JP2016223556A - Shift instruction device of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shift instruction device which does not permit display of an unnecessary shift-up instruction during cruise control.SOLUTION: A vehicle 1 is mounted with an automatic transmission 3 which is manually changeable in shift stage, and comprises a constant speed travel control part 41 which keeps a vehicle speed set by a driver and controls cruise control. A shift instruction device of the vehicle comprises an information device 20 for informing change timing of a shift stage which is formed in the automatic transmission 3, a shift instruction part 40 which makes the information device 20 inform shift timing when a preset condition is satisfied continuously for a predetermined duration time. The information instruction part 40, when the constant speed travel control part 41 controls cruise control, increase the duration time longer than that in normal travel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a shift instruction device for a vehicle, and more particularly to a shift instruction device for a vehicle equipped with a cruise control.

  Conventionally, a gear shift indicator that instructs the driver the gear position according to the accelerator opening and the vehicle speed, and cruise control that enables constant speed driving to reduce the burden on the driver in long distance driving were installed. There is a vehicle.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes a gear shift indicator that gives a shift instruction with a delay by a delay time set in accordance with an increase in engine load or engine speed.

JP 59-62752 A

  By the way, in a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, kickdown may occur during traveling on an uphill road during cruise control. When kickdown occurs, the gear is automatically switched to a low-speed gear, so an upshift is instructed by a gear shift indicator to keep the vehicle speed constant.

  At this time, if the driver performs a shift-up operation, the gear ratio decreases, the required accelerator opening from the cruise control control unit increases, and kickdown occurs again. Even if kickdown does not occur again, the driver may feel uncomfortable due to insufficient driving force.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a shift instruction device that does not display an unnecessary upshift instruction during cruise control.

  One aspect of the invention of a vehicle shift instruction device that solves the above-described problem is a constant-speed running in which a transmission capable of arbitrarily selecting a gear position is mounted, and the vehicle speed set by the driver is maintained and constant-speed running is controlled. A shift instruction device for a vehicle including a control unit, a notification device for notifying a change timing of a gear stage to be formed in the transmission, and a notification device when a preset condition continues for a predetermined duration. A shift instructing section for informing the change timing, and the shift instructing section is not controlled for constant speed travel when the constant speed travel control section is controlling constant speed travel. This is longer than normal driving.

  Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a shift instruction device that does not display an unnecessary upshift instruction during cruise control.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle shift instruction device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a conceptual block diagram thereof. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a shift instruction device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a shift map thereof. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a shift instruction device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a flowchart for explaining the duration setting process. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a shift instruction device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing a change in accelerator opening and a change in upshift instruction display due to a duration setting process. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a shift instruction device for a vehicle according to the first other aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, and is a flowchart for explaining the duration setting process. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a shift instruction device for a vehicle according to a second other aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing a constant speed running duration table. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a shift instruction device for a vehicle according to a second other aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, and is a flowchart for explaining the duration setting process.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 equipped with a shift instruction device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an internal combustion engine type engine 2, an automatic transmission 3, a gear mechanism 4, drive wheels 5, an ECU (Electronic Control). Unit) 6.

  The engine 2 is constituted by a four-cycle engine that performs a series of four strokes including an intake stroke, a compression stroke, an expansion stroke, and an exhaust stroke, and performs ignition in a combustion chamber during the compression stroke and the expansion stroke.

  The automatic transmission 3 is provided in a power transmission path from the engine 2 to the drive wheels 5. The automatic transmission 3 can form any one shift stage among a plurality of shift stages. Specifically, in the automatic transmission 3, the gear position is changed by a hydraulic circuit (not shown) controlled by the ECU 6.

  The gear mechanism 4 includes a differential gear and a drive shaft (not shown), and transmits power to the drive wheels 5.

  The ECU 6 includes a computer unit that includes a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, an input port, and an output port.

  A program for causing the computer unit to function as the ECU 6 is stored in the ROM of the ECU 6 together with various constants, various maps, and the like. That is, when the CPU executes a program stored in the ROM, the computer unit functions as the ECU 6 in the present embodiment.

