Data Recording Device

Abstract

To record freeze frame data on an engine stall, which is not caused by a driver's operation error, without omission in a MT vehicle .SOLUTION: A control device controls a vehicle that travels while transmitting engine torque outputted by an internal combustion engine to drive wheels via a clutch and a manual transmission. The control device detects the magnitude of an amount of depression of a clutch pedal by a driver via a sensor when the vehicle is in low-speed operation in which a vehicle speed is a predetermined value or less or when the vehicle is stopped, and on the condition that at least the amount of depression is smaller than a maximum value to which the clutch pedal can be depressed but is a threshold or more, at which the clutch is disengaged, records freeze frame data when an engine stall occurs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle that runs by transmitting engine torque output by an internal combustion engine to drive wheels via a clutch and a manual transmission. Data recording device installed in Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] When an internal combustion engine installed in a vehicle stalls, it is common practice to record and save freeze frame data, which is information indicating the vehicle's usage status at the time, in memory so that it can be used for subsequent analysis and to identify the cause (see, for example, the following patent document). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-163737 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In an MT (Manual Transmission) vehicle equipped with a manual transmission, the driver can freely operate a shift lever to change the gear position of the manual transmission, and can also freely operate a clutch pedal to switch between engaging and disengaging the clutch interposed between the internal combustion engine and the manual transmission.

[0005] In a manual transmission vehicle, even if there is no defect or failure in the internal combustion engine or the vehicle drivetrain, an engine stall can occur due to a driver's mistake. Typically, the driver makes a mistake when shifting the gears while driving at low speed or when the vehicle is stopped. position If the clutch is not in neutral and engaged, the rotation of the crankshaft, which is the output shaft of the internal combustion engine, will be locked, causing the engine to stall.

[0006] Therefore, in conventional manual transmission vehicles, a binary judgment is made via the clutch switch as to whether the clutch pedal is fully depressed or not, and freeze frame data is recorded if the engine stalls during low-speed driving or while the vehicle is stopped only when the clutch switch (lower clutch switch) is ON, i.e., when the clutch pedal is not fully depressed. However, if the clutch switch is OFF, i.e., when the clutch pedal is not fully depressed, freeze frame data is not recorded even if the engine stalls during low-speed driving or while the vehicle is stopped, because there is a high probability that this is due to driver error.

[0007] However, in reality, even if the driver does not fully depress the clutch pedal, in other words, even if the clutch switch is OFF, the clutch may be disengaged. An engine stall that occurs at this time is not caused by an operational error by the driver, and freeze frame data should be recorded, but at present, freeze frame data is not recorded. In other words, engine stalls caused by defects or failures in the internal combustion engine or the vehicle's drive system are overlooked, or the absence of freeze frame data makes it difficult to determine the cause.

[0008] The present invention was made by focusing on the above problems for the first time, Enables the recording of freeze frame data when an engine stall occurs with the clutch disengaged even if the driver does not fully depress the clutch pedal The intended purpose is to: [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In the present invention, a data recording device is mounted on a vehicle that runs by transmitting engine torque output by an internal combustion engine to drive wheels via a clutch and a manual transmission, and detects the amount of depression of the clutch pedal by a driver via a sensor, and when an engine stall occurs when the vehicle is running at a low speed below a predetermined speed or when the vehicle is stopped, Detects when the engine speed drops below a certain level from a certain level and The amount of clutch pedal depression detected by the sensor is nothing It is smaller than the maximum value that can be The clutch was engaged with slipping and friction in a half-clutch state.The prerequisite is that the clutch is above the threshold at which it is disengaged. Acquired during a certain period before or after the relevant condition is met The freeze frame data is recorded, and if the depression amount of the clutch pedal detected via the sensor is less than the threshold value, the freeze frame data is not recorded. Device was configured. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, in a manual transmission vehicle, It will be possible to record freeze frame data when an engine stall occurs with the clutch disengaged even if the driver does not fully depress the clutch pedal. . [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle internal combustion engine and a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a drive system of the vehicle according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of a process executed by the control device according to the embodiment in accordance with a program. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a timing chart illustrating the contents of control performed by the control device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an outline of an internal combustion engine 100 for a vehicle in this embodiment. The internal combustion engine 100 in this embodiment is a spark ignition type four-stroke engine and has a plurality of cylinders 1 (for example, three cylinders, one of which is shown in FIG. 1). An injector 11 for injecting fuel is provided for each cylinder 1 near the intake port of each cylinder 1. Also, an ignition plug 12 is attached to the ceiling of the combustion chamber of each cylinder 1. The ignition plug 12 generates a spark discharge between a center electrode and a ground electrode when an induced voltage generated by an ignition coil is applied to the ignition coil. The ignition coil is integrally built into a coil case together with an igniter, which is a semiconductor switching element.

