Vehicle control device

Abstract

To provide a control device for vehicle which has a display device for displaying vehicle information and prevents a vehicle from traveling before the vehicle information is displayed.SOLUTION: A control device for vehicle comprises a meter display 10 which is a digital display, and vehicle information such as vehicle speed meter and tachometer is displayed on the display 10. Here, a CVT-ECU 40 disables a change to a shift switch 3 from when an ignition key switch 2 is ON-operated to when the vehicle information is displayed on the meter display 10. This causes a vehicle 1 to be controlled to an inoperable state before the vehicle information is displayed on the meter display 10, thus improving the safety of traveling.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle control device that controls a vehicle in which vehicle information such as a speedometer and a tachometer is displayed on a digital display. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are vehicles equipped with a display device that digitally displays the vehicle's running state. For example, in the vehicle described in Patent Document 1, a digital display is provided in a meter unit of the vehicle's instrument panel, and the vehicle speed calculated based on the detected value of a wheel speed sensor is displayed on the digital display. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-113810 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Meanwhile, vehicles have been proposed in which the entire instrument panel is made up of a liquid crystal panel, and all of the conventional meters are displayed on the liquid crystal monitor, in addition to the digital display of vehicle speed. In this case, it takes a certain amount of time for information (vehicle information) such as vehicle speed and engine RPM to be displayed on the screen after power is supplied to the vehicle, so there are cases in which vehicle information is not displayed on the liquid crystal panel when the engine is turned on and the vehicle is ready to drive. Information indicating the vehicle's driving status, such as vehicle speed and engine RPM, is useful for improving driving safety, and there is a demand for it to be displayed so that the driver can check it before starting to drive.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to further improve driving safety by ensuring that vehicle information is displayed before the vehicle starts moving in a vehicle control device equipped with a display device that displays vehicle information. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle control device according to the present invention is a vehicle control device equipped with a display device capable of displaying vehicle information, the vehicle control device comprising: a driving control means for controlling the driving of the vehicle based on an operation by a driver; a display device control means for controlling the display of the display device; and a memory for storing an OS program related to the display of the display device control means, wherein the display device control means controls the display of the display device based on a start operation of a power source of the vehicle. By turning on the power to the vehicle The OS program is read from the memory to start the OS, and after the OS has been started, the display process of the vehicle information is started on the display device. Vehicle Starting the power source from, the display device control means from The vehicle information Obtain information that the display process has been completed The system is characterized by controlling the vehicle so that it cannot be driven until the vehicle reaches the designated speed (claim 1).

[0007] Furthermore, when the driving control means acquires information indicating that the display process of the vehicle information on the display device has been completed, the driving control means may release the control of the vehicle from the driving disabled state and control the vehicle to the driving enabled state (claim 2).

[0008] The vehicle information may also include meter information indicating the running state of the vehicle (claim 3). [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the invention of claim 1, Vehicle When the power source is started, the display device control means reads out the OS program from the memory, starts the OS, and starts the display process of the vehicle information on the display device. The driving control means When the power source of the vehicle is started, information indicating that the display process of the vehicle information has been completed is obtained from the display device control means.Therefore, the power source has already started by the time the vehicle information is displayed on the display device, and before the vehicle starts to move, the vehicle information is displayed and the onboard equipment such as the air conditioner is in an operable state, so that convenience for the user is not impaired, and driving safety can be improved by prohibiting the vehicle from moving.

[0010] According to the invention of claim 2, the driving control means controls the vehicle to a driveable state when it receives information that the display process of the vehicle information on the display device has been completed. In this case, the vehicle information can be reliably displayed before the vehicle is in a driveable state, thereby improving driving safety.

[0011] According to the invention of claim 3, the vehicle information includes meter information indicating the vehicle's running state, and is therefore suitable as vehicle information to be displayed to the driver before the vehicle starts running. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the flow of the display process of vehicle information in FIG. 1 and vehicle driving control. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] A vehicle control device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the vehicle control device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the flow of a process for displaying vehicle information and vehicle driving control.

