Straddle-type vehicle

Abstract

The motorcycle includes: an engine; a manual transmission that changes the engine's rotation speed and transmits it to the drive wheels; an idle stop control mechanism that automatically stops the engine when idle stop conditions are met; and a battery that stores the electricity required to start the engine. When the battery voltage drops below a first threshold while the engine is automatically stopped with the transmission in gear, a reporting mechanism reports to the rider an attempt to restart the engine. After the report, the power control mechanism, at least assuming no engine restart attempt is detected, sets the motorcycle's power state to a first state where the power consumption is lower than when the report was made.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a straddle-type vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] In motorcycle-type vehicles, idle stop control is known to automatically stop the engine if predetermined conditions are met, and restart the engine if a starting operation is detected while the engine is in an automatically stopped state. Generally, while the engine is stopped based on idle stop control, power continues to be supplied to various electrical loads, thus reducing the battery voltage. Therefore, when stopping the engine, it is necessary to ensure the battery voltage for restarting the engine in advance. Patent Document 1 discloses that in a continuously variable transmission (CVT) vehicle, to prevent the engine from being unable to restart due to the reduction in battery voltage, the battery's state of charge is detected, and a warning is issued under predetermined conditions, or the engine is restarted.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-263879 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0007] Incidentally, when implementing idle stop control in vehicles equipped with manual transmissions, the engine is automatically stopped while the transmission is in gear. If the engine is restarted while in gear and automatically stopped, as with the existing technology described above, there is a risk that the vehicle might move in ways the rider does not want, depending on the rider's operating state.

[0008] This invention provides a technique for suppressing unwanted vehicle movements by the rider in vehicles with idle stop control, and for easily ensuring the battery voltage required for engine restart.

[0009] means for solving problems

[0010] According to the present invention, a straddle-type vehicle is provided, comprising:

[0011] engine;

[0012] A manual transmission that changes the speed of the engine and transmits the engine's rotation to the drive wheels;

[0013] An idle stop control mechanism that automatically stops the engine when an idle stop condition is met; and

[0014] A battery that stores the electricity required to start the engine, characterized in that...

[0015] The motorcycle-type vehicle has the following features:

[0016] The reporting agency shall, when the battery voltage falls below a first threshold while the engine is in a state of automatic stop with the transmission engaged, report to the rider an operation to restart the engine; and

[0017] The power control mechanism, after the report, at least on the condition that no restart operation of the engine is confirmed, sets the power state of the motorcycle to a first state where the power consumption is lower than when the report was made.

[0018] Invention Effects

[0019] According to the present invention, unwanted vehicle movements by the rider can be suppressed, and the battery voltage required for engine restart can be easily ensured.

[0020] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, in the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same or identical components. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The accompanying drawings are included in and form a part of the specification, illustrating embodiments of the invention and serving, together with the description, to explain the principles of the invention.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a left view of a straddle-type vehicle according to one embodiment.

[0023] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A top view of a straddle-type vehicle.

[0024] Figure 3 It means Figure 1 A diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a straddle-type vehicle.

[0025] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed by the ECU when idling is stopped.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed by the ECU when idling is stopped.

[0027] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed by the ECU when idling is stopped.

[0028] Figure 7This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed by the power control ECU.

[0029] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed by the ECU when idling is stopped. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The embodiments will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the invention, and that not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Any combination of two or more features described in the embodiments may be used. Furthermore, identical or identical components will be labeled with the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions will be omitted.

[0031] <Overview of Motorized Two-Wheeled Vehicles>

[0032] Figure 1 This is a left view of the motorcycle 10. Figure 2 This is a top view of the straddle-type vehicle 10. It should be noted that, for ease of understanding the invention, unless otherwise specified, it will be presented as such. Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 The arrows shown illustrate the directions of forward / backward, up / down, and left / right.

[0033] The motorcycle 10 has a double-cradle type frame 12. This frame 12 has a head tube 14, a pair of left and right main frames 16, and a lower frame 18. The left and right main frames 16 branch off from the head tube 14 and extend rearward in a gently sloping manner at the rear end, then extend downward via a bend 16a. The lower frame 18 branches off from the head tube 14 and extends diagonally downward and rearward below the main frames 16, then extends approximately horizontally rearward via the bend 18a, and connects to the rear end of the main frames 16.

