JP2022144678A - Inter-vehicular distance determination device and inter-vehicular distance determination method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an inter-vehicular distance determination device and an inter-vehicular distance determination method capable of curbing energy consumption when follow-up travel is executed.SOLUTION: An inter-vehicular distance determination device comprises: a calculation section which calculates energy consumption amounts that a vehicle consumes on the basis of a set vehicle speed and a travel air volume for respective cases of a plurality inter-vehicular distances preset for follow-up travel; a selection section which selects the inter-vehicular distance, among the plurality of inter-vehicular distances, which corresponds to the least energy consumption amount among the calculated plurality of energy consumption amount; a control section which controls a cooling fan so as to reduce an air blast amount and controls a flow rate adjustment device so as to increase a flow rate of a coolant when a load on the vehicle is predicted to be increased after the follow-up travel on the basis of the selected inter-vehicular distance is started or when the selected inter-vehicular distance is shortest among the plurality of inter-vehicular distances.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to an inter-vehicle distance determination device and an inter-vehicle distance determination method.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there are cases in which a driver's manual operation or computer control causes the own vehicle to follow a preceding vehicle (hereinafter referred to as follow-up traveling). A function that realizes follow-up running by computer control is known as ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control). Generally, in follow-up running, the own vehicle follows the preceding vehicle while maintaining a predetermined inter-vehicle distance (the distance between the front end of the own vehicle and the rear end of the preceding vehicle) based on a predetermined vehicle speed. and run.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-100001 discloses a device that determines whether or not the fuel consumption will deteriorate when the follow-up run is performed.

JP 2017-146858 A

When follow-up running is performed, the running air volume (air resistance) to which the own vehicle receives changes according to the inter-vehicle distance. As a result, the amount of energy consumed by the own vehicle (hereinafter referred to as "consumed energy amount. For example, fuel consumption, electricity consumption, etc.) also changes. Therefore, it is desired to suppress the amount of energy consumption when the follow-up running is performed.

An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an inter-vehicle distance determination device and an inter-vehicle distance determination method capable of suppressing the amount of energy consumption when follow-up driving is performed.

An inter-vehicle distance determination device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a flow rate adjustment device that adjusts the flow rate of a refrigerant used for cooling an in-vehicle device, and a cooling fan that cools the in-vehicle device by blowing air. Based on this, the vehicle is mounted on a vehicle that follows a preceding vehicle while maintaining a set inter-vehicle distance, and each time a plurality of inter-vehicle distances predetermined for follow-up traveling are taken, the set vehicle speed and a calculation unit for calculating an amount of energy consumed by the vehicle based on the amount of airflow received by the vehicle; a selection unit that selects the set inter-vehicle distance as the inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the amount; When the selected inter-vehicle distance is the shortest among the plurality of inter-vehicle distances, the cooling fan is controlled to reduce airflow and the flow control device is controlled to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant. and a control unit for

A vehicle-to-vehicle distance determination method according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a flow rate adjustment device that adjusts the flow rate of a refrigerant used for cooling an in-vehicle device, and a cooling fan that cools the in-vehicle device by blowing air. Based on this, the vehicle follows the preceding vehicle while maintaining a set inter-vehicle distance, and the set vehicle speed and a step of calculating an amount of energy consumed by the vehicle based on the amount of airflow received by the vehicle; a step of selecting the set inter-vehicle distance as the inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the above; controlling the cooling fan to reduce airflow and controlling the flow control device to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant when the determined inter-vehicle distance is the shortest among the plurality of inter-vehicle distances; and have

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress the amount of energy consumption when follow-up running is performed.

Block diagram showing a configuration example of an inter-vehicle distance determination device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure Flowchart showing an operation example of the inter-vehicle distance determination device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure

First, the knowledge leading to the present disclosure will be described.

As described above, in the case of follow-up running, the amount of airflow received by the vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as (also called traveling air volume) changes, the amount of energy consumed by the own vehicle also changes.

Specifically, when the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is short, the amount of running air decreases, so the amount of energy consumed by devices other than the cooling fan (for example, the drive source) decreases, but the amount of energy consumed by the cooling fan increases. On the other hand, when the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is long, the amount of air flow increases, so the amount of energy consumed by the cooling fan decreases, but the amount of energy consumed by devices other than the cooling fan increases.

