Differential lock control method, device, vehicle, and computer-readable storage medium

Abstract

The present invention provides a differential lock control method, device, vehicle, and computer-readable storage medium. The method includes: obtaining a driving mode request signal; determining whether the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is off-road mode; obtaining vehicle information when the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is determined to be off-road mode; controlling the rear axle differential lock to lock if the vehicle information meets a preset condition; controlling the rear axle differential lock to remain unlocked if the vehicle information does not meet the preset condition until the vehicle information meets the preset condition, at which point the rear axle differential lock is locked; and determining the activation state of the rear axle differential lock when the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is determined to be non-off-road mode, and controlling the rear axle differential lock based on the activation state. The present invention enables functional interaction between driving mode control and electronically controlled differential lock control, reducing the driver's driving experience requirements, simplifying the driver's operating skills, and improving driving convenience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of vehicle control technology, and in particular to a differential lock control method, device, vehicle, and computer-readable storage medium. Background Art

[0002] With the increasing cost-effectiveness of SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) and shifting consumer attitudes, more and more people are becoming interested in outdoor off-road activities. However, due to the varying levels of driving proficiency among off-road enthusiasts, drivers with limited off-road experience or skills are prone to getting stuck or sliding, potentially creating safety risks.

[0003] Based on this, automakers have introduced vehicles with "all-terrain + differential lock configurations" for users, allowing drivers to select the appropriate driving mode based on road conditions and facilitate navigating various road conditions. Currently, vehicles equipped with differential locks are typically front-engine, rear-wheel drive, longitudinal, four-wheel drive off-road vehicles. However, as people's understanding of self-driving tours and off-roading deepens, they are demanding a balance between urban use and moderate / light off-roading. Therefore, automakers have developed transverse front-wheel drive city models with added four-wheel drive and electronic lock differentials (ELD) to meet the needs of transverse front-wheel drive city models for both urban use and moderate / light off-roading.

[0004] Currently, for transverse front-wheel drive city models, there is no functional interaction between the driving mode control and the electronic differential lock control, which leads to high requirements for the driver's driving experience and brings inconvenience to the driver. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention provide a differential lock control method, device, vehicle, and computer-readable storage medium to address the problem that, for transverse front-wheel drive city vehicles, there is no functional interaction between driving mode control and electronically controlled differential lock control, resulting in high requirements for driver driving experience and inconvenience for the driver.

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a differential lock control method, comprising:

[0007] Obtaining a driving mode request signal; the driving mode request signal is used to indicate a currently selected driving mode of the vehicle;

[0008] Determine whether the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is an off-road mode;

[0009] When it is determined that the currently selected driving mode of the vehicle is the off-road mode, vehicle information is obtained; if the vehicle information meets a preset condition, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to be locked; if the vehicle information does not meet the preset condition, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to remain unlocked until the vehicle information meets the preset condition, at which point the rear axle differential lock is controlled to be locked;

[0010] When it is determined that the driving mode currently selected by the vehicle is a non-off-road mode, the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is determined, and based on the activation state of the rear axle differential lock, the rear axle differential lock is controlled; wherein the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is used to indicate whether the rear axle differential lock is allowed to be locked.

[0011] In one possible implementation, determining the activation state of the rear axle differential lock includes:

[0012] If the currently selected driving mode of the vehicle is the ECO mode, the sport mode or the standard mode, determining that the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is the lock prohibiting state;

[0013] If the currently selected driving mode of the vehicle is four-wheel drive mode, snow mode, sand mode or mud mode, it is determined that the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is a lock-permitted state.

[0014] In one possible implementation, controlling the rear axle differential lock based on the activation state of the rear axle differential lock includes:

[0015] If the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is the lock-permitting state, the rear axle differential lock is controlled in response to the rear axle differential lock triggering operation by the user.

[0016] In one possible implementation, in response to a rear axle differential lock triggering operation by a user, controlling the rear axle differential lock includes:

[0017] Get the vehicle's speed;

[0018] If the vehicle speed is less than the preset unlocking speed, the rear axle differential lock is controlled in response to the user's rear axle differential lock triggering operation;

[0019] If the vehicle speed is greater than or equal to the preset unlocking speed, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to remain unlocked.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the vehicle information includes the vehicle speed;

[0021] The preset condition includes the vehicle speed being less than a preset unlocking speed.

[0022] In one possible implementation, after controlling the rear axle differential lock to lock, the differential lock control method further includes:

[0023] In response to a vehicle speed exceeding operation, a rear axle differential lock unlocking triggering operation by a user, or a driving mode switching operation by a user, controlling the rear axle differential lock to unlock;

[0024] Among them, speeding is used to indicate that the current speed of the vehicle is greater than or equal to the preset unlocking speed; the driving mode switching operation is used to indicate that the driving mode of the vehicle is switched from off-road mode to non-off-road mode.

