JP4814712B2 - Vehicle switch system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular switch system which is provided in a vehicle such as an automobile and which starts and stops an engine of the vehicle or sets a shift range of an automatic transmission of the vehicle.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, automatic transmissions of various shift ranges such as a plurality of forward (D, 3, 2, L) ranges, reverse (R) ranges, parking (P) ranges, and neutral (N) ranges have been used for vehicles such as automatic cars. There is provided a so-called by-wire type shift device in which the switching is performed electrically in place of the conventional mechanical mechanism. Such a shift device includes a shift member that can be switched to a plurality of shift positions and can be manually operated.

  In addition, the vehicle is electrically connected to the shift device to electrically set (switch) each shift range in the automatic transmission based on an electrical signal output from the shift device in accordance with a shift position of the shift member. A vehicular switch system is provided for control.

  On the other hand, the starting and stopping of the engine of the vehicle is conventionally performed by inserting a key into an ignition switch (start switch) and rotating it. However, in recent years, electrical operation using a push-operated power switch (engine start / stop switch) instead of such a mechanical mechanism has been proposed, and this power switch is incorporated in the above-described vehicle switch system. Yes.

In such a vehicle switch system, the power switch is provided in the vicinity of the shift device, and can be compactly and easily performed within an arrangement region where starting and stopping of the vehicle engine and switching of the shift range are integrated (Patent Document) 1). Further, the engine can be started and stopped only by a pressing operation on the power switch, and an improvement in convenience such as release from the troublesomeness caused by the key insertion and rotation operations is achieved.
JP 2006-159948 A, FIG. 3 etc.

  However, in such a vehicular switch system, the parking operation for setting the vehicle in the parking lock state (switching the automatic transmission to the parking range) must be performed by the shift device. For this reason, for example, when the parking operation and the engine stop are continuously performed in combination, the operation content is complicated. As an example, there is a scene in which a series of continuous operations are performed in which the vehicle is parked in a parking lock state after the vehicle is stopped, and then the engine is further stopped. In such a case, first, the shift member (shift lever) of the shift device (shift lever device) is moved (rotated) to place the shift member once in the parking shift position, and then the power switch is further pressed. It must be operated to stop the engine. That is, in this case, it is necessary to individually operate the two operating systems of the shift device and the power switch, and the operation method is completely different from the shift member moving operation and the power switch pressing operation. Two operations are required. Such a cumbersome operation places a heavy burden on the driver, causes an unexpected operation error, and may develop into an accident or a vehicle failure.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and the purpose of the present invention is, for example, when the vehicle engine is stopped and the parking lock operation is performed by a series of continuous operations. Is to provide a vehicle switch system that can reduce the burden on the driver.

In order to solve the above problems, an invention according to claim 1 is directed to an automatic transmission in which a plurality of types of shift ranges including a parking range can be arbitrarily set, and a parking for switching the automatic transmission to the parking range. An engine start / stop switch, which is installed in a vehicle having an actuator, and is capable of setting an on state in which the engine of the vehicle is started and an off state in which the engine is stopped; and for switching the automatic transmission to a parking range. And a vehicle control unit that transmits a parking signal to the parking actuator, and the engine start / stop switch is operated within a predetermined time when the vehicle is stopped with the engine running. Then, while maintaining the engine in an operating state, the vehicle controller State the automatic transmission from the roll unit said parking signal is sent to the parking actuator to be switched to the parking range, said automatic transmission enters the parking range, and, when the engine is in operation state The gist of the invention is that the engine is immediately stopped by the operation of the engine start / stop switch regardless of the operation time .

According to the configuration of the first aspect, in the state where the vehicle is stopped with the engine operating, the operation of maintaining the engine operating state and the vehicle being parked locked, and the state The operation for stopping the engine can be performed only by the same kind of operation for a single engine start / stop switch.
In addition, when the automatic transmission of the vehicle is in the parking range and the engine of the vehicle is in an operating state, the engine can be stopped immediately regardless of the operation time of the engine start / stop switch. In this case, the operation for stopping the engine can be simplified.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle switch system according to the first aspect, the engine start / stop switch is configured to be capable of pressing operation, and the pressing operation causes the engine to start and the engine to stop. The gist is that the off state can be set.

