JP6654908B2 - Vehicle control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle control device for a vehicle that heats glass by a defroster using heat of cooling water heated by a main engine.

  Conventionally, a vehicle control system in which a main engine (engine), a heater, and auxiliary devices (a transmission, an intercooler, and the like) are connected by a water cooling circuit, and a heater is heated using heat of cooling water heated by the main engine and the auxiliary devices. An apparatus has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-224819 A

  By the way, if frost or snow adheres to the windshield of the vehicle, it is difficult to ensure the visibility in front, so that the windshield is heated by the defroster using the heat of the heater.

  However, if the vehicle is stopped for a long time in a situation where the outside air temperature is low (for example, 0 ° C. or less), even if the defroster is activated immediately after the start of the main engine, the heat of the cooling water warmed by the main engine can be obtained. Is used for a heater and an auxiliary machine, so that it takes a long time to remove frost and snow from the windshield.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control device that can remove frost and snow attached to glass at an early stage.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the vehicle control device according to the present invention is configured such that the cooling water can flow through one or more of an auxiliary machine, a heater, and a radiator while allowing cooling water to flow through a main engine. A cooling circuit through which water is circulated, a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the cooling circuit, a defroster that heats the glass of the vehicle by the heat of the heater, and a vehicle speed sensor that detects the vehicle speed of the vehicle And an adhesion detection unit that detects whether frost or snow has adhered to the glass, and a cooling control unit that controls a circulation path of the cooling water in the cooling circuit, wherein the cooling control unit operates the defroster There is a request, the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor is 0, and it has been detected that the frost or snow on the glass by the deposition detecting unit is attached, One, when said temperature measured by the temperature sensor defroster condition is satisfied is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value, circulating the cooling water only in the main engine and the heater in the cooling circuit.

  The cooling control unit may further include a heating device that warms the inside of the vehicle by the heat of the heater, wherein the cooling control unit is configured to execute the cooling circuit when the defroster condition is not satisfied and there is a request to operate the heating device. The cooling water may be circulated through the main unit, the heater, and the auxiliary device.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, frost and snow which adhered to glass can be removed at an early stage.

It is a figure showing composition of a vehicle control device of vehicles. It is a figure explaining the mode which manages a cooling circuit. It is a figure explaining the mode which manages a cooling circuit. It is a figure which shows the temperature change of the cooling water in a heating mode and a defroster mode. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a cooling control process.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values and the like shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. Elements not directly related to the present invention will be omitted. I do.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle control device 1 of a vehicle. In FIG. 1, the cooling circuit 110 is indicated by a solid arrow, and the flow of a signal is indicated by a broken arrow. As shown in FIG. 1, in a vehicle control device 1 for a vehicle, a main engine 100, an auxiliary machine 102, a heater 104, a radiator 106, and a water pump 108 are connected by a cooling circuit 110.

  The cooling circuit 110 includes a main unit circuit 110a, an auxiliary unit circuit 110b, a heater circuit 110c, and a radiator circuit 110d, and cooling water is circulated by a water pump 108.

  The main engine 100 is an engine serving as a drive source of the vehicle, and is provided in the main engine circuit 110a. The accessory 102 is a transmission, an intercooler, or the like necessary for driving the vehicle, and is provided in the middle of the accessory circuit 110b.

  The heater 104 is provided in the middle of the heater circuit 110c, and radiates heat of the cooling water to warm the surrounding air. The radiator 106 is provided in the middle of the radiator circuit 110d, and cools the cooling water by radiating the cooling water flowing in the cooling circuit 110 to the outside.

  The water pump 108 is rotationally driven by the rotational power of the main unit 100, and circulates cooling water in the cooling circuit 110.

  In the cooling circuit 110, a main circuit 110a, an auxiliary circuit 110b, a heater circuit 110c, and a radiator circuit 110d are connected to the water pump 108. Further, the cooling circuit 110 is provided with an electronic control valve 112, and the main circuit 110a, the auxiliary circuit 110b, the heater circuit 110c, and the radiator circuit 110d are connected to the electronic control valve 112.

