Vehicle engine control device and vehicle engine control system

Abstract

An engine control unit 7 recognizes a parking operation when a vehicle 2 is parked, measures parking time Tp since recognizing the parking operation, keeps an engine 3 driven until the parking time Tp reaches set time Tset, automatically turns off the engine 3 after the parking time Tp reaches the set time Tset, and notifies, by using a communicator 15, a portable terminal 5 of information indicating that the engine 3 is automatically turned off.

Description

Vehicle engine control device and vehicle engine control system

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle engine control device and a vehicle engine control system that are provided with a function of automatically stopping an idling vehicle engine.

[0002] Conventionally, engine control devices for vehicles such as automobiles automatically stop the engine by idling stop control when the vehicle is temporarily stopped while traveling, for example, at a traffic light (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 7-247881). Such idling stop control improves fuel efficiency and reduces exhaust gas emissions.

[0003] On the other hand, when occupants remain in the vehicle cabin while the vehicle is parked under the hot sun, it is necessary to keep the temperature inside the vehicle constant by continuously operating the air conditioner, etc., from the viewpoint of ensuring the safety of the occupants, etc. Therefore, the engine control device prohibits the automatic stopping of the engine by the idling stop control on the condition that the shift lever is operated to the parking range while the vehicle is parked, etc.

[0004] Furthermore, to prevent the user from forgetting to turn off the engine when parking the vehicle, the engine control device can also automatically turn off the engine when a predetermined time has elapsed since the vehicle began idling.

[0005] However, such automatic engine-off control may be contrary to the user's intention. For example, the user may decide that it is preferable to keep the engine on from the perspective of ensuring the safety of occupants remaining in the vehicle. In such a case, even if the vehicle cannot be locked from the outside with a smart key while the engine is on, it is conceivable that the user may, as an exception, forcibly lock the vehicle from the outside with a physical key while the engine is on. Even in such a case, the engine control device may automatically turn off the engine.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a vehicle engine control device and a vehicle engine control system that can simultaneously ensure the safety of occupants remaining in the vehicle cabin and prevent the engine from being left on.

[0007] A vehicle engine control device according to one aspect of the present invention includes parking recognition means for recognizing a parking operation when parking a vehicle, parking time measurement means for measuring a parking time after the parking operation is recognized, operation control means for continuing to operate the engine until the parking time reaches a set time and automatically turning off the engine after the parking time reaches the set time, and communication control means for notifying an external terminal using communication means of information that causes the operation control means to automatically turn off the engine.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle engine control device includes a processor that recognizes a parking operation when parking the vehicle, measures the parking time after the parking operation is recognized, continues to operate the engine until the parking time reaches a set time, automatically turns off the engine after the parking time reaches the set time, and notifies an external terminal using a communication module of information indicating that the processor has automatically turned off the engine.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, an engine control system for a vehicle includes an external terminal carried by a user and an engine control device mounted on the vehicle, wherein the engine control device includes parking recognition means for recognizing a parking operation when parking the vehicle, parking time measurement means for measuring the parking time after the parking operation is recognized, operation control means for continuing to operate the engine until the parking time reaches a set time and automatically turning off the engine after the parking time reaches the set time, and communication control means for notifying the external terminal using communication means of information that causes the operation control means to automatically turn off the engine.

[0010] A block diagram of an engine control system having an idling stop function. A flowchart showing an engine operation determination routine when the vehicle is stopped (part 1). A flowchart showing an engine operation determination routine when the vehicle is stopped (part 2). A flowchart showing an engine operation determination routine when the vehicle is stopped according to a modified example.

[0011] An embodiment of one aspect of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that in the drawings used in the following description, each component is shown at a different scale so that it can be recognized. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the number of components, the shapes of the components, the size ratios of the components, and the relative positional relationships of the components shown in these drawings.

[0012] As an example of an engine control system applied to a vehicle such as an automobile, the configuration of a vehicle engine control system having an idling stop function will be described.

[0013] Before describing the vehicle engine control system 1, the general configuration of the engine 3 will be described.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the engine 3 includes an injector 3a, a spark plug 3b, and a starter motor 3c.

