JP2015161287A - vehicle control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle control device which keeps a vehicle in a no-idling state even if a driver separates from a driver's seat in an idling state or the no-idling state.SOLUTION: When all conditions are satisfied that a no-idling keeping switch 38 is brought into an on-state, a brake-on state or a parking brake-on state in an idling state or a no-idling state, and a shift position P is in a P-range or an N-range, an ECU10 causes a vehicle state to transition to a no-idling keeping state for keeping the no-idling state even if a driver separates from a driver's seat while bringing a brake into an off-state, and bringing a parking brake into an on-state. When the driver returns to a vehicle in the no-idling keeping state and all of the conditions are released, the ECU10 causes the vehicle state to transition to the no-idling state from the no-idling keeping state. When a prescribed time elapses in the no-idling keeping state, the ECU10 causes the vehicle state to transition to an engine stop state in which an engine start operation by the driver is required.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle control device that stops an engine to enter an idle stop state when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied, and restarts the engine when a predetermined automatic start condition is satisfied in the idle stop state.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a vehicle control device that stops an engine when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied to enter an idle stop state, and restarts the engine when a predetermined automatic start condition is satisfied in the idle stop state (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for automatically starting an engine when the driver leaves the seat in an idle stop state if the shift position is in the P range or N range in which power is not transmitted.

JP 2009-2236 A

  As in Patent Document 1, when the driver leaves the seat in the idle stop state, if the engine is automatically started if the shift position is in the P range or N range where the power is not transmitted, the idling state is changed from the idle stop state. Therefore, there are problems such as deterioration in fuel consumption and exhaust gas emission.

  In order to solve problems such as deterioration in fuel consumption and exhaust gas emission, it is conceivable that the driver leaves the seat after operating the ignition key or push-type engine switch to stop the engine.

However, for example, when a driver of a delivery company leaves the vehicle temporarily for delivery, it is troublesome to stop the engine every time.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control device that maintains an idle stop state even when a driver leaves the seat in an idling state or an idle stop state.

According to the vehicle control apparatus of the present invention, the holding determination unit and the vehicle control unit are provided.
The holding determination means determines whether or not an idle stop holding condition that can be estimated to leave the driver in the idling state or the idle stop state is satisfied, and the idle stop control means holds the idle stop in the idling state or the idle stop state. When the holding determination means determines that the condition is satisfied, the vehicle control state is shifted from the idling state or the idle stop state to the idle stop holding state for holding the idle stop state, and the idle stop holding condition is satisfied in the idle stop holding state. If the holding determination means determines that it is not, the idle stop holding state is released.

According to this configuration, when the idling stop holding condition is satisfied and it can be estimated that the driver leaves the seat in the idling state or idling stop state, the idling stop state is maintained after the engine is automatically stopped in the idling state. If it is in the state, the idle stop state is maintained as it is.

  Therefore, the driver does not need to perform an engine stop operation to stop the engine by operating the ignition key or the push type engine switch when leaving the seat in the idling state or the idle stop state. Further, since the idle stop state is maintained while the driver is away from the seat, fuel efficiency is improved.

  Here, when the engine is stopped by the engine stop operation of the driver, backup information such as diagnostic information is written in a non-volatile rewritable memory such as flash memory or EEPROM before the power supply from the battery is cut off. .

  Since there is an upper limit to the number of times the flash memory and EEPROM can be rewritten, the engine stop operation is performed each time the driver leaves the vehicle, and the backup information is written to the flash memory each time the life of the flash memory and EEPROM is shortened.

  According to the vehicle control device of the present invention, since it is not necessary to perform the engine stop operation when the driver leaves the seat in the idling state or the idle stop state, the power supply from the battery is continued. This prevents backup information from being written to a rewritable non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or an EEPROM each time the driver leaves in an idling state or an idle stop state. As a result, since the number of times of rewriting to the rewritable nonvolatile memory is reduced, the lifetime of the rewritable nonvolatile memory is extended.

The block diagram which shows the vehicle control apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The state transition diagram which shows the idle stop control process of 1st Embodiment. The time chart which shows the vehicle control state at the time of driver leaving of 1st Embodiment and Comparative Example 1. FIG. The other time chart which shows the vehicle control state at the time of driver's leaving of 1st Embodiment. The time chart which shows the vehicle control state at the time of driver's leaving of 1st Embodiment and the comparative example 2. FIG. The state transition diagram which shows the idle stop control process of 2nd Embodiment. The time chart which shows the vehicle control state at the time of driver leaving seat of 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows an electronic control unit (ECU) 10 mounted on a vehicle. An ECU 10 that is a vehicle control device is equipped with a microcomputer (also referred to as a microcomputer) 20 having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a flash memory, an input / output interface, and the like. The microcomputer 20 functions as an idle stop control unit 22 and a holding determination unit 24.