[0034] The body frame 12 also includes a pair of left and right seat frames 20, a pair of left and right pivot plates 22, and a pair of left and right reinforcing struts 24. The pair of left and right seat frames 20 extend rearward from near the bends 16a of the pair of left and right main frames 16, rising slightly at the rear end. The pair of left and right pivot plates 22 are located near the rear ends of the main frames 16. The pair of left and right reinforcing struts 24 extend obliquely from near the location of the pivot plates 22 on the main frames 16, rising at the rear end, and connect to the seat frame 20. Pivots 26 are provided on the pair of left and right pivot plates 22.

[0035] The left and right front forks 28 are supported by the head tube 14 and can rotate freely. Steering handlebars 32 are mounted on the upper end of the left and right front forks 28 via the top bridge 30a.

[0036] An instrument panel 34, including a speedometer, is mounted on the top bridge 30a. A headlight 36 illuminating the front of the motorcycle 10 and a pair of left and right forward turn indicators 37 are located in front of the head tube 14 and the bottom bridge 30b. The front wheel WF is supported by a pair of left and right front forks 28 and is freely rotatable. A front fender 38 is located on the upper part of the front wheel WF.

[0037] An engine 40 and a manual transmission 42 are disposed between the main frame 16 and the lower frame 18. A fuel tank 44 is mounted above the engine 40 and on the front side of the main frame 16. An exhaust pipe 46 is mounted on the engine 40, and a muffler 48 is connected to the exhaust pipe 46. An oil cooler 50 is located in front of the engine 40 and on the front side of the lower frame 18. A throttle body 52 and an air filter 54 are located behind the engine 40.

[0038] The swing arm 56 is pivotally supported on a pair of left and right pivot plates 22 via a pivot 26 in a generally vertical direction. A rear buffer 58 is clamped between the upper rear end of the swing arm 56 and the seat frame 20. The rear wheel WR, which serves as the drive wheel, is rotatably supported on the rear end of the swing arm 56. Power from the engine 40 is transmitted to the rear wheel WR via a chain 60. A pair of left and right footrest holders 62 extending rearward are fixed on the pair of left and right pivot plates 22. Footrests 64 for the driver and footrests 66 for the passenger are mounted on the front and rear of the pair of left and right footrest holders 62, respectively.

[0039] Behind the fuel tank 44 and above the seat frame 20, a seat 68 is installed for the driver and passenger to sit (straddle-style). The seat 68 is a tandem seat consisting of a driver's seat 68a and a passenger seat 68b. At the rear of the seat frame 20, armrests 70 for the passenger to hold onto and rear turn signal 72 are installed. A rear fender 74 is located behind the seat frame 20, and a taillight 76 is installed on the rear fender 74.

[0040] like Figure 2 As shown, a throttle handle 80, which can rotate relative to the handlebar 32, is provided on the right end of the handlebar 32 to indicate acceleration. On the handlebar 32, in front of the throttle handle 80, is a brake lever (brake operating member) 82 for applying braking force to the front wheel of the motorcycle 10. By operating the brake lever 82 with the driver's right hand, a braking device (not shown) located on the front wheel WF is activated, applying braking force to the front wheel WF.

[0041] A foot brake pedal (brake operating member) 84 for applying braking force to the rear wheel of the motorcycle 10 is provided in front of the right foot pedal 64. The driver places his right foot on the right foot pedal 64 and operates the foot brake pedal 84 with his right foot, thereby activating the braking device (not shown) provided on the rear wheel WR and applying braking force to the rear wheel WR.

[0042] Additionally, a clutch lever 86 is located on the handlebar 32, at the front of the left end. This clutch lever 86 is a clutch 43 used to cut off the transmission of driving force from the engine 40 to the manual transmission 42 (see reference). Figure 3 The components that operate the manual transmission 42 include a shift pedal 88 located in front of the left foot pedal 64 for selectively switching between gears with different gear ratios. The driver places their left foot on the left foot pedal 64 and operates the shift pedal 88 with their left foot to switch the gears of the manual transmission 42.

[0043] <Hardware Components>

[0044] Figure 3 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a motorcycle-type vehicle 10. Figure 3 The main components required for the idle stop control processing example described later are shown in the diagram.