[0025] In one possible implementation, determining whether the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is an off-road mode includes:

[0026] If the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is the bumpy road mode, then the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is determined to be the off-road mode;

[0027] If the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is ECO mode, sport mode, standard mode, four-wheel drive mode, snow mode, sand mode, or mud mode, it is determined that the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is a non-off-road mode.

[0028] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a differential lock control device, comprising:

[0029] an acquisition module, configured to acquire a driving mode request signal; the driving mode request signal is used to indicate a currently selected driving mode of the vehicle;

[0030] A judgment module, used to judge whether the driving mode currently selected by the vehicle is an off-road mode;

[0031] a first control module, configured to obtain vehicle information when determining that the currently selected driving mode of the vehicle is the off-road mode; if the vehicle information satisfies a preset condition, control the rear axle differential lock to lock; if the vehicle information does not satisfy the preset condition, control the rear axle differential lock to remain unlocked until the vehicle information satisfies the preset condition, at which point the rear axle differential lock is controlled to lock;

[0032] The second control module is used to determine the activation state of the rear axle differential lock when it is determined that the driving mode currently selected by the vehicle is not the off-road mode, and control the rear axle differential lock based on the activation state of the rear axle differential lock; wherein the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is used to indicate whether the rear axle differential lock is allowed to be locked.

[0033] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle, comprising a control device, the control device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory being used to store a computer program, the processor being used to call and run the computer program stored in the memory, and executing the differential lock control method as described in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

[0034] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the steps of the differential lock control method described in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

[0035] Embodiments of the present invention provide a differential lock control method, device, vehicle, and computer-readable storage medium. When the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is an off-road mode, the rear axle differential lock is controlled based on vehicle information. When the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is a non-off-road mode, the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is determined, and the rear axle differential lock is controlled based on the activation state of the rear axle differential lock. No driver operation is required, and functional interaction between driving mode control and electronically controlled differential lock control can be achieved, thereby reducing the driver's driving experience requirements, simplifying the driver's operating skills, and improving driving convenience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0037] Figure 1 is a flow chart of an implementation of a differential lock control method provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the architecture of an all-terrain control system of a differential lock control method provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 3 2 is a schematic diagram showing the application effect of the differential lock control method provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 4 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a differential lock control device provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of a control device provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] In the following description, specific details such as particular system structures and techniques are provided for purposes of illustration, not limitation, to facilitate a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments without these specific details. In other cases, detailed descriptions of well-known systems, devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.

[0043] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clear, specific embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0044] See also Figure 1 , which shows a flowchart for implementing a differential lock control method provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The differential lock control method may be executed by a control device, which may be an on-board control device, such as a differential lock controller or an ELD system. This differential lock control method is applicable to transverse front-wheel drive vehicles, specifically transverse front-wheel drive city vehicles.

[0045] The method is detailed below:

[0046] In S101 , a driving mode request signal is acquired; the driving mode request signal is used to indicate the driving mode currently selected by the vehicle.

[0047] In this embodiment, the driving mode request signal is sent by ESP (Electronic Stability Program, vehicle electronic stability system) to the control device.

[0048] See also Figure 2 The user can select a driving mode using the driving mode button or rotary switch. This generates a driving mode signal, which is transmitted via the LIN (Local Interconnect Network) to the BCM (Body Control Unit). The BCM then sends the driving mode signal to the ESP via the CAN (Controller Area Network) bus. Upon receiving the driving mode signal, the ESP generates a driving mode request signal and sends it to the control device, requesting it to control the rear axle differential lock, which is an electronically controlled rear axle differential lock.

[0049] In one possible implementation, the ESP may generate a driving mode request signal based on the received driving mode signal and the road surface recognition information.

[0050] See also Figure 2 , users in the car can also select the driving mode through the HUT (Head Unit System) touch screen, generate the HUT driving mode signal, and send it to ESP through the CAN bus.

[0051] In S102 , it is determined whether the driving mode currently selected by the vehicle is an off-road mode.

[0052] The vehicle's driving mode is divided into off-road mode and non-off-road mode. Since off-road mode and non-off-road mode have different control strategies for the rear axle differential lock, the vehicle first determines whether the currently selected driving mode is off-road mode or non-off-road mode. Then, based on the judgment result, the corresponding rear axle differential lock control strategy is executed.

[0053] In S103, when it is determined that the driving mode currently selected by the vehicle belongs to the off-road mode, vehicle information is obtained; if the vehicle information meets the preset conditions, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to be locked; if the vehicle information does not meet the preset conditions, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to remain unlocked until the vehicle information meets the preset conditions, at which point the rear axle differential lock is controlled to be locked.

[0054] When the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is off-road mode, the vehicle's four-wheel drive system is in four-wheel drive mode, specifically 4H mode. At this time, the rear axle differential lock can be controlled to lock. In combination with 4H mode, moderate / light off-road driving can be carried out, forming two locks for the vehicle's middle and rear axles. At this time, the vehicle's front and rear axles and rear axle wheels are driven simultaneously, which can improve the vehicle's passability and off-road escape capabilities. In off-road mode, the rear axle differential lock is automatically controlled to lock, without user operation, simplifying user operating skills.

