Hybrid vehicle

Abstract

To more appropriately end EV travel after arrival at a specific point.SOLUTION: As for a switching timing from an EV travel mode to a normal travel mode when reaching a specific point when a predetermined area including the specific point as an arrival point is an EV travel area, a control device of a hybrid vehicle sets a timing at the time of traveling outside a road in map information to be delayed compared to a timing at the time of traveling on the road in the map information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to hybrid vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as this type of hybrid vehicle, a vehicle that switches between an electric motor mode for running only on the electric motor, an engine mode for running only on the engine, and a combined mode for running both on the electric motor and the engine, depending on the mode switching vehicle speed, has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this hybrid vehicle, the mode switching vehicle speed is switched for each type of environment, such as urban areas, suburban areas, highways, tunnels, etc., to enable running suited to the environment. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 06-187595 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For hybrid vehicles, it has also been proposed to prioritize electric driving (EV driving), which runs on external power alone with the engine stopped, around a specified point such as the home. In this case, if the parking lot at the specified point is located some distance from the road, EV driving will end depending on the distance traveled after arriving at the specified point, and the significance of prioritizing EV driving will be reduced. To address this issue, it is possible to set the EV driving distance and EV driving time after arriving at the specified point to be long, but if the specified point is simply a stopover point, EV driving will continue for a longer distance or time than necessary.

[0005] The primary objective of the hybrid vehicle disclosed herein is to more appropriately end EV driving after arriving at a specific location. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The hybrid vehicle of the present disclosure employs the following measures to achieve the above-mentioned main object.

[0007] The hybrid vehicle of the present disclosure is An engine capable of outputting power for driving; A motor capable of outputting power for driving; a control device that controls the engine and the motor by switching between an EV driving mode in which the vehicle runs on power from the motor with the engine stopped and a normal driving mode in which the vehicle runs on power from the engine and power from the motor as necessary; A hybrid vehicle comprising: When a predetermined area including a specific point as a destination point is an EV driving area, the control device delays a timing of switching from the EV driving mode to the normal driving mode when the specific point is reached during driving outside a road in the map information compared to a timing of switching on a road in the map information. It is characterized by:

[0008] The hybrid vehicle disclosed herein includes an engine capable of outputting power for driving, a motor capable of outputting power for driving, and a control device that controls the engine and the motor by switching between an EV driving mode in which the vehicle drives using power from the motor with the engine stopped and a normal driving mode in which the vehicle drives using power from the engine and power from the motor as necessary. When a predetermined area including a specific point as a destination is an EV driving area, the control device of the hybrid vehicle makes the timing of switching from the EV driving mode to the normal driving mode when the specific point is reached later than the timing of switching when driving outside the roads in the map information when driving on the roads in the map information. This allows the vehicle to switch from the EV driving mode to the normal driving mode at a relatively early timing when driving on the roads on the map after the specific point is reached (for example, when the specific point is a waypoint), and to switch from the EV driving mode to the normal driving mode at a later timing than when driving on the roads on the map after the specific point is reached (for example, when the parking lot of the specific point is located away from the road). As a result, the EV driving after arriving at the specific point can be ended more appropriately.

[0009] In the hybrid vehicle disclosed herein, the control device may switch from the EV driving mode to the normal driving mode when the vehicle reaches a point on a road in the map information that is a first predetermined distance from the specific location, and switch from the EV driving mode to the normal driving mode when the vehicle reaches a point off the road in the map information that is a second predetermined distance longer than the first predetermined distance from the specific location, or the control device may switch from the EV driving mode to the normal driving mode when the vehicle reaches a point on a road in the map information that is a first predetermined time from the specific location, and switch from the EV driving mode to the normal driving mode when the vehicle reaches a point off the road in the map information that is a second predetermined time longer than the first predetermined time from the specific location. In these cases, the control device may learn the second predetermined distance or the second predetermined time. This can prevent the EV driving mode from being switched to the normal driving mode at an excessively late timing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hybrid vehicle 20 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, with a hybrid ECU 50 as the central block. [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific EV driving process executed by a hybrid ECU 50. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an EV driving area and a driving mode when traveling in the EV driving area from point P1 to point P2 with point P2 as a transit point. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an EV driving area and a driving mode when driving in the EV driving area from point P3 to point P4, with point P4 being a destination point near the home. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Next, a mode (embodiment) for carrying out the present disclosure will be described. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hybrid vehicle 20 as an embodiment of the present disclosure, with a hybrid electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as hybrid ECU) 50 as a central block. As shown in the figure, the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment includes an engine EG and a motor MG as power sources. The hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment has, as driving modes, an EV driving mode in which the vehicle runs on power from the motor MG with the engine EG stopped, and a normal driving mode in which the engine EG is operated as necessary to run on power from the engine EG and power from the motor MG.

