JPH0828673A - Automatic transmission control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the running distance when the fuel is run short of, and prevent generation of troubles leading to gas running-out in an automatic transmission control device having a transmission pattern preferable to the fuel consumption and the transmission pattern not preferable to the fuel consumption. CONSTITUTION:A fuel detecting means (f) to detect the residual amount of the fuel is provided, and a transmission pattern switching means (e) to switch the transmission pattern to be used in realizing the transmission control by a transmission control means (d) to the prescribed transmission pattern excellent in the fuel consumption or the other transmission pattern which is inferior to this prescribed transmission pattern in the fuel consumption is constituted to select the prescribed transmission pattern excellent in the fuel consumption as the transmission pattern when the residual amount of the fuel is reduced to the prescribed value.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic shift control device, and more particularly to a technique for improving fuel economy when the amount of remaining fuel is low.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plurality of shift patterns having different shift points in a shift schedule have been set as an automatic shift control device, and a shift pattern is switched based on a driver's operation or the like to perform a shift ratio switching control. These are known (see, for example, JP-A-58-187640 and JP-A-59-97351).

[0003] Therefore, in such a conventional device, a sports pattern excellent in acceleration is performed by using a shift pattern (power pattern) in which the shift point is shifted to the high speed side as necessary, or the shift point is shifted to the low speed side. By using the shifted gear shift pattern (economy pattern), it is possible to perform economical traveling with favorable fuel consumption.

[0004]

However, in the conventional device as described above, the remaining amount of the fuel remains because the vehicle continues to travel in the gear change pattern designated according to the selection operation or the traveling state regardless of the remaining amount of the fuel. If you select a power pattern even when you have to run economically and you have to drive economically, if the driver does not notice this, you can continue to drive with a power pattern with poor fuel economy, and it has excellent fuel economy like the economy pattern. There is a problem that the travelable distance becomes shorter than when the vehicle travels with another shift pattern.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems. In an automatic shift control device having a shift pattern that is advantageous for fuel consumption and a shift pattern that is disadvantageous for fuel consumption, fuel consumption is reduced. The purpose of this is to extend the distance that the vehicle can travel and prevent the occurrence of troubles that run out of fuel.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gear shift actuator b for changing the gear ratio of an automatic transmission a as shown in the claim correspondence diagram of FIG.
A running state detecting means c for detecting a running state including a running state, a shift control means d for controlling the operation of the shift actuator b in accordance with a shift pattern preset according to the running state, and a shift control means d. The automatic shift control device is provided with a shift pattern switching means e for switching the shift pattern used in the shift control between a predetermined shift pattern having excellent fuel consumption and another shift pattern having lower fuel consumption than the predetermined shift pattern. In the above, the traveling state detecting means c is provided with a fuel detecting means f for detecting the remaining amount of fuel,
The shift pattern switching means e is configured to select the predetermined shift pattern as the shift pattern when the remaining amount of fuel is reduced to the predetermined amount.

Further, in the apparatus according to the second aspect, the other shift pattern has a power pattern in which the shift point is set to a higher vehicle speed than the predetermined shift pattern, and the driver's selection operation or The shift pattern switching means e, which is configured to select the power pattern when a predetermined traveling condition is satisfied, is configured to prohibit the selection of the power pattern when the remaining amount of fuel is reduced to a predetermined amount.

Further, in the apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the other shift pattern has a power pattern in which a shift point is set to a higher vehicle speed than the predetermined shift pattern, and when a predetermined traveling condition is satisfied, the power pattern is set. The shift pattern switching means e configured to automatically select the power pattern makes it difficult to select the power pattern as the threshold value of the traveling condition for selecting the power pattern when the remaining amount of fuel decreases to a predetermined amount. Configured to change to a value.

