Apparatus and method for controlling vehicle

The vehicle control device optimizes coolant temperature management through integrated sensors and a control unit to enhance fuel and heating efficiency in hybrid vehicles by coordinating the operation of flow valves, cylinder deactivation, and air flaps, addressing the inefficiencies in hybrid vehicle heating and climate control.

KR103043403B1Active Publication Date: 2026-11-05HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD +1
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Patent Information

Application Number
KR1020210113331
Authority / Receiving Office
KR · KR
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2021-08-26
Publication Date
2026-11-05
Estimated Expiration
2041-08-26

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Hybrid vehicles face challenges in simultaneously maintaining fuel efficiency and heating efficiency due to independent operations of integrated flow valve, automatic temperature controller, and active air flap during heating and climate control, leading to reduced engine combustion efficiency.

Method used

A vehicle control device and method that integrates sensors to detect external temperature, vehicle speed, and coolant temperature, and a control unit to manage the operation of an integrated flow valve, cylinder deactivation, and active air flap based on heating load and coolant temperature to optimize coolant temperature control.

Benefits of technology

The solution enhances fuel efficiency and heating efficiency by minimizing heat source loss and optimizing coolant temperature management, thereby maintaining optimal vehicle component operation and improving heating performance.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

A vehicle control device according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a sensor that detects the external temperature of the vehicle, the vehicle speed, and the engine coolant temperature; an input unit that receives a signal for an on or off operation of the heating control; and a control unit that, when the external temperature is below a set temperature and a signal for an on operation of the heating control is input, determines the heating load according to the heating control, and controls the operation of an integrated flow valve, the idle operation of a cylinder included in the engine, and the operation of an active air flap according to one or more of the heating load and the coolant temperature.
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Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle driving control device and method. Background Technology

[0002] In hybrid vehicles, an Integrated Thermal Management Value (ITM) is applied to the cooling circuit control to distribute high-temperature engine coolant using a DC motor. The ITM controls the coolant temperature upward during low-speed operation and can control it downward during high-speed or high-load operation.

[0003] In addition, hybrid vehicles are equipped with a Full Automatic Temperature Control (FATC) that controls the cabin heating to be performed using engine coolant heated by the engine's heat. The FATC can request an engine warm-up if the engine coolant temperature is lower than the temperature required for heating.

[0004] In addition, the hybrid vehicle may be equipped with an active air flap located between the radiator and the radiator grille to draw in external air for cooling the PE (Power Electric) components, and the active air flap can regulate the amount of air intake by controlling the opening and closing of the radiator grille.

[0005] In addition, hybrid vehicles may be equipped with a Cylinder-Deactivation (CDA) engine that deactivates some of the cylinders during braking or driving, and fuel supply and intake and exhaust operations are stopped on the deactivated cylinders.

[0006] Hybrid vehicles have limitations in that fuel efficiency and heating efficiency are reduced because the aforementioned integrated flow valve, automatic temperature controller, active air flap, and variable cylinder engine operate independently during heating and climate control. For example, in a hybrid vehicle, even if the coolant temperature is low, if the temperature of PE components is high, the active air flap is opened to draw in outside air to cool the PE components; however, this ultimately lowers the rise in coolant temperature, leading to a problem of reduced engine combustion efficiency. Therefore, there is a need for the development of technology that can simultaneously secure fuel efficiency and heating efficiency during heating and climate control in hybrid vehicles. The problem to be solved

[0007] One objective of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control device and method capable of securing fuel efficiency and heating efficiency when controlling heating and air conditioning in a hybrid vehicle.

[0008] The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned technical problems will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0009] A vehicle control device according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a sensor that detects the external temperature of the vehicle, the vehicle speed, and the coolant temperature of the engine; an input unit that receives a signal for an on or off operation of the heating control; and a control unit that, when the external temperature is below a set temperature and a signal for an on operation of the heating control is input, determines a heating load according to the heating control and controls the operation of an integrated flow valve, the idle operation of a cylinder included in the engine, and the operation of an active air flap according to one or more of the heating load and the coolant temperature.

