JP2001182812A - Automatic shift adjustment device for automatic vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To adjust the shift shift for each individual according to the surrounding conditions and the driver. SOLUTION: An individual discriminating unit 11 discriminates each driver individual, and an ambient condition calculating unit 1 in a shift control device 15 is provided.
8 automatically adjusts the shift shift according to changes in various surrounding conditions for each individual driver. With the shift shift pattern according to the driving characteristics that differ for each individual, safe and efficient traveling operation can be realized for each individual.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic shift adjusting device for adjusting a shift shift of a shift switching unit mounted on an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a so-called automatic vehicle, usually, engine load information such as throttle opening and vehicle speed information are illuminated in accordance with current gear position information to obtain a predetermined shift pattern. Based on this, automatic gear shift control for upshifting and downshifting has been performed.

[0003] Such a conventional automatic gear shift control is as follows.
It is particularly suitable for a shift shift in a flat part such as in a city area, and the shift shift is performed automatically and smoothly without any special operation by the driver.

However, for example, in a mountainous area with many curves, the inclination angle of the road on which the vehicle is traveling changes frequently, and the steering wheel must be operated frequently, so that frequent shift shifts are required. In particular, when driving on a downhill in a mountainous area, an inexperienced driver such as a beginner needs to drive extremely carefully. On the other hand, in the case of a driver who is skilled in driving in mountainous areas, it is possible to perform smooth and safe driving even on a steep downhill or a corner approaching part.

[0005] As described above, in particular, as seen remarkably when driving downhill, the driving method generally differs for each individual depending on various factors such as the skill level of the driving technique. Nevertheless, if automatic gear shift control is performed for all drivers based on a fixed shift pattern, a shift that is most easy for a beginner to drive in consideration of vehicle safety. It must be set in a pattern, and there is a possibility that a skilled driver cannot always operate efficiently.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic vehicle which is particularly effective when the vehicle is traveling on a downhill, and in which a shift pattern for each driver can be easily set according to various surrounding conditions. It is to provide a shift automatic adjustment device.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems,
The invention according to claim 1 is an automatic shift adjustment device that performs a shift shift adjustment on a shift switching unit mounted on an automobile, comprising: an individual identification unit that identifies an individual driver in the automobile; Based on the traveling state of the vehicle given through a predetermined communication wiring from a plurality of predetermined vehicle-mounted units, personal data for each individual driver determined by the personal identification unit is read out, and the speed changeover unit is read out according to the personal data. And a shift control unit that performs shift shift adjustment.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the shift control unit performs a shift shift adjustment in the shift switching unit by a driver's intentional predetermined driving operation, the shift control unit transmits a predetermined shift from the vehicle-mounted unit. The shift state adjusted at that time is updated and stored as cumulative average data by reflecting the shift state adjusted at that time on the basis of the signal given through the communication wiring of each driver. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the shift control section operates based on a detection result of a tilt sensor for detecting a tilt angle of the vehicle, at least when the vehicle is traveling downhill. It was like that.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the running condition of the on-vehicle unit includes a vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed meter as the on-vehicle unit and a vehicle inclination detected based on a tilt sensor as the on-vehicle unit. The angle is at least one of an angle and a steering angle of the vehicle detected by a steering angle sensor as the on-vehicle unit.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an automatic shift control apparatus 1 for an automatic vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. This automatic shift adjusting device 1
As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of in-vehicle units 2 mounted on an automobile
Are connected to each other through a multiplex communication line 8 as a LAN (local area network). Accordingly, the automatic shift shift is performed in accordance with the driving conditions of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1, some of the on-vehicle units 2 to 6 connected to the multiplex communication wiring 8 include:
In addition to the shift switching unit 2, a brake unit 3, a vehicle speed meter 4, and an inclination sensor 5 for detecting an inclination angle of the vehicle body
And a steering angle sensor 6 for detecting a road curve situation.

The automatic shift adjusting device 1 is connected to a multiplex communication line 8 to identify an individual driver, and a personal identification unit 1 through the multiplex communication line 8.
Personal identification information given from 1 and each on-vehicle unit 2
And a transmission control unit 15 that transmits a transmission switching instruction signal to the transmission switching unit 2 based on various types of information on the surrounding conditions provided by the transmission control unit 6.

