JP7375520B2 - Idling stop vehicle notification device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a notification device for an idling stop vehicle.

Patent Document 1 describes an idling stop vehicle that uses a neutral gear position as an engine stop condition for idling stop.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-78639

In such an idling stop vehicle, in order to automatically stop the engine while the vehicle is decelerating, it is necessary to shift the gear position to neutral while the vehicle is decelerating. However, when the transmission is a manual transmission, the gear position is shifted to neutral by the driver's operation, and the operation timing differs depending on the driver. Therefore, there is a possibility of improving fuel efficiency by shifting the gear position to neutral more quickly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a notification device that allows an idling stop vehicle equipped with a manual transmission to perform an idling stop at an early stage.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention includes a notification unit that notifies the driver of various information, and a transmission that allows the driver to manually select any one state between a neutral state and a plurality of gears. , the engine is started when predetermined automatic stop conditions are met, including that the transmission is in a neutral state, that the vehicle is decelerating, and that the vehicle speed of the vehicle is less than a predetermined automatic stop vehicle speed. a control unit that automatically stops the vehicle, the control unit causing the notification unit to notify the gear position that provides the optimum fuel efficiency based on the running state of the vehicle, and while the vehicle is decelerating, the speed of the vehicle is set to the automatic stop. When the vehicle speed becomes less than a predetermined vehicle speed higher than the automatically stopped vehicle speed near the stopped vehicle speed , the notification section issues a notification to prompt the switching to the neutral state.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform idling stop at an early stage in an idling stop vehicle equipped with a manual transmission.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a notification device for an idling stop vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the steps of the gear position notification process of the notification device for an idling stop vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the idling stop timing according to the gear position notification process when the predetermined vehicle speed of the notification device of the idling stop vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention is the same as the automatic stop vehicle speed. FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the idling stop timing according to the gear position notification process when the predetermined vehicle speed of the notification device of the idling stop vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention is set to be higher than the automatic stop vehicle speed. FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the idling stop timing when no notification prompting switching to the neutral state is performed.

A notification device for an idling stop vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a notification unit that notifies a driver of various information, and a driver who manually selects any one state among a neutral state and a plurality of gears. Predetermined automatic stop conditions are met, including the transmission selectable in , the transmission being in a neutral state, the vehicle being decelerated, and the vehicle speed being less than a predetermined automatic stop vehicle speed. a control unit that automatically stops the engine when the vehicle is decelerating; When it becomes less than the neutral state, the notification unit is configured to issue a notification to prompt switching to the neutral state.

Thereby, the notification device for an idling stop vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention can cause an idling stop vehicle equipped with a manual transmission to perform an idling stop at an early stage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a notification device for an idling stop vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 equipped with a notification device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an internal combustion engine 2, a transmission 3, a notification section 4, and a control section 5. .

The engine 2 is a four-cycle engine that performs a series of four strokes consisting of an intake stroke, a compression stroke, an expansion stroke, and an exhaust stroke, and ignites in a combustion chamber between the compression stroke and the expansion stroke.

The transmission 3 is provided in a power transmission path from the engine 2 to drive wheels (not shown). The transmission 3 is capable of forming any one of a neutral state and a plurality of gear stages. Specifically, the transmission 3 selects the state to be formed in response to the driver's operation of a shift lever (not shown).

A clutch (not shown) is provided between the engine 2 and the transmission 3 to change the torque transmitted from the engine 2 to the transmission 3. Specifically, the clutch changes the transmission state in which the rotation output from the engine 2 is transmitted to the transmission 3 and the transmission state in which the rotation output from the engine 2 is transmitted to the transmission 3, and the transmission of rotation from the engine 2 to the transmission 3, depending on the operation amount of a clutch pedal (not shown). The degree of transmission of rotation from the engine 2 to the transmission 3 is changed between the cutoff state and the cutoff state. When the clutch pedal is not depressed, the clutch is in a transmitting state, and when the clutch pedal is depressed, the clutch is in a disengaged state.

The notification unit 4 includes, for example, a monitor device, a speaker, a lamp, a meter, a buzzer, etc., and notifies the driver of various information through visual and auditory means.

The control unit 5 is composed of a computer unit including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an input port, and an output port. .

