JP6319357B2 - Vehicle control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention belongs to a technical field related to a control device for a vehicle including an engine and an automatic transmission.

  Conventionally, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, during a slow deceleration operation when a vehicle is running, the engine is automatically stopped and the automatic transmission is set to a neutral state (coast idle stop control is executed). Has been proposed. According to this, a driver who can improve fuel efficiency by automatically stopping the engine and wants the vehicle to coast (inertia) compared to the case where the engine is automatically stopped and the automatic transmission is set to a non-neutral state. On the other hand, it is possible to suppress an excessive feeling of deceleration.

Japanese Patent No. 3196490

  By the way, when coasting the vehicle, it is preferable to execute the coast idle stop control as in Patent Document 1 from the viewpoint of achieving both improvement in fuel efficiency and suppression of excessive deceleration.

  Here, when the driver depresses the accelerator pedal again and makes a re-acceleration request during execution of coast idle stop control, the engine is started and the automatic transmission is set to a non-neutral state in order to respond to this request ( A predetermined fastening element is put into a fastening state), and the request for reacceleration is made. In addition, when the driver depresses the brake pedal while the coast idle stop control is being executed, the driver is requesting a greater deceleration than when coasting, that is, engine brake is being requested. Sometimes, the engine is started and the automatic transmission is brought into a non-neutral state to meet the engine brake requirements.

  In this way, when there is a driver's re-acceleration request or engine brake request during execution of coast idle stop control, the engine is started and the automatic transmission is set to a non-neutral state to respond to such a request. However, in particular, since it takes time to start the engine, there is a problem that the responsiveness to the driver's reacceleration request and engine brake request is poor.

  Therefore, when coasting the vehicle, it is conceivable to perform coast idle control in which the engine is idled and the automatic transmission is in a neutral state.

  However, such coast idle control can improve the response to the driver's reacceleration request and engine brake request during the execution, but the fuel consumption is insufficiently improved for idling the engine.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and the object of the present invention is to provide a driver's reacceleration request or engine brake request (especially engine brake request) while obtaining an improvement in fuel consumption as much as possible. ) Is required to satisfy the demand for high responsiveness.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a vehicle control apparatus including an engine and an automatic transmission provided on a power transmission path between the engine and wheels. Coast idle stop control means for executing coast idle stop control for automatically stopping the engine and neutralizing the automatic transmission during traveling of the vehicle, and idle driving of the engine and traveling of the automatic transmission during traveling of the vehicle. Coast idle control means for executing coast idle control for setting the machine in a neutral state, and when the predetermined coast driving condition is satisfied, the coast idle stop control means executes the coast idle stop control or the coast idle control. The coast idle control is executed by means And a slope detection means for detecting a slope of a travel path on which the vehicle is traveling. The predetermined coasting condition is that the vehicle speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than a predetermined vehicle speed and the vehicle The accelerator pedal depression amount by the driver is less than a first predetermined amount and the brake pedal depression amount by the driver is less than a second predetermined amount, and the coast running control means has the predetermined coast running condition When the slope is established, the slope detected by the slope detection means is a positive value on the uphill and a negative value on the downhill, which is greater than a predetermined value set in advance as a negative value and is a positive value in advance. Is less than the set value set in the above, the coast idle stop control means is caused to execute the coast idle stop control while When the gradient detected by the gradient detecting means is equal to or less than the predetermined value, has a configuration that is configured to execute on the coast idling control to said coast idle control unit.

  With the above configuration, when the predetermined coasting condition is satisfied, the coast idle stop control is executed when the gradient of the traveling path is greater than the predetermined value and less than the set value, so that the fuel consumption improvement effect is sufficiently achieved. It will be obtained. When there is a driver's re-acceleration request or engine brake request during the execution of this coast idle stop control, the engine is started and the automatic transmission is set to a non-neutral state to respond to such a request. Responsiveness to the request is lowered. Here, the predetermined value is a negative value that increases the possibility that the driver will make an engine brake request when the gradient of the traveling road is less than or equal to the predetermined value, and the set value is a positive value. Thus, when the gradient of the travel path becomes equal to or greater than the set value, the value is such that the vehicle decelerates immediately even if the vehicle travels on the coast. In other words, the fact that the gradient of the travel path is larger than the predetermined value and less than the set value is less likely to be requested by the driver to re-accelerate or engine brake, and even if coast idle stop control is executed. There is no. On the other hand, when the predetermined coast driving condition is satisfied, if the slope of the road is below the predetermined value, the driver is likely to make an engine brake request, and a high responsiveness to the engine brake request is required. However, when the engine brake request is made by the driver, the engine is already in a driving state, so that the demand for high responsiveness can be satisfied.

