Method for guiding a shift time of

Abstract

A method of guiding a shift opportunity of a vehicle may provide information related to a shift opportunity to a driver, the method including: determining, by a controller, a virtual engine speed of an electric vehicle; determining, by the controller, a predicted limited rotational speed arrival time required for the determined virtual engine rotational speed to reach a predetermined limited rotational speed; controlling, by the controller, an operation of a shift indicator configured to guide a manual shift occasion based on the determined virtual engine speed and the predicted limited speed arrival time; a shift indicator is operated by the controller to provide shift opportunity information to the driver.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for guiding a vehicle shift timing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for guiding a vehicle shift timing that can provide a driver with information related to the shift timing. Background Art

[0002] Generally, an internal combustion engine vehicle is equipped with an engine and a transmission, and the engine speed and the shift position (ie, the position of the gear) are displayed on a dashboard of the vehicle so that the driver can recognize the real-time driving status of the vehicle.

[0003] The electric vehicle does not have an engine but is equipped with a motor and a virtual shift system, and the motor torque can be controlled by the virtual shift system to provide the driver with a shift feeling comparable to that of an internal combustion engine vehicle.

[0004] In addition, a conventional virtual shift system may output and display a virtual engine speed and a virtual shift position on a dashboard inside a vehicle, thereby providing the driver with a visual effect similar to riding in an internal combustion engine vehicle.

[0005] The information included in the background of the invention is only intended to enhance understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this information constitutes the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. Summary of the invention

[0006] Therefore, when the electric vehicle enters the manual shift mode through the virtual shift system, the driver can manually operate the shift control device based on the virtual engine speed and the target shift position provided through the instrument panel.

[0007] Meanwhile, in an internal combustion engine vehicle, when shifting gears manually, the engine speed is maintained close to the limit speed to maintain the driving force of the vehicle at a high value.

[0008] However, when the engine speed of the internal combustion engine vehicle approaches the speed limit, the driving force of the vehicle decreases, and when the engine speed reaches the speed limit, power cut occurs due to fuel cut.

[0009] In the case of an electric vehicle, since the shift control device is manually operated based on the virtual engine speed, it is not necessary to maintain the virtual engine speed at a value close to the speed limit in order to maintain the driving force of the vehicle at a high value when manually shifting.

[0010] However, in order to achieve characteristics more similar to those of an internal combustion engine vehicle, the virtual engine speed may be maintained close to the speed limit. In this case, when the virtual engine speed reaches the speed limit, power cutoff due to fuel cutoff is implemented. Power cutoff due to fuel cutoff in an internal combustion engine vehicle may be achieved by blocking the power supplied to the drive motor of the electric vehicle.

[0011] Therefore, when attempting to increase the virtual engine speed to near the speed limit in the manual shift mode to maintain the maximum driving force of the electric vehicle, an unexpected interruption of the power to the drive motor may occur, and a technology to prevent this phenomenon is required.

[0012] Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a method of guiding a vehicle shift timing, the method providing a notification through a shift indicator so that a driver of an electric vehicle can recognize an appropriate shift timing.

[0013] Objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by persons including those of ordinary skill in the art to which exemplary embodiments of the present invention pertain through the following description.

[0014] Various aspects of the present invention are intended to provide a method for guiding a vehicle shift timing, the method comprising: determining, by a controller, a virtual engine speed of an electric vehicle; determining, by the controller, a predicted limited speed arrival time required for the determined virtual engine speed to reach a predetermined limited speed; controlling, by the controller, the operation of a shift indicator based on the determined virtual engine speed and the predicted limited speed arrival time, the shift indicator being configured to guide a manual shift timing; and operating, by the controller, the shift indicator to provide a driver with shift timing information.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the shift indicator may include a light emitting element, which is disposed on a dashboard inside an electric vehicle and arranged in a predetermined shape. The controller may be configured to determine a target that is lit in the light emitting element based on a virtual engine speed, may be configured to determine whether the target that is lit in the light emitting element flashes based on a predicted time to reach a limited speed, and may output a control signal for controlling the operation of the shift indicator based on the determined lit target and whether the lit target flashes.

[0016] In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each time the virtual engine speed increases and reaches a predetermined rising engine speed, the controller may increase the number of targets lit in the light emitting element by one. In addition, each time the virtual engine speed decreases and reaches a predetermined falling engine speed, the controller may decrease the number of targets lit in the light emitting element by one.

[0017] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the controller may determine the virtual engine speed based on the average wheel speed of the electric vehicle, the tire dynamic radius, and the virtual transmission ratio determined according to the virtual gear. In addition, the controller may determine the predicted limit speed arrival time based on the virtual engine speed, the virtual limit speed, and the virtual engine angular acceleration.

