Speed ​​change mode control system

Abstract

To appropriately switch from a manual shift mode to an automatic shift mode.SOLUTION: A shift mode control system comprises: a control device which controls a shift mode; a first operation section which receives operation to switch from an automatic shift mode for automatically executing shifting to a manual shift mode for executing shifting in response to operation of a driver; and a second operation section which receives operation to switch from the manual shift mode to the automatic shift mode. The control device has a processor. The processor executes processes which include: calculation of a shift ratio change amount which is a difference between a first shift ratio when the automatic shift mode is switched to the manual shift mode in response to the operation to the first operation section by the driver and a second shift ratio when the manual shift mode is switched to the automatic shift mode in response to the operation to the second operation section by the driver; and updating of the shift ratio change amount as a switching condition for automatically switching from the manual shift mode to the automatic shift mode with the calculated shift ratio change amount.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a transmission mode control system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, automatic transmissions installed in vehicles include those equipped with an automatic shifting mode in which gears are automatically shifted and a manual shifting mode in which gears are shifted by driver operation. Some such automatic transmissions also have a function that automatically switches from the manual shifting mode to the automatic shifting mode when a predetermined distance is reached. For such automatic transmissions, a technique is known that appropriately changes the predetermined distance depending on the driver's past operations. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique that performs a learning correction to shorten the set distance for determining automatic return to the automatic shifting mode when a manual operation to return to the automatic shifting mode is performed before the set distance for determining automatic return to the automatic shifting mode is reached. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-51262 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, when a driver wants to change the current gear ratio (transmission gear) to a target gear ratio (transmission gear) according to the situation, the driver switches to the manual transmission mode by his / her own operation and executes the gear change. In this case, after the gear change to the target gear ratio (transmission gear) has been achieved, the driver no longer needs to execute the gear change by his / her own operation, and therefore desires to switch from the manual transmission mode to the automatic transmission mode as soon as possible.

[0005] However, in the prior art described in Patent Document 1, for example, although the predetermined distance until the shift mode is automatically switched to the automatic shift mode is shortened depending on the driver's past operations, the timing is uniformly processed regardless of the gear ratio (shift gear). In other words, in the prior art, the shift mode does not switch promptly even when the driver's target gear ratio (shift gear) is reached. Therefore, if the driver wants to switch from the manual shift mode to the automatic shift mode after shifting to the target gear ratio (shift gear) but before reaching the predetermined distance, the driver must manually perform a predetermined operation, which is inconvenient.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to appropriately switch from a manual shift mode to an automatic shift mode. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, a speed change mode control system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a control device for controlling a speed change mode; a first operation unit that accepts a switching operation from an automatic shifting mode in which shifting is performed automatically to a manual shifting mode in which shifting is performed in response to an operation by a driver; a second operating unit that accepts a switching operation from the manual shifting mode to the automatic shifting mode; Equipped with the control device includes a processor and a memory connected to the processor; The processor: calculating a gear ratio change amount which is a difference between a first gear ratio when the automatic gear shift mode is switched to the manual gear shift mode by an operation of the first operating unit by the driver and a second gear ratio when the manual gear shift mode is switched to the automatic gear shift mode by an operation of the second operating unit by the driver; updating the speed ratio change amount as a switching condition for automatically switching from the manual shift mode to the automatic shift mode to the calculated speed ratio change amount; Execute the process including. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately switch from the manual shift mode to the automatic shift mode. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle equipped with a gear change mode control system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the gear change mode control system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a shift mode switching process performed by the shift mode control device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a shift mode control system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a shift mode switching process performed by the shift mode control device according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Specific dimensions, materials, numerical values, etc. shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant explanation, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0011] [1. Overall configuration of the vehicle and gear change mode control system] First, with reference to FIG. 1, the overall configuration of a vehicle 1 equipped with a gear change mode control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0012] The vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment described below is an example of a vehicle equipped with the shift mode control system of the present invention, but the vehicle equipped with the shift mode control system of the present invention is not limited to the example of the vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment described below.