  In the vehicle control device, the coasting control means is configured such that, during execution of the coast idle stop control by the coast idle stop control means, the slope detected by the slope detection means becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value. It is preferable to shift to execution of the coast idle control by the coast idle control means.

  As a result, even when the coast idle stop control is being executed, when the gradient of the travel path becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value, the transition to the coast idle control is performed, which is higher than the engine brake request of the driver. Responsiveness can be obtained.

  In the control apparatus for the vehicle, the coast running control means is configured to perform the coast idle control when the change rate of the vehicle speed of the vehicle is equal to or greater than a predetermined change rate during execution of the coast idle stop control by the coast idle stop control means. It is preferable to be configured to shift to execution of the coast idle control by the control means.

  In this manner, when the coast idle stop control is being executed, if the change rate of the vehicle speed (including the change to the high speed side and the change to the low side) is equal to or greater than the predetermined change rate, the driver requests a re-acceleration. Alternatively, since the possibility of making an engine brake request becomes high, at that time, by shifting to execution of coast idle control, high responsiveness to a driver's reacceleration request or engine brake request can be obtained.

  In the vehicle control apparatus, the coast running control means is configured such that, during execution of the coast idle control by the coast idle control means, the slope detected by the slope detection means is greater than the predetermined value and less than the set value. When it becomes, it is preferable to make it transfer to execution of the said coast idle stop control by the said coast idle stop control means.

  As a result, even when the coast idle control is being executed, if the gradient of the travel path is larger than the predetermined value and less than the set value, the shift to the coast idle stop control is performed, thereby reducing the fuel consumption. It can be improved as much as possible.

  In the vehicle control apparatus, when the coast idle control means is executing the coast idle control by the coast idle control means, when the change rate of the vehicle speed of the vehicle is smaller than a preset change rate, It is preferable to shift to execution of the coast idle stop control by the coast idle stop control means.

  In this way, when the coast idle control is being executed, when the change rate of the vehicle speed (including the change to the high speed side and the change to the low side) is smaller than the set change rate, the driver requests the reacceleration or Since the possibility of making an engine brake request is reduced, the fuel consumption can be improved as much as possible by shifting to execution of coast idle stop control at that time.

  In the vehicle control device, an exhaust gas purification device is provided in an exhaust passage of the engine, further comprising exhaust gas purification device temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the exhaust gas purification device, wherein the coasting control means includes the exhaust gas control device. When the temperature of the exhaust gas purification device by the purification device temperature detecting means is equal to or higher than the activation temperature of the catalyst of the exhaust gas purification device and lower than a predetermined temperature higher than the activation temperature of the catalyst, When established, the coast idle control unit is configured to execute the coast idle control even when the gradient detected by the gradient detection unit is greater than the predetermined value and less than the set value. It is preferable.

  Accordingly, when the temperature of the exhaust purification device is equal to or higher than the activation temperature of the catalyst of the exhaust purification device and lower than the predetermined temperature, coast idle control is always executed. It is possible to prevent the temperature from falling below the crystallization temperature. The predetermined temperature is the maximum value of the temperature at which the temperature of the exhaust purification device falls below the activation temperature of the catalyst when the coast idle stop control is executed.

  In the vehicle control apparatus, it is preferable that the predetermined coasting condition further includes a condition that a gradient detected by the gradient detecting unit is less than the set value.

  In other words, it is desirable for the driver to make a reacceleration request immediately and respond to the reacceleration request as soon as possible on an uphill that immediately decelerates even when the vehicle travels on the coast. Therefore, when the condition that the gradient is less than the set value is not satisfied, neither the coast idle stop control nor the coast idle control is executed, so that it is possible to immediately respond to the driver's reacceleration request.

