JP2017171295A - Vehicular travel control apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular travel control apparatus for realizing both of the securing of trackability to a preceding vehicle and the improving of the fuel economy of the vehicle during the execution of cruise control.SOLUTION: An inertia travel switch control part 62, having a cruise control determination part 60, performs a free-run inertia travel when vehicular speed-maintaining cruise control is executed and a neutral inertia travel when tracking-cruise control is executed. Thus, when the tracking-cruise control is executed, requiring trackability to a preceding vehicle, a neutral inertia travel is selected, with an engine 12 in an autonomous operation, and therefore the trackability to the preceding vehicle is secured. Further, when vehicular speed-maintaining cruise control is executed, not requiring the trackability to the preceding vehicle, a free-run inertia travel is selected, with the engine 12 is stopped, and therefore the fuel economy of the vehicle is improved. This makes it possible to realize both of the securing of trackability to a preceding vehicle and the improving of the fuel economy of the vehicle during the execution of cruise control.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle travel control device, and more particularly to a cruise control in a vehicle that performs a vehicle speed maintaining cruise control that controls a vehicle speed so as to achieve a target vehicle speed and a tracking cruise control that controls a vehicle speed so as to follow a preceding vehicle. The present invention relates to a technology that achieves both relatively high fuel efficiency performance and vehicle speed tracking performance at the time of implementation.

  To improve the fuel efficiency of the vehicle by extending the mileage for engine braking that travels with the engine brake applied by the driven rotation of the engine while the power transmission path between the engine and the drive wheels is connected In addition, inertial running is considered in which the engine braking force is reduced rather than engine braking. The device described in Patent Document 1 is an example thereof, and when a return operation of the accelerator pedal is determined during traveling of the vehicle, a clutch provided in a power transmission path between the engine and the drive wheels is released to inertia. Driving is started and the fuel efficiency of the vehicle is improved. Patent Document 2 describes a technique in which the inertia traveling and the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control are combined. Note that the inertial running performed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 is inertial traveling performed with the engine stopped while the clutch is released, or inertial traveling performed with the engine rotated. There is no particular distinction.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-227885 JP-A 61-287828

  By the way, as the inertia traveling of the vehicle, the clutch of the power transmission path is released by releasing the clutch of the power transmission path to disconnect the engine from the driving wheel, and stopping the rotation by stopping the fuel supply to the engine. Neutral coasting where the engine is released and separated from the drive wheels to supply fuel to the engine for operation is considered. In free-run coasting, the engine is stopped, which is advantageous in terms of fuel consumption. For this reason, in order to improve fuel consumption, it is conceivable to perform free-run coasting during cruise control.

  However, there are two types of cruise control as described above: a follow-up cruise control that controls the vehicle speed so as to follow the vehicle ahead, and a vehicle speed maintenance cruise control that controls the vehicle speed so as to achieve the target vehicle speed set by the driver. It is known that the following modes are provided. In such a case, for example, if the free-run coasting that stops the engine with an emphasis on fuel efficiency is used, during the execution of the follow-up cruise control, the vehicle will follow up even though the preceding vehicle has accelerated. Since the engine needs to be started, the followability to the vehicle ahead is poor. On the other hand, if the neutral inertia running with the engine running in consideration of the followability to the preceding vehicle is used, the engine is started even though the acceleration is not required during the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control. There was a problem that fuel consumption deteriorated because it remained.

  The present invention has been made against the background of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle travel control device that ensures both the ability to follow a preceding vehicle and improve the fuel consumption of the vehicle during cruise control. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve such an object, the gist of the present invention includes (a) an engine and a clutch device that disconnects a power transmission path between the engine and driving wheels, and (b) the engine and the A normal travel that travels by connecting the drive wheels, a free-run coastal travel that separates the engine and the drive wheels during travel and stops the engine to coast, and the engine and the drive wheels during travel Neutral coasting where the engine is driven independently and coasting, the vehicle speed holding cruise control for controlling the vehicle speed to the target vehicle speed set by the driver, and the tracking for controlling the vehicle speed to follow the preceding vehicle A travel control device for a vehicle that performs cruise control, wherein (c) the free-run inertial travel is performed when the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control is performed. Performed is to carry out the neutral coasting during practice of; (d) following cruise control.