An object of the present disclosure is to reduce energy consumption when follow-up running is performed.

Next, the configuration of inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an inter-vehicle distance determination device 100. As shown in FIG.

The inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 shown in FIG. 1 is installed in, for example, an automobile (either a passenger car or a commercial vehicle). In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the vehicle equipped with inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 is an electric vehicle that uses only an electric motor as a drive source and consumes only electric power. Further, in the following description, the vehicle equipped with the inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 is also referred to as "own vehicle".

Also, the own vehicle has a cooling fan and a pump in addition to the electric motor. Cooling fans and pumps are electric. The electric motor is cooled by the blowing air generated by the operation of the cooling fan and the refrigerant (for example, cooling liquid) circulating through the piping provided inside the vehicle by the operation of the pump.

Hereinafter, the amount of power consumed to drive the electric motor is referred to as "electric motor power consumption". Also, the amount of power consumed for driving the cooling fan is referred to as "cooling fan power consumption". Also, the amount of power consumed to drive the pump is referred to as "pump fan power consumption".

An electric motor is an example of an "on-vehicle device" and an example of a "device other than a cooling fan." Also, the pump is an example of a "flow rate adjusting device" that adjusts the flow rate of the refrigerant. In addition, the flow rate adjusting device may be realized only by another device (for example, an electric valve), or may be realized by a combination of another device and the pump, instead of being realized only by the pump. .

In the present embodiment, follow-up travel means that the own vehicle follows and travels the preceding vehicle in a state in which no other vehicle is traveling between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle. Further, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the host vehicle has the same vehicle type (same size and shape) as the preceding vehicle to be followed. It is assumed that the condition that the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle are of the same vehicle type is considered in first setting data and second setting data, which will be described later.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the vehicle speed is set (designated or determined) by, for example, a user's operation before or during the follow-up running. The set vehicle speed is hereinafter referred to as "set vehicle speed". The set vehicle speed is notified to the inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 .

In the present embodiment, two different values will be described as an example of the vehicle-to-vehicle distance used during follow-up running. One is called "short inter-vehicle distance" and the other is called "long inter-vehicle distance". The long inter-vehicle distance is longer than the short inter-vehicle distance. Therefore, when a long inter-vehicle distance is taken, compared with a case where a short inter-vehicle distance is taken, the running air volume received by the host vehicle becomes larger. Both the short inter-vehicle distance and the long inter-vehicle distance satisfy safety requirements (for example, requirements included in regulations, guidelines, etc.).

In this embodiment, the follow-up run may be performed manually by the driver of the own vehicle, or may be performed by a computer installed in the own vehicle (steering and acceleration of the own vehicle so that the follow-up run is executed). A device for controlling deceleration, braking, etc. (hereinafter referred to as a follow-up running control device) may perform the control. Note that the follow-up cruise control device may be installed outside the own vehicle.

The vehicle-to-vehicle distance determination device 100 is a device that determines (can be said to select) a vehicle-to-vehicle distance at which power consumption (an example of energy consumption) can be suppressed when the host vehicle follows the vehicle.

Although illustration is omitted, the inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 includes hardware such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing a computer program, a working memory RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. have Each function of the inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 described below is realized by the CPU executing a computer program read from the ROM in the RAM. The inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 may be realized by an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), for example.

As shown in FIG. 1 , inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 has storage unit 110 , calculation unit 120 , selection unit 130 , prediction unit 140 , and control unit 150 .

The storage unit 110 stores, for example, first setting data, second setting data, third setting data, and fourth setting data. Although the details will be described later, the first to third setting data are used by the calculation unit 120, and the fourth setting data is used by the control unit 150. FIG.

The first setting data is data in which the electric motor power consumption is calculated in consideration of air resistance (running air volume) for each vehicle speed in the case of a short inter-vehicle distance and in the case of a long inter-vehicle distance. .

Specifically, the first setting data is defined so that the electric motor power consumption increases as the vehicle speed increases in both cases of a short inter-vehicle distance and a long inter-vehicle distance. However, even if the vehicle speed is the same, the electric motor power consumption for a long inter-vehicle distance is determined to be larger than the electric motor power consumption for a short inter-vehicle distance.