The ROM of the control section 5 stores various constants, various maps, etc., as well as a program for causing the computer unit to function as the control section 5. That is, the CPU executes the program stored in the ROM, so that the computer unit functions as the control section 5 in this embodiment.

The input port of the control unit 5 has various sensors and switches such as an accelerator opening sensor 11, a vehicle speed sensor 12, a brake switch 13, a shift position sensor 14, a clutch switch 15, and a tilt angle sensor 16 as a tilt angle detector. is connected.

The accelerator opening sensor 11 detects the opening of an accelerator pedal (not shown) operated by the driver. Vehicle speed sensor 12 detects the speed of vehicle 1. The brake switch 13 outputs an on signal when a brake pedal (not shown) is depressed by the driver.

The shift position sensor 14 detects a shift position selected by the driver's operation of a shift lever (not shown). The shift position is selected from, for example, one of forward speeds 1 to 5, reverse, and neutral.

Clutch switch 15 detects whether the clutch is in a disengaged state. The clutch switch 15 outputs an on signal when the clutch pedal is depressed and the clutch is disengaged, and the driver begins to return the clutch pedal from the maximum depressed position and transmission of rotation from the engine 2 to the transmission 3 begins. When the friction condition starts, the on signal switches to the off signal.

The inclination angle sensor 16 is composed of, for example, a gyroscope, an acceleration sensor, or the like, and outputs sensor information (voltage signal) corresponding to the angle of the traveling direction of the vehicle 1 with respect to a horizontal plane.

Further, the output port of the control unit 5 includes various types of devices including the notification unit 4, a throttle valve (not shown) that adjusts the intake air amount of the engine 2, and an injector (not shown) that injects fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine 2. Control objects are connected.

The control unit 5 determines the gear position that provides the optimum fuel efficiency from the driving state of the vehicle 1, and causes the notification unit 4 to notify the driver.

For example, the control unit 5 determines the gear position that provides the optimum fuel efficiency based on the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening, and uses the notification unit 4 configured by an LED (Light Emitting Diode) provided on the instrument panel and a drive circuit for the LED. Displays and alerts you to a number indicating the gear position that provides the optimum fuel efficiency.

The control unit 5 controls an idling stop function that stops the engine 2 when a preset automatic stop condition is met, and restarts the engine 2 when a preset restart condition is met.

The automatic stop conditions include, for example, that the vehicle 1 is decelerating, that the vehicle speed is less than a predetermined automatic stop vehicle speed, that the shift position is in neutral, that the brake pedal is depressed, and that the charging capacity of the battery is low. The condition is that the condition is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, that the clutch pedal is depressed, or that the clutch pedal is released.

When the speed of the vehicle 1 becomes less than a predetermined vehicle speed while the vehicle 1 is decelerating, the control section 5 causes the notification section 4 to issue a notification urging switching to the neutral state.

For example, the control unit 5 causes the notification unit 4, which is configured by an LED provided on the instrument panel and a drive circuit for the LED, to display "N" to issue a notification urging the vehicle to enter the neutral state. In addition, in order to encourage a more neutral state, the "N" display may be made to blink.

The predetermined vehicle speed is preferably a vehicle speed close to the automatic stop vehicle speed of the automatic stop condition, and more preferably a vehicle speed higher than the automatic stop vehicle speed.

When the speed of the vehicle 1 becomes less than a predetermined vehicle speed and the gear position of the transmission 3 becomes a predetermined low gear position, the control unit 5 may cause the notification unit 4 to issue a notification urging the vehicle to enter the neutral state.

The predetermined low speed is, for example, a speed below second speed, and is a speed that is likely to be used when decelerating, such as when engine braking is effective.

When the inclination angle sensor 16 detects a slope of the vehicle 1 of a predetermined angle or more, that is, a slope of the road surface, the control unit 5 prohibits the notification unit 4 from giving a notification urging the vehicle to enter the neutral state. When the control unit 5 can obtain information on the slope of the road surface from the car navigation system or an external server device, the control unit 5 determines whether or not to prohibit the notification unit 4 from informing the user to enter the neutral state based on the information. good. In this case, the car navigation system or an external server device constitutes the slope detection section.

Note that notification may be made to prompt the neutral state only when the state of charge of the battery is good. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the state of charge of the battery from deteriorating due to the alternator not generating power while the engine is running.

