Management apparatus

Abstract

To provide a management device capable of setting determination of whether braking of a wheel is caused by an operation to a brake pedal to be invalid when automatic braking of the wheel is executed or when execution of the automatic braking of the wheel is estimated.SOLUTION: A management device is provided in a vehicle in which automatic braking of a wheel is performed when an obstacle around the vehicle is detected, and manages a braking function of the vehicle, the management device including a brake switch configured to detect a depressing operation on a brake pedal, a hydraulic pressure sensor configured to measure a hydraulic pressure of a brake fluid, a determination unit configured to determine whether braking of the wheel is caused by the depressing operation on the brake pedal, when one of the detection of the depressing operation on the brake pedal and an increase in the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid occurs, based on whether the other of the detection of the depressing operation on the brake pedal and the increase in the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid occurs, and a setting unit configured to set determination by the determination unit to be invalid when the automatic braking is performed or when the automatic braking is estimated to be performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a management device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, vehicles have been equipped with an automatic braking function that automatically brakes the wheels in order to avoid collisions between the vehicle and obstacles. Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a configuration for realizing such a function. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-021030 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In such a vehicle, whether or not braking of the wheels is caused by depression of the brake pedal is determined by comparing a brake pedal on / off signal with a brake hydraulic pressure signal.

[0005] Specifically, if either the brake pedal is depressed or the brake fluid pressure increases, and the other also occurs, it is determined that the wheel braking is caused by the brake pedal depression; and if either the brake pedal is depressed or the brake fluid pressure increases, and the other does not occur, it is determined that the wheel braking is not caused by the brake pedal depression.

[0006] Therefore, when wheel braking is performed by an automatic braking function or the like, it is determined that the braking of the wheel is not caused by depression of the brake pedal. Also, when it is determined that wheel braking is not caused by depression of the brake pedal in this way, some control using the brake fluid pressure signal may be restricted, which may result in a decrease in operability of the vehicle 1.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned situation, and aims to provide a management device that can disable the determination of whether the braking of the wheels is due to operation of the brake pedal when automatic braking of the wheels is performed or when it is estimated that automatic braking of the wheels will be performed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve at least some of the above-mentioned problems, and can be realized as the following aspects or application examples.

[0009] The management device of this application example is a management device that is installed in a vehicle in which automatic braking of the wheels is performed when an obstacle is detected around the vehicle, and that manages the braking function of the vehicle, and is equipped with a brake switch that detects depression of the brake pedal, a hydraulic pressure sensor that measures the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid, a judgment unit that determines whether the braking of the wheels is due to depression of the brake pedal based on whether or not the other of the detection of depression of the brake pedal and an increase in the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid occurs at the same time, and a setting unit that sets the judgment of the judgment unit to invalid when the automatic braking is performed or when it is estimated that the automatic braking will be performed.

[0010] In this application example, when automatic wheel braking is performed or when it is estimated that automatic wheel braking will be performed, the determination function is set to disabled. Therefore, according to this application example, when automatic wheel braking is performed, it is possible to avoid restrictions on control using hydraulic information on the brake fluid pressure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a part of the mechanical configuration and the electrical configuration of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a management device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing in a setting unit of the management device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the management device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of processing in a setting unit of a management device according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] 1. Vehicle configuration 1 is a schematic diagram showing a mechanical configuration and a part of an electrical configuration of a vehicle 1 of this embodiment. The vehicle 1 of this embodiment is an automobile, specifically a truck.

[0013] The vehicle 1 is equipped with a brake pedal 10, a brake switch 12, a booster 14, a master cylinder 16, a hydraulic pressure sensor 18, a hydraulic circuit 20, a brake actuator 22, multiple braking units 28, multiple wheels 30, an obstacle sensor 32, an acceleration sensor 34, a speed sensor 36, and a control unit 50, etc.

[0014] The brake pedal 10 receives a depression operation (braking operation) from the driver of the vehicle 1. The brake switch 12 is provided on the brake pedal 10 and detects whether or not the brake pedal 10 is depressed. The brake switch 12 outputs on / off information to the control unit 50 depending on whether or not the brake pedal 10 is depressed.