[0013] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle 1 equipped with a gear change mode control system according to this embodiment. The vehicle 1 includes an engine 100, drive wheels 110, a drive shaft 120, a steering wheel 130, an automatic transmission 140, a minus paddle switch 150a, and a plus paddle switch 150b (hereinafter, the minus paddle switch 150a and the plus paddle switch 150b may be collectively referred to as "paddle switches 150"). A shift lever 160 and a gear change mode control device 170 are also included.

[0014] The engine 100 is a driving source of the vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 transmits power from the engine 100 to driving wheels 110 via an automatic transmission 140 and a drive shaft 120. The driver can also steer the vehicle 1 using a steering wheel 130.

[0015] Based on a control command from a shift mode control device 170 (described later), the automatic transmission 140 switches a shift range provided in the automatic transmission 140 itself and converts the rotation speed and torque of the engine 100 into a rotation speed and torque suitable for driving. The automatic transmission 140 is, for example, a continuously variable transmission, but is not limited to this. The automatic transmission 140 may also be, for example, a planetary gear type step AT or other automatic transmission.

[0016] The automatic transmission 140 has three shift modes: an automatic shift mode, a manual shift mode (hereinafter referred to as "manual mode"), and a temporary manual shift mode (hereinafter referred to as "temporary manual mode"). The automatic shift mode is a shift mode in which shifts are automatically performed according to predetermined shift characteristics. The manual mode is a shift mode in which shifts are performed in response to driver operation. The temporary manual mode is a shift mode in which shifts are performed in response to driver operation, similar to the manual mode.

[0017] The driver can switch between three shift modes by operating the shift lever 160, which will be described later. For example, when switching from the automatic shift mode to the manual mode, the driver operates the shift lever 160 from a forward range (hereinafter referred to as "D range") to a manual range (hereinafter referred to as "M range") to switch from the automatic shift mode to the manual mode. Also, when switching from the manual mode to the automatic shift mode, the driver operates the shift lever 160 from the M range to the D range to switch from the manual mode to the automatic shift mode. Also, when switching from the automatic shift mode to the temporary manual mode, the driver operates the paddle to operate either the minus paddle switch 150a or the plus paddle switch 150b, which will be described later, while the shift lever 160 is in the D range. This paddle operation is an example of an operation for switching from the automatic shift mode to the temporary manual mode.

[0018] Furthermore, automatic transmission 140 automatically switches from temporary manual mode to automatic shift mode when predetermined conditions are met. When the driver wishes to forcibly switch from temporary manual mode to automatic shift mode at a timing desired by the driver, the driver first operates shift lever 160 from D range to M range. Thereafter, the driver can switch from temporary manual mode to automatic shift mode by performing a return operation, which is an operation to return shift lever 160 from M range to D range. The return operation is an example of a switching operation from temporary manual mode to automatic shift mode.

[0019] The paddle switches 150 are an example of a first operating unit that accepts an operation to switch from the automatic shift mode to the temporary manual mode. The paddle switches 150 are provided on the steering wheel 130 on the side opposite the side facing the driver's seat. The paddle switches 150 are provided so that they can be operated by the driver's fingers while the driver is gripping the steering wheel 130. The minus paddle switch 150a is located on the left side of the center of the steering wheel 130, and the plus paddle switch 150b is located on the right side of the center of the steering wheel 130. The paddle switches 150 are connected to a shift mode control device 170, which will be described later, and output a signal to the shift mode control device 170 when they accept an operation by the driver.

[0020] Paddle switch 150 accepts driver operations related to gear shifting. The driver can change the gear ratio by operating either minus paddle switch 150a or plus paddle switch 150b. For example, when the driver operates minus paddle switch 150a, the gear ratio is downshifted to a predetermined gear ratio, and when the driver operates plus paddle switch 150b, the gear ratio is upshifted to a predetermined gear ratio. Furthermore, when the driver operates the paddle, if the gear shift mode is in the automatic gear shift mode, the gear shift mode switches to the temporary manual mode.