[0045] The control unit 100 includes a power control ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 101 and an idle stop ECU 102. Each ECU includes a processor (such as a CPU), storage devices such as semiconductor memory, and interfaces for external devices. The storage devices store the programs executed by the processor and the data used by the processor during processing. Each ECU may also have multiple processors, storage devices, and interfaces. Furthermore, the ECUs can be interconnected via a network (not shown) such as CAN (Controller Area Network) to transmit and receive data. Figure 3 The diagram shows an ECU related to the processing example described later. However, the number of ECUs in the control unit 100 and the functions of each ECU can be appropriately designed and can be more detailed or integrated than in this embodiment.

[0046] The power control ECU 101 controls the power state of the motorcycle 10. In this embodiment, the power state of the motorcycle 10 can change based on rider operations such as button presses or button manipulations. However, as shown in the processing example described later, the power control ECU 101 can also control the power state of the motorcycle 10. In this embodiment, the power state of the motorcycle 10 transitions between a power-off state (where both the ignition power and auxiliary power are disconnected), an auxiliary power-on state (where only the auxiliary power is connected), and a power-on state (where both are connected). However, the power state of the motorcycle 10 is not limited to these states. For example, the power state of the motorcycle 10 may include a state where only the ignition power is connected, a state where multiple systems for the ignition power or auxiliary power are provided and at least some of them are connected, etc. The power control ECU 101 controls the power state of the motorcycle 10, for example, by switching the on / off state of the IG (ignition) relay 94 or the ACC (auxiliary power) relay (not shown).

[0047] The idle stop ECU 102 performs idle stop control. Details will be described later. When a predetermined idle stop condition is met, the idle stop ECU 102 automatically stops the engine 40. Furthermore, when a predetermined idle stop termination condition is met, the idle stop ECU 102 restarts the automatically stopped engine 40 via the starter motor 92.

[0048] The battery 90 stores and supplies power to the various electrical components of the motorcycle 10 required for operation. For example, the battery 90 supplies power to the electrical components of the driving system required for travel. These components may include, for example, various ECUs, a starter motor 92 for starting or driving the engine 40, various electrical components such as spark plugs, lighting devices such as headlights 36, and various instruments that inform the rider of the vehicle's status. Additionally, the battery 90 also supplies power to electrical components of the non-driving system used for purposes other than travel. These components may include, for example, an audio system, handlebar heaters for heating the handlebars, and an electrically adjustable windshield (not shown).

[0049] The motorcycle 10 may include various sensors for detecting the state of the vehicle itself or its surrounding environment. In this embodiment, the motorcycle 10 includes a throttle opening sensor 104, a clutch detection sensor 105, a vehicle speed sensor 106, a gear position sensor 107, a battery voltage sensor 108, and a brake sensor 109. The throttle opening sensor 104 detects the throttle opening based on the rider's throttle operation. The clutch detection sensor 105 detects the engagement state of the clutch 43. The vehicle speed sensor 106 is a sensor that detects the vehicle speed of the motorcycle 10; in this embodiment, the vehicle speed is detected based on the rotational speed of a predetermined gear in the transmission gear train 421. The gear position sensor 107 is a sensor that detects the gear position of the manual transmission 42; in this embodiment, the gear selected by the rider (e.g., any one of first to fourth gear and neutral) is detected based on the rotation angle of the shift drum 422. The battery voltage sensor 108 detects the battery voltage of the battery 90. It should be noted that the battery voltage sensor 108 can also be built into the power control ECU 101 or the idle stop ECU 102. The brake sensor 109 detects the operating status of the rider's brake lever 82 or foot brake pedal 84.

[0050] The reporting unit 96 reports predetermined information to the rider. In this embodiment, if predetermined conditions are met when the engine 40 is in an automatically stopped state due to idle stop control, the reporting unit 96 reports to the rider to initiate a restart operation for the engine 40. As an example, the reporting unit 96 is an indicator that reports the execution status of idle stop control. Normally, it is illuminated when the engine 40 is in an automatically stopped state; on the other hand, it flashes when a restart operation is initiated, and the display method changes depending on the situation.

[0051] <Processing Example>

[0052] (Idle stop control)

[0053] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed by the ECU 102 during idle stop. Specifically, Figure 4 The diagram illustrates the process by which the idle stop ECU 102 automatically stops the engine 40 based on predetermined conditions. In this embodiment, the idle stop ECU 102 performs a shift idle stop control that automatically stops the engine 40 even when the manual transmission 42 is in gear (first gear).