[0010] The control unit can turn off the idle operation and control the active air flap to close and control the integrated flow valve to operate in the first mode when the vehicle speed exceeds the reference speed and the engine for raising the coolant temperature is in a warm-up state.

[0011] The control unit can turn on the idle operation and control the active air flap to close and control the integrated flow valve to operate in the first mode when the vehicle speed does not exceed the reference speed, the coolant temperature is below the first temperature, and the heating load is below the reference stage.

[0012] The first mode above may include a mode that prevents the coolant from flowing into the engine and raises the coolant temperature.

[0013] The control unit can turn off the idle operation, control the active air flap to close, and control the integrated flow valve to operate in a second mode when the vehicle speed does not exceed the reference speed, the coolant temperature is below the first temperature, and the heating load is above the reference level.

[0014] The control unit can turn on the idle operation and control the active air flap to close and control the integrated flow valve to operate in the second mode when the vehicle speed does not exceed the reference speed and the coolant temperature is above the first temperature.

[0015] The above second mode may include a heating mode that allows the coolant to flow to the heater.

[0016] The control unit can control the integrated flow valve to operate in a third mode if, after the integrated flow valve is controlled in a first mode, it determines that the cooling water temperature exceeds a second temperature.

[0017] The above third mode may include a cooling mode that lowers the cooling water temperature.

[0018] The above control unit can control the opening of the active air flap when the cooling water temperature exceeds a third temperature which is higher than the second temperature.

[0019] A vehicle control method according to one embodiment of the present invention may include the steps of determining the vehicle speed when the external temperature of the vehicle is below a set temperature and a signal for the on operation of the heating control is input, determining the heating load according to the heating control, and controlling the operation of an integrated flow valve, the deactivation operation of a cylinder included in the engine, and the operation of an active air flap according to one or more of the heating load and the coolant temperature.

[0020] When the above vehicle speed exceeds the reference speed and the engine for raising the above coolant temperature is in a warm-up state, the above idle operation can be turned off, the above active air flap can be controlled to close, and the above integrated flow valve can be controlled to operate in the first mode.

[0021] If the above vehicle speed does not exceed the reference speed, the above coolant temperature is below the first temperature, and the above heating load is below the reference stage, the above idle operation can be turned on, the above active air flap can be controlled to close, and the above integrated flow valve can be controlled to operate in the above first mode.

[0022] The first mode above may include a mode that prevents the coolant from flowing into the engine and raises the coolant temperature.

[0023] If the above vehicle speed does not exceed the reference speed, the above coolant temperature is below the first temperature, and the above heating load is above the reference stage, the above idle operation can be turned off, the above active air flap can be controlled to close, and the above integrated flow valve can be controlled to operate in the second mode.

[0024] If the above vehicle speed does not exceed the reference speed and the above coolant temperature is above the first temperature, the above idle operation can be turned on, the above active air flap can be controlled to close, and the above integrated flow valve can be controlled to operate in the above second mode.

[0025] The above second mode may include a heating mode that allows the coolant to flow to the heater.

[0026] After the above integrated flow valve is controlled in the first mode, if it is determined that the cooling water temperature exceeds the second temperature, the above integrated flow valve can be controlled to operate in the third mode.

[0027] The above third mode may include a cooling mode that lowers the cooling water temperature.

[0028] If the above cooling water temperature exceeds a third temperature which is higher than the above second temperature, the active air flap can be controlled to open. Effects of the invention

[0029] A vehicle control device and method according to one embodiment of the present invention can simultaneously secure heating and efficiency in a hybrid vehicle, thereby maintaining an optimal state of operation of vehicle components and improving heating performance. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0030] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2 to 6 are flowcharts illustrating a vehicle control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a computing system that executes a method according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0031] Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. It should be noted that in assigning reference numerals to the components of each drawing, the same components are given the same reference numeral whenever possible, even if they are shown in different drawings. Furthermore, in describing the embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known components or functions would hinder understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, such detailed description is omitted.