[0015] The depression force acting on the brake pedal 10 is amplified by the booster 14 and then transmitted to the master cylinder 16. The booster 14 is separated into an atmospheric pressure chamber on the brake pedal 10 side and a negative pressure chamber on the master cylinder 16 side, and when the driver of the vehicle 1 depresses the brake pedal 10, the depression force acting on the brake pedal 10 is amplified due to the pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure chamber and the negative pressure chamber. Note that negative pressure means an air pressure lower than atmospheric pressure.

[0016] The master cylinder 16 is connected to the braking unit 28 via a hydraulic circuit 20. The master cylinder 16 and the hydraulic circuit 20 are filled with brake fluid (brake oil). The master cylinder 16 has an internal piston (not shown), and the piston moves in response to the input of a depression force from the booster 14, causing the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid in the master cylinder 16 and the hydraulic circuit 20 to increase. On the other hand, when the driver of the vehicle 1 stops depressing the pedal, that is, when the input of the depression force from the booster 14 is stopped, the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid in the master cylinder 16 and the hydraulic circuit 20 decreases and returns to the state before the increase.

[0017] The fluid pressure sensor 18 is provided in the master cylinder 16, measures the fluid pressure of the brake fluid in the master cylinder 16, and outputs fluid pressure information indicating the fluid pressure value of the brake fluid to the control unit 50.

[0018] The brake actuator 22 is provided in the hydraulic circuit 20. The brake actuator 22 includes an electric valve 24, an electric pump 26, etc., and operates the electric valve 24, the electric pump 26, etc. appropriately in response to instructions from the control unit 50 to increase or decrease the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid in the master cylinder 16 and the hydraulic circuit 20.

[0019] Each braking unit 28 generates braking force as the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid in the master cylinder 16 and the hydraulic circuit 20 increases, thereby braking the wheels 30. Each braking unit 28 corresponds to a drum brake type, and includes an annular friction material, a wheel cylinder, a pair of brake shoes, friction material, etc., within a cylindrical housing.

[0020] The frictional material is an annular rotating body that rotates together with the wheel 30. Specifically, the frictional material is a brake drum. When the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid is transmitted to the wheel cylinder, the piston of the wheel cylinder is driven, and the brake shoe connected to the piston is pressed against the inner surface of the frictional material.

[0021] A friction material is attached to the outer surface of the brake shoe that faces the friction target, so when the brake shoe is pressed against the inner surface of the friction target, the friction material is pressed against the inside of the friction target.

[0022] The obstacle sensor 32 detects obstacles around the vehicle 1, particularly in the traveling direction of the vehicle 1, and outputs information indicating the detection results to the control unit 50. Examples of the obstacle sensor 32 include a camera, a millimeter wave radar, a LiDAR (light detection and ranging), and an ultrasonic sensor.

[0023] The acceleration sensor 34 is an inertial sensor that measures changes over time in the speed of the vehicle 1. The acceleration sensor 34 measures acceleration by utilizing the inertial force that occurs when the traveling speed of the vehicle 1 changes, and outputs acceleration information indicating the acceleration of the vehicle 1 to the control unit 50. Note that the concept of acceleration includes acceleration in the traveling direction of the vehicle 1 and acceleration (deceleration) in the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the vehicle 1.

[0024] The speed sensor 36 measures the traveling speed of the vehicle 1 and outputs speed information indicating the traveling speed of the vehicle 1 to the control unit 50. The speed sensor 36 measures the traveling speed of the vehicle 1 from, for example, the number of rotations of a drive shaft (not shown).

[0025] The control unit 50 is a computer, such as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), that performs overall control of the vehicle 1. The control unit 50 is electrically connected to the brake switch 12, hydraulic pressure sensor 18, brake actuator 22, obstacle sensor 32, acceleration sensor 34, speed sensor 36, etc. via communication circuits.

[0026] In such a vehicle 1, braking of the wheels 30 is performed in response to depression of the brake pedal 10. In addition, in the vehicle 1, braking of the wheels 30 is performed in response to detection of an obstacle by the obstacle sensor 32. In other words, braking of the wheels 30 in the vehicle 1 may be performed in response to an operation by the driver of the vehicle 1, or may be performed automatically in response to detection of an obstacle.