The second setting data is data in which the traveling air volume is determined for each vehicle speed in each of the short inter-vehicle distance and the long inter-vehicle distance.

Specifically, the second setting data is set such that the higher the vehicle speed, the greater the running air volume in both cases of a short inter-vehicle distance and a long inter-vehicle distance. However, even if the vehicle speed is the same, it is determined that the running air volume for a long vehicle-to-vehicle distance is larger than that for a short vehicle-to-vehicle distance. Further, for example, when the short inter-vehicle distance is a distance in which the own vehicle is hardly affected by the traveling air volume, the traveling air volume in the case of the short inter-vehicle distance is set to be substantially zero at any vehicle speed.

The third setting data is data in which the power consumption of the cooling fan is determined for each air volume of the cooling fan (which may also be referred to as air blow volume; hereinafter referred to as fan air volume).

Specifically, the third setting data is defined such that the cooling fan power consumption increases as the fan air volume increases.

The fourth setting data is data in which the power consumption of the pump is determined for each flow rate of the circulating refrigerant (hereinafter referred to as refrigerant flow rate).

Specifically, the fourth setting data is defined such that the pump power consumption increases as the refrigerant flow rate increases.

The first to fourth setting data are created, for example, based on simulations or experiments performed in advance, and stored in the storage unit 110 .

The formats of the first to fourth setting data may be, for example, tables, maps, or other formats.

Based on the set vehicle speed and the first set data, the calculation unit 120 calculates the electric motor power consumption when the short inter-vehicle distance is taken (hereinafter referred to as the first power consumption) and the electric motor power consumption when the long inter-vehicle distance is taken. , the electric motor power consumption (hereinafter referred to as the second power consumption) is calculated.

Based on the set vehicle speed and the second set data, the calculation unit 120 calculates the travel air volume when the short inter-vehicle distance is taken (hereinafter referred to as the first travel air volume) and the travel air volume when the long inter-vehicle distance is taken ( hereinafter referred to as a second traveling air volume).

The calculator 120 calculates the required air amount. The required amount of air is, for example, the amount of air required to cool the electric motor, and is the total value of the running air amount and the fan air amount.

A known method can be used to calculate the required air amount. For example, the calculation formula disclosed in "Fan Basics and Selection (How to Use)" in "SANYO DENKI Technical Report No. 40 Nov. 2015" may be used, or other calculation methods may be used.

Calculation unit 120 calculates a fan air volume (hereinafter referred to as first fan air volume) when a short vehicle-to-vehicle distance is taken, based on the required air volume and the first running air volume. Calculation unit 120 also calculates a fan air volume (hereinafter referred to as a second fan air volume) when a long vehicle-to-vehicle distance is taken, based on the required air volume and the second running air volume.

Specifically, the calculator 120 calculates the first fan air volume by subtracting the first running air volume from the required air volume. Further, the calculation unit 120 calculates the second fan air volume by subtracting the second running air volume from the required air volume.

Based on the first fan air volume, the second fan air volume, and the third setting data, the calculation unit 120 calculates the cooling fan power consumption when the inter-vehicle distance is short (hereinafter referred to as the third power consumption), A cooling fan power consumption amount (hereinafter referred to as a fourth power consumption amount) when a long inter-vehicle distance is taken is calculated.

Calculation unit 120 calculates the total power consumption (hereinafter referred to as the first total power consumption) when the short inter-vehicle distance is taken, based on the first power consumption and the third power consumption. Calculation unit 120 also calculates the total power consumption (hereinafter referred to as the second total power consumption) when the long inter-vehicle distance is taken, based on the second power consumption and the fourth power consumption.

Specifically, the calculator 120 calculates the first total power consumption by adding the third power consumption to the first power consumption. Further, the calculation unit 120 calculates the second total power consumption by adding the fourth power consumption to the second power consumption.

In the present embodiment, the case where calculation section 120 uses the first to third setting data has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the calculator 120 may perform the above various calculations using other data or known calculation formulas instead of the first to third setting data.

Selection unit 130 compares the first total power consumption and the second total power consumption, and selects the inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the smaller value as the inter-vehicle distance to be used for follow-up running. In other words, the inter-vehicle distance selected here is the optimum inter-vehicle distance that can suppress power consumption during follow-up travel (especially when follow-up travel is performed on a flat road with no slope).

