Vehicle control device, vehicle control system, control method, and program

Abstract

This control device is provided with a storage unit (32), an input unit (84), and control units (84, 99). The storage unit stores, for each equipment, column position information and row position information indicating positions in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction of the vehicle as position information indicating mounting positions of the plurality of equipment. The input unit accepts a control request for equipment specified by identification information capable of specifying a sequence of the front-rear direction and the left-right direction of the vehicle or other in-vehicle components associated with the equipment. The control unit determines, on the basis of the identification information included in the control request and the position information stored in the storage unit, the equipment or the other in-vehicle component corresponding to the control request as a control target, and performs control.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] The present international application claims the priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-166149 filed with the Japan Patent Office on October 17, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a control device, a vehicle control system, a control method, and a program for a vehicle. Background Art

[0004] Patent document 1 describes a control device that can remotely operate vehicle equipment such as a power seat using a remote controller. In the control device, a code that can identify the equipment to be controlled is assigned to an operation signal sent from the remote controller. When the control device receives an operation signal from the remote controller, it determines the equipment to be controlled based on the code assigned to the operation signal, and controls the determined equipment according to the operation signal.

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-162303

[0006] In the above control device, since the equipment to be controlled according to the operation signal is determined by the equipment-specific code, the equipment code cannot be commonly used between vehicles having different numbers and arrangements of equipment to be controlled.

[0007] Therefore, in the input unit such as the remote controller, a program as application software for generating control requests such as operation signals needs to be created for each vehicle having the same number and configuration of equipment. Therefore, in the vehicle equipped with the above control device, there is a problem that the management of the program assembled in the input unit becomes complicated. Summary of the invention

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure aims to provide a vehicle control device capable of using a program for specifying one of a plurality of devices mounted on a vehicle and generating a control request in common among vehicles having different numbers and arrangements of devices.

[0009] A vehicle control device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a storage unit (32), an input unit (84), and a control unit (84, 99).

[0010] The storage unit stores, for each of the plurality of devices, column position information indicating a position in a front-rear direction of the vehicle and row position information indicating a position in a left-right direction of the vehicle as position information indicating a mounting position of the plurality of devices on the vehicle.

[0011] The input unit receives a control request for equipment specified by identification information or other vehicle-mounted components associated with the equipment, wherein the identification information can identify a front-rear sequence indicating a sequence in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and a left-right sequence indicating a sequence in the left-right direction.

[0012] The control unit determines the equipment corresponding to the control request or other vehicle-mounted components associated with the equipment as a controlled object based on the identification information included in the control request and the position information stored in the storage unit, and implements control on the controlled object.

[0013] That is, in the control device of the present invention, as information for identifying one of multiple devices mounted on the vehicle, the code of each device is not used, but position information consisting of column position information indicating the position in the front-to-back direction of the vehicle and lateral position information indicating the lateral position of the vehicle is used.

[0014] The control unit determines the equipment or vehicle-mounted component to be controlled as a controlled object based on the identification information included in the control request from the input unit and the position information stored in the storage unit, and performs control corresponding to the control request.

[0015] Therefore, even when the number and arrangement of equipment mounted on the vehicle are different, the control unit can identify the equipment or vehicle-mounted component to be controlled based on the identification information included in the control request received by the input unit.

[0016] Therefore, according to the control device of the present disclosure, even if the program for generating the control request accepted by the input unit is shared between vehicles having different numbers and arrangements of equipment, the equipment or vehicle-mounted components to be controlled by the control unit can be appropriately specified. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a block diagram showing the overall structure of a vehicle control system according to an embodiment.

[0018] Figure 2 This is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of seats in a vehicle cabin and position information of each seat.

[0019] Figure 3 This is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method for setting seat position information.

[0020] Figure 4 This is an explanatory diagram for explaining a problem that occurs when row position information of seats is set sequentially from the left side of the vehicle.

[0021] Figure 5 It is an explanatory diagram showing the installation state of the electric seat constituting the seat.

[0022] Figure 6This is an explanatory diagram showing management data including seat position information.

[0023] Figure 7 This is an explanatory diagram for explaining the spatial coordinates of seats.

[0024] Figure 8 This is an explanatory diagram for explaining a problem that occurs when seats move in a vehicle in which row position information of seats is set sequentially from the left side of the vehicle.

[0025] Fig. 9 This is a flowchart showing the control operation of the vehicle body system control unit.

[0026] Fig.10 This is a flowchart showing the updating operation of management data.

[0027] Fig.11 This is an explanatory diagram for explaining a modified example of the method of setting position information. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0029] [structure]

[0030] Figure 1 Most of the structure of the vehicle control system 1 shown is installed in a vehicle such as a passenger car, and includes a plurality of ECUs 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 41 to 48 (hereinafter, a plurality of ECUs 10, etc.). The vehicle control system 1 may also include a central device (hereinafter, a central device) 35 outside the vehicle.

[0031] The center 35 is configured as a server capable of providing functions to the vehicle. For example, the center 35 can provide functions related to autonomous driving and the like to the vehicle.

[0032] The plurality of ECUs 10 and the center 35 are respectively configured with a well-known microcomputer including CPU 11, CPU 16, CPU 21, CPU 26, CPU 31, CPU 36 (hereinafter referred to as CPU 11 to 36), RAM, ROM, semiconductor memory 12, semiconductor memory 17, semiconductor memory 22, semiconductor memory 27, semiconductor memory 32, semiconductor memory 37 (hereinafter referred to as memory 12 to 37) such as a flash memory as the center. In addition, ECU 41 to 48 also have a CPU and a memory, but they are omitted from the figure. In addition, ECU means an electronic control unit.

[0033] The plurality of ECUs 10 and the center 35 are configured to control the controlled objects mounted on the vehicle. The controlled objects are, for example, various equipment such as engines, brakes, motors, various lights, display devices, air conditioners, electric seats, speakers, generators, etc. In addition, the controlled objects are omitted from the illustration.

