vehicle

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle. When the clutch start cancel switch (22) is turned on and the clutch is connected, when the engine (11) is started, the electric parking brake control ECU (50) releases the electric parking brake (13) regardless of the accelerator opening or the clutch stroke when the shift lever (17) is in the driving position. After the electric parking brake (13) is released by the electric parking brake ECU (50), the engine ECU (40) allows the engine (11) to start.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-014774 filed on February 2, 2022, the entire contents of which including specification, claims, drawings, and abstract are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle including: an electric parking brake control device that controls the electric parking brake; and an engine control device that has a clutch starting function. Background Art

[0004] The electric parking brake can be activated or released according to the establishment of a predetermined condition or the turning on or off of the electric parking brake switch. For example, in a manual transmission car, the electric parking brake is automatically released when the clutch is disengaged and the engine switch is turned on.

[0005] Furthermore, manual transmission vehicles (hereinafter referred to as manual transmission vehicles) are equipped with a clutch start function. This clutch start function prevents the starter motor from activating and the engine from starting unless the clutch pedal is depressed, even when the engine switch is turned on. Furthermore, clutch start can sometimes be disabled (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-278091).

[0006] For example, in off-road vehicles, the engine often stops due to special driving conditions such as overcoming obstacles, and there are many situations where the engine needs to be restarted while the clutch is connected. Therefore, a clutch start cancel switch is provided to cancel clutch start.

[0007] For example, in a manual transmission vehicle, when the clutch start cancel switch is turned on, the engine is restarted while the clutch is connected. At this time, the electric parking brake is not automatically released. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle in which an electric parking brake can be automatically released even when a clutch start cancel switch is turned on.

[0009] The vehicle disclosed herein comprises: an electric parking brake control device that applies the electric parking brake when the engine switch is off and releases the electric parking brake when the clutch is disengaged and the engine switch is on; and an engine control device having a clutch start function, the clutch start function being a function of starting the engine when the clutch is disengaged and the engine switch is on. The vehicle is characterized in that the vehicle comprises a clutch start cancel switch that releases the clutch start function. When the clutch start cancel switch is on and the clutch is connected, when the engine is started, the electric parking brake control device releases the electric parking brake regardless of the accelerator opening or the clutch stroke when the shift lever is in the driving position. After the electric parking brake is released by the electric parking brake control device, the engine control device permits starting of the engine.

[0010] The vehicle disclosed herein comprises: an electric parking brake control device that applies the electric parking brake when the engine switch is off and releases the electric parking brake when the clutch is disengaged and the engine switch is on; and an engine control device having a clutch start function for starting the engine when the clutch is disengaged and the engine switch is on. The vehicle is characterized in that the vehicle comprises a clutch start cancel switch for canceling the clutch start function. When the clutch start cancel switch is turned on and the clutch is connected, the electric parking brake control device releases the electric parking brake regardless of the accelerator opening or the clutch stroke when the shift lever is in the driving position and the brake pedal is depressed.

[0011] Effects of the Invention

[0012] According to the vehicle of the present disclosure, the electric parking brake can be automatically released even when the clutch start cancel switch is turned on. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle as an example of the embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle as an example of the embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a flowchart showing the operation of the electric parking brake control device.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a timing chart showing the operation of the electric parking brake control device.

[0017] Figure 5 This is another timing chart showing the operation of the electric parking brake control device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In the following description, specific shapes, materials, directions, numerical values, etc. are examples for facilitating understanding of the present disclosure and may be modified as appropriate depending on the application, purpose, technical specifications, etc.

[0019] "vehicle"

[0020] use Figure 1 and Figure 2 , a vehicle 10 will be described as an example of an embodiment.

[0021] The vehicle 10 is an off-road vehicle, an engine vehicle, and a manual transmission vehicle. According to the vehicle 10, although the details will be described later, the electric parking brake 13 can be automatically released even when the clutch start cancel switch 22 is turned on.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle 10 includes: an engine 11 for driving; an engine ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 40 as an engine control device, which controls the start or stop of the engine 11, and the details will be described later; an electric parking brake 13, which electrically operates the parking brake; and an electric parking brake ECU 50 as an electric parking brake control device, which controls the operation or release of the electric parking brake 13, and the details will be described later.

