JP6229434B2 - Vehicle control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device used in a vehicle including a range switching mechanism for switching a shift range of an automatic transmission using an electric actuator as a power source and an electric parking brake device.

  In a vehicle, a so-called shift that switches the shift range of an automatic transmission to a target range by detecting a driver's range switching operation with a switch or the like and operating an electric range switching mechanism based on the detection result. There is a by-wire range switching control system. An electric parking brake device that operates a parking brake by an electric actuator is also known. And when an operation signal is given to the electric parking brake device, there is a control device that automatically switches the shift range of the automatic transmission from the travel range to the parking range or the neutral range (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-12981

  The above control device is effective in terms of safety so that the vehicle does not move, but since the shift range of the automatic transmission is switched regardless of the driver's intention, there may be a problem in terms of convenience. is there. For example, even when the driver wants to stop a little, the shift range of the automatic transmission is automatically switched to the parking range or the neutral range. For this reason, the driver takes time when the vehicle restarts.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control device that can achieve both convenience and safety.

  A vehicle using the vehicle control device of the first invention uses a first electric actuator as a power source, a range switching mechanism for switching a shift range of an automatic transmission between a plurality of ranges including a parking range, and a braking request. Is provided, and the second electric actuator operates to operate the parking brake.

And the control apparatus for vehicles of 1st invention is provided with a failure determination means and a switching means.
The failure determination means determines whether or not the electric parking brake device has failed when a braking request is given to the electric parking brake device. The switching means switches the shift range of the automatic transmission to the parking range by the range switching mechanism when it is determined by the failure determination means that the electric parking brake device has failed.

  According to this vehicle control device, when a braking request is given to the electric parking brake device, if the electric parking brake device is out of order, the shift range of the automatic transmission automatically becomes the parking range. Therefore, even if the electric parking brake device breaks down and the parking brake does not operate, the vehicle can be prevented from moving, and safety can be ensured.

  In addition, when the braking request is given to the electric parking brake device, the vehicle control device shifts the automatic transmission when the electric parking brake device is not broken and the parking brake operates normally. Do not change the range. For this reason, the stop state of the vehicle is ensured by the electric parking brake device, and the shift range of the automatic transmission is not changed from the shift range intended by the driver, so the convenience is not impaired.

From the above, according to the vehicle control device of the first invention, it is possible to achieve both convenience and safety.
In addition, the code | symbol in the parenthesis described in the claim shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later as one aspect, Comprising: The technical scope of this invention is limited is not.

It is a block diagram showing the whole control system of a 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart showing range switching control processing. It is a flowchart showing the automatic P range switching process of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the effect | action of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the automatic P range switching process of 2nd Embodiment.

Below, the control apparatus for vehicles of embodiment with which this invention was applied is demonstrated.
[First Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle in which a transmission control device 1 as a vehicle control device of an embodiment is used includes an automatic transmission 3 and an electric parking brake device 5.

The automatic transmission 3 is provided with a range switching mechanism 7 using a motor 6 as an electric actuator as a power source, and a hydraulic control valve 9 for changing the gear ratio of the automatic transmission 3.
The range switching mechanism 7 changes the shift range of the automatic transmission 3 into, for example, a parking range (hereinafter referred to as P range), a neutral range (hereinafter referred to as N range), a drive range (hereinafter referred to as D range), a reverse range ( This is for switching between the first speed range and the second speed range. Which of the above ranges is switched by the range switching mechanism 7 is controlled by a drive signal to the motor 6.

  Although one hydraulic control valve 9 is shown in FIG. 1, there are actually a plurality of hydraulic control valves 9. The open / close state of the plurality of hydraulic control valves 9 is controlled by the transmission control device 1 so that the gear ratio of the automatic transmission 3 changes.

The electric parking brake device 5 includes an electric actuator 11 and a parking brake 13 that is operated by the electric actuator 11.
The parking brake 13 is connected to the electric actuator 11 by a cable 15. The electric actuator 11 includes, for example, a motor (not shown) as a power source, and when a signal as a braking request (hereinafter referred to as a PB request signal) is given, the motor rotates and is driven by the driving force of the motor. Pull the cable 15. When the cable 15 is pulled by the electric actuator 11, the parking brake 13 is actuated to brake the wheels of the vehicle. The cable 15 is provided with a tension sensor 17 that detects the tension of the cable 15. The parking brake 13 is provided on each of the left and right rear wheels of the vehicle, for example.

The electric actuator 11 of the electric parking brake device 5 is given a PB request signal from the parking brake control device 19.
The parking brake control device 19 includes a microcomputer as a main part, and outputs a PB request signal to the electric actuator 11 when detecting that a parking brake switch 21 provided in the vehicle is turned on. Then, the parking brake 13 is operated.

