JPH10184902A - Control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To add a vehicle control which functions according to the road data stored in a navigation system easily without changing the system configuration of navigation equipment. SOLUTION: An external input/output terminal 101 of navigation equipment 10 is connected via a removable connector 63 with a card driver 62 which drives a memory card 61 and with a A/T ECU40. The communication to the memory card 61 from both the navigation equipment 10 and the A/T ECU40 is enabled via the connector 63, and the gear position control signal based on the road data of the navigation equipment 10 is supplied to the A/T ECU40 by the program stored in the memory card 61.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle control device, and more particularly, to a control device for controlling a vehicle based on road information stored in a navigation device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a navigation device for informing a driver of road information around a current position of a vehicle and guiding a traveling route to a destination of the vehicle has been mounted on the vehicle. There has been proposed a control device for controlling an automatic transmission in accordance with road information on the surroundings of a vehicle (Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-58141).

[0003]

In the conventional control as described above, it is necessary to newly incorporate a microcomputer for controlling the automatic transmission in addition to the control microcomputer operating as the navigation device. However, if a microcomputer for controlling such an automatic transmission is newly incorporated, it is necessary to reconstruct the system of the navigation device itself. In addition, there is also a problem that a communication load in the system increases and a processing speed is reduced.

[0004] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a control device for vehicle control that can be easily attached by connecting to an external input / output port of a navigation device.

[0005]

This and other objects are achieved by the present invention described below.

(1) Road information storage means for storing road information, own vehicle position detection means for detecting the current location of a vehicle,
A connection terminal connected to an external input / output terminal of a navigation device having road information detection means for detecting specific road information from road information storage means based on the detected vehicle position; A control device comprising: external control means for performing vehicle control with contents according to road information; and a signal line for supplying a control signal output from the external control means to the vehicle control means.

(2) Road information storage means for storing road information, own vehicle position detection means for detecting the current location of the vehicle,
A navigation device having road information detection means for detecting specific road information from the road information storage means based on the detected position of the vehicle, a vehicle control device for controlling the vehicle, and an external input device of the navigation device. A connection unit connected to an output terminal; and a control unit that communicates via the connection unit and supplies a vehicle control signal having a content corresponding to the road information detected by the navigation device to the vehicle control device. A control device characterized in that:

(3) Further, the vehicle control device includes a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed of the own vehicle and a driving operation detecting means for detecting a driving operation of a driver, and the vehicle control device automatically selects a gear ratio. An automatic transmission, wherein the control unit calculates a recommended traveling speed of a specific point in a traveling direction of the own vehicle in accordance with road information detected by a navigation device; Speed ratio regulating means for regulating the speed ratio within a preset range in accordance with the speed difference between the current vehicle speed and the distance between the vehicle and the current location and the recommended traveling speed of the specific point, and based on the driving operation of the driver. 3. The control device according to claim 2, further comprising a speed ratio setting means for setting a speed ratio selected by the automatic transmission so as to fall within a range restricted by the speed ratio restricting means.

(4) The control device according to the above (2) or (3), wherein the control means includes a memory card storing control contents and a card driver for driving the memory card.

(5) The control device according to (2) or (3), wherein the control means is built in the connection means.

(6) The control device according to any one of (2) to (5), wherein the connection means is a connector connectable to an external input / output terminal of a navigation device.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
One will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the vehicle control device of the present invention. The control device 1 of the present invention includes a navigation device 10, an automatic transmission that is a vehicle control device, and an externally connected control device 6.
And a vehicle state detection unit 30. The navigation device 10 includes a navigation processing unit 11, a data storage unit 12, which is a road information storage unit, and a current position detection unit 1.
3, a communication unit 15, an input unit 16, a display unit 17, and an audio output unit 19.