[0023] In addition, the vehicle 10 includes: an accelerator pedal 14 serving as an acceleration device; a clutch pedal 15 for operating a clutch 12 that connects or disconnects the engine 11 and a transmission (not shown); a brake pedal 16 for operating a foot brake; a shift lever 17 for switching the combination of gears of the manual transmission; and an operating unit 20, which will be described in detail later.

[0024] The accelerator pedal 14, the clutch pedal 15, and the brake pedal 16 are arranged in this order from the left at the foot of the driver's seat. The shift lever 17 is arranged in the inter-seat storage box between the driver's seat and the passenger seat.

[0025] The operating unit 20 is provided with an engine switch 21 for starting or stopping the engine 11; a clutch start cancel switch 22 for canceling the clutch start function; and an electric parking brake switch 23 for applying or releasing the electric parking brake 13. The clutch start function enables the engine switch 21 to start the engine 11 when the clutch pedal 15 is depressed and the clutch 12 is disengaged.

[0026] In addition, the vehicle 10 includes an accelerator opening sensor 31 for detecting the opening of the accelerator pedal 14 , a clutch pedal travel sensor 32 for detecting the travel of the clutch pedal 15 , a brake pedal travel sensor 33 for detecting the travel of the brake pedal 16 , and a shift lever position sensor 34 for detecting the position of the shift lever 17 .

[0027] Engine ECU

[0028] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the engine ECU 40 controls the start and stop of the engine 11. The engine ECU 40 includes a processor 41, which includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a memory 42, which stores control programs and control data. Examples of the memory 42 include RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read-Only Memory), and flash memory. The processor 41 controls the start and stop of the engine 11 by operating according to the control program stored in the memory 42.

[0029] The engine ECU 40 is connected to the engine 11 , the engine switch 21 , the clutch start cancel switch 22 , the accelerator opening sensor 31 , and the clutch pedal stroke sensor 32 .

[0030] As described above, the engine ECU 40 includes a clutch start execution unit 43 that executes a clutch start function for starting the engine 11 when the clutch pedal 15 is depressed, the clutch 12 is disengaged, and the engine switch 21 is turned on. The clutch start execution unit 43 is implemented by the processor 41 executing a program stored in the memory 42.

[0031] The clutch start execution unit 43 is released by turning on the clutch start cancellation switch 22. In other words, when the clutch start cancellation switch 22 is turned on, the engine ECU 40 does not execute the clutch start function.

[0032] Electric parking brake ECU

[0033] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the electric parking brake ECU 50 controls the activation and deactivation of the electric parking brake 13. The electric parking brake ECU 50 includes a processor 51, which has a CPU, and a memory 52, which stores control programs, control data, and the like. Memory 52 may be, for example, RAM, ROM, or flash memory. The processor 51 controls the activation and deactivation of the electric parking brake 13 by operating according to the control program stored in the memory 52.

[0034] The electric parking brake ECU 50 is connected to the electric parking brake 13 , the clutch activation cancel switch 22 , the electric parking brake switch 23 , the brake pedal stroke sensor 33 , and the shift lever position sensor 34 .

[0035] The electric parking brake ECU 50 includes a switch control unit 53, a normal control unit 54, a first release unit 55, and a second release unit 56, each of which will be described in detail later. The switch control unit 53, the normal control unit 54, the first release unit 55, and the second release unit 56 are implemented by the processor 51 executing a program stored in the memory 52.

[0036] The switch control unit 53 operates the electric parking brake 13 when the electric parking brake switch 23 is turned on, and releases the electric parking brake 13 when the electric parking brake switch 23 is turned off.

[0037] Normally, the control unit 54 operates the electric parking brake 13 when the engine switch 21 is turned off, and releases the electric parking brake 13 when the clutch 12 is released and the engine switch 21 is turned on.

[0038] When the clutch start cancel switch 22 is on and the clutch 12 is connected, and the engine switch 21 is turned on (starting the engine 11), and the shift lever 17 is in the driving position, the first release unit 55 releases the electric parking brake 13 regardless of the accelerator opening or clutch stroke. It should be noted that the driving position of the shift lever 17 refers to a position other than the neutral position.

[0039] Here, according to the above-mentioned normal control unit 54, when the engine 11 is started with the clutch start cancel switch 22 turned on and the clutch 12 connected, the electric parking brake 13 cannot be released. However, according to the first release unit 55, even when the engine 11 is started with the clutch start cancel switch 22 turned on and the clutch 12 connected, the electric parking brake 13 can be automatically released.