[0034] The controlled objects are independently controlled by ECU41 to 48 as working control devices. ECU41 to 48 include ECUF41 with a camera control unit 91, ECUG42 with a millimeter wave control unit 92, ECUH43 with a brake control unit 93, and ECUI44 with a steering control unit 94. In addition, ECUJ45 with a display control unit 95, ECUK46 with a sound control unit 96, ECUL47 with an HVAC control unit 98, and ECUM48 with a seat control unit 99 are included.

[0035] Each control unit 91 to 99 has an operation control program for operating the controlled object. The camera control unit 91 acquires images captured by the vehicle-mounted camera and controls exposure of the vehicle-mounted camera, etc. The millimeter wave control unit 92 controls the millimeter wave radar installed in the vehicle and acquires detection results obtained by the millimeter wave radar.

[0036] The brake control unit 93 controls the brakes. The steering control unit 94 controls the steering. The display control unit 95 controls displays such as meters and warning lights. The sound control unit 96 controls sounds such as alarm sounds and voices emitted from speakers. The light control unit 97 controls various lights installed in the vehicle. In addition, the light control unit 97 is arranged in the ECU 30.

[0037] The HVAC control unit 98 controls the vehicle air conditioner. HVAC is an abbreviation of Heating Ventilation and Air-Conditioning. The seat control unit 99 controls the electric seats constituting the plurality of seats of the vehicle.

[0038] The various functions of the multiple ECUs 10 and the center 35 are realized by the CPUs 11 to 31 executing the programs stored in the non-transitional physical recording medium. In this example, the memories 12 to 32 are equivalent to the non-transitional physical recording medium storing the programs. In addition, by executing the program, the method corresponding to the program is executed. In addition, the so-called non-transitional physical recording medium means the electromagnetic waves excluding the recording medium. In addition, the number of microcomputers constituting the multiple ECUs 10 and the center 35 can be one or more.

[0039] ECUA10 among the plurality of ECUs 10 realizes functions as vehicle API 71 and motion system equipment control unit 82 by application software (hereinafter, application) 61 and 62. ECUB15 realizes predetermined functions by application 63. Center 35 realizes predetermined functions by application 64.

[0040] Applications 61 to 64 are programs for providing services to vehicle users. Applications 61 to 64 indirectly send commands to controlled objects and provide useful functions to users by operating the controlled objects. These applications 61 to 64 can be installed in ECU A 10, ECU B 15, or center 35.

[0041] More specifically, the applications 61 to 64 are configured to generate a first instruction that does not specify the control units 91 to 99 described later, to the vehicle API 71. In addition, the "instruction" includes commands such as action requests, instructions with parameters, function calls, etc., among the data used in the vehicle API 71. The "instruction" may also include information indicating the priority of which instruction should be processed first.

[0042] Applications 61 to 64 are not programs specifically made for vehicle models, grades, etc., but are general programs that can handle multiple vehicle models, grades, etc. Therefore, applications 61 to 64 cannot determine how the vehicle on which they are installed controls the controlled object. Therefore, applications 61 to 64 output the control amount of the specific controlled object, in other words, do not specify the instructions of the control units 91 to 99 used by the vehicle API 71. On the other hand, applications 61 to 64 generate the desired abstract work content and output it as an instruction.

[0043] Furthermore, the applications 61 to 64 may not include which lamp is to be turned on in the operation content, such as turning on the full lamp mode, or may include which lamp is to be turned on in the operation content, such as turning on the ○○ lamp.

[0044] Hereinafter, at least one application among the applications 61 to 64 will also be referred to as a service application 6 .

[0045] The vehicle API 71 is different from the applications 61 to 64 and is a program specially made for the vehicle model, grade, etc. That is, the vehicle API 71 is a program that absorbs the differences in vehicle models, grades, etc. so that the applications 61 to 64 do not need to be aware of the differences in vehicle models, grades, etc. The vehicle API 71 is a program that functions as an API for matching the instructions processed in the applications 61 to 64 and the instructions processed in the state management unit 8 and the equipment management unit 9 described later. In addition, API is an abbreviation of Application Programming Interface.

[0046] The vehicle API 71 is mounted on the ECU A 10 . The vehicle API 71 receives instructions from the ECU A 10 as itself, the ECU B 15 as another ECU, and a plurality of applications 61 to 64 mounted on the center 35 .

[0047] Hereinafter, at least one of the vehicle APIs 71 will also be referred to as the vehicle service unit 7. In addition, a plurality of vehicle APIs may be arranged in the vehicle service unit 7.

[0048] Here, the ECUC 20 implements the function as a state recognition unit 81. The ECUD 25 implements the function as an HMI system state recognition unit 83. The ECUE 30 implements the function as a body system control unit 84. Hereinafter, at least one of the state recognition unit 81, the motion system equipment control unit 82, the HMI system state recognition unit 83, and the body system control unit 84 is also referred to as the state management unit 8.

[0049] The state management unit 8 is one of the programs for controlling the controlled object. For example, the state management unit 8 calculates the workload of the actuator as the controlled object, and sends the instruction containing the workload to various control units 91 to 99. In other words, the state management unit 8 has the function of generating a second instruction that embodies the first instruction if an abstract first instruction is input. In addition, the vehicle service unit 7 may also have the function of generating a second instruction that embodies the first instruction. The state management unit 8 may also be set for each functional domain and have a mediation function for the actuators in each domain.

[0050] The state management unit 8 is also a program for sending data obtained from sensors and the like to the service application 6. In other words, the state management unit 8 realizes the function of "data collection" and the function of "control instruction". In the function of data collection, the sensor data obtained from the equipment management unit 9 (each control unit 91 to 99 described later) is converted into a form suitable for the vehicle service unit 7, and the converted data is transmitted to the vehicle service unit 7. In the function of control instruction, the drive instruction from the vehicle service unit 7 is assigned to the equipment management unit 9.

[0051] The state management unit 8 can be mounted on the same ECUA10 as the vehicle API71, or on another ECU such as ECUC20, ECUD25 or ECUE30. The state recognition unit 81, the motion system equipment control unit 82, the HMI system state recognition unit 83 and the body system control unit 84 as the state management unit 8 can all be mounted on the same ECUA10 as the vehicle API71, or can be dispersed and mounted on respective ECUs in unified domains.