  When the CPU of the microcomputer 20 executes a control program stored in the ROM or the flash memory, the idle stop control unit 22 executes idle stop control for controlling automatic stop and automatic start of the engine 60. The idle stop control unit 22 controls the starter 62 to automatically start the engine 60 as part of the idle stop control.

In addition, when the CPU of the microcomputer 20 executes a control program stored in the ROM or the flash memory, the holding determination unit 24 can determine that the driver is assumed to leave the seat in the idling state or the idle stop state. Whether or not is established is determined. Details of the idle stop holding condition will be described later.

  Although not shown, the ECU 10 is also provided with an input circuit that inputs signals from various sensors and devices to the microcomputer 20, a drive circuit that drives the starter 62 in accordance with a command signal from the microcomputer 20, and the like.

  Various sensors and devices include an accelerator sensor 30 that detects depression of the accelerator pedal, a brake sensor 32 that detects depression of the brake pedal, a parking sensor 34 that detects that the parking brake is operated, and a shift position of the shift lever. Shift sensor 36 for detecting, idle stop (IS) holding switch 38 for instructing the driver to hold the idle stop state, hazard switch 40 for turning on the hazard lamp, seat pressure sensor 42 for detecting the seat pressure of the driver seat, opening and closing of the door There are a door sensor 44 for detecting the seat belt, a seat belt sensor 46 for detecting the attachment / detachment of the seat belt of the driver seat, an in-vehicle camera 48, a smart key 50, an NE sensor 52 for detecting the rotational speed (NE) of the engine 60, and the like.

(Idle stop control process)
Next, an idle stop control process executed by the ECU 10 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 shows a transition diagram of the vehicle control state using the driver operation as an input. When the driver operates the ignition key or push-type engine switch, the vehicle control state shifts from the parking state (1) in which the ignition switch (IG) is off to the engine stop state (2) in which the ignition switch is on. Then, the ECU 10 is activated by supplying a power supply voltage. Note that the state where the ignition switch is on is a state where a battery voltage is supplied to the ignition power supply line in the vehicle, and is generally a state where all electrical components in the vehicle are operable.

  When the ignition switch is turned off from the engine stop state (2), the state shifts to the parking state (1). When the driver operates the ignition key or the engine switch to execute the engine start operation and the ECU 10 drives the starter 62, the engine starts and shifts to the idling state (3). When the brake pedal is released (brake off) and the accelerator pedal is depressed from the idling state (3), the vehicle shifts to the steady running state (4).

  When the vehicle is in the steady running state (4), the driver depresses the brake pedal (brake on), and when the vehicle decelerates and stops, the state shifts to the idling state (3). When the brake-on state continues for a predetermined time or longer in the idling state (3) and the automatic stop condition is satisfied, the ECU 10 stops the engine and shifts the vehicle control state to the idle stop state (5).

  When the brake pedal is released and the brake is turned off in the idling stop state (5), the automatic start condition is satisfied. Therefore, the ECU 10 drives the starter 62 to start the engine and shifts to the idling state (3). In the idling state (3), when the ignition switch is turned off by operating the ignition key or the engine switch and performing the engine stop operation in the idling state (3), the state shifts to the parking state (1).

(Idle stop holding state)
When the idle stop (IS) holding condition is satisfied in the idle stop state (5), the EC
U10 shifts the vehicle control state to the idle stop holding state (6). In the idle stop state (5) and the idle stop holding state (6), the vehicle running state is the same in that the engine is stopped and the vehicle is stopped, but the vehicle control executed by the idle stop control process is different.

  The ECU 10 automatically starts the engine 60 when the automatic start condition is satisfied in the idle stop state (5), but does not automatically start the engine 60 even if the automatic start condition is satisfied in the idle stop holding state (6). When the idle stop holding condition is canceled in the idle stop holding state (6), the ECU 10 shifts the vehicle control state to the idle stop state (5).

  If the idle stop holding condition is satisfied before the automatic stop condition is satisfied after the brake-on is continued for a predetermined time or longer in the idling state (3), the ECU 10 automatically stops the engine and directly holds the idle stop from the idling state (3). Transition to state (6).

  In the time chart of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 and FIG. 7 of the second embodiment to be described later, the idling state (3) is idle before the brake stop is continued for a predetermined time or more and the automatic stop condition is satisfied. An example is shown in which when the stop holding condition is satisfied, the idle ring state (3) is directly shifted to the idle stop holding state (6).