  Another vehicle control device according to the present invention is a vehicle control device including an engine and an automatic transmission interposed on a power transmission path between the engine and wheels. A coast idle stop control means for executing coast idle stop control for automatically stopping the engine and setting the automatic transmission to a neutral state, idle driving the engine while the vehicle is running, and the automatic transmission. Coast idle control means for executing coast idle control to be in a neutral state, and when the predetermined coast running condition is established, the coast idle stop control means executes the coast idle stop control, or the coast idle control means Coast running system for executing the above coast idle control And a slope detecting means for detecting a slope of a travel path on which the vehicle is traveling, wherein the predetermined coasting condition is that the vehicle speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than a predetermined vehicle speed and an accelerator by the driver of the vehicle The pedal depression amount is less than a first predetermined amount and the brake pedal depression amount by the driver is less than a second predetermined amount, and the coast travel control means is configured to satisfy the predetermined coast travel condition. When the gradient in the descending direction detected by the gradient detection means is less than a preset reference value, the coast idle stop control means is caused to execute the coast idle stop control while the gradient detection means When the gradient in the descending direction detected by the above is greater than or equal to the reference value, the coast idle control Are those configured to execute the coast idle control for.

  According to the present invention, in the same way as the above vehicle control device, while being able to obtain the improvement effect of fuel consumption as much as possible, the high response on the downhill where high responsiveness is required for the driver's engine brake request. To meet the demands of sex.

  As described above, according to the vehicle control apparatus of the present invention, when the coasting traveling control means establishes a predetermined coasting condition, the slope of the traveling path on which the vehicle is traveling is a positive value on the uphill. When the slope is a negative value on the downhill, the coast idle stop control means with respect to the coast idle stop control means is greater than the predetermined value set in advance and less than the preset value set in advance. While the control is executed, when the slope is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the coast idle control means is configured to execute the coast idle control, or the coast travel control means is configured to perform a predetermined coast travel. When the condition is satisfied and the gradient in the descending direction of the travel path on which the vehicle is traveling is less than a preset reference value, the coast By making the idle stop control means execute coast idle stop control, when the gradient in the descending direction is equal to or higher than the reference value, the coast idle control means is configured to execute coast idle control. While being able to obtain the fuel economy improvement effect as much as possible, it is possible to satisfy the demand for high responsiveness on a downhill where high responsiveness is required for the driver's engine brake request.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the control apparatus of the vehicle which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and the structure of the power transmission system from an engine. 6 is a timing chart showing changes in engine speed when coast idle control is executed and when coast idle stop control is executed when a predetermined coast running condition is established. It is a flowchart which shows the control at the time of coast driving | running | working by a control unit.

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

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a control system of a vehicle control device and a configuration of a power transmission system from an engine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This vehicle (here, an automobile) includes an engine 1 and an automatic transmission 2 interposed on a power transmission path between the engine 1 and the front wheels 6. The output shaft (crank shaft) of the engine 2 is connected to the input shaft of the automatic transmission 2, and the output shaft of the engine 1 and the input shaft of the automatic transmission 2 extend in the vehicle width direction. The power from the automatic transmission 2 is transmitted to the differential device 4, and the power transmitted to the differential device 4 passes through the left and right drive shafts 5 to the left and right front wheels 6 (the left front wheel is omitted). It comes to drive.

  An exhaust purification device 9 having a catalyst and purifying exhaust gas from the engine 1 is provided in the exhaust passage 8 of the engine 1, and the temperature of the exhaust purification device 9 is set in the exhaust purification device 9. An exhaust purification device temperature sensor 56 is provided as an exhaust purification device temperature detection means for detecting.

  The vehicle is provided with a control unit 50 that controls the operation of the engine 1 and the automatic transmission 2. The control unit 50 is a controller based on a well-known microcomputer, and includes a central processing unit (CPU) that executes a program, a memory that includes a RAM and a ROM and stores programs and data, And an input / output (I / O) bus for inputting and outputting signals.

  The control unit 50 includes a signal from an accelerator opening sensor 51 that detects the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal (accelerator opening) by the driver of the vehicle, a signal from a vehicle speed sensor 52 that detects the vehicle speed of the vehicle, and the above The signal from the brake depression sensor 53 that detects the depression amount of the brake pedal by the driver, the signal from the gradient sensor 54 that detects the gradient of the travel path on which the vehicle is traveling, and the range position of the shift lever of the vehicle A signal from the range position sensor 55 to be detected and a signal from the exhaust gas purification device temperature sensor 56 are input. In addition, a signal necessary for controlling the engine 1 is input to the control unit 50 during normal travel, which is during travel other than during coast travel of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the gradient (%) of the travel path by the gradient sensor 54 is a negative value on a downhill and a positive value on an uphill.