[0018] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when the predicted speed limit arrival time is less than or equal to the predicted arrival time predetermined for each virtual gear, the virtual engine angular acceleration is greater than 0 (zero), and the electric vehicle is in a driving state without performing an upshift in the manual shift mode, the controller can be configured to control the shift indicator to operate in a flashing mode.

[0019] In other various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when the shift indicator is controlled to operate in a blinking mode, the lighted object in the light emitting element of the shift indicator may operate in a blinking mode.

[0020] In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the controller may be configured to determine whether the electric vehicle is in a driving state in which an upshift is not performed in the manual shift mode based on the vehicle speed and an opening rate of an accelerator pedal.

[0021] In another embodiment, when the predicted speed limit arrival time is greater than the predicted arrival time, or the virtual engine angular acceleration is less than or equal to 0 (zero), or the electric vehicle is in a driving state for performing an upshift in a manual shift mode, the controller may not operate the shift indicator in a flashing mode.

[0022] In another embodiment, the controller may be configured to determine a predicted time to reach the speed limit even when the shift indicator is operating in a flashing mode; when the determined predicted time to reach the speed limit is greater than or equal to a predetermined flashing mode release time, the flashing mode of the shift indicator may be released, and the flashing mode release time may be determined as a value obtained by adding a predetermined predicted arrival time for each virtual gear to a margin time.

[0023] The methods and apparatus of the present invention have other features and advantages, which will be apparent from or will be described in detail in the accompanying drawings and subsequent detailed descriptions incorporated herein, which together serve to explain the specific principles of the present invention.

[0024] Other aspects and embodiments of the invention are discussed below.

[0025] The above and other features of the invention are discussed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing main components of a system for guiding a vehicle shift timing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an instrument panel provided with a shift indicator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of guiding a vehicle shift timing according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0029] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale, but are only appropriately simplified drawings for illustrating various features of the basic principles of the present invention. The specific design features of the present invention disclosed herein include, for example, specific dimensions, directions, positions and shapes that will be determined in part by the specific environment in which they are to be applied and used.

[0030] In the drawings, like reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings and described below. Although the present invention will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that this specification is not intended to limit the present invention to those exemplary embodiments of the present invention. On the other hand, the present invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments that may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0032] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings and described below. The matters included in the drawings are schematic to facilitate explanation of exemplary embodiments of the present invention and may differ from actual implementation forms.

[0033] The electric vehicle according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention is provided with a virtual shift system that makes the driver feel as if he or she is riding in an internal combustion engine vehicle, and is also provided with a shift device that the driver can manually operate. The driver can manually change the shift position (or referred to as a "gear position") by operating the shift device. The shift device can be provided at a position inside the vehicle where the driver can easily operate the shift device. In other words, the shift device can also be referred to as a shift control device.

[0034] The virtual shift system is configured to determine the virtual gear position of the electric vehicle based on the vehicle speed and the opening (%) of the accelerator pedal in the automatic shift mode, and is configured to determine the current virtual gear position of the electric vehicle based on the virtual gear position when the electric vehicle enters the manual shift mode and the driver's shift request signal input through the shift device in the manual shift mode.

[0035] The virtual shift system can be selectively activated by the driver. For example, a touch button for activating the virtual shift system can be set on the screen of the navigation system provided in the vehicle, and when the driver touches the touch button, the virtual shift system can be activated.

[0036] In addition, the virtual shift system can be selectively entered into a manual shift mode by the driver. For example, when the driver operates the shift device in the automatic shift mode of the virtual shift system, the virtual shift system can enter the manual shift mode.

[0037] refer to Figure 1 The controller 10 according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention is configured to perform overall control of the virtual shift system, and when the virtual shift system is activated, the controller 10 is configured to determine the current virtual gear position (i.e., the real-time virtual gear position) based on the vehicle speed and the opening value of the accelerator pedal. The controller 10 may be an on-vehicle controller configured to determine the state of the electric vehicle when it is traveling and perform overall control of the electric vehicle to maintain the optimal traveling state of the electric vehicle.

[0038] Furthermore, when the virtual shift system is activated, the controller 10 is configured to calculate and determine a virtual engine speed in real time according to the current virtual gear (ie, the nth gear), and send a control signal to control the operation of the shift indicator 22 based on the determined virtual engine speed.

[0039] The controller 10 is configured to determine the virtual engine speed based on the average wheel speed of the electric vehicle, the tire dynamic radius, and the virtual gear ratio, as shown in the following equation 1. The average wheel speed is determined as the average of the speed of the right drive wheel and the speed of the left drive wheel, and the virtual gear ratio is determined as a predetermined value according to the current virtual gear (i.e., the nth gear). In the automatic shift mode, the current virtual gear (i.e., the nth gear) is determined based on the real-time vehicle speed and the real-time opening of the accelerator pedal. In addition, in the manual shift mode, the current virtual gear (i.e., the nth gear) is determined based on the virtual gear before entering the manual shift mode or at the time point of entering the manual shift mode and the shift signal of the driver input by the shifting device. The tire dynamic radius is the radius of the tire when driving. The tire dynamic radius can be determined using a known determination method, so its detailed description will be omitted. The controller 10 can obtain data on the speed of the right drive wheel and the speed of the left drive wheel from a first wheel speed sensor and a second wheel speed sensor provided in the electric vehicle.