[0012] In addition to the power source, the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment is equipped with an ignition switch 21, a GPS (Global Positioning System, Global Positioning Satellite) 22, an on-board camera 24, a millimeter-wave radar 26, an acceleration sensor 28, a vehicle speed sensor 30, an accelerator sensor 32, a brake sensor 34, a mode change switch 36, a battery actuator 38, a battery 40, an air conditioner electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as air conditioner ECU) 42, an air conditioner compressor 44, a hybrid ECU 50, an accelerator actuator 60, a brake actuator 62, a braking device 64, a display device 66, a driving status indicator 67, a meter 68, a DCM (Data Communication Module) 70, a navigation system 80, and the like.

[0013] The GPS 22 is a device that detects the position of the vehicle based on signals transmitted from multiple GPS satellites. The on-board camera 24 is a camera that captures images of the surroundings of the vehicle, such as a front camera that captures images in front of the vehicle and a rear camera that captures images behind the vehicle. The millimeter wave radar 26 detects the distance and relative speed between the vehicle and a vehicle ahead, and the distance and relative speed between the vehicle and a vehicle behind.

[0014] The acceleration sensor 28 is a sensor that detects, for example, the acceleration in the front-rear direction of the vehicle or the acceleration in the left-right direction (lateral direction) of the vehicle. The vehicle speed sensor 30 detects the vehicle speed based on the wheel speed and the like. The accelerator sensor 32 detects the accelerator opening according to the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal by the driver. The brake sensor 34 detects the brake position as the amount of depression of the brake pedal by the driver and the like. The mode change switch 36 is disposed near the steering wheel of the driver's seat, and is a switch for switching between the EV driving mode and the normal driving mode.

[0015] The battery actuator 38 detects the state of the battery 40, such as the terminal voltage, the charge / discharge current, and the battery temperature, and manages the battery 40 based on these. The battery actuator 38 calculates the power storage ratio SOC as the ratio of the remaining power storage capacity to the total power storage capacity based on the charge / discharge current, and calculates the maximum allowable output power (output limit Wout) that may be output from the battery 40 and the maximum allowable input power (input limit Win) that may be input to the battery 40 based on the power storage ratio SOC and the battery temperature, etc. The battery 40 is configured as a chargeable and dischargeable secondary battery, and may be, for example, a lithium ion battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, or a lead storage battery.

[0016] The air conditioner ECU 42 is configured as a microcomputer centered around a CPU (not shown), and in addition to the CPU, it is equipped with a ROM, a RAM, a flash memory, an input port, an output port, a communication port, etc. The air conditioner ECU 42 is incorporated in an air conditioner that conditions the passenger compartment, and drives and controls an air conditioner compressor 44 in the air conditioner so that the temperature of the passenger compartment becomes a set temperature.

[0017] The engine EG is configured as, for example, an internal combustion engine. The motor MG is configured as, for example, an electric motor that also functions as a generator, such as a synchronous motor. The motor MG is connected to a battery 40 via an inverter (not shown), and can output driving force using electric power supplied from the battery 40 and can charge the battery 40 with the generated electric power.

[0018] The hybrid ECU 50 is configured as a microcomputer centered on a CPU (not shown), and in addition to the CPU, is equipped with a ROM, a RAM, a flash memory, an input port, an output port, a communication port, etc. The hybrid ECU 50 sets a driving mode, and sets a target operating point (target rotation speed and target torque) of the engine EG and a torque command of the motor MG based on the set driving mode, the accelerator opening from the accelerator sensor 32, the brake position from the brake sensor 34, and the output limit and input limit from the battery actuator 38. The hybrid ECU 50 does not start up when the accessory is on, but starts up when the ready is on.