  According to the configuration of the second aspect, in the state where the vehicle is stopped with the engine operating, the operation state of the engine is maintained and the vehicle is park-locked. The operation of stopping the engine can be performed only by a simple and easy operation of pressing the single engine start / stop switch.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle switch system according to the first or second aspect, the engine start / stop switch is within a predetermined time when the vehicle is stopped with the engine operating. When operated, the operating state of the engine is maintained, while the parking signal is transmitted from the vehicle control unit to the parking actuator so that the automatic transmission is switched to a parking range. The gist of the invention is that when the engine start / stop switch is operated over time, the engine is stopped while the automatic transmission is kept in the parking range.

  According to the configuration of the third aspect, from the state in which the vehicle is stopped with the engine operating, the operation for maintaining the engine operating state and setting the vehicle in the parking lock state, and further the engine from the state. The operation of stopping the engine can be performed only by extending the operation time for the engine start / stop switch (changing the operation time).

  According to the vehicle switch system of the present invention, when the engine stop of the vehicle and the parking lock operation are continuously performed in series, the operation content can be simplified and the burden on the driver can be reduced.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle switch system 1 of the present embodiment includes an automatic transmission 5 in which a plurality of types of shift ranges including a parking range can be arbitrarily set, and the automatic transmission 5 in the parking range. It is provided in an automatic vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as “vehicle”) having a parking actuator 6 for switching.

  The vehicle has an engine 7 that generates motive power for the vehicle, an engine control computer (engine control unit) 8 that is connected to the engine 7 so as to be able to transmit a control signal, and a speed change with respect to the automatic transmission 5. The drive shaft 4 is operatively connected so that the ratio is changed, and the tire 3 is operatively connected so that power from the engine 7 is transmitted to the drive shaft 4. Further, the vehicle is connected to a foot brake 9 (see FIG. 2A) that is operated by a driver (manually) by a driver during braking, and is operatively connected to the foot brake 9, so that a pressing force applied by the driver's foot is pressed. Is provided with a master cylinder 9a that converts the pressure into oil pressure, and a brake cylinder 9b that is operatively connected to the master cylinder 9a and applies braking force to the tire 3 by the oil pressure. The engine 7 is operatively connected to the automatic transmission 5 so that the generated power is transmitted to the tire 3 via the drive shaft 4 at a gear ratio corresponding to the shift range selected by the automatic transmission 5. Has been.

  The vehicle switch system 1 includes a power switch (engine start / stop switch) 11 that is manually operated by a driver, and a switch control computer 12 that is electrically connected to process a contact signal from the power switch 11. And a vehicle control computer (vehicle control unit) 13 electrically connected to receive a control signal from the switch control computer 12. The vehicle switch system 1 is connected to the vehicle control computer 13 so that a parking signal (control signal) can be transmitted to and received from the parking actuator 6. When the parking actuator 6 receives the parking signal transmitted from the vehicle control computer 13 in response to the contact signal from the power switch 11, the parking actuator 6 switches the automatic transmission 5 to the parking range, and the vehicle The parking lock is activated. The vehicle switch system 1 is connected to the vehicle control computer 13 so that an engine start signal or a stop signal (control signal) can be transmitted to and received from the engine control computer 8. When the engine control computer 8 receives an engine start signal or a stop signal from the vehicle control computer 13 in response to the contact signal from the power switch 11, the engine control computer 8 controls the engine 7 in response to the signal. Start or stop.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the power switch 11 is disposed at a substantially central portion of an instrument panel surface 100 (hereinafter referred to as an instrument panel surface 100) of the vehicle. As shown in FIG.2 (b), it arrange | positions in the upper vicinity part of the shift lever apparatus 2 of a vehicle. The shift lever device 2 includes a shift lever 21 and an operation knob 22 attached to the tip of the shift lever 21. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the shift lever device 2 includes a rectangular shift position display surface 2 a that extends along the shift direction and the select direction of the shift lever 21. An “h” -shaped shift pattern (gate pattern) 21 a into which the shift lever 21 is loosely inserted is formed on the shift position display surface 2 a. On the shift position display surface 2a and in the vicinity of the shift pattern 21a, "R (reverse)", "N (neutral)", "D (drive)" corresponding to each shift position of the shift lever 21. , “P (parking)” and “B (regenerative braking)” are displayed. The shift lever 21 is guided along the shift pattern 21a and can be positioned at each of the shift positions “R”, “N”, “D”, “P”, and “B”. Yes. Note that the shift lever device 2 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B is configured as a so-called momentary (self-returning) mechanism, and automatic shift is performed only when the shift lever 21 is positioned at each shift position. When the machine 5 is set to each shift range and released, the machine 5 returns to the neutral position (position immediately above the shift position of “B”) as shown in FIG.

