Vehicle control method and vehicle control device

Abstract

According to the present invention, a vehicle selects a parking position when there is an overlap of a state in which a P range button (2) is operated and a state in which an N range button (4) is operated. Thereafter, the vehicle maintains the parking position when the operation of the P range button (2) is released and switched to the state in which the N range button (4) is operated. As a result, the vehicle is able to suppress a shift position that differs from the intention of the driver from being selected.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle control method and control device for selecting a shift position by operating a switch. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a conventionally known vehicle shift device that selects a shift position of the vehicle by operating a switch. In a shift device that selects a shift position by operating a switch, it is necessary to determine, taking safety into consideration, which switch is to be regarded as having been operated when multiple switches are operated simultaneously.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that, when multiple push buttons, including a push button for selecting the neutral position, are pressed simultaneously, determines that the push button for selecting the neutral position has been pressed, thereby avoiding danger during driving operations.

[0004] Patent documents 2 and 3 disclose technologies that, when multiple switch operations, including a switch operation to select a parking position, are performed simultaneously, determine that an operation to select a parking position has been performed, thereby avoiding dangers during driving operations.

[0005] However, for example, if the driver mistakenly selects the parking position and the neutral position when the driver actually wants to select the parking position, and then selects the neutral position again, the gear position will be controlled to a different position than the driver intended.

[0006] In other words, with regard to control when multiple switches are operated simultaneously, there is room for further improvement in terms of safety as well as more efficient control. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2-17265 [Patent Document 2] JP 2016-113071 A [Patent Document 3] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 60-167843 Summary of the Invention

[0008] The vehicle of the present invention selects the parking position when a state in which the switch for the parking position, which is a shift position in which the power of the drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, is operated and a state in which the switch for the neutral position, which is a shift position in which the power of the drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, is operated overlaps, and then, when the operation of the switch for the parking position is released and the state switches to a state in which the switch for the neutral position is operated, the vehicle maintains the parking position.

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a gear range different from that intended by the driver from being selected. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic diagram of a gear shift operation device of a vehicle. [Diagram 2] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of a system configuration of a vehicle to which the present invention is applied; [Diagram 3] 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a process for determining a shift position. [Figure 4] 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a process for determining a shift position. [Diagram 5] 5 is a timing chart showing the relationship between button operations of a gear shift device and the shift position selected as a result. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram that shows a schematic diagram of a vehicle gear shift device 1 to which the present invention is applied.

[0013] The gear shift operation device 1 has an input section (switch) such as a push button switch or a touch panel, and the driver operates (presses, touches) this input section with a finger or the like to indicate the shift position (gear shift range). The gear shift operation device 1 corresponds to the gear shift operation section, and has the same number of push button switches that correspond one-to-one to the shift positions as the number of selectable shift positions. The gear shift operation device 1 has, for example, a P range button (P button) 2, an R range button (R button) 3, an N range button (N button) 4, and a D range button (D button) 5 as push button switches.

[0014] The P range button 2 corresponds to a parking position in which the power of the drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, and is operated (pressed) when selecting the parking position. The R range button 3 corresponds to a reverse position for reverse travel in which the power of the drive source is transmitted to the drive wheels, and is operated (pressed) when selecting the reverse position. The N range button 4 corresponds to a neutral position in which the power of the drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, and is operated (pressed) when selecting the neutral position. The D range button 5 corresponds to a drive position for forward travel in which the power of the drive source is transmitted to the drive wheels, and is operated (pressed) when selecting the drive position.

[0015] The arrangement of the push buttons in the gear shift device 1 is not limited to the order shown in FIG. 1 (the order P, R, N, D from the right in FIG. 1) and can be changed as appropriate.

[0016] Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic system configuration of a vehicle to which the present invention is applied, in which the vehicle to which the present invention is applied is a hybrid vehicle.