[0052] In the state recognition function, the function of classifying the independent raw sensor data obtained by the equipment management unit 9 from the vehicle sensor into data classified according to the sensing detection object that is easy to use by the service application 6 is realized. In addition, the function of integrating the data, converting it into information with a higher degree of abstraction, and transmitting it to the vehicle service unit 7 is realized.

[0053] For example, in the state recognition function, each control unit 91 to 99 constituting the equipment management unit 9 obtains separate information such as the vehicle speed 0 km / h, the shift position P, and the absence of a driver in the vehicle, and outputs the meaning that the vehicle is in the parking state based on this information. This information is further transmitted to the service application 6 via the vehicle service unit 7.

[0054] For example, when the service application 6 issues a request for a vehicle finder, the vehicle service unit 7 may respond to the service application 6 by summarizing the responses to the control requests for the lights and the horn, that is, the ACK from the lights and the ACK from the horn, into one action result. The vehicle finder is a function that notifies the user of the location of a vehicle in a parking lot or the like in an easily understandable manner.

[0055] In the equipment control function, the optimal control units 91 to 99 (e.g., engine, steering, shift, door, window, air conditioner, etc.) in the equipment management unit 9 are selected to realize the vehicle action request from the service application 6. Furthermore, the data is converted into a format that can be accepted by each control unit 91 to 99 and distributed in consideration of the order in which the data is sent.

[0056] For example, if the vehicle action request is "turn the vehicle to the left at R200m and accelerate at 0.3G", the equipment control function outputs "required engine output 1000Nm, required steering output -0.1rad".

[0057] For example, the vehicle action request is "move to parking state". In this case, in the equipment control function, "request to set the gear to P, request to turn off the air conditioner, request to close all windows, and if the above requests are completed and there is no occupant, request to move the doors to the locked parking state" is output.

[0058] The state management unit 8 is divided into a plurality of programs for each type of vehicle action corresponding to the type of the first instruction. The types of vehicle actions include, for example, a driving system such as turning, driving, and stopping of the vehicle, an HMI system related to information prompts to the user, and a body system related to a state change of the vehicle body. In this way, the state management unit 8 sets each management function 81 to 84 according to the type of domain, and each program of the management function is stored in the memory 22 of the ECUC20 as a domain control unit, the memory 27 of the ECUD25, the memory 32 of the ECUE30, or the memory 12 of the ECUA10 as a central unit.

[0059] In other words, the state management unit 8 does not classify by implementation units that are likely to depend on vehicle changes (for example, the control units 91 to 99 ), but classifies by vehicle actions that are likely to be requested by the service application 6 .

[0060] The state recognition unit 81 acquires information from the camera control unit 91 and the millimeter wave control unit 92 , converts the information into information on the positions of vehicles and pedestrians, and outputs the information to the vehicle service unit 7 .

[0061] The motion system equipment control unit 82 converts the operation request of the vehicle into control variables of the brake control unit 93 and the steering control unit 94 and outputs the control variables.

[0062] The HMI system state recognition unit 83 receives a command such as an alarm, determines whether to issue a notification using the display control unit 95 and the sound control unit 96, and outputs a control amount.

[0063] The body system control unit 84 receives a command related to the vehicle environment, for example, determines whether to operate any one of the light control unit 97 , the HVAC control unit 98 , the seat control unit 99 , etc., converts it into an appropriate command, and outputs it.

[0064] As described above, the architecture within the vehicle network is configured such that the first layer is the equipment management unit 9 , the second layer is the state management unit 8 , the third layer is the vehicle service unit 7 , and the fourth layer is the service application 6 .

[0065] Furthermore, various equipment as controlled objects mounted on the vehicle are driven and controlled by the equipment management unit 9. In addition, the equipment management unit 9 drives and controls various equipment according to instructions from the state management unit 8. In addition, the vehicle service unit 7 determines the equipment to be controlled according to the vehicle action request input from the service application 6, and outputs a control request for the equipment to the state management unit 8.

[0066] In the vehicle control system 1 configured as above, the function as the control device of the present disclosure is realized by the ECUE 30 having the body system control unit 84 in the state management unit 8 and the ECUM 48 having the seat control unit 99 in the equipment management unit 9 .

[0067] Therefore, next, a configuration for realizing the function as the control device of the present disclosure in the ECUE 30 and the ECUM 48 will be described.

[0068] [Functional structure as a control device]

[0069] like Figure 2 As shown, in the vehicle A of the present embodiment, left and right seats 50 and seat 51 are arranged in the front of the vehicle compartment, and left and right and center seats 52 to 54 are arranged in the rear of the vehicle compartment.

[0070] Position information indicating the position of the seat in the vehicle cabin is set for each of the five seats 50 to 54. The position information is composed of column position information indicating the position of the vehicle A in the front-rear direction and row position information indicating the position of the vehicle A in the left-right direction.

[0071] like Figure 3 As shown, the column position information takes the front row of seats in the front of the vehicle as the first row, and sets them as Row1, Row2, ... in sequence from the front to the rear of the vehicle; the row position information takes the seats on the left and right window sides of the vehicle as the first, and sets them in the order of seat arrangement toward the inside of the vehicle.

[0072] That is, for seats arranged on the left side of the center in the left-right direction of the vehicle, the row position information is set to Left1, Left2, ... in sequence from the left outer side of the vehicle. Also, for seats arranged on the right side of the center in the left-right direction of the vehicle, the row position information is set to Right1, Right2, ... in sequence from the right outer side of the vehicle. Also, for seats located in the center in the left-right direction of the vehicle, the row position information is set to Center.

[0073] Therefore, in the vehicle A of the present embodiment, for example, the position information of the seat 50 on the right window side of the front row is "Row 1, Right 1", and the position information of the seat 54 in the rear center is "Row 2, Center".