[0040] Equation 1: Virtual engine speed (nth gear) = average wheel speed × {1000 × (60 × 2 × π) / tire dynamic radius} × virtual gear ratio

[0041] When the virtual shift system is activated, the controller 10 outputs and displays the current virtual engine speed value and the current virtual gear value on the dashboard 20 inside the vehicle, such as Figure 2 shown.

[0042] Although not shown in the drawings, the instrument panel 20 displays various information related to the current driving state of the vehicle so that the driver can recognize the current driving state of the vehicle, and the instrument panel 20 includes a shift indicator 22 configured to guide the driver to a manual shifting timing when the virtual shifting system enters the manual shifting mode. Figure 2 As shown, the gear shift indicator 22 may include a plurality of light emitting elements 24 arranged substantially in a semicircle. In other words, the gear shift indicator 22 may also be referred to as a “gear shift timing indicator”.

[0043] The shift indicator 22 is controlled by the control unit 10. The shift indicator 22 may be operated so that the light emitting elements 24 arranged in a predetermined shape are sequentially lit or extinguished in a predetermined order. The light emitting elements 24 may be lit or extinguished based on a virtual engine speed determined in real time.

[0044] When the virtual engine speed increases to above a predetermined rising engine speed, the number of targets lit in the light emitting element 24 increases by one, and when the virtual engine speed decreases to below a predetermined falling engine speed, the number of targets lit in the light emitting element 24 decreases by one. The number of targets lit in the light emitting element 24 may increase or decrease sequentially along the arrangement direction of the light emitting elements 24. Colored light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be used as the light emitting elements 24 to further increase visibility and recognition.

[0045] The rising engine speed when each light emitting element 24 is turned on and the falling engine speed when each light emitting element 24 is turned off are predetermined according to each virtual gear position and may be stored in the memory of the controller 10. Whenever the virtual engine speed increases and reaches the predetermined rising engine speed, the light emitting elements 24 of the shift indicator 22 are sequentially turned on one by one, thereby increasing the number of the light emitting elements 24 that are turned on.

[0046] In order to operate the above-mentioned shift indicator 22, the controller 10 can be configured to determine the target lit in the light element 24 based on the current virtual engine speed and the current virtual gear. Whenever the virtual engine speed increases and reaches a predetermined rising engine speed, the controller 10 can increase the number of targets lit in the light element 24 by one.

[0047] For example, when the virtual engine speed gradually increases and reaches a first rising engine speed, the first light emitting element 24 becomes a target for lighting, and when the virtual engine speed further increases and reaches a second rising engine speed, the second light emitting element 24 also becomes a target for lighting. The second rising engine speed is higher than the first rising engine speed, and the second light emitting element 24 is the light emitting element 24 that is closest to the first light emitting element 24 along the arrangement direction of the light emitting elements 24.

[0048] In addition, each time the virtual engine speed gradually decreases and reaches a predetermined decreasing engine speed, the controller 10 may reduce the number of targets lit in the light emitting element 24 by one. In other words, each time the virtual engine speed gradually decreases and reaches a predetermined decreasing engine speed, the controller 10 may increase the number of targets extinguished in the light emitting element 24 by one.

[0049] For example, when the virtual engine speed gradually decreases and reaches a first decreasing engine speed, the third light emitting element 24 is excluded from the lighting target and is extinguished, and when the virtual engine speed further decreases and reaches a second decreasing engine speed, the fourth light emitting element 24 is excluded from the lighting target and is extinguished. The second decreasing engine speed is lower than the first decreasing engine speed, and the fourth light emitting element 24 is the light emitting element 24 closest to the third light emitting element 24 along the arrangement direction of the light emitting elements 24.

[0050] The present invention may sequentially include or exclude the light emitting elements 24 of the shift indicator 22 in or from the illuminated targets in a predetermined order, thereby visually notifying the driver of the degree to which the virtual engine speed approaches the virtual limit speed.

[0051] Furthermore, in order to control the above-mentioned shift indicator 22, the controller 10 is configured to determine and monitor the virtual engine speed in real time, and compare the virtual engine speed determined in real time with the predetermined rising engine speed or falling engine speed of each virtual gear.