[0019] During EV driving, the hybrid ECU 50 sets a required driving force and a required power based on the accelerator opening from the accelerator sensor 32 and the vehicle speed from the vehicle speed sensor 30, sets a torque command for the motor MG so as to output the required driving force and the required power to the vehicle, and transmits the set torque command to the accelerator actuator 60. During hybrid driving, the hybrid ECU 50 sets a target driving point for the engine EG and a torque command for the motor MG so as to output the required driving force and the required power to the vehicle, and transmits the target driving point and the torque command to the accelerator actuator 60. In addition, when the brake pedal is depressed, the hybrid ECU 50 sets a required braking force based on the brake position from the brake sensor 34 and the vehicle speed from the vehicle speed sensor 30, sets a torque command for regeneration for regenerative control of the motor MG based on the required braking force and the vehicle speed, and sets a target braking force by the brake device, transmits the torque command to the accelerator actuator 60, and transmits the target braking force to the brake actuator 62.

[0020] Accelerator actuator 60 controls the drive of engine EG and motor MG according to the target operating point and torque command set by hybrid ECU 50. Accelerator actuator 60 performs intake air amount control, fuel injection control, ignition control, intake valve opening / closing timing control, etc. so that engine EG is operated at the target operating point (target rotation speed and target torque). Accelerator actuator 60 also performs switching control of switching elements of an inverter for driving motor MG so that torque corresponding to the torque command is output from motor MG.

[0021] The brake actuator 62 controls the brake device 64 so that the target braking force set by the hybrid ECU 50 is applied to the vehicle by the brake device 64. The brake device 64 is configured as, for example, a hydraulically driven friction brake.

[0022] The display device 66 is, for example, built into an installation panel in front of the driver's seat, and displays various information and also functions as a touch panel. The driving status indicator 67 has an EV indicator and an HV indicator (not shown), and when the vehicle is running on the motor, the EV indicator is turned on and the HV indicator is turned off, and when the vehicle is running on hybrid, the EV indicator is turned off and the HV indicator is turned on. The meter 68 is, for example, built into an installation panel in front of the driver's seat.

[0023] The DCM (Data Communication Module) 70 transmits information about the vehicle to the traffic information management center 100 and receives road traffic information from the traffic information management center 100. Examples of the vehicle information include the vehicle's position, vehicle speed, running power, and running mode. Examples of the road traffic information include information about current and future congestion, information about the current average vehicle speed and the predicted future average vehicle speed in a section on the travel route, information about traffic regulations, information about weather, information about road surface conditions, and information about maps. The DCM 70 communicates with the traffic information management center 100 at predetermined intervals (for example, every 30 seconds, every minute, or every two minutes).

[0024] The navigation system 80 is a system that guides the vehicle to a set destination, and includes a display unit 82 and a map information database 84. The display unit 82 is a functional block that has a function of displaying the route to the destination, the vehicle's position, and the like on the display device 66 based on map information. The navigation system 80 communicates with a traffic information management center 100 via a DCM (Data Communication Module) 70. When a destination or a waypoint is set, the navigation system 80 sets a route based on the information on the destination and waypoint, information on the current location (current vehicle position) acquired by the GPS 22, and information stored in the map information database 84. The navigation system 80 communicates with the traffic information management center 100 at predetermined time intervals (for example, every 3 minutes or every 5 minutes) to acquire road traffic information, and provides route guidance based on the road traffic information. The map information stored in the map information database 84 includes not only map data, but also road gradients, road types, altitudes, and the like for each driving section.

[0025] When performing route guidance, the navigation system 80 generates, as look-ahead information, information on each travel section in the travel route and information on travel load from the road traffic information acquired from the traffic information management center 100 (or at predetermined intervals), load information required for traveling each travel section based on the vehicle's speed, vehicle's travel power, and vehicle's travel mode, and transmits the look-ahead information to the hybrid ECU 50. The look-ahead information includes vehicle information such as the vehicle's position, vehicle speed, travel power, and travel mode, information on current and future traffic congestion, information on the current average vehicle speed and the predicted value of the future average vehicle speed in the section on the travel route, information on traffic regulations, information on weather, information on road surface conditions, and information on maps. The map information also includes areas where EV travel should be performed (EV travel areas) determined by municipalities, etc. The navigation system 80 can also set an EV travel area by specifying an area such as an area near the user's home through a user operation. When the host vehicle is traveling, the navigation system 80 transmits a signal to the hybrid ECU 50 indicating whether or not the host vehicle is in an EV driving range.