The navigation processing unit 11 performs various arithmetic processing such as navigation processing based on the input information, and outputs a result thereof to a central control unit (hereinafter referred to as “CP”).
U ”) 111. This CPU 111
The ROM 112 and the RAM 113 are connected via a bus line such as a data bus. The ROM 112 is a read-only memory in which various programs for searching for a route to a destination, traveling guidance on the route, determining a specific section, and the like are stored. RAM 113 is a CPU
Reference numeral 111 denotes a random access memory as a working memory for performing various arithmetic processing.

The data storage unit 12 stores a map data file, an intersection data file, a node data file, a road data file, a photograph data file, and information for each area such as a hotel, a gas station, and a tourist spot guide in each area. It has other stored data files. In each of these files, while performing a route search, a guide map is displayed along the searched route, characteristic photographs and frame diagrams at the intersection and the route are displayed, the remaining distance to the intersection, the next intersection, The display unit 17 and the audio output unit 19 display the traveling direction of the
Various data to be output from are stored.

Of the information stored in these files, those used for route search in normal navigation are the files storing intersection data, node data, and road data. These files include road width, slope, cant, bank, road surface condition, radius of curvature of the corner, intersection, T-junction, number of lanes on the road, points where the number of lanes decreases, entrance of the corner, railroad crossing, high speed Road information including road attributes such as a road exit rampway, a tollgate on a highway, a point where the width of a road becomes narrower, a downhill road, an uphill road, and a road type (national road, general road, highway, etc.) is stored. . Here, the traveling environment can be specified based on the road information such as the intersection data, the node data, and the road data, and includes a concept including a change in a road surface based on weather (rainy road, snowy road, and the like). It is. These changes in the road surface can be detected by use of a wiper, a road surface sensor, or the like.

Each file is, for example, DVD, MO, C
Various storage devices such as a D-ROM, an optical disk, a magnetic tape, an IC card, and an optical card are used. Each file has a large storage capacity, for example, it is preferable to use a CD-ROM. However, for individual data such as other data files and data for each area, an IC card may be used.

The current position detector 13 includes a GPS receiver 131, a geomagnetic sensor 132, a distance sensor 133, a steering sensor 134, a beacon sensor 135, and a gyro sensor 136. GPS receiver 13
Reference numeral 1 denotes a device that receives a radio wave emitted from an artificial satellite and measures the position of the own vehicle. The terrestrial magnetism sensor 132 detects terrestrial magnetism to determine the direction in which the vehicle is facing. As the distance sensor 133, for example, a sensor that detects and counts the number of rotations of a wheel, a sensor that detects acceleration and integrates twice, and other measuring devices are used. Steering sensor 134
For example, an optical rotation sensor or a rotation resistance volume attached to a rotating portion of a steering wheel is used, but an angle sensor attached to a wheel portion may be used. The beacon sensor 135 receives position information from a beacon arranged on the road. The gyro sensor 136 is configured by a gas rate gyro, a vibration gyro, or the like that detects the rotational angular velocity of the vehicle and integrates the angular velocity to determine the azimuth of the vehicle.

The GPS receiver 13 of the current position detector 13
1 and the beacon sensor 135 can independently measure the position, but in other cases, the distance sensor 133
, Or a combination of the azimuth detected by the geomagnetic sensor 132 and the gyro sensor 136, or the combination of the distance detected by the distance sensor 133 and the steering angle detected by the steering sensor 134. The absolute position (own vehicle position) is detected.

The communication unit 15 transmits and receives various data to and from an FM transmission device, a telephone line, and the like.
For example, various data such as road information such as traffic congestion and traffic accident information received from an information center or the like are received.

The input unit 16 is configured to correct the current position at the start of traveling and to input a destination. Examples of the configuration of the input unit 16 include a touch panel that is arranged on a screen of a display that configures the display unit 17 and that inputs information by touching keys and menus displayed on the screen, a keyboard, a mouse, and a bar. Examples include a code reader, a light-on, and a remote control device for remote operation.

The display unit 17 displays an operation guide, an operation menu, operation keys, a route to a guide point set in response to a request from the user, and various maps such as a guide map along a traveling route. Display is performed. As the display unit 17,
A CRT display, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, a hologram device that projects a hologram on a windshield, or the like can be used.