[0015] The injector 3a and the spark plug 3b are each provided in each cylinder (not shown) of the engine 3. The injector 3a supplies fuel by injecting fuel into, for example, an intake port of the engine 3 or a combustion chamber in a cylinder.

[0016] The spark plug 3b ignites the mixture of fuel and air supplied into the combustion chamber. An igniter 6, which will be described later, is connected to the spark plug 3b.

[0017] The engine 3 configured in this manner is started by the starter motor 3c when the driver presses the engine start switch. Note that such an operation to start the engine 3 also includes a type in which the driver inserts a key into a key cylinder and turns it.

[0018] A vehicle engine control system 1 that controls such an engine 3 is configured to include, for example, an engine control device 4 mounted on a vehicle 2 and a mobile terminal 5 that can communicate with the engine control device 4.

[0019] The engine control device 4 includes an engine control unit 7 .

[0020] The engine control unit 7 functions as an operation control means for controlling the operation of the engine 3 .

[0021] Therefore, the output side of the engine control unit 7 is connected to the injector 3 a, starter motor 3 c, and igniter 6 for operating the engine 3 described above.

[0022] In addition, the engine control unit 7 is connected to, for example, a vehicle speed sensor 8 that detects the vehicle speed Vs, an accelerator sensor 9 that detects the accelerator operation by the driver, a brake sensor 10 that detects the brake operation by the driver, a human presence sensor 11, a shift position sensor 12, and a communicator 15.

[0023] The human presence sensor 11 detects, for example, an occupant in the vehicle cabin as human presence information in the vehicle cabin. Therefore, the human presence sensor 11 is installed, for example, on the ceiling or the like where it can detect an occupant in a seatable area in the vehicle cabin. Thus, in this embodiment, the human presence sensor 11 corresponds to a specific example of an occupant detection means. Note that, for example, a seating sensor, a carbon dioxide concentration sensor, a sound sensor, an in-vehicle camera, etc. can also be used as an occupant detection means in the vehicle cabin.

[0024] The shift position sensor 12 detects the shift position when a shift lever (not shown) is operated by the driver, for example. Therefore, the shift position sensor 12 can detect the shift position such as the driving range or the parking range when the shift lever is operated.

[0025] The communicator (communication module) 15 has, for example, a receiving unit and a transmitting unit (neither of which is shown) as communication means, and is configured to be able to communicate with a mobile terminal 5 capable of WAN communication (WCDMA (registered trademark), LTE, 5G-NR, etc.).

[0026] The communicator 15 transmits various pieces of information input from the engine control unit 7 to the mobile terminal 5. The communicator 15 also outputs various pieces of information received from the mobile terminal 5 to the engine control unit 7.

[0027] Thus, in this embodiment, the communicator 15 corresponds to a specific example of a communication control means.

[0028] The engine control device 4 configured as above controls the operation of the engine 3 when the engine 3 is started by the driver's operation.

[0029] More specifically, for example, the engine control unit 7 of the engine control device 4 calculates the optimal fuel injection amount to be supplied to each cylinder (not shown) of the engine 3. In addition, the engine control unit 7 determines the optimal ignition timing for each cylinder. Then, when a predetermined fuel injection timing is reached, the engine control unit 7 outputs a drive signal corresponding to the fuel injection amount of the injector 3a to be ignited. Thereafter, when the predetermined ignition timing is reached, the engine control unit 7 outputs a drive signal to the spark plug 3b of the cylinder to be ignited via the igniter 6. Then, the engine control unit 7 causes the spark plug 3b to ignite the fuel-air mixture in the cylinder to be ignited.

[0030] During such drive control of the engine 3, the engine control unit 7 temporarily stops the engine 3 by idling stop (hereinafter referred to as IS) control, for example, when a predetermined condition for executing IS control is met.

[0031] Specifically, the engine control unit 7 determines that the conditions for executing IS control are met, for example, when the accelerator pedal is released, the brake pedal is depressed, and the vehicle speed Vs becomes equal to or less than a predetermined IS control judgment threshold Vo.