  The control unit 100 controls the operation of the engine 1 based on the input signal and the automatic transmission 2 (specifically, a plurality of fastening elements such as clutches and brakes (in this embodiment, friction fastening elements)). Control the operation of

  In the control unit 100, there are a shift control unit 50a, a coast idle stop control unit 50b, a coast idle control unit 50c, a coast travel control unit 50d, and an engine control unit 50e that controls the engine 1 during the normal travel. Is provided.

  When the shift lever is in the D range position during the normal travel, the shift control unit 50a basically performs the vehicle travel state (specifically, the signal from the accelerator opening sensor 51 and From the vehicle speed sensor 52), a shift speed is determined using a shift map stored in advance in the memory of the control unit 50, and the engagement and release of each engagement element are controlled so that the determined shift speed is achieved. .

  Note that the shift control unit 100a, during the normal travel, the automatic transmission 2 automatically switches the shift stage of the automatic transmission 2 according to the travel state of the vehicle as described above, and the vehicle It may be configured to be able to control by switching to a manual shift mode in which the gear position is manually switched by operating the driver. In this case, as the range position of the shift lever, an M range position for selecting the manual shift mode is set in addition to a D range position for the driver to select the automatic shift mode. When the shift lever is in the M range position, the driver changes the gear position of the automatic transmission 2 to the gear position set immediately before the operation (current position) by the downshift operation or the upshift operation by the shift lever. It is possible to shift up from a shift stage.

  In the case where the automatic shift mode and the manual shift mode can be switched, the shift lever can be temporarily switched to the manual shift mode while being in the D range position. In this case, for example, a manual shift operation member (a shift down operation member capable of a shift down operation and a shift up operation member capable of a shift up operation) is provided separately from the shift lever on the steering wheel of the vehicle. Then, the shift control unit 100a temporarily switches from the automatic shift mode to the manual shift mode even if the shift lever is in the D range position by turning on the switch for detecting the manual shift operation member (from the ON, the preset value is set in advance). Is switched for a set time (for example, 2 seconds to 5 seconds), and the gear position is switched according to the operation of the shift-up operation member or the shift-down operation member.

  Further, in the case of a configuration that can be switched between the automatic shift mode and the manual shift mode, the automatic shift mode and the manual shift mode are switched even when coast idle stop control or coast idle control described later is being executed. In the manual shift mode, the shift down operation and the shift up operation of the driver are detected. During the coast idle stop control or the coast idle control, the neutral state is set as described later. Actual shifting is not performed.

  The coast idle stop control unit 50b performs coast idle stop control that automatically stops the engine 1 and makes the automatic transmission 2 in a neutral state while the vehicle is running. That is, the coast idle stop control unit 50b constitutes a coast idle stop control means.

  The coast idle control unit 50c performs coast idle control in which the engine 1 is idling while the vehicle is running and the automatic transmission 2 is in a neutral state. That is, the coast idle control unit 50c constitutes a coast idle control means. The idle operation includes a case where the engine 1 is operated at a slightly higher rotational speed than the normal idle rotational speed in order to drive an auxiliary machine of the engine 1 (for example, a compressor of an air conditioner).

  The coast running control unit 50d causes the coast idle stop control unit 50b to execute the coast idle stop control (coast idle stop control unit 50b) in order to coast the vehicle when a predetermined coast running condition is satisfied. A coast idle stop control execution command for executing the coast idle stop control is output to the coast idle control, or the coast idle control unit 50c is caused to execute the coast idle control (for the coast idle control unit 50c). A coast idle control execution command for executing the coast idle control is output). That is, the coast travel control unit 50c constitutes a coast travel control means.

  The predetermined coasting condition is that the vehicle speed of the vehicle by the vehicle speed sensor 52 is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle speed, the depression amount of the accelerator pedal by the accelerator opening sensor 51 is less than a first predetermined amount, and the brake pedal of the brake depression sensor 53 is The condition is that the amount of depression is less than the second predetermined amount.