The personal identification unit 11 may be of any type as long as it determines who the driver is. For example, the personal identification unit 11 may transmit a signal from a portable wireless transmitter used in a keyless entry system. For receiving ID signals, a push-button type password input device provided on the instrument panel of a car, a personal code input device installed on an engine key, etc., and a fingerprint discriminator installed on a console box A voiceprint discriminator that discriminates a voiceprint by voice recognition, or an image discrimination that discriminates a driver by pattern recognition or feature extraction image recognition of a driver's face image or eyeball image captured by a predetermined imaging camera. Any device such as a vessel may be used.
The individual discrimination unit 11 is connected to the multiplex communication wiring 8, and transmits a result of discrimination of a driver individual to the shift control unit 15 through the multiplex communication wiring 8.

The shift control unit 15 is connected to each of the on-vehicle units 2 to 6 and the individual discrimination unit 11 connected to the multiplex communication wiring 8.
Communication controller device (LAN controller driver) 12 for receiving the information of the vehicle, and an ambient condition shift storage unit for storing a shift shift characteristic with respect to the ambient condition for each individual in a database based on the individual identification information received by the communication controller device 12 and storing the same. 17, an ambient condition calculating unit 18 for calculating the ambient condition based on various information on the ambient condition given from each of the on-vehicle units 2 to 6, and a shift switching unit according to the ambient condition calculation result of the ambient condition calculating unit 18. And a shift adjusting section 19 for performing a shift shift adjustment of No. 2.

The communication controller 12 selects information transmitted to the transmission control unit 15 from the information in the multiplex communication line 8 in accordance with a predetermined system such as an encoding multiplex system, a time division multiplex system, or a frequency multiplex system. And receives at least the individual identification information from the individual identification unit 11 and is transmitted from the shift switching unit 2, the brake unit 3, the vehicle speed meter 4, the inclination sensor 5, and the steering angle sensor 6. Various kinds of information about the ambient conditions are received.

The ambient condition shift storage unit 17 stores an EEPRO
An information storage device using a rewritable non-volatile ROM such as M, and operates only when a signal indicating that the vehicle is going downhill is given from the tilt sensor 5 through the multiplex communication wiring 8. , Specifically, for each individual driver,
The shift shift characteristics S1 to S3 for each factor of the vehicle speed (A), the inclination angle (B) on the downhill, and the steering angle (C) are stored. Specifically, as the information stored in the surrounding condition shift storage unit 17, the functions (individual data) shown in the graphs of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, respectively, include a data table (reference numerals V11 to V11 in FIG. 6). V3
n) as a separate file for each individual driver (1 to n) (FIG. 6).
The personal data 1 to individual are stored as files W1 to Wn corresponding to the individual driver (1 to n) based on the individual identification information given from the individual identification unit 11. Only one data n is selected, and each table V1 of the selected personal data 1 to personal data n is selected.
1 to V3n are transmitted to the ambient condition calculation unit 18 through the ambient condition information transmission unit 21.

Here, in the function shown in FIG. 2, the horizontal axis represents the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed meter 4, and the vertical axis represents a first parameter S1 for use in a calculation by an ambient condition calculation unit 18 described later. The reason for the downward-sloping function is that when driving downhill, it is highly necessary to reduce the speed when the vehicle speed is high. This is because the first parameter S1 is reduced. In the function shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal axis represents the tilt angle detected by the tilt sensor 5, and the vertical axis represents the second angle used for calculation in the surrounding condition calculation unit 18.
The reason for this is that the second parameter S2 is lowered in order to reduce the speed as the inclination angle of the downhill is larger. Further, in the function shown in FIG. 4, the horizontal axis represents the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor 6, and the vertical axis represents the third parameter S <b> 3 used for the calculation in the surrounding condition calculation unit 18. The reason for this is that the third parameter S3 is decreased in order to reduce the speed as the steering angle increases, such as in a sharp curve.

Prior to shipment of the vehicle, the shift characteristics S1 to S3 are set to the initial setting data W0 (reference numeral V10 in FIG. 6).
To V30), and is stored individually by the driver (1
To n), the same shift characteristics S1 to S3 as the initial setting data W0 are stored in separate files (reference numerals W1 to Wn in FIG. 6).

