JP4039175B2 - Vehicle steering system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle steering apparatus for driving a vehicle in accordance with a driver's operation.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-29017 discloses a steering device for a vehicle which is a linkless power steering device. In this vehicle steering device, the steering wheel is mechanically separated from the steering mechanism (steering mechanism), and in the middle of the steering mechanism, like the steering assist actuator in the conventional power steering device. A configuration in which an electric motor as an actuator for steering is arranged, and the electric motor is driven based on the detection result of the operation direction and the operation amount of the steering wheel, thereby performing the steering according to the operation of the steering wheel It has become.
[0003]
In such a separate type vehicle steering apparatus in which the steering wheel and the steering mechanism are not mechanically connected, even if the steering wheel is operated, the steering mechanism does not operate when the power switch is turned off. Of course, the tires don't move either.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, with respect to such a technique, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-128009 discloses that even when a power switch is turned off accidentally, the vehicle speed is lower than a certain low speed (for example, a stopped state). There has been proposed a vehicle steering apparatus that turns off the power when the state continues for a predetermined time.
[0005]
However, since the power is turned off after stopping for a predetermined time, for example, when it is stopped on a downhill or the like, it starts running again when the brake is released, but even in such a case, the power is turned off. The steering device does not work.
Moreover, in order to always operate the steering device, it may be possible to always turn on a controller or the like for controlling the steering device, but in this case, a backup power source for the controller or the like is required, Cost increases.
[0006]
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a vehicle steering device that can operate the steering device until the driver's motion indicating the intention to stop is detected after the power switch is turned off. Objective.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the vehicle steering apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention detects the operation of the driver indicating the intention to stop in a state where the power switch for turning on / off the power is turned off. In this case, the power supply from the power source to the steering control means for controlling the steering mechanism is stopped.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle steering apparatus comprising: a switch state detecting unit that detects an on / off state of a power switch for turning on / off a power source; a steering control unit that controls a steering mechanism; And a driver intention detection means for detecting a driver's movement indicating a stop intention, and a power switch based on the detection result of the switch state detection means and the detection result of the driver intention detection means. When the driver's movement indicating the intention to stop is detected in the state where is turned off, the connection between the steering control means and the power supply is turned off by the auxiliary switch, and the power supply from the power supply to the steering control means is supplied to the power supply control means. To stop.
[0009]
That is, in the present invention, after the power switch is turned off and the operation of the driver indicating the intention to stop is detected, the power supply to the steering control means that controls the steering mechanism based on the operation of the steering wheel is stopped.
And in this invention, the operation | movement which a driver | operator opens a door is detected as a driver | operator's operation | movement which shows a stop intention.
[0010]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, after the power switch is turned off and detecting the operation of the driver indicating the intention to stop, the power supply to the steering control means for controlling the steering mechanism based on the operation of the steering wheel is stopped. Thus, even after the power switch is turned off, the driver can steer as before the power switch is turned off until the operation of the driver indicating the intention to stop is detected.
[0011]
In addition, by setting the timing to stop power supply based on the driver's intention, the state where steering can be performed based on the driver's intention is maintained. It does not interfere with the will of the person. As a result, it is possible to prevent wasteful use of electric power.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an embodiment of a vehicle steering apparatus according to the present invention.
The steering wheel 1 is connected to the upper end portion of the column shaft 2. The column shaft 2 is not mechanically connected to the steering device 10, that is, the steering wheel 1 and the steering device 10 are mechanically separated. A reaction force generation device (steering reaction force generation motor) 3 that generates a steering reaction force to the steering wheel 1 through the column shaft 2 is attached to the column shaft 2. Further, a sensor unit 4 including a steering angle sensor that detects a steering angle of the steering wheel 1 and a steering torque sensor that detects a steering torque is attached to the column shaft 2.
[0013]
In such a configuration on the steering wheel 1 side, a sensor detection signal S1 indicating the steering angle and steering torque is output from the sensor unit 4 to the steering controller 5 as steering control means, and the reaction force generator 3 includes the steering controller. 5 receives a reaction force command signal S2.
On the other hand, the steering device 10 is configured to steer the wheels 14 a and 14 b by operating a steering mechanism 13 including a knuckle arm and a tie rod by a steering motor 11 via a pinion shaft 12. Here, a rotary encoder 15 that detects the rotation angle of the steered motor 11 is attached to the pinion shaft 12. Further, the steering device 10 is provided with an actual steering angle sensor 16 for detecting an actual steering angle.
[0014]
In such a steering apparatus 10, the sensor detection signal S3 indicating the steering angle from the steering angle sensor (for example, a rotary encoder) 15 and the sensor detection signal S4 indicating the actual steering angle from the actual steering angle sensor 16 are respectively detected by the steering controller. Further, a steering command signal S5 is input from the steering controller 5 to the steered motor 11.