  The predetermined vehicle speed is a minimum value (for example, several tens km / h) of the vehicle speed at which the driver coasts the vehicle. In addition, the first predetermined amount is an amount by which the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal is a value close to 0 and it can be determined that the accelerator pedal is not substantially depressed. The second predetermined amount is such that the amount of depression of the brake pedal is a value close to 0 and it can be determined that the brake pedal is not substantially depressed.

  In the present embodiment, the predetermined coasting condition includes the condition that the gradient by the gradient sensor 54 is less than a preset value set in advance as a positive value, and the temperature of the exhaust purification device 9 by the exhaust purification device temperature sensor 56. Is more than the activation temperature of the catalyst of the exhaust gas purification device 9. The set value is a positive value and is such a value that the vehicle decelerates immediately when the vehicle runs on the coast when the gradient becomes equal to or greater than the set value. That is, if the travel path is an uphill, flat, or downhill with a relatively small gradient, the condition that the gradient by the gradient sensor 54 is less than the set value is satisfied.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the vehicle is traveling at a predetermined vehicle speed or higher, the shift lever 21 is in the D range position (in the case where the shift mode can be switched between the automatic transmission mode and the manual transmission mode, the D range position or the M range position). In consideration of the possibility of being in the N range position, the predetermined coast driving condition is that the shift lever 21 is in the D range position (D range position or M range position). Conditions may be further included.

  When the predetermined coasting condition is satisfied, the coast traveling control unit 50d determines that the gradient detected by the gradient sensor 54 is greater than a predetermined value set in advance as a negative value and less than the set value. While causing the coast idle stop control unit 50b to perform the coast idle stop control, when the gradient detected by the gradient sensor 54 is not more than the predetermined value (the descending gradient is not less than the absolute value of the predetermined value), The coast idle control unit 50c is caused to execute the coast idle control.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the predetermined coasting condition is satisfied, when the coast idle control is executed, the rotational speed of the engine 1 is gradually increased from the rotational speed before the predetermined coasting condition is satisfied. To the idling speed.

  On the other hand, when the coast coasting condition is satisfied and the coast idle stop control is executed, the rotational speed of the engine 1 is set to the execution of the coast idle control until the automatic transmission 2 enters the neutral state. After that, it decreases at a level substantially the same as that at the time, and then decreases at a level greater than that during execution of the coast idle control, and eventually becomes zero.

  The coast running control unit 50d performs the coast idle control by the coast idle control unit 50c when the coast idle stop control by the coast idle stop control unit 50b is less than the predetermined value during the coast idle stop control. Move to execution.

  Further, the coast running control unit 50d, when the coast idle control unit 50c performs the coast idle control, when the gradient by the gradient sensor 54 is greater than the predetermined value and less than the set value, the coast idle stop control. The execution of the coast idle stop control is performed by the unit 50b.

  Furthermore, the coasting control unit 50d performs a change rate of the vehicle speed of the vehicle by the vehicle speed sensor 52 during the execution of the coast idle stop control by the coast idle stop control unit 50b (change to a higher vehicle speed and change to a lower side). Is preferably greater than or equal to the predetermined change rate, the coast idle control unit 50c is preferably configured to shift to the execution of the coast idle control (this configuration is not included in the flowchart described later). ). When the change rate of the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than the predetermined change rate, the driver is more likely to make a request for reacceleration (when the vehicle speed changes to a lower side), or the engine brake request Is likely to occur (when the vehicle speed changes to the higher side).

  In addition, the coast running control unit 50d includes a change rate of the vehicle speed of the vehicle by the vehicle speed sensor 52 (including a change to a higher vehicle speed and a change to a lower side) during execution of the coast idle control by the coast idle control unit 50c. ) Is smaller than a preset change rate, it is preferable that the coast idle stop control unit 50b shift to the execution of the coast idle stop control (this configuration is described in the flowchart below). Is not included). The set change rate is the same value as the predetermined change rate, and both may or may not match.

  Furthermore, the coasting control unit 50d has a predetermined temperature at which the temperature of the exhaust purification device 9 by the exhaust purification device temperature sensor 56 is equal to or higher than the activation temperature of the catalyst of the exhaust purification device 9 and higher than the activation temperature of the catalyst. When the predetermined coasting condition is satisfied, the coast idle control is performed with respect to the coast idle control unit 50c even if the gradient by the gradient sensor 54 is greater than the predetermined value and less than the set value. (This configuration is not included in the flowchart described below). The predetermined temperature is a maximum value at which the temperature of the exhaust purification device 9 is lower than the activation temperature of the catalyst when the coast idle stop control is executed.