The ambient condition shift storage unit 17 updates the information by reflecting (accumulatively adding) the result computed by the ambient condition computing unit 18 in each of the tables V11 to V3n of the personal data 1 to personal data n. Thereby, the characteristic tendency of the actual driving of the vehicle is learned, and each table V of personal data 1 to personal data n different according to the driving characteristics of each driver is obtained.
Feedback is made as 11 to V3n. In addition, the number of times of learning L indicating how many times the learning process has been performed in the past for each individual is also recorded and updated. The calculation (cumulative average) and feedback at this time will be described later.

The ambient condition calculating section 18 uses a microcomputer chip having a built-in CPU, and operates only when a signal indicating that the vehicle is going downhill is given from the inclination sensor 5 through the multiplex communication wiring 8. Specifically, based on personal data 1 to personal data n for each driver obtained in the surrounding condition shift storage unit 17,
The first parameter (S1: FIG. 2) corresponding to the vehicle speed (A) is obtained from the table 1 (V11 to V1n), and the lean angle (B) of the vehicle body is obtained from the table 2 (V21 to V2n).
Are obtained, and a third parameter (S3: FIG. 4) for the steering angle (C) is obtained, and these parameters S1 to S3 are determined.
Based on the above, for example, using a predetermined function such as the following equation (1), a shift coefficient S meaning an appropriate shift level of the driver is calculated.

S = S1 + S2 + S3 (1) The expression (1) is an example, and the parameters S1 to S
3 may be used as a weighted average value added after the coefficient is added, or various arithmetic expressions including powers, logarithms, etc. may be applied, but Tables 1 to 3 must be strictly set in advance. Since the simple addition formula such as the above formula (1) has the highest arithmetic processing efficiency, it is preferable for practical use.

The ambient condition calculating section 18 feeds back the value of the shift coefficient S to each of the parameters S1 to S3 every time the driver depresses the brake and shift adjustment is performed. Specifically, when the driver depresses the brake to adjust the vehicle speed and releases his / her foot from the brake after reaching the vehicle speed intended by the driver, a signal to that effect is sent from the brake unit 3 to the multiplex communication wiring 8. And at that timing, a third of the value of the shift coefficient S is cumulatively averaged for each of the parameters S1 to S3.
In this case, each of the parameters S <b> 1 to
In S3, since the learning has already been repeated by the learning number L, the number of data samples of the cumulative average at this time is stored in the ambient condition shift storage unit 17 in advance in the automobile manufacturing process. Initial setting data W0
, L samples already cumulatively averaged by past learning, and one sample of the value of S / 3 obtained from the new shift coefficient S, 1 + L + 1 = L + 2 Therefore, each of the newly learned parameters S1p to S3
p is expressed by the following equation (2).

S1p = {S1 × (1 + L) + S / 3} / (L + 2) S2p = {S2 × (1 + L) + S / 3} / (L + 2) S3p = {S3 × (1 + L) + S / 3} / (L + 2) (2) Then, in the surrounding condition information transmitting unit 21 of the surrounding condition shift storage unit 17, the function related to the table 1 (V11 to V1n) is used for the personal data 1 to personal data n of the driver's individual (FIG. 2). ), S1p of the above equation (2) is changed to a new first parameter S1 so as to correspond to the vehicle speed (A) (ie, the value of the horizontal axis) when the first parameter S1 in (2) is derived.
1 and Table 2 (V21-V2n)
And each function related to Table 3 (V31 to V3n) (FIG.
And FIG. 4) so as to correspond to the values of the respective horizontal axes when the second and third parameters S2 and S3 are derived (that is, the vehicle body tilt angle (B) and the steering angle (C), respectively). , S2p and S3p in the above equation (2) are updated as new second and third parameters S2 and S3.

The shift adjusting section 19 is provided with a surrounding condition calculating section 18.
This is a digital / analog conversion (D / A conversion) circuit that converts the value of the shift coefficient S calculated in the above into an analog signal and transmits the analog signal to the shift switching unit 2.

<Operation> The automatic shift adjusting device 1 having the above-described configuration.
Will be described. Note that, in the automatic shift adjustment device 1, a description will be given on the assumption that the personal identification unit 11 has already obtained information on who the driver is before the shift switching unit 2 is activated.

