Control system

Abstract

The purpose is to improve convenience for a driver. A control system (10) for controlling the operation of a vehicle (1) is provided with: a sensor (11) for detecting the amount of operation of an operation unit (20) operated by a driver of the vehicle (1) and outputting output information corresponding to the amount of operation; and a control device (12) capable of executing a sleep mode in which power consumption of the vehicle (1) is suppressed. The control device (12) is capable of switching and executing: a first mode which is executed while the sleep mode is cancelled and which acquires an operation amount on the basis of the output information; and a second mode which is executed during execution of the sleep mode and cancels the sleep mode on the basis of the output information. The correspondence between the operation amount and the output information in the sensor (11) differs between the first mode and the second mode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a control system. Background Art

[0002] In a vehicle, various controls are performed using sensors that detect an operation amount of an operation unit operated by a driver and output output information corresponding to the operation amount. For example, in Patent Document 1, an electric power assist brake that assists a braking operation force applied by a driver is disclosed. The operation of the electric power assist brake is controlled using output information from a sensor that detects the operation amount of a braking operation unit used for braking operation.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-028155 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Technical Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] As described above, a sensor that detects the operation amount of an operation unit is basically used by a control device to obtain the operation amount of the operation unit as information. It is conceivable that it is desirable to improve the convenience for the driver by using such a sensor for more purposes.

[0008] Therefore, in view of such a technical problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a control system that can improve the convenience for the driver.

[0009] Means for Solving the Technical Problem

[0010] To solve the above technical problem, a control system for controlling the operation of a vehicle includes: a sensor that detects an operation amount of an operation unit operated by a driver of the vehicle and outputs output information corresponding to the operation amount; and a control device that can execute a sleep mode for suppressing power consumption of the vehicle; the control device can switch between executing: a first mode that is executed when the sleep mode is released and obtains the operation amount based on the output information; and a second mode that is executed when the sleep mode is executed and releases the sleep mode based on the output information; the correspondence between the operation amount and the output information in the sensor is different between the first mode and the second mode.

[0011] Advantageous Effects of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, the convenience for the driver can be improved. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 2 This is a flowchart showing an example of the process performed by the control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing the correspondence between the operation amount and the output information in the sensor in the first mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the correspondence between the operation amount and the output information in the sensor in the second mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Embodiment

[0017] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the appended Figure 1 The dimensions, materials, other specific numerical values, etc. shown in this embodiment are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless specifically negated. In addition, in this specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and structures are given the same reference numerals and redundant descriptions are omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the illustration.

[0018] <Structure of Vehicle>

[0019] Refer to Figure 1 to describe the structure of the vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the schematic structure of the vehicle 1. As Figure 1 shown, the vehicle 1 includes a brake operation unit 2, an electric power steering (EPS) 3, and a hydraulic control unit 4. The brake operation unit 2 corresponds to an example of the operation unit 20 operated by the driver of the vehicle 1. In addition, as will be described later, the vehicle according to the present invention is not limited to Figure 1 the example, and for example, a vehicle without the EPS 3 may also be used.

[0021] The brake operation unit 2 is used for a braking operation to brake the vehicle 1. The brake operation unit 2 is operated by the driver's foot. The braking operation is an operation in which the driver presses the brake operation unit 2 with the foot.

[0022] The EPS 3 assists the braking operation force applied by the driver (i.e., the pressing force of the brake operation unit 2). Specifically, the EPS 3 has an electric motor, and during a braking operation, by controlling the operation of the electric motor, it assists the braking operation force applied by the driver.

[0023] The hydraulic control unit 4 has the function of adjusting the braking hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinders installed in the brake calipers of each wheel. For example, a pump and solenoid valves are provided in the oil circuit of the hydraulic control unit 4, and by controlling the operations of the pump and the solenoid valves, the braking hydraulic pressure applied to each wheel is adjusted. The braking hydraulic pressure generated by the master cylinder corresponding to the driver's braking operation is supplied to the wheel cylinders via the hydraulic control unit 4.