[0021] The shift lever 160 is an example of a second operation unit that accepts a switching operation from the temporary manual mode to the automatic shift mode. When the driver wishes to forcibly switch from the temporary manual mode to the automatic shift mode at a timing desired by the driver, the driver performs a return operation using the shift lever 160. The shift lever 160 is provided near the driver's seat of the vehicle 1 and accepts an operation by the driver to switch the shift range of the automatic transmission 140. In addition to the D range and M range, the shift lever 160 has a reverse range (hereinafter referred to as the "R range"), a neutral range (hereinafter referred to as the "N range"), and a parking range (hereinafter referred to as the "P range"). The shift lever 160 also has an upshift range (hereinafter referred to as the "M(+) range") and a downshift range (hereinafter referred to as the "M(-) range"). When the gear shift mode is manual (i.e., when the shift lever 160 is in the M range position), the driver can upshift or downshift the gear ratio to a predetermined gear ratio by operating the shift lever 160 to the M(+) range or M(-) range.

[0022] The shift mode control device 170 is an example of a control device that controls a shift mode. The shift mode control device 170 controls, for example, the shift mode and gear ratio of the automatic transmission 140. As shown in FIG. 1 , the shift mode control device 170 has a processor 172 and a memory 174 connected to the processor 172.

[0023] The processor 172 is an arithmetic processing device mounted on a computer. The processor 172 is configured, for example, as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), but may be configured as another microprocessor. The processor 172 may also be configured as one or more processors. The processor 172 executes programs stored in the memory 174 or other storage media, thereby performing various processes in the shift mode control device 170.

[0024] The memory 174 is a storage medium that stores programs and various other data. The memory 174 includes, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The ROM is a non-volatile memory that stores programs used by the processor 172 and data for running the programs. The RAM is a volatile memory that temporarily stores data such as variables, calculation parameters, and calculation results used in processing executed by the processor 172. The programs stored in the ROM are read into the RAM and executed by the processor 172, such as a CPU.

[0025] [2. Functional configuration of the gear shift mode control system] Next, the functional configuration of the gear change mode control system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the gear change mode control system according to this embodiment.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the gear change mode control device 170 includes, as functional units that operate when a program is executed, a paddle operation detection unit 300, a gear change mode switching unit 302, a gear ratio detection unit 304, a gear ratio change unit 306, a gear ratio change amount calculation unit 308, a switching condition update unit 310, and a table storage unit 312.

[0027] Paddle operation detection unit 300 detects paddle operations by the driver. For example, when the driver operates a paddle, paddle operation detection unit 300 receives a signal transmitted from paddle switch 150 and detects that a paddle operation has been performed. For example, when the driver downshifts the gear ratio while driving, he or she operates minus paddle switch 150a once. Then, paddle operation detection unit 300 receives a signal transmitted from minus paddle switch 150a and detects that minus paddle switch 150a has been operated. Also, when the driver upshifts the gear ratio while driving, he or she operates plus paddle switch 150b once. Then, paddle operation detection unit 300 receives a signal transmitted from plus paddle switch 150b and detects that plus paddle switch 150b has been operated. Paddle operation detection unit 300 receives a signal from paddle switch 150 each time the paddle is operated and detects that a paddle operation has been performed.

[0028] The shift mode switching unit 302 determines whether to switch the shift mode based on the driver's operation of the paddle switch 150 or the shift lever 160, and switches the shift mode accordingly. For example, when the driver operates the paddles while the current shift mode is the automatic shift mode, the shift mode switching unit 302 switches the shift mode from the automatic shift mode to the temporary manual mode. When the driver operates the shift lever 160 to the D range, the shift mode switching unit 302 switches to the automatic shift mode, and when the driver operates the shift lever 160 to the M range, the shift mode switching unit 302 switches to the manual mode. When the driver operates the shift lever 160 to return to the normal mode while the current shift mode is the temporary manual mode, the shift mode switching unit 302 switches to the automatic shift mode.

[0029] Furthermore, if the driver does not perform a return operation, the gear change mode switching unit 302 determines whether to switch the gear change mode based on a switching condition for switching the gear change mode, and automatically switches the gear change mode from the temporary manual mode to the automatic gear change mode when the switching condition is met. As described in detail below, an example of the switching condition is that the gear ratio difference resulting from a change in the gear ratio exceeds the gear ratio change amount of the switching condition. However, the switching condition is not limited to this. For example, the switching condition may be that a predetermined driving time has elapsed or that the driving distance has exceeded a predetermined distance. The gear change mode switching unit 302 determines whether the gear ratio difference, which is the difference between the gear ratio when switching from the automatic gear change mode to the temporary manual mode by the driver operating a paddle (hereinafter also referred to as the "first gear ratio") and the gear ratio after the gear ratio has been switched by the driver operating the paddle switch 150, is equal to or greater than the gear ratio change amount of the switching condition, and automatically switches from the temporary manual mode to the automatic gear change mode if it is equal to or greater than the gear ratio change amount of the switching condition.