[0014] (Vehicle electrical configuration) A vehicle control device according to one embodiment of the present invention controls the driving of a vehicle 1 in which a vehicle speed meter, an engine revolution meter (tachometer), telltales, etc. are displayed on a display screen, and includes a meter display 10 that displays various meters, a meter integrated ECU 20 that controls the display of the meter display 10, an engine ECU 30 that controls the starting and stopping of the engine and the engine output, a CVT-ECU 40 that controls the transmission, and a VSC-ECU 60 that controls the prevention of skidding of the vehicle 1.

[0015] A communication bus 50 is installed in the vehicle 1, and the meter-integrated ECU 20, the engine ECU 30, the CVT-ECU 40, and the VSC-ECU 60 are each connected to the communication bus 50 and communicate with one another via a controller area network (CAN).

[0016] The meter display 10 is a liquid crystal display and is disposed on an instrument panel. That is, in this embodiment, the entire surface of the instrument panel is made up of a liquid crystal panel, and the display screen displays a vehicle speed meter, an engine revolution meter (tachometer), and telltales. Note that, although the meter display 10 is made up of a liquid crystal in this embodiment, various displays capable of displaying meters, such as an organic EL display, can also be used.

[0017] The meter integrated ECU 20 controls the display of the meter display 10 and includes a meter control unit 21 and a meter drawing processing unit 22. The meter control unit 21 includes a CPU 21a that performs various controls and calculations, and a memory 21b that stores various control programs, etc. When the ignition key switch 2 is turned ON and power is supplied, the meter control unit 21 determines the display content of the meter display 10 and acquires information corresponding to the content to be displayed on the meter display 10, such as vehicle speed information from the vehicle speed sensor 4 and engine rotation speed information from the tachometer, which are input to the VSC-ECU 60.

[0018] The CPU 21a of the meter control unit 21 also transmits information related to the determined display content, vehicle speed information, engine RPM information, etc. to the CPU 22a of the meter drawing processing unit 22. The CPU 21a of the meter control unit 21 also determines whether or not a shift position change operation has been performed between the time the ignition key switch 2 is turned ON and the time the vehicle speed, engine RPM, etc. are displayed on the meter indicator 10, and if a change operation has been performed, transmits information indicating that a change operation has been performed to the CPU 22a of the meter drawing processing unit 22. The CPU 21a of the meter control unit 21 determines whether or not a shift position change operation has been performed by acquiring a signal from the shift switch 3 that is input to the CPU of the CVT-ECU 40.

[0019] The meter drawing processing unit 22 includes a CPU 22a that performs various controls and various calculations, a GPU 22b that mainly performs calculations (GUI (Graphical User Interface) drawing processing) required to draw an image on the display screen of the meter indicator 10, and a memory 22c that stores various control programs, OS programs, display image data, etc. In this embodiment, the meter drawing processing unit 22 is configured as an SoC (System on a Chip) in which the CPU 22a, GPU 22b, and memory 22c are formed on a single chip.

[0020] The meter drawing processing unit 22 performs the following operations: starting up the OS to display the vehicle speed meter, engine revolution meter (tachometer), telltales, etc. on the display screen of the meter display 10; acquiring information on the display items, vehicle speed information, engine revolution information, etc. transmitted from the meter control unit 21 (OS internal processing); various calculation processes required to display the display items transmitted from the CPU 21a of the meter control unit 21 on the meter display 10; and acquiring image data required for display from the memory 22c (GUI drawing processing), thereby displaying the vehicle speed meter, tachometer, telltales, etc. on the display screen of the meter display 10.

[0021] 2, a specific flow from when the ignition key switch 2 is turned ON until various pieces of information are displayed on the meter display 10. First, when the ignition key switch 2 is turned ON to turn on the power to the vehicle 1, the CPU 22a of the meter drawing processing unit 22 reads the OS program from the memory 22c and starts up the OS.