[0052] At the same time, when the virtual engine speed of the electric vehicle increases and reaches a predetermined virtual limit speed, the controller 10 implements the fuel cutoff that occurs when the engine speed of the internal combustion engine vehicle reaches the limit speed and the power cutoff caused by such fuel cutoff. In order to implement the power cutoff caused by the fuel cutoff of the internal combustion engine vehicle, the controller 10 can forcibly interrupt the driving force (i.e., power) of the vehicle driving motor that generates the driving force of the electric vehicle.

[0053] Therefore, in order to avoid the situation where the power of the vehicle drive motor is interrupted, the controller 10 predicts the situation before the virtual engine speed reaches the virtual limit speed and notifies the driver of the situation where the power of the vehicle drive motor is interrupted, thereby preventing the power of the motor from being interrupted.

[0054] The controller 10 may provide the driver with information related to the timing of shifting in the manual shift mode by controlling the shift indicator 22 to operate in a flashing mode, and may also warn the driver in advance of a power interruption in the vehicle drive motor.

[0055] The controller 10 is configured to calculate and determine the rate of change of the virtual engine speed over time (ie, the virtual engine angular acceleration) and to determine the predicted speed limit arrival time T_arrival based on the virtual engine angular acceleration. The predicted speed limit arrival time T_arrival may be determined according to Equation 2 below.

[0056] Equation 2: T_arrival (seconds) = (virtual speed limit - virtual engine speed) / virtual engine angular acceleration

[0057] The predicted speed limit arrival time T_arrival is an estimated time required for the virtual engine speed to reach the virtual speed limit in real time. Here, the virtual speed limit is a preset value, but is not necessarily fixed to one value, but may vary according to the driving mode of the vehicle, etc. For example, the virtual speed limit when driving in the normal mode and the virtual speed limit when driving in the sports mode may be different. A map for determining the virtual speed limit based on the driving mode, etc. may be constructed in advance and may be stored in the memory of the controller 10.

[0058] In the manual shift mode of the virtual shift system, the controller 10 is configured to determine whether the shift indicator 22 flashes based on the predicted limit speed arrival time T_arrival, the virtual engine angular acceleration, and whether the electric vehicle is in a driving state without performing an upshift.

[0059] When it is determined that the predicted speed limit arrival time T_arrival is less than or equal to the predicted arrival time A predetermined for each virtual gear, the virtual engine angular acceleration is greater than 0 (zero), and the electric vehicle is in a driving state in which an upshift is not performed in the manual shift mode of the virtual shift system, the controller 10 is configured to control the shift indicator 22 to operate in a flashing mode. When the shift indicator 22 is controlled to operate in the flashing mode, the light emitting device 24 of the shift indicator 22 or the light emitting device 24 determined as a target to be lit among the light emitting devices 24 operates in the flashing mode.

[0060] That is, when the predicted speed limit arrival time T_arrival is less than or equal to the predicted arrival time A and the virtual engine speed increases in the driving state without performing an upshift, the controller 10 operates the shift indicator 22 in a flashing mode, thereby being able to notify the driver that the electric vehicle has reached the appropriate time to perform an upshift.

[0061] Furthermore, when the shift indicator 22 is operated in the flashing mode, if the driver's shift operation is not performed and the virtual engine speed further increases, the number of objects lit in the light emitting element 24 may increase. In this case, as the virtual engine speed increases, a greater number of light emitting elements 24 may be operated in the flashing mode, thereby being able to visually notify the driver that the virtual engine speed is gradually approaching the virtual limit speed.

[0062] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the predicted arrival time A is set differently for each virtual gear. This is because the lower the gear in the internal combustion engine vehicle, the greater the gear ratio, and the faster the engine speed changes according to the vehicle speed.

[0063] In order to realize the shifting characteristics of an internal combustion engine vehicle, the virtual shifting system of an electric vehicle increases the rate of change of the virtual engine speed according to the vehicle speed as the current virtual gear decreases, thereby differently determining the predicted arrival time A of each virtual gear.

[0064] The predicted arrival time A can become relatively shorter as the current virtual gear position increases. This is because, in the case of a general internal combustion engine vehicle, as the drive gear (D) position changes from high to low, the transmission ratio increases, and as the drive gear (D) position changes from low to high, the transmission ratio decreases. Based on the same engine power, the engine speed changes according to the transmission ratio of each drive gear (D) position, and the larger the transmission ratio, the greater the displacement of the engine speed according to the vehicle speed. Therefore, the lower the drive gear (D) position, the longer the predicted arrival time A.

[0065] In addition, when the virtual gear position is the neutral (N) position or the parking (P) position, the predicted arrival time A can be set to a larger time value than the predicted arrival time A set for each drive (D) position except the first gear position. This is because, in an internal combustion engine vehicle, when the shift position is in the neutral (N) position or the parking (P) position, the engine is in an unloaded state, and therefore, the engine speed increases rapidly in proportion to the opening of the accelerator pedal compared to the case where the shift position is in the drive (D) position. In an internal combustion engine vehicle, when the shift position is in the neutral (N) position or the parking (P) position, the power transmission between the engine and the wheels is interrupted, and the engine power is only used to increase the engine speed, and therefore, the engine speed increases relatively quickly. Therefore, since the displacement of the engine speed is larger, the predicted arrival time A should be set to a larger value to predict the change in the engine speed.