First, when the vehicle starts running and the shift changeover unit 2 operates, the fact is given to the communication controller device 12 of the shift control unit 15 through the multiplex communication wiring 8. Then, the shift control unit 15 receives the information of the driver determined by the individual determination unit 11 through the multiplex communication wiring 8 and the communication controller device 12.

Next, the surrounding condition shift storage unit 17 and the surrounding condition calculating unit 18 start operating only when a signal indicating that the vehicle is going downhill is given from the inclination sensor 5 through the multiplex communication wiring 8.

Then, in the ambient condition shift storage unit 17,
If the received personal data tables W1 to Wn related to the driver exist, the personal data tables W1 to Wn in the surrounding condition shift storage unit 17 are read. On the other hand, the individual discrimination unit 1 is already stored in the ambient condition shift
1 to the personal data table W1 pertaining to the driver received from
If Wn does not exist, the initial setting data W0 (reference numeral V10 in FIG.
To V30).

Then, the surrounding condition calculation unit 18 sets the initial setting data W0 (V10) or the personal data table W1 to W1 (V10).
In Wn (V11 to V1n), the appropriate first parameter S1 for the vehicle speed (A) is determined for the vehicle speed given from the vehicle speed meter 4.

The surrounding condition calculation unit 18 stores the initial setting data W0 (V20) or the personal data tables W1 to W
n (V21 to V2n), the inclination angle on the downhill provided from the inclination sensor 5 through the communication controller device 12 is the inclination angle (B) on this downhill.
Is determined for the second parameter (S2).

Further, the surrounding condition calculation unit 18 stores the initial setting data W0 (V30) or the personal data tables W1 to W1.
In Wn (V31 to V3n), a third parameter (S3) for the steering angle (C) is determined for the level of the steering angle given from the steering angle sensor 6 through the communication controller device 12.

Then, the shift coefficient S is calculated by substituting these parameters S1 to S3 into the above equation (1).

When the shift coefficient S is set as described above, the shift adjusting unit 19 performs the shift shift adjustment of the shift switching unit 2.

At this time, when the driver steps on the brake,
As the vehicle speed changes, the shift state of the shift switching unit 2 changes. The level adjusted by the shift shift is determined by the driver with respect to the shift coefficient S set by the shift control unit 15 based on the database (personal data tables W1 to Wn) in the ambient condition shift storage unit 17. Since the gear change has been performed, the gear change state after the gear change has been changed is fed back to the database in the ambient condition shift storage unit 17. Specifically, S1p to S3p are obtained in accordance with the above-described equation (2), and a new first value corresponding to the vehicle speed (A) (the value of the horizontal axis in FIG. 2) in table 1 (V11 to V1n) at that time is obtained. S1p is updated as the parameter S1 of Table 1, and similarly, Table 2 (V21-V
2n) and table 3 (V31 to V3n: FIGS. 3 and 4)
New) second and third parameters S corresponding to the vehicle body inclination angle (B) and the steering angle (C)
S2p and S3p are updated (learning processing) as S2 and S3.

Since the learning process is executed for each individual personal data (W1 to Wn) for each individual driver, in the automobile, the vehicle speed,
While learning the data of the shift shift adjustment according to the change of the surrounding condition such as the level of the inclination angle or the steering angle on the downhill, the shift can be automatically performed based on the learned data. Even if the driving method differs for each individual due to various factors such as the skill level of the driving technique, it is possible to perform automatic shift shifting for each individual driver's shift pattern. Safe and efficient operation can be realized.

In particular, when there are frequent driver changes, such as when a plurality of family members drive in a home car, or when employees drive in a company car, etc. Is sold as a used car, the individual discrimination unit 11 detects the type of driver in each traveling, and can perform a shift shift adjustment corresponding to the driver after the replacement. There is no need to adjust the gearshift every time and reset it.In addition, by performing the learning process, if the number of rides increases, the driving characteristics of the individual can be accurately reflected, and the adjustment accuracy to the appropriate gearshift position is improved. There is an advantage of doing so.