The voice input unit 18 is constituted by a microphone or the like, and enables information input by voice by adding a program for performing voice recognition. The voice output unit 19 includes a voice synthesizer and a speaker, and outputs guidance information of voice synthesized by the voice synthesizer. Note that, in addition to the voice synthesized by the voice synthesizer, various kinds of guidance information may be recorded on a tape and output from a speaker, or the synthesized voice of the voice synthesizer and the voice of the tape may be output. They may be combined.

The navigation device configured as described above informs the driver of road information around the current location of the vehicle, and guides the traveling route to the destination of the vehicle. That is,
When a destination is input from the input unit 16, the navigation processing unit 11 selects a traveling route to the destination from the road information read from the data storage unit 12 based on the own vehicle position detected by the current position detection unit 13. The display unit 17 displays the route.
The driver is guided to the destination by the traveling route displayed on the display unit 17 and the voice output from the voice output unit 19. When the destination is not input, the display unit 1 displays road information around the own vehicle position.
7 is output.

On the other hand, the navigation device 10 is provided with an external input / output terminal 101. A new function can be added to this terminal by connecting a memory in which certain information is recorded.
For example, by connecting a memory storing a program for voice recognition, the destination can be input by voice from the voice input unit 18. This memory includes, for example, a memory card 61 configured in a card shape and a card driver 62 for driving the memory card 61, and is appropriately changed by exchanging the memory card 61 having different stored contents. Control of contents can be executed.

In the case of this embodiment, a connector 63 having the card driver 62 and the memory card 61 as external control means or control means and connected to an external input / output terminal is provided as connection means. The connector 63 is connected to a terminal 631 to which the external input / output terminal 101 of the navigation device 10 is connected, a terminal 632 to which a signal line of the card driver 62 is connected, and a signal line for communicating with the A / T ECU 40. Terminal 633 is provided. The terminal 632 has the same configuration as the external input / output terminal 101, so that an external additional device (a card driver, a control box, or the like) connected to the external input / output terminal 101 can be connected.

The memory card 61 has a CPU storing a vehicle control program, and road information is supplied from the navigation device 10 via the connector 63. Also,
A control signal is output in accordance with the content of the control executed based on the supplied road information. The control signal is supplied to the A / T ECU 40 via the connector 63.

In the memory card 61, other control programs (for example, a voice recognition program) can be stored at the same time, and can be executed at the same time. In the navigation device 10 as described above, the own vehicle position detecting unit is configured by the current position detecting unit 13, and the road information storing unit is configured by the data storing unit 12.

The node as a specific point in the traveling direction of the own vehicle position is determined based on the own vehicle position detected by the current position detecting unit 13, the running direction of the own vehicle, and the road information stored in the road information storage means. Is determined by the CPU 11 of the memory card 61. In addition, the distance calculating means includes the current position detecting unit 13.
And the data storage unit 12 and the CPU of the memory card 61, and calculate distances L1 to Ln from the current position to each node as shown in FIGS.

The node radius calculation means includes a data storage unit 12
2 and a CPU of the memory card 61, FIG.
, The node radii R1 to Rn are calculated for each of the nodes N1 to Nn. Here, a node is an element indicating a position shape of a road in a digital map, and digitized road information is constituted by a point (node) indicating a position on the road and a line (link) connecting the nodes. You.
In the present embodiment, a node is a specific point. The method of calculating the node radius at the specific point can be calculated, for example, from the crossing angle of the link crossing at the specific point.

The recommended traveling speed calculating means includes a data storage unit 12, a current position detection unit 13, and a C of the memory card 61.
PU, and each node radius R1 to Rn;
Vehicle speeds (node speeds) V1 to Vn (recommended traveling) recommended when passing through each node position according to a predetermined data table as shown in FIG. Speed) is calculated for each node.