[0074] In addition, the terms Row for column positions and Left, Right, and Center for row positions are recorded to explain the method of setting seat positions in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. In the position information actually used, reference numerals that can identify column positions and row positions are used. Figure 3 In the vehicles A and C, for the seats located in the center of the left and right directions of the vehicles, the seats can also be Fig.11 As shown in the example of seat 503, the row position information is set to "Left2&Right2".

[0075] In addition, in other vehicles having a different number and arrangement of seats from the vehicle A, such a method of setting the position information is also similarly adopted.

[0076] Therefore, in the case of vehicle B, which has two seats in the front row and four seats in the second row, the column position information of the front row seats is Row1, and the row position information is Left1 and Right1 indicating the left and right outer sides, which is the same as vehicle A. In addition, the column position information of the second row seats is Row2, and the row position information indicates that the left and right outer seats are Left1 and Right1, and the left and right inner seats are Left2 and Right2.

[0077] In the case of a vehicle C with three rows of seats, two seats in the first and second rows, and three seats in the third row, the row position information of each seat is Row1, Row2, and Row3 in order from the first row. In addition, the row position information of each seat is Left1 and Right1 for the outer seats on the left and right sides, and Center for the central seat in the third row.

[0078] Here, the row position information is set to understand the configuration order of vehicles A, B, C... from the left and right outer sides so that even if the number and configuration of seats are different, the seat position in the left and right direction of the vehicle can be correctly selected according to the control request.

[0079] That is to say, Figure 4 As shown in the example, when the row position information is set in sequence from the left side to the right side of the vehicle such as Seat1, Seat2, ..., the position of the seat "Row2, Seat2" is different in vehicles D, A, and B having different numbers of seats in the second row.

[0080] Therefore, for example, when the user wants to operate the seat on the right window side of the second row, if a control request to move the seat "Row2, Seat2" is input, in vehicles D, A, and B having different numbers of seats in the second row, seats with different configuration positions are selected as controlled objects.

[0081] Specifically, in vehicle D with two seats in the second row, the seat on the right window side of the second row is selected according to the user's request, but in vehicle A with three seats in the second row, the seat in the middle of the second row is selected. In addition, in vehicle B with three seats in the second row, the seat on the left side of the middle of the second row is selected.

[0082] In this way, if the row position information is set sequentially from the left or right side of the vehicle, the desired seat cannot be selected in a vehicle with different numbers of seats on the left and right sides. However, if the position information is set using the setting method of the present embodiment described above, such a problem can be suppressed.

[0083] Next, the seats 50 to 54 installed in the vehicle A of this embodiment are constituted by electric seats. Figure 5As shown, as is well known, the electric seat can slide in the front-rear direction or adjust the height of the seat surface 50A, the tilt angle of the backrest 50B, the height of the headrest 50C, etc. by an actuator such as an electric motor.

[0084] Furthermore, the seat control unit 99 adjusts the sliding position, seat surface height, tilt angle, headrest position, etc. of the power seats constituting each seat 50 to 54 according to the command from the body system control unit 84 , and outputs these adjustment results to the body system control unit 84 .

[0085] In addition, each seat 50-54 is provided in the vehicle interior via a rotation mechanism 55 that rotatably supports the electric seat. The rotation mechanism 55 is a structure that rotatably supports each seat 50-54 around the central axis in the height direction of the vehicle A, and the user can change the orientation of the seat 50-54 from the front as a reference to the left and right lateral directions via the rotation mechanism 55.

[0086] In addition, a locking mechanism (not shown) is provided on the rotating mechanism 55. The locking mechanism is a structure for locking the seats 50 to 54 so as not to rotate, and the user can rotate the seats 50 to 54 by releasing the lock of the locking mechanism.

[0087] In addition, rails 56 for moving each seat 50 to 54 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction are laid on the floor of the vehicle A. And the rotating mechanism 55 is provided so as to be movable on the rails 56. Figure 2 Like the seat 53 shown in the figure, the position can be changed by moving forward and backward or left and right in the vehicle room. In addition, the orientation can also be changed by rotating.

[0088] The rotation and movement of each seat 50 to 54 by the rotation mechanism 55 and the guide rail 56 are manually performed by the user. Therefore, a position sensor 58 and a rotation sensor 59 for detecting the position and orientation of each seat 50 to 54 are provided in the rotation mechanism 55 or the guide rail 56. Moreover, the detection signals from these sensors 58 and 59 are also input to the seat control unit 99, and are output from the seat control unit 99 to the body system control unit 84.

[0089] Therefore, the body system control unit 84 can grasp the state of each seat 50 to 54 based on the adjustment results of each seat 50 to 54 input from the seat control unit 99, and grasp the position and orientation of each seat 50 to 54 based on the detection results of the position sensor 58 and the rotation sensor 59.

[0090] Furthermore, the rotation and movement of each seat 50 to 54 may be performed by an actuator such as an electric motor instead of a user manually. In this case, since the position and orientation of each seat 50 to 54 change according to the operation of the actuator, these parameters can be obtained from the actuator instead of using a sensor. In addition, the position and orientation of each seat 50 to 54 may be detected based on an image captured by a camera installed in the vehicle interior.

[0091] Next, in the memory 32 of the ECU 30 constituting the vehicle body system control unit 84, management data of each seat 50 to 54 of the vehicle A is stored. The management data includes identification information ID set for each of the seats 50 to 54 mounted on the vehicle A, column position information and row position information of each seat 50 to 54, and spatial coordinates of each seat 50 to 54.

[0092] like Figure 7 As shown, the spatial coordinates are defined by, for example, a vehicle rear axle coordinate system with the middle position of the left and right wheels at the rear of the vehicle as the origin, an axis extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle with the origin as the center is set as the X-axis, an axis extending in the left-right direction is set as the Y-axis, and an axis extending in the up-down direction is set as the Z-axis. In addition, the spatial coordinates in the X-axis direction are equivalent to the column spatial coordinates of the present disclosure, and the spatial coordinates in the Y-axis direction are equivalent to the row spatial coordinates of the present disclosure.