[0024] As Figure 1 shown, the vehicle 1 is equipped with a control system 10, and the control system 10 controls the operation of the vehicle 1 by processing the operation amount of the operation unit 20 (the braking operation unit 2 in the Figure 1 example) operated by the driver. The control system 10 includes a sensor 11 and a control device 12.

[0025] The sensor 11 detects the operation amount of the braking operation unit 2 operated by the driver of the vehicle 1 (i.e., the operation amount of the braking operation), and outputs output information corresponding to the operation amount. In the Figure 1 example, the sensor 11 is not built into the electric power assist device 3, but is arranged outside the electric power assist device 3. When the sensor 11 is not built into the electric power assist device 3, the position of the sensor 11 in the vehicle 1 is not particularly limited. For example, it may be in the vehicle interior or in the engine compartment. However, the sensor 11 may also be built into the electric power assist device 3.

[0026] The control device 12 includes an arithmetic processing device, i.e., a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage element, i.e., a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs, arithmetic parameters, etc. used by the CPU, and a storage element, i.e., a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores parameters, etc. that appropriately change during the execution of the CPU.

[0027] In addition, the functions of the control device 12 may be divided into multiple devices, or multiple functions may be implemented by one device. When the functions of the control device 12 are divided into multiple devices, the multiple devices may be able to communicate with each other.

[0028] The control device 12 mainly controls the operation of the electric power assist device 3. Specifically, the control device 12 controls the force assisted by the electric power assist device 3 for the braking operation force by controlling the operation of the electric motor of the electric power assist device 3. Such control is performed using the output information from the sensor 11.

[0029] Here, in addition to the process for controlling the operation of the electric power steering 3 (corresponding to the first mode described later), the control device 12 can also execute a process for releasing the sleep mode (corresponding to the second mode described later). In the sleep mode, the power consumption of the vehicle 1 is suppressed. For example, when the vehicle 1 stops and the state where no driver operation is performed continues for a specified time, the vehicle 1 enters the sleep mode. Both of the above processes are carried out using the sensor 11. In addition, the details of the above two processes will be described later.

[0030] <Operation of the control system>

[0031] Refer to Figures 2 to 4 , and the operation of the control system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0032] As described above, the control device 12 can execute a process for controlling the operation of the electric power steering 3 and a process for releasing the sleep mode. The control device 12 executes the first mode as a process mode for controlling the operation of the electric power steering 3, and executes the second mode as a process mode for releasing the sleep mode. The control device 12 can switch between such the first mode and the second mode and execute.

[0033] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the process performed by the control device 12. Figure 2 Step S101 in Figure 2 corresponds to the start of the control flow shown.

[0034] If the control flow shown Figure 2 starts, then in step S102, the control device 12 determines whether the sleep mode is being released.

[0035] When it is determined that the sleep mode is being released (step S102 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S103. In step S103, the control device 12 switches the process mode to the first mode and returns to step S102. On the other hand, when it is determined that the sleep mode is being executed (step S102 / No), the process proceeds to step S104. In step S104, the control device 12 switches the process mode to the second mode and returns to step S102.

[0036] As described above, the first mode is executed during the release of the sleep mode, and the second mode is executed during the execution of the sleep mode. Here, the correspondence relationship between the operation amount and the output information in the sensor 11 is different between the first mode and the second mode. Thus, the control device 12 can appropriately execute the first mode and the second mode respectively.

[0037] Figure 3It is a diagram showing the correspondence between the operation amount X and the output information Y in the sensor 11 in the first mode. In the first mode, the control device 12 obtains the operation amount X of the braking operation unit 2 based on the output information Y of the sensor 11. Moreover, the control device 12 controls the operation of the electric power assist brake 3 based on the obtained operation amount X of the braking operation unit 2. In the braking operation unit 2, a biasing force corresponding to the operation amount X is applied as a reaction force. Therefore, the control device 12 controls the electric power assist brake 3 so that the greater the operation amount X, the greater the force for assisting the braking operation force.