[0026] Next, an operation of the hybrid ECU 50 in the hybrid vehicle 20 thus configured will be described, as well as the operation when traveling in an area where a specific point such as a destination or waypoint is set as the end point of the EV traveling area. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific EV traveling process executed by the hybrid ECU 50. This process is executed every time the vehicle travels in the EV traveling area.

[0027] When the specific EV driving process is executed, the hybrid ECU 50 first determines whether or not a specific point such as a destination point or a waypoint is set as the end point of the EV driving area (step S100). If it is determined that the specific point is not set as the end point of the EV driving area, it is determined that the specific point is not subject to this process, and this process is terminated.

[0028] When it is determined in step S100 that the specific point is set as the end point of the EV driving area, the control unit 10 waits until the start point of the EV driving area is reached (step S110), and then switches the driving mode to EV driving mode and starts EV driving (step S120).

[0029] Next, the system waits for the vehicle to arrive at a specific point (step S130), and determines whether the vehicle will travel on roads on the map after arriving at the specific point (whether the vehicle is on-matching) (step S140). When the specific point is set as the end point of the EV driving area, for example, when the home is set as the specific point and the end point of the EV driving area, it is necessary to continue EV driving after arriving at the specific point until the vehicle stops at a parking space. On the other hand, when the specific point is simply a waypoint, it is necessary to end EV driving relatively quickly. For this reason, the system makes this determination by determining whether the vehicle will travel on roads on the map after arriving at the specific point.

[0030] When it is determined in step S140 that the driving after arriving at the specific point is on a road on the map (on-matching), it is determined that there is a high possibility that the specific point is a waypoint, and a predetermined distance α is set to the additional driving distance d (step S150), and after the additional driving distance d is driven (step S170), the driving mode is changed to the normal driving mode, the EV driving mode is terminated (step S180), and this process is terminated. The predetermined distance α is a relatively short distance, and for example, 50 m, 100 m, 150 m, etc. can be used. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an EV driving area and a driving mode when driving in the EV driving area from point P1 to point P2 with point P2 as a waypoint. The EV driving area is from point P1 to point P2, and the EV driving mode continues until the point where the additional driving distance d (predetermined distance α) on the road on the map is driven after arriving at point P2.

[0031] When it is determined in step S140 that the driving after arriving at the specific point is not on a road on the map (off-matching), it is determined that there is a high possibility that the specific point is not a waypoint, and a predetermined distance β longer than the predetermined distance α is set as the additional driving distance d (step S160), and after the additional driving distance d is traveled (step S170), the driving mode is changed to the normal driving mode, the EV driving mode is terminated (step S180), and this process is terminated. The predetermined distance β is a distance longer than the predetermined distance α, and for example, 200 m or 300 m can be used. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an EV driving area and a driving mode when traveling in the EV driving area from point P3 to point P4 with point P4 as the destination point near the home. The EV driving area is from point P3 to point P4, and the EV driving mode continues until the additional driving distance d (predetermined distance β) that is not on a road on the map is traveled after arriving at point P4. Note that if the vehicle is stopped and the ignition switch 21 is turned off before traveling the additional distance d (predetermined distance β) that is not on a road on the map after arriving at point P4, the EV driving mode is naturally maintained until the ignition switch 21 is turned off. Therefore, the vehicle can continue EV driving until it travels on private roads that are not on roads on the map after arriving at point P4 and parks in a parking space.

[0032] In the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment described above, when a specific point such as a destination point or a waypoint is set as the end point of the EV driving area, it is determined whether the driving after arriving at the specific point is on a road on the map (on-matching) or not on a road on the map (off-matching). Then, when it is determined that the driving after arriving at the specific point is on a road on the map (on-matching), the EV driving mode is terminated when the vehicle has traveled a relatively short predetermined distance α. On the other hand, when it is determined that the driving after arriving at the specific point is not on a road on the map (off-matching), the EV driving mode is maintained until the vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance β that is longer than the predetermined distance α. This allows the EV driving mode to be terminated relatively quickly when the specific point is a waypoint, and allows the EV driving mode to be maintained until the vehicle stops in a parking space near the specific point when the specific point is an end point near a home or the like. As a result, the EV driving after arriving at the specific point can be terminated more appropriately.

