Automatic engine stop system

Abstract

To provide an automatic engine stop system capable of switching between execution and cancellation of automatic stop control according to a parking environment of a vehicle.SOLUTION: An automatic engine stop system includes an engine mounted on a vehicle and a control device that automatically stops the engine. The control device has an automatic stop control that automatically stops the engine when the vehicle has been parked for a predetermined period and the engine is operating. The control device cancels the automatic stop control according to a parking environment of the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an engine automatic stop system that automatically stops an engine.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a system for automatically stopping an engine mounted on a vehicle has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 automatically stops the engine when the vehicle is parked indoors, such as in a garage, and the engine is running. By automatically stopping the engine in this way, it is possible to suppress the filling of carbon monoxide indoors.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In recent years, due to the spread of power supply devices that supply power to the outside of the vehicle, there are cases where it is more preferable not to automatically stop the engine.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an engine automatic stop system capable of canceling the automatic stop of the engine.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The engine automatic stop system according to the present disclosure includes an engine mounted on a vehicle and a control device that automatically stops the engine. The control device has automatic stop control for automatically stopping the engine while the vehicle is parked for a predetermined time and the engine is running, and cancels the automatic stop control according to the parking environment of the vehicle.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to this engine automatic stop system, it is possible to switch between execution and suspension of automatic stop control according to the parking environment of the vehicle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the engine automatic stop system 1 includes an engine 2, a control device 4, a power supply device 6, a display device 8, a radar 10, and a battery 12. The engine automatic stop system 1 is mounted on a vehicle C. The vehicle C is, for example, a hybrid vehicle that drives a motor (not shown) using electric power generated by a generator (not shown) driven by the engine 2 and electric power from the battery 12. In the present embodiment, the vehicle C is a plug-in hybrid vehicle that can be charged with external power via a charger 14.

[0011] Furthermore, the vehicle C of the present embodiment is an externally power-suppliable plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV: Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle). The vehicle C can supply power from the battery 12 to external devices such as home appliances and home equipment via the power supply device 6. When the charge rate of the battery 12 decreases, the vehicle C operates the engine 2 and drives a generator by the engine 2. The vehicle C supplies the electric power generated by the generator to external devices via the power supply device 6.

[0012] The engine 2 is an internal combustion engine that burns fuel. The engine 2 discharges exhaust from the exhaust pipe. The exhaust also contains carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

[0013] The control device 4 executes automatic stop control to automatically stop the engine 2. The automatic stop control is control to automatically stop the engine 2 while the vehicle C is parked for a predetermined time and the engine 2 is operating. For example, when the vehicle C is parked indoors, there is a risk that carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide discharged from the engine 2 will accumulate. Therefore, when the vehicle C is parked for a predetermined time, the control device 4 prevents carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from accumulating by automatically stopping the engine 2.

[0014] The control device 4 is actually an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), and is composed of a microcomputer including an arithmetic unit, a memory, an input / output buffer, etc. The control device 4 controls the engine automatic stop system 1 so that the engine 2 is in a desired operating state based on signals from each sensor and various devices mounted on the engine 2, and maps and programs stored in the memory. Note that various controls are not limited to software processing, and can also be processed by dedicated hardware (electronic circuits). Furthermore, the control device 4 is electrically connected to the engine 2, the power supply device 6, the display device 8, the radar 10, the battery 12, and the charger 14, and can control these devices.

[0015] The power supply device 6 is a device capable of supplying power to external devices. The display device 8 displays the execution state of the automatic stop control to the user. The display device 8 is, for example, a touch panel type liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. In addition to the execution state of the automatic stop control, the display device 8 may display the speed of the vehicle C or the like.

[0016] The radar 10 is a sensor for determining the parking environment of the vehicle C. The radar 10 generates, for example, infrared rays or ultrasonic waves. The control device 4 can determine whether the vehicle C is parked indoors based on the reflection state of the infrared rays or ultrasonic waves generated by the radar 10.

[0017] The battery 12 can drive the motor of the vehicle C and can supply power to external devices via the power supply device 6.

[0018] Next, the control procedure executed by the control device 4 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 2. In the present embodiment, the control device 4 starts the control procedure when an ignition switch (not shown) is turned on. However, the timing for starting the control procedure may be changed as appropriate.

[0019] In step S1, the control device 4 determines whether the vehicle C is parked. The control device 4 may determine that the vehicle C is parked, for example, when the shifter (not shown) of the vehicle C is in the parking position and the engine 2 is operating. If the control device 4 determines that the vehicle is parked (step S1 YES), the process proceeds to step S2.