Further, the vehicle includes a vehicle speed sensor 21 for detecting the vehicle speed, an ABS controller 22 for controlling an ABS (anti-lock / brake system) based on the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 21, and a door open / close detection switch 23 for detecting the opening / closing of the door. A door lamp 24 to which power from the battery 25 is supplied by the on / off operation of the door opening / closing detection switch 23 is provided.
[0015]
Here, the ABS controller 22 outputs a vehicle speed signal S6 to the steering controller 5. In addition, a door open / close signal S <b> 7 of the door open / close detection switch 23 is input to the steering controller 5.
The steering controller 5 is configured to control the steering device 10 according to the operation of the steering wheel 1 or to apply a steering reaction force to the steering wheel 1 by the reaction force generation device 3.
[0016]
That is, the steering controller 5 obtains the operation information such as the operation direction and the operation angle of the steering wheel 1 from the sensor detection signal S1 from the sensor unit 4, while the actual steering obtained from the sensor detection signal S4 from the actual steering angle sensor 16. The steering angle deviation from the angle is obtained, the target steering angle is obtained by correcting the steering angle deviation so as to be larger or smaller according to the vehicle speed recognized by the vehicle speed signal S6, and the target steering angle is obtained by the steering command signal S5. The steering control operation for driving the steering motor 11 is performed. At this time, the sensor detection signal S3 from the turning angle sensor 15 is used as a feedback signal for checking whether or not the steering motor 11 has reached a desired rotational position.
[0017]
On the other hand, the steering controller 5 determines the reaction force to be applied to the steering wheel 1, and outputs a reaction force command signal S2 corresponding to the determined reaction force to the reaction force generator 3 to perform reaction force control. Then, a predetermined reaction force is generated on the steering wheel 1.
As described above, the steering wheel 1 and the steering device 10 are not mechanically connected, but the steering device 10 is operated by the steering controller 5 based on the operation of the steering wheel 1.
[0018]
The steering controller 5 that performs such steering control is connected to the battery 25 by the power switch 26 and the backup switch 27. That is, the driving power of the steering controller 5 is turned on / off by the power switch 26, or The battery 25 is supplied by the on / off operation of the backup switch 27.
[0019]
Here, the backup switch 27 is an auxiliary switch for connecting the control controller 5 and the battery 25 separately from the power switch 26, and is turned on / off by an operation command signal S8 from the steering controller 5. Yes. The backup switch 27 may be built in the steering controller 5 as hardware, or may be realized by a program.
[0020]
Next, processing contents to which the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 2 shows the processing procedure.
First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the power switch 26 is on. If the power switch 26 is on, the process proceeds to step S2. For example, the on state of the power switch 26 is detected by the rising edge of the signal when the power switch 26 is turned on.
[0021]
In step S2, the steering controller 5 is turned on, and the steering controller 5 outputs an operation command signal S8 to the backup switch 27 to turn on the backup switch 27.
For example, the process of step S1 and the process of turning on the power of the steering controller 5 in step S2 are performed by, for example, a control controller which is a host controller of the steering controller 5.
[0022]
In step S3, the steering controller 5 starts the steering control as described above in response to the power-on. That is, as described above, the steering device 10 controls the wheels 14a and 14b and controls the reaction force of the steering wheel 1.
Then, the steering controller 5 determines whether or not the power switch 26 is in an OFF state in step S4 while performing such steering control. For example, the off state of the power switch 26 is detected by the falling edge of the signal when the power switch 26 is turned off. Here, when the power switch 26 is in the off state, the steering controller 5 proceeds to step S5.
[0023]
In step S5, the steering controller 5 reads the state of the door open / close detection switch 23. In the subsequent step S6, the steering controller 5 determines whether the door is open from the read state of the door open / close detection switch 23. Here, when the door remains closed, the steering controller 5 performs again the processing such as the steering control from step S3. When the door is open, the steering controller 5 proceeds to step S7.
[0024]
In step S7, the power source of the steering controller 5 is turned off. That is, the steering controller 5 outputs the operation command signal S8 to the backup switch 27, and turns off the backup switch 27. Thereby, the steering controller 5 stops the power supply from the battery 25.