[0055] However, when the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is off-road mode, in order to improve driving safety, it is also necessary to determine whether the vehicle information meets the preset conditions. Only when the vehicle information meets the preset conditions will the rear axle differential lock be controlled to lock. If the vehicle information does not meet the preset conditions, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to remain unlocked, and vehicle information is obtained in real time to detect whether the real-time vehicle information meets the preset conditions. When it is detected that the real-time vehicle information meets the preset conditions, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to lock.

[0056] The vehicle information may include information about the vehicle during its travel, such as vehicle speed, wheel speed, etc.

[0057] In off-road mode, this embodiment can lock the rear axle differential lock when the vehicle information meets the preset conditions, thereby achieving synchronous control of the driving mode and the differential lock and improving driving safety.

[0058] In S104, when it is determined that the driving mode currently selected by the vehicle is a non-off-road mode, the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is determined, and based on the activation state of the rear axle differential lock, the rear axle differential lock is controlled; wherein the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is used to indicate whether the rear axle differential lock is allowed to be locked.

[0059] For transverse front-wheel drive city edition vehicles, the rear axle differential lock is located within the four-wheel drive rear main reducer, and the two-wheel drive mode cannot control the rear axle differential lock. Therefore, this embodiment can determine whether the four-wheel drive system is in four-wheel drive mode or two-wheel drive mode based on the vehicle's currently selected driving mode, thereby determining the activation state of the rear axle differential lock, that is, determining whether the rear axle differential lock is allowed to lock, and then controlling the rear axle differential lock based on the activation state of the rear axle differential lock.

[0060] This embodiment controls the rear axle differential lock based on vehicle information when the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is off-road mode, and determines the activation state of the rear axle differential lock when the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is non-off-road mode, and controls the rear axle differential lock based on the activation state of the rear axle differential lock. No driver operation is required, and functional interaction between driving mode control and electronically controlled differential lock control can be achieved, thereby reducing the driver's driving experience requirements, simplifying the driver's operating skills, and improving driving convenience.

[0061] In some embodiments, the “determining the activation state of the rear axle differential lock” in S104 above includes:

[0062] If the currently selected driving mode of the vehicle is the ECO mode, the sport mode or the standard mode, determining that the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is the lock prohibiting state;

[0063] If the currently selected driving mode of the vehicle is four-wheel drive mode, snow mode, sand mode or mud mode, it is determined that the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is a lock-permitted state.

[0064] ECO mode: This mode can also be called energy-saving mode or economic mode. In this mode, the vehicle's fuel consumption is lower.

[0065] Sport mode: This mode can increase the engine shift speed and enhance power.

[0066] Standard mode: This mode takes into account the power and economy of the vehicle, and the driving style of the vehicle is relatively conventional.

[0067] Four-wheel drive mode: In this mode, the vehicle maintains four-wheel drive while driving, and the four-wheel drive system will provide driving force to the rear drive wheels.

[0068] Snow mode: This mode is mainly used for driving under low adhesion coefficient conditions, and the main road surfaces include snow, ice, etc.

[0069] Sand mode: This mode is mainly used for driving on sandy roads.

[0070] Mud mode: This mode is mainly used for driving on muddy roads.

[0071] When the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is ECO mode, sport mode or standard mode, the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is the prohibited locking state. At this time, the rear axle differential lock is not allowed to be locked. Even if the user in the car uses the rear axle differential lock control switch or voice input to lock the rear axle differential lock signal, the rear axle differential lock will not be locked and will remain unlocked.

[0072] When the vehicle is in ECO or Sport mode, the four-wheel drive system operates in two-wheel drive mode, preventing the rear differential lock from being engaged. Therefore, the rear differential lock is disabled. Furthermore, Standard mode is the most commonly used driving mode. Disabling the rear differential lock in Standard mode can reduce damage to the traditional system caused by driver or occupant error.

[0073] When the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is four-wheel drive mode, snow mode, sand mode or mud mode, it is assumed that the driver is performing off-road operations and the four-wheel drive system is in four-wheel drive mode. Therefore, the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is the lock-allowed state, that is, the rear axle differential lock can be locked to improve the vehicle's passability and highlight the vehicle's off-road performance.

[0074] The above-mentioned method for determining the activation state of the rear axle differential lock in this embodiment is for vehicles configured with all-terrain mode, that is, vehicles configured with snow mode, sand mode, mud mode and the bumpy road mode mentioned later.

[0075] For vehicles not configured with an all-terrain mode, that is, vehicles not configured with a snow mode, a sand mode, a mud mode, and a bumpy road mode, if the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is an ECO mode, a sport mode, or a standard mode, the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is determined to be a prohibited locking state; if the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is a four-wheel drive mode, the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is determined to be a permitted locking state.

