Vehicle control method and vehicle control device

Abstract

A vehicle selects a parking position when two or all of an R-range button (3), an N-range button (4), and a D-range button (5) other than a P-range button(2) are operated in a state in which the P-range button (2) has been operated, and thereafter, when the operation of the P-range button (2) has been released and switching has been made to a state in which a plurality of buttons other than the P-range button (2) have been operated, the vehicle maintains the parking position. Thus, since the vehicle maintains the parking position when a plurality of buttons other than the P-range button (2) are operated in the state in which the P-range button (2) has been operated, a state in which power is not transmitted to a drive wheel is maintained, and an improper start can be prevented.

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] Shift devices for vehicles that select a shift position by operating a switch are known. In shift devices that select a shift position by operating a switch, it is necessary to determine, with safety in mind, 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 dangers 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, 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]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2-17265 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-113071 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 60-167843 Summary of the Invention

[0007] The vehicle of the present invention selects the parking position when the switches for multiple shift positions other than the parking position are operated while 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 then maintains the parking position when the operation of the switch for the parking position is released and the state changes to one in which the switches for multiple shift positions other than the parking position are operated.

[0008] According to the present invention, a state in which power is not transmitted to the drive wheels is maintained, and erroneous starting can be prevented. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a gear shifting device of a vehicle. [Figure 2] 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a system configuration of a vehicle to which the present invention is applied; [Figure 3] 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of a process for determining a shift position. [Figure 4] 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of a process for determining a shift position. [Figure 5] 4 is a timing chart showing the relationship between button operations on the gear shift device and the resulting selected shift position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram that schematically shows a vehicle gear shifting device 1 to which the present invention is applied.

[0012] The gearshift operating device 1 has an input section (switch) such as a push button switch or a touch panel, and the driver operates (presses or touches) this input section with a finger or the like to indicate the shift position (gear range). The gearshift operating device 1 corresponds to the gearshift operating 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 gearshift operating 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.

[0013] The P-range button 2 corresponds to a parking position in which power from the drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, and is operated (pressed) to select the parking position. The R-range button 3 corresponds to a reverse position for reverse travel in which power from the drive source is transmitted to the drive wheels, and is operated (pressed) to select the reverse position. The N-range button 4 corresponds to a neutral position in which power from the drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, and is operated (pressed) to select the neutral position. The D-range button 5 corresponds to a drive position for forward travel in which power from the drive source is transmitted to the drive wheels, and is operated (pressed) to select the drive position.

[0014] The arrangement of the push buttons in the gearshift device 1 is not limited to the order shown in FIG. 1 (P, R, N, D from the right in FIG. 1) and can be changed as appropriate.

[0015] 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.

[0016] In addition to the gear shift operation device 1, the vehicle also has a drive unit 6, a shift controller 7, and a vehicle controller 8.

[0017] The drive unit 6 has a traction motor 10 as a drive source for driving the drive wheels of the vehicle, a reduction gear 11 for reducing the rotation of the traction motor 10, and a parking lock mechanism 12 for mechanically restricting the rotation of the reduction gear 11.

[0018] The traction motor 10 is the direct drive source of 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 that uses 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.

[0019] 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, thereby ensuring the traveling drive torque.

[0020] 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 mechanical action caused by the operation of the park lock actuator 14. The mechanical action is, for example, moving a claw-shaped member back and forth to prevent the gears from rotating when the claw-shaped member gets caught on the gears of the reducer 11.

[0021] The results of operation of the gearshift 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 the corresponding shift position, and when the operation is released (returns from the pressed state to its original state), the output stops. Based on the input from the gearshift 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.

[0022] When multiple switches on the gear change operation device 1 are pressed at the same time, the shift controller 7 gives the highest priority to the operation of the P range button 2, followed by the operation of the N range button 4. The shift controller 7 basically 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 operation is basically P>N>D=R. In other words, the priority of button operation is lower for the operation of a switch for a shift position that transmits power to the drive wheels than for the operation of a switch for a shift position that does not transmit power to the drive wheels.

[0023] The switch signal input process S1 processes a signal from a switch operated on the gearshift operation device 1. The switch signal input process S1 also processes a fault signal from the gearshift operation device 1.

[0024] In the switch signal input arbitration process S2, it is determined which push button switch of the gearshift operating device 1 has been operated in response to the input from the gearshift operating device 1. Specifically, for example, it is determined which switch has been operated when multiple switches of the gearshift operating device 1 are pressed at the same time.

[0025] 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 sent to the vehicle controller 8.