  According to the vehicle travel control apparatus configured as described above, the free-run inertia traveling is performed when the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control is performed, and the neutral inertia traveling is performed when the following cruise control is performed. For this reason, when the follow-up cruise control that requires follow-up to the preceding vehicle is performed, the neutral inertia traveling in which the engine operates independently is selected, and thus follow-up to the preceding vehicle is ensured. Further, when the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control that does not require followability to the preceding vehicle is performed, the free-run inertia traveling with the engine stopped is selected, so that the fuel efficiency of the vehicle is improved. Thereby, the improvement of the fuel consumption of the vehicle at the time of implementation of cruise control and securing of the followability to the preceding vehicle can be achieved at the same time.

  Here, preferably, the present invention can be applied to a vehicle including at least an engine as a driving force source. For example, the present invention is preferably applied to a vehicle in which engine power is transmitted to driving wheels via an automatic transmission. However, the present invention can also be applied to a hybrid vehicle including an electric motor or a motor generator as a driving force source in addition to the engine. The engine is an internal combustion engine that generates power by burning fuel.

  Preferably, a clutch device for connecting and disconnecting a power transmission path between the engine and the drive wheels is disposed between the engine and the drive wheels so that the engine can be disconnected from the drive wheels. . As this clutch device, a hydraulic friction engagement device provided in series in the power transmission path, for example, a hydraulic clutch, is preferably used. However, it is also possible to electrically control the reaction force to cut off the power transmission. Various types of clutches can be employed. It is also possible to use a forward clutch in an automatic transmission that includes a plurality of clutches and brakes and can shift to a plurality of stages. The clutch device for connecting and disconnecting the power transmission path includes, for example, a planetary gear device having a pair of rotating elements connected to the power transmission path inserted in the power transmission path, and the planetary gear device. You may be comprised from the hydraulic brake which blocks | prevents rotation of the other rotation element which is not connected to the power transmission path | route among rotation elements. When the automatic transmission is a belt type continuously variable transmission, a forward friction engagement device and a reverse friction engagement device of a forward / reverse switching mechanism provided in the automatic transmission are used as a clutch device. Further, when the automatic transmission is a parallel-shaft always-mesh transmission, the sleeve of the synchronization mechanism provided in the automatic transmission and the actuator that drives the synchronous mechanism correspond to the clutch device.

  Preferably, in the free-run inertia traveling and the neutral inertia traveling, for example, a power transmission path from the engine to the drive wheels is connected by a clutch, and the automatic transmission has a forward speed greater than a predetermined high speed gear. In a relatively high-speed steady running state where the vehicle speed V is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle speed V1, a condition that the necessity of acceleration is no longer necessary when performing cruise control is set as a start condition.

  Preferably, the end of the free-run inertia running and the neutral inertia running and the end of cruise control are at least one of the conditions for determining the relatively high-speed steady running state in order to switch to engine braking running or another running mode. It is executed when one is disconnected and / or when a brake operation is performed.

  Preferably, the end condition of the free-run inertia running is that when the engine water temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature and warm-up is required, when the negative pressure generated in the intake pipe of the engine is required, The case where the hydraulic pressure supply is required for the hydraulic control device such as the frictional engagement device or the case where the battery power generation is required by the alternator provided in the engine may be set as the independent condition. This is to preferentially switch to neutral inertia running or engine braking running to rotate the engine to perform warm-up, negative pressure generation, and battery charging.

It is the schematic block diagram which showed together the principal part of the control function of an electronic control unit in the outline figure of the vehicle drive device to which this invention is applied suitably. It is a figure explaining the two inertia traveling relevant to this invention among the inertia traveling performed by the vehicle drive device of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the control action regarding the start determination of inertial running performed by the electronic control unit of FIG. It is a time chart explaining the action | operation of each part of the free-run inertia driving | running | working determined by the electronic control apparatus of FIG. It is a time chart explaining the action | operation of each part of the neutral inertia driving | running | working determined by the electronic control apparatus of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a main part of a control function of an electronic control device 50 corresponding to a travel control device in a vehicle drive device 10 to which the present invention is preferably applied. The vehicle drive device 10 includes an engine 12 that is an internal combustion engine such as a gasoline engine or a diesel engine that generates power by combustion of fuel as a driving force source, and the output of the engine 12 is differential from the automatic transmission 16. It is transmitted to the left and right drive wheels 20 via the gear unit 18. A power transmission device such as a damper device or a torque converter can be provided between the engine 12 and the automatic transmission 16, but a motor generator that functions as a driving force source can also be provided.