[0076] That is, for vehicles not equipped with all-terrain mode, the rear differential lock function is only allowed when the driving mode is 4WD. In 4WD mode, the rear differential lock is locked or unlocked according to the user's rear differential lock trigger operation. The user can trigger the rear differential lock using the corresponding switch or voice. In non-4WD mode, even if the rear differential lock switch is pressed, the control device will not execute the rear differential lock action. The control device will send a "0X3: Lock Rejected" signal to ESP, and the differential lock function cannot be opened, and the lock rejection strategy will be implemented.

[0077] In some embodiments, the step of “controlling the rear axle differential lock based on the activation state of the rear axle differential lock” in S104 includes:

[0078] If the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is the lock-permitting state, the rear axle differential lock is controlled in response to the rear axle differential lock triggering operation by the user.

[0079] The user's rear axle differential lock triggering operation may include a rear axle differential lock locking operation or a rear axle differential lock unlocking operation. The user can trigger the rear axle differential lock through the rear axle differential lock switch or voice.

[0080] When the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is the locking permission state, the rear axle differential lock can be controlled to be locked in response to the user's rear axle differential lock triggering operation, and can also be controlled to be unlocked in response to the user's rear axle differential lock unlocking operation.

[0081] In a possible implementation, if the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is the locking prohibited state, the rear axle differential lock is prohibited from locking and is controlled to remain in the unlocked state.

[0082] In some embodiments, the control of the rear axle differential lock in response to a user's rear axle differential lock triggering operation includes:

[0083] Get the vehicle's speed;

[0084] If the vehicle speed is less than the preset unlocking speed, the rear axle differential lock is controlled in response to the user's rear axle differential lock triggering operation;

[0085] If the vehicle speed is greater than or equal to the preset unlocking speed, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to remain unlocked.

[0086] To ensure driving safety, a preset unlocking speed is typically set. When the vehicle's speed is greater than or equal to the preset unlocking speed, the rear differential lock will not be locked. In this case, even if a user triggers the rear differential lock, the lock will not be locked. When the rear differential lock is in the lock-permitted state, the lock will only be engaged in response to a user triggering the lock when the vehicle's speed falls below the preset unlocking speed.

[0087] When the rear axle differential lock is in a locked state, if it is detected that the vehicle speed is greater than or equal to the preset unlocking speed, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to be unlocked.

[0088] Taking into account the driving safety of the vehicle, the preset unlocking speed generally does not exceed 40km / h, and can be set according to actual needs, for example, it can be set to 40km / h.

[0089] In some embodiments, the vehicle information includes the vehicle speed; accordingly, the preset condition includes the vehicle speed being less than a preset unlocking speed.

[0090] In this embodiment, when the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is off-road mode, if the vehicle's speed is less than a preset unlocking speed, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to lock; if the vehicle's speed is greater than or equal to the preset unlocking speed, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to remain unlocked until it is detected that the vehicle's speed is less than the preset unlocking speed, at which point the rear axle differential lock is controlled to lock.

[0091] For example, the preset unlocking speeds under different driving modes are shown in Table 1.

[0092] Table 1 Preset unlocking speeds in different driving modes

[0093] Driving Mode Standard Mode Sports / ECO Snow Mode Mud / Sand Mode Bump Road Mode Transfer case mode AUTO 2H 4H 4H 4H Preset unlock speed Locking prohibited Locking prohibited 40KPH 40KPH 40KPH

[0094] In some possible implementations, the above-mentioned vehicle information may include, in addition to the vehicle speed, at least one of the following information: the vehicle vibration amplitude, the distance between the vehicle chassis and the road surface, the vehicle rear wheel speed, and the vehicle steering wheel angle.

[0095] Accordingly, in addition to the vehicle speed being less than the preset unlocking speed, the above-mentioned preset conditions may also include at least one of the following conditions: the vehicle vibration amplitude being greater than the preset vibration amplitude, the change in the distance between the vehicle chassis and the road surface within a preset time period being greater than a preset distance, the rear wheel speeds of the vehicle being less than the preset wheel speeds, and the absolute value of the vehicle's steering wheel angle being less than a preset angle.

[0096] The above vehicle information can be obtained through corresponding sensors.

[0097] When a vehicle is traveling on an uneven road, the vibration amplitude is greater than when it is traveling on a smooth road. When a vehicle is traveling on a smooth road, the distance between the vehicle's chassis and the road surface is almost constant; when a vehicle is traveling on an uneven road, the distance between the vehicle's chassis and the road surface constantly changes. Therefore, whether a vehicle is traveling on an uneven road can be detected by detecting whether the vehicle's vibration amplitude is greater than a preset vibration amplitude and / or detecting whether the distance between the vehicle's chassis and the road surface changes by more than a preset distance within a preset time period.