[0032] When IS control is started, the engine control unit 7 outputs a fuel cut signal to the injector 3a of the engine 3. Furthermore, the engine control unit 7 outputs an ignition cut signal to the igniter 6. By controlling these outputs, the engine control unit 7 automatically stops the engine 3.

[0033] On the other hand, if it is determined that the execution conditions for IS control are no longer satisfied, the engine control unit 7 cancels the execution of IS control. When the execution of IS control is canceled, the engine control unit 7 outputs an ON signal to the starter motor 3c of the engine 3 to start the engine 3. Then, the engine control unit 7 outputs a predetermined fuel injection signal to the injector 3a. Furthermore, the engine control unit 7 outputs an ignition signal to the spark plug 3b via the igniter 6 at a predetermined timing. As a result, the engine control unit 7 restarts the engine 3.

[0034] However, even if the conditions for executing IS control are met, the engine control unit 7 prohibits the IS control that is being executed when a parking operation set in advance by the driver is performed.

[0035] Specifically, when the engine control unit 7 recognizes that the position of the shift lever is in the parking range, for example, it transitions to the IS control prohibition mode.

[0036] When the mode is changed to the IS control prohibition mode, the engine control unit 7 prohibits the IS control currently being executed and restarts the engine 3.

[0037] When the engine 3 is restarted, the engine control unit 7 continues to control the engine 3 until a preset time Tset is reached.

[0038] Then, when the set time Tset is reached, the engine control unit 7 automatically turns off the engine 3. When the engine 3 is automatically turned off, the air conditioner and the like are also turned off.

[0039] However, for example, before the set time Tset is reached, the engine control unit 7 notifies the mobile terminal 5 of advance notice information to the effect that the engine 3 will be automatically turned off. Then, for example, before the set time Tset is reached, the engine control unit 7 determines whether or not to automatically turn off the engine 3 based on the response from the mobile terminal 5.

[0040] Therefore, the engine control unit 7 in this embodiment measures the parking time Tp and sets the advance notice time To in advance.

[0041] More specifically, the engine control unit 7 measures the parking time Tp (idling time) from when the parking operation is recognized until when a set time Tset is reached. Furthermore, the engine control unit 7 pre-sets a notice time To for sending a notice before the parking time Tp reaches the set time Tset. Note that it is preferable that the notice time To be changeable as needed by operating the mobile terminal 5 or an operation panel of the vehicle 2, for example.

[0042] Then, when the parking time Tp reaches the advance notice time To, the engine control unit 7 transmits advance notice information to the mobile terminal 5 via the communicator 15. Then, the engine control unit 7 waits for a response from the mobile terminal 5 until the parking time Tp reaches the set time Tset.

[0043] During this waiting period, if there is a response from, for example, the mobile terminal 5, the engine control unit 7 determines whether or not to automatically turn off the engine 3 based on the response information. This response information is, for example, information generated by the mobile terminal 5 based on a user's operation on the mobile terminal 5. When a determination is made to permit automatic turning off of the engine 3, the engine control unit 7 executes automatic turning off of the engine 3. The engine control unit 7 then notifies the mobile terminal 5 via the communicator 15 that the engine 3 has been automatically turned off. On the other hand, when a determination is made to prohibit automatic turning off of the engine 3, the engine control unit 7 continues to operate the engine 3. The engine control unit 7 then notifies the mobile terminal 5 via the communicator 15 of the result of the determination to continue operating the engine 3.

[0044] Furthermore, for example, if the parking time Tp reaches the set time Tset without any response from the mobile terminal 5, the engine control unit 7 executes automatic turn-off of the engine 3. Then, the engine control unit 7 notifies the mobile terminal 5 of the determination result of automatic turn-off of the engine 3 via the communicator 15.

[0045] When the result of the determination is notified to the portable terminal 5, the engine control unit 7 clears the parking time Tp that has been measured up to that point. Also, the engine control unit 7 releases the IS control prohibition mode as necessary.