[0054] This flowchart is executed periodically, for example, when idle stop control is effective and the engine 40 does not stop automatically. It should be noted that in the following explanation, the steps of the flowchart will be abbreviated as S101, etc.

[0055] In S101, the idle stop ECU 102 acquires sensor values ​​from various sensors. Here, the idle stop ECU 102 acquires sensor values ​​from the throttle opening sensor 104, clutch detection sensor 105, vehicle speed sensor 106, gear position sensor 107, and brake sensor 109.

[0056] In S102, if the gear position of the transmission gear system 421 of the manual transmission 42 is neutral or first gear, the idle stop ECU 102 proceeds to S103; otherwise, it proceeds to S110. The idle stop ECU 102 confirms the gear position based on the detection result of the gear position sensor 107 obtained in S101.

[0057] In S103, if clutch 43 is released, the idle stop ECU 102 proceeds to S104; otherwise, it proceeds to S110. The idle stop ECU 102 confirms the engagement state of clutch 43 based on the detection result of clutch detection sensor 105 obtained in S101. It should be noted that the state of clutch 43 being released here does not include the so-called half-clutch state, but refers to the state in which power transmission is completely cut off by clutch 43.

[0058] In S104, if the braking operation amount is above a threshold, the idle stop ECU 102 proceeds to S105; otherwise, it proceeds to S110. The idle stop ECU 102 confirms the braking operation amount based on the detection result of the brake sensor 109 obtained in S101. The threshold here can be set appropriately, but from the viewpoint of confirming the rider's clear intention to stop the engine 40, it can be set to a value that confirms the rider's strong grip on the brake lever 82. For example, it can be set so that the braking operation amount is above the threshold when the rider's operation amount on the brake lever 82 is 50% to 90% or more of the travel of the brake lever 82.

[0059] In S105, if the throttle is closed, the idle stop ECU 102 proceeds to S106; otherwise, it proceeds to S110. The idle stop ECU 102 confirms the throttle opening based on the detection result of the throttle opening sensor 104 obtained in S101.

[0060] In S106, if the speed of the motorcycle 10 is below a threshold, the idle stop ECU 102 proceeds to S107; otherwise, it proceeds to S110. The idle stop ECU 102 determines the speed of the motorcycle 10 based on the detection result of the vehicle speed sensor 106 obtained in S101. The speed threshold can be set, for example, to a value between 0 and 5 km / h. That is, the speed condition can be that the motorcycle 10 is completely stopped, or that the motorcycle 10 is below a predetermined speed.

[0061] In S107, the idle stop ECU102 starts the timer. It should be noted that if the timer was already started during the last execution of this flowchart, the timer's measurements will continue.

[0062] In S108, if a predetermined time has elapsed after the timer starts, the idle speed is stopped (ECU102) and the process proceeds to S109; otherwise, the flowchart ends. The predetermined time can be set to a value between 1 and 5 seconds.

[0063] In S109, the idle stop ECU 102 automatically stops the engine 40 and terminates the flowchart. It should be noted that the idle stop ECU 102 can also, in addition to automatically stopping the engine 40, also cause the reporting unit 96 to report that the engine 40 has been automatically stopped via idle stop control. Specifically, when the reporting unit 96 is an indicator, the idle stop ECU 102 can illuminate the reporting unit 96.

[0064] In S110, the idle stop ECU102 resets the timer and ends the flowchart.

[0065] According to this flowchart, if the idling stop condition is met for a predetermined time (S102~S108), the engine 40 will automatically stop (S109). Therefore, the engine 40 can be stopped by reflecting the rider's clear intention to stop.

[0066] It should be noted that, here, the idling stop condition corresponds to the situation where all of the following conditions (1) to (5) are met:

[0067] (1) The gear is in neutral or first gear;

[0068] (2) The clutch is released (clutch lever 86 is engaged);

[0069] (3) The braking operation amount is above the threshold;

[0070] (4) The throttle body is open;

[0071] (5) The vehicle speed is below the threshold.