[0098] The system determines that the vehicle is traveling on an uneven road surface if the vehicle's vibration amplitude is greater than a preset amplitude and / or if the distance between the vehicle's chassis and the road surface changes by more than a preset distance within a preset time period. Otherwise, the system determines that the vehicle is not traveling on an uneven road surface. In one possible implementation, the rear axle differential lock is engaged only when the vehicle is detected traveling on an uneven road surface.

[0099] The preset vibration amplitude may be the vibration amplitude when the vehicle is traveling on a smooth road, or slightly larger than the vibration amplitude when the vehicle is traveling on a smooth road, and may be set according to actual needs.

[0100] The change in the distance between the vehicle chassis and the road surface within a preset time period can be the absolute value of the difference between the maximum and minimum distances between the vehicle chassis and the road surface within the preset time period. The preset time period can be a short duration, such as 1s or 0.5s; the preset distance can be a short distance, such as 1cm or 2cm, and both can be set according to actual needs.

[0101] To improve driving safety, in one possible implementation, the rear axle differential lock is engaged only when the wheel speeds of both rear wheels of the vehicle are less than a preset wheel speed, where the preset wheel speed may be the wheel speed corresponding to the preset unlocking speed.

[0102] Locking the rear differential lock during a sharp turn can easily damage the mechanism. Therefore, the rear differential lock is typically engaged only when the vehicle is traveling straight or making a small turn. Specifically, in one possible implementation, the rear differential lock is engaged only when the absolute value of the vehicle's steering wheel angle is less than a preset angle. The preset angle can be the steering wheel angle corresponding to a small turn (e.g., a wheel steering angle of less than 5 degrees) or straight travel, and can be set based on actual needs.

[0103] In some embodiments, in the above S103, after controlling the rear axle differential lock to lock, the differential lock control method further includes:

[0104] In response to a vehicle speed exceeding operation, a rear axle differential lock unlocking triggering operation by a user, or a driving mode switching operation by a user, controlling the rear axle differential lock to unlock;

[0105] Among them, speeding is used to indicate that the current speed of the vehicle is greater than or equal to the preset unlocking speed; the driving mode switching operation is used to indicate that the driving mode of the vehicle is switched from off-road mode to non-off-road mode.

[0106] When it is determined that the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is off-road mode and the vehicle information meets the preset conditions, after the rear axle differential lock is locked, if it is detected that the vehicle speed is not less than the preset unlocking speed, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to be unlocked. If the user's rear axle differential lock unlocking trigger operation is detected, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to be unlocked; if it is detected that the vehicle's driving mode is switched from off-road mode to non-off-road mode, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to be unlocked.

[0107] In some possible implementations, in the above S103, after controlling the rear axle differential lock to lock, the differential lock control method further includes:

[0108] When it is detected that the vehicle information does not meet the preset conditions, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to be unlocked.

[0109] In this embodiment, when it is determined that the driving mode currently selected by the vehicle is the off-road mode and the vehicle information meets the preset conditions, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to be locked. If it is detected that the vehicle information does not meet the preset conditions, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to be unlocked.

[0110] In some embodiments, the above S102 may include:

[0111] If the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is the bumpy road mode, then the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is determined to be the off-road mode;

[0112] If the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is ECO mode, sport mode, standard mode, four-wheel drive mode, snow mode, sand mode, or mud mode, it is determined that the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is a non-off-road mode.

[0113] In this embodiment, only the bumpy road mode is an off-road mode, and the other modes are non-off-road modes.

[0114] Bumpy Road Mode: This mode is mainly used for driving on bumpy roads or off-road driving.

[0115] In one possible implementation, see Figure 2 After S104, the differential lock control method may further include:

[0116] The rear axle differential lock status signal is sent to ESP via the CAN bus, so that ESP sends a driving mode confirmation signal to the IP (Instrument Panel), driving mode button, and HUT for display.

[0117] Illustratively, the control strategy of the rear axle differential lock provided by the embodiment of the present invention is shown in Table 2.

[0118] Table 2 Control strategy of rear axle differential lock

[0119]

[0120]

[0121] In off-road mode, specific signal value examples of the driving mode request signal (DrivingModeReq_ESP) are shown in Table 3.

[0122] Table 3 Driving mode request signal example

[0123]

[0124] For example, the rear axle differential lock status signal sent by the control device is shown in Table 4. The rear axle differential lock status signal can also be displayed in the IP.

[0125] Table 4 Rear axle differential lock status signal

[0126]

[0127] For example, when it is detected that the vehicle speed is close to the preset unlocking speed, a 0x2: speeding alarm state signal is sent. For example, the preset unlocking speed is 40km / h. When the vehicle speed is between 30km / h and 40km / h, a 0x2: speeding alarm signal is sent.

[0128] When the driving mode selected by the vehicle is ECO mode, sport mode or standard mode, the control device can send a 0x5: driving mode selection error status signal. At this time, if the user's rear axle differential lock trigger operation is detected, a 0x3: lock rejection status signal can be sent.

