VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE

Abstract

When it is determined by the IDS ECU (6) that the engine can be stopped by IDS control, the output state of the power amplifier (3c), which is an in-vehicle entertainment-related equipment, is automatically inhibited and controlled by the CPU (3b) based on the result of the CPU (3b) monitoring the amount of current used so as to prevent exceeding the reserve power supply capacity by the body ECU (2) while ensuring the amount of cranking current required for cranking in restarting the engine under IDS control.

Description

VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE Invention Engineering Field This invention relates to a vehicle control device to control vehicles equipped with facilities start-stop control stop the engine when the engine stop condition has been met predetermined conditions are met and restart the engine when predetermined engine restart conditions fulfilled. Background of the Invention On vehicles equipped with control functions start-stop, when the engine is started with operation of the IG (ignition, ignition) switch, then start-stop control is activated and remains operational until the engine is stopped by the operation of the IG off switch. The following cycle is repeated: the machine is stopped automatically when predetermined engine shutdown condition fulfilled in the situation of outside air temperature, state of charge (parameter which is used to find out the state of the battery charge and is used as a guidelines for monitoring the current capacity of the battery) battery, vehicle speed, and the like at which the engine can be stopped: and the machine restarts automatically when the condition predetermined engine restart is met. In this type of vehicle, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-244182, has a control device is proposed as described below. In the control device, the start-stop start determined by the start-stop determination unit, and when the volume set for the electronic volume is greater than or equal to the predetermined control target value Previously, electronic volume was controlled to lower the volume. which is set below the control target value. When the completion on-off is determined, the volume is set for the volume electronics are controlled to return to their pre-control values. Thus, the sound output is lowered to the appropriate level during start-stop, and even when there is a decrease on the power supply voltage when the machine is restarted after start-stop, distortion, noise, disconnection sound, and the like in sound output, which is not enjoyable for users, can be prevented. List of Citations Patent Literature Literature Patent 1 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-244182. Brief Description of the Invention Meanwhile, on vehicles equipped with this function start-stop control, need to ensure the driving current starter motor for cranking when the engine is restarted in the control of the ignition-stop. Thus, boosted voltage obtained by adding backup voltage from backup power supply to battery voltage usually supplied to starter motors and electronic equipment others. However, backup power supplies have capacity limits, and when a situation arises where the amount of current exceeds the capacity this is used, the output from the backup power supply is stopped for protect the backup power supply. However, in the case of a control device to control the volume electronics described above, when the volume is set to electronic volume is at a high level, which is called explosion sound, at the start of ignition-stop, can it takes time to lower the volume set to volume electronics below the control target value, and the amount of current that exceeding the capacity of the backup power supply can be used before the regulated volume is lowered below the target value control during cranking on engine restart. When If this situation occurs, the output from the backup power supply can stopped, and the operation of electronic equipment (loads inside vehicle (onboard load)), which is supplied with electrical power from backup power supply, can be hampered by the cessation of output from the backup power supply. The purpose of this invention is to prevent the excess reserve power supply capacity during cranking at the time restart the engine in start-stop control. To achieve the objectives outlined above, control tools The vehicle of this invention is a vehicle control device for control a vehicle equipped with control devices start-stop which stops the engine when conditions predetermined engine shutdown is met and restart the engine when the engine restart condition is predetermined conditions are met, vehicle control device These include: a monitoring unit that monitors the amount of current flowing used by the batteries installed in the vehicle and each each of a number of loads in the vehicle supplied with electrical power from a backup power supply that stores electrical power which has a predetermined capacity and boosted to a voltage higher than the battery voltage and inhibits the decrease in voltage during cranking at the time the engine is restarted: and the inhibiting unit that inhibits, based on the results of the monitoring unit