[0040] For example, in an off-road vehicle, the engine 11 is often stopped due to special driving such as crossing obstacles, and there are many situations in which the engine 11 needs to be restarted while the clutch 12 is kept engaged. In such a case, the electric parking brake 13 can be released by the first release unit 55.

[0041] When the clutch start cancel switch 22 is on and the clutch 12 is connected, the shift lever 17 is in the driving position, and the brake pedal 16 is depressed for a predetermined distance or more, the second release unit 56 releases the electric parking brake 13 regardless of the accelerator opening and the clutch stroke.

[0042] According to the second release unit 56 , even in a state where the clutch start cancel switch 22 is turned on and the clutch 12 is connected, the electric parking brake 13 can be automatically released.

[0043] For example, in an off-road vehicle, the engine 11 is often stopped due to special driving such as overcoming obstacles, and there are many situations in which it is desired to restart the engine 11 while keeping the clutch 12 engaged. In such a situation, the electric parking brake 13 can be released by the second release unit 56 before restarting the engine 11.

[0044] use Figures 3 to 5 Next, the operation of the electric parking brake ECU 50 will be described. Next, the operation of automatically releasing the electric parking brake 13 by the first releasing unit 55 and the second releasing unit 56 will be described.

[0045] like Figure 3 As shown, in step S11, it is confirmed whether the clutch start cancel switch 22 is turned on. If the clutch start cancel switch 22 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S12.

[0046] In step S12, it is determined whether the engine 11 is stopped. If the engine 11 is stopped, the process proceeds to step S13. In step S13, it is determined whether the shift lever 17 is in the driving position. If the shift lever 17 is in the driving position, the process proceeds to step S14. It should be noted that the driving position of the shift lever 17 refers to a position other than the neutral position.

[0047] In step S14, it is checked whether the engine switch 21 is turned on. If the engine switch 21 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S15. If the engine switch 21 is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S17.

[0048] In step S15 , the electric parking brake 13 is released.

[0049] In step S17, it is checked whether the brake pedal 16 has been depressed for a predetermined stroke or more. If the brake pedal 16 has been depressed for a predetermined stroke or more, the process proceeds to step S18. In step S18, the electric parking brake 13 is released.

[0050] like Figure 4 As shown, according to the first release unit 55, when the clutch start cancel switch 22 is turned on (step S11) and the clutch 12 is connected, and the engine switch 21 is turned on (step S14), and the shift lever 17 is in the driving position (step S13), the electric parking brake 13 can be released (step S15) regardless of the accelerator opening or clutch stroke. Then, the engine starts, and the engine speed increases as the accelerator opening increases.

[0051] like Figure 5 As shown, according to the second release unit 56, when the clutch start cancel switch 22 is turned on (step S11) and the clutch 12 is connected, the shift lever 17 is in the driving position (step S13), and the brake pedal 16 is depressed for a predetermined distance or more (step S17), the electric parking brake 13 can be released (step S18) regardless of the accelerator opening or clutch stroke. Subsequently, the engine switch 21 is turned on, the engine 11 starts, and the engine speed increases as the accelerator opening increases.

[0052] It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment and its modifications, and various changes and improvements can be made within the scope of the matters described in the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising: an electric parking brake control device that applies the electric parking brake when an engine switch is turned off and releases the electric parking brake when a clutch is disengaged and the engine switch is turned on; and an engine control device having a clutch start function that starts the engine when the clutch is disengaged and the engine switch is turned on, wherein: The vehicle has a clutch start cancel switch for releasing the clutch start function. When the engine is started with the clutch start cancel switch turned on and the clutch connected, the electric parking brake control device releases the electric parking brake regardless of the accelerator opening or clutch stroke when the shift lever is in the driving position. The engine control device allows starting of the engine after the electric parking brake is released by the electric parking brake control device.

2. A vehicle comprising: an electric parking brake control device that applies the electric parking brake when an engine switch is turned off and releases the electric parking brake when a clutch is disengaged and the engine switch is turned on; and an engine control device having a clutch start function that starts the engine when the clutch is disengaged and the engine switch is turned on, wherein: The vehicle has a clutch start cancel switch for releasing the clutch start function. When the clutch start cancel switch is turned on and the clutch is connected, the shift lever is in the driving position and the brake pedal is depressed, the electric parking brake control device releases the electric parking brake regardless of the accelerator opening and the clutch stroke.

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