[0046] Specifically, for example, the engine control unit 7 clears the parking time Tp and starts re-measuring a new parking time Tp when continuing to drive the engine 3. Therefore, while the engine 3 continues to drive, the engine control unit 7 repeatedly controls the engine 3 based on the advance notice and the response.

[0047] On the other hand, when the engine control unit 7 executes automatic turning off of the engine 3, it clears the parking time Tp and then cancels the IS control prohibition mode.

[0048] Thus, in this embodiment, the engine control unit 7 corresponds to a specific example of parking recognition means, parking time measurement means, operation control means, and communication control means.

[0049] The portable terminal 5 is a mobile wireless communication terminal capable of mutual communication with, for example, the communicator 15. Therefore, the portable terminal 5, as an external terminal, receives various information from the engine control unit 7 via the communicator 15. Furthermore, the portable terminal 5 transmits various information to the communicator 15 based on a user operation.

[0050] More specifically, the mobile terminal 5 includes a terminal control unit 20. The terminal control unit 20 is a control unit for controlling the mobile terminal 5 in an integrated manner.

[0051] A speaker 21, a display 22, and a communication device 23 are connected to the terminal control unit 20.

[0052] The speaker 21 notifies the user of various information by voice based on a control signal from the terminal control unit 20 .

[0053] The display 22 notifies the user of various information by displaying it based on control signals from the terminal control unit 20. In this embodiment, the display 22 is a touch panel display, so that the display 22 can output information input by the user through touch operations to the terminal control unit 20.

[0054] The communicator 23 has, for example, a receiving unit and a transmitting unit, neither of which are shown. Therefore, the communicator 23 receives, for example, various types of information transmitted from the communicator 15. The communicator 23 then outputs the received various types of information to the terminal control unit 20. Furthermore, the communicator 23 transmits, to the communicator 15, various types of information input from the terminal control unit 20, for example, based on a user operation.

[0055] When the communication device 23 receives information from the engine control device 4, the terminal control unit 20 transmits the received information to the user via the speaker 21 and the display 22.

[0056] For example, when advance notice information is received by the communicator 23, the terminal control unit 20 transmits the received information to the user via the speaker 21 and the display 22, informing the user that the engine 3 of the parked vehicle 2 will be turned off.

[0057] In response to this, when the user performs an input operation on the display 22, the terminal control unit 20 generates response information according to the input information. Then, the terminal control unit 20 transmits the generated response information to the engine control device 4 via the communicator 23. This response information reflects, for example, the user's decision on whether to automatically turn off the engine 3.

[0058] Furthermore, when the communication device 23 receives information regarding the automatic shut-off of the engine 3 or the continuation of operation of the engine 3, the terminal control unit 20 transmits the received information to the user via the speaker 21 and the display 22.

[0059] Thus, in this embodiment, the mobile terminal 5 corresponds to a specific example of an external terminal.

[0060] Next, the engine operation when the vehicle 2 is stopped, which is executed by the engine control unit 7, will be described with reference to the flowchart of the engine operation determination routine shown in Figures 2 and 3. This routine is repeatedly executed at set time intervals.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 2, when the routine starts, the engine control unit 7 first determines in step S101 whether or not the engine 3 is being turned off by the idling stop (IS) control.

[0062] In step S101, when it is determined that the engine 3 is being turned off by IS control (step S101: YES), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S108, which will be described later.

[0063] On the other hand, in step S101, when it is determined that the engine 3 is not being turned off by IS control (step S101: NO), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S102.

[0064] In step S102, the engine control unit 7 determines whether or not the IS control prohibition mode is in effect, for example, by determining whether or not a flag Fis (described later) is set to 1.

[0065] Then, in step S102, if it is determined that the IS control prohibition mode is set (flag Fis=1) (step S102: YES), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S113, which will be described later.

[0066] On the other hand, when it is determined in step S102 that the IS control prohibition mode is not in effect (flag Fis=0) (step S102: NO), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S103.

[0067] In step S103, the engine control unit 7 determines whether the accelerator pedal has been released.