  The parking brake control device 19 also outputs a PB request signal to the electric actuator 11 even when other braking execution conditions are satisfied. For example, the parking brake control device 19 outputs a PB request signal when it detects that the vehicle has stopped on an uphill road with a predetermined gradient or more based on a signal from a gradient sensor 23 that detects the inclination of the vehicle in the front-rear direction. Then, the parking brake 13 is automatically operated.

  The transmission control device 1 includes a signal from a selection range detection device 27 that detects a shift range (hereinafter referred to as a selection range) of the automatic transmission 3 selected by the driver operating the shift lever 25, a vehicle speed sensor, and the like. 29, a PB request signal from the parking brake control device 19, a signal from the tension sensor 17, and the like are input. The selection range detection device 27 detects, for example, the operation position of the shift lever 25 by the driver as the selection range, and outputs a signal indicating the detected selection range to the transmission control device 1.

  The transmission control device 1 includes a microcomputer 31, an input circuit 33 that inputs a signal input from the outside of the transmission control device 1 to the microcomputer 31, and a motor 6 and hydraulic control according to a command from the microcomputer 31. An output circuit 35 that outputs a drive signal to the valve 9 is provided. The microcomputer 31 includes a CPU 41, a ROM 42 that stores programs executed by the CPU 41, and a RAM 43 that stores calculation results and the like by the CPU 41. The processing performed by the microcomputer 31 is realized by the CPU 41 executing a program in the ROM 42.

Next, processing performed by the microcomputer 31 will be described.
The microcomputer 31 performs the range switching control process of FIG. 2 at regular time intervals, for example.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the microcomputer 31 starts executing the range switching control process, first, in S100, the selected range detection device 27 determines whether or not the driver has performed a shift operation (that is, an operation of the shift lever 25). The determination is based on the signal from

  If it is determined that there is no shift operation (S100: NO), the microcomputer 31 ends the range switching control process as it is. If it is determined that there is a shift operation (S100: YES), S110 is performed. Then, the selection range is detected based on the signal from the selection range detection device 27.

  In step S120, the microcomputer 31 determines whether or not the selected range is the same as the current shift range of the automatic transmission 3 (hereinafter referred to as the current range), and the selected range and the current range are the same. If so, the range switching control process is terminated, but if the selected range and the current range are not the same, the process proceeds to S130.

  In S <b> 130, the microcomputer 31 performs processing for changing the shift range of the automatic transmission 3 to the selected range by the range switching mechanism 7. Specifically, a drive signal for setting the actual shift range to the selected range is output to the motor 6 of the range switching mechanism 7. Thereafter, the microcomputer 31 ends the range switching control process.

The microcomputer 31 switches the shift range of the automatic transmission 3 according to the driver's shift operation by performing this range switching control process.
On the other hand, for example, when the shift range of the automatic transmission 3 is controlled to the D range, the microcomputer 31 performs a shift control process for controlling the gear ratio of the automatic transmission 3. In the shift control process, the microcomputer 31 calculates a target gear ratio from the vehicle speed (vehicle traveling speed) detected based on a signal from the vehicle speed sensor 29, and the gear ratio of the automatic transmission 3 becomes the target gear ratio. As described above, the drive signal is output to the hydraulic control valve 9 to control the open / close state of the hydraulic control valve 9.

  Further, the microcomputer 31 also executes the automatic P range switching process of FIG. 3 at regular time intervals, for example. The automatic P range switching process is executed in parallel, for example, in the form of the above-described range switching control process and shift control process and multitasking.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when starting the automatic P range switching process, the microcomputer 31 first determines in S210 whether or not the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a predetermined value Vth. The predetermined value Vth is 0 or a value that can be regarded as 0 (a value that the vehicle is considered to be stopped). Even if the shift range of the automatic transmission 3 is switched to the P range, the automatic transmission 3 is damaged. It is the value of the vehicle speed that does not give. The predetermined value Vth is most preferably 0.

  If the microcomputer 31 determines that the vehicle speed is not equal to or less than the predetermined value Vth, the microcomputer 31 ends the automatic P range switching process as it is. If it determines that the vehicle speed is equal to or less than the predetermined value Vth, the microcomputer 31 proceeds to S220. move on.

  In S220, the microcomputer 31 determines whether or not the current range is the P range. If the current range is the P range, the microcomputer 31 terminates the automatic P range switching process as it is, but the current range is not the P range. If it is other than the P range, the process proceeds to S230.