[0027] The vehicle 1 also has a determination function for determining whether braking of the wheels 30 is caused by depression of the brake pedal 10. According to the determination function of the vehicle 1, when one of depression of the brake pedal 10 and an increase in the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid is detected, it is determined whether braking of the wheels 30 is caused by depression of the brake pedal 10 based on whether the other is also occurring.

[0028] When one of the detection of depression of the brake pedal 10 and the increase in the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid occurs, and the other occurs at the same time, it is determined that the braking of the wheels 30 is caused by depression of the brake pedal 10. On the other hand, when the detection of depression of the brake pedal 10 and the increase in the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid occur, and the other does not occur at the same time, it is determined that the braking of the wheels 30 is not caused by depression of the brake pedal 10.

[0029] Furthermore, if the determination function of the vehicle 1 determines that the braking of the wheels 30 is not due to depression of the brake pedal 10, then the control using the hydraulic pressure information output from the hydraulic pressure sensor 18 is restricted. Examples of control using the hydraulic pressure information that is subject to restriction include control that realizes the creep function of the vehicle 1, control that realizes the brake override function, and control that realizes switching from the parking range to another range (drive or neutral).

[0030] 2. Management Device Configuration The vehicle 1 further includes a management device 100 that manages the braking function of the vehicle 1. The management device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the management device 100 of this embodiment. Note that FIG. 2 is also a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the vehicle 1.

[0031] The management device 100 includes the brake switch 12, the hydraulic pressure sensor 18, the brake actuator 22, the obstacle sensor 32, the acceleration sensor 34, the speed sensor 36, the control unit 50, and the like, all of which are described above.

[0032] The control unit 50 is also a computer that performs overall control of the management device 100, and as described above, is electrically connected to each of the brake switch 12, hydraulic pressure sensor 18, brake actuator 22, obstacle sensor 32, acceleration sensor 34, speed sensor 36, and control unit 50, etc. via communication circuits.

[0033] The control unit 50 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 60 and a storage unit 80 that can be directly accessed by the CPU 60. The storage unit 80 is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a solid state drive (SSD), or any combination thereof.

[0034] The storage unit 80 stores programs, data, and the like for controlling the operation of the management device 100. Data acquired by various components of the management device 100 is also stored in the storage unit 80.

[0035] The data stored in the storage unit 80 is updated to the latest version as needed by being acquired by various components of the management device 100. Furthermore, the data pre-stored in the storage unit 80 is updated when settings are changed, etc.

[0036] The CPU 60 executes the programs stored in the storage unit 80 to function as an automatic braking unit 62, a determination unit 64, a setting unit 66, and the like.

[0037] The automatic braking unit 62 refers to the obstacle data 82. The obstacle data 82 is data that is stored in the memory unit 80 when the obstacle sensor 32 outputs information indicating the detection result to the control unit 50, and indicates whether or not there is an obstacle around the vehicle 1.

[0038] The automatic braking unit 62 refers to the obstacle data 82, and when an obstacle is present around the vehicle 1, controls the brake actuator 22 to increase the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid and brake the wheels 30. In other words, the automatic braking unit 62 performs automatic braking of the wheels 30. The memory unit 80 stores status data 84 indicating whether the automatic braking of the wheels 30 is being performed or not, and the status data 84 is updated as appropriate.

[0039] The determination unit 64 refers to operation data 86 and hydraulic pressure data 88. The operation data 86 is data stored in the memory unit 80 when the brake switch 12 outputs on / off information to the control unit 50, and indicates whether or not the brake pedal 10 is being depressed. The hydraulic pressure data 88 is data stored in the memory unit 80 when the hydraulic pressure sensor 18 outputs hydraulic pressure information to the control unit 50, and indicates the hydraulic pressure value of the brake fluid.

[0040] The determination unit 64 serves as a determination function of the vehicle 1. The determination unit 64 refers to the operation data 86 and the hydraulic pressure data 88, and determines whether braking of the wheels 30 is caused by depression of the brake pedal 10 based on whether depression of the brake pedal 10 or an increase in hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid occurs when either of these has occurred.