[0066] As an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the predicted arrival time A of each virtual gear may be shown in Table 1 below.

[0067] [Table 1]

[0068]

[0069] In addition, it is possible to determine whether the vehicle is in a driving state where upshifting is not performed based on the real-time vehicle speed and the opening of the accelerator pedal. For example, when the real-time vehicle speed is greater than or equal to the predetermined vehicle speed and the opening of the accelerator pedal is greater than or equal to the predetermined opening, it can be determined that the electric vehicle is in a driving state where upshifting can be performed. In addition, when the real-time vehicle speed is less than the predetermined vehicle speed and the opening of the accelerator pedal is less than the predetermined opening, it can be determined that the electric vehicle is in a driving state where upshifting is not performed.

[0070] Meanwhile, even when the shift indicator 22 is operated in the flashing mode, the predicted vehicle speed limit arrival time T_arrival may be changed according to the virtual engine speed, etc. That is, when the shift indicator 22 is operated in the flashing mode, if the virtual engine speed gradually decreases, the predicted speed limit arrival time T_arrival may increase. For example, when the shift indicator 22 is operated in the flashing mode, if the operation of the accelerator pedal is released and the vehicle coasts, the virtual engine speed decreases.

[0071] Therefore, the controller 100 is configured to calculate and determine the predicted limited speed arrival time T_arrival even when the shift indicator 22 is operated in the flashing mode, and compare the determined predicted limited speed arrival time T_arrival with the flashing mode release time A+B obtained by adding the predicted arrival time A and the margin time B. When the predicted limited speed arrival time T_arrival is greater than or equal to the flashing mode release time A+B, the controller 10 releases the flashing mode of the shift indicator 22. When the predicted limited speed arrival time T_arrival is less than the flashing mode release time A+B, the controller 10 maintains the flashing mode of the shift indicator 22. The margin time B is set as the margin time of the predicted arrival time A for each virtual gear.

[0072] The present invention can provide the driver with a notice of the manual shifting timing by operating the shift indicator 22 in a flashing mode when the virtual shifting system of the electric vehicle enters the manual shifting mode, and help the driver to shift gears at the appropriate timing. Therefore, the driver can drive more sportily and drive to maximize the power performance, and the present invention can be effectively used during extreme driving such as track driving.

[0073] In addition, the present invention allows the driver to visually recognize that the virtual engine speed is gradually approaching the virtual limit speed through the control of the shift indicator 22, so the driver can be induced to shift gears before the virtual engine speed reaches the virtual limit speed, thereby preventing the motor power interruption caused by the virtual engine speed reaching the virtual limit speed.

[0074] Figure 3 is a flow chart showing a method for guiding a vehicle shift timing according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The method will be based on Figure 3 Describe in more detail.

[0075] like Figure 3 As shown, when the virtual shift system is activated, the controller 10 is configured to determine whether the virtual shift system enters the manual shift mode ( S100 ).

[0076] When the virtual shift system enters the manual shift mode and the virtual engine speed increases, the controller 10 compares the virtual engine speed with the rising engine speed determined for each virtual gear (S110). When the virtual engine speed is greater than or equal to the rising engine speed, the number of objects lit in the light-emitting element 24 of the shift indicator 22 increases by one (S112). When the virtual engine speed is less than the rising engine speed, the number of objects lit in the light-emitting element 24 of the shift indicator 22 does not increase.

[0077] In addition, when the virtual engine speed decreases, the controller 10 compares the virtual engine speed with the downshift engine speed determined for each virtual gear (S120). When the virtual engine speed is less than or equal to the downshift engine speed, the number of objects lit in the light emitting element 24 of the shift indicator 22 is reduced by one (S122). When the virtual engine speed exceeds the downshift engine speed, the number of objects lit in the light emitting element 24 of the shift indicator 22 is not reduced.

[0078] When the virtual engine speed increases and reaches the determined rising engine speed, the corresponding light emitting elements 24 of the shift indicator 22 in a predetermined order may be lit. That is, each time the virtual engine speed reaches the rising engine speed set to a value higher than the virtual engine speed, the number of lit targets in the light emitting elements 24 of the shift indicator 22 increases by one.

[0079] That is, when the virtual engine speed gradually increases and reaches a predetermined rising engine speed set to a value higher than the virtual engine speed, the light emitting elements 24 corresponding to the first order among the light emitting elements 24 of the shift indicator 22 may light up.