[0013] An intake passage 3 for supplying intake air takes in air from the outside and guides it to the intake port of each cylinder 1. In the intake passage 3, an air cleaner 31, an electronic throttle valve 32 which is an intake throttle valve, a surge tank 33, and an intake manifold 34 are arranged in this order from upstream.

[0014] An exhaust passage 4 for discharging exhaust gas leads exhaust gas generated as a result of burning fuel inside the cylinders 1 to the outside from the exhaust port of each cylinder 1. An exhaust manifold 42 and a three-way catalyst 41 for purifying exhaust gas are arranged on this exhaust passage 4.

[0015] The exhaust gas recirculation device 2 includes elements: an external EGR passage 21 that communicates between the exhaust passage 4 and the intake passage 3, an EGR cooler 22 provided on the EGR passage 21, and an EGR valve 23 that opens and closes the EGR passage 21 to control the flow rate of EGR gas flowing through the EGR passage 21. The inlet of the EGR passage 21 is connected to a predetermined position downstream of the catalyst 41 in the exhaust passage 4. The outlet of the EGR passage 21 is connected to a predetermined position downstream of the throttle valve 32 in the intake passage 3, specifically to a surge tank 33.

[0016] In this embodiment, the vehicle is assumed to be an MT vehicle equipped with a manual transmission 300. As is well known, in an MT vehicle, as shown in FIG. 2, a manual transmission 300 is interposed between a crankshaft, which is an output shaft of an internal combustion engine 100 serving as a drive source of the vehicle, and the drive wheels of the vehicle, and the manual transmission 300 is capable of manually changing a gear ratio (reduction ratio). The driver can arbitrarily change the gear position of the manual transmission 300 by operating a shift lever 301. Furthermore, by positioning the shift lever 301 in the neutral position, the gear meshing in the manual transmission 300 is released, and the input shaft and the output shaft of the manual transmission 300 are separated. As a result, the connection between the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine 100 and the drive wheels of the vehicle is cut off, and torque is no longer transmitted between the crankshaft and the drive wheels.

[0017] A clutch 200 that can be switched on and off by the driver is disposed between the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine 100 and the input shaft of the manual transmission 300. When the driver depresses the clutch pedal 201, the clutch 200 is disengaged, and torque is no longer transmitted between the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine 100 and the transmission 300. When the driver stops depressing the clutch pedal 201, the clutch 200 is engaged again, and torque is transmitted between the crankshaft and the transmission 300.

[0018] In this embodiment Data Recording Device The ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 0 is a microcomputer system having a processor, a memory, an input interface, an output interface, etc. The ECU 0 may be configured by connecting a plurality of ECUs or controllers so that they can communicate with each other via an electric communication line such as a CAN (Controller Area Network).