  In S230, the microcomputer 31 determines whether or not the aforementioned PB request signal is given to the electric parking brake device 5 (specifically, to the electric actuator 11). When the PB request signal is not given to the electric parking brake device 5, the microcomputer 31 ends the automatic P range switching process as it is, but the PB request signal is given to the electric parking brake device 5. In the case, the process proceeds to S240.

  In S240, the microcomputer 31 determines whether or not the electric parking brake device 5 has failed. In this example, when the PB request signal is given to the electric parking brake device 5 but the tension of the cable 15 detected by the tension sensor 17 is below a specified value, the electric parking brake device 5 breaks down. It is determined that As another example, a process for detecting a failure of the electric parking brake device 5 is performed by a device other than the transmission control device 1 (for example, the parking brake control device 19). In S240, a failure detection result is obtained from the device. You may receive via a communication line etc. and may determine the presence or absence of a failure.

When the microcomputer 31 determines that the electric parking brake device 5 has not failed (S240: NO), the microcomputer 31 ends the automatic P range switching process as it is.
If the microcomputer 31 determines that the electric parking brake device 5 has failed (S240: YES), the microcomputer 31 proceeds to S250. In this case, it is considered that the parking brake 13 is not normally operated, for example, because the electric actuator 11 is not operated or the cable 15 is disconnected.

  In S250, the microcomputer 31 performs processing for changing (switching) the shift range of the automatic transmission 3 to the P range by the range switching mechanism 7. Specifically, a drive signal for changing the actual shift range to the P range is output to the motor 6 of the range switching mechanism 7. Thereafter, the microcomputer 31 ends the automatic P range switching process.

  When the shift range of the automatic transmission 3 is changed to the P range by S250 of the automatic P range switching process, the microcomputer 31 performs the automatic operation until detecting that the driver has performed a predetermined release operation, for example. The state where the shift range is the P range is maintained without performing the P range switching process and the range switching control process of FIG. An example of the release operation is an operation of moving the shift lever 25 to some range position while depressing the brake pedal.

Next, the operation of the automatic P range switching process will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the vehicle stops when the shift range of the automatic transmission 3 is, for example, the D range, and a PB request signal is given to the electric parking brake device 5 (PB request). Signal is “Yes”). In this case, if the electric parking brake device 5 is normal, the microcomputer 31 determines NO in S240 of FIG. 3, and does not change the shift range. For this reason, the stop state of the vehicle is ensured by the electric parking brake device 5 (parking brake 13). And since the shift range unintended by the driver is not implemented, the convenience of the driver (vehicle user) is not impaired.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D, the vehicle stops when the shift range of the automatic transmission 3 is, for example, the D range, and a PB request signal is given to the electric parking brake device 5 to It is assumed that the electric parking brake device 5 has failed in a state where the parking brake device 5 ensures the vehicle stop state. Then, the microcomputer 31 determines YES in S240 of FIG. 3 and switches the shift range to the P range (S250). For this reason, even if the electric parking brake device 5 breaks down and the parking brake 13 does not operate, the vehicle can be prevented from moving by automatic switching to the P range, and safety can be ensured.

  Although illustration is omitted, if the electric parking brake device 5 has failed before receiving the PB request signal, the microcomputer 31 immediately displays the PB request signal to the electric parking brake device 5 as soon as it is given. 3 is determined as YES in S240, and the shift range is switched to the P range (S250). Therefore, also in this case, safety can be ensured by not moving the vehicle.

Thus, according to the transmission control device 1 of the present embodiment, both convenience and safety can be achieved.
Also, the microcomputer 31 performs at least the process of S250 (the process of switching the shift range to the P range) in the process of FIG. 3 when it is determined that the vehicle speed is equal to or less than the predetermined value Vth. For this reason, even if the shift range is switched to the P range, the automatic transmission 3 can be prevented from being damaged.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the transmission control device 1 according to the second embodiment will be described. As the reference numeral of the transmission control device, the same “1” as in the first embodiment is used. The same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are used for the same components and processes as those in the first embodiment.

  Compared to the transmission control device 1 of the first embodiment, the transmission control device 1 of the second embodiment is configured such that the microcomputer 31 replaces the automatic P range switching processing of FIG. 3 with the automatic P range switching processing of FIG. 1 and the point that a signal from the gradient sensor 23 is input to the transmission control device 1 as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. The automatic P range switching process of FIG. 5 differs from the automatic P range switching process of FIG. 3 in that S245 and S255 are added.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the microcomputer 31 determines in S240 that the electric parking brake device 5 is out of order, the microcomputer 31 proceeds to S245 and a vehicle is present based on the signal from the gradient sensor 23. It is determined whether the road in which the road is located is an uphill road. For example, the microcomputer 31 determines that the road is an uphill road if the vehicle front-rear inclination detected by the gradient sensor 23 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. The uphill road includes not only an uphill when viewed in the traveling direction of the vehicle but also a downhill.