In the above processing, the processing in step S1 and step S4 corresponds to the processing by the steering controller 5 as a switch state detecting function for detecting the on / off state of the power switch 26 for turning on / off the battery 25. The processing in step S5 and step S6 corresponds to the processing of the steering controller 5 as a driver intention detection function for detecting a driver's movement indicating a stop intention in cooperation with the door opening / closing detection switch 23. When the operation of the driver indicating the intention to stop is detected with the power switch 26 turned off based on the detection result by the switch state detection function and the detection result by the driver intention detection function, The switch 27 turns off the connection between the steering controller 5 and the battery 25, and the battery 5 corresponds to the processing of steering controller 5 as a power supply control function for stopping the power supply to the steering controller 5.
[0025]
According to the processing content shown in FIG. 2 as described above, the following operation is performed.
When the power switch 26 is turned on, the steering controller 5 is activated, and the steering controller 5 starts steering control based on the operation of the steering wheel 1.
Thereafter, when the power switch 26 is turned off, the steering control is maintained so as to operate effectively until the door is opened. Accordingly, the driver can steer by operating the steering wheel 1 until the power switch 26 is turned off and the door is opened.
[0026]
When the door is opened, the power supply from the battery 25 to the steering controller 5 is stopped. At this point, the steering device 10 cannot be controlled by the steering controller 5, and the steering device 10 does not work. That is, it is assumed that the driver's intention is “stopped here” (willing to stop) that the door has been opened, and the steering device 10 is not activated at that timing.
[0027]
The effects of the present invention are as follows.
As described above, even if the power switch 26 is turned off, the steering controller 5 is maintained in an effective state so that the steering control works. Therefore, even after the power switch 26 is turned off, the power switch 26 is turned off. As before, the driver can steer.
Therefore, for example, when the vehicle is started to move again after the brake is released on the downhill after the power switch 26 is turned off, when the vehicle is driven with the power switch 26 turned off in order to increase fuel efficiency on the downhill, Even if the power switch 26 is turned off as a result of an unintentional operation caused by catching a key holder or the like, or if a toggle switch or the like is mistakenly operated, the driver is the same as before the power switch 26 is turned off. Can steer.
[0028]
Further, after the power switch 26 is turned off, the state in which the steering control works is maintained until the door is opened. In other words, the opening of the door assumes that the driver's intention is “stopped here”, and the steering device is operated until the driver performs an action indicating such intention.
As described above, since the steering device maintains a working state based on the driver's intention, the driver's intention to steer after turning off the power switch 26 is not hindered. As a result, since the state in which the steering device operates at the optimal time ends, it is possible to prevent the battery 25 from being wasted.
[0029]
Here, in the above-described embodiment, the operation of the driver indicating the intention to stop is detected from the open / closed state of the door using the door opening / closing sensor 23, but the operation of the driver indicating the intention to stop by other means is detected. It can also be detected.
That is, it is possible to detect the operation of the driver to operate the side brake as the operation of the driver indicating the intention to stop. FIG. 3 shows a configuration for realizing this, in which a side brake operation signal S9 of the side brake switch 31 that detects the state of the side brake is inputted to the steering controller 5. A side brake operation lamp 32 to which power from the battery 25 is supplied by the on / off operation of the side brake switch 31 is provided.
[0030]
Thereby, in the process shown in FIG. 2, the steering controller 5 reads the state of the side brake switch 31 by the side brake operation signal S9 in step S5, and from the state of the read side brake switch 31 in the subsequent step S6. It is determined whether or not the side brake is operating. If the side brake is operating, the steering controller 5 outputs an operation command signal S8 to the backup switch 27 and turns off the backup switch 27 in step S7. Thereby, the steering controller 5 stops the power supply from the battery 25.
[0031]
By such processing, when the power switch 26 is turned on, the steering control is maintained to be effectively operated until the side brake is operated. Thus, the driver can steer by operating the steering wheel 1 until the power switch 26 is turned off and the side brake is operated.
When the side brake is operated, the power supply from the battery 25 to the steering controller 5 is stopped, and at this time, the steering device 10 cannot be controlled by the steering controller 5 and the steering device 10 does not work. That is, it is assumed that the driver's intention is “stopped here” (willing to stop) to operate the side brake, and the steering device 10 is not operated at that timing.
[0032]
As described above, the state where the steering control works after the power switch 26 is turned off is maintained until the side brake operates. In other words, activating the side brake assumes that the driver's intention is `` stopped here '' and the steering device is operated until the driver shows such intention. Yes.
As described above, since the steering device maintains a working state based on the driver's intention, the driver's intention to steer after turning off the power switch 26 is not hindered. As a result, since the state in which the steering device operates at the optimal time ends, it is possible to prevent the battery 25 from being wasted.
[0033]
In particular, when the vehicle is stopped and the driver stays in the vehicle for a long time, if the side brake is operated, the power supply from the battery 25 to the steering controller 5 is stopped. Compared to the timing of opening the door, battery waste can be reduced.