[0019] The input interface of the ECU0 receives inputs such as a vehicle speed signal a output from a vehicle speed sensor that detects the actual vehicle speed of the vehicle, a crank angle signal b output from a crank angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine 100 and the engine speed, an accelerator opening signal c output from a sensor that detects the depression amount of the accelerator pedal or the opening amount of the throttle valve 32 as the accelerator opening (in other words, the engine load rate or engine torque required for the internal combustion engine 100), an intake air temperature / intake pressure signal d output from a temperature / pressure sensor that detects the intake air temperature and intake pressure in the intake passage 3 (particularly, the surge tank 33), a coolant temperature signal e output from a water temperature sensor that detects the coolant temperature of the internal combustion engine 100, a shift position signal f output from a switch that detects the position of the shift lever 301, a clutch stroke signal g output from a sensor that detects the depression amount of the clutch pedal 201, and an air-fuel ratio signal h output from an air-fuel ratio sensor (O2 sensor or linear A / F sensor) that detects the air-fuel ratio of the gas flowing through the exhaust passage 4.

[0020] The output interface of the ECU 0 outputs an ignition signal i to the igniter of the spark plug 12, a fuel injection signal j to the injector 11, an opening operation signal k to the throttle valve 32, an opening operation signal l to the EGR valve 23, and the like.

[0021] The processor of the ECU0 interprets and executes a program stored in advance in the memory, and calculates operating parameters to control the operation of the internal combustion engine 100. The ECU0 acquires various pieces of information a, b, c, d, e, f, g, and h required for controlling the operation of the internal combustion engine 100 via an input interface, and obtains the engine speed and accelerator opening, while estimating the amount of air taken into the cylinder 1. Then, based on the engine speed, accelerator opening, and intake amount, etc., it determines various operating parameters such as a required fuel injection amount, fuel injection timing, fuel injection pressure, ignition timing, and a required EGR rate (or EGR gas amount) that are appropriate for the intake amount. The ECU0 applies various control signals i, j, k, and l corresponding to the operating parameters via an output interface.

[0022] In the vehicle of this embodiment, instead of a clutch switch that determines whether the clutch pedal 201 is depressed by the driver, a clutch stroke sensor that can detect the amount of depression of the clutch pedal 201 by the driver in millimeters is mounted. As shown in Fig. 3, when the vehicle is driven at a low speed below a predetermined speed (for example, the vehicle speed is lower than a set value between 1 km / h and 2 km / h) or when the vehicle is stopped (step S1), if the current depression amount of the clutch pedal 201 detected by referring to the output signal g of the clutch stroke sensor is greater than or equal to a determination threshold value (step S2) and other predetermined conditions are satisfied (step S3), the ECU0 of this embodiment stores and holds freeze frame data related to the current usage status of the vehicle together with a diagnosis code indicating that an engine stall has occurred in a non-volatile memory (step S4).

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4, the judgment threshold T2 in step S2 is the value of the output voltage g of the clutch stroke sensor corresponding to the amount of depression of the clutch pedal 201 at which the clutch 200, which has been engaged with slipping friction in a so-called half-clutch state, is disengaged. Taking into consideration individual differences such as the tolerances of the parts that make up the clutch 200 and assembly tolerances, this judgment threshold T2 is set to a value equivalent to the amount of depression of the clutch pedal 201 at which the clutch 200 (the flywheel (clutch cover) on the internal combustion engine 100 side and the clutch disc on the drive system side) is reliably disengaged for each individual clutch, in each individual clutch, taking into consideration the driver's physical depression of the clutch pedal 201. nothing This is smaller than the maximum depression amount T3 that can be achieved.

[0024] 4 is the value of the output voltage g of the clutch stroke sensor corresponding to the depression amount of the clutch pedal 201 at which the fully engaged clutch 200 starts to disengage and begin to slip. When the depression amount of the clutch pedal 201 is within the range from value T1 to value T2, the clutch 200 is in a half-clutch state.

[0025] The predetermined condition in step S3 includes, for example, the non-operation of the collision damage mitigation brake (collision avoidance support brake, pre-crash safety system) function implemented in the vehicle. The collision damage mitigation brake automatically performs emergency braking regardless of the driver's will, i.e., without the driver operating the brake pedal, when it detects the presence of an approaching preceding vehicle, pedestrian, or other obstacle that may cause a collision.