[0009]

The operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
If the remaining amount of fuel decreases to a predetermined amount when the vehicle is traveling in a shift pattern having excellent running performance but poor fuel economy such as a power pattern, the shift pattern switching means uses the shift pattern used by the shift control means for shifting. Select a shift pattern that is excellent in fuel efficiency. Therefore, even if the driver is not aware that the remaining amount of fuel has decreased, the shift pattern with excellent fuel efficiency is automatically selected and the travelable distance is extended.

Further, in the apparatus of claim 2, when the remaining amount of fuel decreases as described above, the shift pattern switching means is
Prohibit power pattern selection. Therefore, at this time, when the shift pattern switching means selects the power pattern by the driver's operation or the satisfaction of a predetermined traveling condition, the shift pattern is switched to a predetermined shift pattern having excellent fuel consumption. If a predetermined shift pattern with excellent fuel efficiency is selected at this time, the power pattern is switched to the power pattern even if the driver performs a power pattern selection operation or the driving condition for selecting the power pattern is satisfied. Do not change.

Further, in the apparatus according to the third aspect, when the remaining amount of fuel decreases as described above, the shift pattern switching means selects the threshold value of the traveling condition for selecting the power pattern as the power pattern. Change to a value that makes it difficult to do. Therefore, the traveling condition of the power pattern is less likely to be established, and the frequency of selecting the power pattern is reduced.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is an overall view showing an automatic shift control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which reference numeral 1 is an A / T control unit (shift control means) 1 for controlling a shift operation of an automatic transmission AT,
The A / T control unit 1 is, as a traveling state detecting means, an idle switch 2 which is turned on when a throttle valve (not shown) is fully closed, and a full throttle which is turned on at a predetermined opening (for example, 1/2) of the throttle valve. A switch 3, a throttle sensor 4 for detecting the opening of a throttle valve 4, an engine speed sensor 5 for detecting the number of revolutions of an engine E 5, an inhibitor switch 6 for detecting the position of a select lever (not shown), and a temperature for mission oil A temperature sensor 7, a vehicle speed sensor 8 for detecting the rotation of an output shaft (not shown) as a vehicle speed, a mode changeover switch 21 provided inside the vehicle compartment and operated by a driver, and a remaining amount of fuel in a fuel tank (not shown) is detected. EC that controls the drive of the engine E while the fuel sensor 22
It is configured to exchange signals with the CS control unit 10. And this A / T control unit 1 is equipped with each sensor 2-8, 21, 22 and ECCS.
Based on an input from the control unit 10, a shift solenoid A, B, an overrun clutch solenoid 11, a lockup solenoid 12, a line pressure solenoid 13 (above, according to a shift schedule described later according to a vehicle speed and a throttle opening). 4 speed forward (4th speed is overdrive) / reverse 1 by controlling the drive of the speed change actuator) to engage or disengage the friction engagement element.
Speed change control is performed.

The A / T control unit 1 carries out shift control according to a shift schedule. As the shift schedule, there are two economy patterns shown in FIG. 3A and a power pattern shown in FIG. Different types of shift patterns are set, and as shown in the figure, the shift point of the power pattern is shifted to the higher speed side than the economy pattern.

The A / T control unit 1
Performs switching control of which of the above two types of shift patterns is selected. To explain this,
There are basically two types of control as this switching control, and the selection of these two types of control is performed by the mode switching switch 21. The mode changeover switch 21 has a power mode for manually selecting the power pattern and an A / T
The control unit 1 is configured to be switchable between two modes, an automatic mode in which automatic selection is performed. When the auto mode is selected, the A / T control unit 1 basically selects the economy pattern when the predetermined traveling condition is not satisfied, while the predetermined traveling condition is satisfied. In some cases, the power pattern is automatically selected. In the case of the present embodiment, the accelerator pedal depression speed is used as the predetermined traveling condition, and the power pattern is automatically selected when the accelerator pedal depression speed becomes equal to or higher than the set threshold value. As shown in FIG. 4, the threshold value is set to a smaller value depending on the throttle opening and the vehicle speed so that the power pattern can be more easily selected as the throttle opening is larger and the vehicle speed is lower. As explained above,
Hereinafter, manual power mode selection and automatic shift pattern selection control according to the traveling conditions will be referred to as "normal switching control" in the present specification (hereinafter, referred to as "normal switching control").
Regarding the normal switching control described above, for example, Showa 6
March, 2013 NISSAN full range electronically controlled automatic transmission maintenance manual issued by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
RE4R03A type I, see pages 34-35).

