Vehicle control system

Abstract

To enable accelerated cooling of the refrigerant even when there is no vehicle in front. [Solution] The vehicle control device 2 includes a water temperature acquisition unit 21 that acquires the engine water temperature, and a deceleration adjustment unit 22 that, when the water temperature acquired by the water temperature acquisition unit 21 is above a predetermined temperature, reduces the deceleration when the accelerator is released to less than the normal deceleration.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] The vehicle speed control device described in Patent Document 1 below includes a vehicle speed control unit that controls the vehicle speed of the host vehicle so that the inter-vehicle distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle approaches a preset target inter-vehicle distance, and a heating device provided in the host vehicle for heating the interior of the host vehicle. The heating device has a heater core through which a refrigerant for cooling the power source of the host vehicle flows, and a heater fan that generates wind passing through the heater core. The heating control unit controls the heating device. When the temperature of the refrigerant becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value during the vehicle speed control by the vehicle speed control unit, the heating control unit increases the operation amount of the heating device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the operation amount of the heating device is increased only during vehicle speed control in which the vehicle speed of the host vehicle is controlled so that the inter-vehicle distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle approaches the target inter-vehicle distance, and cooling of the refrigerant having reached a predetermined temperature or higher is promoted. Therefore, when there is no preceding vehicle, there is a problem that cooling of the refrigerant is not promoted even if the temperature of the refrigerant for cooling the power source becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to enable promotion of cooling of the refrigerant even when there is no preceding vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] This disclosure relates to a vehicle control device comprising: a water temperature acquisition unit for acquiring engine water temperature; and a deceleration adjustment unit that, when the water temperature acquired by the water temperature acquisition unit is above a predetermined temperature, reduces the deceleration when the accelerator is released to a lower level than the normal deceleration. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to accelerate the cooling of the refrigerant even when there is no vehicle in front of it. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram of the vehicle control device in this embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the vehicle control device shown in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] This embodiment will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. To facilitate understanding of the explanation, the same reference numerals are used for identical components in each drawing whenever possible, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle control device 2 in this embodiment includes a water temperature acquisition unit 21 and a deceleration adjustment unit 22.

[0011] The water temperature acquisition unit 21 is the part that acquires coolant temperature data of the engine, which is the power source of the vehicle on which the vehicle control device 2 is installed.

[0012] The deceleration adjustment unit 22 is responsible for reducing the deceleration when the accelerator is released compared to the normal deceleration, if the water temperature acquired by the water temperature acquisition unit 21 is above a predetermined temperature. The deceleration adjustment unit 22 outputs a deceleration instruction.

[0013] Furthermore, the vehicle control device 2 includes, as an example of its electrical components, a microcomputer, a data transfer circuit, and a power supply circuit. The microcomputer includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and flash memory.

[0014] The operation of the vehicle control device 2 will be explained with reference to Figure 2. In step S01, the water temperature acquisition unit 21 acquires the engine water temperature. The water temperature acquisition unit 21 outputs the acquired engine water temperature to the deceleration adjustment unit 22.

[0015] In step S02, following step S01, the deceleration adjustment unit 22 determines whether the engine water temperature is greater than a threshold. If the engine water temperature is greater than the threshold (step S02: YES), the process proceeds to step S03. If the engine water temperature is not greater than the threshold (step S02: NO), the process proceeds to step S07.

[0016] In step S03, the deceleration adjustment unit 22 determines whether the distance to the vehicle in front is greater than a threshold. The distance to the vehicle in front can be obtained, for example, from the ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) installed in the vehicle. If the distance to the vehicle in front is greater than the threshold (step S03: YES), the process proceeds to step S04. If the distance to the vehicle in front is not greater than the threshold (step S03: NO), the process proceeds to step S07.

[0017] In step S04, the deceleration adjustment unit 22 determines whether or not there is a continuous downhill slope. The gradient of the road on which the vehicle is traveling can be obtained or estimated, for example, from the vehicle's onboard navigation system or ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems). If it is determined that there is a continuous downhill slope (step S04: YES), the process proceeds to step S05. If it is not determined that there is a continuous downhill slope (step S04: NO), the process proceeds to step S07.

[0018] In step S05, the deceleration adjustment unit 22 determines whether the curves are continuous. The curvature state of the road on which the vehicle is traveling can be obtained, for example, from a navigation system or steering angle information mounted on the vehicle. If it is determined that the curves are continuous (step S05: YES), the process proceeds to step S06. If it is not determined that the curves are continuous (step S05: NO), the process proceeds to step S07.

[0019] In step S06, the deceleration adjustment unit 22 outputs a deceleration reduction instruction. In step S07, the deceleration adjustment unit 22 outputs a normal deceleration instruction.

[0020] The present embodiment has been described above with reference to specific examples. However, the present disclosure is not limited to these specific examples. As long as those obtained by appropriately making design changes to these specific examples by those skilled in the art have the features of the present disclosure, they are included in the scope of the present disclosure. Each element included in each of the above-described specific examples, and its arrangement, conditions, shape, etc. are not limited to those illustrated and can be changed as appropriate. Each element included in each of the above-described specific examples can be appropriately combined as long as no technical contradiction occurs.

[0021] [Appendix] [Appendix 1] A water temperature acquisition unit 21 that acquires the engine water temperature, A vehicle control device 2 including a deceleration adjustment unit 22 that makes the deceleration at the time of accelerator-off smaller than the normal deceleration when the water temperature acquired by the water temperature acquisition unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

[0022] According to Appendix 1, when the engine water temperature is high, the deceleration at the time of accelerator-off is made smaller than the normal deceleration, so that a high vehicle speed can be maintained. As a result, compared with normal deceleration, it is possible to be exposed to the wind for a longer time, and an increase in the engine water temperature can be suppressed. In addition, even when restarting by re-accelerating, it becomes less likely to be subject to the restriction due to the engine water temperature.

[0023] Furthermore, if there is a vehicle in front, or if the vehicle is driving downhill or on a winding road with a curve curvature exceeding a specified value, the user may feel uncomfortable if there is no normal deceleration sensation. Therefore, based on ADAS information, if there is a vehicle in front, or based on navigation, ITS, and steering input information, the deceleration can be kept unchanged when driving downhill with a curve curvature exceeding a specified value. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 2: Vehicle control system 21:Water temperature acquisition part 22: Deceleration adjustment section

Claims

[Claim 1] A water temperature acquisition unit that acquires engine water temperature, A vehicle control device comprising: a deceleration adjustment unit that, when the water temperature acquired by the water temperature acquisition unit is above a predetermined temperature, reduces the deceleration when the accelerator is released to a lower level than the normal deceleration.

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