[0072] However, idling stop conditions can also include other conditions such as the engine coolant temperature exceeding a threshold of 40°C. Additionally, in Figure 4In the example, the gear is either neutral or first gear, and all other conditions are the same. However, the other conditions can differ between neutral and first gear. For example, when the gear is neutral, even if the clutch 43 is engaged, the driving force of the engine 40 will not be transmitted to the rear wheel WR, so the above (2) can be removed from the idle stop conditions. That is, the idle stop ECU 102 can enter S104 if it confirms that the gear is neutral in S102. In addition, in this embodiment, neutral or first gear is used as one of the idle stop conditions, but it is also possible to use first gear as one of the idle stop conditions instead. That is, the automatic stop of the engine 40 can also be performed only when the manual transmission 42 is engaged (first gear).

[0073] It should be noted that, based on engine 40 Figure 4 After the flowchart is temporarily and automatically stopped, even if the state in which all the conditions of (1) to (5) are satisfied no longer continues, Figure 5 The engine can remain in an automatic stop state until the restart conditions described herein are met. For example, after the engine 40 automatically stops, the automatic stop of the engine 40 can continue even if the rider releases the clutch lever 86.

[0074] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed by the ECU 102 during idle stop. Specifically, Figure 5 This diagram illustrates the process when the idle stop ECU 102 restarts the engine 40, which has been automatically stopped, based on predetermined conditions. This flowchart, for example, shows the process when the engine 40 is restarted based on... Figure 4 The flowchart is executed periodically and stops automatically.

[0075] In S201, the idle stop ECU 102 acquires sensor values ​​from various sensors. Here, the idle stop ECU 102 acquires sensor values ​​from the throttle opening sensor 104, the clutch detection sensor 105, and the gear position sensor 107.

[0076] In S202, if the gear position of the transmission gear system 421 of the manual transmission 42 is neutral or first gear, the idle stop ECU 102 proceeds to S203; otherwise, the flowchart ends. The idle stop ECU 102 confirms the gear position based on the detection result of the gear position sensor 107 obtained in S201.

[0077] In S203, if clutch 43 is released, the idle stop ECU 102 proceeds to S204; otherwise, the flowchart ends. The idle stop ECU 102 confirms the engagement status of clutch 43 based on the detection result of clutch detection sensor 105 obtained in S201. It should be noted that the determination of whether clutch 43 is released can be related to... Figure 4 It is the same as S103.

[0078] In S204, if the throttle is open, the idle stop ECU 102 proceeds to S205; otherwise, the flowchart ends. The idle stop ECU 102 confirms the throttle opening based on the detection result of the gear position sensor 107 obtained in S201.

[0079] In S205, the idle stop ECU 102 restarts the engine 40. The idle stop ECU 102 restarts the automatically stopped engine 40 via the starter motor 92.

[0080] It should be noted that the restart conditions for engine 40 can be set appropriately. For example, the throttle opening can be omitted as a condition, and engine 40 can be restarted when the gear is in neutral or first gear and the clutch lever 86, which was released after engine 40 automatically stopped, is re-engaged.

[0081] (Battery voltage-based reporting control and power disconnection control)

[0082] Incidentally, when the engine 40 is in an automatically stopped state, the battery voltage V of the battery 90 decreases due to power consumption from the headlight 36, brake light (not shown), and other electrical components. Therefore, in the automatically stopped state, it is necessary to ensure that the battery voltage V is not lower than the voltage required to restart the engine 40 via the starter motor 92 (hereinafter referred to as the restart voltage V0). As a method for this, for example, restarting the engine 40 before it drops to the restart voltage V0 of the battery 90 in the automatically stopped state can be considered. On the other hand, as with the motorcycle 10 of this embodiment, if the engine 40 is automatically stopped even when in gear, and the engine 40 restarts unintentionally, there is a risk of causing an undesirable starting action for the rider. Therefore, in this embodiment, the control unit 100 of the motorcycle 10 performs the following report control and power control.

[0083] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed by the ECU 102 during idle stop. Specifically, Figure 6 The flowchart illustrates the process when the idle stop ECU 102 reports to the rider based on the battery voltage V when the engine 40 is in an automatic stop state. This flowchart, for example, shows the process when the engine 40 is based on... Figure 4 In the case of automatically stopping due to the flowchart, and Figure 5 The flowchart is executed periodically in parallel.