  The coast running control unit 50d performs the coast idle stop control by the coast idle stop control unit 50b when the predetermined coast running condition is not satisfied during the execution of the coast idle stop control by the coast idle stop control unit 50b. (The coast idle stop control stop command for stopping the execution of the coast idle stop control is output to the coast idle stop control unit 50b). As a result, the engine control unit 50e restarts the engine 1 to perform engine control during the normal running, and the shift control unit 50a determines the fastening element of the automatic transmission 2 from the shift map. Corresponds to the shift speed (the shift speed last set by the driver before or during execution of the coast idle stop control when the manual shift mode is selected in the case where the automatic shift mode and the manual shift mode can be switched). To the engaged / released state.

  Further, the coast running control unit 50d executes the coast idle control by the coast idle control unit 50c when the predetermined coast running condition is not satisfied during the execution of the coast idle control by the coast idle control unit 50c. (A coast idle control stop command for stopping the execution of the coast idle control is output to the coast idle control unit 50c). As a result, the engine control unit 50e performs engine control during the normal running, and the shift control unit 50a determines the fastening element of the automatic transmission 2 as a shift speed determined by the shift map (automatic shift mode and manual shift In the case of the manual shift mode in the configuration that can be switched to the shift mode, the engagement / release state corresponding to the last shift stage set by the driver before or during execution of the coast idle stop control is set.

  Here, control during coasting by the control unit 50 (basically executed by the coasting controller 50d) will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  In the first step S1, input signals from various sensors and the like are read. In the next step S2, it is determined whether or not the predetermined coasting condition is satisfied. If the determination in step S2 is NO, the process is continued. On the other hand, if the determination in step S2 is YES, the process proceeds to step S3.

  In the step S3, it is determined whether or not the gradient detected by the gradient sensor 54 is greater than the predetermined value (referred to as a in FIG. 3) and less than the set value (referred to as b in FIG. 3). judge. When the determination in step S3 is YES, the process proceeds to step S4. When the determination in step S4 is NO, the process proceeds to step S8.

  In step S4, the coast idle stop control unit 50b is caused to execute the coast idle stop control (a coast idle stop control execution command is output to the coast idle stop control unit 50b). As a result, the coast idle stop control unit 50b automatically stops the engine 1 and puts the automatic transmission 2 in the neutral state.

  In the next step S5, it is determined whether or not the gradient detected by the gradient sensor 54 is equal to or less than the predetermined value (a). When the determination in step S5 is YES, the process proceeds to step S8. On the other hand, when the determination in step S5 is NO, the process proceeds to step S6 to determine whether or not the predetermined coasting condition is not satisfied. .

  When the determination in step S6 is NO, the process returns to step S5. When the determination in step S6 is YES, the process proceeds to step S7, and the coast idle stop control by the coast idle stop control unit 50b is stopped. (A coast idle stop control stop command is output to the coast idle stop control unit 50b), and then the process returns.

  In step S8 that proceeds when the determination in step S3 is NO or when the determination in step S5 is YES, the coast idle control unit 50c is caused to execute the coast idle control (coast idle control unit 50c). To the coast idle control execution command). As a result, the coast idle control unit 50c idles the engine 1 and sets the automatic transmission 2 to the neutral state. When the process proceeds from step S5, since the automatic transmission 2 is already in the neutral state, the engine 1 is idled and the automatic transmission 2 is left in the neutral state.

  In the next step S9, it is determined whether or not the gradient detected by the gradient sensor 54 is greater than the predetermined value (a) and less than the set value (b). When the determination in step S9 is YES, the process proceeds to step S4. On the other hand, when the determination in step S9 is NO, the process proceeds to step S10 to determine whether or not the predetermined coasting condition is not satisfied. To do.

  When the determination in step S10 is NO, the process returns to step S9. On the other hand, when the determination in step S10 is YES, the process proceeds to step S11, and execution of the coast idle control by the coast idle control unit 50c is stopped ( A coast idle control stop command is output to the coast idle control unit 50c), and then the process returns.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the coast running control unit 50d determines that the coast idle stop is performed when the slope by the slope sensor 54 is greater than the predetermined value and less than the set value when the predetermined coast running condition is satisfied. Since the controller 50b is configured to execute the coast idle stop control, the fuel efficiency improvement effect can be sufficiently obtained.