[0033] In the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment, when it is determined that the driving after arriving at the specific point is on a road on the map (on-matching), the EV driving mode is terminated when the vehicle has traveled a relatively short predetermined distance α, and when it is determined that the driving after arriving at the specific point is not on a road on the map (off-matching), the EV driving mode is maintained until the vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance β longer than the predetermined distance α. However, when it is determined that the driving after arriving at the specific point is on a road on the map (on-matching), the EV driving mode may be terminated when a relatively short predetermined time Tα has elapsed, and when it is determined that the driving after arriving at the specific point is not on a road on the map (off-matching), the EV driving mode may be maintained until a predetermined time Tβ longer than the predetermined time Tα has elapsed. In this case, the predetermined time Tα may be, for example, 10 seconds or 20 seconds, and the predetermined time Tβ may be, for example, 50 seconds or 100 seconds.

[0034] In the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment, when it is determined that the driving after arriving at a specific point is not on a road on a map (off-matching), the EV driving mode is maintained until a predetermined distance β is traveled. However, the predetermined distance β may be determined for each specific point. The predetermined distance β may also be determined by learning. The same applies to the above-mentioned predetermined time Tβ.

[0035] The relationship between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the section on means for solving the problem will be described. In the embodiment, the engine EG corresponds to the "engine", the motor MG corresponds to the "motor", and the hybrid electronic control unit 50 corresponds to the "control device".

[0036] Note that the correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the Means for Solving the Problem column does not limit the elements of the invention described in the Means for Solving the Problem column, since the embodiment is an example for specifically explaining the form for implementing the invention described in the Means for Solving the Problem column. In other words, the interpretation of the invention described in the Means for Solving the Problem column should be made based on the description in that column, and the embodiment is merely a specific example of the invention described in the Means for Solving the Problem column.

[0037] The present disclosure has been described above using embodiments, but the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments in any way, and it goes without saying that the present disclosure can be embodied in various forms without departing from the gist of the present disclosure. [Industrial Applicability]

[0038] The present disclosure is applicable to the hybrid vehicle manufacturing industry and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 20 hybrid vehicle, 21 ignition switch, 22 GPS, 24 in-vehicle camera, 26 millimeter wave radar, 28 acceleration sensor, 30 vehicle speed sensor, 32 accelerator sensor, 34 brake sensor, 36 mode change switch, 38 battery actuator, 40 battery, 42 air conditioner electronic control unit (air conditioner ECU), 44 air conditioner compressor, 50 hybrid electronic control unit (hybrid ECU), 60 accelerator actuator, 62 brake actuator, 64 brake device, 66 display device, 67 driving status indicator, 68 meter, 70 DCM, 80 navigation system, 82 display unit, 84 map information database, 100 traffic information management center, EG engine, MG motor.

Claims

1. An engine capable of outputting power for driving; A motor capable of outputting power for driving; a control device that controls the engine and the motor by switching between an EV driving mode in which the vehicle runs on power from the motor with the engine stopped and a normal driving mode in which the vehicle runs on power from the engine and power from the motor as necessary; A hybrid vehicle comprising: When a predetermined area including a specific point as a destination point is an EV driving area, the control device delays a timing of switching from the EV driving mode to the normal driving mode when the specific point is reached during driving outside a road in the map information compared to a timing of switching on a road in the map information. A hybrid vehicle characterized by

2. 2. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, the control device switches from the EV driving mode to the normal driving mode when the vehicle reaches a point on a road in the map information that is a first predetermined distance from the specific point, and switches from the EV driving mode to the normal driving mode when the vehicle reaches a point off the road in the map information that is a second predetermined distance from the specific place that is longer than the first predetermined distance. Hybrid car.

3. 2. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, the control device switches from the EV driving mode to the normal driving mode when the vehicle reaches a point on a road in the map information that is traveled a first predetermined time from the specific location, and switches from the EV driving mode to the normal driving mode when the vehicle reaches a point off of a road in the map information that is traveled a second predetermined time that is longer than the first predetermined time from the specific location. Hybrid car.

4. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, The control device learns the second predetermined distance or the second predetermined time. Hybrid car.

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