Vehicle control devices

Abstract

This technology provides an improvement in worker efficiency on vehicle production lines. [Solution] In the vehicle control device 10, the control switching units 42a, 42b, and 42c switch between normal control and production line control. The determination units 44a, 44b, and 44c determine whether to control the opening and closing device of the vehicle based on a first opening / closing condition in normal control, and whether to control the opening and closing device based on a second opening / closing condition in production line control. The control units 46a, 46b, and 46c control the opening and closing device based on the determination result by the determination unit. The first opening / closing condition includes a condition relating to a vehicle control signal that stops communication during software writing to the electronic control device 12 of the vehicle. The second opening / closing condition does not include a condition relating to a vehicle control signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle control device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a hybrid vehicle capable of electric driving that stops the engine and runs using only the power from the motor. In this vehicle, before shipment, the allowable lower limit ratio, which is the lower limit value of the battery's power storage ratio allowing electric driving, is made larger than after shipment.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When software is written to the electronic control device of a vehicle in the production line of the vehicle in a factory, for the priority of the writing process and ensuring safety, communication of vehicle control signals necessary for normal control in the vehicle, such as vehicle speed signals, is stopped. Back doors and boarding doors that open and close by electronic control are determined whether they can open and close based on the vehicle control signals. Therefore, during software writing, the back door and boarding doors do not operate. As a result, in the assembly process and inspection process of the production line, workers cannot open and close the back door etc. or board and alight from the vehicle, which may reduce work efficiency or cause restrictions on the work content.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technology capable of improving the work efficiency of workers in the production line of a vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, a vehicle control device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a control switching unit that switches between normal control and production line control; a determination unit that determines whether to control the opening and closing device of a vehicle based on a first opening / closing condition in normal control and on a second opening / closing condition in production line control; and a control unit that controls the opening and closing device based on the determination result by the determination unit. The first opening / closing condition includes a condition relating to a vehicle control signal that stops communication during software writing to the electronic control device of the vehicle. The second opening / closing condition does not include a condition relating to the vehicle control signal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technology that can improve the work efficiency of workers in a vehicle production line. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This diagram schematically shows the functional configuration of the vehicle system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a state transition diagram for the state transition section in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This diagram illustrates each state in the state transition section of Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Figure 1 schematically shows the functional configuration of the vehicle system 1 of the embodiment. The vehicle system 1 is mounted on a vehicle (not shown). The vehicle is not limited to a vehicle that generates vehicle driving force solely from an internal combustion engine, but may also be a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) that generates vehicle driving force from both an internal combustion engine and a motor, or an electric vehicle (BEV) or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) that generates vehicle driving force solely from a motor. The vehicle may be a vehicle driven by a driver or an autonomous vehicle.

[0010] The vehicle system 1 comprises a vehicle control device 10, an electronic control device 12, an actuator 14, a global bus 16, and a local bus 18.

[0011] The vehicle control device 10 controls the opening and closing of the vehicle's opening and closing devices (not shown) in response to user operations. These opening and closing devices may also be called opening and closing bodies or covers, and include electronically controlled doors or lids such as the vehicle's back door, passenger doors, charging lid, and fuel lid. Hereinafter, these opening and closing devices will be referred to as covers. The vehicle control device 10 can be composed of an ECU (Electric Control Unit). Details of the vehicle control device 10 will be described later.

[0012] The electronic control unit 12 is, for example, an ECU for car navigation, an ECU for brake control, an ECU for power supply control, an ECU for hybrid system control, or an ECU for autonomous driving. Figure 1 shows one electronic control unit 12, but multiple electronic control units 12 are provided (not shown). The vehicle control unit 10 and the electronic control units 12 are connected by a global bus 16. Although not shown, a diagnostic communication interface is also connected to the global bus 16, and external devices outside the vehicle can be connected via the diagnostic communication interface. External devices are also called external tools and are operated by workers on the production line, etc.

[0013] In the production line of the factory where the vehicles are manufactured, software is written to the electronic control unit 12 via the global bus 16 by an external device connected to the diagnostic communication interface. This software writing process is also called reprogramming.

[0014] Vehicle control signals acquired from various sensors on the vehicle are supplied to the vehicle control device 10 and the electronic control device 12 via communication through the global bus 16. However, communication of vehicle control signals via the global bus 16 is suspended while software is being written to the electronic control device 12.

[0015] The actuator 14 is located on the cover and can open and close the cover. The actuator 14 is connected to the vehicle control device 10 via a local bus 18. The actuator 14 operates in response to operation request signals sent from the vehicle control device 10 via the local bus 18 to control the opening and closing of the cover. In the example in Figure 1, the actuator 14 includes an actuator for the back door, an actuator for the passenger doors, and an actuator for the refueling or charging lid.

[0016] The vehicle control device 10 includes a communication unit 20, a diagnostic unit 30, a first application execution unit 40a, a second application execution unit 40b, and a third application execution unit 40c. The diagnostic unit 30 includes a state transition unit 32. The first application execution unit 40a includes a control switching unit 42a, a determination unit 44a, and a control unit 46a. The second application execution unit 40b includes a control switching unit 42b, a determination unit 44b, and a control unit 46b. The third application execution unit 40c includes a control switching unit 42c, a determination unit 44c, and a control unit 46c.