[0030] The gear ratio detection unit 304 detects the current gear ratio. For example, the gear ratio detection unit 304 detects the current gear ratio based on the rotation speed of the automatic transmission 140. The gear ratio detection unit 304 stores the detected gear ratio in the memory 174.

[0031] Gear ratio changing unit 306 derives a target post-change gear ratio and instructs automatic transmission 140 to change the gear ratio. For example, when the gear change mode is the automatic gear change mode, gear ratio changing unit 306 refers to a gear change map stored in advance in memory 174 to derive an optimal gear ratio and instructs automatic transmission 140 to change the gear ratio. When the gear change mode is the manual mode or temporary manual mode, gear ratio changing unit 306 instructs automatic transmission 140 to change the gear ratio so as to upshift or downshift to a predetermined gear ratio in response to operation of paddle switch 150 or shift lever 160 by the driver.

[0032] The gear ratio change amount calculation unit 308 calculates the gear ratio change amount. For example, the gear ratio change amount calculation unit 308 calculates the gear ratio change amount, which is the difference between a first gear ratio when the automatic transmission mode is switched to the temporary manual mode by the driver's operation of the paddle switch 150 and a gear ratio when the temporary manual mode is switched to the automatic transmission mode by the driver's operation of the shift lever 160 (hereinafter also referred to as the "second gear ratio"). In order to calculate the gear ratio change amount, the gear ratio change amount calculation unit 308 also calculates, for example, a gear ratio difference, which is the difference between the first gear ratio and the gear ratio detected by the gear ratio detection unit 304 after being changed by the instruction of the gear ratio change unit 306, as needed. The gear ratio change amount calculation unit 308 also calculates, for example, a unit change amount, which is the amount of change per unit time in the gear ratio detected by the gear ratio detection unit 304.

[0033] The switching condition update unit 310 updates the switching conditions for automatically switching the gear shift mode. The switching condition update unit 310 updates, for example, the amount of change in the gear ratio as the switching condition for automatically switching from the temporary manual mode to the automatic gear shift mode.

[0034] While driving in temporary manual mode, the driver operates the paddles to change the gear ratio to the gear ratio desired by the driver. Then, if the gear ratio does not automatically switch after the desired gear ratio has been reached, the driver manually switches the gear mode from temporary manual mode to automatic gear ratio. In other words, the gear ratio when the driver manually switches the gear mode is the gear ratio desired by the driver. That is, the gear ratio control device 170 can determine the amount of gear ratio change until the gear ratio desired by the driver is reached by calculating the difference between the first gear ratio and the second gear ratio. By updating the amount of gear ratio change, the gear mode control device 170 can subsequently determine whether the gear ratio desired by the driver has been reached based on the amount of gear ratio change.

[0035] Switching condition update unit 310 updates the gear ratio change amount, which is a switching condition for automatically switching from temporary manual mode to automatic shift mode, to the gear ratio change amount calculated by gear ratio change amount calculation unit 308, for example.

[0036] As a method of updating the switching condition, switching condition update unit 310 may, for example, update the gear ratio change amount of the switching condition with the most recently calculated gear ratio change amount. In this way, when the driver performs a return operation, the gear ratio change amount calculated at that timing becomes the switching condition, so that the switching condition can be reflected immediately.

[0037] The method of updating the switching condition of the switching condition update unit 310 is not limited to the above example. For example, the switching condition update unit 310 may calculate the average value of the most recently calculated multiple gear ratio change amounts and update the calculated value as the gear ratio change amount of the switching condition. In this case, the switching condition update unit 310 weights the stored gear ratio change amounts so that the most recently stored gear ratio change amount is prioritized. This allows the switching condition update unit 310 to calculate the average value of the past multiple gear ratio change amounts, thereby enabling the switching condition update unit 310 to update the switching condition to a gear ratio change amount that is more accurately suited to the driver's desire. Furthermore, if the calculated gear ratio change amount is less than a certain value, the switching condition update unit 310 may determine that the calculated gear ratio change amount is an abnormal value and exclude it from being included in the updating of the switching condition. Furthermore, the switching condition update unit 310 may update the most recently calculated multiple gear ratio change amounts in a first-in, first-out (FIFO) order.