  The electronic control valve 112 is capable of switching between opening and closing (open state and closed state) of the heater circuit 110c and the auxiliary circuit 110b, and is capable of adjusting the flow rate of cooling water to the radiator circuit 110d.

  In the cooling circuit 110, the cooling water discharged from the water pump 108 is guided to the electronic control valve 112 via the main circuit 110a. At this time, the cooling water flows inside the main engine 100 (in the cylinder block and the cylinder head).

  Thereafter, in the cooling circuit 110, the cooling water flows through at least one of the auxiliary circuit 110b, the heater circuit 110c, and the radiator circuit 110d in accordance with the open / close state of the electronic control valve 112, and then the cooling water flows to the water pump 108. Will be returned.

  As described above, the cooling water always flows inside the main engine 100 regardless of the open / closed state of the electronic control valve 112. On the other hand, depending on the open / close state of the electronic control valve 112, the cooling water may or may not flow through the accessory 102, the heater 104, and the radiator 106. The open / closed state of the electronic control valve 112 will be described later in detail.

  The heater 104 is connected to a defroster 114 and a heating device 116. The defroster 114 is provided below the windshield, and when driven, sends air heated by the heat of the heater 104 toward the windshield. The heating device 116 is provided toward the interior of the vehicle, and when driven, sends air heated by the heat of the heater 104 toward the interior of the vehicle.

  The main engine circuit 110a is provided between the main engine 100 and the electronic control valve 112 with a temperature sensor 118 for measuring the temperature of the cooling water flowing inside the main engine 100. Temperature sensor 118 measures the temperature of the cooling water flowing through main unit 100, and transmits a temperature signal indicating the measured temperature of the cooling water to control device 120.

  In addition, the vehicle control device 1 includes a control device 120, a defroster switch 122, a heating switch 124, a vehicle speed sensor 126, and an imaging device 128.

  The control device 120 is configured by a semiconductor integrated circuit including a central processing unit (CPU), a ROM in which programs and the like are stored, a RAM as a work area, and the like. The temperature sensor 118, the defroster switch 122, the heating switch 124, the vehicle speed sensor 126, and the imaging device 128 are connected to the control device 120, and based on signals transmitted from these, the electronic control valve 112, the defroster 114, and the heating device The device 116 is controlled.

  The defroster switch 122 is provided on a front panel in the vehicle, and transmits a defroster request signal for operating the defroster 114 to the control device 120 when the switch is turned on.

  The heating switch 124 is provided on a front panel in the vehicle, and transmits a heating request signal for operating the heating device 116 to the control device 120 when the switch is turned on.

  Vehicle speed sensor 126 detects the vehicle speed of the vehicle and transmits a vehicle speed signal indicating the vehicle speed to control device 120.

  The imaging device 128 is arranged in the vehicle at a position where an image of the front of the vehicle can be captured through a windshield. The imaging device 128 transmits image data obtained by imaging to the control device 120.

  The control device 120 controls the circulation path of the cooling water flowing through the cooling circuit 110 based on signals transmitted from the temperature sensor 118, the defroster switch 122, the heating switch 124, the vehicle speed sensor 126, and the imaging device 128. Execute

  The control device 120 functions as the signal acquisition unit 130, the frost and snow adhesion detection unit 132, and the cooling control unit 134 when performing the cooling control process. The signal acquisition unit 130 transmits the temperature signal transmitted from the temperature sensor 118, the defroster request signal transmitted from the defroster switch 122, the heating request signal transmitted from the heating switch 124, and the vehicle speed signal transmitted from the vehicle speed sensor 126 at predetermined intervals. Get every time.

  The frost and snow adhesion detection unit 132 determines whether frost or snow is attached to the windshield based on the image data captured by the imaging device 128. Specifically, the frost and snow adhesion detecting unit 132 sets a plurality of specific regions (for example, 14) uniformly dispersed in the image based on the image data captured by the imaging device 128, and Of each pixel is detected. Subsequently, the frost and snow adhesion detection unit 132 derives the luminance representative of each specific area by removing noise and singular points by deriving an average value of luminance by, for example, moving average processing, and then derives the luminance representative of each specific area. Derive the luminance difference. As the luminance difference, for example, a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value in a plurality of specific regions is used. Then, the frost and snow adhesion detecting unit 132 compares the derived luminance difference with a preset stored value, and determines that frost or snow has adhered to the windshield when the luminance difference is smaller than the set value. The method for detecting the adhesion of frost or snow is not limited to this, and for example, a method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-96812 may be used.