[0084] In S301, the idle stop ECU 102 acquires sensor values. Specifically, the idle stop ECU 102 acquires the sensor values ​​from the battery voltage sensor 108.

[0085] In S302, if the battery voltage V is below the threshold Vt1, the idle stop ECU 102 proceeds to S303; otherwise, the flowchart ends. The idle stop ECU 102 compares the battery voltage V obtained in S301 with the preset threshold Vt1. The threshold Vt1 is set to a value higher than the restart voltage V0.

[0086] In S303, the idle stop ECU 102 reports to the rider an operation to restart the engine 40. Specifically, when the report unit 96 is an indicator and the engine 40 is in an automatic stop state, the idle stop ECU 102 can switch the report unit 96 from being illuminated to flashing. Alternatively, if the report unit 96 is a speaker, an alarm sound or audio message can be used to report the restart operation; if the report unit 96 is a display unit capable of displaying text, a text message can be used to report the restart operation.

[0087] It should be noted that this example illustrates reporting by the reporting unit 96 when the manual transmission 42 is in either engaged or neutral. However, in neutral, the engine 40 can be restarted without reporting by the reporting unit 96. Therefore, when engaged, unwanted starting of the motorcycle 10 caused by engine 40 restarting can be suppressed, and restarting the engine 40 in neutral can prevent the battery voltage V from falling below the restart voltage V0. In short, when the battery voltage V falls below the threshold Vt1 while the engine 40 is automatically stopped in engaged mode, a report prompting the rider to restart the engine 40 is sufficient.

[0088] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed by the power control ECU 101. Specifically, Figure 7 This diagram illustrates the process by which the power control ECU 101 controls the power state of the motorcycle-type vehicle 10 when the engine 40 is in an automatically stopped state. This flowchart, for example, shows the process when the engine 40 is based on... Figure 4 In the case of automatically stopping due to the flowchart, and Figure 5 as well as Figure 6 The flowchart is executed periodically in parallel.

[0089] In S401, the power control ECU 101 acquires various information. For example, the power control ECU 101 acquires sensor values ​​from various sensors, and information such as whether the idle stop ECU 102 has issued a report to the rider.

[0090] In S402, if the idle stop ECU 102 has reported the situation in S303, the power control ECU 101 proceeds to S403; otherwise, the flowchart ends. For example, if the idle stop ECU 102 has reported the rider in S303, information indicating this situation is pre-stored in the idle stop ECU 102's storage device. Furthermore, the power control ECU 101 obtains information about whether a report to the rider has been made from the idle stop ECU 102 via a network such as CAN.

[0091] In S403, the power control ECU101 checks whether the rider has initiated a restart action. If no restart action has been performed, it proceeds to S404; otherwise, the flowchart ends. A restart operation, for example, is... Figure 5 The flowchart shows the operation in step S205, such as throttle operation while holding the clutch lever 86.

[0092] In S404, if the predetermined condition is met, the power control ECU 101 proceeds to S405; otherwise, the flowchart ends. For example, the predetermined condition could be that the battery voltage V is above the restart voltage V0 and decreases to a threshold Vt2 that is lower than the threshold Vt1. In this case, the battery voltage V required for restart can be more reliably ensured. Alternatively, the predetermined condition could also be that a predetermined time has elapsed since the report in S303. In this case, the condition can be determined through simple processing.

[0093] In S405, the power control ECU 101 switches the power state of the motorcycle 10 to a lower power consumption state. This suppresses the drop in battery voltage V, thus easily ensuring that the battery voltage V is above the restart voltage V0. Furthermore, while ensuring the battery voltage V is above the restart voltage V0, the engine 40 will not restart while the manual transmission 42 is engaged, thus suppressing unwanted actions of the motorcycle 10 by the rider.

[0094] For example, the power control ECU 101 can switch the power state of the motorcycle 10 from a power-on state where both the ignition and auxiliary equipment power are on to an auxiliary equipment-on state where only the auxiliary equipment power is on. Alternatively, the power control ECU 101 can also switch the power state of the motorcycle 10 from a power-on state where both the ignition and auxiliary equipment power are on to a power-off state where both are off. When the power state is switched, the rider can manually restart the engine 40 by pressing a button or other means when restarting the engine 40 is required. This suppresses the drop in battery voltage V from the time the power state is switched until the engine 40 needs to be restarted.