As the idle stop holding condition, it can be mentioned that the following conditions (1) to (3) are all satisfied.
(1) Brake on when the brake pedal is depressed or parking brake is on (2) Parking position is on the parking (P) range or neutral (N) range (3) Idle stop holding switch 38 is on Satisfaction of the condition (1) indicates that a braking force is applied to the vehicle by the driver operating the brake pedal or the parking brake. Satisfaction of condition (2) indicates that the driving force of the engine is not transmitted to the driving wheels by the driver operating the shift lever.

  When the conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied in the idling state (3) or the idle stop state (5) and the vehicle is stopped, it can be estimated that the driver leaves the vehicle and leaves the vehicle. That is, it can be said that the conditions (1) and (2) are the absence estimation conditions that can be estimated that the driver is away.

  Condition (3) indicates a driver's request to maintain the idle stop state. Therefore, it can be said that turning on the idle stop holding switch 38 is an absence estimation condition that can be estimated that the driver has a higher probability of leaving than the conditions (1) and (2).

  When the parking brake on and the conditions (2) and (3) are satisfied in the condition (1), the ECU 10 is in an idle state even if the driver leaves and leaves the vehicle with the brake pedal released. The engine 60 is automatically started from the stop state (5) to shift to the idle stop holding state (6) without shifting to the idling state (3).

  In the case of a vehicle in which the idle stop holding switch 38 is not installed, if the conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied, the ECU 10 changes from the idling state (3) or the idle stop state (5) to the idle stop holding state (6 ).

In the idle stop holding state (6), the vehicle returns to the vehicle before a predetermined time has elapsed since the driver left the seat, and any of the above conditions (1) to (3) is not satisfied, and the idle stop holding condition is released. Then, the ECU 10 shifts from the idle stop holding state (6) to the idle stop state (5).

  For example, when the driver returns to the vehicle in the idle stop holding state (6) and turns off the idle stop holding switch, returns the parking brake, turns off the parking brake, or shifts to the D range, the idle stop holding condition is Since it is canceled, the ECU 10 shifts from the idle stop holding state (6) to the idle stop state (5).

When the driver returns to the vehicle and executes the engine stop operation in the idle stop holding state (6), the ECU 10 shifts from the idle stop holding state (6) to the parking state (1).
When the idle stop holding condition is satisfied and the predetermined time has elapsed after the transition from the idle stop state (5) to the idle stop holding state (6), the driver must leave the idle stop holding state (6). 2 and 4, the ECU 10 shifts the vehicle control state to an engine stop state (2) in which the driver needs to execute an engine start operation.

  When executing the process of shifting to the engine stop state (2) when a predetermined time has elapsed after shifting to the idle stop holding state (6), the ECU 10 starts measuring the elapsed time when the idle stop holding condition is satisfied. When the idle stop holding condition is canceled, the elapsed time measurement is terminated.

  In this case, as the idle stop holding condition, in addition to the above conditions (1) and (2) indicating that the vehicle is in the travel stop state, the above conditions (1) and (2) are set such that the idle stop holding switch is turned on. It is desirable to include a condition that can be estimated that there is a high possibility that the driver is away.

  Whether the driver leaves the hazard switch 40, the seat pressure sensor 42 for the driver seat, the door sensor 44 for the driver seat, the seat belt sensor 46 for the driver seat, the in-vehicle camera 48, and the smart key 50 in addition to the idle stop holding switch 38 You may employ | adopt as a detection means to detect whether or not.

  When the idle stop holding switch 38 is turned on, the hazard switch 40 is turned on, and the detected pressure of the driver seat pressure sensor 42 is equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure, the driver seat side door sensor 44 detects open to closed, driver seat When the seat belt sensor 46 is off and the driver does not wear the seat belt, and the driver disappears from the imaging range of the in-vehicle camera 48, the smart key 50 is separated from the vehicle and out of the communication range, the driver leaves the seat. It may be included in the idling stop holding condition as a detection result of the detecting means indicating that it does.

  Thus, by including in the idle stop holding condition a condition that can be estimated that the driver is likely to be away, the elapsed time that the driver has actually left can be measured more accurately. As a result, the time during which the idle stop holding condition is established in the state where the driver is seated can be shortened as much as possible, and the time during which the driver is seated can also be reduced as much as possible.