  The engine 12 includes an engine control device 30 having various devices necessary for output control of the engine 12, such as an electronic throttle valve and a fuel injection device. The electronic throttle valve controls the intake air amount, and the fuel injection device controls the fuel supply amount. Basically, the operation amount of the accelerator pedal 63 corresponding to the driver's output request amount, that is, the accelerator opening amount. It is controlled according to the degree θacc. The fuel injection device can stop fuel supply (fuel cut F / C) even when the vehicle is traveling, such as when the accelerator opening θacc is 0 and the accelerator is OFF.

  The automatic transmission 16 is, for example, a stepped automatic transmission such as a planetary gear type in which a plurality of gear stages having different gear ratios e are established depending on the disengagement state of a plurality of hydraulic friction engagement devices (clutch and brake). The shift control is performed by an electromagnetic hydraulic control valve, a switching valve or the like provided in the hydraulic control device 32. The clutch (clutch device) C1 functions as an input clutch of the automatic transmission 16, and is similarly engaged and released by the hydraulic control device 32. The clutch C1 corresponds to a connection / disconnection clutch that connects or disconnects the power transmission path between the engine 12 and the drive wheels 20. As the automatic transmission 16, a parallel shaft constantly meshing stepped transmission or a belt-type continuously variable transmission with a forward / reverse switching gear mechanism may be used. In the case of a parallel shaft type continuously meshing stepped transmission, the power transmission path is released by releasing the meshing of the synchronous meshing device using an actuator, and in the case of a continuously variable transmission, its forward / reverse switching gear The power transmission path is released by releasing the forward and reverse friction engagement devices provided in the mechanism.

  The drive wheel 20 is provided with a wheel brake 34, and a braking force is generated according to a brake operation force (stepping force) Brk of the brake pedal 40 that is stepped on by the driver. The brake operation force Brk corresponds to the required brake amount. In this embodiment, the brake hydraulic pressure is mechanically generated from the brake master cylinder 44 via the brake booster 42 according to the brake operation force Brk, and the brake hydraulic pressure is controlled by the brake hydraulic pressure. Power is generated. The brake booster 42 amplifies the brake operation force Brk using the negative pressure generated by the rotation of the engine 12 so that the brake hydraulic pressure output from the brake master cylinder 44 is amplified and a large braking force can be obtained. Become. The brake pedal 40 corresponds to a brake operation member. The wheel brake 34 is electrically controlled in accordance with a brake control signal output from the electronic control unit 50.

  The vehicle drive device 10 configured as described above includes an electronic control device 50. The electronic control unit 50 includes a so-called microcomputer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an input / output interface, and the like, and performs signal processing according to a program stored in advance in the ROM while using a temporary storage function of the RAM. Do. A signal representing the brake operation force Brk (kPa) is supplied from the brake operation amount sensor 64 to the electronic control unit 50, and the accelerator opening degree θacc (%) which is the operation amount of the accelerator pedal 63 is supplied from the accelerator operation amount sensor 66. A signal representing is provided. Further, a signal representing the rotational speed NE (rpm) of the engine 12 is supplied from the engine rotational speed sensor 68, and a signal representing the vehicle speed V (km / h) is supplied from the vehicle speed sensor 70. In addition, various types of information necessary for various types of control are supplied.

Further, the vehicle includes, for example, a main switch that determines whether the cruise control is activated (ON) or not (OFF) on the right side of the steering wheel, a target vehicle speed set switch that sets a target vehicle speed _VA when the cruise control is activated, _A cruise control switch 72 having an acceleration / deceleration switch for increasing / decreasing the target vehicle speed _VA set by the target vehicle speed set switch is attached. For example, on the right side of the steering pad, the inter-vehicle distance from the vehicle in front of which the cruise control is being performed is set in advance in three stages of “long”, “medium”, and “short” with respect to the vehicle speed V, for example. distance D _a i.e. vehicle distance selector switch 74 for setting a target inter-vehicle distance D _a is attached. Further, for example, a radar sensor 76 that calculates the presence / absence of a forward vehicle on the own vehicle traveling lane, the inter-vehicle distance from the forward vehicle, the relative speed with respect to the forward vehicle, and the like is attached to the front portion of the vehicle. The radar sensor 76 is, for example, a millimeter wave radar sensor (millimeter wave radar sensor).

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1, the electronic control unit 50 is supplied with signals indicating cruise control operation (ON), non-operation (OFF), target vehicle speed _{VA, and the} like from the cruise control switch 72, and the inter-vehicle distance. _A signal representing the target inter-vehicle distance DA with the preceding vehicle is supplied from the changeover switch 74, and a signal representing the presence or absence of the preceding vehicle, the inter-vehicle distance with the preceding vehicle, the relative speed with the preceding vehicle, etc. is supplied from the radar sensor 76. .