Further, the selection operation of the P position (or P range) of the select lever can also be detected as the operation of the driver indicating the intention to stop. FIG. 4 is a configuration for realizing this, and a configuration is such that a position detection signal S10 of a position sensor 41 for detecting the position (or shift position) of the select lever is input to the steering controller 5.
[0034]
Thus, in the process shown in FIG. 2, the steering controller 5 reads the position of the select lever from the position detection signal S10 in step S5, and in step S6, whether the read position of the select lever is the P position. Determine whether or not. If it is the P position, the steering controller 5 outputs an operation command signal S8 to the backup switch 27 and turns off the backup switch 27 in step S7. Thereby, the steering controller 5 stops the power supply from the battery 25.
[0035]
By such processing, when the power switch 26 is turned on, the steering control is maintained so as to operate effectively until the select lever is set to the P position. Thus, the driver can operate the steering wheel 1 until the power switch 26 is turned off and the select lever is set to the P position, thereby causing the vehicle to perform a desired operation.
[0036]
When the select lever is set to the P position, the power supply from the battery 25 to the steering controller 5 is stopped, and at this time, the steering device 10 cannot be controlled by the steering controller 5 and the steering device 10 does not work. That is, it is presumed that the driver's intention is “stopped here” (willing to stop) that the select lever is in the P position, and the steering device 10 is not activated at that timing.
[0037]
As described above, the state where the steering control works after the power switch 26 is turned off is maintained until the select lever is set to the P position. That is, setting the select lever to the P position assumes that the driver's intention is “stopped here”, and the steering device is operated until the driver performs an action indicating such intention. I work.
[0038]
As described above, since the steering device maintains a working state based on the driver's intention, the driver's intention to steer after turning off the power switch 26 is not hindered. As a result, since the state in which the steering device operates at the optimal time ends, it is possible to prevent the battery 25 from being wasted.
In particular, taking the driver's intention to stop based on the fact that the select lever is in the P position as described above is when the vehicle is an automatic vehicle and the driver does not use the parking brake when parking the vehicle. It is effective for.
[0039]
In the above description, the driver's intention to stop is estimated from the open / closed state of the door, the operating state of the side brake, or the selected state of the P position by the select lever. From these multiple states, for example, the state From this combination, the driver's intention to stop may be estimated.
In the above-described embodiment, the driver obtains the operation of opening the door from the state of the door opening / closing detection switch 23, the driver obtains the operation of operating the side brake from the side brake switch 31, The selection operation of the P position of the select lever is obtained from the position sensor 41, but each operation may be obtained using other means.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, in which a driver's operation indicating a stop intention is detected as an operation of a driver opening a door.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing contents to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention and a configuration for detecting a driver's movement indicating a stop intention as a movement of a driver to actuate a side brake.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for detecting a driver's movement indicating a stop intention as a selection movement of a P-position of a select lever in an automatic vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering wheel 3 Reaction force generator 5 Steering controller 10 Steering device 23 Door opening / closing detection switch 25 Battery 26 Power switch 27 Backup switch 31 Side brake switch 41 Position sensor S7 Door opening / closing signal S8 Operation command signal S9 Side brake operation signal S10 Position detection signal

Claims (4)

In the vehicle steering apparatus that controls the steering mechanism based on the operation of the steering wheel without mechanically connecting the steering wheel and the steering mechanism that steers the wheel,
While the power switch for turning on / off the power is turned off, when detecting a motion of the driver indicating the stop intention, stops power supply to the steering control means for controlling the steering mechanism from the power supply and then,
It said stop intention driver's operation indicating the the driver vehicle steering device according to claim operation der Rukoto to open the door. In the vehicle steering apparatus that controls the steering mechanism based on the operation of the steering wheel without mechanically connecting the steering wheel and the steering mechanism that steers the wheel,
A switch state detection means for detecting the on / off state of the power switch for turning on / off the power,
An auxiliary switch for connecting the steering control means for controlling the steering mechanism and the power source;
A driver intention detecting means for detecting a driver's movement indicating a stop intention;
Based on the detection result of the switch state detection means and the detection result of the driver intention detection means, when the operation of the driver indicating the stop intention is detected with the power switch turned off, the auxiliary switch Power supply control means for turning off the connection between the steering control means and the power supply, and stopping power supply from the power supply to the steering control means;
Equipped with a,
It said stop intention driver's operation indicating the the driver vehicle steering device according to claim operation der Rukoto to open the door. Operation of the driver indicating the stop intention, vehicle steering device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that further driver is an operation for operating the parking brake. Operation of the driver indicating the stop intention, vehicle steering apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that further a selecting operation of the P position of the selector lever in the O Matic vehicles.

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