that monitors the amount of current used, the output state of the load in the vehicle related to entertainment in vehicles among a number of load in the vehicle to prevent it from exceeding backup power supply capacity when the engine stops predetermined conditions are met. With such a configuration, when the termination condition predetermined machine requirements are met, based on the results of the monitoring unit that monitors the amount of current used, the state of the load output in the vehicle related to entertainment in the vehicle among a number of loads in the vehicle controlled automatically by the inhibitor unit to prevent exceeds the capacity of the backup power supply. Thus, the number of cranking current required for cranking under control start-stop can be ensured within an undefined range exceeding the capacity of the backup power supply, and restarting the engine in the control of starting-stopping can be carried out smoothly without causing a shutdown of the backup power supply. In addition, because the control unit forcibly inhibits the state of the load output in the vehicle related to entertainment in the vehicle among a number of loads in the vehicle before the engine is completely stopped by ignition control- termination based on the results of the monitoring unit that monitors the amount of current used, even when the machine is restarted within the shortest time after being stopped by control start-stop, load output state in the vehicle entertainment related to the vehicle can be hampered reliably to ensure the amount of cranking current that required for cranking. The inhibitor unit can transmit the ignition permission signal reset for the engine to the start-stop control means when amount of current for cranking when restarting the engine can be ensured by inhibiting the output state of the load in vehicles related to entertainment in vehicles, and transmits a no-start signal to the vehicle start-stop control when the amount of current for cranking when restarting the engine cannot be done ensured by inhibiting the output state of the load inside vehicles related to vehicle entertainment. In this way, in cases where the amount of cranking current on restarting the engine in start-stop control can be ensured by inhibiting the output state of the load in vehicles related to entertainment on vehicles between a number of loads in the vehicle, a restart permission signal the engine is transmitted to the start-stop control means by control unit, so that engine restart can be executed smoothly. On the other hand, when the amount of cranking current on the when restarting the engine is not certain though inhibits the load output state in the vehicle related to entertainment on vehicles among a number of loads in the vehicle, the engine restart prohibition signal transmitted to the start-stop control means via inhibitor unit. Therefore, restarting the engine in start-stop control is not executed until the amount of current cranking during engine restart can be ensured, and possible to avoid possible supply interruptions powered by a backup power supply. When the inhibitor unit inhibits the output state of the load in in vehicles related to entertainment in vehicles, the inhibitor unit can perform guard processing (guard processing) to prevent the output of the load inside vehicles related to entertainment do not exceed the circumstances predetermined due to user operations. In this way, when the load output state is in vehicles related to entertainment on vehicles between a number of loads in the vehicle are inhibited, the inhibitor unit perform guard processing to prevent the output from loads in the vehicle related to entertainment are not beyond a predetermined state due to operations users. Therefore, it is possible to allow operations to change the output state of the load in the vehicle related to entertainment according to user choice while preventing the power supply from being cut off by the power supply reserves. According to the present invention, by preventing the capacity from being exceeded backup power supply during cranking when the engine is running restarted in start-stop control, possible to ensure the amount of cranking current required for cranking within a range that does not exceed the supply capacity backup power, and it is possible to restart the machine smoothly in start-stop control without causing the shutdown of the backup power supply. Short Description of Image The following will describe the features and advantages excellence, and technical and industrial significance of the embodiment- exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings attached, where the same symbols represent the elements the same elements, and where: Figure 1 is a block diagram of the control device implementation. vehicles according to the present invention: and Figure 2 is a flowchart to explain the operations on Figure 1. Complete Description of the Invention Reference Number Description 1 battery 2 body ECUs (backup power supply) 3b CPU (monitoring unit, control unit) 3c power amplifier (load in vehicle) The following will describe in detail the manifestation vehicle control device according to the present invention with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2. It