Further, the A / T control unit 1 performs a new shift pattern switching control, which will be described below, in addition to the above-mentioned known normal switching control in shifting the shift pattern. The flowchart will be described.

First, in step S1, the fuel sensor 22
Based on the input from, it is determined whether the remaining amount of fuel is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and if YES, the process proceeds to step S2
Then, the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S2, the economy pattern is selected as the shift pattern, while in step S3, the shift pattern is selected based on the normal switching control.

Next, the operation of the apparatus of this embodiment will be described.

When the remaining amount of fuel is sufficient, the switching control of the shift pattern is normally switched (step S).
When the auto mode is selected by the mode changeover switch 21, the economy pattern is selected as the shift schedule unless the above-mentioned predetermined traveling condition is satisfied, and the power pattern is selected when this traveling condition is satisfied. select. Further, when the power mode is manually selected by the mode changeover switch 21, the power pattern is selected as the shift schedule.

When the remaining amount of fuel is reduced to a predetermined amount or less, the flow goes from step S1 to S2, and the economy pattern is selected as the shift schedule. in this case,
The economy pattern is selected even when the power mode is selected by the mode changeover switch 21 or when the traveling condition for selecting the power pattern is satisfied while the auto mode is selected.

Therefore, even if the driver does not notice that the remaining amount of fuel has decreased, the economy pattern is selected as the shift schedule, so that the fuel efficiency is not deteriorated and the power pattern is selected as compared with the case where the power pattern is selected. As a result, the travelable distance can be extended, and the occurrence of troubles that run out of fuel can be prevented.

Next, another embodiment will be described. The difference from the first embodiment is that the A / T control unit 1
Since this is only the control content inside, the only difference will be explained.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the invention according to claim 2.
It is a flow chart which shows the control flow of the automatic shift control device of an example, and is constituted so that a power pattern may be canceled in Step S22 in this example.

Therefore, when the remaining amount of fuel decreases, the shift based on the power pattern which is inferior in fuel consumption is prohibited, and the travelable distance is extended. In this embodiment, the first shift schedule selected in the normal switching control is the first shift schedule.
In addition to the normal pattern and the power pattern shown in the embodiment, when the snow pattern is set to have the normal pattern of the first speed prohibited [see FIG. 3 (c)], the snow pattern is reduced when the remaining amount of fuel decreases. The selection of can be not prohibited.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the invention of claim 3.
It is a flow chart which shows the control flow of the automatic shift control device of an example, and in this example, the threshold of the running condition which selects an auto power pattern is shifted to the high speed side in step S32. That is, the threshold value of the accelerator depression speed, which is one of the driving conditions for selecting the power pattern, is set to a value larger than usual.

Therefore, when the mode changeover switch 21 is set to the power mode, if the predetermined traveling condition is satisfied, the power mode is selected regardless of the intention of the driver, but the remaining amount of fuel becomes small. As described above, it becomes difficult to automatically select such a power mode, which also prevents the fuel from being inadvertently reduced, and the occurrence of troubles that lead to running out of fuel can be prevented. By the way, in this embodiment, when the driver selects and operates the power mode with the mode changeover switch 21, the driver's willingness to select the power mode is respected, and the power mode of the automatic control which is not conscious of the driver is selected. It only reduces the frequency of selection.

Although the embodiment has been described above, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and the present invention includes a design change and the like within a range not departing from the gist of the invention.