[0038] As Figure 3 shown, the output information Y in the first mode is information indicating a value related to the operation amount X. Specifically, in the first mode, as the operation amount X increases, the output information Y also increases. For example, in the first mode, the output information Y exhibits a value proportional to the operation amount X. In the first mode, since the control device 12 obtains the operation amount X based on such output information Y, it can adjust the force for assisting the braking operation force by the electric power assist brake 3 corresponding to the operation amount X.

[0039] Figure 4 It is a diagram showing the correspondence between the operation amount X and the output information Y in the sensor 11 in the second mode. In the second mode, the control device 12 releases the sleep mode based on the output information Y of the sensor 11. Specifically, the control device 12 determines whether the braking operation unit 2 is being stepped on by the driver based on the output information Y of the sensor 11, and releases the sleep mode when it is determined that the braking operation unit 2 is being stepped on by the driver.

[0040] As Figure 4 shown, the output information Y in the second mode is information indicating whether the operation amount X is greater than the reference operation amount X0. In Figure 4 the example, when the operation amount X is smaller than the reference operation amount X0, the output information Y is 0, while when the operation amount X is greater than the reference operation amount X0, the output information Y is 1. The reference operation amount X0 is set to a value small enough to determine whether the braking operation unit 2 is being slightly stepped on by the driver. In the second mode, when such output information Y indicates that the operation amount X is greater than the reference operation amount X0 (in Figure 4 the example, when the output information Y is 1), the control device 12 releases the sleep mode. Thus, the driver can easily release the sleep mode by stepping on the braking operation unit 2 during the execution of the sleep mode. After the sleep mode is released, as described above, for example, when the vehicle 1 stops and the state without driver operation continues for a specified time, the vehicle 1 enters the sleep mode.

[0041] As described above, in the control system 10, the correspondence between the operation amount X and the output information Y in the sensor 11 is switched between the first mode and the second mode. For example, between the first mode and the second mode, the control device 12 switches the voltage applied to the sensor 11. Thereby, the sensor 11 can determine whether the processing mode of the control device 12 is the first mode or the second mode by referring to the voltage applied to the sensor 11.

[0042] When it is determined that the processing mode of the control device 12 is the first mode, the sensor 11 sets the correspondence between the operation amount X and the output information Y so that the output information Y becomes information indicating a value related to the operation amount X. On the other hand, when it is determined that the processing mode of the control device 12 is the second mode, the sensor 11 sets the correspondence between the operation amount X and the output information Y so that the output information Y becomes information indicating whether the operation amount X is larger than the reference operation amount X0. Thereby, the control device 12 can appropriately execute the first mode and the second mode, respectively.

[0043] <Effect of the control system>

[0044] The effect of the control system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0045] The control system 10 includes: a sensor 11 that detects the operation amount X of the operation unit 20 (the brake operation unit 2 in the above example) operated by the driver of the vehicle 1 and outputs output information Y corresponding to the operation amount X; and a control device 12 that can execute a sleep mode in which the power consumption of the vehicle 1 is suppressed. Moreover, the control device 12 can switch and execute: a first mode that is executed when the sleep mode is released and obtains the operation amount X based on the output information Y; and a second mode that is executed when the sleep mode is executed and releases the sleep mode based on the output information Y; the correspondence between the operation amount X and the output information Y in the sensor 11 is different between the first mode and the second mode. Thereby, the driver can easily release the sleep mode by operating the operation unit 20 that is used for other purposes when the sleep mode is released during the execution of the sleep mode. Therefore, the convenience of the driver can be improved.

[0046] Preferably, in the control system 10, the output information Y in the first mode is information indicating a value related to the operation amount X, and the output information Y in the second mode is information indicating whether the operation amount X is larger than the reference operation amount X0. Thereby, the control device 12 can appropriately obtain the operation amount X in the first mode and can appropriately determine whether the operation unit 20 has been operated by the driver in the second mode.

[0047] Preferably, in the control system 10, in the second mode, when the output information Y indicates that the operation amount X is greater than the reference operation amount X0, the control device 12 releases the sleep mode. Thus, in the second mode, it is possible to appropriately release the sleep mode triggered by the driver operating the operation unit 20.