[0032] In describing the components of the embodiments of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc., may be used. These terms are intended merely to distinguish the components from other components, and the essence, order, or sequence of the components is not limited by the terms. Furthermore, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this application.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle control device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the vehicle control unit (100) may include a sensor (110), an input unit (120), an integrated flow valve (130), an automatic temperature controller (140), a variable cylinder engine (150), an active air flap (160), and a control unit (170).

[0035] The sensor (110) can detect the external temperature, vehicle speed, coolant temperature, and heating operation status of the vehicle. According to an embodiment, the sensor (110) may include a temperature sensor for detecting the external temperature of the vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor for detecting the vehicle speed, and a coolant temperature sensor for detecting the coolant temperature.

[0036] The input unit (120) can receive a signal for the on or off operation of the heating control. Additionally, the input unit (120) can adjust the heating intensity when the heating control is on. The control unit (170) can calculate the heating load according to the heating intensity.

[0037] According to an embodiment, the input unit (120) may receive a corresponding signal based on the operation, motion, or voice of the occupant, and the control unit (170) may control the heating on or off based on the input signal. The input unit (120) may be implemented as a scroll wheel, button, knob, touch screen, touch pad, lever, track ball, etc., which can be operated by the occupant, or as at least one of a motion sensor and a voice recognition sensor that detect the occupant's motion or voice, or a combination thereof.

[0038] The integrated flow valve (130 (ITM: Integrated Thermal Management Value)) can operate in any one of a first mode that prevents the coolant from flowing to the engine and raises the coolant temperature, a second mode that includes a heating mode that allows the coolant to flow to the heater, and a third mode that includes a cooling mode that lowers the coolant temperature.

[0039] The automatic temperature controller (140 (FATC: Full Automatic Temperature Control)) can control the engine coolant heated by the engine's heat to perform indoor heating. If the coolant temperature is lower than the water temperature required for heating, the automatic temperature controller (140) can request the control unit (170) to warm up the engine.

[0040] A Cylinder-Deactivation (CDA) engine (150) may include an engine in which some of the cylinders among all cylinders are deactivated during braking or driving, and the operation of fuel supply, intake, and exhaust is stopped on the deactivated cylinder side. The deactivation operation of the CDA engine (150) may be turned off when the control unit (170) requests engine warm-up or when the heating is in a high load state, and the deactivation operation may be turned on when fuel efficiency is to be improved in a low load state.

[0041] An active air flap (160 (AAF)) may be installed between a radiator and a radiator grille to introduce external air for cooling a PE (Power Electric) component. The active air flap (160) can control the opening and closing of the radiator grille to regulate the amount of air introduced.

[0042] The control unit (170) can be implemented by various processing devices, such as a microprocessor with a semiconductor chip capable of performing the operation or execution of various commands, and can control the operation of the vehicle control device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Specifically, when the external temperature is below the set temperature and a signal for the on operation of the heating control is input, the control unit (170) determines the heating load according to the heating control and can control the operation of the integrated flow valve, the deactivation operation of the cylinder included in the engine, and the operation of the active air flap according to one or more of the heating load and the engine's coolant temperature.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the control unit (170) can determine whether the ignition is turned on and whether the vehicle driving has entered the HEV (hybird electric vehicle) mode after the EV (electric vehicle) mode.

[0045] The control unit (170) can determine whether, when the vehicle has entered HEV mode, the external temperature of the vehicle is below the set temperature and whether a signal for the on operation of the heating control has been input. Here, the case where the external temperature of the vehicle is below the set temperature may include the case where it is below zero.

[0046] The control unit (170) can determine whether the vehicle speed exceeds a reference speed when the external temperature is below the set temperature and a signal for the on operation of the heating control is input. Here, the reference speed may include 60 km / h.