[0038] Table storage unit 312 stores various control information, such as a switching condition table relating to switching conditions, in memory 174. The switching condition table is a table that associates, for example, a first gear ratio with a gear ratio change amount that is a switching condition. In other words, table storage unit 312 stores the gear ratio change amount updated by switching condition update unit 310 for each first gear ratio.

[0039] [3. Processing flow of the gear shift mode control system] Next, the processing flow of the shift mode control device 170 of the shift mode control system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the shift mode switching processing by the shift mode control device 170 according to this embodiment.

[0040] 3, first, paddle operation detection unit 300 detects whether or not the driver has operated the paddle based on the driver's operation of paddle switch 150 (S100). For example, when the driver operates the paddle, a signal is transmitted from paddle switch 150, and paddle operation detection unit 300 detects the signal. If paddle operation detection unit 300 does not detect a paddle operation (NO in step S100), the process ends.

[0041] If the paddle operation detection unit 300 detects a paddle operation (YES in step S100), the gear shift mode switching unit 302 determines whether the current gear shift mode is the manual mode (S102). If the current gear shift mode is the manual mode (YES in step S102), the processing ends. If the current gear shift mode is not the manual mode (NO in step S102), the gear shift mode switching unit 302 determines whether the current gear shift mode is the temporary manual mode (S104).

[0042] If the current shift mode is not the temporary manual mode (NO in step S104), that is, if the current shift mode is the automatic shift mode, shift mode switching unit 302 switches the shift mode from the automatic shift mode to the temporary manual mode (S106). Thereafter, gear ratio detection unit 304 detects the current gear ratio (first gear ratio) based on the rotation speed of automatic transmission 140 and the like, and stores it in memory 174 (S108).

[0043] After the current gear ratio is stored in step S108, or if the current shift mode is the temporary manual mode in step S104 (YES in step S104), gear ratio change unit 306 instructs automatic transmission 140 to change the gear ratio based on the paddle operation by the driver (S110). When the driver operates minus paddle switch 150a, gear ratio change unit 306 instructs automatic transmission 140 to change the gear ratio so as to downshift the gear ratio, and when the driver operates plus paddle switch 150b, gear ratio change unit 306 instructs automatic transmission 140 to change the gear ratio so as to upshift the gear ratio.

[0044] After changing the gear ratio, gear ratio change amount calculation unit 308 detects the actual gear ratio after the change in step S110, and calculates a gear ratio difference, which is the difference between the first gear ratio stored in step S108 and the actual gear ratio after the change in step S110 (S112).

[0045] After calculating the gear ratio difference in step S112, the gear change mode switching unit 302 determines whether the gear ratio difference calculated in step S112 is equal to or greater than the gear ratio change amount that is the switching condition (S114). The gear ratio change amount that is the switching condition has, for example, a set initial value, and each time step S122 described below is updated, the value of the gear ratio change amount is updated to a smaller value.

[0046] In step S114, if the gear ratio difference calculated in step S112 is less than the switching condition (NO in step S114), paddle operation detection unit 300 detects whether or not the driver has operated the paddle based on the driver's operation of paddle switch 150 (S116). For example, when the driver operates the paddle, a signal is transmitted from paddle switch 150, and paddle operation detection unit 300 detects the signal.

[0047] If a paddle operation is detected in step S116 (YES in step S116), the process repeats from step S110. If a paddle operation is not detected in step S116 (NO in step S116), gear shift mode switching unit 302 determines whether a return operation has been performed based on the driver's operation of shift lever 160 (S118).

[0048] If a returning operation has not been performed in step S118 (NO in step S118), the processing from step S112 is repeated. If a returning operation has been performed in step S118 (YES in step S118), switching condition update unit 310 updates the gear ratio change amount of the switching condition to the gear ratio difference calculated in step S112 (S120). Specifically, switching condition update unit 310 sets the gear ratio difference at the time the returning operation was performed as the gear ratio change amount, and updates the gear ratio change amount of the switching condition. Furthermore, table storage unit 312 stores the gear ratio change amount calculated in step S112 for each first gear ratio, and switching condition update unit 310 updates the gear ratio change amount calculated in step S112 for each first gear ratio.