  During the execution of the coast idle stop control by the coast idle stop control unit 50b, in particular, the accelerator pedal depression amount by the accelerator opening sensor 51 becomes equal to or greater than the first predetermined amount (the driver requests re-acceleration. Or the brake pedal depression amount by the brake depression sensor 53 becomes the second predetermined amount (the driver requests engine braking), and the predetermined coasting condition is not satisfied. Sometimes, the engine 1 is started and the automatic transmission 2 is brought into a non-neutral state to respond to such a request, so that the response to the request is lowered.

  Here, the predetermined value is a negative value that increases the possibility that the driver will make an engine brake request when the gradient of the traveling road is less than or equal to the predetermined value, and the set value is a positive value. Thus, when the gradient of the travel path becomes equal to or greater than the set value, the value is such that the vehicle decelerates immediately even if the vehicle travels on the coast. In other words, the fact that the gradient of the travel path is larger than the predetermined value and less than the set value is less likely to be requested by the driver to re-accelerate or engine brake, and even if coast idle stop control is executed. There is no.

  On the other hand, when the predetermined coasting condition is satisfied, if the gradient by the gradient sensor 54 is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the driver is highly likely to make an engine brake request and has high responsiveness to the engine brake request. However, the coast running control unit 50d is configured to cause the coast idle control unit 50c to execute the coast idle control when the gradient is equal to or less than the predetermined value. When there is a driver's engine brake request, the engine 1 is already in an operating state, so that it is possible to satisfy the request for high responsiveness.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and can be substituted without departing from the spirit of the claims.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the predetermined coasting condition includes the condition that the gradient by the gradient sensor 54 is less than the set value, but it is also possible to exclude the condition. In this case, when the predetermined coasting condition is satisfied, the coasting control unit 50d, when the gradient by the gradient sensor 54 is not less than the set value, is the same as when the gradient by the gradient sensor 54 is not more than the predetermined value. Further, it is preferable that the coast idle control unit 50c is configured to execute the coast idle control. That is, when the gradient by the gradient sensor 54 is equal to or higher than the set value, the driver is likely to make a reacceleration request, and a high response to the reacceleration request is required. When there is a reacceleration request, the engine 1 is already in an operating state, so that it is possible to satisfy the request for high responsiveness.

  In the above embodiment, when the predetermined coasting condition is satisfied, the coasting control unit 50d has a slope that is greater than the predetermined value (negative value) and the set value (positive) when the predetermined coasting condition is satisfied. When the slope is less than the predetermined value, the coast idle control unit 50b performs the coast idle control with respect to the coast idle control unit 50b. Although configured to be executed, the coasting control unit 50d is preset with a descending gradient (in this case, a positive value) detected by the gradient sensor 54 when the predetermined coasting condition is satisfied. If it is less than the reference value (positive value), the above-mentioned code is given to the coast idle stop control unit 50b. While executing the bets idle stop control, when the gradient of the down direction is equal to or greater than the reference value may also be configured to execute the coast idling control to said coast idle control unit. In this case, the reference value may be set to the same value as the absolute value of the predetermined value. Further, in this case, it may be handled in any way when the traveling road is a flat road or an uphill. However, as in the above-described embodiment, the predetermined coasting traveling condition is set such that the gradient by the gradient sensor 54 is set as described above. The coast running control unit 50d executes the coast idle stop control with respect to the coast idle stop control unit 50b when the gradient by the gradient sensor 54 is 0 or more and less than the set value. It is preferable to constitute so as to be.

  The above-described embodiments are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention should not be interpreted in a limited manner. The scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of the claims, and all modifications and changes belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

  The present invention includes coast idle stop control means for executing coast idle stop control for automatically stopping the engine while the vehicle is traveling and setting the automatic transmission of the vehicle to a neutral state, and idles the engine while the vehicle is traveling. The present invention is useful for a vehicle control device that includes coast idle control means for performing coast idle control for driving and setting the automatic transmission to a neutral state.