[0129] When a differential lock fault is detected, 0x4: fault status signal may be sent.

[0130] When the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is the lock-permitted state, after the rear axle differential lock is controlled according to the rear axle differential lock triggering operation of the user, the current state signal of the rear axle differential lock (0x1: locked or 0x0: unlocked) can be sent.

[0131] When the driving mode selected by the vehicle is off-road mode, after the rear axle differential lock is automatically locked, 0x1: locking status signal can be sent.

[0132] This embodiment matches the control strategy of non-all-terrain or all-terrain and the rear axle electronically controlled differential lock on the transverse front-wheel drive city version vehicle. In the vehicle's original terrain mode, an all-terrain off-road mode (bump road mode) is added to cooperate with the electronically controlled differential lock system control strategy to realize two locks in the middle and rear of the vehicle, which can simplify the driver's operation and improve convenience, give full play to the performance of the off-road terrain mode, and enhance the vehicle's off-road escape capability; this embodiment can meet the needs of transverse front-wheel drive city version vehicles while taking into account urban use and medium / light off-road needs, and interactively design the driving mode control and differential lock control to make the off-road vehicle simpler and more user-friendly; this embodiment determines whether to lock through the driving mode request signal, and uses the four-wheel drive and differential lock configuration in conjunction with the all-terrain mode, as well as the all-terrain and differential lock coordinated control strategy, which can realize the synchronous control of the all-terrain mode and the differential lock, simplify the driver's operating skills, and enhance the vehicle's off-road intelligence.

[0133] The differential lock control method provided in this embodiment can be applied to transverse front-wheel drive vehicles, for example, can be applied to transverse front-wheel drive city version vehicles, and specifically can be used to control the rear axle electronically controlled differential lock of the transverse front-wheel drive city version vehicle.

[0134] See also Figure 3The upper figure shows the differential lock status over time, with time on the horizontal axis and the differential lock status on the vertical axis. R1 represents the rear axle differential lock status, and F1 represents the front axle differential lock status. The front axle differential lock is always unlocked, while the rear axle differential lock is unlocked initially and locked for a period of time. The lower figure shows the wheel speed difference over time, with time on the horizontal axis and wheel speed difference on the vertical axis. R2 represents the rear axle wheel speed difference, and F2 represents the front axle wheel speed difference.

[0135] by Figure 3 The differential lock status shown is used for starting tests on separate roads. In the all-terrain 4H mode, the front axle differential lock is not locked, and the rear axle differential lock is locked (simulating the differential lock control strategy in the all-terrain bumpy road mode), forming two locks: the middle 4H lock and the rear axle differential lock.

[0136] During the vehicle test, the left side of the vehicle was on a high-adhesion road, and the right side of the vehicle was on a low-adhesion road. Figure 3 As can be seen, the two rear wheels rotate at the same speed, with no speed difference. The rear wheel torque acts on the high-addition wheel, while there is a speed difference between the left and right front wheels. The low-addition front wheel torque loses significant energy, while the vehicle's rearward output torque loss is minimal. This terrain mode (bumpy road mode) provides excellent maneuverability. It should be understood that the sequence numbers of the steps in the above embodiments do not imply a specific order of execution. The execution order of each process is determined by its function and inherent logic, and does not constitute any limitation on the implementation of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0137] The following are device embodiments of the present invention. For details not fully described therein, reference may be made to the corresponding method embodiments described above.

[0138] Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of a differential lock control device provided by an embodiment of the present invention is shown. For ease of explanation, only the portion related to the embodiment of the present invention is shown, which is described in detail as follows:

[0139] like Figure 4 As shown, the differential lock control device 30 includes: an acquisition module 31 , a judgment module 32 , a first control module 33 and a second control module 34 .

[0140] An acquisition module 31 is configured to acquire a driving mode request signal; the driving mode request signal is used to indicate a currently selected driving mode of the vehicle;

[0141] A determination module 32 is used to determine whether the driving mode currently selected by the vehicle is an off-road mode;

[0142] The first control module 33 is configured to obtain vehicle information when determining that the currently selected driving mode of the vehicle is the off-road mode; if the vehicle information satisfies a preset condition, control the rear axle differential lock to lock; if the vehicle information does not satisfy the preset condition, control the rear axle differential lock to remain unlocked until the vehicle information satisfies the preset condition, at which point the rear axle differential lock is controlled to lock;

[0143] The second control module 34 is used to determine the activation state of the rear axle differential lock when it is determined that the driving mode currently selected by the vehicle is not the off-road mode, and control the rear axle differential lock based on the activation state of the rear axle differential lock; wherein the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is used to indicate whether the rear axle differential lock is allowed to be locked.