[0068] In step S103, if it is determined that the accelerator is not released (step S103: NO), the engine control unit 7 exits the routine.

[0069] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S103 that the accelerator is released (step S103: YES), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S104.

[0070] In step S104, the engine control unit 7 determines whether the brakes have been applied.

[0071] In step S104, if it is determined that the brake is not depressed and is not being operated (step S104: NO), the engine control unit 7 exits the routine.

[0072] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S104 that the brake is depressed and actuated (step S104: YES), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S105.

[0073] In step S105, the engine control unit 7 determines whether the vehicle speed Vs is equal to or less than the IS control determination threshold Vo. The IS control determination threshold Vo is, for example, a vehicle speed at which it is determined whether IS control can be performed before the vehicle stops. The vehicle speed is a preset fixed value, such as 8 km / h.

[0074] Then, in step S105, when it is determined that the vehicle speed Vs is greater than the IS control determination threshold value Vo (step S105: NO), the engine control unit 7 exits the routine.

[0075] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S105 that the vehicle speed Vs is equal to or less than the IS control determination threshold Vo (step S105: YES), the engine control unit 7 determines that the conditions for executing IS control are met, and proceeds to step S106.

[0076] In step S106, when the engine control unit 7 executes IS control, it cuts off both the fuel injection signal to the injector 3a of the engine 3 and the ignition signal to the igniter 6, automatically stopping the engine 3, and then proceeds to step S107.

[0077] In the next step S107, the engine control unit 7 determines whether a parking operation has been performed. The determination of whether a parking operation has been performed is made, for example, by determining whether the engine control unit 7 recognizes that the position of the shift lever is in the parking range.

[0078] Then, in step S107, if it is determined that a parking operation has been performed (step S107: YES), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S111, which will be described later.

[0079] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S107 that the parking operation has not been performed (step S107: NO), the engine control unit 7 exits the routine.

[0080] When the process proceeds from step S101 to step S108, the engine control unit 7 determines whether the brake operation has been released.

[0081] In step S108, if it is determined that the brake is not released (step S108: NO), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S110, which will be described later.

[0082] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S108 that the brake has been released (step S108: YES), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S109.

[0083] In step S109, the engine control unit 7 exits the routine after canceling the IS control and restarting the engine 3. Therefore, when restarting the engine 3, the engine control unit 7 starts the engine 3 using the starter motor 3c, and also restarts fuel injection from the injector 3a and output of an ignition signal from the igniter 6 to the spark plug 3b of each cylinder.

[0084] When the process moves from step S108 to step S110, the engine control unit 7 determines whether or not a parking operation has been performed.

[0085] In step S110, if it is determined that the parking operation has not been performed (step S110: NO), the engine control unit 7 exits the routine.

[0086] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S110 that a parking operation is being performed (step S110: YES), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S111.

[0087] Then, when the process proceeds from step S107 or step S110 to step S111, the engine control unit 7 sets flag Fis to 1, and then proceeds to step S112. Flag Fis is used to identify when the mode is transitioning to the IS control prohibited mode, for example, during parking. Therefore, for example, in the IS control prohibited mode, the engine control unit 7 sets flag Fis to 1. On the other hand, in cases other than the IS control prohibited mode, the engine control unit 7 clears flag Fis to 0.

[0088] In the following step S112, the engine control unit 7 prohibits the IS control and restarts the engine 3, and then proceeds to step S113. After the engine 3 restarts, the engine control unit 7 continues to control the engine 3, for example, until a preset set time Tset has elapsed.

[0089] When the process proceeds from step S102 or step S112 to step S113, the engine control unit 7 determines whether or not the flag Fis has been set to 1 in the current process (the process in step S111), as shown in FIG.

[0090] In step S113, if it is determined that the flag Fis has been set to 1 in the previous process (step S113: NO), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S115, which will be described later.

[0091] On the other hand, in step S113, if it is determined that the flag Fis has been set to 1 in the current process (step S113: YES), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S114.

[0092] In step S114, the engine control unit 7 starts measuring the parking time Tp (idling time), and then proceeds to step S115.