[0080] Furthermore, when the virtual engine speed gradually decreases and reaches the determined descending engine speed, the corresponding light emitting elements 24 of the shift indicator 22 in a predetermined order may be turned off. That is, each time the virtual engine speed reaches the descending engine speed set to a value lower than the virtual engine speed, the number of lit targets in the light emitting elements 24 of the shift indicator 22 decreases by one.

[0081] When the number of illuminated targets gradually increases and all of the light emitting elements 24 are operated in the flashing mode, the shift indicator 22 can warn the driver that the virtual engine speed will reach the virtual limit speed in a short time.

[0082] Thereafter, in operation S130 , the controller 10 is configured to calculate and determine a predicted limit speed arrival time T_arrival based on the virtual engine speed and the like.

[0083] Thereafter, the controller 10 is configured to determine whether the determined predicted speed limit arrival time T_arrival, the virtual engine angular acceleration, and the driving state meet predetermined conditions, respectively (S140). When the predicted speed limit arrival time T_arrival is less than or equal to the predicted arrival time A predetermined for each virtual gear, the virtual engine angular acceleration is greater than 0 (zero), and the electric vehicle is in a driving state in which an upshift is not performed in the manual shift mode, the controller 10 is configured to control the shift indicator 22 to operate in a flashing mode (S150).

[0084] On the other hand, when any one of the determined predicted limit speed arrival time T_arrival, the virtual engine angular acceleration, and the driving state does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the controller 10 may not control the shift indicator 22 to the blinking mode and may re-execute operation S100.

[0085] That is, when the predicted speed limit arrival time T_arrival exceeds the predicted arrival time A, or the virtual engine angular acceleration is less than or equal to 0 (zero), or the electric vehicle is in a driving state in which an upshift is performed in the manual shift mode, the controller 10 does not operate the shift indicator 22 in the flashing mode. Here, the light emitting element 24 or the light emitting element 24 included in the illuminated target may be illuminated but not operated in the flashing mode.

[0086] Even when the shift indicator 22 is operating in the flashing mode, the controller 10 monitors the predicted speed limit arrival time T_arrival in real time. The predicted speed limit arrival time T_arrival determined in real time is compared with the flashing mode release time A+B obtained by adding the predicted arrival time A and the margin time B (S160). When the predicted speed limit arrival time T_arrival is less than the flashing mode release time A+B, the controller 10 maintains the flashing mode of the shift indicator 22, and when the predicted speed limit arrival time T_arrival is greater than or equal to the flashing mode release time A+B, the controller 10 releases the flashing mode of the shift indicator 22 (S170). The predicted arrival time A and the margin time B are predetermined time values ​​for each virtual gear.

[0087] Even when the shift indicator 22 is operated in the flashing mode, the virtual engine speed can be reduced, and therefore, when the predicted speed limit arrival time T_arrival is extended, the manual shift timing can be postponed. Therefore, even when the shift indicator 22 is operated in the flashing mode, the controller 10 can prevent unnecessary flashing of the shift indicator 22 by monitoring the predicted speed limit arrival time T_arrival.

[0088] Meanwhile, the shift indicator control method of the present invention described above can also be applied to internal combustion engine vehicles. However, when the present control method is applied to internal combustion engine vehicles, actual values ​​are used instead of virtual values. For example, the actual engine speed can be applied instead of the virtual engine speed, and the actual speed limit can be applied instead of the virtual speed limit.

[0089] As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides the following effects.

[0090] First, information related to the virtual engine speed and the virtual gear position is displayed on the dashboard inside the electric vehicle, and information related to the manual shift timing is displayed through the shift indicator on the dashboard, which can guide the driver to the appropriate shift timing in the manual shift mode, thereby enabling the driver to drive more sportily and providing the driver with driving pleasure.

[0091] Second, as the virtual engine speed approaches the virtual speed limit, the number of objects lit in the light-emitting element of the shift indicator increases, thereby allowing the driver to visually recognize how close the virtual engine speed is to the virtual speed limit. Therefore, a notification that the virtual engine speed is approaching the virtual speed limit can be provided to the driver before the virtual engine speed reaches the virtual speed limit, and a power interruption of the vehicle drive motor due to the virtual engine speed reaching the virtual speed limit can be prevented by inducing the driver to shift gears.

[0092] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above effects, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand other effects not mentioned herein through the above description.

[0093] In addition, terms related to the control device (such as "controller", "control device", "control unit", "control device", "control module", "control circuit", or "server", etc.) refer to a hardware device including a memory and a processor, and the processor is configured to execute one or more steps interpreted as an algorithm structure. The memory stores the algorithm steps, and the processor executes the algorithm steps to perform one or more processes of the method according to each exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The control device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be implemented by a non-volatile memory and a processor, the non-volatile memory is configured to store an algorithm for controlling the operation of each component of the vehicle or data about software instructions for executing the algorithm, and the processor is configured to use the data stored in the memory to perform the operations as described above. The memory and the processor can be separate chips. Alternatively, the memory and the processor can be integrated in a single chip. The processor can be implemented as one or more processors. The processor may include various logic circuits and AND operation circuits, can be configured to process data according to a program provided from the memory, and can be configured to generate a control signal according to the processing result.