  The power switch 11 can be pressed and can be moved in and out of the instrument panel surface 100. The pressing operation sets an on state in which the engine 7 is started and an off state in which the engine 7 is stopped. It is possible. Specifically, when the driver first presses the power switch 11 from the default (initial) state in a state where the vehicle engine 7 is stopped, the power switch 11 is turned on and the vehicle engine 7 is activated. To do. On the other hand, when the power switch 11 is further pressed from the on state of the power switch 11, the power switch 11 is turned off and the vehicle engine 7 is stopped. The power switch 11 also functions as a parking position switch, and can set a state in which the automatic transmission 5 enters (switches) the parking range (“P” range) by the pressing operation described above.

  The vehicle switch system 1 of the present embodiment is characterized in that it performs the following operations. That is, when the vehicle is stopped with the engine 7 operating, if the power switch 11 is operated within a predetermined time, the vehicle control computer 13 parks the parking actuator 6 while maintaining the operating state of the engine 7. A signal is transmitted and the automatic transmission 5 is switched to the parking range. Specifically, when the power switch 11 is operated within 2 seconds in a state where the vehicle is stopped with the engine 7 operating, the parking actuator 6 is operated from the vehicle control computer 13 while the engine 7 is maintained in the operating state. The parking signal is transmitted to the automatic transmission 5 to be switched to the parking range and the vehicle is in the parking lock state. In this case, the shift range (shift position of the shift lever 21) of the automatic transmission 5 before the operation of the power switch 11 may be any of “R”, “N”, and “D”.

  In the present embodiment, when the power switch 11 is operated within 2 seconds (predetermined time) while the vehicle is stopped with the engine 7 operating, as described above, the engine 7 is in the operating state. On the other hand, a parking signal is transmitted from the vehicle control computer 13 to the parking actuator 6 and the automatic transmission 5 is switched to the parking range. Further, when the power switch 11 is operated for more than 2 seconds (predetermined time), the automatic transmission 5 is maintained in the parking range and the engine 7 is stopped.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the automatic transmission 5 is in the parking range and the engine 7 is in the operating state, the engine 7 is stopped immediately by the operation of the power switch 11 regardless of the operation time. Have been to.

  In this embodiment, the operation time of the power switch 11 is determined by the switch control computer 12 (a program stored in the switch control computer 12) (see FIG. 1). When the operation time is within 2 seconds (predetermined time), a first control signal is transmitted from the switch control computer 12 to the vehicle control computer 13, and vehicle control is performed based on the first control signal. A parking signal is transmitted from the computer 13 to the parking actuator 6, and the automatic transmission 5 is set to the parking range. On the other hand, when the operation time exceeds 2 seconds (predetermined time), a second control signal is transmitted to the vehicle control computer 13, and the vehicle control computer 13 sends the engine control computer 8 based on the second control signal. An engine stop signal is transmitted and the engine 7 is stopped. Here, even when the operation time exceeds 2 seconds, the state where the automatic transmission 5 is in the parking range is maintained.

  Further, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether the engine 7 is operating or stopped, and the automatic transmission 5 is set to the parking range, or is set to another shift range. The vehicle control computer 13 (see FIG. 1) makes a determination as to whether or not the vehicle is present. Specifically, this is performed in the vehicle control computer 13 based on an electrical signal transmitted from the parking actuator 6 or the engine control computer 8. Thus, when the automatic transmission 5 is in the parking range and the vehicle control computer 13 determines (recognizes) that the engine 7 is in the operating state, the power switch 11 is pressed. When operated, an engine stop signal is transmitted from the vehicle control computer 13 to the engine control computer 8 regardless of the operation time. As a result, the engine 7 is controlled by the engine control computer 8, and the engine 7 is immediately stopped.

  The above-described operation contents are summarized in Table 1 below.

また、上述した操作において、車両がエンジン７を作動させたまま停車した状態において、自動変速機５がパーキングレンジ（車両のパーキングロック）に入った状態を解除するには、従来とおり、フットブレーキ９（図２（ａ）参照）を踏んだ状態でシフトレバー２１を「Ｒ」、「Ｎ」、「Ｄ」のいずれかに位置させればよい。

In order to release the state in which the automatic transmission 5 has entered the parking range (vehicle parking lock) when the vehicle is stopped with the engine 7 operating in the above-described operation, the foot brake 9 is used as before. The shift lever 21 may be positioned at any one of “R”, “N”, and “D” in a state of stepping on (see FIG. 2A).