  The input port of the ECU 6 includes an engine speed sensor 10 that detects an engine speed of the engine 2 (hereinafter also referred to as “engine speed”), a vehicle speed sensor 11 that detects a vehicle speed, and an operation amount of an accelerator pedal 14 ( Hereinafter, the accelerator position sensor 15 for detecting the accelerator position) and the shift position of the shift lever 16 are in the P (parking) range, R (reverse) range, D (drive) range, or M (manual). Various sensors including a shift position sensor 17 for detecting in which of the ranges or the like are connected are connected.

  In addition to the hydraulic circuit for controlling the automatic transmission 3, the output port of the ECU 6 includes a notifying device 20 provided on an instrument panel and the like, and a throttle valve 30 for adjusting the intake air amount of the engine 2. Various control objects including an injector 31 for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine 2 are connected.

  The ECU 6 controls various control objects based on information obtained from various sensors. For example, the ECU 6 controls the hydraulic circuit so as to change the shift speed formed in the automatic transmission 3 in accordance with the position of the shift lever 16 detected by the shift position sensor 17.

  When the shift position of the shift lever 16 is in the D range, the ECU 6 determines the gear position based on the vehicle speed, the accelerator opening, and the like, and controls the hydraulic circuit to change to the gear position.

  Further, when the shift position of the shift lever 16 is in the M range, the ECU 6 receives the manual upshift command and the manual downshift command from the shift position sensor 17 and, when receiving the manual upshift command from the current gear position, The hydraulic circuit is controlled to change the gear position to the side.

  Further, for example, when the ECU 6 detects that the accelerator pedal 14 has been depressed largely or suddenly, the ECU 6 performs a kickdown to change the gear position of the automatic transmission 3 to a gear position lower than the current gear position. Yes.

  Further, the ECU 6 obtains a required torque that is an output torque required for the engine 2 based on the accelerator opening detected by the accelerator opening sensor 15, and opens the throttle valve 30 so that the engine 2 outputs the required torque. (Hereinafter, also referred to as “throttle opening”) and the fuel injection amount by the injector 31 are controlled.

  For example, when the cruise control switch provided on the instrument panel is turned on, the ECU 6 opens the throttle so that the vehicle 1 performs a constant speed traveling while maintaining a predetermined vehicle speed set in advance. A constant speed traveling control unit 41 is configured to control the speed and the fuel injection amount. The constant speed traveling control unit 41 obtains a required torque required for the engine 2 to make the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1 a predetermined vehicle speed, for example, from the difference between the predetermined vehicle speed and the current vehicle speed of the vehicle 1, and throttles from the required torque. By determining the opening degree, the fuel injection amount, etc., the throttle valve 30 and the injector 31 are controlled to control cruise control that causes the vehicle 1 to travel at a constant speed at a predetermined vehicle speed.

  In addition, when the shift position of the shift lever 16 is in the M range, the ECU 6 includes a shift instruction unit 40 that notifies the notification device 20 of the shift timing of the automatic transmission 3 as a shift instruction based on the vehicle speed and the load of the engine 2. Configure. The notification device 20 includes, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) provided on an instrument panel and an LED drive circuit. The gear change instruction unit 40 instructs the notification device 20 to, for example, “upshift instruction display” for instructing the driver to upshift, “stay instruction display” for instructing the driver to maintain the gear position, and downshifting to the driver. A “downshift instruction display” for instructing, a “gear position display” for notifying the driver of the current gear position, and the like are displayed.

  A shift map as shown in FIG. 2 is stored in the ROM of the ECU 6. The shift map represents a shift stage corresponding to the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening representing the load of the engine 2. In FIG. 2, the solid line indicated by “1⇒2” is from the first speed to the second speed, the solid line indicated by “2 → 3” is from the second speed to the third speed, and the solid line indicated by “3 → 4” is from the third speed. In 4th speed, the solid line shown as “4⇒5” is the 4th to 5th speed line, and the solid line shown as “5⇒6” is the instruction line indicating the timing to shift up from the 5th speed to 6th speed (hereinafter referred to as “shift up instruction”). Also called a "line").

  In FIG. 2, the upshift instruction line is shown. However, a downshift instruction line indicating the timing of downshifting to shift from one gear stage to the next gear stage is also set for each gear stage.