The gear ratio restricting means is provided by the C
It is composed of PU. Memory card 61 CP
U calculates the recommended traveling speed from the node information located in the traveling direction of the vehicle as described above, and based on the data table shown in FIG. 3, passes through each node at the recommended traveling speed. It is determined at which speed stage it is appropriate to decelerate, and based on the determination, the range of the speed range that can be changed, that is, the upper limit of the speed range that can be changed, is set.

The gear ratio setting means is also provided by the memory card 61.
CPU. The CPU of the memory card 61
After confirming that the driver intends to decelerate, A / T
The upper limit value of the determined shift speed is output to the ECU 40. The A / T ECU 40 compares the upper limit value of the shift speed determined by the CPU of the memory card 61 with the shift speed determined based on the normal shift map, and determines the lower shift speed of the two in the actual shift speed. Set as the gear.

The vehicle state detecting section 30 includes a vehicle speed sensor 31 as vehicle speed detecting means, a brake sensor 32, an accelerator opening sensor 33, and a blinker sensor 34 as driving operation detecting means, and further has a throttle opening sensor 35. I have. The vehicle speed sensor 31 indicates the vehicle speed V, and the brake sensor 32 indicates whether or not the brake is depressed (ON / OFF).
The accelerator sensor 33 indicates the accelerator opening α, the blinker sensor 34 indicates ON / OFF of the blinker switch,
The throttle sensor detects the throttle opening θ.

The detected driving operations include a brake ON / OFF signal, an accelerator opening signal, and a blinker O signal.
Each is supplied to the navigation processing unit 11 as an N / OFF signal. The vehicle speed V detected by the vehicle speed sensor 31 is supplied to the navigation processing unit 11 and an electric control circuit unit 40 to be described later, and the throttle opening θ detected by the throttle sensor is supplied to the electric control circuit unit 40. You.

In the driving operation, the driver's deceleration operation can be detected by the brake ON signal. Also,
The driver's deceleration operation can be detected based on the change in the accelerator opening α. That is, when the accelerator opening is close to zero or when the accelerator opening decreases at a predetermined change rate or more, it can be detected as a driver's deceleration operation. Further, at an intersection or the like, the intention of the driver to decelerate can be predicted based on the turn signal of the turn signal and detected as a deceleration operation. The detection signal for detecting the driver's deceleration operation is transmitted to the navigation processing unit 11 or the A / T.
It is supplied to the CPU of the memory card 61 via the ECU 40.

The automatic transmission, which is a vehicle control device, includes a gear train mainly composed of planetary gears and a mechanical portion (in the figure, a hydraulic circuit) that engages and disengages each component of the gear train to form a shift stage. A / T 41 and an electric control circuit (hereinafter referred to as A / T) for controlling the mechanism 41
ECU 40). Memory card 61
The CPU and the A / T ECU 40 are connected to each other via a communication line, and communication is appropriately performed.

The A / T ECU 40 is connected to a vehicle speed sensor 31 and a throttle opening sensor 35, and a vehicle speed signal is sent from the vehicle speed sensor 31 to the throttle opening sensor 35.
Receives a throttle opening signal. Further, a shift position signal corresponding to the shift position selected by the AT mode selection unit (not shown) is input from a shift position sensor (not shown) attached to the mechanism unit 41.

On the other hand, from the A / T ECU 40 to the mechanism 41
A drive signal is output to an actuator (hydraulic solenoid) in the hydraulic circuit described above, and based on the drive signal, the actuator operates to form a gear stage and the like. A / T
The ECU 40 is also controlled by a control program stored in the EEPROM 42. For example, the gear position is selected based on the throttle opening detected by the throttle opening sensor 35 and the vehicle speed from the vehicle speed sensor 31. It is configured to be performed based on a memory table (shift map). This shift map determines the shift speed unique to the automatic transmission.

The shift map is prepared according to each of the normal mode and the power mode, and is automatically changed based on a shift mode change command signal supplied from the navigation processing unit 11. Further, the shift mode can be changed via the AT mode selection unit according to the driver's will.