Specifically, when the first total power consumption is smaller than the second total power consumption, selection unit 130 selects the short inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the first total power consumption. Alternatively, when the second total power consumption is smaller than the first total power consumption, selection unit 130 selects the long inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the second total power consumption.

In the following description, the inter-vehicle distance selected by selection unit 130 is also referred to as "selected inter-vehicle distance".

The prediction unit 140 predicts the load on the host vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as the load on the host vehicle) after the start of follow-up running based on the selected inter-vehicle distance. Specifically, the prediction unit 140 predicts whether the load on the host vehicle will increase, decrease, or remain unchanged after the follow-up running based on the selected inter-vehicle distance has been performed for a predetermined time.

For example, the prediction unit 140 predicts that the load on the vehicle will increase based on the gradient of the road on which the follow-up run is scheduled (hereinafter also simply referred to as the gradient) when the vehicle is scheduled to climb. When a slope is scheduled, the load on the vehicle is predicted to decrease, and when neither climbing nor descending is scheduled, the load on the vehicle is predicted to remain unchanged (no change).

Note that the gradient may be, for example, a value defined in map information (for example, stored in the storage unit 110), or may be calculated by the prediction unit 140 (which may be the calculation unit 120), the altitude of the current position, It may be calculated based on a comparison with the elevation of a forward position (a position a predetermined distance away from the current position). The altitude referred to here may be, for example, a value defined in map information.

Here, as an example, it is assumed that the load on the vehicle is predicted based on the gradient of the road on which the vehicle is to be traveled. etc.).

For example, when the prediction unit 140 predicts that the load on the host vehicle will increase, the control unit 150 controls the cooling fan to decrease the fan air volume and controls the pump to increase the coolant flow rate. This control is hereinafter also referred to as "cooling means control".

As described above, the fan air volume when the selected inter-vehicle distance is taken is determined (for example, the above-described first fan air volume or second fan air volume). The fan air volume when the cooling means control is executed (hereinafter referred to as the post-control fan air volume) is a smaller value than the fan air volume when the selected inter-vehicle distance is taken (for example, the first fan air volume or the second fan air volume). is.

Also, when the cooling means control is started, it is assumed that the normal circulation control (for example, the control for circulating the refrigerant at the flow rate necessary to bring the electric motor to the target temperature) has already been performed. It is also assumed that the cooling means control is performed in addition to the normal circulation control. Therefore, the refrigerant flow rate when the cooling means control is executed (hereinafter referred to as the post-control refrigerant flow rate) is a value larger than the refrigerant flow rate when only the normal circulation control is performed (hereinafter referred to as the normal refrigerant flow rate). .

In the cooling means control, the control unit 150 determines the power consumption of the cooling fan to achieve the controlled fan air volume and the power consumption of the pump to achieve the controlled refrigerant flow rate, based on the third setting data and the fourth setting data. is equal to or less than the cooling fan power consumption (e.g., third power consumption or fourth power consumption) when the selected inter-vehicle distance (e.g., short inter-vehicle distance or long inter-vehicle distance) is taken. , controls cooling fans and pumps.

Here, a case where the selected inter-vehicle distance is a long inter-vehicle distance will be described as an example. In addition, a fan air volume smaller than the second fan air volume (fan air volume when a long inter-vehicle distance is taken as described above) is referred to as "fan air volume a" (an example of fan air volume after control), and the fan air volume a is Assume that the realized power consumption of the fan is referred to as "power consumption A". A refrigerant flow rate higher than the normal refrigerant flow rate is referred to as "refrigerant flow rate b" (an example of the refrigerant flow rate after control), and the power consumption of the pump at which the refrigerant flow rate b is realized is referred to as "power consumption B." Further, the running air volume of the own vehicle when a long vehicle-to-vehicle distance is taken at a predetermined set vehicle speed is referred to as "running air volume x".

In this case, control unit 150 controls the cooling fan and pump so that the sum of power consumption A and power consumption B is as small as possible within the range of the fourth power consumption or less. Furthermore, the control unit 150 determines that the temperature that can be lowered by the required air volume (fan air volume a + traveling air volume x) and the refrigerant flow rate b can be lowered by the required air volume (second fan air volume + traveling air volume x). Control the cooling fans and pumps so that the temperature is as close as possible.

