JP2011106307A - Engine control device - Google Patents

Abstract

An engine control apparatus capable of more appropriately detecting on-fixation of a clutch switch is provided.
An engine control apparatus according to the present invention includes a start determination unit that determines whether or not a vehicle engine has been started, a start determination unit that determines that the engine has been started, and a clutch pedal of the vehicle. The on-sticking detection means 2b for detecting the occurrence of the on-fixation of the clutch switch 3 when the clutch switch 3 provided on the clutch switch 3 is on is included.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an engine control apparatus that controls an engine of a vehicle that can execute an idle stop at an appropriate timing and period.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an engine control device that controls an engine with a temporary stop of a vehicle at an intersection or the like, an idle stop that temporarily stops the engine of the vehicle is executed, and exhaust gas containing carbon dioxide or the like is discharged. Emissions are reduced, vehicle fuel efficiency is improved, and vehicle noise is reduced.

  In this case, as described in Patent Document 1, for example, in a manual transmission vehicle, that is, an MT vehicle, the vehicle is stopped, the shift position information of the transmission is in the neutral position, and the clutch pedal is not depressed. The engine is stopped on the condition.

  In this case, a clutch switch is used to detect that the clutch pedal is not depressed. In order to prevent the engine from being erroneously stopped when the clutch switch has a failure, in Patent Document 1, the failure occurs when the relationship between the outputs of the two clutch switches is different. It has been proposed that it is determined that there is, and the engine is automatically prohibited from being stopped.

JP 2002-349314 A

  Even in such a conventional technique, although it is possible to detect a failure of the clutch switch, it is essential to use two clutch switches, resulting in a complicated configuration as a device. At the same time, since the on-fixation is detected based on the comparison of the outputs of the two clutch switches, the on-fixation cannot be properly detected when both clutch switches are fixed on.

  Accordingly, it is impossible to promptly notify the user of a system abnormality caused by the clutch switch being stuck on and to promptly repair and restore the system, and the conventional technology can provide logic for detecting the sticking on more appropriately. There was no problem.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an engine control device that can detect on-fixation of a clutch switch more appropriately.

In order to solve the above problem, an engine control apparatus according to the present invention provides:
A start determination means for determining whether or not the engine of the vehicle has been started, and when it is determined by the start determination means that the engine has been started and a clutch switch provided on the clutch pedal of the vehicle is on, On-sticking detection means for detecting occurrence of on-sticking of the clutch switch is included.

  According to the engine control device, at the timing when the engine is started, the clutch switch is normally off. When the clutch switch is on at this timing, the clutch switch is stuck on. The on-sticking detection means can detect the occurrence of the on-sticking in the clutch switch by utilizing the fact that it can be regarded as being.

  This eliminates the need for providing two clutch switches as in the prior art, and prevents the device structure from becoming complicated. On the contrary, when two clutch switches are provided on the upper side and the lower side, even when both of them are on-failure, these on-failures can be accurately detected.

Here, in the engine control device,
Preferably, the start determination means determines whether or not the engine has been started based on whether the key switch of the vehicle is set to a start position or the start switch of the vehicle is turned on.

  According to the engine control device, it is possible to determine whether or not the engine has been started based on parameters that are relatively easy to acquire.

Furthermore, in the engine control device,
Preferably, the start determination means determines whether or not the engine has been started based on the starter of the vehicle being driven.

  According to the engine control device, it is possible to determine whether or not the engine has actually been started based on parameters that are relatively easy to acquire.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the engine control apparatus which can detect ON fixation of a clutch switch more appropriately can be provided.

It is a block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the engine control apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of one Embodiment of the engine control apparatus which concerns on this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an engine control apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the engine control apparatus according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the engine control device 1 includes an engine ECU 2 (Electronic Control Unit), a clutch upper switch 3, a brake stroke sensor 4, a shift signal sensor 5, a key switch 6, and a warning lamp 7. Configured. The engine ECU 2 and other on-vehicle ECUs are connected to each other by a communication standard such as CAN (Controller Area Network).

  The engine ECU 2 is composed of, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a data bus and an input / output interface for interconnecting them, and according to a program stored in the ROM, a start determination means 2a for performing each control described below, It functions as sticking detection means 2b, stop means 2c, and restart means 2d.

  The engine ECU 2 mainly controls the engine speed by controlling the throttle valve opening, fuel injection amount, air-fuel ratio, valve opening / closing timing, etc. of the engine (not shown) according to a program stored in the ROM.

  The clutch upper switch 3 is a so-called limit switch provided on the driver side of the clutch pedal (not shown), that is, the upper side, and the clutch pedal is not depressed by the driver and swings fully on the upper side. The mover included in the clutch upper switch 3 is brought into contact with a part of the clutch pedal, and the mover is pushed in to select the on state, and the detection result of either on / off is output to the engine ECU 2 It is.

  The brake stroke sensor 4 detects a stroke of a brake pedal (not shown) and outputs a detection result to the engine ECU 2. The shift signal sensor 5 is provided inside a transmission ECU (not shown), detects a shift signal of the transmission controlled by the transmission ECU, and outputs the detection result to the engine ECU 2.

  The key switch 6 is a so-called ignition key switch. For example, the key switch 6 is provided on the right side of the driver's seat so that the driver can select a start, on (accessory), or off position, and the start is selected. First, a start signal is output to a starter (not shown) based on a well-known relay sequence (not shown) to start the engine, and an engine (not shown) is cranked as the starter starts. The start signal and the starter current are input to the engine ECU 2 by a known sequence (not shown).

  The warning lamp 7 is a lamp that is provided on the left side of the driver's seat, for example, and a blinking lamp is selected based on a command from the engine ECU 2.