[0026] The freeze frame data referred to in step S4 includes some or all of the following information: Calculated engine load - Coolant temperature of the internal combustion engine 100 Engine RPM Opening angle of throttle valve 32 ·Vehicle speed Fuel pressure ·Intake temperature in surge tank 33 · Surge tank 33 intake pressure Intake air volume Air-fuel ratio sensor output Air-fuel ratio feedback control status Fuel injection amount correction amount Ignition timing Shift lever 301 position Clutch pedal 201 depression amount The above information is constantly monitored by the ECU0, that is, it is repeatedly acquired at a predetermined cycle.

[0027] The ECU0 determines that an engine stall has occurred when it detects that the engine speed has dropped from a certain level or higher (for example, the minimum idle speed at which the internal combustion engine 100 can maintain autonomous rotation) to a certain level or higher (for example, 100 rpm or 200 rpm or higher). When an engine stall occurs, the ECU0 turns on an engine check lamp installed in the vehicle cockpit, and stores and holds in a non-volatile memory as freeze frame data a time series of the above information that has been repeatedly acquired during a certain period (for example, several hundred milliseconds) before and after the stall.

[0028] On the other hand, if the conditions of step S2 or S3 are not satisfied, even if an engine stall has occurred, a diagnosis code indicating the stall and freeze frame data regarding the current usage status of the vehicle are not stored and retained in non-volatile memory (step S5).

[0029] In this embodiment, the data recording device 0 is mounted on a vehicle that runs by transmitting engine torque output by an internal combustion engine 100 to drive wheels via a clutch 200 and a manual transmission 300. The data recording device 0 detects the amount of depression of a clutch pedal 201 by a driver via a sensor, and when an engine stall occurs during low-speed driving at a predetermined speed or less or when the vehicle is stopped, Detects when the engine speed drops below a certain level from a certain level and The depression amount of the clutch pedal 201 detected through the sensor is nothing It is smaller than the maximum value T3 that can be The clutch was engaged with slipping and friction in a half-clutch state. A necessary condition is that the clutch 200 is disengaged by a threshold T2 or more. Acquired during a certain period before or after the relevant condition is met The freeze frame data is recorded, and if the depression amount of the clutch pedal 201 detected via the sensor is less than the threshold value T2, the freeze frame data is not recorded. Device Configured 0.

[0030] According to this embodiment, in a manual transmission vehicle, freeze frame data regarding an engine stall that is not caused by a driver's operational error can be recorded and stored, and the data can be used for subsequent analysis, for identifying the cause of the engine stall, and for discovering defects or faults in the internal combustion engine 100 or the vehicle's drive system.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above in detail. The specific configuration of each part and the specific processing procedure can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0032] The present invention can be applied to the control of a manual transmission vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 0...Control unit (ECU) 1…Cylinder 3...Intake passage 32...Intake throttle valve (electronic throttle valve) 100…Internal combustion engine 200…Clutch 201…Clutch pedal 300…Manual transmission 301...Shift lever b…Crank angle signal c…Accelerator opening signal g…Clutch stroke signal

Claims

[Claim 1] A data recording device mounted on a vehicle that runs by transmitting engine torque output by an internal combustion engine to drive wheels via a clutch and a manual transmission, The amount of depression of the clutch pedal by the driver is detected via a sensor. When an engine stall occurs while the vehicle is driving at a low speed below a predetermined speed or while the vehicle is stopped, this data recording device detects that the engine speed has dropped from a certain level to a certain level, and the amount of clutch pedal depression detected via the sensor is less than the maximum amount the clutch pedal can be depressed, but is greater than or equal to a threshold value at which the clutch, which has been engaged with sliding friction in a half-clutch state, is disengaged, as a necessary condition, and records freeze frame data obtained during a certain period before and after the condition is met, and does not record freeze frame data if the amount of clutch pedal depression detected via the sensor is less than the threshold value.

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