  If the microcomputer 31 determines that the road is an uphill road (S245: YES), the microcomputer 31 proceeds to S250 and sets the shift range of the automatic transmission 3 to P by the range switching mechanism 7 as in the first embodiment. Change to range.

  If the microcomputer 31 determines that the road is not an uphill road (S245: NO), the microcomputer 31 proceeds to S255 and changes (switches) the shift range of the automatic transmission 3 to the N range by the range switching mechanism 7. ) Process. Specifically, a drive signal for setting the actual shift range to the N range is output to the motor 6 of the range switching mechanism 7. In addition, when the shift range at the time of determining NO in S220 is the N range, the N range remains unchanged. Therefore, in this case, the process of S255 need not be performed.

  And the microcomputer 31 complete | finishes the said automatic P range switching process, after performing the process of S250 or S255. Note that when the shift range is set to the P range or the N range in S250 or S255, the microcomputer 31 performs the automatic P range switching process and the process until it is detected that the driver has performed the above-described release operation, for example. The state where the shift range is the P range or the N range is maintained without performing the range switching control process 2.

Also with the transmission control device 1 according to the second embodiment, it is possible to achieve both convenience and safety in the same manner as the transmission control device 1 according to the first embodiment.
Even if the electric parking brake device 5 is out of order, if the road where the vehicle is stopped is not an uphill road, the shift range is set to the N range to prevent the vehicle from moving. For this reason, it is advantageous in that the opportunity to shift the shift range to the P range can be reduced. In general, in order to set the shift range to the P range, the load is more likely to be applied to the range switching mechanism 7 than in the case of using another range, which is advantageous in improving the durability of the range switching mechanism 7.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can take a various form, without being limited to the said embodiment.
For example, the parking brake 13 that constitutes the electric parking brake device 5 is not limited to a dedicated mechanism for parking brake, but a brake mechanism (for example, a disc brake) that is brought into a braking state by a depression operation of the brake pedal is used to depress the brake pedal. In addition to the operation, the mechanism may be in a braking state.

  In addition, the functions of one component in the above embodiment may be distributed as a plurality of components, or the functions of a plurality of components may be integrated into one component. As a specific example, for example, the transmission control device 1, the device that performs the range switching control process of FIG. 2, the device that performs the shift control process, and the automatic P range switching process of FIG. 3 or FIG. Alternatively, the transmission control device 1 and the parking brake control device 19 may be configured as one device.

  Further, at least a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be replaced with a known configuration having the same function. Moreover, you may abbreviate | omit a part of structure of the said embodiment as long as a subject can be solved. In addition, all the aspects included in the technical idea specified only by the wording described in the claim are embodiment of this invention. In addition to the vehicle control device described above, a system including the vehicle control device as a constituent element, a program for causing a computer to function as the vehicle control device, a medium storing the program, a vehicle control method, and the like The present invention can also be realized in various forms.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Automatic transmission, 5 ... Electric parking brake device, 6 ... Motor, 7 ... Range switching mechanism, 11 ... Electric actuator, 13 ... Parking brake, 31 ... Microcomputer

Claims (3)

A range switching mechanism (7) for switching the shift range of the automatic transmission (3) between a plurality of ranges including a parking range using the first electric actuator (6) as a power source;
An electric parking brake device (5) for operating the parking brake (13) by operating the second electric actuator (11) when a braking request is given;
A vehicle control device used in a vehicle equipped with
Failure determination means (31, S240) for determining whether or not the electric parking brake device has failed when the braking request is given to the electric parking brake device;
Road determination means (31, S245) for determining whether or not the road on which the vehicle exists is an uphill road when the failure determination means determines that the electric parking brake device has failed. When,
When the road determining means determines that the road is an uphill road, the shift range of the automatic transmission is switched to a parking range by the range switching mechanism , and the road is not an uphill road by the road determining means. and when it is determined it includes a switching Ru switching means in the neutral range (31, S250, S255) by the shift range of the automatic transmission wherein the range switch mechanism,
A vehicle control device comprising: The vehicle control device according to claim 1,
Vehicle speed determining means (31, S210) for determining whether or not the traveling speed of the vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined value;
Of the failure determination means and the switching means, at least the switching means functions when the vehicle speed determination means determines that the traveling speed is equal to or less than the predetermined value;
A control apparatus for a vehicle. The vehicle control device according to claim 1 or 2,
The failure determination means includes
In the period when the braking request is given to the electric parking brake device and the electric parking brake device operates the parking brake, it is determined at regular intervals whether or not the electric parking brake device is out of order. is being done,
A control apparatus for a vehicle.

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