[0093] Then, when the process moves from step S113 or step S114 to step S115, the engine control unit 7 determines whether or not the parking time Tp has reached the advance notice time To.

[0094] In step S115, when it is determined that the parking time Tp has not reached the advance notice time To (step S115: NO), the engine control unit 7 exits the routine.

[0095] On the other hand, in step S115, when it is determined that the parking time Tp has reached the advance notice time To (step S115: YES), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S116.

[0096] In step S116, the engine control unit 7 determines whether or not the advance notice of the automatic shut-off of the engine 3 has been sent to the mobile terminal 5.

[0097] In step S116, if it is determined that the advance notice of the automatic shut-off of the engine 3 has been sent to the mobile terminal 5 (step S116: YES), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S118, which will be described later.

[0098] On the other hand, in step S116, if it is determined that the advance notice of the automatic shut-off of the engine 3 has not been sent to the mobile terminal 5 (step S116: NO), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S117.

[0099] In step S117, the engine control unit 7 notifies the mobile terminal 5 of the automatic shut-off notice of the engine 3, and then proceeds to step S118.

[0100] Then, when the process proceeds from step S116 or step S117 to step S118, the engine control unit 7 determines whether or not there has been a response from the mobile terminal 5 in response to the advance notice based on the user's operation.

[0101] In step S118, if it is determined that a response has been received from the mobile terminal 5 (step S118: YES), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S120, which will be described later.

[0102] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S118 that there is no response from the mobile terminal 5 (step S118: NO), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S119.

[0103] In step S119, the engine control unit 7 determines whether or not the set time Tset has elapsed in a state where there is no response.

[0104] In step S119, if it is determined that the set time Tset has not been reached in a state where there is no response (step S119: NO), the engine control unit 7 exits the routine.

[0105] On the other hand, in step S119, if it is determined that the set time Tset has been reached in a state where there is no response (step S119: YES), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S124, which will be described later.

[0106] Furthermore, when the process proceeds from step S118 to step S120, the engine control unit 7 determines, based on the response information from the mobile terminal 5, whether or not the user has permitted the automatic shut-off of the engine 3.

[0107] In step S120, if it is determined based on the response information from the mobile terminal 5 that the user has permitted automatic shut-off of the engine 3 (step S120: YES), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S124, which will be described later.

[0108] On the other hand, in step S120, if it is determined based on the response information from the mobile terminal 5 that the user has prohibited the automatic shut-off of the engine 3 (step S120: NO), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S121.

[0109] In step S121, the engine control unit 7 continues to drive the engine 3.

[0110] In the following step S122, the engine control unit 7 notifies the mobile terminal 5 of the result of the determination as to whether or not to continue driving the engine 3.

[0111] In the next step S123, the engine control unit 7 clears the parking time Tp that has been measured up to that point, and then returns to step S114. That is, when the engine 3 continues to be driven, the engine control unit 7 clears the parking time Tp and starts measuring a new parking time Tp again.

[0112] Furthermore, when the process moves from step S119 or step S120 to step S124, the engine control unit 7 automatically turns off the engine 3.

[0113] In the following step S125, the engine control unit 7 notifies the mobile terminal 5 of the result of the determination as to whether the engine 3 should be automatically turned off.

[0114] In the following step S126, the engine control unit 7 clears the parking time Tp that has been measured up to that point, clears the flag Fis to 0, cancels the IS control prohibition mode, and then ends this routine. Note that the parking time Tp and flag Fis are also cleared, for example, when a shift lever position other than the parking range is recognized during the IS control prohibition mode. In addition, the parking time Tp may also be cleared when, for example, various pedal operations (such as accelerator pedal operation or brake pedal operation) are recognized during the IS control prohibition mode. When such various pedal operations are recognized, the engine control unit 7 clears the parking time Tp and starts re-measuring a new parking time Tp.

[0115] According to this embodiment, the engine control unit 7 recognizes the parking operation when parking the vehicle 2, measures the parking time Tp after recognizing the parking operation, continues to operate the engine 3 until the parking time Tp reaches the set time Tset, automatically turns off the engine 3 after the parking time Tp reaches the set time Tset, and notifies the mobile terminal 5 of the information to automatically turn off the engine 3 using the communicator 15.