[0047] The control unit (170) may request an engine warm-up when the vehicle speed exceeds the reference speed and the coolant temperature drops, resulting in the coolant temperature being lower than the temperature required for heating.

[0048] The control unit (170) can perform a warm-up on the engine to raise the coolant temperature and can turn off the engine's idle operation to rapidly raise the coolant temperature. In addition, the control unit (170) can control the active air flap (160) to close and control the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in a first mode to maximize the efficiency of raising the coolant temperature. Here, the first mode may include a mode that prevents the coolant from flowing into the engine and raises the coolant temperature.

[0049] As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (170) can increase the operating efficiency by minimizing heat source loss during engine warm-up, even when the vehicle speed exceeds the reference speed and the coolant temperature decreases, by turning off the engine idle operation, controlling the active air flap to close, and controlling the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in the first mode.

[0050] According to another embodiment, the control unit (170) can determine whether the coolant temperature is below a first temperature when the vehicle speed does not exceed a reference speed. If the control unit (170) determines that the coolant temperature is below the first temperature, it can determine whether to perform a warm-up to raise the coolant temperature. Here, the first temperature may mean 70 degrees.

[0051] The control unit (170) can determine that the water temperature required for heating is satisfied when warm-up is not performed, and can determine whether the automatic temperature controller (140) has turned on the control of the engine to perform heating.

[0052] When the control unit (170) determines that the automatic temperature controller (140) has turned on the control of the engine to perform heating, it can calculate the heating load according to the heating control and determine whether the heating load is below a reference level. According to an embodiment, the control unit (170) determines whether the intensity of the blower for heating is below a predetermined level (e.g., level 3), and if the intensity of the blower is below the predetermined level, it can determine that the heating load is below the reference level. Here, the intensity of the blower can be set by the input of the occupant.

[0053] The control unit (170) can determine that the heating load is in a low-load heating state if it determines that the heating load is below a reference level, and if the heating load is in a low-load heating state, it can control the engine to turn on the idle operation to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption. In addition, the control unit (170) can control the active air flap (160) to close and control the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in a first mode to maximize the efficiency of raising the coolant temperature. Here, the first mode may include a mode that prevents the coolant from flowing to the engine and raises the coolant temperature.

[0054] As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (170) can increase the combustion efficiency of the engine by controlling the active air flap to close when the vehicle speed is below the reference speed and the heating load is in a low load state, thereby maintaining the coolant temperature, and can improve fuel efficiency by controlling the idle operation to turn on.

[0055] According to another embodiment, the control unit (170) may determine that the heating load is in a high-load heating state if it determines that the heating load is not below a reference level. If the heating load is in a high-load heating state, the control unit (170) may control the engine to turn off the idle operation, control the active air flap (160) to close, and control the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in a second mode. Here, the second mode may include a heating mode in which coolant flows to the heater.

[0056] As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (170) can rapidly increase heating efficiency by controlling the engine's idle operation to turn off when the heating is in a high load state, and can increase the heating effect by controlling the active air flap (160) to close and controlling the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in a heating mode.

[0057] According to another embodiment, the control unit (170) can determine whether the coolant temperature is below a first temperature when the vehicle speed does not exceed a reference speed. If the control unit (170) determines that the coolant temperature is not below the first temperature, it can determine that the coolant temperature is in a high-temperature state and can control the engine to turn on the idle operation to suppress unnecessary rise in coolant temperature and minimize fuel loss. Additionally, the control unit (170) can control the active air flap (160) to close to prevent a rapid drop in coolant temperature and control the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in a second mode to increase heating efficiency using high-temperature coolant. Here, the second mode may include a heating mode in which the coolant flows to the heater.

[0058] The control unit (170) can determine whether the cooling water temperature exceeds the second temperature when the integrated flow valve (130) is controlled to operate in the first mode while the heating load is low, as the cooling water temperature increases. Here, the second temperature may be 50 degrees.