  The electronic control unit 50 performs output control and rotation stop control of the engine 12 in accordance with the accelerator opening θacc corresponding to the driver's intention to accelerate and the amount of brake operation, and a driver's Based on the required output based on the accelerator opening θacc corresponding to the intention to accelerate, or on the basis of the accelerator opening θacc and the vehicle speed V, the shift control for controlling the shift stage of the automatic transmission 16 is executed. In the inertial traveling state in which the accelerator opening degree θacc is zero, the automatic transmission 16 is established with a predetermined gear stage exclusively according to the vehicle speed V and the like, and the clutch C1 is held in the engaged state. In this engine brake traveling, the engine 12 is driven to rotate at a predetermined rotational speed determined according to the vehicle speed V and the gear ratio e, and an engine braking force having a magnitude corresponding to the rotational speed is generated. In addition, since the engine 12 is driven to rotate at a predetermined rotational speed, the amplifying action of the brake operation force Brk by the brake booster 42 using the negative pressure generated by the engine rotation is appropriately obtained, and the control by the brake operation is performed. Power control performance can be obtained sufficiently.

  In addition, the electronic control unit 50 includes a free-run coasting traveling unit 52, a neutral coasting traveling unit 54, a vehicle speed maintaining cruise control unit 56, a follow-up cruise control unit 58, a coasting cruise switching control unit 62 having a cruise control determination unit 60, and the like. I have. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the free-run inertia traveling unit 52 performs the free-run inertia traveling by releasing the clutch C <b> 1 in a state where the fuel cut F / C is performed and the rotation of the engine 12 is stopped. In this case, the engine braking force becomes smaller than that of the engine braking and the clutch C1 is released, so that the engine braking force becomes substantially 0. Therefore, the running resistance is reduced and the running distance by inertia running is increased. , Fuel economy can be improved. Further, the neutral inertia traveling section 54 executes neutral inertia traveling by releasing the clutch C1 while maintaining the rotation of the engine 12 without performing the fuel cut F / C. Also in this case, the engine braking force becomes smaller than the engine braking travel and the clutch C1 is disengaged, so the engine braking force becomes substantially 0. Therefore, the traveling resistance is decreased and the traveling distance by inertia traveling is increased. Although fuel efficiency can be improved, fuel for maintaining the rotational speed of the engine 12 when the accelerator is OFF is necessary. The rotational speed NE of the engine 12 during the neutral inertia running is an idle rotational speed of, for example, about 700 rpm after warming up, but is, for example, about 1200 rpm during warming up or charging.

The vehicle speed maintaining cruise control unit 56 is in a state where the cruise control is activated (turned on) when the main switch is operated by the driver in the cruise control switch 72 and the target vehicle speed set switch is operated by the driver. When the vehicle speed V is set to the target vehicle speed V _a, the output of the engine 12 is controlled by the engine control device 30 so that the target vehicle speed V _a of the vehicle speed V is the driver set by the target vehicle speed set switch is held Car speed maintenance cruise control will be implemented.

The follow-up cruise control unit 58 is activated (turned on) when the main switch of the cruise control switch 72 is operated by the driver, and the target inter-vehicle distance D is operated when the inter-vehicle distance switch 74 is operated by the driver. _{When A} is set, the output of the engine 12 and the braking force of the wheel brake 34 by the engine control device 30 are controlled so that the target inter-vehicle distance D _A is maintained, that is, the vehicle speed follows the preceding vehicle. Follow-up cruise control.

In the above tracking cruise control, if it is determined that the preceding vehicle is present by radar sensor 76, to follow the preceding vehicle a predetermined set vehicle speed V _B to the upper limit. Further, when it is determined that there is no vehicle ahead by radar sensor 76, it travels at the set vehicle speed V _B.

  The cruise control determination unit 60 performs the vehicle speed maintenance cruise control and the follow-up cruise control depending on whether the target vehicle speed set switch or the inter-vehicle distance changeover switch 74 is operated by the driver during the cruise control. To determine whether or not

  When coasting control is performed, the inertial traveling switching control unit 62 can perform two types of freerun inertial traveling and neutral inertial traveling when a coasting start condition including a condition that acceleration is no longer necessary is satisfied. Selectively switch to one of the driving modes. Further, when the inertia running end condition is satisfied, the inertia running so far is ended.