[0022] On the other hand, when the ignition key switch 2 is turned ON to power on the vehicle 1, the CPU 21a of the meter control unit 21 determines the display content (vehicle speed meter, tachometer, telltales, etc.) to be displayed on the meter indicator 10, and acquires information necessary for the determined display content via CAN communication or the like (meter internal processing). The necessary information is, for example, a detection signal (vehicle speed information) from the vehicle speed sensor 4 in the case of a vehicle speed meter, or engine RPM information in the case of a tachometer. The CPU 21a of the meter control unit 21 also transmits various information, such as information related to the determined display content, vehicle speed information, and engine RPM information, to the CPU 22a of the meter drawing processing unit 22.

[0023] When the OS startup is complete, the CPU 22a of the meter drawing processing unit 22 acquires various information such as information regarding the display items determined by the CPU 21a of the meter control unit 21, information regarding the display content transmitted from the CPU 21a of the meter control unit 21, vehicle speed information, engine RPM information, etc., and temporarily stores it in memory (OS internal processing).

[0024] After the internal OS processing is completed, for example, the GPU 22b of the meter drawing processing unit 22 performs processing (GUI drawing processing) such as specifying the display position of each display item, various calculation processing required for display, and acquisition processing of image data corresponding to various information to be displayed, and displays vehicle speed information, engine RPM information, telltales, etc. on the display screen of the meter display 10.

[0025] When the display of various information on the meter display 10 is completed, the meter integrated ECU 20 transmits information indicating that the display has been completed to the CVT-ECU 40. The transmission of the information may be performed by the CPU 21a of the meter control unit 21 or the CPU 22a of the meter drawing processing unit 22.

[0026] Furthermore, if the shift switch 3 is changed from "P range" to another range between when the ignition key switch 2 is turned ON and when the vehicle speed meter, tachometer, and telltales are displayed on the meter indicator 10, information to that effect is transmitted from the CVT-ECU 40 to the meter integrated ECU 20. When the meter integrated ECU 20 receives this information, it controls the meter indicator 10 so that a warning such as "Preparing to drive" is displayed on the display screen.

[0027] The warning display is not limited to a display on the meter display 10, and for example, an audio warning may be given in addition to or instead of a display on the meter display 10.

[0028] The CVT-ECU 40 controls the transmission and has a CPU (not shown) that performs various controls and calculations, and a memory (not shown) that stores control programs and the like. A signal is input to the CPU of the CVT-ECU 40 from the shift switch 3. In this embodiment, the shift switch 3 is configured as a button-type selector and has a P (parking) range switch, R (reverse) range switch, N (neutral) range switch, and D (drive) range switch. When any of the range switches is pressed, a signal is output to the CVT-ECU 40.

[0029] When the CPU of CVT-ECU 40 confirms the input of a signal from one of the range switches, it temporarily stores information that can identify the input range type, for example, in a shift range storage area provided in memory. Then, when the accelerator is operated, the CPU controls the transmission according to the range type stored in the shift range storage area. Furthermore, when a new range switch signal is confirmed to be input, the CPU rewrites the contents stored in the shift range storage area to the range type that has been newly confirmed to be input.

[0030] However, if the CPU of CVT-ECU 40 confirms input of a signal from a switch other than the P-range switch, such as the N-range switch or the R-range switch, during the period from when the ignition key switch 2 is turned ON until it receives information indicating that the display of various information has been completed on the meter indicator 10, it will not rewrite the contents stored in the shift range storage area. In other words, the CPU of CVT-ECU 40 disables changes to the shift range during the period from when the ignition key switch 2 is turned ON until it receives information indicating that the display of various information has been completed on the meter indicator 10. Therefore, for example, even if the driver presses the D-range switch during the period from when the ignition key switch 2 is turned ON until various information is displayed on the meter indicator 10, the shift range controlled by the CPU of CVT-ECU 40 will remain in the P-range, and the vehicle 1 will not move even if the accelerator is operated (travel prohibition control).