The gear position notification process by the notification device according to the present embodiment configured as above will be explained with reference to FIG. 2. Note that the gear position notification process described below is started when the control unit 5 starts operating, and is executed at preset time intervals.

In step S1, the control unit 5 determines whether the vehicle 1 is decelerating. If it is determined that the vehicle 1 is not decelerating, the control unit 5 executes the process of step S4. If it is determined that the vehicle 1 is decelerating, the control unit 5 executes the process of step S2.

In step S2, the control unit 5 determines whether the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1 is less than a predetermined vehicle speed. If it is determined that the vehicle speed is not less than the predetermined vehicle speed, the control unit 5 executes the process of step S4. If it is determined that the vehicle speed is less than the predetermined vehicle speed, the control unit 5 executes the process of step S3.

In step S3, the control unit 5 causes the notification unit 4 to notify the switching to neutral as the optimum gear position, and ends the gear position notification process.

In step S4, the control unit 5 calculates the optimum gear position from the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening degree, causes the notification unit 4 to notify the optimum gear position, and ends the gear position notification process.

The operation of such a gear position notification process will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. Figure 5 shows that the automatic stop vehicle speed under the automatic stop condition for idling stop is 15 km/h, and when the driver attempts to switch to neutral at a vehicle speed of around 10 km/h, there is no notification prompting the driver to switch to neutral. This is an example of the operation in this case.

As shown in FIG. 5, the driver does not switch to neutral even if the vehicle speed falls below 15 km/h, which is the automatic stop vehicle speed under the automatic stop condition of the idling stop.

At time t5, when the vehicle speed is around 10 km/h, the driver depresses the clutch pedal (clutch switch 15 is turned on) to shift to neutral, and when the clutch pedal is returned, the automatic stop condition for idling stop is satisfied. (idling stop flag is on), engine 2 is automatically stopped.

In this manner, since no notification is given to prompt the vehicle to switch to neutral, the automatic stop condition for idling stop is satisfied only after the vehicle speed becomes lower than the vehicle speed (15 km/h) at which the engine 2 can be automatically stopped. In the example shown in Figure 5, the clutch pedal is depressed and released when the vehicle speed is about 10 km/h, so the idling stop flag, which is the timing to automatically stop engine 2, is turned on when the vehicle speed drops below 10 km/h. Become.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the operation when the predetermined vehicle speed is 15 km/h when the automatic stop vehicle speed of the automatic stop condition for idling stop is 15 km/h.

As shown in FIG. 3, at time t1, the vehicle speed becomes less than the predetermined vehicle speed of 15 km/h, and the notification unit 4 displays, for example, neutral.

At time t2, when the driver responds to the neutral display, depresses the clutch pedal (clutch switch 15 is turned on), shifts to neutral, and returns the clutch pedal, the automatic stop condition for idling stop is met, and the engine 2 automatically starts. will be stopped.

In this way, in order to notify the driver of switching to neutral at 15 km/h, which is the predetermined vehicle speed under the automatic stop condition for idling stop, the driver must switch to neutral before the vehicle speed reaches 10 km/h, and when the vehicle speed reaches 10 km/h. Engine 2 can be automatically stopped at around /h.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation when the predetermined vehicle speed is set to 20 km/h when the automatic stop vehicle speed of the automatic stop condition for idling stop is 15 km/h.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the vehicle speed becomes less than the notified vehicle speed of 20 km/h, the notification section 4 displays, for example, neutral.

At time t3, when the driver responds to the neutral display, depresses the clutch pedal (clutch switch 15 is turned on), shifts to neutral, and returns the clutch pedal, the automatic stop condition for idling stop is met, and the engine 2 automatically starts. will be stopped.

In this way, in order to prompt the driver to switch to neutral at a vehicle speed of 20 km/h, which is higher than the automatic stop vehicle speed under the automatic stop condition of idling stop, the driver must switch to neutral before the vehicle speed reaches 15 km/h. By performing the switching, the engine 2 can be automatically stopped when the vehicle speed is around 15 km/h, which is the automatic stop vehicle speed, before time t4 when the vehicle speed reaches 10 km/h.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the speed of the vehicle 1 becomes less than the predetermined vehicle speed while the vehicle 1 is decelerating, the notification unit 4 issues a notification prompting switching to the neutral state.

