for stopping the engine when the exhaust gas concentration detected by the exhaust gas sensor exceeds a threshold during parking of the vehicle in operation of the engine;
An engine stop device.

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