Here, the normal mode is an economical driving pattern in which fuel efficiency and power performance are well-balanced, and is used for normal driving. The power mode is a pattern emphasizing power performance, and is used for driving in a mountainous area or the like. In the gear position map, a large region of the low speed gear is taken.

In the present embodiment, by limiting the high speed side (upper limit) of the shift speed without changing this unique shift map, control is performed such that the shift speed is shifted to the low speed side as a result. doing. Therefore, any shift map can be used as the unique shift map.

The shift lever provided in the AT mode selector is a six-position type in which six shift positions of a parking range, a reverse range, a neutral range, a drive range, a second range, and a low range can be selected. Is mechanically connected to a shift position sensor (not shown). In the shift range of the drive range, a shift speed is selected between the first and fourth speeds, in the second range, a shift speed is selected between the first and second speeds, and in the low range, only the first speed is set. .

In this embodiment, only when the shift lever is held at the shift position in the drive range, the gear position can be restricted by the navigation device 10. For example, A / T ECU 40
Accordingly, even if the fourth speed is determined, if the upper limit is set to the third speed by the CPU of the memory card 61, the drive signal is output only within the range from the first speed to the third speed. Then, for the hydraulic circuit of the mechanism section 41 for setting the gear ratio,
The drive signal is output within that range. In this embodiment,
As a range of the shift speed that can be changed, an upper limit value is set as a restricted range.

Engine control unit (E in the figure)
/ G ECU 50) changes a fuel injection command or the like based on a signal of a throttle opening, an engine speed from an engine (E / G in the figure) 51 and other information (cooling water temperature, sensor signal, etc.). Then, the engine 51 is controlled.

Hereinafter, control operations relating to the gear ratio control in the navigation processing unit 11, the CPU of the memory card 61, and the A / TECU 40 will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated flowchart. Control of the navigation processing unit 11 will be described. The destination is input from the input unit 16 (step S101), and the current position is detected from the current position detection unit 13 (step S103). Based on the input destination and the vehicle position detected by the current position detection unit 13, a route from the current vehicle position to the destination is searched (step S105). The searched route is displayed on the display unit 17, and the driver is guided to the destination by voice via the voice output unit 19 (step S10).
7).

Next, the connector 6 is connected to the external input / output terminal 101.
3 is inserted or not (step S
109). Whether the connector 63 is inserted or not
Since a voltage drop occurs when the connector 63 is connected, it can be determined by detecting this voltage drop.

If the connector 63 is inserted, the road information is transmitted to the memory card 61 (step S1).
11). The information to be transmitted includes the current position detecting unit 13.
And the road data within a predetermined range from the own vehicle position. The transmitted road data includes node data (coordinate data of nodes, etc.), link data, and data relating to road attributes. If the connector 63 is not inserted, the process returns without doing anything.

Next, the control operation of the CPU of the memory card 61 will be described with reference to the drawing shown in FIG. It is determined whether power has been supplied from the navigation device 10 (step S201). If power is being supplied, initialization is performed (step S203). The road data supplied in step S111 of the navigation device 10 is acquired (step S205). Also, A
/ T ECU 40, an accelerator signal, a brake signal, a vehicle speed signal, a lock-up state, and a signal related to an actual gear position are obtained, and the accelerator opening state, brake ON / OFF, current vehicle speed, and lock-up state are obtained. It is determined whether or not the actual shift speed is at step S207.

Based on the information obtained in steps S205 and S207, a curve control routine (step S209) is executed, and the upper limit value of the speed determined by the curve control routine is supplied to the A / T ECU 40 (step S21).
1). Next, the curve control routine will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. In step S205, the obtained data, that is, the distances L1 to Ln from the current position to the respective nodes from the nodes N1 to Nn (see FIG. 2) on the planned traveling route, and the node radii r1 to Rn for each of the nodes N1 to Nn. rn is calculated (step S40).
1).