[0017] Hereafter, unless otherwise necessary, the first application execution unit 40a to the third application execution unit 40c will be collectively referred to as "application execution unit 40". Unless otherwise necessary, the control switching unit 42a to the control switching unit 42c will be collectively referred to as "control switching unit 42", the determination unit 44a to the determination unit 44c will be collectively referred to as "determination unit 44", and the control unit 46a to the control unit 46c will be collectively referred to as "control unit 46".

[0018] The functional configuration of the vehicle control device 10 can be realized by the cooperation of hardware resources and software resources. The vehicle control device 10 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. as hardware resources. The ROM stores various control programs as software resources, maps, etc. that are referenced when executing these various control programs. The CPU executes arithmetic processing based on the various control programs and maps stored in the ROM. The RAM is a memory that temporarily stores the arithmetic results in the CPU, data input from each sensor, etc.

[0019] Note that the software that realizes the functions of the vehicle control device 10 may have an application layer and a software platform layer. The application layer includes a plurality of applications for realizing the functions of the plurality of application execution units 40. The platform layer includes communication software for realizing the functions of the communication unit 20 and diagnostic software for realizing the functions of the diagnostic unit 30.

[0020] The communication unit 20 receives a vehicle control signal via the global bus 16 and sends the received vehicle control signal to the determination unit 44 of each application execution unit 40. The vehicle control signal is a signal including information necessary for normal control by the application execution unit 40 and includes a vehicle speed signal, etc.

[0021] The communication unit 20 receives an operation request signal from the application execution unit 40 and transmits the received operation request signal to the actuator 14 via the local bus 18.

[0022] The diagnostic unit 30 executes self-diagnosis control.

[0023] Figure 2 is a state transition diagram in the state transition unit 32 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a diagram for explaining each state of the state transition unit 32 of Figure 1. The state transition unit 32 transitions states according to the state transition diagram of Figure 2.

[0024] Upon the initial power-on of the vehicle control device 10 on the production line, the state transition unit 32 is set to the pre-factory shipment state. The state transition unit 32 receives state transition requests from external devices via the communication diagnostic interface and the global bus 16. State transition requests are input by an operator operating an external device.

[0025] The state transition unit 32 transitions between the pre-factory shipment state and the lid operation permission state in response to the received state transition request, and then transitions from the pre-factory shipment state to the post-factory shipment state. The pre-factory shipment state and the lid operation permission state are intended to be used only on the factory production line.

[0026] When the state transition unit 32 receives a request to transition from the pre-factory shipment state to the lid operation permission state, the first condition is met and the unit transitions to the lid operation permission state. When the state transition unit 32 receives a request to transition from the lid operation permission state to the pre-factory shipment state, the second condition is met and the unit transitions to the pre-factory shipment state. When the state transition unit 32 receives a request to transition from the pre-factory shipment state to the post-factory shipment state, the third condition is met and the unit transitions to the post-factory shipment state.

[0027] Once the state transition unit 32 transitions to the post-factory-shipment state, it is not possible to transition to the pre-factory-shipment state or the lid operation permission state. It is assumed that when vehicle production is completed at the factory and the vehicle is shipped, a request for a state transition to the post-factory-shipment state is input from the worker, and the system transitions to the post-factory-shipment state.

[0028] In the pre-factory state, the state transition unit 32 stops sending lid operation permission signals to each application execution unit 40. In the lid operation permission state, the state transition unit 32 sends lid operation permission signals to each application execution unit 40. In the post-factory state, the state transition unit 32 does not send lid operation permission signals.

[0029] Returning to Figure 1, the first application execution unit 40a executes, for example, a back door application to control the opening and closing of the back door. The second application execution unit 40b executes, for example, a passenger door application to control the opening and closing of the passenger doors. The third application execution unit 40c executes, for example, a fuel supply or charging lid application to control the opening and closing of the fuel supply or charging lid.

[0030] The functions of each application execution unit 40 are described below. The control switching unit 42 switches between normal control and production line control. Production line control is control limited to the production line. The control switching unit 42 maintains normal control when it has not received a lid operation permission signal, that is, when the state transition unit 32 is in the pre-factory shipment state or the post-factory shipment state. When the control switching unit 42 receives a lid operation permission signal, that is, when the state transition unit 32 transitions from the pre-factory shipment state to the lid operation permission state, it switches to production line control. When the reception of the lid operation permission signal stops, that is, when the state transition unit 32 transitions from the lid operation permission state to the pre-factory shipment state, the control switching unit 42 switches to normal control.

[0031] In normal control, the determination unit 44 determines whether to control the opening and closing of the lid based on the first opening and closing condition. In production line control, the determination unit 44 determines whether to control the opening and closing of the lid based on the second opening and closing condition.