should be noted that Figure 1 is a block diagram of vehicle control devices installed on vehicles which has a start-stop control function, and Figure 2 is a flowchart. In Figure 1, the reference number 1 indicates a 12 V battery. made of lead-acid batteries or similar installed on the vehicle and supplies electrical power to each unit. Reference figures 2 shows the ECU (Electronic Control Unit, Control Unit) Electronic) body that performs locking / unlocking control door locks, seat controls, light controls, and the like. In addition these body system controls, the reserve voltage that has been previously determined supply to the boost circuit (3a) of the HCU (Human Machine Interface Control Unit, Interface Control Unit Human Machine) (3) which is called HMI integrated control unit, added to the battery voltage from the battery (1), and the voltage a similar reserve is added to the battery voltage from the battery (1) and is supplied to a number of other ECUs (ba, 5b), and the like. Here, the body ECU (2) corresponds to the "backup power supply" in 1lvnensi ini. In Figure 1, reference number 6 indicates the ignition ECU- termination (hereinafter referred to as "ECU IDS," where "IDS" is an abbreviation of "idling stop", Japanese translation from "start-stop"). The ECU IDS (6) has a function to determine whether the machine (not illustrated) can be stopped by control IDS is based on information such as outside air temperature. from the outside air temperature sensor (not illustrated), state of charge from the battery (1), and the vehicle speed from the speed sensor vehicle (not illustrated). The IDS ECU (6) is also has an IDS control function which, when it determines that the machine can be stopped, stop the machine after meeting the conditions predetermined engine stop and start restart the engine after meeting the engine restart conditions has been predetermined. When the ECU IDS (6) determines that the vehicle is in a situation where the engine cannot be stopped by IDS control, then IDS control is not executed. Then, the IDS ECU (6) transmits the IDS state signal, which indicates that the engine will be stopped by IDS control, that the machine has been stopped by IDS control, or similar to CPU (3b) HCU (3), which will be described later. The function of determining described above by the ECU IDS (6) in accordance with "determination unit" in the present invention, and the IDS control function which described above by the ECU IDS (6) in accordance with the "means start-stop control" in the present invention. More specifically, the ECU IDS (6) determines that engine stop condition (for example, a condition where the lights stop has been turned on and the vehicle speed is lower than or equal to the previously determined vehicle speed) in IDS control is met when the driver presses the brake pedal according to the red traffic light or similar and detects that the brake fluid pressure in the foot brake master cylinder higher than or equal to the established stamping pressure predetermined based on engine ECU information (information engine such as engine speed and coolant temperature) which controls the engine via the CAN communication bus (Controller Area Network, Control Area Network) (not illustrated on Figure 1), battery current (1), outside air temperature information or similar to the outside air temperature sensor, speed information vehicle by vehicle speed sensor, pressure information Master cylinder, and the like. When the vehicle speed drops below a predetermined vehicle speed, even without a complete stop, the IDS ECU (6) commands the engine ECU to stop the engine, and the engine ECU automatically stop the engine by limiting the fuel throttle or by another way. On the other hand, in a situation where the machine is stopped by IDS control, when it detects that the driver has taken his foot off from the brake pedal due to the change of traffic lights to turn signals green or similar and the master cylinder pressure drops to the pressure predetermined discharge, ECU IDS (6) determines that the engine restart condition (e.g., the condition of the ignition light) stop has been turned off and the door is closed) in IDS control fulfilled. The ECU IDS (6) then transmits the command engine restart to the engine ECU, supplying electrical power from battery (1) to the starter motor (not illustrated), starting the starter motor, and automatically restarts the engine. stop. Referring back to Figure 1, the HCU (3) includes the CPU (3b) and the audio power amplifier (3c), which is one of the loads in in the vehicle and is a load in the vehicle that related to entertainment, other than the booster circuit (3a) which described above. CPU (3b) has a function to monitor the number of the current used by the power amplifier (3c) supplied with electrical power from the battery (1) installed in the vehicle or supplied with electrical power from the battery (1) and body ECU (2), which is a backup power supply. In addition, the CPU (3b) receives from the IDS ECU (6), an IDS state signal which indicates that the engine will be stopped by IDS control, that the machine has been stopped by IDS control, or similar. The CPU monitoring function (3b) corresponds to the “monitoring unit” in this invention. The