Vehicle control device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle control system that allows a driver to perform an emergency stop operation with improved clarity and ease of operation while preventing erroneous operation.SOLUTION: A vehicle 10 is provided with an emergency stop switch 92 which is operated when an emergency stop is required. When the emergency stop switch 92 is turned on while a vehicle is in motion, information Dinf prompting activation of a power switch 90 is displayed on a display device 94. When the power switch 90 is turned on after the information Dinf prompting the activation of the power switch 90 is displayed, control is carried out to perform the emergency stop of a vehicle 10. This allows a driver to perform the emergency stop with improved clarity and ease of operation, even in a panic situation, while preventing erroneous operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle control device for emergency stop operations. [Background technology]

[0002] There are disclosed methods for bringing a vehicle to an emergency stop while it is in motion, i.e., methods for an emergency stop performed by a driver. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that the vehicle is brought to an emergency stop when a power switch that controls starting and stopping of the vehicle is pressed for a predetermined period of time or more (hereinafter referred to as a long press operation), and Patent Document 2 describes that the vehicle is brought to an emergency stop when the power switch is pressed repeatedly for a predetermined number of times or more at intervals within a predetermined period of time (hereinafter referred to as a continuous press operation). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-144833 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-214485 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the long press operation described in Patent Document 1 and the continuous press operation described in Patent Document 2 are difficult to understand in the panic of an abnormality, and there has been a demand for a more understandable and simple operation. However, if the operation is too simple, there is a risk that an emergency stop will occur due to a mistaken operation.

[0005] The present invention has been made against the background of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a vehicle control device that allows the driver to perform emergency stop operations in a more understandable and simple manner while preventing erroneous operations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The gist of the first invention is a control device for a vehicle that includes (a) a power switch for operating the start and stop of the vehicle, an emergency stop switch that is operated when an emergency stop of the vehicle is required, and a display device that displays information to the driver, and (b) when the emergency stop switch is operated while the vehicle is traveling, the display device displays information urging the driver to operate the power switch, and when the power switch is operated after the display of the information urging the driver to operate the power switch, the control device performs control to bring the vehicle to an emergency stop. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the emergency stop switch is operated while the vehicle is running, information prompting the driver to operate the power switch is displayed on the display device, and when the power switch is operated after the display of the information prompting the driver to operate the power switch, control is performed to bring the vehicle to an emergency stop. This allows the driver to perform an emergency stop operation more easily and clearly while preventing erroneous operation even in a panicked state when an abnormality occurs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a vehicle to which the present invention is applied, and is also a diagram illustrating main parts of control functions and control systems for various controls in the vehicle. [Figure 2] 4 is a flowchart illustrating a main part of the control operation of the electronic control device, and is a flowchart illustrating the control operation in an emergency stop operation while traveling. [Figure 3] 3 is a flowchart illustrating the control operation of the conventional example of the electronic control device of FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. [Example]

[0010] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a vehicle 10 to which the present invention is applied, and also illustrates essential parts of a control system for various controls in the vehicle 10. In Fig. 1, the vehicle 10 includes an engine 12, a first electric motor MG1, and a second electric motor MG2. The vehicle 10 also includes drive wheels 14 and a power transmission device 16 provided in a power transmission path between the engine 12 and the drive wheels 14. The vehicle 10 is an electric vehicle, particularly a hybrid vehicle, that includes the engine 12 and the second electric motor MG2 and functions as a power source.

[0011] The engine 12 is a known internal combustion engine. An engine control device 50 provided in the vehicle 10 is controlled by an electronic control device 80 (described later), whereby the engine torque Te of the engine 12 is controlled.

[0012] The first electric motor MG1 and the second electric motor MG2 are each a rotating electric machine, a so-called motor generator. The first electric motor MG1 and the second electric motor MG2 are each connected to a battery 54 provided in the vehicle 10 via an inverter 52 provided in the vehicle 10. The battery 54 is an electricity storage device that supplies and receives electric power to and from each of the first electric motor MG1 and the second electric motor MG2. The inverter 52 is controlled by an electronic control device 80 (described later), thereby controlling the MG1 torque Tg of the first electric motor MG1 and the MG2 torque Tm of the second electric motor MG2.

[0013] The power transmission device 16 includes, within a case 18, a damper 20, an input shaft 22 connected to the crankshaft 12a of the engine 12 via the damper 20, a transmission unit 24 connected to the input shaft 22, a compound gear 26, a driven gear 28, a driven shaft 30, a final gear 32, a differential gear 34, a reduction gear 36, a rotor shaft RSmg1 connected to the rotor of the first electric motor MG1, and a rotor shaft RSmg2 connected to the rotor of the second electric motor MG2. The power transmission device 16 also includes a pair of drive shafts 38 connected to the differential gear 34.