[0093] Furthermore, since the positions of the seats 50 to 54 are adjusted by the operation of the power seats, the management data stores the initial positions serving as a reference and the current positions after the position adjustment as space coordinates.

[0094] In addition, since each seat 50 to 54 can be stored by folding the backrest 50B so that the inclination angle becomes 0 degrees, the management data also stores information indicating whether each seat 50 to 54 is stored. In addition, the management data also stores information such as the inclination angle, slide position, and headrest position of each seat 50 to 54.

[0095] Furthermore, other vehicle-mounted components such as air outlets for air-conditioning air, spotlights, etc. may be arranged near each seat 50 to 54. Figure 6 As shown, in each seat 50 to 54 in the management data, information of the air outlet and spotlight arranged near the seat 50 to 54 is stored as attribute information. Therefore, based on the position information of each seat 50 to 54, other vehicle-mounted components such as the air outlet and spotlight associated with the position information can also be determined.

[0096] In addition, each of the seats 50 to 54 can move forward, backward, left, and right by using the guide rails 56, and the seat position determined by the position information can be changed. Therefore, in the management data, the position information of the moved seat is rewritten, and the movement history of the seat is also updated.

[0097] That is, the ECU E30 of the vehicle body system control unit 84 detects the movement of the seat based on the detection signal from the position sensor 58, the adjustment result of the seat control unit 99, or the captured image of the camera. Moreover, the ECU E30 of the vehicle body system control unit 84 obtains the spatial coordinates of the moved seat and updates the spatial coordinates of the seat stored in the memory 32 in the management data.

[0098] In addition, the ECU E30 of the vehicle body system control unit 84 determines which front-rear sequence / left-right sequence the moved seat belongs to in the vehicle based on the spatial coordinates of the moved seat. When the front-rear sequence or the left-right sequence changes, the column position or the row position of the seat 501 in the management data is also updated.

[0099] For example, as Figure 8 shown, when the seat 501 on the right window side of the third column moves horizontally toward the center of the vehicle, the spatial coordinates of the moved seat 501 are detected based on the detection signal from the position sensor 58, etc., and the spatial coordinates of the seat 501 in the management data are updated.

[0100] In addition, when the spatial coordinates exceed the pre-set threshold for sequence determination and change to the center of the vehicle, it is determined that the seat 501 has moved from the right window side to the center, and the row position of the seat 56 in the management data is rewritten from "Right1" to "Center".

[0101] As a result, the position information of the seat 501 in the management data is rewritten from "Row3, Right1" to "Row3, Center", and the changed "Row3, Center" is added to the movement history of the seat 501.

[0102] In addition, as Figure 8 shown, if the seat 502 on the right window side of the second column moves backward after the seat 501 on the right window side of the third column moves to the center of the vehicle, the movement is detected based on the detection signal from the position sensor 58, etc., and the spatial coordinates of the seat 502 are updated.

[0103] Moreover, when the spatial coordinates exceed the pre-set threshold for sequence determination and change to the rear, it is determined that the seat 502 has moved to the rear of the vehicle, and the column position of the seat 502 in the management data is rewritten from "Row2" to "Row3".

[0104] As a result, the position information of seat 502 in the management data is rewritten from "Row2, Right1" to "Row3, Right1", and the changed "Row3, Right1" is appended to the movement history of seat 502.

[0105] Next, the control of each part of the vehicle using such management data and the management and update of the management data are implemented through the functions of the vehicle body system control unit 84.

[0106] [Processing]

[0107] That is, the vehicle body system control unit 84 executes the program stored in the memory 32 through the CPU 31 of the ECU E30, and according to the control request from the vehicle service unit 71, performs a control process of determining the seat or in-vehicle component near the seat to be controlled and performing control. In addition, separately from this control process, the vehicle body system control unit 84 also executes an update process of the management data for monitoring the movement of the seat and updating the management data.

[0108] Hereinafter, Fig. 9 and Fig.10 The control process and the management data update process using the management data executed by the vehicle body system control unit 84 will be described according to the flowcharts shown.

[0109] As Fig. 9 shown, in the control process, first in S100, it waits for a control request by determining whether a control request based on the management data is issued from the vehicle service unit 71.

[0110] In S100, if it is determined that a control request has been issued, it moves to S102, and extracts the identification information that can determine the position of the object to be controlled from this control request. This identification information is information that can determine the front-back sequence representing the front-back direction in the vehicle and the left-right sequence representing the left-right direction. In S102, based on this identification information, the front-back position of the vehicle of the object to be controlled and the left-right position of the vehicle are detected.

[0111] In addition, in S102, based on the detected position inside the vehicle, that is, the column position and row position inside the vehicle and the management data, the seat to be controlled or an in-vehicle component such as a spotlight associated with the seat is determined, and it moves to S104.

[0112] In S104, according to the control request, a control instruction for the seat or in-vehicle component determined in S102 is output to the corresponding control unit for the control request, that is, the lamp control unit 97, the HVAC control unit 98, the seat control unit 99, etc., and this control process is temporarily ended.

[0113] As a result, in the light control unit 97 , the HVAC control unit 98 , or the seat control unit 99 , control of the controlled object corresponding to the control request is performed.

[0114] For example, if a control request for changing the reclining angle of the seat on the right window side at the rear of the vehicle is input from the vehicle service unit 71, the seat at the position corresponding to the control request is determined based on the management data, in this case, the seat with the position information "Row2, Right1". Furthermore, if the seat corresponding to the control request is determined, a control instruction for changing the reclining angle of the determined seat, in this case, the seat with ID: 005, is output to the seat control unit 99 according to the control request. As a result, the reclining angle of the seat with ID: 005 is adjusted by the seat control unit 99.

[0115] Furthermore, when the seat control unit 99 changes the state of the seat such as the reclining angle of the selected seat according to a command from the body system control unit 84 , the seat control unit 99 transmits the adjusted seat state to the body system control unit 84 .

[0116] Therefore, the body system control unit 84 can update the management data in the memory 37 according to the transmitted seat status, specifically, information such as the spatial coordinates, storage status, tilt angle, slide position, and headrest position.