Then, from the node radii r1 to rn of each of the nodes N1 to Nn, the node speed (recommended traveling speed) V
1 to Vn, and based on the current vehicle speed V0 and the distances L1 to Ln from the current position to the respective nodes N1 to Nn, the necessity of the gear position regulation control is determined based on the regulation gear position map (FIG. 3). A determination is made for each node (step S403). The deceleration for decelerating from the current vehicle speed V0 to the node speeds V1 to Vn of the nodes N1 to Nn ahead is obtained for each node, and the necessity of control is determined for each node.

The regulating shift speed map shown in FIG. 3 sets recommended decelerations in consideration of the deceleration by changing the shift speed, safe deceleration, vehicle behavior, and the like. This is a map in which the most appropriate gear (hereinafter referred to as “optimal gear”) is set. The speed values (second speed, third speed) that regulate the upper limit are determined based on the map. That is, the deceleration required to decelerate to each of the node speeds V1 to Vn is displayed as deceleration curves m1 and m2, and the current vehicle speed V0, which is the speed at the current position, is compared with the current vehicle speed V0. Is larger, it is determined that control is necessary. The deceleration curves are set in correspondence with the gears considered to be desirable for each deceleration level, and two deceleration curves m1 and m2 are provided for each node point.

When the vehicle speed V0 is located above the deceleration curve m1 on the upper side of the figure, the upper limit of the shift speed is set to the second speed (optimum shift speed 2nd speed), and the deceleration curve m1 and the deceleration curve m2 are compared. In the case of being located in between, the upper limit of the shift speed is set to the third speed (the optimum shift speed third speed), and the speed is equal to or higher than the node speed Vn (V1),
If it is equal to or less than the deceleration curve m2, the upper limit of the shift speed is set to 4
The speed is controlled so as to be set to the speed. In this case, the speed limit control is not performed, and the speed is determined based on a normal shift map. This optimum gear is set from the viewpoint of what gear is more appropriate for decelerating to the node speed, and is applied after confirming the driver's will, as described later. The configuration is as follows.

This deceleration curve corresponds to each node N1, N2
Is determined for each of the node speeds V1 and V2 and the necessity of the upper limit of the shift speed is determined. Then, among the determined nodes, the shift speed having the highest degree of regulation (the lower limit of the shift speed) is determined as the upper limit regulation value.

For example, in FIG. 3, when the current vehicle speed is V0, it is desirable to set the upper limit of the shift speed to the third speed in order to pass the node N1 at the recommended speed V1 (P1).
To pass through the node N2 at the recommended speed V2, (P
2), the upper limit must be 2nd speed. In this case, the upper limit of the gear position is set to the second speed.

Next, it is determined whether or not the driver intends to decelerate (step S405). That is, it is determined whether or not the accelerator opening is close to zero, or whether the accelerator opening is sufficiently small and the accelerator opening change rate Δα is closed at a predetermined change rate δ or more. When the accelerator opening α is close to 0, or when the accelerator opening is sufficiently small and the change rate Δα of the accelerator opening α is closed at a predetermined change rate δ or more, the driver decelerates. Since it can be determined that the user has the will, step S
The upper limit value having the upper limit at the optimum gear position set at 403 is supplied to the A / T ECU 40 as a vehicle control signal (step S407).

According to the regulating shift map shown in FIG. 3, when the upper limit of the shift speed is 3rd speed in step S403, the output signal becomes the upper limit 3rd speed. On the other hand, the accelerator opening α is not close to 0, or the change rate Δ of the accelerator opening α
If α is not closed at a predetermined rate of change δ or more, it is determined that the driver does not intend to decelerate, and the upper limit fourth speed command, which indicates that the speed control is not performed. Is output as a vehicle control signal (step S409).