As a result, when the vehicle speed is decelerated below a predetermined speed within the vehicle speed range where automatic stopping is possible, a notification prompting the user to switch to the neutral state is issued, making it easier to establish automatic stopping conditions at an early stage, increasing opportunities for idling stop, and The fuel efficiency of the vehicle 1 can be improved.

Further, the predetermined vehicle speed is a vehicle speed near the automatic stop vehicle speed of the automatic stop condition, and is higher than the automatic stop vehicle speed.

This notifies the vehicle to switch to neutral before entering the vehicle speed range where automatic stopping is possible, making it easier to establish automatic stopping conditions early, increasing opportunities for idling stop, and improving vehicle 1's fuel efficiency. be able to.

If the predetermined vehicle speed is too low than the auto-stop vehicle speed, the timing will be the same as when the driver normally switches to neutral, and if it is too high than the auto-stop vehicle speed, engine braking will not work and the vehicle will become less than the auto-stop speed. It may take some time for the vehicle to stop automatically, so it is recommended to take this into consideration and set the vehicle speed to a value close to the automatic stop vehicle speed.

Further, when the speed of the vehicle 1 becomes less than a predetermined vehicle speed while the vehicle 1 is decelerating and the gear position of the transmission 3 becomes a predetermined low gear position, the notification part 4 gives a notification urging the user to enter the neutral state.

As a result, a notification is issued to encourage the vehicle to enter a neutral state in the low speed range where a predetermined low gear is used, so it is possible to issue a notification prompting the driver to enter a neutral state in situations where there is a high possibility that deceleration and idling stop will be performed. This makes it easier to satisfy automatic stop conditions, increases opportunities for idling stop, and improves fuel efficiency of the vehicle 1.

Furthermore, when the inclination angle sensor 16 detects a slope of the vehicle 1 of a predetermined angle or more, the notification unit 4 prohibits notification to prompt the vehicle to enter the neutral state.

As a result, when the slope of the vehicle 1, that is, the slope of the road surface, is greater than a predetermined angle, a notification to prompt the vehicle to enter the neutral state is not provided, so the vehicle 1 enters the neutral state on an uphill slope, causing the vehicle 1 to slide downward. can be suppressed. In addition, the vehicle enters a neutral state on a downhill slope, and can suppress acceleration in the downhill direction.

In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the control unit 5 performs various determinations and calculations based on various sensor information, but the present invention is not limited to this. Based on the detection information of various sensors transmitted from the communication section, various judgments and calculations are performed by the external device, the judgment results and calculation results are received by the communication section, and the received judgment results and calculation results are used. Various controls may also be performed.

Although embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent that modifications may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be included in the following claims.

1 Vehicle 2 Engine 3 Transmission 4 Notification unit 5 Control unit 12 Vehicle speed sensor 14 Shift position sensor 16 Tilt angle sensor (Tilt angle detection unit)

Claims (3)

a notification unit that notifies the driver of various information;
a transmission that allows a driver to manually select any one state between a neutral state and a plurality of gears;
The engine is automatically activated when predetermined automatic stop conditions are met, including that the transmission is in a neutral state, the vehicle is decelerating, and the vehicle speed is less than a predetermined automatic stop vehicle speed. A control unit for stopping the
The control unit causes the notification unit to notify the gear position that provides optimum fuel efficiency based on the driving state of the vehicle, and when the vehicle is decelerating, the speed of the vehicle is near the automatically stopped vehicle speed and is lower than the automatically stopped vehicle speed. A notification device for an idling stop vehicle that causes the notification unit to notify a switch to the neutral state when the vehicle speed becomes less than a predetermined high speed. The control unit may cause the notification unit to issue a notification prompting switching to the neutral state when the speed of the vehicle becomes less than the predetermined vehicle speed and the gear position of the transmission becomes a predetermined low gear position. 1. The notification device for an idling stop vehicle according to 1 . comprising an inclination angle detection unit that detects the inclination of a road surface on which the vehicle is running;
The idling stop vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the control unit prohibits a notification prompting switching to the neutral state when the slope angle detection unit detects a slope of the road surface of a predetermined angle or more. Notification device.

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