  The start determination means 2a of the engine ECU 2 determines whether or not the starter is started by turning the key switch 6 to the start position based on the start signal, and the starter itself is driven based on the starter current. It is determined whether or not.

  When both of these determinations by the start determination unit 2a are affirmative, the on-fixation detection unit 2b of the engine ECU 2 determines whether or not the output of the clutch upper switch 3 is on. Since it is on at the timing when it should be off, it can be considered that the on-fixation has occurred, so the on-fixation of the clutch upper switch 3 is detected and the warning lamp 7 is turned on.

  At the same time, the stopping means 2c of the engine ECU 2 generates a shift signal based on a shift signal from the shift signal sensor 5, an output signal of the clutch upper switch 3, and a vehicle speed signal transmitted from the brake ECU (not shown) on the CAN. Is a neutral position N, the output signal of the clutch upper switch 3 is on, and the vehicle is stopped from the vehicle speed signal, a stop command is output. The engine ECU 2 stops the engine based on a stop command from the stop means 2c.

  Similarly, the restart means 2d of the engine ECU 2 outputs a restart command based on the output signal of the clutch upper switch 3 being turned off, and the engine ECU 2 does not illustrate an engine (not shown) based on the start command. Based on the drive of the starter (or motor generator in the case of a hybrid vehicle), restarting is performed. If the battery capacity is insufficient at the time of starting or restarting, the voltage may be boosted by an appropriate means such as BBC, that is, a backup boost converter.

  The control content according to the present invention of the engine control apparatus 1 of the first embodiment described above will be described using a flowchart.

  In step S1 in FIG. 2, the engine ECU 2 detects the output signal of the key switch 6, the starter current signal, and the output signal of the clutch upper switch 3. In step S2, the start determination means 2a of the engine ECU 2 Based on the output signal, it is determined whether or not the start position is selected by the key switch 6 and the engine has been started. If the result is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S3. If the result is negative, the process returns to step S1.

  In step S3, the start determination means 2a of the engine ECU 2 determines whether or not the starter is actually driven based on the current signal of the starter, and proceeds to step S4 if affirmative, and proceeds to step S1 if negative. Return to the front.

  In step S4, the on-fixation detection means 2b of the engine ECU 2 determines whether or not the output signal is on based on the output signal of the clutch upper switch 3. If the result is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S5, and negative. If it is, proceed to END.

  In step S5, the on-sticking detection means 2b of the engine ECU 2 detects that the clutch upper switch 3 is stuck on, outputs a lighting command to the warning lamp 7, and turns on the warning lamp 7. , Warn the driver.

  According to the engine control apparatus 1 of the first embodiment realized by these control contents, the following operational effects can be obtained. That is, according to the engine control apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the clutch upper switch 3 is turned off in a normal state where no on-sticking occurs at the timing when the key switch 6 is operated and the engine is started. By utilizing this fact, it is possible to detect the occurrence of on-fixation depending on whether or not the output of the clutch upper switch 3 alone is on.

  That is, in the present embodiment, when the clutch upper switch 3 is turned on at the timing when the engine is started, it is a case where the clutch upper switch 3 is stuck on. The means 2b detects the occurrence of on-fixation in the clutch upper switch 3.

  Thereby, for example, the configuration for detecting a failure based on the detection signal of the second clutch switch as in the prior art described in Patent Document 1 described above can be eliminated, and the wiring and the hardware as the engine control device 1 can be eliminated. The structure can be further simplified. Further, since the failure can be detected based on the output of the single clutch upper switch 3, the failure location can be identified more easily.

  In the present embodiment, the start determination means 2a of the engine ECU 2 determines whether or not the engine has been started based on the fact that the key switch 6 of the vehicle has been set to the start position. Whether or not the engine has been started can be determined based on the start signal that can be acquired by the above-described relay sequence.

  Further, in this embodiment, the start determination means 2a of the engine ECU 2 determines whether or not the engine has been started based on driving of the vehicle starter, and this is also conventionally used. Based on the parameters that can be easily obtained by the starter sequence, it is possible to determine whether or not the engine has actually been started.

  Further, in this embodiment, the system abnormality due to the on-fixation of the clutch upper switch 3 is notified to the driver as soon as the warning lamp 7 is turned on, and the system is restored by, for example, stopping at a dealer and quickly repairing the system. You can encourage them to. As a result, it is possible to shorten the period during which the idle stop is not performed as much as possible, and to more easily realize the original objectives of the idle stop, such as improvement of fuel efficiency, reduction of exhaust gas, and reduction of noise.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions are made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. be able to.

  For example, although the key switch 6 is illustrated in the above-described embodiment, it may be a start switch.

  The present invention provides an engine control device that can detect the on-fixation of the clutch switch more appropriately, and has a desired effect based on relatively easy to obtain parameters and minor control changes. This is particularly useful when applied to vehicles such as passenger cars, trucks, and buses.

1 Engine control device 2 Engine ECU
2a Start determination means 2b On sticking detection means 2c Stop means 2d Restart means 3 Clutch upper switch 4 Brake stroke sensor 5 Shift signal sensor 6 Key switch 7 Warning lamp

Claims (3)

  A start determination means for determining whether or not the engine of the vehicle has been started, and when it is determined by the start determination means that the engine has been started and a clutch switch provided on the clutch pedal of the vehicle is on, An engine control apparatus comprising on-fixing detection means for detecting occurrence of on-fixing of the clutch switch.   The start determination means determines whether or not the engine has been started based on a key switch of the vehicle being set to a start position or a start switch of the vehicle being turned on. The engine control apparatus according to claim 1.   3. The engine control device according to claim 1, wherein the start determination unit determines whether or not the engine is started based on driving of a starter of the vehicle.

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