Assuming that the hazard switch 40 is turned on instead of the idle stop holding switch 38, the hazard lamp is lit to inform the driver and the surrounding people that the vehicle is temporarily stopped. be able to. Furthermore, when the vehicle is temporarily stopped and left in the idle stop state, the driver normally turns on the hazard switch, so the driver does not need to perform a dedicated operation in order to leave the seat in the idle stop state. .

[Comparative Example 1]
Compared to the first embodiment, a comparative example 1 in which no idle stop holding condition is set will be considered. Also in Comparative Example 1, when the brake-on state continues for a predetermined time in the idling state (3) and the automatic stop condition is satisfied, the engine shifts to the idle stop state (5).

  However, in Comparative Example 1, in the idling state (3) or the idle stop state (5), even if the parking brake on and the condition (2) are satisfied among the conditions (1) and the driver tries to leave the engine, It does not shift to the idle stop holding state (6). In the idling state (3), the idling state (3) continues, and in the idling stop state (5), the engine is automatically started.

  Therefore, as shown in Comparative Example 1 of FIG. 3, the driver executes the engine stop operation in the idling state (3) or the idle stop state (5) to turn off the ignition switch and shift to the parking state (1). Then leave.

  In Comparative Example 1, since the driver leaves the seat in the parking state (1), when the driver returns to the vehicle, the engine start operation of the driver causes the engine stop state (2), the idling state ( It is necessary to shift to 3). And if an accelerator pedal is depressed, it will transfer from an idling state (3) to a steady running state (4).

  In the first embodiment, when the idle stop holding condition is satisfied in the idling state (3) or the idle stop state (5), the driver can leave the seat in the idle stop holding state (6) holding the idle stop state. Thus, as in Comparative Example 1 in which the idle stop holding condition is not set, the driver needs to leave the seat after performing the engine stop operation, and when returning to the vehicle, the engine start operation must be performed to restart the engine. Therefore, complicated engine stop operation and engine start operation can be omitted.

  Further, in Comparative Example 1, the engine stop operation is executed when leaving the seat, so that the supply of the battery voltage to the electrical components of the vehicle including the ECU 10 is interrupted. Therefore, in the first comparative example, when the engine stop operation is executed and the user leaves the seat, backup information such as diagnostic information is written in a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory. Usually, the rewritable nonvolatile memory has a limit on the number of times of rewriting, so it is desired to reduce the number of times of rewriting as much as possible.

  In this embodiment, when the idle stop holding condition is satisfied, the battery voltage is continuously supplied to the vehicle electrical components including the ECU 10 in the idle stop holding state (6) in which the ignition switch is on. You can leave the seat.

  Therefore, the driver can leave without writing information in a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory. This extends the life of a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory.

[Comparative Example 2]
Next, instead of the first comparative example, the second comparative example in which the engine stop operation is not executed when the driver leaves the seat and the seat is left in the idling state (3) will be considered.

Since the engine stop operation is not performed and the ignition switch is not turned off, writing to a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory is not performed. This extends the life of the rewritable nonvolatile memory. However, as shown in FIG. 5, in the comparative example 2, since the idling state (3) continues even while the driver is away from the seat, the fuel consumption deteriorates. The hatched portion in FIG. 5 indicates a state where the engine is in an operating state and fuel is consumed.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, when the idle stop holding condition is satisfied, the driver can leave the seat in the idle stop holding state (6), so that the driver returns to the vehicle after leaving the seat as shown in FIG. The fuel is not consumed until the idle stop holding condition is canceled and the state shifts to the idling state (3). Therefore, fuel consumption is improved.

[Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment, another idle stop control process for a vehicle using the smart key 50 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in the second embodiment as well, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, when a predetermined time elapses in the idle stop holding state (6), the driver leaves the idle stop holding state (6). Since there is a possibility that he / she has forgotten to be seated, the engine shifts to the engine stop state (2) where the engine start operation by the driver is necessary.

  Even when the engine is in the engine stop state (2) from the idle stop holding state (6), the ignition switch is in the on state, so the supply of battery voltage to the vehicle electrical components including the ECU 10 continues. Therefore, if the driver forgets that he is away in the idle stop holding state (6) and shifts to the engine stop state (2) for a long time, power consumption increases.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, when a predetermined time away from the engine stop state (2) after the engine stop state (2) is changed from the idle stop holding state (6), the ECU 10 turns off the ignition switch to stop the engine stop state. Transition from (2) to the parking state (1). Thereby, since the supply of the battery voltage to the electrical components of the vehicle is interrupted, power consumption can be reduced.

[Other Embodiments]
In the present invention, the elapsed time from when the idle stop holding condition is established in the idling state (3) or the idle stop state (5) and the transition to the idle stop holding state (6) is not measured. While being established, the idle stop holding state (6) may be continued.