[0028]

As described above, according to the automatic shift control device of the present invention, when the remaining amount of fuel is reduced to a predetermined amount, regardless of whether the driver is aware of it or not,
In the above-mentioned one, the shift pattern having excellent fuel economy is selected, and in the one described in claim 2, the selection of the shift pattern having poor fuel economy is prohibited. As a result, the travelable distance after the fuel becomes low does not become carelessly short, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of troubles that lead to running out of fuel.

Further, according to the third aspect, when the remaining amount of fuel is reduced to a predetermined amount, the threshold value of the driving condition for automatically selecting the power pattern is changed to a value that makes it difficult to select the power pattern. As a result, the frequency of automatically selecting the power pattern becomes low, and like the above,
The distance that can be traveled after the amount of fuel is reduced is not inadvertently shortened, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of troubles that run out of fuel.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a claim correspondence diagram showing an automatic shift control device of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall view showing an automatic shift control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a shift schedule of the embodiment apparatus, in which (a) shows an economy pattern, (b) shows a power pattern, and (c) shows a snow pattern.

FIG. 4 is a power pattern selection characteristic diagram by fuzzy control of the A / T control unit of the first embodiment device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control flow of the A / T control unit of the first embodiment device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control flow of an A / T control unit of the second embodiment device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control flow of the A / T control unit of the third embodiment device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 a automatic transmission b speed change actuator c running state detection means d speed change control means e speed change pattern switching means f fuel detection means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A shift actuator for changing a gear ratio of an automatic transmission, a running state detecting means for detecting a running state including an operating state, and an operation of the shift actuator according to a shift pattern preset according to the running state. And a gear shift control means for controlling the gear shift control, and a gear shift pattern used by the gear shift control means for gear shift control between a predetermined gear shift pattern with excellent fuel consumption and another gear shift pattern with less fuel consumption than the predetermined gear shift pattern. In the automatic shift control device including pattern switching means, the traveling state detection means is provided with fuel detection means for detecting the remaining amount of fuel, and the shift pattern switching means is provided when the remaining amount of fuel decreases to a predetermined amount. Is configured to select the predetermined gear shift pattern as the gear shift pattern. 2. A shift actuator for changing a gear ratio of an automatic transmission, a running state detecting means for detecting a running state including an operating state, and an operation of the shift actuator according to a shift pattern preset according to the running state. And a gear shift control means for controlling the gear shift control, and a gear shift pattern used by the gear shift control means for gear shift control between a predetermined gear shift pattern with excellent fuel consumption and another gear shift pattern with less fuel consumption than the predetermined gear shift pattern. Pattern shift means, wherein the shift pattern switch means has a power pattern in which the shift point is set to a higher vehicle speed than the predetermined shift pattern as the other shift pattern, and is selected by the driver. An automatic shift control device configured to select the power pattern when an operation or a predetermined traveling condition is established. The traveling state detecting means is provided with fuel detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of fuel, and the shift pattern switching means is configured to prohibit the selection of the power pattern when the remaining amount of fuel is reduced to a predetermined amount. The automatic shift control device according to claim 1, characterized in that. 3. A shift actuator for changing a gear ratio of an automatic transmission, a running state detecting means for detecting a running state including an operating state, and an operation of the shift actuator according to a shift pattern preset according to the running state. And a gear shift control means for controlling the gear shift control, and a gear shift pattern used by the gear shift control means for gear shift control are switched to a predetermined gear shift pattern with excellent fuel consumption and another gear shift pattern with lower fuel consumption than the predetermined gear shift pattern. Pattern switching means, wherein the shift pattern switching means has a power pattern in which a shift point is set to a higher vehicle speed than the predetermined shift pattern as the other shift pattern, and a predetermined traveling condition is satisfied. Then, in the automatic shift control device configured to automatically select the power pattern, A fuel detection unit for detecting the remaining amount of fuel is provided, and the shift pattern switching unit selects a power condition threshold value for a driving condition for selecting a power pattern when the remaining fuel amount decreases to a predetermined amount. The automatic shift control device according to claim 1, wherein the automatic shift control device is configured to be changed to a value that makes it difficult.