[0049] After the gear ratio change amount of the switching condition is updated in step S120, or if the gear ratio difference is equal to or greater than the switching condition in step S114 (YES in step S114), the gear mode switching unit 302 switches the gear mode from the temporary manual mode to the automatic gear mode (S122) and ends the processing.

[0050] As described above, according to the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, when the driver switches from the temporary manual mode to the automatic transmission mode by his / her own operation, the vehicle 1 calculates the gear ratio change amount, which is the difference between the first gear ratio and the second gear ratio. This allows the vehicle 1 to determine whether the gear ratio desired by the driver has been reached based on the gear ratio change amount. Then, by updating the gear ratio change amount as a switching condition, the vehicle 1 can determine whether the gear ratio desired by the driver has been reached when the gear ratio is changed by the same amount from the next time onwards. This allows the vehicle 1 to immediately switch to the automatic transmission mode when the gear ratio change amount reaches the switching condition desired by the driver, thereby reducing the inconvenience to the driver associated with switching transmission modes.

[0051] Furthermore, with vehicle 1 according to this embodiment, the gear ratio change amount is updated as a switching condition for each first gear ratio, thereby enabling the gear ratio change amount to be updated to match the characteristics of each gear ratio. By updating the gear ratio change amount to match the characteristics of the gear ratio, vehicle 1 can appropriately determine the gear ratio desired by the driver, and more reliably reduce the inconvenience to the driver associated with switching the gear change mode.

[0052] [4. Speed ​​change mode control system according to the second embodiment] Next, a vehicle 1 equipped with a gear change mode control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 4. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the points described below, but other configurations and functions are similar to those of the first embodiment, so detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0053] Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a gear change mode control system according to the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 4, the gear change mode control device 170 according to the second embodiment further includes a unit change amount determination unit 400 and a timer timing unit 402 in addition to the components of the gear change mode control device 170 according to the first embodiment, that is, a paddle operation detection unit 300, a gear change mode switching unit 302, a gear ratio detection unit 304, a gear ratio changing unit 306, a gear ratio change amount calculation unit 308, a switching condition update unit 310, and a table storage unit 312.

[0054] The unit change amount determination unit 400 determines whether the unit change amount is equal to or less than a predetermined value. For example, the unit change amount determination unit 400 determines whether the unit change amount calculated by the gear ratio change amount calculation unit 308 is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

[0055] Timer counting unit 402 measures the time from a predetermined timing. The predetermined timing is, for example, the timing when unit change amount determination unit 400 determines that the unit change amount has become equal to or less than a predetermined value. Timer counting unit 402 measures the switching time from when the driver operates paddle switch 150 and the unit change amount has become equal to or less than the predetermined value until the driver operates shift lever 160 to switch from temporary manual mode to automatic shift mode. The time measured by timer counting unit 402 is stored in memory 174.

[0056] The gear shift mode switching unit 302 determines whether or not the time measured by the timer timing unit 402 has reached a switching time as a switching condition for automatically switching from the temporary manual mode to the automatic gear shift mode. If the time measured by the timer timing unit 402 has reached the switching time as a switching condition, the gear shift mode switching unit 302 switches from the temporary manual mode to the automatic gear shift mode.

[0057] Switching condition update unit 310 updates the switching time, which is a switching condition for automatically switching from temporary manual mode to automatic shift mode, to the time measured by timer timing unit 402. For example, switching condition update unit 310 updates the switching time, which is a switching condition, to the time from when the unit change amount becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value after the gear ratio is changed by paddle operation by the driver, until when switching from temporary manual mode to automatic shift mode is performed by a return operation by the driver.

[0058] [5. Processing flow of the speed change mode control system according to the second embodiment] Next, a processing flow by the shift mode control device 170 of the shift mode control system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the shift mode switching processing by the shift mode control device 170 according to the second embodiment.