[0020] In step S2, the control device 4 determines the parking environment. The control device 4 may determine the parking environment of the vehicle C using the radar 10 as described above. The control device 4 may also determine the parking environment using GPS (Global Positioning System). When the control device 4 determines the parking environment, the process proceeds to step S3.

[0021] In step S3, the control device 4 determines whether the vehicle C is parked outdoors. For example, the control device 4 may determine that it is outdoors when no obstacle such as the wall X (see FIG. 1) is detected around the vehicle C by the radar 10. Also, the control device 4 may determine that it is outdoors when the position measured by GPS is outdoors. If the control device 4 determines that it is outdoors (step S3 YES), the process proceeds to step S4.

[0022] In step S4, the control device 4 determines whether power supply is in progress. In the present embodiment, when the engine 2 is operating and the power supply device 6 is operating, the control device 4 determines that power supply is in progress as power supply is being executed by the power supply device 6. However, when the control device 4 detects that the engine 2 is operating and the outlet 6a is plugged into the power supply device 6, it may also determine that power supply is in progress. When the control device 4 determines that power supply is in progress (step S4 YES), it proceeds to step S5.

[0023] In step S5, the control device 4 aborts the automatic stop control of the engine 2. As a result, even when the vehicle C is parked with the engine 2 operating for a predetermined time (e.g., about 30 minutes), the engine 2 is not automatically stopped. This can prevent the power supply from stopping. When the control device 4 aborts the engine automatic stop, it proceeds to step S1, and when the parking state of the vehicle C is outdoors and power supply is being executed, it continues to abort the automatic stop control.

[0024] When the control device 4 determines in step S1 that it is not parked (step S1 NO), the control device 4 continues the process of step S1 and does not proceed to step S2 until it is parked.

[0025] When the control device 4 determines in step S3 that the vehicle C is not outdoors (step S3 NO), the control device 4 proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the control device 4 determines whether the parking environment of the vehicle C is a deadline area. For example, when the control device 4 detects an obstacle such as a wall X around the vehicle C by the radar 10, it may determine that it is a deadline area. Also, when the location measured by the GPS is indoors or when the location cannot be measured by the GPS, the control device 4 may determine that it is a deadline area. When the control device 4 determines that the parking environment is a deadline area (step S6 YES), it proceeds to step S10. On the other hand, when the control device 4 determines that the parking environment is not a deadline area (step S6 NO), it proceeds to step S4.

[0026] When the control device 4 determines in step S4 that it is not in the power supply state (step S4 NO), the control device 4 proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the control device 4 generates a screen for allowing the user to determine whether to cancel the automatic stop control of the engine 2 and displays it on the display device 8. That is, the user is notified of the cancellation of the automatic stop control. The screen for notifying the user of the automatic stop control may be, for example, a screen displaying an icon that can be selected to cancel. When the control device 4 notifies the user of the cancellation of the automatic stop control, it proceeds to step S8.

[0027] In step S8, the control device 4 determines whether the user has accepted the cancellation of the automatic stop control. For example, when the user touches the icon that can be selected to cancel and is displayed on the display device 8, the control device 4 may determine that the user has accepted the cancellation of the automatic stop control. When the control device 4 determines that the user has accepted the cancellation of the automatic stop control (step S8 YES), it proceeds to step S5. On the other hand, when the control device 4 determines that the user has not accepted the cancellation of the automatic stop control (step S8 NO), it proceeds to step S9.

[0028] In step S9, the control device 4 executes the automatic stop control, and when the vehicle C has been parked for a predetermined time, the engine 2 is automatically stopped. When the control device 4 automatically stops the engine 2, it proceeds to step S1.

[0029] In step S10, the control device 4 determines whether it is in the power supply state. The determination of whether it is in the power supply state may be the same as in step S4, so the description is omitted. When the control device 4 determines that it is in the power supply state (step S10 YES), it proceeds to step S11.

[0030] In step S11, the control device 4 determines whether the connection destination of the power supply device 6 satisfies a predetermined condition. The predetermined condition is, for example, that power supply to home equipment or the like is being executed. In recent years, due to the spread of smart grids and the like, there are cases where power is supplied from an automobile battery to home equipment or the like. In particular, during a power outage such as in the event of a disaster, there is a strong demand to supply power from an automobile to home equipment. The power supply device 6 can supply power to, for example, a home system capable of supplying power to home equipment. The home system may be installed in the garage of a house. Even in such a case where the home system is installed indoors, it may be necessary to continue power supply during a power outage. When the power supply device 6 is connected to such a home system, the control device 4 may determine that the predetermined condition is satisfied. When the control device 4 determines that the connection destination satisfies the predetermined condition (step S11 YES), the process proceeds to step S12.