1 Engine 2 Automatic transmission 6 Front wheel
9 Exhaust purification device 50 Control unit 50b Coast idle stop control section (coast idle stop control means)
50c Coast idle control section (coast idle control means)
50d Coast running control unit (coast running control means)
56 Exhaust purification device temperature sensor (exhaust purification device temperature detection means)

Claims (8)

A vehicle control device including an engine and an automatic transmission interposed on a power transmission path between the engine and wheels,
Coast idle stop control means for executing coast idle stop control for automatically stopping the engine and running the automatic transmission while the vehicle is running;
Coast idle control means for performing coast idle control for idling the engine during traveling of the vehicle and setting the automatic transmission to a neutral state;
When the predetermined coast running condition is established, the coast idle stop control means executes the coast idle stop control, or the coast idle control means executes the coast idle control,
Gradient detecting means for detecting the gradient of the traveling road on which the vehicle is traveling, and
The predetermined coasting condition is that the vehicle speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle speed, the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal by the driver of the vehicle is less than a first predetermined amount, and the amount of depression of the brake pedal by the driver is the second place. The condition is that it is less than the fixed amount,
The coast running control means sets the slope detected by the slope detecting means to a positive value on an uphill and a negative value on a downhill to a negative value in advance when the predetermined coast running condition is satisfied. When it is larger than the set predetermined value and less than the preset value set in advance, the coast idle stop control means is caused to execute the coast idle stop control while being detected by the gradient detecting means. A vehicle control device configured to cause the coast idle control means to execute the coast idle control when the slope is equal to or less than the predetermined value. The vehicle control device according to claim 1,
When the coast detected by the slope detector becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value during execution of the coast idle stop control by the coast idle stop controller, the coast running controller is A vehicle control apparatus configured to shift to execution of coast idle control. The vehicle control device according to claim 1 or 2,
When the coast idle control is performed by the coast idle stop control means, the coast running control means is configured to control the coast idle control by the coast idle control means when a change rate of the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined change rate. The vehicle control device is configured to shift to execution of the vehicle. The vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
When the coast detected by the coast detection control means is greater than the predetermined value and less than the set value during execution of the coast idle control by the coast idle control means, the coast running control means A vehicle control apparatus configured to shift to execution of the coast idle stop control by the idle stop control means. In the control apparatus of the vehicle as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
When the coast idle control means performs the coast idle control, and the change rate of the vehicle speed of the vehicle is smaller than a preset change rate, the coast running control means uses the coast idle stop control means. A vehicle control device configured to shift to execution of the coast idle stop control. In the vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An exhaust purification device is provided in the exhaust passage of the engine,
An exhaust purification device temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the exhaust purification device;
In the coasting control means, the temperature of the exhaust purification device by the exhaust purification device temperature detection means is less than a predetermined temperature that is not less than the activation temperature of the catalyst of the exhaust purification device and higher than the activation temperature of the catalyst. Sometimes, when the predetermined coasting condition is satisfied, even if the gradient detected by the gradient detecting means is greater than the predetermined value and less than the set value, the coast idle control means is not affected by the coast idle control means. A vehicle control device configured to execute control. In the control apparatus of the vehicle as described in any one of Claims 1-6,
The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined coasting condition further includes a condition that a gradient detected by the gradient detecting means is less than the set value. A vehicle control device including an engine and an automatic transmission interposed on a power transmission path between the engine and wheels,
Coast idle stop control means for executing coast idle stop control for automatically stopping the engine and running the automatic transmission while the vehicle is running;
Coast idle control means for performing coast idle control for idling the engine during traveling of the vehicle and setting the automatic transmission to a neutral state;
When the predetermined coast running condition is established, the coast idle stop control means executes the coast idle stop control, or the coast idle control means executes the coast idle control,
Gradient detecting means for detecting the gradient of the traveling road on which the vehicle is traveling, and
The predetermined coasting condition is that the vehicle speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle speed, the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal by the driver of the vehicle is less than a first predetermined amount, and the amount of depression of the brake pedal by the driver is the second place. The condition is that it is less than the fixed amount,
When the predetermined coasting condition is satisfied, the coast running control means determines that the coast idle stop control means is instructed when the slope in the descending direction detected by the slope detecting means is less than a preset reference value. On the other hand, when the coast idle stop control is executed, and when the gradient in the descending direction detected by the gradient detection means is equal to or greater than the reference value, the coast idle control means is caused to execute the coast idle control. A control apparatus for a vehicle characterized by being configured.

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