[0117] Therefore, the management data is updated according to the operation of the power seats constituting the seats 50 to 54 , and the vehicle body system control unit 84 can monitor the status of the seats 50 to 54 according to the update of the management data.

[0118] In addition, when the position and direction of each seat 50 to 54 are changed, the body system control unit 84 can detect this based on the detection signals from the position sensor 58 and the rotation sensor 59, the image captured by the camera, etc. Furthermore, when the position and direction of each seat 50 to 54 are changed, the body system control unit 84 updates the position information and direction information of the corresponding seat in the management data. Figure 6 In the management data shown, the direction information of each seat 50 to 54 is omitted, but the management data also includes direction information indicating the orientation of each seat.

[0119] Next, follow Fig.10 The flowchart shown in the figure explains the updating process of the management data executed by the CPU 31 of the ECU 30 when the movement of the seats 50 to 54 is detected by the user based on the position sensor 58, the image captured by the camera, etc.

[0120] like Fig.10As shown, in S110, CPU 31 determines whether the seat has moved according to the movement / rotation of the seat by the user. Then, if it is determined in S110 that the seat has moved, the process proceeds to S120 to obtain the spatial coordinates of the seat after the movement, and to update the spatial coordinates of the seat in the management data stored in memory 32.

[0121] Next, in S130, it is determined whether the position of the seat whose spatial coordinates were updated in S120 is within the area of ​​the column position and row position currently identified by the management data, that is, whether the position of the moved seat belongs to the front and back sequence / left and right sequence identified as the current seat position.

[0122] When it is determined in S110 that the seat has not moved, or when it is determined in S130 that the seat position belongs to the front-back sequence / left-right sequence recognized as the current seat position, the management data update process is terminated.

[0123] On the other hand, if it is determined in S130 that the seat position does not belong to the front-back sequence / left-right sequence identified as the current seat position, that is, the seat position has changed, the process moves to S140. Then, in S140, the management data is updated so that the position information of the seat after the move, that is, the column position or the row position corresponds to the current seat position.

[0124] If the position information of the seat in the management data is updated in S140, the process moves to S150 to determine whether there is any attribute information inherent to the seat position that is associated with the updated seat position, that is, information on the spotlight and the air outlet. If there is any attribute information inherent to the seat position, the process moves to S160 to associate the attribute information with the seat so that the attribute information becomes the attribute information of the seat after the position information is rewritten this time.

[0125] Therefore, for example, when a control request to light a spotlight arranged near a seat on the right window side of vehicle A in the second row is input to the body system control unit 84, the spotlight to be controlled can be appropriately selected using the management data.

[0126] That is, in this case, the body system control unit 84 can identify the seat corresponding to the spotlight to be controlled based on the management data, appropriately select the spotlight according to the attribute information of the seat, and output a lighting instruction to the light control unit 97 and the like.

[0127] If the attribute information is associated with the seat whose position information is updated this time in S160, or if it is determined in S150 that there is no attribute information specific to the seat position, the process proceeds to S170. In S170, the latest position information is added to the movement history of the seat whose position information is updated this time, and the update process of the management data is terminated.

[0128] [Effect]

[0129] As described above, in the vehicle control system 1 of the present embodiment, the memory 32 of the ECUE 30 functioning as the body system control unit 84 stores management data indicating the seat positions and states of the plurality of seats 50 to 54 mounted on the vehicle A.

[0130] The body system control unit 84 uses the management data to determine the corresponding seat or other vehicle-mounted components associated with the seat as the controlled object based on the identification information included in the control request input from the vehicle service unit 7, such as the second row, right window side. Then, the body system control unit 84 controls the determined controlled object via the light control unit 97, the HVAC control unit 98, or the seat control unit 99.

[0131] In addition, when the seat position is changed by the user, the body system control unit 84 detects the change in the seat position based on the detection signal from the position sensor 58, the rotation sensor 59, or the image captured by the camera, and updates the position information of the corresponding seat. Therefore, even if the seat position is changed, the seat to be controlled can be determined using the management data, and the seat control unit 99 can be controlled.

[0132] The vehicle service unit 7 and its upper service application 6 that input control requests to the body system control unit 84 only need to input control requests that can identify the positions of seats mounted in the vehicle, and do not need to generate control requests based on the number and arrangement of seats mounted in the vehicle.

[0133] Therefore, the program installed in the vehicle service unit 7 and the service application 6 does not need to be generated for each vehicle with the same number and configuration of seats, and a common program can be used in each vehicle. Therefore, according to the vehicle control device system of this embodiment, it is possible to easily manage the program for controlling seats and peripheral devices.

[0134] In particular, according to the vehicle body system control unit 84 of the present embodiment, the position information of each seat 50 to 54 can be used not only when controlling the seats 50 to 54 constituted by power seats, but also when controlling other vehicle-mounted components corresponding to the position of each seat 50 to 54.

[0135] Therefore, the body system control unit 84 can control other vehicle-mounted components associated with the seats 50 to 54 in accordance with a control request from the vehicle service unit 7 without managing the position information of other vehicle-mounted components corresponding to the seats 50 to 54. Therefore, the structure of the body system control unit 84 can be simplified.

[0136] In addition, in the present embodiment, the memory 32 of the ECU 30 corresponds to an example of a storage unit of the present disclosure, and the body system control unit 84 that receives a control request input from the service application 6 via the vehicle service unit 7 corresponds to an example of an input unit of the present disclosure. In addition, the body system control unit 84 and the seat control unit 99 that determine and control the seat or vehicle-mounted component to be controlled according to the control request correspond to an example of a control unit of the present disclosure. In addition, the position sensor 58 and the rotation sensor 59 correspond to an example of a detection unit of the present disclosure.

[0137] [Modifications]

[0138] As mentioned above, although embodiment of this disclosure was described, this disclosure is not limited to the said embodiment, Various deformation|transformation and implementation are possible.