[0059] If the control unit (170) determines that the cooling water temperature exceeds the second temperature, it can determine that cooling is required for the cooling water temperature. Accordingly, the control unit (170) can control the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in a third mode. Here, the third mode may include a cooling mode in which the cooling water is cooled by controlling the opening amount of the integrated flow valve (130) to circulate it along a predetermined path.

[0060] The control unit (170) can determine whether the cooling water temperature exceeds the third temperature when the integrated flow valve (130) is controlled to operate in the third mode. Here, the third temperature may be 60 degrees.

[0061] If the control unit (170) determines that the cooling water temperature exceeds a third temperature, it may determine that additional action is required to cool the cooling water temperature in addition to controlling the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in a third mode. According to an embodiment, the control unit (170) can control the active air flap (160) to open and allow external air to flow in to cool the cooling water temperature.

[0062] FIGS. 2 to 6 are flowcharts illustrating a vehicle control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the control unit (170) can determine whether the ignition is on (S110). In S110, if the ignition is on (Y), the control unit (170) can determine whether the HEV (hybird electric vehicle) mode has been entered after the EV (electric vehicle) mode (S120). In S110, if the ignition is not on, the control unit (170) can determine again whether the ignition is on.

[0064] In S120, the control unit (170) can determine whether the external temperature of the vehicle is below the set temperature when the vehicle has entered HEV mode (Y) (S130). According to the embodiment, if the control unit (170) determines in S130 that the external temperature of the vehicle is below the set temperature (Y), the external temperature may be below zero.

[0065] In S130, if the control unit (170) determines that the external temperature of the vehicle is below the set temperature, it can determine whether a signal for the on operation of the heating control has been input (S140). In S130, if the control unit (170) determines that the external temperature of the vehicle is not below the set temperature (N), or in S140, if it determines that a signal for the on operation of the heating control has not been input (N), it can control the air conditioning for HEV driving (S150).

[0066] In S140, when the control unit (170) determines that a signal for the on operation of the heating control has been input (Y), it can determine whether the vehicle speed exceeds a reference speed (S160). Here, the reference speed may include 60 km / h.

[0067] In S160, the control unit (170) may request an engine warm-up when the vehicle speed exceeds the reference speed and the coolant temperature drops, resulting in the coolant temperature being lower than the temperature required for heating.

[0068] The control unit (170) can determine whether an engine warm-up is performed to raise the coolant temperature (S170), and if it is determined in S170 that an engine warm-up is performed (Y), it can turn off the engine idle operation to rapidly raise the coolant temperature (S180). If an engine warm-up is not performed in S170, the coolant temperature

[0069] In addition, the control unit (170) can control the active air flap (160) to close (S190) and control the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in a first mode (S200) to maximize the efficiency of raising the coolant temperature. Here, the first mode may include a mode that prevents the coolant from flowing to the engine and raises the coolant temperature.

[0070] As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (170) can increase the operating efficiency by minimizing heat source loss during engine warm-up, even when the vehicle speed exceeds the reference speed and the coolant temperature decreases, by turning off the engine idle operation, controlling the active air flap to close, and controlling the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in the first mode.

[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the control unit (170) can perform an 'A' operation including S110 to S140 of FIG. 2.

[0072] According to the embodiment, in S140 of FIG. 2, if the control unit (170) determines that a signal for the on operation of the heating control has been input (Y), it can determine whether the vehicle speed exceeds the reference speed (S160).

[0073] In S160, if the control unit (170) determines that the vehicle speed does not exceed the reference speed (N), it can determine whether the coolant temperature is below the first temperature (S210). In S210, if the control unit (170) determines that the coolant temperature is below the first temperature (Y), it can determine whether to perform a warm-up to raise the coolant temperature (S220). Here, the first temperature may mean 70 degrees.