[0059] 5, first, paddle operation detection unit 300 detects whether or not the driver has operated the paddle based on the driver's operation of paddle switch 150 (S200). For example, when the driver operates the paddle, a signal is transmitted from paddle switch 150, and paddle operation detection unit 300 detects the signal. If paddle operation detection unit 300 does not detect a paddle operation (NO in step S200), the process ends.

[0060] If the paddle operation detection unit 300 detects a paddle operation (YES in step S200), the gear shift mode switching unit 302 determines whether the current gear shift mode is the manual mode (S202). If the current gear shift mode is the manual mode (YES in step S202), the processing ends. If the current gear shift mode is not the manual mode (NO in step S202), the gear shift mode switching unit 302 determines whether the current gear shift mode is the temporary manual mode (S204).

[0061] If the current shifting mode is not the temporary manual mode (NO in step S204), that is, if the current shifting mode is the automatic shifting mode, the shifting mode switching unit 302 switches the shifting mode from the automatic shifting mode to the temporary manual mode (S206).

[0062] After the shift mode is switched in step S206, or if the current shift mode is the temporary manual mode in step S204 (YES in step S204), gear ratio change unit 306 instructs automatic transmission 140 to change the gear ratio based on the paddle operation by the driver (S208). When the driver operates minus paddle switch 150a, gear ratio change unit 306 instructs automatic transmission 140 to change the gear ratio so as to downshift the gear ratio, and when the driver operates plus paddle switch 150b, gear ratio change unit 306 instructs automatic transmission 140 to change the gear ratio so as to upshift the gear ratio.

[0063] After changing the gear ratio in step S208, timer counter 402 sets the timer to 0 (S210). Thereafter, gear ratio change amount calculation unit 308 calculates a unit change amount (S212). For example, after changing the gear ratio, gear ratio change amount calculation unit 308 divides the difference between two gear ratios detected at regular intervals by gear ratio detection unit 304 by that interval, and sets the result as the unit change amount.

[0064] After calculating the unit change amount in step S212, the unit change amount determination unit 400 determines whether the unit change amount calculated in step S212 is equal to or less than a predetermined value (S214). If the unit change amount is equal to or less than the predetermined value (YES in step S214), the timer counting unit 402 starts counting the timer (S216).

[0065] After the timer has started timing in step S216, or if the unit change amount is not equal to or less than the predetermined value in step S214 (NO in step S214), gear change mode switching unit 302 determines whether the measured time has passed the switching time as a switching condition (S218). If the measured time has not passed the switching time as a switching condition (NO in step S218), paddle operation detection unit 300 detects whether the driver has operated the paddle based on the driver's operation of paddle switch 150 (S220). For example, when the driver operates the paddle, a signal is transmitted from paddle switch 150, and paddle operation detection unit 300 detects the signal.

[0066] If a paddle operation is detected in step S220 (YES in step S220), the process repeats from step S208. If a paddle operation is not detected in step S220 (NO in step S220), the gear shift mode switching unit 302 determines whether a return operation has been performed based on the driver's operation of the shift lever 160 (S222).

[0067] If a return operation has not been performed in step S222 (NO in step S222), the processing from step S212 is repeated. If a return operation has been performed in step S222 (YES in step S222), the switching condition update unit 310 updates the switching time as a switching condition to the time measured by the timer timing unit 402 (S224). Specifically, the switching condition update unit 310 sets the time measured at the time the return operation was performed as the switching time, and updates the switching time as a switching condition. The switching condition update unit 310 stores the updated switching time in memory 174, for example.

[0068] After the switching time as a switching condition is updated in step S224, or if the time measured by the timer timing unit 402 in step S218 has exceeded the switching time (YES in step S218), the shift mode switching unit 302 switches the shift mode from the temporary manual mode to the automatic shift mode (S226) and ends the processing.

[0069] As described above, in the vehicle 1 of the second embodiment, after changing the gear ratio, it is determined whether the unit change amount of the gear ratio is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The vehicle 1 then measures the time from the moment the unit change amount of the gear ratio becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value, and updates the time until the driver switches the gear change mode by operating the vehicle 1 himself as the switching time of the switching condition. As a result, from the next time onwards, the vehicle 1 can automatically switch the gear change mode after the predetermined time has elapsed after changing the gear ratio to the driver's desired setting, thereby reducing the inconvenience to the driver associated with switching the gear change mode.