  Also, instead of the time lapse condition for shifting from the idle stop holding state (6) to the engine stop state (2) and the time lapse condition for shifting from the engine stop state (2) to the parking state (1), or a time lapse condition In addition, when the battery voltage becomes equal to or lower than the first predetermined value in the idle stop holding state (6), the state is shifted to the engine stop state (2), and after the transition to the engine stop state (2), the battery voltage is changed to the first predetermined value. If it becomes below 2nd predetermined value lower than this, you may make it transfer from an engine stop state (2) to a parking state (1).

  As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be applied to various embodiments without departing from the gist thereof.

10: ECU (vehicle control device), 20: microcomputer, 22: idle stop control section (idle stop control means), 24: holding determination section (holding determination means), 38: idle stop holding switch (detection means), 40: Hazard switch (detection means), 42: seat pressure sensor (detection means), 44: door sensor (detection means), 46: seat belt sensor (detection means), 48: in-vehicle camera (detection means), 50: smart key (detection) Means), 60: Engine

Claims (10)

When the predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied, the engine (60) is stopped and the vehicle control state is set to the idle stop state. When the predetermined automatic start condition is satisfied in the idle stop state, the vehicle control device (10) restarts the engine. There,
Holding determination means (24) for determining whether or not an idling stop holding condition that can be estimated to leave the driver in the idling state or the idling stop state is satisfied;
When the holding determination means determines that the idle stop holding condition is satisfied in the idling state or the idle stop state, the idle stop holding state for holding the idle stop state from the idling state or the idle stop state is changed to the idle stop holding state. An idle stop control means (22) for releasing the idle stop holding state when the vehicle control state is shifted and the holding determination means determines that the idle stop holding condition is not satisfied in the idle stop holding state;
A vehicle control device comprising:   The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the holding determination unit includes in the idle stop holding condition that the vehicle is in a travel stop state by an operation of a driver.   3. The vehicle control device according to claim 2, wherein the holding determination unit sets the traveling stop state when a brake is on or a parking brake is on and a shift position is parking or neutral.   The idle stop control means shifts the vehicle control state from the idle stop holding state to the idle stop state when the idle stop holding condition is not satisfied in the idle stop holding state. The vehicle control device according to any one of 1 to 3.   When the elapsed time from when the idle stop holding condition is satisfied and the state shifts to the idle stop holding state becomes a predetermined time or longer, the idle stop control means causes the driver to start the engine from the idle stop holding state. The vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vehicle control state is shifted to a state where the engine needs to be restarted.   The holding determination means includes that the detection result of the detection means (38 to 50) for detecting whether or not the driver leaves the seat indicates that the driver is away from the idle stop holding condition. The vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.   If the driver does not wear the seat belt, the driver seat side door opens and then closes. If the seat pressure sensor (42) is installed, the seat pressure of the driver seat is lower than the predetermined pressure and the smart key (50) is used. In the case of a vehicle, at least one of the smart key is out of communication range, the hazard switch (40) is turned on, and the idle stop holding switch (38) is turned on when there is an idle stop holding switch (38), the detection result The vehicle control device according to claim 6, wherein the holding determination unit determines that the detection result indicates that the driver is away. The idle stop control means starts measuring an elapsed time after the idle stop holding condition is established and the state is shifted to the idle stop holding state, and the idle stop holding condition is not established in the idle stop holding state. When the elapsed time reaches a predetermined time or more, the vehicle control state is shifted from the idle stop holding state to a state where the engine needs to be restarted by the engine starting operation. The vehicle control device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein   In the case of a vehicle using a smart key, when the elapsed time becomes equal to or longer than the predetermined time, the idle stop control means causes the engine to start the engine when the ignition switch is turned on from the idle stop holding state. When the vehicle control state is shifted to an engine stop state that needs to be restarted and the vehicle control state is shifted from the idle stop holding state to the engine stop state, a predetermined seating time elapses. The vehicle control device according to claim 5, wherein the power supply of the vehicle is stopped.   In the case of a vehicle using a smart key, the idling stop control means starts the engine when the battery voltage becomes a first predetermined value or less in the idling stop holding state and the ignition switch is on from the idling stop holding state. The vehicle control state is shifted to an engine stop state where the engine needs to be restarted by operating, the vehicle control state is shifted from the idle stop holding state to the engine stop state, and then the battery voltage is further increased. 10. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein power supply from the battery is stopped when the second predetermined value that is lower than the first predetermined value is reached.

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