  The shift instruction unit 40 refers to the shift map shown in FIG. 2 when the shift position of the shift lever 16 is in the M range, and the intersection corresponding to the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening is indicated from the intersection at the previous reference. When the vehicle does not return across the instruction line for a predetermined duration from when the vehicle is crossed, the notification device 20 is informed of the change timing of the gear stage formed in the automatic transmission 3 as a gear change command. Here, the value of the duration is obtained by experiments or the like and stored in the ROM of the ECU 6.

  The speed change instruction unit 40 has a predetermined duration from the time when the intersection corresponding to the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening amount extends from the left area of the shift up instruction line to the right area with the shift up instruction line as a boundary. When the intersection corresponding to the degree does not return from the area on the right side of the upshift instruction line to the area on the left side, if the shift stage of the automatic transmission 3 is the shift stage from which the upshift instruction line is shifted up, the notification device 20 displays an upshift instruction display.

  In addition, the shift instruction unit 40 has a predetermined duration, vehicle speed, and vehicle speed when the intersection corresponding to the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening straddles the region on the left side from the region on the right side of the shift up command line with the shift up command line as a boundary. When the intersection corresponding to the accelerator opening does not return from the left area of the upshift instruction line to the right area, the upshift instruction display displayed on the notification device 20 is stopped.

  In the present embodiment, when the constant speed traveling control unit 41 controls the constant speed traveling of the vehicle 1, the shift instruction unit 40 changes the above-described duration time to a constant speed traveling duration time longer than normal. The shift timing is determined.

  For example, during normal driving, the shift instruction unit 40 is 500 msec from when the intersection corresponding to the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening straddles the area on the right side from the area on the left side of the shift up instruction line with the shift up instruction line as a boundary. If the shift stage of the automatic transmission 3 is the shift stage of the shift-up instruction line when the shift stage of the automatic transmission 3 does not return from the right area to the left area of the shift-up instruction line, the upshift instruction is sent to the notification device 20. Although the display is displayed, when the constant speed traveling control unit 41 controls the constant speed traveling of the vehicle 1, the intersection corresponding to the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening is the boundary of the upshifting instruction line. If the shift range of the automatic transmission 3 does not return to the left area from the right area of the upshift instruction line for 2000 msec after straddling the right area from the left area, the shift stage of the automatic transmission 3 changes to the upshift instruction line. If a shift-up source gear displays an upshift instruction displayed on notification device 20.

  The duration setting process by the vehicle shift instruction apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. The duration setting process described below is started when the ECU 6 starts operation and is executed at a preset time interval.

  First, the shift instruction unit 40 determines whether or not the constant speed traveling control unit 41 is performing a constant speed traveling (step S11). If it is determined that the vehicle is not traveling at a constant speed, the shift instruction unit 40 sets the normal travel time duration as the duration time (step S12), and ends the process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the vehicle is traveling at a constant speed, the shift instruction unit 40 sets the duration time during constant speed traveling as the duration time (step S13), and ends the process.

  Based on the continuation time set in this way, the shift instruction unit 40 detects the shift timing from the shift map as shown in FIG. 2 and causes the notification device 20 to display an upshift instruction display.

The operation by such a duration setting process will be described with reference to FIG.
The graph on the upper side of FIG. 4 shows the change in the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening after the kick-down that occurred at the vehicle speed V1 in an enlarged part of the shift-up instruction line from the third speed to the fourth speed in FIG. On the line, dots are placed at 500 msec intervals. Further, the lower graph of FIG. 4 shows the lighting state of the upshift instruction display in the case of the duration during normal running and the duration in the case of constant speed running.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the duration is set to a normal running duration, for example, 500 msec, the accelerator opening decreases after the kick-down occurred at V1, and does not return for 500 msec beyond the shift-up instruction line. The upshift instruction display is displayed. Further, when approaching the upshift instruction line when the speed increases thereafter, the control amount of the constant speed traveling control unit 41 changes drastically. Therefore, the upshift instruction display repeats changing by repeatedly going back and forth over the upshift instruction line. .

  On the other hand, if the duration is set to a constant speed running time, for example, 2000 msec, the accelerator opening decreases after the kick-down that occurred at V1, exceeds the shift-up instruction line, but returns and upshifts before 2000 msec elapses. The instruction display is not displayed. Also, even if the speed up after that approaches the upshift instruction line, the upshift instruction display is not displayed because it returns before 2000 msec.