In other words, cooling means control compensates for the heat dissipation realized by the reduced fan air volume by increasing the refrigerant, and the total of the cooling fan power consumption and the pump power consumption at that time is assumed. It can be said that the control is performed so as to be as small as possible within the range below the value (cooling fan power consumption when the selected inter-vehicle distance is taken and the refrigerant flow rate is not increased).

The cooling means control may be started before the current inter-vehicle distance is changed to the selected inter-vehicle distance, or may be started when the current inter-vehicle distance is changed to the selected inter-vehicle distance.

Control unit 150 may also output information indicating the inter-vehicle distance selected by selection unit 130, ie, the selected inter-vehicle distance (hereinafter referred to as inter-vehicle distance information) to a predetermined device.

Examples of output destinations of inter-vehicle distance information include the above-mentioned follow-up running control device, a notification device mounted on the own vehicle (for example, a display, a speaker, etc. provided in the vehicle interior), a device installed outside the own vehicle ( For example, a computer used in a management center of own vehicle, etc.).

For example, when inter-vehicle distance information is output to the follow-up cruise control device, the follow-up cruise control device controls follow-up travel of the host vehicle so that the inter-vehicle distance indicated by the inter-vehicle distance information is maintained. As a result, follow-up running with reduced power consumption is realized.

Further, for example, when the inter-vehicle distance information is a notification device (for example, a display, a speaker, etc.), the notification device notifies the inter-vehicle distance indicated by the inter-vehicle distance information. Therefore, the occupant (for example, the driver) of the host vehicle can grasp the selected inter-vehicle distance. Therefore, for example, when follow-up running is performed by a manual operation of the driver, the driver can perform acceleration/deceleration operations so as to maintain the notified inter-vehicle distance. As a result, follow-up running with reduced power consumption is realized. Further, for example, when the follow-up run is performed by the follow-up run control device without manual operation, the occupant sets the selected inter-vehicle distance used for the follow-up run in advance (before the current inter-vehicle distance is changed). can know.

Note that the inter-vehicle distance information may be output to a plurality of output destinations described above.

The configuration of the inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 has been described above.

Next, the operation of the inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the inter-vehicle distance determination device 100. As shown in FIG.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 2 is started, for example, when the inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 receives an inter-vehicle distance determination instruction. The inter-vehicle distance determination instruction is an instruction to determine the inter-vehicle distance.

First, calculation unit 120 calculates a first power consumption amount and a second power consumption amount based on the set vehicle speed and the first setting data (step S1).

Next, the calculator 120 calculates the first running air volume and the second running air volume based on the set vehicle speed and the second set data (step S2).

Next, the calculator 120 calculates the required air amount (step S3).

Next, the calculation unit 120 calculates the first fan air volume based on the required air volume and the first running air volume, and calculates the second fan air volume based on the required air volume and the second running air volume (step S4 ).

Next, the calculator 120 calculates a third power consumption and a fourth power consumption based on the first fan air volume, the second fan air volume, and the third setting data (step S5).

Next, the calculation unit 120 calculates a first total power consumption based on the first power consumption and the third power consumption, and calculates a second total power consumption based on the second power consumption and the fourth power consumption. A power consumption amount is calculated (step S6).

Next, the selection unit 130 compares the first total power consumption and the second total power consumption, and selects the inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the smaller value (step S7).

Next, the prediction unit 140 predicts the load on the host vehicle (step S8).

If the prediction unit 140 predicts that the load on the host vehicle will increase (step S8: YES), the control unit 150 controls the cooling fan to reduce the fan air volume and operates the pump to increase the refrigerant flow rate. is controlled (step S9). As a result, the amount of fan air generated by the operation of the cooling fan is reduced, while the amount of refrigerant circulated by the operation of the pump is increased.

If the prediction unit 140 predicts that the load on the host vehicle will not increase (step S8: NO), the flow ends.

After the flow described above, the control unit 150 may output the inter-vehicle distance information indicating the inter-vehicle distance selected in step S7 to a predetermined device.

Also, the order of steps S1 to S5 described above is an example, and is not limited to the illustration in FIG. For example, the order of steps S2 and S3 may be reversed. Also, for example, step S1 may be performed after steps S2 to S5.