[0031] On the other hand, after receiving information that the display of various information on the meter indicator 10 has been completed, if the CPU of the CVT-ECU 40 confirms the input of a new range switch signal, it rewrites the contents stored in the shift range storage area to the range type for which the newly input was confirmed. Therefore, for example, if the ignition key switch 2 is turned ON and various information is displayed on the meter indicator 10, and then the driver presses the D range switch, the shift range controlled by the CPU of the CVT-ECU 40 is changed to D range. As a result, when the accelerator is operated, the vehicle 1 starts moving (driving permission).

[0032] In this embodiment, the shift range is changed using a button-type selector, but it may also be changed using a lever-type selector. In the case of a lever-type selector, a lock mechanism that restricts movement of the lever may be provided, and the CPU of the CVT-ECU 40 may control the operation of the lock mechanism to prevent the shift lever from moving from the time the ignition key switch 2 is turned ON until the speedometer, tachometer, and telltales are displayed on the meter display 10. On the other hand, once the speedometer, tachometer, and telltales have been displayed on the meter display 10, the CPU of the CVT-ECU 40 may unlock the shift lever.

[0033] The engine ECU 30 controls the start, stop, and output of the engine, and includes a CPU (not shown) that performs various controls and calculations, and a memory (not shown) that stores various control programs, etc. The CPU of the engine ECU 30 acquires information such as the engine rotation speed (E / G rotation speed) and the accelerator pedal opening, and controls the start, stop, and output of the engine based on the acquired information. For example, the CPU of the engine ECU 30 receives a signal from the ignition key switch 2.

[0034] The VSC-ECU 60 performs braking control, skidding prevention control, etc. of the vehicle 1, and has a CPU (not shown) that performs various controls and various calculations, etc., and a memory (not shown) that stores various control programs, etc. A signal from the vehicle speed sensor 4 is input to the CPU of the VSC-ECU 60.

[0035] Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, the CPU of the CVT-ECU 40 prohibits changes to the shift position and maintains the P range from when power is supplied to the vehicle 1 by turning on the ignition key switch 2 until information (meter information, etc.) such as the vehicle speedometer, tachometer, and telltales is displayed on the meter display 10. In other words, the CPU of the CVT-ECU 40 controls the vehicle 1 to a state where it cannot run until the meter information is displayed on the meter display 10, so that the meter information is displayed before the vehicle 1 starts running, improving driving safety.

[0036] Furthermore, the CPU of the CVT-ECU 40 enables the change of the shift range after receiving information from the meter integrated ECU 20 that the display of meter information on the meter display 10 has been completed, so that the vehicle 1 starts moving only after the meter information has been reliably displayed on the meter display 10, improving driving safety.

[0037] Furthermore, since the CPU of the CVT-ECU 40 controls the vehicle 1 to be unable to drive until the vehicle information is displayed on the meter display 10, there is no need to install any special device separately, which prevents an increase in the weight and manufacturing costs of the vehicle 1.

[0038] (Variation 1 of the method for controlling the vehicle to an undriveable state) Next, a modified example of a method for controlling the vehicle 1 to be unable to travel while the meter information is displayed on the display screen of the meter indicator 10 after the ignition key switch 2 is turned on will be described.

[0039] In the above-described embodiment, from the time the ignition key switch 2 is turned ON until the meter information is displayed on the display screen of the meter indicator 10, even if the vehicle 1 is in a state where it can be driven, the shift range is prohibited from being changed and the vehicle is controlled to a state where it cannot be driven. However, the configuration may also be such that the parking brake cannot be released while the meter information is displayed on the display screen of the meter indicator 10.

[0040] In the case where the parking brake is an electric type that is activated / released using a motor, a parking brake switch that can instruct ON / OFF of the parking brake is provided on the vehicle 1. For example, if the switch is configured to switch the parking brake between an activated state and a released state each time it is pressed, a parking brake depression signal is input to, for example, a CPU of the VSC-ECU 60 that controls the vehicle 1's anti-skid control, and the CPU activates / releases the parking brake by controlling the drive of the motor.

[0041] However, even if the parking brake switch is pressed during the period from when the ignition key switch 2 is turned on until the meter information is displayed on the display screen of the meter indicator 10, the CPU of the VSC-ECU 60 disables the operation. Therefore, even if the parking brake switch is pressed during this period, the parking brake is not released, and the vehicle 1 can be controlled to a state in which it cannot be driven.