[0074] In S220, the control unit (170) can determine that the water temperature required for heating is satisfied when warm-up is not performed (N), and can determine whether the automatic temperature controller (140) has turned on the control of the engine to perform heating (S230). In S220, if the control unit (170) determines that warm-up is performed (Y), it can perform S180 of FIG. 2.

[0075] In S230, if the control unit (170) determines that the automatic temperature controller (140) has turned on the control of the engine for performing heating (Y), it can calculate the heating load according to the heating control and determine whether the heating load is below a reference level (S240). According to the embodiment, in S240, the control unit (170) determines whether the intensity of the blower for heating is below a predetermined level (e.g., level 3), and if the intensity of the blower is below the predetermined level, it can determine that the heating load is below the reference level. In S230, if it is determined that the control of the engine for performing heating is not turned on (N), it can determine whether the control of the engine for performing heating continuously has turned on.

[0076] In S240, if the control unit (170) determines that the heating load is below the reference stage (Y), it can determine that the heating is in a low-load state, and if the heating is in a low-load state, it can control the engine to turn on the idle operation to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption (S250). In addition, the control unit (170) can control the active air flap (160) to close (S260) and control the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in a first mode to maximize the efficiency of raising the coolant temperature (S270). Here, the first mode may include a mode that prevents the coolant from flowing to the engine and raises the coolant temperature.

[0077] As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (170) can increase the combustion efficiency of the engine by controlling the active air flap to close when the vehicle speed is below the reference speed and the heating load is in a low load state, thereby maintaining the coolant temperature, and can improve fuel efficiency by controlling the idle operation to turn on.

[0078] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the control unit (170) can perform an 'A' operation including S110 to S140 of FIG. 2.

[0079] According to the embodiment, in S140 of FIG. 2, if the control unit (170) determines that a signal for the on operation of the heating control has been input (Y), it can determine whether the vehicle speed exceeds the reference speed (S160).

[0080] In S160, if the control unit (170) determines that the vehicle speed does not exceed the reference speed (N), it can determine whether the coolant temperature is below the first temperature (S210). In S210, if the control unit (170) determines that the coolant temperature is below the first temperature (Y), it can determine whether to perform a warm-up to raise the coolant temperature (S220). Here, the first temperature may mean 70 degrees.

[0081] In S220, the control unit (170) can determine that the water temperature required for heating is satisfied when warm-up is not performed (N), and can determine whether the automatic temperature controller (140) has turned on the control of the engine to perform heating (S230). In S220, if the control unit (170) determines that warm-up is performed (Y), it can perform S180 of FIG. 2.

[0082] In S230, when the control unit (170) determines that the automatic temperature controller (140) has turned on the control of the engine to perform heating (Y), it can calculate the heating load according to the heating control and determine whether the heating load is below a reference level (S240).

[0083] In S240, if the control unit (170) determines that the heating load is not below a reference level (N), it can determine that the heating is in a high-load state. If the heating is in a high-load state, the control unit (170) can control the engine to turn off the idle operation (S280), control the active air flap (160) to close (S290), and control the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in a second mode (S300). Here, the second mode may include a heating mode in which coolant flows to the heater.

[0084] As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (170) can rapidly increase heating efficiency by controlling the engine's idle operation to turn off when the heating is in a high load state, and can increase the heating effect by controlling the active air flap (160) to close and controlling the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in a heating mode.

[0085] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the control unit (170) can perform an 'A' operation including S110 to S140 of FIG. 2.

[0086] According to the embodiment, in S140 of FIG. 2, if the control unit (170) determines that a signal for the on operation of the heating control has been input (Y), it can determine whether the vehicle speed exceeds the reference speed (S160).

[0087] In S160, if the control unit (170) determines that the vehicle speed does not exceed the reference speed (N), it can determine whether the coolant temperature is below the first temperature (S210). In S210, if the control unit (170) determines that the coolant temperature is not below the first temperature (N), it can determine that the coolant temperature is in a high temperature state and can control the engine to turn on the idle operation to suppress unnecessary rise in coolant temperature and minimize fuel loss (S310).