[0116] With this configuration, the engine control unit 7 can simultaneously ensure the safety of passengers remaining in the vehicle cabin and prevent the engine 3 from being left on.

[0117] That is, when the set time Tset has elapsed after the engine control unit 7 recognized the parking operation, the engine control unit 7 automatically turns off the engine 3. Therefore, even if the driver forgets to turn off the engine 3, the engine control unit 7 can reliably turn off the engine 3 after the set time Tset. This makes it possible for the engine control unit 7 to prevent the driver from forgetting to turn off the engine 3.

[0118] Furthermore, the engine control unit 7 notifies the mobile terminal 5 of the information to automatically turn off the engine 3 via the communicator 15. This allows the engine control unit 7 to notify the user of the mobile terminal 5 that the engine 3 will be automatically turned off. Therefore, the engine control unit 7 can encourage the safety of passengers and others remaining in the vehicle cabin to be ensured.

[0119] Furthermore, the engine control unit 7 notifies the mobile terminal 5 of advance notice information that the engine 3 will be automatically turned off before the parking time Tp reaches the set time Tset.

[0120] This allows the engine control unit 7 to notify the user of advance notice that the engine 3 will be automatically turned off before the set time Tset is reached.

[0121] Furthermore, after notifying the mobile terminal 5 of the advance notice information, the engine control unit 7 receives a response from the mobile terminal 5. Then, based on the response information received from the mobile terminal 5, the engine control unit 7 determines whether or not to automatically turn off the engine 3.

[0122] That is, the engine control unit 7 determines whether or not to automatically turn off the engine 3 based on an instruction from the user. This allows the engine control unit 7 to reflect the user's intention when automatically turning off the engine 3. For example, when the user is aware that there are occupants or the like remaining in the vehicle cabin, the time until the engine 3 is automatically turned off can be extended based on the user's intention. This makes it possible to more accurately ensure the safety of occupants or the like remaining in the vehicle cabin while taking measures to prevent the engine 3 from being left on.

[0123] Furthermore, the engine control unit 7 notifies the mobile terminal 5 of the determination result of automatic shut-off of the engine 3. In this way, the engine control unit 7 can make the user re-recognize the control state of the engine 3.

[0124] Furthermore, after notifying the mobile terminal 5 of the determination result, the engine control unit 7 clears the parking time Tp that had been measured and measures it again. Therefore, the engine control unit 7 can repeatedly control the engine 3 based on the advance notice and the response until the user permits automatic shut-off of the engine 3. This allows the engine control unit 7 to allow the user to re-recognize the control state of the engine 3 each time.

[0125] Next, a modified example of the engine operation when the vehicle 2 is stopped, which is executed by the engine control unit 7 of this embodiment, will be described. In this modified example, instead of the processing from step S116 to step S126 of the above-described embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the processing from step S201 to step S212 shown in Fig. 4 is performed. The processing according to this modified example can be applied to an engine control device 4 equipped with a human presence sensor 11, for example.

[0126] As shown in FIG. 4, when it is determined in step S115 that the parking time Tp has reached the advance notice time To (step S115: YES), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S201.

[0127] When the process proceeds from step S115 to step S201, the engine control unit 7 determines whether or not a passenger or the like has been detected in the vehicle compartment as human presence information detected by the human presence sensor 11.

[0128] In step S201, when it is determined that no occupant or the like is detected in the vehicle compartment (step S201: NO), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S202.

[0129] On the other hand, in step S201, when it is determined that an occupant or the like is detected in the vehicle compartment (step S201: YES), the engine control unit 7 proceeds to step S207 and continues driving the engine 3. That is, when the engine control unit 7 recognizes an occupant or the like in the vehicle compartment before the set time Tset is reached, the engine control unit 7 continues driving the engine 3.