In the above-mentioned free-run inertia running and neutral inertia running, for example, the power transmission path from the engine 12 to the drive wheels 20 is connected by the clutch C1, and the gear stage of the automatic transmission 16 is set to a forward speed greater than a predetermined high speed side gear. In the relatively steady high-speed running state where the vehicle speed V (km / h) is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, for example, the condition that the necessity of acceleration is eliminated when the cruise control is performed is set as the start condition. It should be noted that, when the cruise control is performed, the necessity of the acceleration is eliminated if the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control is, for example, a state in which the vehicle speed V has reached the target vehicle speed _VA. Determine the need for acceleration. Further, in the case of the following cruise control, for example, the acceleration of the vehicle ahead is finished, and the necessity for the acceleration is determined by, for example, the radar sensor 76 or the like.

  When the inertial travel switching control unit 62 determines that the necessity of the acceleration is eliminated when the cruise control is performed, the freerun inertial travel unit 52 performs the freerun when the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control is performed. Inertia travel is started, and when the follow-up cruise control is performed, the neutral inertia travel unit 54 starts neutral inertia travel. The inertial traveling switching control unit 62 switches to engine braking traveling or another traveling mode when at least one of the determination conditions for the relatively high speed steady traveling state is removed and / or when a brake operation is performed. Therefore, the free-run inertia running and the neutral inertia running are terminated.

  FIG. 3 shows a main part of the control operation of the electronic control unit 50, that is, the inertial traveling switching control unit 62 performs the start determination of the free-run inertial traveling or the neutral inertial traveling based on the determination of the cruise control determining unit 60, It is a flowchart explaining the control action which performs the inertial running by which the start determination was carried out. In addition, at the start of FIG. 3, it is determined in the inertial traveling switching control unit 62 that the necessity of the acceleration is eliminated when the cruise control is performed.

  In FIG. 3, in step S <b> 1 (hereinafter, step is omitted) corresponding to the inertial travel switching control unit 62 having the cruise control determination unit 60, cruise control is performed, and in the execution of the cruise control, follow-up cruise control and vehicle speed maintenance are performed. It is determined which of the cruise control is being performed.

  If it is determined in S1 that the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control is being performed, free-run inertia traveling is started in S2 corresponding to the free-run inertia traveling section 52. Further, when it is determined in S1 that the following cruise control is being performed, neutral inertia traveling is started in S3 corresponding to the neutral inertia traveling portion 54.

  As shown in the time chart of FIG. 4, the free-run inertia running started in S <b> 2 is started at time t <b> 1 when it is determined by the cruise control determination unit 60 that the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control is being performed. At the time t1, the clutch C1 is released to release the power transmission path between the drive wheels 20 and the engine 12, and the fuel injection amount to the engine 12 is cut to operate and rotate the engine 12. Is stopped. This state is shown at time t2. Note that in S2, the vehicle-running cruise control in which the followability to the preceding vehicle is not required is performed, so that the free-run inertia running in which the engine 12 is stopped is started, so that the fuel efficiency of the vehicle is improved.

  As shown in the time chart of FIG. 5, the neutral coasting started in S <b> 3 is started at time t <b> 1 when the cruise control determination unit 60 determines that the follow-up cruise control is being performed. At the time t1, the clutch C1 is released to release the power transmission path between the drive wheels 20 and the engine 12, and the engine rotational speed NE decreases toward the idle rotation at that time, and the rotation is performed there. Maintained. This state is shown at time t2. In S3, the neutral inertia traveling in which the engine 12 is autonomously operated is started at the time of performing the following cruise control that requires the following vehicle, so that the following vehicle is ensured. Further, for example, if free-run coasting is performed during tracking cruise control, the engine 12 may start or stop depending on the vehicle ahead, which may give the driver a sense of incompatibility. When the neutral inertia traveling is performed at the time of the cruise control, starting of the engine 12 based on the preceding vehicle is suppressed, and it is preferably suppressed that the driver feels uncomfortable.

  As described above, according to the electronic control device 50 provided in the vehicle drive device 10 of the present embodiment, the free running switching control unit 62 having the cruise control determination unit 60 performs the free run when the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control is performed. Inertia is used, and neutral inertia is used during follow-up cruise control. For this reason, when the follow-up cruise control that requires follow-up to the preceding vehicle is performed, the neutral inertia running in which the engine 12 is independently operated is selected, so that follow-up to the preceding vehicle is ensured. Further, when the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control that does not require followability to the preceding vehicle is performed, the free-run inertia running with the engine 12 stopped is selected, so that the fuel efficiency of the vehicle is improved. Thereby, the improvement of the fuel consumption of the vehicle at the time of implementation of cruise control and securing of the followability to the preceding vehicle can be achieved at the same time.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described in detail based on drawing, this invention is applied also in another aspect.