[0144] In a possible implementation, the second control module 34 is specifically configured to:

[0145] If the currently selected driving mode of the vehicle is the ECO mode, the sport mode or the standard mode, determining that the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is the lock prohibiting state;

[0146] If the currently selected driving mode of the vehicle is four-wheel drive mode, snow mode, sand mode or mud mode, it is determined that the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is a lock-permitted state.

[0147] In a possible implementation, the second control module 34 is specifically configured to:

[0148] If the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is the lock-permitting state, the rear axle differential lock is controlled in response to the rear axle differential lock triggering operation by the user.

[0149] In a possible implementation, the second control module 34 is specifically configured to:

[0150] If the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is the lock-permitting state, the vehicle speed is obtained;

[0151] If the vehicle speed is less than the preset unlocking speed, the rear axle differential lock is controlled in response to the user's rear axle differential lock triggering operation;

[0152] If the vehicle speed is greater than or equal to the preset unlocking speed, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to remain unlocked.

[0153] In one possible implementation, the vehicle information includes the vehicle speed;

[0154] The preset condition includes the vehicle speed being less than a preset unlocking speed.

[0155] In a possible implementation, the first control module 33 may also be configured to:

[0156] After the rear axle differential lock is controlled to be locked, in response to a vehicle speed overspeed operation, a rear axle differential lock unlocking trigger operation by a user, or a driving mode switching operation by a user, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to be unlocked;

[0157] Among them, speeding is used to indicate that the current speed of the vehicle is greater than or equal to the preset unlocking speed; the driving mode switching operation is used to indicate that the driving mode of the vehicle is switched from off-road mode to non-off-road mode.

[0158] In a possible implementation, the judgment module is specifically configured to:

[0159] If the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is the bumpy road mode, then the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is determined to be the off-road mode;

[0160] If the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is ECO mode, sport mode, standard mode, four-wheel drive mode, snow mode, sand mode, or mud mode, it is determined that the vehicle's currently selected driving mode is a non-off-road mode.

[0161] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the control device provided by the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 As shown, the control device 4 of this embodiment includes: a processor 40 and a memory 41. The memory 41 is used to store a computer program 42, and the processor 40 is used to call and run the computer program 42 stored in the memory 41 to perform the steps in the above-mentioned embodiments of the differential lock control method, such as Figure 1 Alternatively, the processor 40 is used to call and run the computer program 42 stored in the memory 41 to implement the functions of each module / unit in the above-mentioned device embodiments, such as Figure 4 Functions of the modules / units 31 to 34 are shown.

[0162] For example, the computer program 42 may be divided into one or more modules / units, which are stored in the memory 41 and executed by the processor 40 to implement the present invention. The one or more modules / units may be a series of computer program instruction segments capable of implementing specific functions, which are used to describe the execution process of the computer program 42 in the control device 4. For example, the computer program 42 may be divided into Figure 4 Modules / units 31 to 34 are shown.

[0163] The control device 4 may be a differential lock controller or an ELD system. The control device 4 may include, but is not limited to, a processor 40 and a memory 41. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that Figure 5It is only an example of the control device 4 and does not constitute a limitation of the control device 4. It may include more or fewer components than shown in the figure, or a combination of certain components, or different components. For example, the control device may also include input and output devices, network access devices, buses, etc.

[0164] The processor 40 may be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0165] The memory 41 can be an internal storage unit of the control device 4, such as a hard disk or memory of the control device 4. The memory 41 can also be an external storage device of the control device 4, such as a plug-in hard disk, a smart media card (SMC), a secure digital (SD) card, a flash card, etc. equipped on the control device 4. Furthermore, the memory 41 can also include both the internal storage unit of the control device 4 and an external storage device. The memory 41 is used to store the computer program and other programs and data required by the control device. The memory 41 can also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or is about to be output.

[0166] Corresponding to the above-mentioned control device, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a vehicle, comprising any one of the above-mentioned control devices.

[0167] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, only the division of the above-mentioned functional units and modules is used as an example for illustration. In actual applications, the above-mentioned functions can be distributed and completed by different functional units and modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional units or modules to complete all or part of the functions described above. The functional units and modules in the embodiment can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically alone, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The above-mentioned integrated unit can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional units. In addition, the specific names of the functional units and modules are only for the convenience of distinguishing each other, and are not used to limit the scope of protection of this application. The specific working process of the units and modules in the above-mentioned system can refer to the corresponding process in the aforementioned method embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0168] In the above embodiments, the description of each embodiment has its own focus. For parts that are not described or recorded in detail in a certain embodiment, reference can be made to the relevant description of other embodiments.

[0169] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professionals and technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present invention.