power amplifier (3c) is usually supplied with battery voltage. (B1) from battery (1) through the booster circuit (3a), and during cranking when the engine is restarted with IDS control, the power amplifier (3c) is supplied with a boost voltage by adding a backup voltage (B2) from the body ECU (2) to battery voltage (Bl) from battery (1) to ensure current the cranking required to drive the starter motor, and outputs audio signals to the loudspeaker (8). At this time, under normal driving conditions where IDS control is not executed, power amplifier (3c) makes a sound which is reproduced from the loudspeaker (8) at a sound volume, which is the output state set by the user with operate the volume control switch (not illustrated). On the other hand, in the IDS control state, CPU (3b) executes control to forcibly inhibit the output state of the amplifier power (3c) as follows. Control function for output state power amplifier (3c) by CPU (3b) as described above corresponds to the "inhibition unit" in the present invention. The CPU (3b) monitors the amount of current used by the battery (1) mounted on the vehicle or power amplifier (3c) supplied with electrical power from the battery (1) and body ECU (2), which is a backup power supply, and the ECU IDS (6) determines whether the machine can be stopped by IDS control based on information such as outside air temperature from the air temperature sensor outside, state of charge of the battery (1), vehicle speed from vehicle speed sensors, and the like. When the results of the determination is that the machine can be stopped, the IDS state signal is which indicates that the machine will be stopped by IDS control or the machine has been stopped by IDS control, transmitted from ECU IDS (6) to CPU (3b). When the CPU (3b) receives the IDS state signal from the IDS ECU (6), The CPU (3b) supplies the power amplifier (3c) with voltage (B1 - B2) which is boosted by the boost circuit (3a) by adding reserve voltage (B2) from the body ECU (2) to the battery voltage (Bl) from the battery (1). In the case where the voltage is stimulated (Bl t B2) is supplied in this way, the CPU (3b) determines, based on on the amount of current used by the power amplifier (3c) in monitoring, whether the output inhibition condition of the power amplifier (3c) fulfilled, where the output state of the power amplifier (3c) must be inhibited and forcibly controlled to ensure its magnitude cranking current, namely the driving current from the starter motor required for cranking on restarting the engine in IDS control, within a range that does not exceed the supply capacity backup power by body ECU (2). That is, even when the output state of the power amplifier (3c) not forcibly inhibited, CPU (3b) does not execute control such as forced inhibition of the output state of a power amplifier (3c) after determining that the amount of cranking current that required for cranking when the engine is restarted in IDS control can be ensured within an undefined range exceeds the reserve capacity of the body ECU (2), which is the supply backup power. On the other hand, when the CPU (3b) determines that unless the output state of the power amplifier (3c) is forcibly inhibited, body ECU reserve capacity (2), which is a backup power supply, exceeded, the function as a backup power supply stops, and the number of cranking current required for cranking at the time engine restart under IDS control is not guaranteed, CPU (3b) performs controls such as forced inhibition. the output state of the power amplifier (3c) to ensure the amount of current cranking required for cranking when the engine is running restarted in IDS control in an uncontrolled range exceeding the backup power supply capacity by the body ECU (2), thus allowing for a smooth restart of the engine in IDS control. Up to the control of the inhibition of the output state of the power amplifier (3e) completed, request prohibition of engine restart transmitted from the CPU (3b) to the ECU IDS (6), and the engine does not restarted. When the output state inhibition control power amplifier (3c) completed, transmission request prohibition engine restart from CPU (3b) to ECU IDS (6) is stopped, and restarting the engine becomes possible. When the operation for changing the output state of the power amplifier (3c) is executed by user who operates the volume control switch before the CPU (3b) complete the inhibitory control of the amplifier output state power (3c), the amount of current used can fluctuate, so that operation by the user to change the output state the power amplifier (3c) is canceled, and the amount of cranking current that required for cranking when the engine is restarted under IDS control is ensured. Meanwhile, when the ECU IDS (6) determines that the vehicle be in a situation where the machine can be stopped by control IDS, the output state of the power amplifier (3c) is forcibly controlled before the engine is completely stopped by IDS control, based on on the monitoring results of the amount of current used in monitoring. Therefore, even when the machine is restarted within a short time the shortest (e.g., 32 milliseconds) after being stopped by IDS control, the inhibition of the power amplifier state (3c) is initiated earlier, and