[0094] The control device may be at least one microprocessor operated by a predetermined program, and the predetermined program may include a series of instructions for executing the methods included in the aforementioned various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0095] The above invention can also be implemented as a computer-readable code on a computer-readable recording medium. A computer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data that can be subsequently read by a computer system and store and execute program instructions that can subsequently be read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable recording media include hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state disks (SSDs), silicon disk drives (SDDs), read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, and the like, as well as implementations as carrier waves (e.g., transmissions over the Internet). Examples of program instructions include machine language codes such as those generated by a compiler, and high-level language codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter, etc.

[0096] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, each of the above-described operations may be performed by a control device, and the control device may be configured by a plurality of control devices or an integrated single control device.

[0097] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the memory and the processor may be provided as one chip, or provided as separate chips.

[0098] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the scope of the present invention includes software or machine-executable instructions (e.g., operating systems, applications, firmware, programs, etc.) for enabling operations of methods according to various embodiments to be performed on a device or computer, including non-transitory computer-readable media on which such software or instructions are stored and can be executed on a device or computer.

[0099] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the control device may be implemented in the form of hardware or software, or may be implemented in a combination of hardware and software.

[0100] Furthermore, terms such as “unit”, “module” and the like included in the specification mean a unit for performing at least one function or operation, and the unit may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination thereof.

[0101] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle may be referred to as a concept based on various means of transport. In some cases, a vehicle may be interpreted as a concept based on various land vehicles (e.g., cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses) that not only travel on roads, but also various means of transport such as airplanes, drones, ships, etc.

[0102] For convenience of explanation and precise definition of the appended claims, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "above", "below", "upward", "downward", "front", "rear", "back", "inside", "outside", "inwardly", "outwardly", "inner", "external", "inside", "outside", "forward" and "rearward" are used to describe the features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as shown in the accompanying drawings. It will be further understood that the term "connect" or its derivatives refer to both direct and indirect connections.

[0103] The term "and / or" may include a combination of a plurality of related enumerated items or any one of a plurality of related enumerated items. For example, "A and / or B" includes all three situations such as "A", "B" and "A and B".

[0104] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, “at least one of A and B” may refer to “at least one of A or B” or “at least one of a combination of at least one of A and B”. Furthermore, “one or more of A and B” may refer to “one or more of A or B” or “one or more of a combination of one or more of A and B”.

[0105] In this specification, a singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0106] In the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that terms such as "include" or "have" are intended to indicate the presence of features, values, steps, operations, elements, parts, or a combination thereof described in the specification, and do not exclude the possibility of adding or existing one or more other features, values, steps, operations, elements, parts, or a combination thereof.

[0107] According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, components may be combined with each other to be implemented as one, or some components may be omitted.

[0108] Hereinafter, hardware being operably coupled may include direct and / or indirect connections between hardware being established in a wired and / or wireless manner.