In the above embodiment, the appropriate shift coefficient S is set based on the vehicle speed, the inclination angle on the downhill, and the level of the steering angle. However, only one or two of these are set. May be used as a factor to set an appropriate shift coefficient S. Further, an appropriate shift coefficient S may be set by a more complicated calculation formula by adding another factor.

In the above embodiment, the learning process is performed each time the driver steps on the brake and releases the brake after adjusting the gear shift. However, for example, the driver switches the shift lever. The learning process may also be performed at the time when intentional shift adjustment is performed or when the accelerator is depressed.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the automatic shift switching and the learning process for each individual are performed only when driving on a downhill in consideration of a large individual difference particularly in driving on a downhill. Even in a flat place or on an uphill, the automatic shift switching and learning processing for each individual may be similarly performed.

[0040]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a shift shift in accordance with changes in various surrounding conditions such as a vehicle speed, a tilt angle, and a steering angle as described in the fourth aspect, for each individual driver. Adjustments can be made automatically,
For example, even in a situation in which there is a large individual difference in running driving, such as when the vehicle approaches a downhill, an automatic shift shift adjustment is performed using an individual shift shift pattern. It becomes possible. Therefore, for example, even if the driving method is different for each individual due to various factors such as the skill level of the driving technique, it is possible to perform an automatic shift shift for each individual driver's shift pattern. When there are frequent driver changes, such as when two or more members of a family drive on a business vehicle, or when employees drive on a company car, or when a car is sold as a used car. In various cases issued, the individual discrimination unit detects the driver's distinction in each traveling and performs a shift shift adjustment corresponding to the driver after the change, so that it is safe and efficient according to the individual driver. Operation can be realized.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the shift control unit performs a shift shift adjustment in the shift switching unit by a driver's intentional predetermined traveling operation, the vehicle-mounted unit transmits a predetermined shift. Based on the signal given through the communication wiring, the speed change state adjusted at that time is reflected in personal data for each driver and updated and stored as cumulative average data. As the number of rides increases for each individual, the driving characteristics of the individual can be accurately converted into a database and reflected, and there is an advantage that the accuracy of adjustment to an appropriate shift position is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a plurality of on-vehicle units and an automatic shift adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a vehicle speed and a first parameter.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between an inclination angle on a downhill and a second parameter.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between a steering angle and a third parameter.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing shift coefficients calculated using first to third parameters.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of a shift control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 automatic shift adjusting device 1 2 shift switching unit 2 3 brake unit 3 4 vehicle speed meter 4 tilt sensor 5 6 steering angle sensor 6 8 multiplex communication wiring 8 11 individual discrimination unit 11 12 communication controller device 12 15 shift control unit 15 17 Condition shift storage unit 17 18 Ambient condition calculation unit 18 19 Shift adjustment unit 19

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A shift automatic adjustment device for performing a shift shift adjustment on a shift switching unit mounted on an automobile, comprising: a personal identification unit for identifying an individual driver in the automobile; Based on the traveling state of the vehicle given from the in-vehicle unit through a predetermined communication wiring, the personal data for each driver identified by the individual identification unit is read out, and the shift shift adjustment of the shift switching unit is performed according to the individual data. And an automatic shift control device for an automatic vehicle, comprising: 2. The automatic shift control apparatus for an automatic vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the shift control unit adjusts a shift shift in the shift switching unit by a predetermined driving operation intentionally performed by a driver. Based on a signal given from the vehicle-mounted unit through a predetermined communication line, the shift state adjusted at that time is reflected on the personal data for each driver, and the cumulative average data An automatic shift control device for an automatic vehicle, wherein the automatic shift device is stored as an update. 3. The automatic shift adjusting device for an automatic vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the shift control unit is configured to determine at least a shift angle of the vehicle based on a detection result of a tilt sensor that detects a tilt angle of the vehicle. An automatic shift control apparatus for an automatic vehicle, wherein the automatic shift apparatus is operated when the vehicle is traveling on a downhill. 4. The automatic shift adjusting apparatus for an automatic vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a traveling state of the vehicle-mounted unit is determined by a vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed meter as the vehicle-mounted unit. And / or a steering angle of a vehicle detected by a steering angle sensor serving as the on-vehicle unit, and / or a vehicle inclination angle detected by a steering angle sensor serving as the on-vehicle unit. Automatic shift adjustment device for automatic vehicles.