[0017] In addition to the gear shift operation device 1, the vehicle has a drive unit 6, a shift controller 7, and a vehicle controller 8.

[0018] The drive unit 6 has a driving motor 10 as a driving source for driving the drive wheels of the vehicle, a reduction gear 11 for reducing the rotation of the driving motor 10, and a parking lock mechanism 12 for mechanically restricting the rotation of the reduction gear 11.

[0019] The traction motor 10 is a direct drive source for the vehicle, and is supplied with AC power from a battery (not shown) or the like via an inverter 13. The traction motor 10 is, for example, a synchronous motor using a permanent magnet in the rotor. The traction motor 10 also functions as a generator when the vehicle decelerates. In other words, the traction motor 10 is a generator motor that can charge the battery with regenerative energy generated when the vehicle decelerates as electric power.

[0020] The reducer 11 has a plurality of gears meshed together to reduce the rotation speed of the traveling motor 10 and increase the motor torque to ensure the traveling drive torque.

[0021] The park lock mechanism 12 switches between a park lock state in which the rotation of the gears inside the reducer 11 is restricted, and a park lock released state in which the rotation of the gears inside the reducer 11 is permitted. The park lock mechanism 12 can switch between the park lock state and the park lock released state by a mechanical operation caused by the operation of the park lock actuator 14. The mechanical operation is, for example, moving a claw-shaped member back and forth to prevent the gear from rotating when it gets caught on the gear of the reducer 11.

[0022] The operation results of the gear shift operation device 1 are input to the shift controller 7. For example, in the case of the push button switch of the embodiment, when it is operated (pressed), it outputs a signal indicating a corresponding shift position, and when the operation is released (returns from the pressed state) the output is stopped. Based on the input from the gear shift operation device 1, the shift controller 7 sequentially performs switch signal input processing S1, switch signal input arbitration processing S2, and target range determination processing S3 to select a shift position.

[0023] When multiple switches of the gear shift operation device 1 are pressed at the same time, the shift controller 7 gives top priority to the operation of the P range button 2, followed by the operation of the N range button 4. Basically, the shift controller 7 does not give priority to the operation of the D range button 5 or the R range button 3 over the operation of the P range button 2 or the N range button 4. In other words, the priority of button operations is basically P>N>D=R. In other words, the priority of button operations is lower for the operation of a switch in a shift position that transmits power to the drive wheels than for the operation of a switch in a shift position that does not transmit power to the drive wheels.

[0024] The switch signal input process S1 processes a signal from a switch operated on the gear shift operation device 1. The switch signal input process S1 also processes a fault signal of the gear shift operation device 1.

[0025] In the switch signal input arbitration process S2, it is determined which push button switch of the gear shift operation device 1 has been operated in response to the input from the gear shift operation device 1. Specifically, for example, it is determined which switch has been operated when multiple switches of the gear shift operation device 1 are pressed at the same time.

[0026] In the target range determination process S3, it is determined which shift position (shift range) to actually switch to. The determination result of the target range determination process S3 is transmitted to the vehicle controller 8.

[0027] The vehicle controller 8 receives the determination result of the target range determination process S3 and performs the shift final determination process S4. In the shift final determination process S4, it is determined whether the determination result of the target range determination process S3 can be accepted by the vehicle side. For example, if the state of the vehicle cannot accept the determination result of the target range determination process S3, the determination result of the target range determination process S3 is not accepted and the current shift position is maintained. The result of the shift final determination process S4 is fed back to the shift controller 7.

[0028] In other words, the shift controller 7 and the vehicle controller 8 correspond to a control unit, which determines which shift position has been selected from the operation result of the gear shift operation device 1, and controls the vehicle based on the shift position determined to have been selected.

[0029] It should be noted that when a fault signal of the gearshift operation device 1 is input to the switch signal input process S1, the shift controller 7 does not determine which button of the gearshift operation device 1 corresponding to which range has been pressed.