[0088] Additionally, the control unit (170) can control the active air flap (160) to close to prevent a rapid drop in the cooling water temperature (S320), and control the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in a second mode to increase heating efficiency using high-temperature cooling water (S330). Here, the second mode may include a heating mode in which the cooling water flows to the heater.

[0089] As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the control unit (170) controls the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in the first mode while the heating load is low (S270), the cooling water temperature increases, so it can determine whether the cooling water temperature exceeds the second temperature (S340). Here, the second temperature may be 50 degrees.

[0090] In S340, if the control unit (170) determines that the cooling water temperature exceeds the second temperature (Y), it can determine that cooling is required for the cooling water temperature. Accordingly, the control unit (170) can control the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in a third mode. Here, the third mode may include a cooling mode in which the cooling water is cooled by controlling the opening amount of the integrated flow valve (130) to circulate it along a predetermined path.

[0091] In S340, if the control unit (170) determines that the coolant temperature does not exceed the second temperature, it can perform S220. That is, if the control unit (170) determines in S340 that the coolant temperature does not exceed the second temperature, it can determine whether to perform an engine warm-up to raise the coolant temperature (S220 of FIG. 4).

[0092] In S350, the control unit (170) can determine whether the cooling water temperature exceeds the third temperature when the integrated flow valve (130) is controlled to operate in the third mode (S360). Here, the third temperature may be 60 degrees.

[0093] In S360, if the control unit (170) determines that the cooling water temperature exceeds the third temperature (Y), it may determine that additional action is required to cool the cooling water temperature in addition to controlling the integrated flow valve (130) to operate in the third mode. According to the embodiment, the control unit (170) can control the active air flap (160) to open (S370). The control unit (170) can cool the cooling water temperature by controlling the active air flap (160) to open so that external air is introduced.

[0094] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a computing system that executes a method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0095] Referring to FIG. 7, the computing system (1000) may include at least one processor (1100), memory (1300), user interface input device (00), user interface output device (1500), storage (1600), and network interface (1700) connected via a bus (1200).

[0096] The processor (1100) may be a semiconductor device that executes processing on instructions stored in a central processing unit (CPU) or in memory (1300) and / or storage (1600). The memory (1300) and storage (1600) may include various types of volatile or non-volatile storage media. For example, the memory (1300) may include ROM (Read Only Memory, 1310) and RAM (Random Access Memory, 1320).

[0097] Accordingly, the steps of the method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be directly implemented in hardware, software modules, or a combination of both, executed by the processor (1100). The software modules may reside in a storage medium (i.e., memory (1300) and / or storage (1600)) such as RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disks, removable disks, and CD-ROMs. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor (1100), and the processor (1100) can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium may be integral with the processor (1100). The processor and the storage medium may reside within an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASIC may reside within a user terminal. Alternatively, the processor and the storage medium may reside as separate components within the user terminal.

[0098] The above description is merely an illustrative explanation of the technical concept of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to make various modifications and variations within the scope of the essential characteristics of the present invention.

[0099] Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in this invention are intended to illustrate, not limit, the technical concept of the invention, and the scope of the technical concept of the invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of this invention shall be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical concepts within an equivalent scope shall be interpreted as being included within the scope of rights of this invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0100] Vehicle control unit 100 Integrated flow valve 110 Automatic temperature controller 120 Variable cylinder engine 130 Control unit 140