The operation of the inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 has been described above.

As described above, the inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 according to the present embodiment provides the total power consumption (cooling fan power consumption + cooling power consumption of devices other than fans (e.g. electric motors)) and total power consumption when a long inter-vehicle distance is taken (power consumption of cooling fans + devices other than cooling fans (e.g. electric motors) power consumption) are calculated and compared, and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance corresponding to the smaller total power consumption is selected. Further, the following distance determination device 100 controls the cooling fan so as to reduce the amount of air blown when an increase in the load on the own vehicle is predicted after the follow-up running based on the selected following distance is started, and It is characterized by controlling the pump so as to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant. As a result, it is possible to accurately suppress the amount of energy consumption when the follow-up running is performed.

It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the description of the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Modifications will be described below.

[Modification 1]
In the embodiment, the case where the vehicle (that is, own vehicle) equipped with inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 is an electric vehicle that runs using only electric power and consumes only electric power has been described as an example. , but not limited to.

For example, the own vehicle may be an automobile driven only by an internal combustion engine that burns fuel (for example, gasoline or light oil), or an automobile driven by both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. good too.

In these automobiles, fuel (an example of consumed energy) is consumed to drive the internal combustion engine, and electric power (an example of consumed energy) is consumed to drive the cooling fan. Therefore, the total energy consumption (in the embodiment, the first total power consumption and the second total power consumption) used for the final comparison described in the embodiment is either fuel consumption or power consumption. It is preferable to be unified as much as possible.

For example, a case where the own vehicle uses only an internal combustion engine as a drive source will be described as an example. In that case, a first fuel consumption amount and a second fuel consumption amount are calculated instead of the first power consumption amount and the second power consumption amount described in the embodiment. Further, the third power consumption and the fourth power consumption (both power consumption of the cooling fan) described in the embodiment are calculated based on a predetermined conversion ratio. Convert to fuel amount. Then, a first total fuel consumption is calculated by adding the third fuel consumption to the first fuel consumption, and a second total fuel consumption is calculated by adding the fourth fuel consumption to the second fuel consumption. Then, the first total fuel consumption amount and the second total fuel consumption amount are compared, and the inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the smaller value is selected.

Therefore, even in a vehicle that consumes both fuel and electric power, it is possible to select an inter-vehicle distance that can suppress the amount of energy consumption (the amount of fuel consumption + the amount of power consumption).

[Modification 2]
In the embodiment, the case where there are two vehicle-to-vehicle distances to be selected, a short vehicle-to-vehicle distance and a long vehicle-to-vehicle distance, has been described as an example, but three or more vehicle-to-vehicle distances may be selected.

When three or more vehicle-to-vehicle distances for following travel are set as selection targets, vehicle-to-vehicle distance determination device 100 calculates the total energy consumption corresponding to each vehicle-to-vehicle distance. As a result, three or more total energy consumption amounts are calculated. Then, the inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 selects the inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the smallest total energy consumption amount among the three or more inter-vehicle distances to be used for follow-up running. Select as distance.

[Modification 3]
In the embodiment, the case where the total power consumption is calculated based on the electric motor power consumption and the cooling fan power consumption has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. In other words, the power consumption used for the total power consumption other than the cooling fan power consumption is not limited to the power consumption of only the electric motor.

For example, the power consumption of a plurality of devices other than the cooling fan may be used instead of the electric motor power consumption. Examples of the plurality of devices include, in addition to the electric motor, an air conditioner condenser, an electric circuit, a battery, and a mounting (e.g., a refrigerator, etc.). good.

[Modification 4]
In the embodiment, the inter-vehicle distance determination device 100 is described as being separate from the follow-up cruise control device, but the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, the control unit 150 may have the same function as the follow-up cruise control device described above, in addition to the function of executing the cooling means control described above. That is, the control unit 150 may have a function of controlling the steering, acceleration/deceleration, and braking of the own vehicle so that follow-up running is performed.

[Modification 5]
In the embodiment, the case where the cooling means control is performed on the condition that the load on the host vehicle is predicted to increase has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, cooling means control may be performed when the inter-vehicle distance is shortened.

For example, in the above embodiment, when the short inter-vehicle distance is selected by the selector 130, the controller 150 may control the cooling means.