  In the vehicle switch system 1 according to the present embodiment, the operation of switching the power source, which is an operation other than the above-described operation, and the operation of starting the engine 7 and starting the vehicle are the same as in the prior art. That is, in the power switching operation, if the power switch 11 is pressed without stepping on the foot brake 9, according to the operation, (1) power off ⇒ (2) Acc (accessory power) on ⇒ (3) IG (Ignition power) is turned on sequentially (1) Power off. Further, in the operation of starting the engine 7 and starting the vehicle, the engine 7 is started when the power switch 11 is pressed for 2 seconds (predetermined time) or more while the foot brake 9 is stepped on. In order to start the vehicle from this state, the shift lever 21 may be positioned at “R” or “D” with the foot brake 9 depressed. In this case, the above-described parking range (parking lock) state is automatically released. Further, while the vehicle is running, no control signal is transmitted from the vehicle control computer 13 to the parking actuator 6 or the engine control computer 8 regardless of how the power switch 11 is operated. The state before the operation of the power switch 11 is maintained.

According to the vehicle switch system 1 of the present embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained.
(1) According to the present embodiment, when the power switch 11 is operated within 2 seconds (predetermined time) while the vehicle is stopped with the engine 7 operating, the engine 7 maintains the operating state. On the other hand, a parking signal is transmitted from the vehicle control computer 13 to the parking actuator 6 so that the automatic transmission 5 is switched to the parking range. For this reason, in a state where the vehicle is stopped with the engine 7 operating, an operation for maintaining the engine 7 in an operating state, setting the vehicle in a parking lock state, and further an operation for stopping the engine 7 from the state. Can be performed only by the same kind of operation on the single power switch 11. Thereby, a driver | operator's burden can be reduced and the safety | security of a vehicle can be ensured.

  (2) According to the present embodiment, the power switch 11 is configured so as to be able to be pressed, and by the pressing operation, the setting of the on state in which the engine 7 is started and the off state in which the engine 7 is stopped, and the automatic transmission are performed. 5 can enter the parking range. For this reason, in a state where the vehicle is stopped with the engine operating, an operation for maintaining the engine 7 in an operating state and setting the vehicle in a parking lock state, and an operation for stopping the engine 7 from the state. Can be performed only by a simple and easy operation of pressing the single power switch 11. This further reduces the burden on the driver.

  (3) According to the present embodiment, when the power switch 11 is operated within 2 seconds (predetermined time) while the vehicle is stopped with the engine 7 operating, the engine 7 maintains the operating state. At the same time, a parking signal is transmitted from the vehicle control computer 13 to the parking actuator 6, and the automatic transmission 5 is switched to the parking range. If the power switch 11 is further operated for more than 2 seconds, the automatic transmission 5 is maintained in the parking range, and an engine stop signal is transmitted from the vehicle control computer 13 to the engine control computer 8. Thus, the engine 7 is configured to stop. Thereby, from the state where the vehicle is stopped with the engine 7 operating, the operation for maintaining the operating state of the engine 7 and setting the vehicle to the parking lock state, and further stopping the engine 7 from the state. This operation can be performed only by extending the operation time for the power switch 11 (changing the operation time). This further reduces the burden on the driver.

  (4) According to the present embodiment, the operation of the power switch 11 is performed when the automatic transmission 5 is in the parking range (the vehicle is park-locked) and the vehicle engine 7 is in the operating state. Therefore, the engine 7 is immediately stopped regardless of the operation time. For this reason, when the automatic transmission 5 is in the parking range and the engine 7 of the vehicle is in the operating state, the engine 7 can be stopped immediately regardless of the operation time of the power switch 11, In this case, the stopping operation of the engine 7 can be simplified. This further reduces the burden on the driver.