  The cooling control unit 134 manages the circulation path of the cooling water in the cooling circuit 110 as five modes. The cooling control unit 134 sets one of the five modes based on the signal acquired by the signal acquisition unit 130 and the determination result determined by the frost and snow adhesion detection unit 132, and according to the set mode. By controlling the electronic control valve 112, the circulation path of the cooling water in the cooling circuit 110 is switched.

  FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating modes for managing the cooling circuit 110. FIG. In FIGS. 2 and 3, circuits through which cooling water flows are indicated by solid arrows, and circuits through which cooling water does not flow are indicated by broken arrows. The cooling control unit 134 determines that the defroster request signal is not transmitted from the defroster switch 122, the heating request signal is not transmitted from the heating switch 124, and the temperature indicated by the temperature signal is a first threshold value set in advance. If the temperature is lower than (for example, 100 ° C.), the early warm-up mode shown in FIG. 2A is set. In the early warm-up mode, the cooling control unit 134 controls the electronic control valve 112 so that the auxiliary circuit 110b is opened, the heater circuit 110c is closed, and the radiator circuit 110d is closed. Thus, in the cooling circuit 110, the cooling water is circulated only to the main unit circuit 110a and the auxiliary unit circuit 110b, and the main unit 100 and the auxiliary unit 102 can be quickly warmed up.

  Further, the cooling control unit 134 does not transmit the defroster request signal from the defroster switch 122, does not transmit the heating request signal from the heating switch 124, and sets the temperature indicated by the temperature signal to a predetermined temperature. If it is equal to or greater than one threshold, the first temperature control mode shown in FIG. 2B is set. In the first temperature control mode, the cooling control unit 134 opens the auxiliary circuit 110b, closes the heater circuit 110c, and adjusts the amount of water flowing to the radiator circuit 110d based on the temperature indicated by the temperature signal. To control the electronic control valve 112. As a result, in the cooling circuit 110, the cooling water flows through the main circuit 110a, the auxiliary circuit 110b, and the radiator circuit 110d, so that the radiator 106 can cool the cooling water.

  In addition, when the heating control signal has been transmitted from the heating switch 124 and the temperature indicated by the temperature signal is lower than a preset first threshold value, the cooling control unit 134 illustrated in FIG. Set to heating mode. In the heating mode, the cooling control unit 134 controls the electronic control valve 112 so that the auxiliary circuit 110b is opened, the heater circuit 110c is opened, and the radiator circuit 110d is closed. Further, the cooling control unit 134 operates the heating device 116. As a result, in the cooling circuit 110, the cooling water is circulated through the main circuit 110a, the auxiliary circuit 110b, and the heater circuit 110c, and the interior of the vehicle can be warmed.

  Further, when the heating control signal is transmitted from the heating switch 124 and the temperature indicated by the temperature signal is equal to or higher than a preset first threshold value, the cooling control unit 134 illustrated in FIG. Set to the second temperature control mode. In the second temperature control mode, the cooling control unit 134 opens the auxiliary circuit 110b, opens the heater circuit 110c, and adjusts the amount of water flowing to the radiator circuit 110d based on the temperature indicated by the temperature signal. To control the electronic control valve 112. Further, the cooling control unit 134 operates the heating device 116. As a result, in the cooling circuit 110, the cooling water is circulated through the main circuit 110a, the auxiliary circuit 110b, the heater circuit 110c, and the radiator circuit 110d. The cooling water is cooled by the radiator 106, and the inside of the vehicle is heated. It is possible to do.

  Further, when the defroster request signal is obtained by the signal obtaining unit 130 when the heating mode or the second temperature control mode is set, the cooling control unit 134 activates the defroster 114 to warm the windshield. Removes frost and snow from the windshield.