[0026] The vehicle controller 8 receives the determination result of the target range determination process S3 and performs a shift final determination process S4. The shift final determination process S4 determines whether the determination result of the target range determination process S3 can be accepted by the vehicle. For example, if the vehicle condition is such that the determination result of the target range determination process S3 cannot be accepted, 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.

[0027] In other words, the shift controller 7 and the vehicle controller 8 correspond to a control unit, and determine which shift position has been selected from the operation result of the gear shift operation device 1, and control the vehicle based on the shift position determined to have been selected.

[0028] 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 corresponds to which range has been pressed.

[0029] 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 amount of power to the park lock actuator 14 so that the park lock actuator 14 can obtain a desired drive output. The park lock actuator 14 activates the park lock mechanism 12.

[0030] 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.

[0031] The inverter 13 determines the power to be supplied to the traction motor 10 based on a command from the vehicle controller 8 .

[0032] Battery charge / discharge information is input to the vehicle controller 8 from a battery controller 20 that manages the charge / discharge of a battery that can supply 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 the 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.

[0033] Furthermore, the vehicle controller 8 outputs information about the shift position to a meter 22 that displays the shift position.

[0034] 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.

[0035] In step S11, it is determined whether or not there has been a button input on the gearshift operation device 1. That is, in step S11, it is determined whether or not any button on the gearshift 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 not been a button input, the process proceeds to step S31.

[0036] In step S12, it is determined whether multiple buttons on the gearshift operating device 1 are being pressed simultaneously. That is, in step S12, it is determined whether multiple buttons on the gearshift operating 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] In step S14, it is determined that the parking position has been selected as the shift position, and the current routine is ended.

[0039] 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.

[0040] In step S16, it is determined that the neutral position has been selected as the shift position, and the current routine is ended.

[0041] In step S17, it is determined whether 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.

[0042] In step S18, it is determined that the parking position has been selected as the shift position, and the current routine is ended.

[0043] In step S19, it is determined whether 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] In step S21, it is determined that the neutral position has been selected as the shift position, and the current routine is ended.

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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.

[0048] In step S23, the previous value is maintained and the current routine is terminated. That is, in step S23, the previously selected shift position is maintained and the current routine is terminated.

[0049] In step S24, it is determined whether 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.

[0050] 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. An example of the process proceeding to step S27 is when the operation of the R range button 3 is terminated (OFF) and the D range button 5 is operated (ON) simultaneously.

[0051] In step S26, it is determined that the drive position has been selected as the shift position, and the current routine is ended.

[0052] In step S27, it is determined that the input is indefinite, and the current routine is terminated.

[0053] 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 the process proceeding to step S30 is when the operation of the D range button 5 is terminated (OFF) and the R range button 3 is operated (ON) simultaneously.

[0054] In step S29, it is determined that the reverse position has been selected as the shift position, and the current routine is ended.

[0055] In step S30, it is determined that the input is indefinite, and the current routine is terminated.

[0056] 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.

[0057] FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the relationship between button operations of the gearshift device 1 and the shift position (determination range) selected by the determination in the switch signal input arbitration process S2.

[0058] Time t1 is the timing when the P range button 2 is operated (pressed) to turn on. The shift controller 7 determines that the P range button 2 has been operated at time t1 (steps S11 → S12 → S17 → S18 in the flowchart of FIG. 3). Therefore, the determined range becomes the parking position from time t1.

[0059] Time t2 is the timing when the R range button 3 and the D range button 5 are operated (pressed) to turn on while the P range button 2 is on. Therefore, the shift controller 7 determines that the shift position is the parking position at time t2 (steps S11 → S12 → S13 → S14 in the flowchart of FIG. 3). Therefore, the determined range is maintained at the parking position even after time t2.

[0060] Time t3 is the timing when operation of the P range button 2 ends (OFF). The shift position immediately before time t3 was the parking position. Therefore, although the R range button 3 and the D range button 5 are in the ON state, the shift controller 7 determines that the shift position is the parking position at time t3 (steps S11 → S12 → S13 → S15 → S14 in the flowchart of FIG. 3). Therefore, the determined range is maintained at the parking position even after time t3.

[0061] Time t4 is the timing when operation of the R range button 3 and the D range button 5 ends (turns off). At time t4, the shift controller 7 determines that there is no button input on the gear change operation device 1 (steps S11 to S31 in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4). Therefore, the determined range becomes the home position from time t4.

[0062] When all the buttons on 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, has been selected. The shift controller 7 is able to switch to a new determination range by having the determination range pass through the home position.