  In the present embodiment, when the cruise control determination unit 60 determines that the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control is being performed, the free-run inertia traveling is performed, and when it is determined that the following cruise control is being performed, the neutral inertia traveling is performed. However, the neutral coasting need not necessarily be performed when the following cruise control is being performed, and the free-run coasting need not necessarily be performed when the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control is being performed. In other words, according to the present invention, the inertial running execution condition at the time of executing the following cruise control is changed to the side where the neutral inertial driving is more easily performed than the free-run inertial driving, the inertial running execution condition at the time of executing the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control. In addition, the vehicle is changed to a side where it is easier to carry out free-run inertia compared to neutral inertia.

  Further, the follow-up cruise control in the above-described embodiment may be switched to the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control when there is no vehicle ahead even when the follow-up cruise control is being executed, and may be always maintained in the follow-up cruise control. is there. That is, even when the following cruise control is selected, the neutral inertia is always switched regardless of the preceding vehicle when the neutral inertia traveling and the free-run inertia driving are switched in relation to the preceding vehicle, or when the following cruise control is selected. Travel may be carried out.

In the present embodiment, the electronic control unit 50 is provided with the vehicle speed holding cruise control unit 56 and the following cruise control unit 58, but the vehicle speed holding cruise control unit 56 is not necessarily provided. In the electronic control device 50 that is not provided with the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control unit 56 as described above, the following cruise control unit 58 uses the following vehicle with a constant inter-vehicle distance (that is, following cruise control). When the neutral inertia traveling is performed and the vehicle travels at a set vehicle speed V _B without a preceding vehicle (that is, vehicle speed maintaining cruise control), the free-run inertia traveling is performed.

  The above description is only an embodiment, and the present invention can be implemented in variously modified and improved forms based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

12: Engine 20: Drive wheel 50: Electronic control device (travel control device)
52: Free-run inertia traveling unit 54: Neutral inertia traveling unit 60: Cruise control determination unit 62: Inertia traveling switching control unit C1: Clutch (clutch device)

In order to achieve such an object, the gist of the present invention includes (a) an engine and a clutch device that disconnects a power transmission path between the engine and driving wheels, and (b) the engine and the A normal travel that travels by connecting the drive wheels, a free-run coastal travel that separates the engine and the drive wheels during travel and stops the engine to coast, and the engine and the drive wheels during travel Neutral coasting where the engine is driven independently and coasting, the vehicle speed holding cruise control for controlling the vehicle speed to the target vehicle speed set by the driver, and the tracking for controlling the vehicle speed to follow the preceding vehicle vehicle to perform the cruise control, a travel control device, the free-run coasting run during the implementation of (c) the vehicle speed holding cruise control It was carried out, during the implementation of; (d) following cruise control is to perform the free-run coasting or the neutral coasting.

According to the vehicle travel control apparatus configured as described above, the free-run inertia traveling is performed when the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control is performed, and the free-run inertia traveling or the neutral inertia traveling is performed when the follow-up cruise control is performed. Done. For this reason, at the time of performing the follow-up cruise control that requires follow-up to the preceding vehicle, the neutral inertia running where the engine is independently operated can be selected, so that follow-up to the preceding vehicle is ensured. . Further, when the vehicle speed maintaining cruise control that does not require followability to the preceding vehicle is performed, the free-run inertia traveling with the engine stopped is selected, so that the fuel efficiency of the vehicle is improved. Thereby, the improvement of the fuel consumption of the vehicle at the time of implementation of cruise control and securing of the followability to the preceding vehicle can be achieved at the same time.

Claims (1)

An engine, and a clutch device that disconnects a power transmission path between the engine and the drive wheel, and travels by connecting the engine and the drive wheel, and the engine and the drive wheel during traveling A free-run inertia traveling where the engine is stopped and the inertia is stopped, a neutral inertia traveling where the engine and the driving wheel are disconnected while the engine is running independently, and a target set by the driver A vehicle travel control device that performs a vehicle speed holding cruise control that controls a vehicle speed so as to be a vehicle speed, and a tracking cruise control that controls a vehicle speed so as to follow a preceding vehicle,
During the vehicle speed maintenance cruise control, the free-run coasting is performed,
A vehicle travel control device that performs the neutral coasting when the follow-up cruise control is performed.

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