Claims

Claim 1 A vehicle control device comprising: a sensor for detecting the external temperature of a vehicle, the vehicle speed, and the engine coolant temperature; an input unit for receiving a signal for an on or off operation of a heating control; and a control unit for determining a heating load according to the heating control when the external temperature is below a set temperature and a signal for an on operation of the heating control is input, and controlling the operation of an integrated flow valve, a deactivation operation of a cylinder included in the engine, and an operation of an active air flap according to one or more of the heating load and the coolant temperature, wherein the control unit turns on the deactivation operation, controls the active air flap to close, and controls the integrated flow valve to operate in a first mode when the vehicle speed does not exceed a reference speed, the coolant temperature is below a first temperature, and the heating load is below a reference stage. Claim 2 A vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit turns off the idle operation, controls the active air flap to close, and controls the integrated flow valve to operate in a first mode when the vehicle speed exceeds a reference speed and the engine for raising the coolant temperature is in a warm-up state. Claim 3 delete Claim 4 A vehicle control device according to claim 2, wherein the first mode includes a mode that prevents coolant from flowing to the engine and increases the coolant temperature. Claim 5 A vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit turns off the idle operation, controls the active air flap to close, and controls the integrated flow valve to operate in a second mode when the vehicle speed does not exceed a reference speed, the coolant temperature is less than a first temperature, and the heating load is greater than or equal to a reference stage. Claim 6 A vehicle control device according to claim 5, wherein the control unit, when the vehicle speed does not exceed a reference speed and the coolant temperature is above a first temperature, turns on the idle operation, controls the active air flap to close, and controls the integrated flow valve to operate in the second mode. Claim 7 A vehicle control device according to claim 6, wherein the second mode includes a heating mode that causes the coolant to flow to a heater. Claim 8 A vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the integrated flow valve to operate in a third mode when, after the integrated flow valve is controlled in a first mode, it determines that the coolant temperature exceeds a second temperature. Claim 9 In claim 8, the third mode is a vehicle control device comprising a cooling mode that lowers the coolant temperature. Claim 10 A vehicle control device according to claim 8, wherein the control unit controls the opening of the active air flap when the coolant temperature exceeds a third temperature which is higher than the second temperature. Claim 11 A vehicle control method comprising: a step of determining the vehicle speed when the external temperature of the vehicle is below a set temperature and a signal for the ON operation of the heating control is input; a step of determining the heating load according to the heating control; and a step of controlling the operation of an integrated flow valve, the idle operation of a cylinder included in the engine, and the operation of an active air flap according to one or more of the heating load and the coolant temperature, wherein if the vehicle speed does not exceed a reference speed, the coolant temperature is below a first temperature, and the heating load is below a reference stage, the idle operation is turned ON, the active air flap is controlled to close, and the integrated flow valve is controlled to operate in a first mode. Claim 12 A vehicle control method according to claim 11, wherein when the vehicle speed exceeds a reference speed and the engine for raising the coolant temperature is in a warm-up state, the idle operation is turned off, the active air flap is controlled to close, and the integrated flow valve is controlled to operate in a first mode. Claim 13 delete Claim 14 A vehicle control method according to claim 12, wherein the first mode includes a mode that prevents coolant from flowing to the engine and increases the coolant temperature. Claim 15 A vehicle control method according to claim 11, wherein if the vehicle speed does not exceed a reference speed, the coolant temperature is below a first temperature, and the heating load is above a reference stage, the idle operation is turned off, the active air flap is controlled to close, and the integrated flow valve is controlled to operate in a second mode. Claim 16 A vehicle control method according to claim 15, wherein if the vehicle speed does not exceed a reference speed and the coolant temperature is above a first temperature, the idle operation is turned on, the active air flap is controlled to close, and the integrated flow valve is controlled to operate in the second mode. Claim 17 A vehicle control method according to claim 16, wherein the second mode includes a heating mode in which the coolant flows to a heater. Claim 18 A vehicle control method according to claim 11, wherein, after the integrated flow valve is controlled in a first mode, if it is determined that the coolant temperature exceeds a second temperature, the integrated flow valve is controlled to operate in a third mode. Claim 19 A vehicle control method according to claim 18, wherein the third mode includes a cooling mode that lowers the coolant temperature. Claim 20 A vehicle control method according to claim 18, wherein if the coolant temperature exceeds a third temperature which is higher than the second temperature, the active air flap is controlled to open.

Citation Information

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