[0063] As explained above, in a vehicle to which the present invention is applied, when the P range button 2 is operated and multiple buttons other than the P range button 2 (any two or all of the R range button 3, N range button 4, and D range button 5) are operated, the vehicle selects the parking position, and then when the operation of the P range button 2 is released and the state switches to one in which multiple buttons other than the P range button 2 are 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 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 switches for multiple shift positions other than the parking position are operated, and then maintains the parking position when the operation of the parking position switch is released and the state changes to one in which switches for multiple shift positions other than the parking position are operated.

[0065] Specifically, when the routine from step S12 to step S13 to step S14 is followed by the routine from step S12 to step S13 to step S15 to step S14, the parking position is selected.

[0066] The vehicle selects the parking position when multiple buttons other than the P range button 2 are operated while the P range button 2 is operated, and then when the operation of the P range button 2 is released and the state switches to one in which multiple buttons other than the P range button 2 are operated, the vehicle maintains the parking position, so that a state in which power is not transmitted to the drive wheels is maintained, and erroneous starting can be prevented.

[0067] A vehicle to which the present invention is applied determines that the neutral position has been selected when a button other than the P range button 2 (any one of the R range button 3, N range button 4, and D range button 5) is operated and then multiple buttons other than the P range button 2 (any two or all of the R range button 3, N range button 4, and D range button 5) are operated.

[0068] In other words, a vehicle to which the present invention is applied determines that the neutral position has been selected when a switch other than the parking position is operated and multiple switches other than the parking position are operated.

[0069] Specifically, in the routine leading to step S16, the neutral position is selected.

[0070] When a button other than the P range button 2 is operated and multiple buttons other than the P range button 2 are operated while a button other than the P range button 2 is operated, the vehicle can be put into a state in which power is not transmitted to the drive wheels.

[0071] 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 within the scope of the invention.

[0072] 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, a transmission, etc., 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.

[0073] In the above-described embodiment, the shift controller 7 and the vehicle controller 8 may be configured as a single controller. Also, the gear shift device 1 may perform the switch signal input arbitration process S2.

[0074] The above-described embodiments relate to a vehicle control method and a vehicle control device.

Claims

1. A control method for a vehicle having a gear shift operation unit that indicates a shift position by operating a switch corresponding to the shift position, When 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 and the switches for multiple shift positions other than the parking position are operated, the parking position is selected, and when the operation of the parking position switch is subsequently released and the state changes to one in which the switches for multiple shift positions other than the parking position are operated, the parking position is maintained, This vehicle control method determines that the neutral position, which is a shift position where the power of the drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, has been selected when a plurality of switches other than the parking position are operated, even if the operated plurality of switches does not include a switch in the neutral position, unless the shift position determined immediately before the plurality of switches are operated is the parking position.

2. 2. A vehicle control method according to claim 1, wherein the switches of the multiple shift positions that are operated in duplicate are any two of a neutral position switch, which is a shift position in which the power of the drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, a drive position switch, which is a shift position in which the power of the drive source is transmitted to the drive wheels, and a reverse position switch, which is a shift position in which the power of the drive source is transmitted to the drive wheels.

3. 2. A vehicle control method as described in claim 1, wherein the multiple shift position switches that are operated in overlapping fashion are three switches: a neutral position switch, which is a shift position in which the power of the drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels; a drive position switch, which is a shift position in which the power of the drive source is transmitted to the drive wheels; and a reverse position switch, which is a shift position in which the power of the drive source is transmitted to the drive wheels.

4. 2. A vehicle control method according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of switches other than the parking position are operated, even if the operated plurality of switches does not include a switch in the neutral position, if the shift position determined immediately before the plurality of switches are operated is the drive position or the reverse position, it is determined that the neutral position, which is a shift position in which power from the drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, has been selected.

5. The switches that correspond to the shift positions are marked with letters that represent the corresponding shift positions.

5. The vehicle control method according to claim 4, wherein the switches corresponding to the shift positions are arranged in a row in the horizontal direction of the characters written on the switches.

6. 6. The vehicle control method according to claim 5, wherein the switches corresponding to the shift positions are arranged adjacent to each other in a rectangular shape.

7. 6. A vehicle control method according to claim 5, 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.

8. 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 that selects the parking position when switches for multiple shift positions other than the parking position are operated while a switch for a 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 then maintains the parking position when the operation of the parking position switch is released and the state changes to one in which the switches for multiple shift positions other than the parking position are operated, and when multiple switches other than the parking position are operated, determines that the neutral position, which is a shift position in which the power of the drive source is not transmitted to the drive wheels, has been selected, even if the multiple switches operated do not include a switch for the neutral position, as long as the shift position determined immediately before the multiple switches were operated is not the parking position.

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