[0031] In step S12, the control device 4 generates a screen for prompting the user to determine whether to cancel the automatic stop of the engine 2 every predetermined period, and displays it on the display device 8. The screen for prompting the user to determine may be, for example, a screen that displays that the engine 2 will automatically stop after a certain number of minutes and icons that allow the user to select whether to cancel the automatic stop. The predetermined period may be a period (for example, about 15 minutes, which is half of a predetermined time) such that carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide do not accumulate according to the operating state of the engine 2. When the control device 4 displays the screen, the process proceeds to step S12.

[0032] In step S13, it is determined whether there has been any action by the user. In the present embodiment, when the user touches an icon on the screen of the display device 8, the control device 4 determines that there has been an action by the user. When the control device 4 determines that there has been an action by the user (step S13 YES), the process proceeds to step S14.

[0033] In step S14, the control device 4 cancels the automatic stop control of the engine 2. When the control device 4 cancels the automatic stop control of the engine 2, the process proceeds to step S1.

[0034] When the control device 4 determines in step S10 that power is not being supplied (step S10 NO), the control device 4 proceeds to step S16. In the deadline area, it is not preferable for the operation of the engine 2 to continue even though power is not being supplied. Therefore, the control device 4 proceeds to step S16 and automatically stops the engine 2 after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0035] When the control device 4 determines in step S11 that a predetermined condition is not satisfied (step S11 NO), the control device 4 proceeds to step S16. Power supply to equipment other than home equipment is not urgent. Therefore, in the case of the deadline area, it is not preferable to execute power supply. Accordingly, the control device 4 proceeds to step S16 and automatically stops the engine 2 after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0036] When the control device 4 determines in step S13 that there is no user action (step S13 NO), the control device 4 proceeds to step S15. In step S15, the control device 4 determines whether there has been ventilation. The control device 4 may determine whether there has been ventilation, for example, using a carbon dioxide concentration sensor or a carbon monoxide concentration sensor (both not shown) provided in the vehicle C. Further, the control device 4 may detect that the surrounding wall X of the vehicle C has been released by the radar 10 and determine that there has been ventilation when it has been released. When the control device 4 determines that there has been ventilation (step S15 YES), it proceeds to step S14, aborts the automatic stop control, and clears the screen presenting the determination to the user displayed on the display device 8. When the control device 4 determines that there has been no ventilation (step S15 NO), it proceeds to step S16 and automatically stops the engine 2 after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0037] As described above, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an engine automatic stop system 1 that can switch between execution and cancellation of automatic stop control according to the parking environment of the vehicle C.

[0038] <Other Embodiments> The embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. In particular, a plurality of modifications described in this specification can be arbitrarily combined as necessary.

[0039] (a) In the above embodiment, the vehicle C is described by taking a plug-in hybrid vehicle as an example. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The vehicle C may be any vehicle as long as it is equipped with the engine 2 and is capable of power feeding.

[0040] (b) In the above embodiment, the display device 8 is described by taking a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display mounted on the vehicle C as an example. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The display device 8 may be, for example, a smartphone owned by the user of the vehicle C.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0041] 1: Engine automatic stop system, 2: Engine 4: Control device, 6: Power feeding device, 8: Display device 10: Radar, 12: Battery, 14: Charger C: Vehicle

Claims

1. An engine mounted on a vehicle, a control device for automatically stopping the engine, and comprising: The control device has an automatic stop control for automatically stopping the engine while the vehicle is parked for a predetermined time and the engine is operating, and aborts the automatic stop control according to the parking environment of the vehicle. An engine automatic stop system.

2. Further comprising a power supply device capable of supplying power to an external device, The control device aborts the automatic stop control when the parking environment is outdoors and power supply is being performed by the power supply device. The engine automatic stop system according to Claim 1.

3. A power supply device capable of supplying power to an external device, a display device for displaying the execution state of the automatic stop control to the user, and further comprising: When the parking environment is indoors, power supply is being performed by the power supply device, and the connection destination of the power supply device satisfies a predetermined condition, the control device displays that the automatic stop control is executed every predetermined period. The engine automatic stop system according to Claim 1.

4. When the control device detects ventilation of the parking environment, it cancels the display indicating that the automatic stop control is executed. The engine automatic stop system according to Claim 3.

5. When the connection destination of the power supply device does not satisfy a predetermined condition, the control device executes the automatic stop control. The engine automatic stop system according to Claim 3 or 4.

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