the amount of cranking current required to cranking is ensured, so the engine can be restarted smoothly by IDS control. It should be noted that the driving current from the starter motor required for cranking when restarting the machine can be obtained experimentally first. With Thus, the amount of driving current obtained can be stored in in memory or similar as the amount of cranking current, and the amount of current that can be used for cranking can be calculated by reducing the amount of current used by the power amplifier (3c) in monitoring the upper limit value of the current obtained through the voltage supply which is encouraged by adding reserve voltage (B2) to battery voltage (Bl). As described above, based on whether the amount of current that can be used which is calculated beyond the amount of cranking current that read from memory, it can be determined whether the amount of current cranking required for cranking when the engine is running restarted in IDS control can be ensured within the range which does not exceed the reserve capacity of the body ECU (2) which is backup power supply. Next, we will explain the inhibition process. for the output state of the power amplifier (3c) with reference to the chart flow in Figure 2. As illustrated in Figure 2, when the IG switch (ignition) is turned on, CPU (3b) starts controlling the state power amplifier output (3c). When determined by the CPU (3b) that the current state is not a state where the output state is the power amplifier (3c) is lowered automatically (step S1), then it is determined whether the IDS state signal, which indicates that the machine will be stopped by IDS control or that the engine has been stopped by IDS control, has been received from ECU IDS (6) (step S2). When the IDS state signal has not been received and the determination result from step S2 is NO, the process returns to step S1. When IDS state signal has been received and the results of the determination of the steps S2 is YES, in the situation where the voltage is boosted (Bl - B2) supplied, determined, based on the amount of current that used by the power amplifier (3c) in monitoring, whether the condition the output inhibition of the power amplifier (3c) is fulfilled, where the condition the output of the power amplifier (3c) must be shunted and controlled by force to ensure the amount of current cranking, which is the driving current from the starter motor which is needed for cranking when the engine is started repeat under IDS control, within a range not exceeding backup power supply capacity by the body ECU (2). Because the amount of current cranking required for cranking when the engine is running restarting under IDS control cannot be ensured unless the output state of the power amplifier (3c) is forcibly inhibited, value the output state (output guard value) of the power amplifier (3c) which able to ensure the amount of cranking current required for cranking is determined by the CPU (3b), the output state of the amplifier power (3c) is automatically throttled to the output guard value specified, and a change in the output state of the power amplifier (3c) based on user operations are prohibited (step S3). Next, it is determined whether the inhibition process for the output state of the power amplifier (3c) is not completed (step S4). When the result of the determination is NO, it means, when the process inhibition has been completed, the process returns to step Sl. When the result of the determination is YES, meaning, when the inhibition process not yet completed, request for prohibition of engine restart transmitted from CPU (3b) to ECU IDS (6) to prohibit ECU IDS (6) perform engine restart under IDS control (step S5). Determine whether the IG switch has been turned off (step S6). When the IG switch remains on and the results of the determination in step S6 is NO, the process returns to step Sl. When the IG switch is has been turned off and the result of the determination in step S6 is YES, the process of inhibiting the output state of the power amplifier (3c) is completed. Therefore, according to the embodiment described above, when it is determined by the ECU IDS (6) that the engine can be stopped by IDS control, the output state of the power amplifier (3c) is automatically automatically inhibited by CPU (3b) based on CPU (3b) results which monitors the amount of current used to prevent the backup power supply capacity is exceeded by the body ECU (2) while ensuring the required amount of cranking current for cranking on engine restart under IDLS control. Thus, the amount of cranking current required to cranking in IDS control can be ensured within the range does not exceed the backup power supply capacity by the body ECU (2), and restarting the engine under IDS control can be executed with smoothly without causing backup power supply by the body ECU (2) stop. Because the ECU IDS (6) forcibly inhibits the output state power amplifier (3c) before the engine is completely stopped by IDS control is based on the results of CPU (3b) which monitors the number of current used, even when the machine is restarted in shortest time after being stopped by IDS control, the state the output of the power amplifier (3c) can be inhibited and controlled by reliable