[0048] Preferably, in the control system 10, the operation unit 20 is a brake operation unit 2 for brake operation. Thus, during the execution of the sleep mode, the driver can easily release the sleep mode by operating the brake operation unit 2.

[0049] Preferably, the control system 10 includes an electric power steering 3 that assists the braking operation force applied by the driver; in the first mode, the control device 12 controls the operation of the electric power steering 3 based on the operation amount X of the brake operation unit 2. Thus, in the first mode, it is possible to appropriately adjust the force with which the electric power steering 3 assists the braking operation force according to the operation amount X of the brake operation unit 2.

[0050] Preferably, in the control system 10, the sensor 11 is not built into the electric power steering 3 but is arranged outside the electric power steering 3. Thus, in the vehicle 1 where the sensor 11 is not built into the electric power steering 3, the convenience of the driver can be improved.

[0051] Above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described while referring to the attached Figure 1 However, the present invention is of course not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modification examples or correction examples within the scope described in the claims also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0052] In the above, an example in which the operation unit 20 whose operation amount X is detected by the sensor 11 is the brake operation unit 2 has been described. However, the operation unit 20 whose operation amount X is detected by the sensor 11 may also be an operation unit 20 other than the brake operation unit 2 (for example, an operation unit 20 operated by the driver's hand, etc.). In addition, in this case, in the first mode, the purpose of using the obtained operation amount X may also be a purpose other than the above purpose (that is, the purpose of controlling the operation of the electric power steering 3). For example, in the first mode, the purpose of using the obtained operation amount X may also be the purpose of controlling the operation of other devices other than the electric power steering 3.

[0053] In the above, an example in which the vehicle 1 is equipped with the electric power assist device 3 has been described. However, the vehicle 1 may not be equipped with the electric power assist device 3. In this case, for example, in the first mode, the obtained operation amount X may also be used to control the operation of the hydraulic control unit 4. Further, the vehicle 1 may be an engine vehicle having only an engine as a drive source, an electric vehicle having only a motor as a drive source, or a hybrid vehicle having an engine and a motor as drive sources.

[0054] Description of Reference Numerals

[0055] 1 Vehicle

[0056] 2 Brake Operation Unit

[0057] 3 Electric Power Assist Device

[0058] 4 Hydraulic Control Unit

[0059] 10 Control System

[0060] 11 Sensor

[0061] 12 Control Device

[0062] 20 Operation Unit

[0063] X Operation Amount

[0064] X0 Reference Operation Amount

[0065] Y Output Information

Claims

1. A control system (10) for controlling the operation of a vehicle (1), characterized in that, Comprising: A sensor (11) that detects an operation amount (X) of an operation unit (20) operated by a driver of the vehicle (1) and outputs output information (Y) corresponding to the operation amount (X); And A control device (12) capable of executing a sleep mode that suppresses power consumption of the vehicle (1); The control device (12) can switch between and execute: a first mode, which is executed when the sleep mode is released, and obtains the operation amount (X) based on the output information (Y); and a second mode, which is executed when the sleep mode is executed, and releases the sleep mode based on the output information (Y); The correspondence relationship between the operation amount (X) and the output information (Y) in the sensor (11) is different between the first mode and the second mode.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein The output information (Y) in the first mode is information indicating a value related to the operation amount (X); The output information (Y) in the second mode is information indicating whether the operation amount (X) is greater than a reference operation amount (X0).

3. The control system according to claim 2, wherein In the second mode, when the output information (Y) is information indicating that the operation amount (X) is greater than the reference operation amount (X0), the control device (12) releases the sleep mode.

4. The control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The operation unit (20) is a braking operation unit (2) used for braking operations.

5. The control system according to claim 4, wherein An electric power steering (3) that assists the braking operation force applied by the driver is provided; In the first mode, the control device (12) controls the operation of the electric power steering (3) based on the operation amount (X) of the braking operation unit (2).

6. The control system according to claim 5, wherein The sensor (11) is not built into the electric power steering (3) but is arranged outside the electric power steering (3).

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