[0042] On the other hand, if the parking brake switch is pressed after meter information is displayed on the display screen of the meter display 10, the CPU of the VSC-ECU 60 validates the operation. Therefore, if the parking brake switch is pressed after meter information is displayed on the display screen of the meter display 10, the parking brake is released and the vehicle 1 becomes ready to travel.

[0043] In this example, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. Note that, although the parking brake in this example is configured as an electric type, it may also be configured as, for example, a lever-type parking brake (a so-called side brake) or a foot-type parking brake. In this case, a lock mechanism may be provided, and the CPU of the VSC-ECU 60 may operate and control the lock mechanism to prevent the side brake (or foot-type parking brake) from moving during the period from when the ignition key switch 2 is turned ON until the vehicle speed meter, tachometer, and telltales are displayed on the meter display 10. On the other hand, when the display of the vehicle speed meter, tachometer, and telltales on the meter display 10 is completed, the CPU of the VSC-ECU 60 may unlock the side brake (or foot-type parking brake).

[0044] (Variation 2 of the method for controlling the vehicle to an undriveable state) Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, from the time when the ignition key switch 2 is turned ON until the meter information is displayed on the display screen of the meter display 10, even if the vehicle 1 is in a state where it can be driven, the shift range is prohibited from being changed and the vehicle is controlled to be in a state where it cannot be driven. However, while the meter information is displayed on the display screen of the meter display 10, the engine may be controlled not to be started.

[0045] In this case, the CPU of the engine ECU 30 controls the engine not to start (controls the engine to a state where it cannot run) even if the ignition key switch 2 is turned ON until the meter information is displayed on the display screen of the meter display 10. In addition to this, for example, the meter display 10 displays text such as "Preparing to start engine" to notify the driver that the vehicle is in a state where it cannot run. On the other hand, after the meter information is displayed on the display screen of the meter display 10, the CPU of the engine ECU 30 controls the engine to start (controls the engine to a state where it can run). Even in this way, the same effects as those of the above-mentioned embodiment can be obtained.

[0046] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the display content that controls the vehicle 1 to be unable to move until it is displayed may not be limited to the above-described vehicle speedometer, tachometer, and telltales, but may include various contents that indicate the state of the vehicle.

[0047] Furthermore, the above-described embodiment and modified examples may be combined. That is, until the vehicle information is displayed on the meter indicator 10, all or at least one of the following may be performed: the shift position cannot be changed, the parking brake cannot be released, and the engine cannot be started.

[0048] Furthermore, the above-described embodiments and modifications are not limited to gasoline vehicles that use an engine as a drive source, but can also be applied to electric vehicles that use a motor as a drive source, and hybrid vehicles that use both an engine and a motor as a drive source.

[0049] The present invention can also be applied to various vehicle control devices that control a vehicle in which vehicle information such as a speedometer and a tachometer is displayed on a display. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 10: Meter display (display device) 20: Meter integrated ECU (display device control means) 30: Engine ECU (driving control means) 40: CVT-ECU 40 (driving control means) 60: VSC-ECU 60 (driving control means)

Claims

1. A vehicle control device equipped with a display device capable of displaying vehicle information, a driving control means for controlling the driving of the vehicle based on an operation by a driver; a display device control means for controlling the display of the display device; a memory for storing an OS program related to the display of the display device control means; Equipped with the display device control means reads the OS program from the memory and starts the OS when the vehicle is powered on based on a start operation of a power source of the vehicle, and starts a display process of the vehicle information on the display device after the OS has been started up; The driving control means controls the vehicle to be unable to drive from the time when the power source of the vehicle is started until the time when the display device control means receives information indicating that the display process of the vehicle information has been completed. A vehicle control device comprising:

2. 2. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the driving control means, upon receiving information indicating that the display processing of the vehicle information on the display device has been completed, releases the control of the vehicle from the non-driving state and controls the vehicle to the driving state.

3. 3. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle information includes meter information indicating a running state of the vehicle.

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