  In addition, when the defroster request signal is acquired by the signal acquisition unit 130 in the case of the early warm-up mode or the first temperature control mode, the cooling control unit 134 performs, based on the temperature indicated by the temperature signal, The mode is set to the heating mode or the second temperature control mode, and the defroster 114 is operated.

  However, when the defroster condition described below is satisfied, the cooling control unit 134 sets the defroster mode. The defroster conditions include the fact that the signal acquisition unit 130 has acquired the defroster request signal, that the frost and snow adhesion detection unit 132 has detected the adhesion of frost and snow on the windshield, and that the temperature indicated by the temperature signal is the second threshold value. (For example, 10 ° C.) or less, and the vehicle speed indicated by the vehicle speed signal is set to 0. This defroster condition is that the vehicle is stopped, frost and snow are attached to the windshield, and the temperature of the cooling water is equal to or lower than a certain temperature, that is, the outside temperature is low, and the main engine 100 is not driven. It is assumed that the main engine 100 is started after the vehicle has been stopped for a long time. In such a case, it is assumed that the vehicle cannot start unless frost or snow attached to the windshield is removed.

  Therefore, when the defroster condition is satisfied, the cooling control unit 134 sets the defroster mode, closes the auxiliary circuit 110b, opens the heater circuit 110c, and opens the radiator circuit 110d, as shown in FIG. The electronic control valve 112 is controlled so that is closed. Further, the cooling control unit 134 operates the defroster 114. As a result, in the cooling circuit 110, the cooling water flows only through the main circuit 110a and the heater circuit 110c.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a temperature change of the cooling water in the heating mode and the defroster mode. Here, a comparison between the heating mode shown in FIG. 3A and the defroster mode shown in FIG. 3C shows that the cooling water flows through the accessory circuit 110b in the heating mode, whereas the cooling water flows through the auxiliary circuit 110b in the defroster mode. Cooling water is not circulated to the mechanical circuit 110b.

  Therefore, in the defroster mode, the temperature of the cooling water can be warmed earlier than in the heating mode, as shown in FIG. 4, as much as the auxiliary machine 102 is not heated. As a result, in the defroster mode, the temperature of the air heated by the heater 104 increases quickly, so that frost and snow attached to the windshield can be removed earlier than in the heating mode.

  Here, the reason why the vehicle speed indicated by the vehicle speed signal is set to 0 as the defroster condition is that the running performance of the vehicle is improved by flowing cooling water to the auxiliary device 102 while the vehicle is running. This is because Therefore, even if there is a defroster request, the temperature of the cooling water is equal to or lower than a certain temperature, and even if it is detected that frost or snow has adhered to the windshield, the vehicle is running. By switching to the heating mode (or the early warm-up mode), the traveling performance can be ensured.

  Subsequently, the flow of the above-described cooling control process will be described in detail with reference to a flowchart. This cooling control process is performed at predetermined intervals.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the cooling control process. As shown in FIG. 5, when the cooling control process is executed, the cooling control unit 134 determines whether a defroster request signal is transmitted from the defroster switch 122 (S300).

  If the defroster request signal has been transmitted (YES in S300), frost and snow adhesion detecting section 132 determines whether frost or snow has been detected on the windshield (S302).

  If frost or snow has been detected on the windshield by the frost and snow detection unit 132 (YES in S302), the cooling control unit 134 performs the cooling indicated by the temperature signal transmitted from the temperature sensor 118. It is determined whether the temperature of the water is equal to or lower than the second threshold (S304).

  If the temperature of the cooling water is equal to or lower than the second threshold (YES in S304), cooling control unit 134 determines whether the vehicle speed indicated by the vehicle speed signal transmitted by vehicle speed sensor 126 is 0 (step S304). S306).

  If the vehicle speed is 0 (YES in S306), that is, if the defroster condition is satisfied in S300 to S306, the cooling control unit 134 sets the defroster mode (S308), and ends the cooling control process. I do.