[0041] Specifically, when the determination unit 64 detects that the brake pedal 10 is being depressed and one of the brake fluid pressure increase occurs, and the other also occurs, the determination unit 64 determines that the braking of the wheels 30 is caused by the brake pedal 10 being depressed. On the other hand, when the brake pedal 10 is being depressed and one of the brake fluid pressure increase occurs, and the other does not occur, the determination unit 64 determines that the braking of the wheels 30 is not caused by the brake pedal 10 being depressed. Note that determination data 90 indicating the determination result by the determination unit 64 is stored in the storage unit 80 and updated as appropriate.

[0042] Next, the processing in the setting unit 66 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of the processing in the setting unit 66 of the management device 100 of this embodiment.

[0043] When automatic braking of the wheels 30 is performed, the setting unit 66 disables the determination function of the vehicle 1, that is, the determination by the determination unit 64.

[0044] For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the setting unit 66 sets the automatic braking unit 62 to automatically brake the wheels 30 and disables the determination function of the vehicle 1.

[0045] Furthermore, for example, the setting unit 66 may disable the determination function of the vehicle 1 when T1 seconds have elapsed since automatic braking of the wheels 30 was performed. T1 seconds here is an arbitrary number of seconds, and is set to, for example, the same as the time required for the brake fluid pressure to stabilize after increasing.

[0046] On the other hand, the setting unit 66 resets the determination function of the vehicle 1 to be valid after the automatic braking of the wheels 30 has been terminated (deactivated).

[0047] For example, the setting unit 66 refers to the speed data 94, and resets the determination function of the vehicle 1 to active when the speed of the vehicle 1 reaches an arbitrary threshold value V1 after automatic braking of the wheels 30 is terminated, as shown in Fig. 3. The threshold value V1 here is an arbitrary speed and is set to, for example, about 5 km / h. The speed data 94 is data stored in the storage unit 80 when the speed sensor 36 outputs speed information to the control unit 50, and indicates the traveling speed of the vehicle 1.

[0048] Furthermore, for example, the setting unit 66 may refer to the speed data 94 and reset the determination function of the vehicle 1 to valid when T2 seconds have elapsed since the speed of the vehicle 1 reached an arbitrary threshold value V1 after the automatic braking of the wheels 30 was terminated. T2 seconds here is an arbitrary number of seconds.

[0049] Furthermore, for example, the setting unit 66 may refer to the speed data 94 and reset the determination function of the vehicle 1 to be valid when the vehicle 1 resumes traveling after the automatic braking of the wheels 30 has ended.

[0050] Furthermore, for example, the setting unit 66 may reset the determination function of the vehicle 1 to valid when T3 seconds have elapsed since the automatic braking of the wheels 30 was terminated. T3 seconds here is an arbitrary number of seconds, and is set, for example, to be the same as the time it takes for the vehicle 1 to resume traveling after the automatic braking of the wheels 30 is terminated.

[0051] Furthermore, for example, the setting unit 66 may also refer to the hydraulic pressure data 88, and reset the determination function of the vehicle 1 to be valid when T4 seconds have passed since the brake fluid pressure returned to the state before the increase after the automatic braking of the wheels 30 was terminated. T4 seconds here is an arbitrary number of seconds, and is set, for example, to be the same as the time it takes for the vehicle 1 to resume traveling after the brake fluid pressure returned to the state before the increase.

[0052] 3. Example of management device operation Fig. 4 is a flow diagram showing an example of the operation of the control unit 50 of the management device 100. The process of the flow shown in Fig. 4 starts, for example, when the control unit 50 of the vehicle 1 is started.

[0053] In step S1, the control unit 50 determines whether automatic braking has been performed. If the answer is "NO" in step S1, that is, if automatic braking has not been performed, the control unit 50 returns the process to step S1. On the other hand, if the answer is "YES" in step S1, that is, if automatic braking has been performed, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S2.

[0054] In step S2, the setting unit 66 of the control unit 50 disables the determination function of the vehicle 1, and the control unit 50 proceeds to step S3.