[0170] In the embodiments provided by the present invention, it should be understood that the disclosed devices / control equipment and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device / control equipment embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the modules or units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0171] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0172] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present invention may be integrated into a single processing unit, each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The aforementioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0173] If the integrated module / unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the present invention can implement all or part of the process steps in the above-mentioned method embodiments by instructing the relevant hardware through a computer program. The computer program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When executed by a processor, the computer program can implement the steps of each of the above-mentioned differential lock control method embodiments. The computer program includes computer program code, which can be in source code form, object code form, executable file, or some intermediate form. The computer-readable medium can include: any entity or device capable of carrying the computer program code, recording medium, USB flash drive, mobile hard drive, magnetic disk, optical disk, computer memory, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), electric carrier signal, telecommunication signal, and software distribution medium. It should be noted that the content of the computer-readable medium can be appropriately increased or decreased based on the requirements of legislation and patent practice in a jurisdiction. For example, in some jurisdictions, according to legislation and patent practice, computer-readable media does not include electric carrier signals and telecommunication signals.

[0174] The embodiments described above are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit the same. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present invention, and should all be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A differential lock control method, characterized in that: include: Obtaining a driving mode request signal; The driving mode request signal is used to indicate the driving mode currently selected by the vehicle; determining whether the currently selected driving mode of the vehicle is an off-road mode; If the driving mode is the bumpy road mode, it is an off-road mode; if the driving mode is the ECO mode, sport mode, standard mode, four-wheel drive mode, snow mode, sand mode or mud mode, it is a non-off-road mode; When it is determined that the driving mode currently selected by the vehicle is the off-road mode, vehicle information is obtained; if the vehicle information satisfies a preset condition, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to be locked; If the vehicle information does not satisfy the preset condition, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to remain unlocked until the vehicle information satisfies the preset condition, at which point the rear axle differential lock is controlled to lock; the vehicle information includes the vehicle speed; and the preset condition includes the vehicle speed being less than a preset unlocking speed; When it is determined that the driving mode currently selected by the vehicle is a non-off-road mode, the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is determined, and based on the activation state of the rear axle differential lock, the rear axle differential lock is controlled; wherein the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is used to indicate whether the rear axle differential lock is allowed to be locked.

2. The differential lock control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Determining the activation state of the rear axle differential lock includes: If the currently selected driving mode of the vehicle is the ECO mode, the sport mode, or the standard mode, determining that the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is the prohibited locking state; If the currently selected driving mode of the vehicle is the four-wheel drive mode, the snow mode, the sand mode or the mud mode, it is determined that the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is the locking allowed state.

3. The differential lock control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controlling the rear axle differential lock based on the activation state of the rear axle differential lock includes: If the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is the locking permission state, the rear axle differential lock is controlled in response to a rear axle differential lock triggering operation by a user.

4. The differential lock control method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The controlling of the rear axle differential lock in response to a rear axle differential lock triggering operation by a user includes: Obtaining the speed of the vehicle; If the vehicle speed is less than a preset unlocking speed, in response to a rear axle differential lock triggering operation by a user, controlling the rear axle differential lock; If the vehicle speed is greater than or equal to the preset unlocking speed, the rear axle differential lock is controlled to remain in an unlocked state.

5. The differential lock control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: After controlling the rear axle differential lock to be locked, the differential lock control method further includes: In response to a vehicle speed overspeed operation, a rear axle differential lock unlocking trigger operation by a user, or a driving mode switching operation by a user, controlling the rear axle differential lock to unlock; Among them, the speed overspeed is used to indicate that the current speed of the vehicle is greater than or equal to the preset unlocking speed; the driving mode switching operation is used to indicate that the driving mode of the vehicle is switched from off-road mode to non-off-road mode.

6. A differential lock control device, characterized in that: include: An acquisition module, used for acquiring a driving mode request signal; The driving mode request signal is used to indicate the driving mode currently selected by the vehicle; a determination module, configured to determine whether the currently selected driving mode of the vehicle is an off-road mode; if the driving mode is a bumpy road mode, the vehicle is in an off-road mode; and if the driving mode is an eco mode, a sport mode, a standard mode, a four-wheel drive mode, a snow mode, a sand mode, or a mud mode, the vehicle is in a non-off-road mode; a first control module, configured to, upon determining that the currently selected driving mode of the vehicle is an off-road mode, obtain vehicle information; if the vehicle information satisfies a preset condition, control the rear axle differential lock to lock; if the vehicle information does not satisfy the preset condition, control the rear axle differential lock to remain unlocked until the vehicle information satisfies the preset condition, at which point the rear axle differential lock is locked; the vehicle information includes a vehicle speed; and the preset condition includes the vehicle speed being less than a preset unlocking speed; A second control module is configured to determine an activation state of the rear axle differential lock when determining that the driving mode currently selected by the vehicle is a non-off-road mode, and to control the rear axle differential lock based on the activation state of the rear axle differential lock; wherein the activation state of the rear axle differential lock is used to indicate whether the rear axle differential lock is allowed to be locked.

7. A vehicle, characterized in that: The vehicle includes a control device, which includes a memory and a processor. The memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor is used to call and run the computer program stored in the memory to perform the differential lock control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, characterized in that: When the computer program is executed by a processor, the steps of the differential lock control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 are implemented.

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