  (5) The power switch 11 is configured so as to be capable of pressing operation, and by the pressing operation, a setting of an on state where the engine 7 is started and an off state where the engine 7 is stopped, and a setting where the automatic transmission 5 enters the parking range. Is possible. That is, in one switch, the functions of the power switch and the parking position switch are shared by changing the operation time. Therefore, the operability is not impaired, the vehicle switch system can be rationalized, the function of switching from the shift device to the parking range can be omitted, and the shift device can be simplified. Further, even if both functions can be shared by the same switch in this way, both the power switch and the parking position switch have a common feature in terms of stopping (stopping) the vehicle (the engine). So there is little risk of confusing the driver. Further, since the power switch 11 of the present embodiment can be used only when the vehicle is stopped, the vehicle can be operated even if the engine 7 is turned off by mistakenly operating the shift range to “P”. There is no danger of sudden stop from running.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows.
In this embodiment, when the power switch 11 is operated within 2 seconds (predetermined time) while the vehicle is stopped with the engine 7 operating, the vehicle control is performed while the engine 7 is maintained in the operating state. A parking signal is transmitted from the computer 13 to the parking actuator 6, and the automatic transmission 5 is switched to the parking range. When the power switch 11 is operated for more than 2 seconds, the automatic transmission 5 is maintained in the parking range and the engine 7 is stopped. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any operation of the power switch 11 may be used as long as the engine 7 is started and stopped and the automatic transmission 5 is set (switched) to the parking range. For example, even if the power switch 11 is not operated for more than 2 seconds, the engine 7 can be configured to stop if the power switch 11 is operated again within the time of 2 seconds. Thus, it is only necessary that the operation of the power switch 11 (parking position switch) serves to both start and stop the engine 7 and to set the automatic transmission 5 to the parking range. According to this, for example, after the vehicle is stopped with the engine 7 operating, the vehicle is set in the parking lock state while the engine 7 is operating, and then the engine 7 is further maintained in the parking lock state. A series of continuous operations of stopping the operation can be performed only by the same kind of operation (pressing operation) on the single power switch 11.

  In the above-described embodiment, the switch control computer 12 is provided in the vehicle switch system 1 and thereby the operation time of the power switch 11 is determined. However, the switch control computer 12 is not necessarily required, and the determination is performed on the vehicle. It is also possible to cause the control computer 13 to perform the process.

  In the above embodiment, the predetermined time (operation time) for the power switch 11 is 2 seconds. However, the predetermined time (operation time) is not limited to this, and it is of course possible to make it shorter than 1 second or 3 seconds or longer. Further, technical ideas that can be grasped from the above-described embodiments and modifications will be described below.

  The vehicle switch system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the engine start / stop switch is disposed in an upper vicinity of a shift device that switches a shift position of the vehicle. system. According to this configuration, the start and stop of the engine of the vehicle and the shift position can be switched in a compact and simple manner, and the visibility of the engine start / stop switch and the shift device is improved and safety is improved. Further enhanced.

The block diagram of the control system for automatic vehicles (vehicle) in which the switch system for vehicles concerning an embodiment of the invention is included. (A) is a perspective view which shows the state in which the vehicle switch system concerning embodiment of this invention was provided in the automatic motor vehicle, (b) is the power switch of the switch system for vehicles, and the shift apparatus of a vehicle The top view which shows the arrangement | positioning state.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle switch system, 5 ... Automatic transmission, 6 ... Parking actuator, 7 ... Engine, 11 ... Power switch (engine start / stop switch), 13 ... Vehicle control computer (vehicle control part).

Claims (3)

Installed in a vehicle including an automatic transmission that can arbitrarily set a plurality of shift ranges including a parking range, and a parking actuator that switches the automatic transmission to the parking range;
An engine start / stop switch capable of setting an on state in which the engine of the vehicle is started and an off state in which the engine is stopped, and a vehicle control for transmitting a parking signal to the parking actuator to switch the automatic transmission to a parking range. A vehicle switch system comprising:
In a state where the vehicle is stopped with the engine operating, if the engine start / stop switch is operated within a predetermined time, the engine is maintained in the operating state, and the vehicle control unit applies the parking actuator to the parking actuator. A parking signal is transmitted so that the automatic transmission is switched to the parking range ;
When the automatic transmission is in a parking range and the engine is in an operating state, the engine is immediately stopped regardless of the operation time by operating the engine start / stop switch. A vehicular switch system. The vehicle switch system according to claim 1,
A switch system for a vehicle, wherein the engine start / stop switch is configured to be freely pressed, and an on state in which the engine is started and an off state in which the engine is stopped can be set by the press operation. In the vehicle switch system according to claim 1 or 2,
When the vehicle is stopped with the engine operating, if the engine start / stop switch is operated within a predetermined time, the operating state of the engine is maintained, while the vehicle control unit switches to the parking actuator. The automatic transmission enters the parking range when the parking signal is transmitted so that the automatic transmission is switched to the parking range, and when the engine start / stop switch is operated beyond the predetermined time. A vehicle switch system in which the engine is stopped while maintaining the state.

Images