[0095] <Variation Example>

[0096] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed by the ECU102 during idle stop. Figure 8 yes Figure 5 The flowchart variation example illustrates the process when the idle stop ECU 102 restarts the engine 40, which has been automatically stopped based on predetermined conditions. Specifically, in... Figure 8 In the flowchart, after... Figure 6 In the case of a report under S303, the restart conditions of engine 40 are changed compared to the case where no report is made. This flowchart, for example, describes the restart conditions of engine 40 based on... Figure 4 The flowchart is executed periodically and stops automatically.

[0097] In S501, the idle stop ECU 102 acquires sensor values. For example, the idle stop ECU 102 acquires sensor values ​​from the throttle opening sensor 104, the clutch detection sensor 105, and the gear position sensor 107.

[0098] In S502, if the report in S303 was performed, the idle stop ECU 102 proceeds to S503; otherwise, it proceeds to S507. For example, the processor of the idle stop ECU 102 checks whether information indicating that a report in S303 was performed is stored in the storage device of the idle stop ECU 102.

[0099] S503 to S505 are the procedures for handling cases where S303 has not been reported, and are the same as S202 to S204. Furthermore, S506 is the same as S205. Therefore, the explanation of each step is omitted. If the manual transmission 42 is in neutral or first gear, the clutch 43 is released, and the throttle is open, the idle stop ECU 102 restarts the engine 40 in S506; otherwise, the flowchart ends.

[0100] S507 to S508 describe the processing steps following the report in S303. In S507, if the manual transmission 42 is in neutral, the idle stop ECU 102 proceeds to S506, restarting the engine 40. If it is in first gear, it proceeds to S508. Otherwise, the flowchart ends. Thus, for example, if the automatic stop is in first gear, a report in S303 is issued. If the rider shifts the manual transmission 42 from first gear to neutral, the engine 40 is restarted.

[0101] In S508, the idle stop ECU102 enters S506 if the clutch 43 is released, restarting the engine 40; otherwise, the flowchart ends. Thus, for example, if the engine is in an automatically stopped state with the gear engaged (first gear), a report in S303 is made, and if the clutch 43 is released when the rider holds the clutch lever 86, the engine 40 is restarted.

[0102] Thus, in this modified example, when S303 is reported, the engine 40 is restarted even if the rider performs an operation that allows the engine 40 to restart, or in other words, the motorcycle 10 does not start even if the engine 40 is restarted. This improves the convenience of the motorcycle 10. Therefore, even in a restart from a normal automatic stop where the throttle is open, the restart conditions can be mitigated and the drop in battery voltage V can be suppressed when S303 is reported.

[0103] As another variation, the threshold Vt2 related to the switching of power states can be changed according to environmental factors such as temperature. For example, the threshold Vt2 can be set in a way that makes the threshold Vt2 relatively higher under low temperature conditions where the battery voltage V is prone to decrease. In addition, the threshold Vt1 related to the report that prompts restart can also be changed according to the temperature. In addition, the thresholds Vt1 and Vt2 can also be set based on factors that affect the performance of the battery 90, such as the usage period of the battery 90.

[0104] Furthermore, the reporting method used by Reporting Department 96 can be appropriately modified. For example, the indicator's color and flashing pattern can be changed based on the battery voltage V and the elapsed time since the report. As an example, the closer the battery voltage V is to the threshold Vt2, the shorter the flashing interval of the indicator.

[0105] <Summary of Implementation Methods>

[0106] The above embodiments disclose at least the following straddle-type vehicles.

[0107] 1. The straddle-type vehicle (e.g., 10) according to the above embodiment includes:

[0108] Engine (e.g., 40);

[0109] A manual transmission (e.g., 42) that changes the rotation of the engine and transmits the rotation of the engine to the drive wheels (e.g., WR);

[0110] An idle stop control mechanism (e.g., 102) that performs idle stop control to automatically stop the engine when an idle stop condition is met; and

[0111] A battery (e.g., 90) that stores the electricity required to start the engine.

[0112] Its features are,

[0113] The motorcycle-type vehicle has the following features:

[0114] The reporting agency (e.g., 96, S303) reports to the rider that the battery voltage falls below a first threshold when the engine is automatically stopped while the transmission is in gear; and...