[0070] While the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. It is clear that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications and alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that such modifications and alterations also fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0071] For example, the vehicle 1 of the above embodiment may be equipped with a driver monitoring system using an in-vehicle camera or the like. When there are multiple drivers driving the vehicle 1, the switching condition update unit 310 uses the driver monitoring system to determine the driver currently driving and updates the switching conditions for each driver. Furthermore, when there are multiple drivers driving the vehicle 1, the table storage unit 312 stores the switching conditions for each driver in the memory 174. As a result, the switching conditions for the vehicle 1 are updated for each driver, so even when there are multiple drivers driving the vehicle 1, the switching conditions for switching from the temporary manual mode to the automatic shift mode are changed for each driver, and it is possible to select switching conditions suited to each driver.

[0072] In addition, for example, in the above embodiment, the gear ratio changing unit 306 is described as issuing a change instruction to change the gear ratio, but this is not limited to such an example. The gear ratio changing unit 306 may also issue a change instruction to change the gear position.

[0073] In addition, for example, in the above embodiment, the configuration example of vehicle 1 shown in Fig. 1 has been described, but the configuration of the vehicle according to the present invention is not limited to such an example. For example, the vehicle according to the present invention may be one in which some components of vehicle 1 shown in Fig. 1 have been deleted, added, or modified.

[0074] The series of processes performed by the shift mode control system according to the above-described embodiment may be implemented using software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The programs constituting the software are stored in advance in, for example, a non-transitory storage medium provided inside or outside each device. The programs are then read from, for example, a non-transitory storage medium (for example, a ROM) to a transitory storage medium (for example, a RAM) and executed by a processor such as a CPU.

[0075] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to provide a program for executing the processing of each function of the above-described speed change mode control system. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing the program. The non-transitory recording medium may be, for example, a disk-type recording medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, or a magneto-optical disk, or may be a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory or a USB memory. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1 vehicle 150a Minus Paddle Switch 150b Plus Paddle Switch 160 Shift Lever 170 Speed ​​change mode control device (control device) 172 processors 174 memory 308 Gear ratio change amount calculation unit 310 Switching condition update unit 312 Table storage unit 402 Timer clock unit

Claims

1. a control device for controlling a speed change mode; a first operation unit that accepts a switching operation from an automatic shift mode in which shifting is performed automatically to a manual shift mode in which shifting is performed in response to an operation by a driver; a second operation unit that accepts a switching operation from the manual shifting mode to the automatic shifting mode; Equipped with the control device includes a processor and a memory connected to the processor; The processor: calculating a gear ratio change amount which is a difference between a first gear ratio when the automatic gear shift mode is switched to the manual gear shift mode by an operation of the first operating unit by the driver and a second gear ratio when the manual gear shift mode is switched to the automatic gear shift mode by an operation of the second operating unit by the driver; updating the speed ratio change amount as a switching condition for automatically switching from the manual shift mode to the automatic shift mode to the calculated speed ratio change amount; A speed change mode control system that performs processing including the steps of:

2. The processor: storing the speed ratio change amount for each of the first speed ratios; updating the switching condition for each of the first speed ratios; The transmission mode control system of claim 1 , wherein the transmission mode control system executes a process including:

3. a control device for controlling a speed change mode; a first operation unit that accepts a switching operation from an automatic shift mode in which shifting is performed automatically to a manual shift mode in which shifting is performed in response to an operation by a driver; a second operation unit that accepts a switching operation from the manual shifting mode to the automatic shifting mode; Equipped with the control device includes a processor and a memory connected to the processor; The processor: measuring a switching time from when a unit change amount, which is a change amount per unit time of a gear ratio, becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value after a driver operates the first operating unit, until when the manual shift mode is switched to the automatic shift mode by the driver's operation of the second operating unit; updating the switching time as a switching condition for automatically switching from the manual shift mode to the automatic shift mode to the measured switching time; A speed change mode control system that performs processing including the steps of:

4. The processor: When there are a plurality of drivers, determining the driver who is driving; updating the switching condition for each driver; 4. The speed change mode control system according to claim 1, wherein the speed change mode control system executes a process including the steps of:

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