to ensure the required amount of cranking current for cranking. In addition, when the amount of cranking current in ignition machine restart under IDS control can be ensured by control power amplifier output state inhibition (3c), permission signal engine restart under IDS control is transmitted from the CPU (3b) to the IDS ECU (6), so that the engine restart is under control. IDS can be run smoothly. When the amount of cranking current in the engine restart under IDS control cannot be ascertained even after control power amplifier output state inhibition (3c) is executed, CPU (3b) transmits the engine restart prohibition signal to the ECU. IDS (6), so that the engine restarts under IDS control without executed, and it is possible that the possibility of stopping the supply backup power by the body ECU (2) can be avoided. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications thereof from what has been described above can be made without deviating from the spirit of this invention. For example, in the embodiment of the invention described in above, the case where the power amplifier (3c) is used as a load in in vehicles related to entertainment to inhibit output conditions have been described. However, the load in the vehicle related to the entertainment is not limited to power amplifier (3c), and can be a lamp such as an incandescent lamp lighting decoration. In the embodiment described above, even in the case of where the CPU (3b) can determine the amount of cranking current at engine starting under IDS control with retarder control the output state of the power amplifier (3c), and there are fluctuations in The amount of current used due to operation by the user to change the output state of the power amplifier (3c), when the number of cranking current on engine restart can be ensured, operation to change the output state of the power amplifier (3c), performed by the user operating the switch volume settings or the like, may not be prohibited. This may allow operation by the user to changes the output state of the power amplifier (3c) and outputs sound from the speakers at the volume appropriate to your choice users, while preventing power outages backup by the body ECU (2), which is a backup power supply. In the embodiment described above, the case where the IDS ECU (6) forcibly inhibit the output state of the power amplifier (3c) before the engine is completely stopped by IDS control, based on in the monitoring results the amount of current used in monitoring, has been described. However, the state of the load output in the vehicle related to entertainment, such as power amplifiers (3c), can be inhibited when the engine is completely stopped by IDS control. The backup power supply is not limited to the body ECU (2) which described above, and other power supplies can be used. This invention can be applied to vehicle control devices to control vehicles equipped with facilities start-stop control that stops the engine when predetermined engine shutdown condition fulfilled and restart the engine when the ignition condition predetermined machine reset is met.

Claims

A vehicle control device for controlling a vehicle equipped with start-stop control facilities which stops the engine when the engine stop condition is met predetermined condition is met and restarts engine when the engine restart condition has been predetermined conditions are met, vehicle control devices is characterized by including: monitoring unit that monitors the amount of current used by the battery (1) installed on the vehicle and each each of a number of loads in the vehicle supplied with electrical power from a backup power supply (2) which stores electrical power that has a predetermined capacity beforehand and pushed to a higher voltage than the battery voltage (1) and inhibits the decrease voltage during cranking in engine restart: and inhibitory unit that inhibits, based on the results monitoring unit that monitors the amount of current used, the state of the load output in the vehicle in question with entertainment on the vehicle among a number of loads in in the vehicle so as to prevent exceeding the supply capacity reserve power (2) when the engine shutdown condition has occurred predetermined conditions are met. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inhibitor unit transmits a restart permission signal for the engine to the start-stop control means when amount of current for cranking in engine restart ensured by inhibiting the output state of the load inside vehicles related to entertainment in vehicles, and transmits a no-start signal for the engine to the means of control of start-stop when the amount of current for cranking in engine restart is not ensured by inhibiting the load output state in the vehicle related to entertainment in vehicles. The vehicle control device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein characterized that when the inhibitory unit inhibits the state load output in the vehicle related to entertainment on the vehicle, the inhibitor unit performs guard processing to prevent output from the load in in vehicles related to entertainment so as not to beyond the predetermined conditions due to user operations.

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