[0130] The processes in steps S202 to S212 are similar to those in steps S116 to S126 shown in FIG. 3, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0131] However, in step S208 of this modified example, a process of notifying the mobile terminal 5 that an occupant or the like remains in the vehicle compartment is added.

[0132] According to this embodiment, if the engine control device 4 is equipped with the human presence sensor 11, when the engine control unit 7 detects an occupant or the like remaining in the vehicle compartment before the set time Tset is reached, the engine control unit 7 continues driving the engine 3. Then, the engine control unit 7 notifies the mobile terminal 5 of the continuation of driving the engine 3, and also notifies the mobile terminal 5 of information about the occupant or the like remaining in the vehicle compartment. In this way, the engine control unit 7 can notify the user of accurate information about the occupant or the like remaining in the vehicle compartment.

[0133] That is, the engine control unit 4 equipped with the human presence sensor 11 can further improve the safety of passengers and others remaining in the vehicle cabin.

[0134] In the above embodiment, the engine control unit 7, the terminal control unit 20, etc. are configured with a well-known microcomputer equipped with a CPU, RAM, ROM, non-volatile storage, etc., and its peripheral devices, and the ROM pre-stores programs to be executed by the CPU and fixed data such as data tables. Note that all or part of the functions of the processor may be configured with logic circuits or analog circuits, and the processing of various programs may be realized by electronic circuits such as FPGAs. Note that the engine control unit 7 is not limited to a single control unit, but may be configured with multiple control units.

[0135] The invention described in the above embodiments is not limited to these, and various modifications can be made in the implementation stage without departing from the gist of the invention. Furthermore, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriate combinations of the disclosed multiple constituent elements.

[0136] Furthermore, even if some of the constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the above embodiment, if the stated problem can be solved and the stated effect can be obtained, the configuration from which these constituent elements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

Claims

1. An engine control device for a vehicle, comprising: parking recognition means for recognizing a parking operation when parking a vehicle; parking time measurement means for measuring the parking time after the parking operation is recognized; operation control means for continuing to operate the engine until the parking time reaches a set time and automatically turning off the engine after the parking time reaches the set time; and communication control means for notifying an external terminal using communication means of information that the operation control means will automatically turn off the engine.

2. The vehicle engine control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication control means notifies the external terminal of advance notice information indicating that the engine will be automatically turned off before the parking time reaches the set time, and receives a response from the external terminal.

3. The vehicle engine control device described in claim 2, characterized in that the operation control means determines whether or not to automatically turn off the engine after the set time based on the response from the external terminal received by the communication means.

4. The vehicle engine control device according to claim 3, wherein the communication control means notifies the external terminal of the result of the determination as to whether or not the automatic shut-off of the engine is to be performed after the set time.

5. The vehicle engine control device according to claim 4, wherein the parking time measurement means remeasures the parking time when the automatic shut-off of the engine is prohibited and the engine continues to run.

6. An engine control device for a vehicle as described in claim 1, further comprising an occupant detection means for detecting an occupant remaining in the vehicle cabin based on human detection information within the vehicle cabin, wherein when the occupant detection means recognizes an occupant in the vehicle cabin before the parking time reaches the set time, the operation control means continues to operate the engine even after the set time has reached, and notifies the external terminal via the communication control means of the continuation of the engine operation and that the occupant remains in the vehicle cabin.

7. An engine control device for a vehicle, comprising a processor, which recognizes a parking operation when parking a vehicle, measures the parking time after the parking operation is recognized, continues to operate the engine until the parking time reaches a set time, and automatically turns off the engine after the parking time reaches the set time, and notifies an external terminal of information for automatically turning off the engine by the processor using a communication module.

8. An engine control system for a vehicle, comprising: an external terminal carried by a user; and an engine control device mounted on a vehicle, wherein the engine control device comprises: parking recognition means for recognizing a parking operation when parking the vehicle; parking time measurement means for measuring the parking time after the parking operation is recognized; operation control means for continuing to operate the engine until the parking time reaches a set time and automatically turning off the engine after the parking time reaches the set time; and communication control means for notifying the external terminal using communication means of information that causes the operation control means to automatically turn off the engine.

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