[0014] The compound gear 26 is an output rotation member having a hollow cylindrical shape. A drive gear 26a is integrally provided on one axial end of the outer circumferential surface of the compound gear 26. The drive gear 26a meshes with the driven gear 28 and is connected to the drive wheels 14 so as to be able to transmit power. A parking lock gear 62 for parking lock is integrally provided on the other axial end of the outer circumferential surface of the compound gear 26, separate from the drive gear 26a.

[0015] The driven shaft 30 fixes the driven gear 28 and the final gear 32 so that they cannot rotate relative to each other. The final gear 32 meshes with a differential ring gear 34a of the differential gear 34. The reduction gear 36 meshes with the driven gear 28 and is connected to the rotor shaft RSmg2. The second electric motor MG2 is connected to the drive wheels 14 so as to be able to transmit power, and is also connected to the drive gear 26a so as to be able to transmit power.

[0016] The transmission unit 24 includes a first electric motor MG1 and a planetary gear set 40. The planetary gear set 40 is a differential mechanism and is a known single-pinion planetary gear set including a sun gear S, a carrier CA, a ring gear R, and a plurality of pinions P. The sun gear S is connected to the rotor shaft RSmg1, and is connected to the first electric motor MG1 so as to be able to transmit power. The carrier CA is connected to the input shaft 22 so as to be able to transmit power, and is connected to the engine 12 so as to be able to transmit power. Each pinion P is supported by the carrier CA so as to be able to rotate and revolve. The ring gear R is integrally provided on a part of the inner circumferential surface of the compound gear 26. The ring gear R meshes with the sun gear S via the pinion P. The planetary gear set 40 is a power split mechanism that mechanically splits the power of the engine 12 input to the carrier CA between the first electric motor MG1 and the drive gear 26a. The transmission unit 24 is a known electric continuously variable transmission in which the differential state of the planetary gear device 40 is controlled by controlling the operating state of the first electric motor MG1.

[0017] In the transmission unit 24, MG1 torque Tg, which is a reaction torque of the negative torque generated by the first electric motor MG1 in response to the positive engine torque Te input to the carrier CA, is input to the sun gear S. As a result, a positive direct engine torque Td (= Te / (1+ρ) = -(1 / ρ) × Tg) appears in the ring gear R during forward rotation. The combined torque of the direct engine torque Td and the MG2 torque Tm is transmitted to the drive wheels 14 as drive torque. At this time, the electric power generated by the first electric motor MG1 is supplied to the battery 54 and the second electric motor MG2. The above "ρ" is the gear ratio of the planetary gear set 40 (= number of teeth of the sun gear / number of teeth of the ring gear).

[0018] The vehicle 10 is equipped with a shift switching device 58 having a shift lever 56. The shift lever 56 is operated by the driver to one of a plurality of operating positions POSsh. The operating positions POSsh include, for example, a P operating position. The P operating position is a parking operating position for selecting a parking position (= P position) of the transmission unit 24, in which the transmission unit 24 is in a neutral state and rotation of the composite gear 26 is mechanically prevented. The state in which rotation of the composite gear 26 is prevented is a parking lock state (= P lock state) in which the composite gear 26 is mechanically fixed so as to be unable to rotate. When the shift lever 56 is operated to the P operating position, the composite gear 26 (parking lock gear 62) is fixed so as to be unable to rotate by a parking lock mechanism 60 provided in the vehicle 10.

[0019] The vehicle 10 also includes a power switch 90, an emergency stop switch 92, and a display device 94. The power switch 90 and the emergency stop switch 92 are, for example, momentary push button switches disposed near the driver's seat. The power switch 90 is operated to switch between starting and stopping the vehicle 10, and the power switch 90 is turned ON only while the switch is pressed, and a power switch signal Pon is output. The emergency stop switch 92 is operated when an emergency stop of the vehicle 10 is requested, and the emergency stop switch 92 is turned ON only while the switch is pressed, and an emergency stop signal ESon is output. The display device 94 is, for example, a device such as a multi-information display that displays various information to the driver, and displays information Dinf output from the electronic control device 80, which will be described later.

[0020] The vehicle 10 is equipped with an electronic control unit 80 that includes a control device for the vehicle 10. The electronic control unit 80 includes a so-called microcomputer, and performs various controls for the vehicle 10.

[0021] The electronic control device 80 is supplied with various signals (e.g., engine rotation speed Ne, output rotation speed No which is the rotation speed of the driven gear 28 corresponding to the vehicle speed V, MG1 rotation speed Ng, MG2 rotation speed Nm, operation position POSsh, power switch signal Pon, emergency stop signal ESon, etc.) based on detection values ​​from various sensors, switches, etc. provided on the vehicle 10 (e.g., engine rotation speed sensor 70, output rotation speed sensor 72, MG1 rotation speed sensor 74, MG2 rotation speed sensor 76, shift position sensor 78, power switch 90, emergency stop switch 92, etc.).