[0055] In step S3, the control unit 50 determines whether the automatic braking has ended. If the answer is "NO" in step S3, that is, if the automatic braking has not ended, the control unit 50 returns the process to step S3. On the other hand, if the answer is "YES" in step S3, that is, if the automatic braking has ended, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S4.

[0056] In step S4, the setting unit 66 of the control unit 50 resets the determination function of the vehicle 1 to be valid, and the control unit 50 returns the flow.

[0057] According to such a management device 100, when automatic braking of the wheels 30 is performed, the determination function of the vehicle 1 is set to disabled. Therefore, according to the management device 100, when automatic braking of the wheels 30 is performed, it is possible to avoid restrictions on control using the hydraulic pressure data 88, and, for example, to suppress a decrease in operability of the vehicle 1. Furthermore, according to the management device 100, after automatic braking of the wheels 30 has ended, it is possible to reset the determination function of the vehicle 1 to enabled. Therefore, according to the management device 100, it is also possible to suppress the effects that arise from setting the determination function of the vehicle 1 to disabled.

[0058] 4. Variations The automatic braking of the wheel 30 is carried out when it cannot be handled by the driver of the vehicle 1 stepping on the brake pedal 10, for example, when an obstacle suddenly enters the traveling path of the vehicle 1. Therefore, when the automatic braking of the wheel 30 is carried out, the vehicle 1 often experiences a sudden deceleration.

[0059] Based on this, when the setting unit 66 of the control unit 50 in this modification refers to the acceleration data 92 and estimates that the automatic braking of the wheel 30 will be carried out based on the deceleration of the vehicle 1, the determination function of the vehicle 1 is set to be invalid. Also, when it is estimated that the automatic braking of the wheel 30 has ended based on the deceleration of the vehicle 1, the determination function of the vehicle 1 is reset to be valid. Hereinafter, the processing in the setting unit 66 of the modification will be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of the processing in the setting unit 66 of the management device 100 of the modification. <​​​​​​​​​​​​​According to such a management device 100, when it is estimated that automatic braking of the wheels 30 will be performed, the determination function of the vehicle 1 is set to disabled. Therefore, according to the management device 100, when it is estimated that automatic braking of the wheels 30 will be performed, it is possible to avoid limiting control using the hydraulic pressure data 88, and, for example, to suppress a decrease in operability of the vehicle 1. Furthermore, according to the management device 100, after it is estimated that automatic braking of the wheels 30 will be completed, it is possible to reset the determination function of the vehicle 1 to enabled. Therefore, according to the management device 100, it is also possible to suppress the effects that occur when the determination function of the vehicle 1 is set to disabled.

[0064] This concludes the description of the embodiment of the present invention and its modified examples, but the specific configurations shown here are merely examples, and the aspects of the present invention are not limited to the configurations shown in the embodiment and its modified examples.

[0065] The above-described embodiment and its modified examples may be combined. For example, the setting unit 66 disables the determination function of the vehicle 1 when it is estimated that automatic braking of the wheels 30 has been performed based on the deceleration of the vehicle 1. On the other hand, the setting unit 66 resets the determination function of the vehicle 1 to enable when the vehicle 1 resumes traveling after the automatic braking of the wheels 30 has ended.

[0066] Furthermore, the flow diagram showing the operation of the management device 100 of the above embodiment is merely an example, and the order of the steps may be changed as long as the same results are obtained.

[0067] Furthermore, in the above embodiment and its modified examples, the braking portion 28 may correspond to a disc brake type. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1 vehicle 10. Brake pedal 12 Brake switch 18 Hydraulic pressure sensor 30 wheels 62 Automatic braking unit 64 Judgment section 66 Setting section 100 Management Device

Claims

[Claim 1] A management device that is provided in a vehicle that performs automatic wheel braking when an obstacle is detected around the vehicle and manages a braking function of the vehicle, A brake switch that detects depression of the brake pedal; a hydraulic pressure sensor for measuring the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid; a determination unit that determines whether braking of the wheels is due to depression of the brake pedal based on whether or not one of depression of the brake pedal and an increase in the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid occurs at the same time; and a setting unit that sets the determination by the determination unit to be invalid when the automatic braking is performed or when it is estimated that the automatic braking will be performed.

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