In the embodiment described above, the driver's intention to decelerate is determined based on the accelerator opening α (step S4).
05), the driving operation can be detected based on the change rate or value of the throttle opening (that is, engine torque) input from the throttle sensor, and the intention of deceleration can be determined. Further, the driving operation may be detected based on the operation of the brake pedal, and the intention of deceleration may be determined. In this case, the intention of deceleration can be determined based on the change rate of the brake depression amount input from the brake sensor 32 and the brake ON operation. In addition, a configuration may be adopted in which the driving operation is detected based on the turn signal switch, and the intention of deceleration is determined based on the detection of the turn signal ON operation.

Next, the control operation of the A / T ECU 40 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The current vehicle speed from the vehicle speed sensor 31, the accelerator opening from the accelerator sensor 33, the brake sensor 32
To obtain information on the brake ON operation and the state of the lock-up clutch (step S30).
1). The information obtained in step S301 is transmitted to the CPU of the memory card 61 (step S303). This signal is supplied from the card driver 62 to the memory card 61 via the connector 63.

Based on a shift map set in advance,
The shift speed is selected based on the vehicle speed and the throttle opening detected by the throttle opening sensor 35 (step S3).
05). The upper limit value of the shift speed is obtained from the CPU of the memory card 61 (step S307). This upper limit is supplied via the connector 63. The gear determined in step S305 is compared with the upper limit gear acquired in step S307, and the smaller gear is determined as the gear to be output to the A / T 41 (step S309). If it is determined in the curve control routine that control is not to be performed, the fourth speed, which is the top shift speed, is supplied as the upper limit value, and the upper limit of the shift speed is not substantially restricted. A
A drive signal is output so that the determined gear position is executed by the actuator of / T41 (step S311).

The A / T ECU 40 determines the gear position based on the throttle opening and the vehicle speed. However, the A / T ECU 40 may determine the gear position based on the accelerator opening and the vehicle speed, or may determine the gear position based on the magnitude of the engine torque and the vehicle speed. The configuration may be such that the shift speed is determined. The above-described curve control routine (step S209) may perform other control,
For example, the gear position may be controlled according to the gradient of the road.

The control program stored in the memory card 61 is not limited to the control of the gear ratio, but may be any control that can be controlled according to road information. For example, when it is necessary to change the output of the engine according to the gradient of the road, control is performed to connect the E / G ECU 50 to the signal line via the connector 63 and change the efficiency characteristics of the engine according to the road shape. You can do it too. Specifically, the air-fuel efficiency of the mixture gas (mixed gas of fuel and air) burned by the lean burn engine switches between the state of the stoichiometric air-fuel efficiency and the state of the lean mixture according to the road gradient. Control,
Control for changing the number of cylinders to be stopped of the variable cylinder engine, control for changing the compression ratio and expansion ratio in a high expansion ratio engine having a variable valve mechanism, and the like may be performed. By performing such control, the engine 51 can be driven more efficiently.

Further, other control programs that can be stored in the memory card 61 include a control for confirming a traveling direction based on a road shape, a control for changing an irradiation angle of a headlight according to the direction, and a control for reading out from the navigation device 10. Control to change the target slip rate in the anti-skid brake in accordance with the slip rate of the road surface, read out whether the road is in a tunnel, turn on the bed light, open and close the outside air intake in the air conditioner, and operate the wiper The control for the change, the control for changing the lockup rotation speed of the automatic transmission according to the road shape, and the like are given.

As described above, the control means is connected to the memory card 6
1 and the card driver 62, it is possible to use an existing card driver and a memory card or to manufacture the controller at low cost without developing a new control device. In addition, by exchanging the memory card 61, the control content can be easily changed, and by rewriting the content of the memory card 61, the control content can be arbitrarily changed.
For example, even for the same gear position control, it is possible to realize a vehicle control that matches the specific driver's driving operation by rewriting the control content according to the individual difference in the driving operation of the driver.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the connector 63 has a CP
U630 is incorporated (hereinafter referred to as “built-in CPU”). The built-in CPU 630 communicates with the navigation device 10 and the A / T ECU 40 separately from the memory card 61 set in the card driver 62. Therefore, the card driver 6 is connected via the connector 63.
2 can be connected, the control by the built-in CPU 630 can be performed, and the function of the card can be added to the navigation device 10, so that the original expandability of the navigation device 10 is not impaired.