Further, for example, when three or more inter-vehicle distances for following travel are set as selection targets (see Modification 2), the control unit 150, when the shortest inter-vehicle distance is selected by the selection unit 130, Cooling means control may be performed.

Further, for example, when the vehicle-to-vehicle distance selected by the selection unit 130 is taken, if the running air volume is equal to or less than a predetermined air volume (for example, a value close to zero), the control unit 150 controls the cooling means may be controlled.

In addition, in this modification, since it is not necessary to predict the load on the own vehicle, the prediction unit 140 may be omitted from the components shown in FIG.

The modifications described above may be implemented in combination as appropriate.

The inter-vehicle distance determination device and the inter-vehicle distance determination method of the present disclosure are useful when following a vehicle.

100 inter-vehicle distance determination device 110 storage unit 120 calculation unit 130 selection unit 140 prediction unit 150 control unit

Claims (8)

A preceding vehicle that is equipped with a flow rate adjusting device that adjusts the flow rate of a refrigerant used for cooling an on-vehicle device and a cooling fan that cools the on-vehicle device by blowing air, while maintaining a set inter-vehicle distance based on a set vehicle speed. It is mounted on a vehicle that follows the
The amount of energy consumed by the vehicle is calculated based on the set vehicle speed and the traveling wind volume received by the vehicle each time each of a plurality of vehicle-to-vehicle distances predetermined for follow-up driving is taken. a calculation unit;
a selection unit that selects, from among the plurality of inter-vehicle distances, the inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the smallest energy consumption amount among the plurality of calculated energy consumption amounts as the set inter-vehicle distance;
If an increase in the load on the vehicle is expected after the follow-up run based on the selected inter-vehicle distance is started, or if the selected inter-vehicle distance is the shortest among the plurality of inter-vehicle distances, air blow volume a control unit that controls the cooling fan to reduce the flow rate of the refrigerant and controls the flow rate adjustment device to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant;
Inter-vehicle distance determination device. further comprising a prediction unit that predicts an increase in the load;
The prediction unit
Based on the slope of the road on which follow-up travel is scheduled, predicting that the load will increase if a climb is scheduled.
The inter-vehicle distance determination device according to claim 1. The energy consumption calculated by the calculation unit is
A value obtained by summing the amount of energy consumed by the cooling fan and the amount of energy consumed by devices other than the cooling fan,
The inter-vehicle distance determination device according to claim 1 or 2. The energy consumption of the cooling fan is
Calculated based on the air volume of the cooling fan, which is the difference between the air volume required to cool devices other than the cooling fan and the running air volume received by the vehicle,
The inter-vehicle distance determination device according to claim 3. The control unit
further comprising a function of controlling steering, acceleration/deceleration, and braking of the vehicle so that the follow-up running is performed based on the selected inter-vehicle distance;
The inter-vehicle distance determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The control unit
outputting information indicating the selected inter-vehicle distance to a follow-up cruise control device that controls steering, acceleration/deceleration, and braking of the vehicle so that the follow-up run is performed;
The inter-vehicle distance determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The control unit
outputting information indicating the selected inter-vehicle distance to a notification device mounted on the vehicle for notifying the information to an occupant of the vehicle;
The inter-vehicle distance determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A preceding vehicle that is equipped with a flow rate adjusting device that adjusts the flow rate of a refrigerant used for cooling an on-vehicle device and a cooling fan that cools the on-vehicle device by blowing air, while maintaining a set inter-vehicle distance based on a set vehicle speed. It is done in a vehicle that follows the
The amount of energy consumed by the vehicle is calculated based on the set vehicle speed and the traveling wind volume received by the vehicle each time each of a plurality of vehicle-to-vehicle distances predetermined for follow-up driving is taken. a step;
selecting, from among the plurality of inter-vehicle distances, the inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the smallest energy consumption amount among the plurality of calculated energy consumption amounts as the set inter-vehicle distance;
If an increase in the load on the vehicle is expected after the follow-up run based on the selected inter-vehicle distance is started, or if the selected inter-vehicle distance is the shortest among the plurality of inter-vehicle distances, air blow volume and controlling the cooling fan to decrease the flow rate of the coolant and controlling the flow regulator to increase the flow rate of the coolant.
Inter-vehicle distance judgment method.

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