[0115] The power control mechanism (e.g., 102, S405) sets the power state of the motorcycle to a first state with lower power consumption than when the report was made, at least assuming that no restart operation of the engine has been confirmed.

[0116] According to this embodiment, a report is sent to the rider prompting a restart operation of the engine when the battery voltage falls below a first threshold, and the vehicle's power state is set to a first state even though a report has been made but no restart operation is performed. Therefore, unwanted vehicle movements by the rider can be suppressed, and the battery voltage required for engine restart can be easily ensured.

[0117] 2. According to the above embodiment, the power control mechanism also sets the power state to the first state when the battery voltage drops to a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is a voltage value required to start the engine that is higher than the first threshold (e.g., S404, S405).

[0118] According to this implementation, the power state is switched based on the battery voltage, thus making it easier to ensure the battery voltage for engine restart.

[0119] 3. According to the above embodiment, the power control mechanism also sets the power state to the first state (e.g., S404, S405) based on a predetermined time elapsed since the report.

[0120] According to this embodiment, the power state switching can be determined through simple processing.

[0121] 4. According to the above embodiment, if the transmission is switched from the gear to neutral before the condition for the power control mechanism to set the power state to the first state is met after the reporting mechanism has made the report, the idle stop control mechanism ends the automatic stop of the engine (e.g., S507).

[0122] According to this implementation, the automatic engine stop is terminated when the rider performs an operation that allows the engine to restart, thus improving the convenience of the vehicle.

[0123] 5. According to the above embodiment, the motorcycle further includes a clutch capable of disconnecting the power transmission between the engine and the transmission.

[0124] After the reporting agency has made the report, and before the condition for the power control agency to set the power state to the first state is met, if the clutch is released, the idle stop control agency terminates the automatic stop of the engine (e.g., S506).

[0125] According to this implementation, the automatic engine stop is terminated when the rider performs an operation that allows the engine to restart, thus improving the convenience of the vehicle.

[0126] 6. According to the above embodiment, the first state is the state in which the power supply to the ignition device of the motorcycle is disconnected.

[0127] According to this embodiment, the decrease in battery voltage can be suppressed, and the battery voltage required for engine restart can be easily ensured.

[0128] 7. According to the above embodiment, when the battery voltage drops below a third threshold while the engine is in a state of automatic stop with the transmission in neutral, the idle stop control mechanism terminates the automatic stop of the engine.

[0129] According to this embodiment, by restarting the engine without causing unwanted starting by the rider, the decrease in battery voltage can be suppressed.

[0130] This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and alterations can be made within the scope of the spirit of this invention.

[0131] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0132] 10: Motorcycle type vehicle; 40: Engine; 42: Manual transmission; 90: Battery; 101: Power control ECU; 102: Idle stop ECU.

Claims

1. A straddle-type vehicle, comprising: engine; A manual transmission that changes the speed of the engine and transmits the engine's rotation to the drive wheels; An idle stop control mechanism that automatically stops the engine when an idle stop condition is met; and The battery stores the electricity required to start the engine. Its features are, The motorcycle-type vehicle has the following features: The reporting agency shall report to the rider when the battery voltage falls below a first threshold while the engine is in a state of automatic stop with the transmission engaged; as well as The power control mechanism, after the report, at least on the condition that no restart operation of the engine is confirmed, sets the power state of the motorcycle to a first state where the power consumption is lower than when the report was made.

2. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power control mechanism also sets the power state to the first state when the battery voltage drops to a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is a voltage value required to start the engine that is higher than or lower than the first threshold.

3. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power control mechanism also sets the power state to the first state based on a predetermined time elapsed since the report.

4. The straddle-type vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, After the reporting agency has made the report, and before the power control agency sets the power state to the first state, if the transmission is switched from the gear to neutral, the idle stop control agency terminates the automatic stop of the engine.

5. The straddle-type vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The motorcycle also features a clutch capable of disconnecting power transmission between the engine and the transmission. After the reporting agency has made the report, and before the condition for the power control agency to set the power state to the first state is met, if the clutch is released, the idle stop control agency terminates the automatic stop of the engine.

6. The straddle-type vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first state is the state in which the power supply to the ignition device of the motorcycle is disconnected.

7. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the battery voltage drops below a third threshold while the engine is in neutral and automatically stopped, the idle stop control mechanism terminates the automatic engine stop.

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