[0109] The foregoing description of the specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention is for the purpose of illustration and description. The description is not intended to be exhaustive or limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed, and it is apparent that many modifications and changes can be made according to the above teachings. Exemplary embodiments are selected and described to explain the specific principles of the present invention and its practical application, so that other technical personnel in the art can realize and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention and various alternative forms and modified forms thereof. The scope of the present invention is intended to be limited by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for guiding a vehicle shift timing, the method comprising: determining, by the controller, a virtual engine speed of the electric vehicle; The controller determines a predicted speed limit arrival time required for the determined virtual engine speed to reach a predetermined virtual speed limit; controlling operation of a shift indicator configured to guide a manual shift timing based on the determined virtual engine speed and the predicted limit speed arrival time by a controller, the controller being operatively connected to the shift indicator; The shift indicator is operated by the controller to provide the driver with shift timing information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The shift indicator includes a light emitting element provided on a dashboard inside the electric vehicle and arranged in a predetermined shape, When providing the driver with gear shift timing information, the controller is configured as follows: determining a target to be lit in the light emitting element based on the virtual engine speed; determining whether a target lit in the light emitting element is flashing based on the predicted speed limit arrival time; Based on the determined lit target and whether the lit target is blinking, a control signal that controls the operation of the shift indicator is output.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein: The controller is further configured to increase the number of illuminated targets in the light emitting element by one each time the virtual engine speed increases and reaches a predetermined rising engine speed.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein: The controller is further configured to reduce the number of illuminated targets in the light emitting element by one each time the virtual engine speed decreases and reaches a predetermined reduced engine speed.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is further configured to determine a virtual engine speed based on an average wheel speed of the electric vehicle, a tire dynamic radius, and a virtual gear ratio determined according to the virtual gear position.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is further configured to determine a predicted speed limit reaching time based on a virtual engine speed, a virtual speed limit, and a virtual engine angular acceleration.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein: In response to the predicted speed limit arrival time being less than or equal to the predicted arrival time predetermined for each virtual gear, the virtual engine angular acceleration being greater than 0, and the electric vehicle being in a driving state in which no upshift is performed in the manual shift mode, the controller is further configured to control the shift indicator to operate in a flashing mode.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein: In response to the shift indicator being controlled to operate in the blinking mode, the illuminated object in the light emitting element of the shift indicator operates in the blinking mode.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein: The controller is further configured to determine whether the electric vehicle is in a driving state in which an upshift is not performed in the manual shift mode based on the vehicle speed and the opening degree of the accelerator pedal.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein: In response to the predicted speed limit arrival time being greater than the predicted arrival time, or the virtual engine angular acceleration being less than or equal to 0, or the electric vehicle being in a driving state in which an upshift is performed in a manual shift mode, the controller is further configured to not operate the shift indicator in a flashing mode.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein: The controller is further configured to: determine the predicted speed limit arrival time even when the shift indicator is operated in the flashing mode; release the flashing mode of the shift indicator in response to the determined predicted speed limit arrival time being greater than or equal to a predetermined flashing mode release time; The flashing mode release time is determined as a value obtained by adding a predicted arrival time predetermined for each virtual gear position to a predetermined margin time.

12. A device for guiding a vehicle to shift gears, the device comprising: a shift indicator configured to guide manual shift timing; a processor operatively connected to the shift indicator; as well as a non-transitory storage medium containing program instructions, Wherein, by executing the program instructions, the processor is configured as follows: determining a virtual engine speed of the electric vehicle; determining a predicted speed limit arrival time required for the determined virtual engine speed to reach a predetermined virtual speed limit; controlling operation of a shift indicator based on the determined virtual engine speed and the predicted time to reach the speed limit; Operate the gear shift indicator to provide the driver with gear shift timing information.

13. The device for guiding vehicle shift timing according to claim 12, wherein: The shift indicator includes a light emitting element provided on a dashboard inside the electric vehicle and arranged in a predetermined shape, When providing the driver with gear shift timing information, the processor is configured as follows: determining a target to be lit in the light emitting element based on the virtual engine speed; determining whether a target lit in the light emitting element is flashing based on the predicted speed limit arrival time; Based on the determined lit target and whether the lit target is blinking, a control signal that controls the operation of the shift indicator is output.

14. The device for guiding vehicle shift timing according to claim 13, wherein: Whenever the virtual engine speed increases and reaches a predetermined rising engine speed, the processor is further configured to increase the number of illuminated targets in the light emitting element by one; Each time the virtual engine speed decreases and reaches a predetermined decreasing engine speed, the processor is further configured to reduce the number of illuminated targets in the light emitting element by one.

15. The device for guiding vehicle shift timing according to claim 12, wherein: The processor is further configured to determine a virtual engine speed based on an average wheel speed of the electric vehicle, a tire dynamic radius, and a virtual gear ratio determined according to the virtual gear position.

16. The device for guiding vehicle shift timing according to claim 12, wherein: The processor is further configured to determine a predicted speed limit arrival time based on a virtual engine speed, a virtual speed limit, and a virtual engine angular acceleration.

17. The device for guiding vehicle shift timing according to claim 13, wherein: In response to the predicted speed limit arrival time being less than or equal to the predicted arrival time predetermined for each virtual gear, the virtual engine angular acceleration being greater than 0, and the electric vehicle being in a driving state in which no upshift is performed in the manual shift mode, the processor is further configured to control the shift indicator to operate in a flashing mode. 18 . The apparatus for guiding a vehicle shift timing according to claim 17 , wherein in response to the shift indicator being controlled to operate in a blinking mode, the lighted target in the light emitting element of the shift indicator operates in a blinking mode.

19. The device for guiding vehicle shift timing according to claim 17, wherein: The processor is further configured to determine whether the electric vehicle is in a driving state in which an upshift is not performed in the manual shift mode based on the vehicle speed and the opening degree of the accelerator pedal.

20. The device for guiding vehicle shift timing according to claim 17, wherein: The processor is further configured to: determine the predicted speed limit arrival time even when the shift indicator is operating in the flashing mode; release the flashing mode of the shift indicator in response to the determined predicted speed limit arrival time being greater than or equal to a predetermined flashing mode release time; The flashing mode release time is determined as a value obtained by adding a predicted arrival time predetermined for each virtual gear position to a predetermined margin time.

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