That is, information from the navigation device 10 and the A / T ECU 40 is transmitted to the built-in CPU 630 via the connector 63,
Is transmitted to the A / T ECU 40. The control by the built-in CPU 630 is the first
This is the same as the contents of steps S201 to S211 and steps S401 to 409 in the embodiment. In addition, by incorporating the CPU in the connector 63, handling is simple and mounting is easy. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the CPU 64 is provided outside the connector 63 (hereinafter, referred to as “outer CPU”).

A card driver 62 can be connected via the connector 63 so that the function of the memory card 61 can be added to the navigation device 10. On the other hand, information from the navigation device 10 is transmitted to the exterior CPU 64 via the connector 63, and the upper limit command of the gear position determined by the exterior CPU 64 is transmitted to the A / T
Transmit to ECU40.

The control in the exterior CPU is the same as that in steps S201 to S211 and steps S401 to S409 in the first embodiment. in this way,
The control unit is not limited to the case where the control unit is configured by the memory card 61 and the card driver 62, and a separately configured control box can be used. The transmission of the present invention
Not only a stepped transmission but also a continuously variable transmission may be used. Further, the present invention can be applied to electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles.

[0068]

As described above, according to the vehicle control device of the present invention, the navigation device can be connected to the external input / output terminal of the navigation device without changing the system configuration of the navigation device itself. It is possible to easily add a control device using the road information included in the control information. In addition, by connecting a card driver to the navigation device and performing control using the memory card in which the control content is written, it is not necessary to install a new control device, and the control content can be added at low cost.
By replacing the memory card, the control content can be easily changed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle control device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of nodes on a road.

FIG. 3 is a regulated shift speed map for determining an upper limit value of a shift speed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation of a navigation processing unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control operation in a CPU of the memory card.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control operation in a CPU of the memory card.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the A / T ECU.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 vehicle control device 2 vehicle 10 navigation device 11 navigation processing unit 12 data storage unit 13 current position detection unit 30 vehicle state detection unit 40 A / T ECU 61 memory card 62 card driver 63 connector

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Road information storage means for storing road information; own vehicle position detection means for detecting the current position of a vehicle; and specific road information detected from the road information storage means based on the detected own vehicle position. A connection terminal connected to an external input / output terminal of a navigation device provided with road information detection means, an external control means for performing vehicle control of contents according to the road information detected by the navigation device, and the external control means And a signal line for supplying a control signal output from the control unit to the vehicle control means. 2. Road information storage means for storing road information; own vehicle position detection means for detecting the current position of a vehicle; and specific road information detected from the road information storage means based on the detected own vehicle position. A navigation device provided with road information detecting means for performing the control, a vehicle control device for performing vehicle control, a connecting means connected to an external input / output terminal of the navigation device, and communicating via the connecting means, A control unit that supplies a vehicle control signal having a content corresponding to the road information detected by the navigation device to the vehicle control device. 3. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, further comprising: vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed of the own vehicle; and driving operation detecting means for detecting a driving operation of a driver. A transmission device, wherein the control unit is configured to calculate a recommended traveling speed of a specific point in a traveling direction of the own vehicle according to road information detected by a navigation device; A speed ratio regulating unit that regulates a speed ratio within a preset range according to a distance between the present location and a speed difference between the recommended traveling speed of the specific point and the current vehicle speed, based on a driving operation of the driver. 3. The control device according to claim 2, further comprising a speed ratio setting means for setting a speed ratio selected by the automatic transmission to fall within a range restricted by the speed ratio restricting means. 4. The control device according to claim 2, wherein said control means includes a memory card storing control contents, and a card driver for driving the memory card. 5. The control device according to claim 2, wherein said control means is built in a connection means. 6. The control device according to claim 2, wherein said connection means is a connector connectable to an external input / output terminal of a navigation device.