[0032] The first opening / closing condition includes conditions relating to a vehicle control signal that will stop communication during software writing to the electronic control unit 12. Known opening / closing conditions can be adopted as the first opening / closing condition. The first opening / closing condition includes an opening condition and a closing condition. For example, the opening condition may include an input for opening the target cover, a vehicle speed of less than or equal to a predetermined speed, and the shift lever in the parking range. For example, the closing condition may include an input for closing the target cover, a vehicle speed of less than or equal to a predetermined speed, and the shift lever in the parking range.

[0033] The second opening / closing condition does not include conditions related to vehicle control signals, which cause communication to be interrupted during software writing to the electronic control unit 12. In other words, the determination unit 44 determines whether to perform opening / closing control without using vehicle control signals, which cause communication to be interrupted during software writing, in production line control. The second opening / closing condition includes an opening condition and a closing condition. For example, the second opening / closing condition may be the first opening / closing condition with the conditions related to vehicle control signals removed. The first and second opening / closing conditions are pre-set for each application execution unit 40.

[0034] The control unit 46 controls the opening and closing of the lid based on the determination result from the determination unit 44. The control unit 46 controls the opening of the lid when the opening condition in the first or second opening / closing condition is met, and controls the closing of the lid when the closing condition in the first or second opening / closing condition is met. The control unit 46 controls the opening or closing of the target lid by sending an operation request signal to the actuator 14 via the communication unit 20 and the local bus 18.

[0035] According to the embodiment, by switching to production line control when writing software on the production line, it is determined whether to perform opening and closing control based on a second opening / closing condition that does not include conditions related to vehicle control signals that interrupt communication during software writing, so that the cover can be opened and closed even during software writing.

[0036] In this production line control system, even without receiving the vehicle control signals required for normal control, workers on the production line can open and close covers. Workers can open and close covers and get on and off vehicles while software is being written on the production line. The ability for workers to open and close covers and get on and off vehicles allows them to perform other tasks in parallel with software writing, thus increasing work efficiency. The ability for workers to open and close covers and get on and off vehicles does not impose any constraints on other tasks performed in parallel with software writing. Therefore, the work efficiency of workers on the production line can be increased.

[0037] Furthermore, by transitioning the vehicle to a post-factory-shipment state after production is complete, it becomes impossible to transition to a state where the cover operation is permitted. This prevents vehicles that execute production line-only control from being distributed to the market. By preventing control used only within the production line from being released to the market, it is possible to avoid impacting user safety and regulations.

[0038] The present invention has been described above based on embodiments. The embodiments are merely illustrative, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in combinations of each component and each processing process, and that such modifications also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0039] For example, the state transition unit 32 may be able to transition from the pre-factory state to the lid operation permission state only when software is being written. This prevents an operator from accidentally transitioning to the lid operation permission state when the vehicle is being driven within the factory, rather than when software writing is being performed. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 1...Vehicle system, 10...Vehicle control device, 12...Electronic control device, 20...Communication unit, 32...State transition unit, 40...Application execution unit, 40a...First application execution unit, 40b...Second application execution unit, 40c...Third application execution unit, 42,42a,42b,42c...Control switching unit, 44,44a,44b,44c...Determination unit, 46,46a,46b,46c...Control unit.

Claims

1. A control switching unit that switches between normal control and production line control, In the aforementioned normal control, a determination unit determines whether to control the opening and closing device of the vehicle based on a first opening and closing condition, and in the aforementioned production line control, a determination unit determines whether to control the opening and closing device based on a second opening and closing condition. A control unit that controls the opening and closing of the opening and closing device based on the determination result by the determination unit, Equipped with, The first opening / closing condition includes a condition relating to a vehicle control signal that causes communication to be stopped while software is being written to the electronic control unit provided by the vehicle, The second opening / closing condition does not include any conditions relating to the vehicle control signal. A vehicle control device characterized by the following features.

2. The vehicle further includes a state transition unit that, in response to a state transition request received from an external device via a bus provided by the vehicle, transitions between a pre-factory shipment state and an operation-permitted state, and transitions from the pre-factory shipment state to a post-factory shipment state. The control switching unit switches to the normal control when the state transition unit transitions to the pre-factory shipment state, and switches to the production line control when the state transition unit transitions to the operation permission state. The state transition unit, once it transitions to the post-factory-shipment state, cannot transition back to the pre-factory-shipment state or the operation-permitted state. The vehicle control device according to feature 1.

3. The system further includes a communication unit that receives the vehicle control signal via the bus and sends the received vehicle control signal to the determination unit. The software is written to the aforementioned electronic control unit via the bus. During the software writing to the electronic control unit, the communication of the vehicle control signal via the bus is stopped. The vehicle control signal includes the vehicle speed signal of the vehicle. The vehicle control device according to feature 2.

4. Upon the initial power-on of the vehicle control device, the state transition unit is set to the factory default state. The vehicle control device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by the above.

5. The opening and closing device includes the vehicle's back door and passenger doors. A vehicle control device according to any one of the features 1 to 3.

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