[0139] For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the control device of the present disclosure is applied to a vehicle control system 1 whose architecture in a vehicle network is hierarchically divided into four layers: a service application 6, a vehicle service unit 7, a state management unit 8, and an equipment management unit 9. However, even if the control device of the present disclosure is a control system that controls equipment that is a controlled object according to a control request input from an operation input unit such as a remote controller as described in Patent Document 1, it can be applied in the same manner as in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0140] In the above embodiment, the management data stores, as the position information of each seat, the information of the column position and the row position corresponding to the identification information included in the control request in addition to the spatial coordinates indicating the seat position in the vehicle. However, the management data may store only the spatial coordinates in the vehicle as the position information of each seat.

[0141] Even in this case, the seat to be controlled or other mounted components corresponding to the seat can be identified and controlled based on the identification information included in the control request and the spatial coordinates of each seat. Fig. 9 In S102, when the controlled object is determined based on the identification information and management data included in the control request, the sequence of the front-rear and left-right directions of the vehicle determined by the identification information is matched with the spatial coordinates in the management data.

[0142] In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, seats are used as an example of equipment whose mounting position is managed by management data in the vehicle, but for example, vehicle-mounted components other than seats, such as spotlights, air-conditioning vents, windows, etc., may be used as equipment whose mounting position is managed by management data. In other words, the equipment whose mounting position is managed by management data may be a plurality of mounting components dispersedly arranged in the vehicle interior.

[0143] Similarly, the controlled object identified by the location information of the management data is not limited to the vehicle-mounted component arranged near the equipment constituting the management data, and can be any vehicle-mounted component associated with each equipment. However, in this case, it is preferred to set the vehicle-mounted component as the attribute information of the equipment.

[0144] Next, in the above embodiment, the column position information is described as taking the front row of seats in front of the vehicle as the first row, and setting them as Row1, Row2, ... in sequence from the front to the rear of the vehicle, but the column position information can also be set in the same way as the row position information.

[0145] That is to say, Fig.11 As shown, the row position information may be set to Front1, Front2, ... for equipment arranged forward of the center of the front-rear direction of the vehicle in the sequence from the front row of the vehicle. In addition, the row position information may be set to Back1, Back2, ... for seats arranged backward of the center of the front-rear direction of the vehicle in the sequence from the rear row of the vehicle.

[0146] In this case, the row position information may be set to "Front2&Back2" for the seat located at the center of the vehicle's longitudinal direction, similarly to the seat 503 located at the center of the vehicle's lateral direction. Even in this case, it can be determined that the seat is located at the center of the vehicle's lateral direction.

[0147] In addition, the functions of the control device of the present invention can be implemented by a special-purpose computer, which is provided by a processor and a memory programmed to implement one or more functions embodied by a computer program. Alternatively, the functions of the control device of the present invention can also be implemented by a special-purpose computer, which is provided by a processor composed of one or more special-purpose hardware logic circuits. Or, the functions of the control device of the present invention can also be implemented by one or more special-purpose computers, which are composed of a combination of a processor and a memory programmed to implement one or more functions and a processor composed of one or more hardware logic circuits. In addition, the computer program can also be stored in a computer-readable non-transitional tangible recording medium as an instruction executed by a computer. In addition, in the method for implementing the functions of the control device of the present invention, it is not necessary to include software, and one or more hardware can also be used to implement all its functions.

[0148] It is also possible to implement multiple functions of one component in the above-mentioned embodiment by multiple components, or to implement one function of one component by multiple components. In addition, it is also possible to implement multiple functions of multiple components by one component, or to implement one function implemented by multiple components by one component. In addition, it is also possible to omit a part of the structure of the above-mentioned embodiment. In addition, it is also possible to add at least a part of the structure of the above-mentioned embodiment to the structure of other above-mentioned embodiments, or to replace at least a part of the structure of the above-mentioned embodiment with the structure of other above-mentioned embodiments.

[0149] The technology disclosed herein can be implemented in various forms other than the above-mentioned ECU or other control devices, such as a program for causing a computer to function as a control device, a non-transitory physical recording medium such as a semiconductor memory recording the program, and a vehicle control method.

[0150] [Technical ideas disclosed in this specification]

[0151] (1) A vehicle control device comprising:

[0152] A storage unit (32) configured to store, for each of a plurality of equipment, column position information indicating a position in a front-rear direction of the vehicle and row position information indicating a position in a left-right direction of the vehicle as position information indicating a mounting position of the plurality of equipment on the vehicle;

[0153] an input unit (84) configured to receive a control request for the equipment specified by the identification information or other vehicle-mounted components associated with the equipment, wherein the identification information is information capable of identifying a front-rear sequence indicating a sequence in the front-rear direction and a left-right sequence indicating a sequence in the left-right direction in the vehicle; and

[0154] The control unit (84, 99) is configured to determine the equipment corresponding to the above-mentioned control request or other vehicle-mounted components associated with the equipment as a controlled object based on the above-mentioned identification information contained in the above-mentioned control request and the above-mentioned location information stored in the above-mentioned storage unit, and implement control on the above-mentioned controlled object.

[0155] (2) The vehicle control device according to (1) above, wherein:

[0156] The left-right sequence is set so that the arrangement order of the equipment can be recognized from the left and right outer sides toward the center of the vehicle.

[0157] (3) The vehicle control device according to (1) or (2), wherein:

[0158] The front-rear sequence is set so that the arrangement order of the equipment can be identified from the outer sides of the front and rear of the vehicle toward the center or so that the arrangement order of the equipment can be identified from the front row of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0159] (4) The vehicle control device according to any one of (1) to (3) above, wherein:

[0160] The row position information includes row space coordinates indicating space coordinates in the left-right direction of the vehicle.

[0161] The column position information includes column spatial coordinates indicating spatial coordinates in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0162] The control unit is configured to establish a correspondence relationship between the row space coordinates and the column space coordinates, the left-right sequence, and the front-back sequence.

[0163] (5) The vehicle control device according to any one of (1) to (4) above, wherein:

[0164] The equipment includes seats (50-54), and the seats are arranged in the vehicle interior so that the loading positions can be changed.