[0022] The electronic control device 80 outputs various command signals (e.g., engine control command signal Se, MG control command signal Smg, information Dinf, etc.) to each device provided in the vehicle 10 (e.g., engine control device 50, inverter 52, display device 94, etc.).

[0023] The electronic control unit 80 switches the vehicle 10 between a stop IG off state (not running, so-called ignition off state) and a start IG on state (running, so-called ignition on state) by operating the power switch 90. When the power switch 90 is turned ON (power switch signal P on is output) in the stop IG off state, the electronic control unit 80 switches the vehicle 10 to the start IG on state. Furthermore, when the power switch 90 is turned ON (power switch signal P on is output) in the start IG on state and the vehicle 10 is not running (for example, when the vehicle speed V is 0 or less than a predetermined value), the electronic control unit 80 switches the vehicle 10 to the stop IG off state. Furthermore, when switching between the stop IG off state and the start IG on state, in addition to the operation of the power switch 90 described above, the operating state and operating position POS sh of the brake (not shown) and the like are preferably added as conditions for performing the switching.

[0024] Furthermore, when the power switch 90 is operated as described below while the vehicle 10 is running, the electronic control unit 80 performs control to bring the vehicle 10 to an emergency stop. That is, the power switch 90 is also used for an emergency stop operation while the vehicle 10 is running.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional control operation of the electronic control unit 80 in an emergency stop operation while the vehicle is running, and is executed repeatedly, for example.

[0026] First, in step (hereinafter, "step" will be omitted) S1, it is determined whether the power switch 90 has been pressed and held ON or continuously pressed ON. If the determination in S1 is negative, this routine is terminated. A long press ON refers to, for example, the power switch 90 being turned ON for a predetermined time Ta or longer, i.e., the power switch signal Pon being output for the predetermined time Ta or longer. The predetermined time Ta is set to a suitable value in advance (e.g., 2 seconds). A continuous ON refers to, for example, the power switch 90 being repeatedly turned ON a predetermined number of times N or more at intervals of a predetermined time Tb or shorter, i.e., the power switch signal Pon being repeatedly output a predetermined number of times N or more at intervals of a predetermined time Tb or shorter. The predetermined time Tb and the predetermined number of times N are set to suitable values ​​in advance (e.g., N=3 or more times at intervals of Tb=0.3 seconds or shorter). If the determination in S1 is positive, the vehicle 10 is brought to an emergency stop in S2, the stop IG is switched off, and this routine is terminated.

[0027] However, in the conventional example, the long press ON or continuous ON operation described above was difficult to understand in the panic of an abnormality, and a more understandable and simple operation was required. However, if it was too easy, there was a risk of an emergency stop due to a mistaken operation.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the control operation of the electronic control unit 80 in this embodiment in an emergency stop operation while the vehicle is running, and is executed repeatedly, for example.

[0029] First, in step (hereinafter, "step" will be omitted) S10, it is determined whether the emergency stop switch 92 has been turned ON, i.e., whether the emergency stop signal ESon has been output. If the determination in S10 is negative, this routine is terminated. If the determination in S10 is positive, in S20, information Dinf prompting the display device 94 to turn ON the power switch 90 is transmitted, and the information Dinf is displayed. Next, in S30, it is determined whether the power switch 90 has been turned ON, i.e., whether the power switch signal Pon has been output. If the determination in S30 is negative, this routine is terminated. If the determination in S30 is positive, in S40, the vehicle 10 is brought to an emergency stop, the stop signal IG is switched to off, and this routine is terminated.

[0030] As described above, according to this embodiment, when the emergency stop switch 92 is turned ON while the vehicle is running, the display device 94 displays information Dinf urging the driver to turn ON the power switch 90, and when the power switch 90 is turned ON after the display of information Dinf urging the driver to turn ON the power switch 90, control is performed to bring the vehicle 10 to an emergency stop. This allows the driver to perform an emergency stop operation more clearly and simply, while preventing erroneous operation even in a panicked state due to an abnormality.

[0031] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the present invention can also be applied to other embodiments.

[0032] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the vehicle 10 was a hybrid vehicle powered by the engine 12 and the second electric motor MG2, but the present invention can also be applied to a vehicle that has only the engine 12 as a power source, or an electric vehicle that is powered by only an electric motor.

[0033] It should be noted that the above is merely one embodiment, and the present invention can be embodied in various forms with various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 10: Vehicle 80: Electronic control unit (control unit) 90: Power switch 92: Emergency stop switch 94: Display device Dinf: Information IGoff: Stop IGon: Start

Claims

[Claim 1] A control device for a vehicle, comprising: a power switch for operating the start and stop of a vehicle; an emergency stop switch for operating when an emergency stop of the vehicle is required; and a display device for displaying information to a driver, When the emergency stop switch is operated while the vehicle is running, information urging the driver to operate the power switch is displayed on the display device, and when the driver operates the power switch after the display of the information urging the driver to operate the power switch, control is performed to bring the vehicle to an emergency stop. A vehicle control device characterized by:

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