  As a first other aspect of the present embodiment, when the engine rotation speed becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the duration may be returned to the normal running duration.

  In this case, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the shift instruction unit 40 determines whether or not the constant speed traveling control unit 41 is traveling at a constant speed (step S21). If it is determined that the vehicle is not traveling at a constant speed, the shift instruction unit 40 sets the normal travel time duration as the duration time (step S22) and ends the process.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the vehicle is traveling at a constant speed, the shift instruction unit 40 determines whether or not the engine rotation speed detected by the engine rotation speed sensor 10 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S23). If it is determined that the engine rotation speed is not equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the shift instruction unit 40 sets the constant speed running duration as the duration (step S24) and ends the process.

  On the other hand, when it determines with an engine speed being more than predetermined value, it progresses to step S22, sets the normal driving time duration as a duration, and complete | finishes a process.

  Moreover, as a second other aspect of the present embodiment, the constant speed running duration may be changed according to the engine speed.

  In this case, for example, a constant speed running duration table as shown in FIG. 6 is stored in the ROM of the ECU 6. When the constant speed traveling control unit 41 is controlling the constant speed traveling of the vehicle 1, the shift instruction unit 40 determines the constant speed traveling duration table in FIG. 6 from the engine rotational speed detected by the engine rotational speed sensor 10. Referring to the constant speed running duration, the shift timing is determined based on the constant speed running duration.

  In the process in this case, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the shift instruction unit 40 determines whether or not the constant speed traveling control unit 41 is traveling at a constant speed (step S <b> 31). If it is determined that the vehicle is not traveling at a constant speed, the shift instruction unit 40 sets the duration time during normal traveling as the duration time (step S32) and ends the process.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the vehicle is traveling at a constant speed, the shift instruction unit 40 determines the duration at constant speed travel from the engine speed detected by the engine speed sensor 10 from the constant speed travel time table shown in FIG. It is obtained and set as the duration (step S33), and the process is terminated.

  Note that the switching according to the engine rotation speed in the first and second other modes described above may be switched according to the vehicle speed.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment and the first and second other modes, the switching of the duration time may be performed only when a kickdown occurs during constant speed traveling.

  In the above-described embodiment and the first and second other aspects, the vehicle 1 equipped with the automatic transmission 3 with the M range is shown. However, the vehicle equipped with the manual transmission is configured similarly. be able to.

  Thus, in the above-described embodiment, the automatic transmission 3 capable of manually changing the gear position is mounted, and the constant speed traveling control unit 41 that controls the constant speed traveling while maintaining the vehicle speed set by the driver is provided. A gear change instruction device for the vehicle 1, which is a notification device 20 for notifying a change timing of a gear stage to be formed in the automatic transmission 3, and a notification device 20 when a preset condition is continuously established for a predetermined duration. A shift instruction unit 40 for informing the shift timing, and the shift instruction unit 40 controls the constant speed travel when the constant speed travel control unit 41 controls the constant speed travel. Make it longer than normal driving, which is not done.

  As a result, when the constant speed running control unit 41 controls the constant speed running, the shift timing is not notified unless the condition is satisfied for the duration of the constant speed running. For this reason, unnecessary upshift instruction display during constant speed traveling can be prevented from being displayed.

  While embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be included in the following claims.

1 vehicle 2 engine 3 automatic transmission 6 ECU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Vehicle speed sensor 15 Accelerator opening sensor 20 Notification apparatus 40 Shift instruction | indication part 41 Constant speed driving | running control part

Claims (1)

A shift instruction device for a vehicle equipped with a constant speed traveling control unit that is equipped with a transmission that can optionally select a shift stage, maintains a vehicle speed set by a driver, and controls constant speed traveling,
An informing device for informing a change timing of a shift stage to be formed in the transmission;
A shift instruction unit that causes the notification device to notify the change timing when a preset condition is established continuously for a predetermined duration; and
When the constant speed running control unit is controlling the constant speed running, the shift instruction unit is configured to make the duration of the vehicle longer than that during normal running when the constant speed running control is not performed. Shift instruction device.

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