  On the other hand, when the defroster request signal is not transmitted (NO in S300), and when frost or snow is not detected on the windshield by the frost and snow detection unit 132 (NO in S302), the temperature of the cooling water is changed to the second temperature. If it is not equal to or less than the two thresholds (NO in S304) and if the vehicle speed is not 0 (NO in S306), that is, if the defroster condition is not satisfied in S300 to S306, the cooling control unit 134 moves the process to step S310. .

  The cooling control unit 134 determines whether a heating request signal is transmitted from the heating switch 124 (S310). If the heating request signal has been transmitted (YES in S310), cooling control unit 134 determines whether the temperature of the cooling water indicated by the temperature signal transmitted by temperature sensor 118 is lower than the first threshold. A determination is made (S312). As a result, when the temperature of the cooling water is lower than the first threshold (YES in S312), the cooling control unit 134 sets the heating mode (S314), and when the temperature of the cooling water is not lower than the first threshold. (NO in S312), the cooling control unit 134 sets the second temperature control mode (S316), and ends the cooling control process.

  If the heating request signal has not been transmitted (NO in S310), cooling control unit 134 determines whether the temperature of the cooling water indicated by the temperature signal transmitted by temperature sensor 118 is lower than the first threshold. A determination is made (S318). As a result, if the temperature of the cooling water is lower than the first threshold (YES in S318), the cooling control unit 134 sets the early warm-up mode (S320), and the temperature of the cooling water is not lower than the first threshold. In this case (NO in S318), the cooling control unit 134 sets the first temperature control mode (S322), and ends the cooling control process.

  As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Is done.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the defroster conditions include a request for a defroster, detection of the adhesion of frost and snow on the windshield by the frost and snow adhesion detection unit 132, and the temperature of the cooling water is equal to or lower than the second threshold value. And that the vehicle speed is set to 0. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be set that the defroster is required, that the temperature of the cooling water is equal to or lower than the second threshold, and that the vehicle speed is 0.

  In the above-described embodiment, the temperature sensor 118 is provided in the main engine circuit 110a. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the temperature sensor 118 is provided anywhere if the temperature of the cooling water can be measured at any position on the cooling circuit 110. You may do so.

  In the above-described embodiment, the circulation path of the cooling water is switched by the electronic control valve 112 provided on the cooling circuit 110. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The auxiliary circuit 110b, the heater circuit 110c, and the radiator circuit 110d Other devices may be used as long as it is switchable to distribute the cooling water to one or more of the above.

  In the above-described embodiment, the circulation path of the cooling water is managed by the five modes. However, the present invention is not limited to this. At least the defroster mode and the heating mode may be provided.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention can be utilized for the vehicle control apparatus of the vehicle which heats glass by a defroster using the heat of the cooling water warmed by the main engine.

1 Vehicle control device 100 Main unit 102 Auxiliary unit 104 Heater 106 Radiator 110 Cooling circuit 114 Defroster 116 Heating device 118 Temperature sensor 120 Control device 126 Vehicle speed sensor 132 Frost and snow adhesion detection unit 134 Cooling control unit

Claims (2)

A cooling circuit in which the cooling water is circulated, wherein the cooling water is circulated in one or more of the auxiliary machine, the heater, and the radiator, while the cooling water is circulated in the main engine;
A temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the cooling circuit,
A defroster that heats the glass of the vehicle by the heat of the heater;
A vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed of the vehicle;
An adhesion detection unit that detects whether frost or snow has adhered to the glass,
A cooling control unit that controls a circulation path of the cooling water in the cooling circuit,
The cooling control unit,
There is a request to activate the defroster, the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor is 0, the adhesion detection unit detects that frost or snow has adhered to the glass, and the temperature is measured by the temperature sensor. A defroster condition in which the temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value, wherein the cooling water flows through only the main engine and the heater in the cooling circuit. The heating device further warms the inside of the vehicle by the heat of the heater,
The cooling control unit,
2. The cooling circuit according to claim 1, wherein when the defroster condition is not satisfied and there is a request to operate the heating device, the cooling water flows through the main unit, the heater, and the auxiliary unit in the cooling circuit. The vehicle control device according to claim 1.

Images