[0030] When the shift position is switched to the P range as a result of the feedback shift final determination process S4, the shift controller 7 supplies a predetermined power to the park lock actuator 14 so that the park lock actuator 14 obtains a desired drive output. The park lock actuator 14 operates the park lock mechanism 12.

[0031] The vehicle controller 8 inputs the result of the shift final determination process S4 to the inverter 13. That is, the inverter 13 receives information indicating which of the parking position, neutral position, drive position, and reverse position the vehicle's shift position has been selected.

[0032] The inverter 13 determines the power to be supplied to the driving motor 10 based on a command from the vehicle controller 8 .

[0033] Battery charge / discharge information is input to the vehicle controller 8 from a battery controller 20 that manages the charging and discharging of a battery capable of supplying power to the driving motor 10. Internal combustion engine control information is input to the vehicle controller 8 from an engine control unit 21 that controls an internal combustion engine that is driven to generate power to be supplied to the driving motor 10. The internal combustion engine drives a generator that generates power to be supplied to the battery and the internal combustion engine.

[0034] In addition, the vehicle controller 8 outputs information about the shift position to a meter 22 that displays the shift position.

[0035] 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the flow of the process for determining the shift position, which is carried out in the switch signal input arbitration process S2 of the shift controller 7.

[0036] In step S11, it is determined whether or not there has been a button input on the gear shift operation device 1. That is, in step S11, it is determined whether or not any button on the gear shift operation device 1 has been operated (pressed). If it is determined in step S11 that there has been a button input, the process proceeds to step S12. If it is determined in step S11 that there has been no button input, the process proceeds to step S31.

[0037] In step S12, it is determined whether or not multiple buttons of the gear shift device 1 are pressed simultaneously. That is, in step S12, it is determined whether or not multiple buttons of the gear shift device 1 are being operated at the same time. If it is determined in step S12 that multiple buttons are being pressed simultaneously, the process proceeds to step S13. If it is determined in step S12 that multiple buttons are not being pressed simultaneously, the process proceeds to step S17.

[0038] In step S13, it is determined whether the multiple operated buttons include the P range button 2. If it is determined in step S13 that the P range button 2 is included, the process proceeds to step S14. If it is determined in step S13 that the P range button 2 is not included, the process proceeds to step S15.

[0039] In step S14, it is determined that the parking position has been selected as the shift position, and the current routine is ended.

[0040] In step S15, it is determined whether the previous switch input was by the P range button 2. That is, in step S15, it is determined whether the previously determined shift position was the parking position. If it is determined in step S15 that the previously determined shift position was the parking position, the process proceeds to step S14. If it is determined in step S15 that the previously determined shift position was not the parking position, the process proceeds to step S16.

[0041] In step S16, it is determined that the neutral position has been selected as the shift position, and the current routine is ended.

[0042] In step S17, it is determined whether or not the button input is from the P range button 2. If it is determined in step S17 that the button input is from the P range button 2, the process proceeds to step S18. If it is determined in step S17 that the button input is not from the P range button 2, the process proceeds to step S19.

[0043] In step S18, it is determined that the parking position has been selected as the shift position, and the current routine is ended.

[0044] In step S19, it is determined whether or not the button input is from the N range button 4. If it is determined in step S19 that the button input is from the N range button 4, the process proceeds to step S20. If it is determined in step S19 that the button input is not from the N range button 4, the process proceeds to step S22.

[0045] In step S20, it is determined whether the previous switch input was by the P range button 2. That is, in step S20, it is determined whether the previously determined shift position was the parking position. If it is determined in step S20 that the previously determined shift position was the parking position, the process proceeds to step S18. If it is determined in step S20 that the previously determined shift position was not the parking position, the process proceeds to step S21.

[0046] In step S21, it is determined that the neutral position has been selected as the shift position, and the current routine is ended.