[0165] The seat is provided with a detection unit (58, 59), the detection unit detecting the loading position of the vehicle.

[0166] The control unit is configured to update the position information of the seat stored in the storage unit according to the change in the mounting position, when the detection unit detects that the mounting position of the seat has changed.

[0167] (6) The vehicle control device according to (5) above, wherein:

[0168] The control unit is configured to update the position information of the seat stored in the storage unit when updating the position information of the seat, if there is attribute information of the other vehicle-mounted components associated with the updated position information, to the attribute information of the seat after the position information is updated.

Claims

1. A vehicle control device, comprising: A storage unit (32) configured to store, for each of a plurality of equipment, column position information indicating a position in a front-rear direction of the vehicle and row position information indicating a position in a left-right direction of the vehicle as position information indicating a mounting position of the plurality of equipment on the vehicle; An input unit (84) is configured to receive a control request for the equipment specified by the identification information or other vehicle-mounted components associated with the equipment, in, The identification information is information capable of identifying a front-rear sequence indicating a sequence in the front-rear direction and a left-right sequence indicating a sequence in the left-right direction in the vehicle; and The control unit (84, 99) is configured to determine the equipment corresponding to the above-mentioned control request or other vehicle-mounted components associated with the equipment as a controlled object based on the above-mentioned identification information contained in the above-mentioned control request and the above-mentioned location information stored in the above-mentioned storage unit, and implement control on the above-mentioned controlled object.

2. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, in, The left-right sequence is set so that the arrangement order of the equipment can be recognized from the left and right outer sides toward the center of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle control device according to claim 1 or 2, in, The front-rear sequence is set so that the arrangement order of the equipment can be identified from the outer sides of the front and rear of the vehicle toward the center or so that the arrangement order of the equipment can be identified from the front row of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, in, The row position information includes row space coordinates indicating space coordinates in the left-right direction of the vehicle. The column position information includes column spatial coordinates indicating spatial coordinates in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The control unit is configured to establish a correspondence relationship between the row space coordinates and the column space coordinates, the left-right sequence, and the front-back sequence.

5. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, in, The equipment includes seats (50-54), and the seats are arranged in the vehicle interior so that the loading positions can be changed. The seat is provided with a detection unit (58, 59), the detection unit detecting the loading position of the vehicle. The control unit is configured to update the position information of the seat stored in the storage unit according to the change in the mounting position, when the detection unit detects that the mounting position of the seat has changed.

6. The vehicle control device according to claim 5, in, The control unit is configured to update the position information of the seat stored in the storage unit to the attribute information of the seat after the position information is updated, if there is attribute information of the other vehicle-mounted components associated with the updated position information.

7. A vehicle control system comprising a control device (30) mounted on a vehicle and a central device (35) configured to be able to communicate with the vehicle, in, The central device is configured to send a control request for the equipment or other vehicle-mounted components associated with the equipment to the vehicle using the identification information, wherein the identification information is information capable of identifying a front-rear sequence indicating a sequence in the front-rear direction and a left-right sequence indicating a sequence in the left-right direction in the vehicle, The control device has: A storage unit (32) configured to store, for each of a plurality of equipment, column position information indicating a position in a front-rear direction of the vehicle and row position information indicating a position in a left-right direction of the vehicle as position information indicating a mounting position of the plurality of equipment on the vehicle; An input unit (84) configured to receive a control request from the central device; and The control unit (84, 99) is configured to determine the equipment corresponding to the above-mentioned control request or other vehicle-mounted components associated with the equipment as a controlled object based on the above-mentioned identification information contained in the above-mentioned control request and the above-mentioned location information stored in the above-mentioned storage unit, and implement control on the above-mentioned controlled object.

8. A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising: storing, for each of a plurality of equipment, column position information indicating a position of the vehicle in a front-rear direction and row position information indicating a position of the vehicle in a left-right direction as position information indicating a position of the plurality of equipment mounted on the vehicle; The above method includes: an input step of receiving a control request for the equipment specified by the identification information or other vehicle-mounted components associated with the equipment, in, The identification information is information capable of identifying a front-rear sequence indicating a sequence in the front-rear direction and a left-right sequence indicating a sequence in the left-right direction in the vehicle; as well as The control process determines the equipment corresponding to the control request or other vehicle-mounted components associated with the equipment as the controlled object based on the identification information contained in the control request and the location information stored in the storage unit, and implements control on the controlled object.

9. A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising: storing, for each of a plurality of equipment, column position information indicating a position of the vehicle in a front-rear direction and row position information indicating a position of the vehicle in a left-right direction as position information indicating a position of the plurality of equipment mounted on the vehicle; an input step of receiving a control request, wherein the control request is a control request sent from a central device configured to be able to communicate with the vehicle and is a control request for the equipment specified by the identification information or other vehicle-mounted components associated with the equipment, in, The identification information is information capable of identifying a front-rear sequence indicating a sequence in the front-rear direction and a left-right sequence indicating a sequence in the left-right direction in the vehicle; as well as The control process determines the equipment corresponding to the control request or other vehicle-mounted components associated with the equipment as the controlled object based on the identification information contained in the control request and the location information stored in the storage unit, and implements control on the controlled object.

10. A control program that causes a computer to function as a control device for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a storage unit, the storage unit storing, for each of a plurality of equipment, column position information indicating a position of the vehicle in a front-rear direction and row position information indicating a position of the vehicle in a left-right direction as position information indicating a position of the plurality of equipment mounted on the vehicle, The above program realizes the functions as an input unit and a control unit. The input unit receives a control request for the equipment specified by the identification information or other vehicle-mounted components associated with the equipment. in, The identification information is information capable of identifying a front-rear sequence indicating a sequence in the front-rear direction and a left-right sequence indicating a sequence in the left-right direction in the vehicle. The control unit determines the equipment corresponding to the control request or other vehicle-mounted components associated with the equipment as a controlled object based on the identification information included in the control request and the location information stored in the storage unit, and implements control on the controlled object.

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