[0047] In step S22, it is determined whether the previous switch input included the P range button 2 or the N range button 4. That is, in step S22, it is determined whether the previously determined shift position was the parking position or the neutral position. If it is determined in step S22 that the previously determined shift position was the parking position or the neutral position, the process proceeds to step S23. If it is determined in step S22 that the previously determined shift position was not the parking position or the neutral position, the process proceeds to step S24.

[0048] The previous switch input in step S22 includes a switch input corresponding to a shift position determined when multiple buttons on the gearshift operation device 1 are simultaneously pressed. In other words, if the previous shift position is a shift position determined as a result of multiple buttons on the gearshift operation device 1 being simultaneously pressed, the previous switch input in step S22 is the switch input corresponding to this determined shift position.

[0049] In step S23, the previous value is held and the current routine is terminated. That is, in step S23, the previously selected shift position is maintained and the current routine is terminated.

[0050] In step S24, it is determined whether or not the button input is from the D range button 5. If it is determined in step S24 that the button input is from the D range button 5, the process proceeds to step S25. If it is determined in step S24 that the button input is not from the D range button 5, the process proceeds to step S28.

[0051] In step S25, it is determined whether the previous switch input was no operation. That is, in step S25, it is determined whether the previous determination result was no operation. If it is determined in step S25 that the previous determination was no operation, the process proceeds to step S26. If it is determined in step S25 that the previous determination was not no operation, the process proceeds to step S27. Note that an example of proceeding to step S27 is when the end of operation of the R range button 3 (OFF) and the operation of the D range button 5 (ON) are performed simultaneously.

[0052] In step S26, it is determined that the drive position has been selected as the shift position, and the current routine is ended.

[0053] In step S27, it is determined that the input is indefinite, and the current routine is terminated.

[0054] In step S28, it is determined whether the previous switch input was no operation. That is, in step S28, it is determined whether the previous determination result was no operation. If it is determined in step S28 that the previous determination was no operation, the process proceeds to step S29. If it is determined in step S28 that the previous determination was not no operation, the process proceeds to step S30. An example of proceeding to step S30 is when the end of operation of the D range button 5 (OFF) and the operation of the R range button 3 (ON) are performed simultaneously.

[0055] In step S29, it is determined that the reverse position has been selected as the shift position, and the current routine is ended.

[0056] In step S30, it is determined that the input is indefinite, and the current routine is terminated.

[0057] In step S31, it is determined that no operation has been performed, and the current routine is terminated. That is, in step S31, it is determined that none of the buttons on the gear shift operation device 1 has been operated.

[0058] FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the relationship between the button operation of the gear shift device 1 and the shift position (determination range) selected by the determination in the switch signal input arbitration process S2.

[0059] Time t1 is the timing when the P range button 2 and the N range button 4 are operated (pressed) to turn on. The shift controller 7 determines that the P range button 2 is operated at time t1 according to the priority of the button operations (steps S11 → S12 → S13 → S14 in the flowchart of FIG. 3). Therefore, the determined range becomes the parking position from time t1.

[0060] Time t2 is the timing when the operation of the P range button 2 ends (is turned off). At this time, the N range button 4, which was turned on at the same time as the P range button 2, continues to remain on. Therefore, the shift controller 7 determines that the shift position continues to be the parking position at time t2 (steps S11 → S12 → S17 → S19 → S20 → S18 in the flowchart of FIG. 3). Therefore, the determined range is maintained at the parking position even after time t2.

[0061] Time t3 is the timing when the operation of the N range button 4 ends (turns off). The shift controller 7 determines that there is no button input of the gear shift operation device 1 at time t3 (steps S11 to S31 in the flow charts of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). Therefore, the determined range becomes the home position from time t3.

[0062] When all the buttons of the gear shift operation device 1 are not operated (OFF state), the shift controller 7 sets the determination range to the home position (Home). In other words, the home position is a state in which no shift position, such as the parking position, neutral position, drive position, or reverse position, is selected. The shift controller 7 is capable of switching to a new determination range by having the determination range experience the home position.

[0063] As described above, in a vehicle to which the present invention is applied, when the state in which the P range button 2 is operated and the state in which the N range button 4 is operated overlap, the vehicle selects the parking position, and when the operation of the P range button 2 is subsequently released and the state switches to the state in which the N range button 4 is operated, the vehicle maintains the parking position.

[0064] In other words, a vehicle to which the present invention is applied selects the parking position when a state in which the parking position switch, which is a shift position in which the power of the drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, is operated overlaps with a state in which the neutral position switch, which is a shift position in which the power of the drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, is operated, and then, when the operation of the parking position switch is released and the state switches to a state in which only the neutral position switch is operated, the parking position is maintained.

[0065] Specifically, if the routine leading to step S11, step S12, step S17, step S19, step S20, or step S18 is experienced immediately after (following) the routine leading to step S14, the parking position in which the power of the drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, which is the previous value, is maintained.

[0066] This makes it possible to prevent the selection of a shift position (gear range) different from that intended by the driver.

[0067] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0068] For example, the shift controller 7 may be configured to maintain the traveling state when the P range button 2 and the N range button 4 are operated (pressed) while traveling with the shift position in the drive position or reverse position. Specifically, the shift controller 7 may be configured to maintain the determination of the reverse position when the R range button 3 is operated (pressed) and the determination range is the reverse position, and the P range button and the N range button 4 are operated (pressed) while traveling, resulting in a state in which the operation of the R range button 3, the operation of the P range button 2, and the operation of the N range button 4 overlap.

[0069] This makes it possible to avoid a decrease in safety that would occur if the shift position were changed to one in which power is not transmitted to the drive wheels while the vehicle is moving forward or backward.

[0070] The present invention can also be applied to a vehicle whose drive wheels are driven by an internal combustion engine. In this case, the drive unit 6 is composed of an internal combustion engine and a transmission, and the transmission control unit performs the processes from the switch signal input process S1 to the shift final determination process S4, and the inverter 13 is omitted.

[0071] In the above-described embodiment, the shift controller 7 and the vehicle controller 8 may be configured as one controller. Also, the gear shift device 1 may execute the switch signal input arbitration process S2.

[0072] The above-described embodiments relate to a vehicle control method and a vehicle control device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a vehicle having a gear shift operation unit that indicates a shift position by operating a switch corresponding to the shift position, comprising: This vehicle control method selects the parking position when a state in which a switch for a parking position, which is a shift position in which the power of a drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, is operated and a state in which a switch for a neutral position, which is a shift position in which the power of a drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, is operated, overlaps, and maintains the parking position when the operation of the switch for the parking position is released and the state is switched to the state in which the switch for the neutral position is operated.

2. The switches corresponding to the shift positions are marked with letters that represent the corresponding shift positions, 2. The vehicle control method according to claim 1, wherein the switches corresponding to the shift positions are arranged in a row in a horizontal direction of the characters marked on the switches.

3. A method for controlling a vehicle as described in claim 2, wherein the switches corresponding to the shift positions are arranged adjacent to each other in a rectangular shape.

4. A method for controlling a vehicle as described in claim 2, wherein the switches corresponding to the shift positions are a P range button corresponding to the parking position, an R range button corresponding to the reverse position, an N range button corresponding to the neutral position, and a D range button corresponding to the drive position, and are arranged in the order of the P range button, the R range button, the N range button, and the D range button.

5. a gear shift operation unit that indicates a shift position by operating a switch corresponding to the shift position; A control device for a vehicle having a control unit which, when a state in which a parking position switch, which is a shift position in which the power of the drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, is operated, and a state in which a neutral position switch, which is a shift position in which the power of the drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, is operated, overlap, selects the parking position, and then, when the operation of the parking position switch is released and the state switches to a state in which the neutral position switch is operated, maintains the parking position.

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