JPH10148253A - Vehicle driving force control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly control the driving force characteristic in response to regional attributes by shifting the speed change pattern by an automatic transmission based on the judged result that a vehicle is running in an urban area. SOLUTION: On which road a vehicle exists is judged based on the satellite received information from a GPS antenna 113. When it is judged that the vehicle exists in an urban area, for example, the information on its attributes is transmitted to a PCM 50. When the accelerator action quantity is detected as nonzero by the signal from an accelerator pedal opening sensor 105, the change of the regional attributes is prohibited to prevent the abrupt change of driving force, and the existence in the urban area is set in a regional attribute information storage memory. The shift to the highest-stage gear is prohibited for the shift of the speed change pattern of an automatic transmission 103 in reference to the information storage memory. The vehicle can be driven in good response to the intrusion of another vehicle in the front of the vehicle often occurring during the travel in the urban area, and the emergency evasive performance can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for controlling a driving force of a vehicle by controlling an automatic transmission mounted on the vehicle. The present invention relates to a control device for appropriately controlling an automatic transmission in order to enhance the performance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vehicle is provided with various driving characteristic adjusting means for matching the driving characteristics of the vehicle with the road conditions and the driving characteristics of the driver.

[0003] Such running characteristics adjusting means include an electronic control throttle for adjusting a throttle target opening with respect to an accelerator pedal opening, an electronic control transmission for controlling gear shifting, a traction control system for controlling traction, a front wheel steering angle. And the like, in which the ratio of the rear wheel steering angle to the vehicle is variable, is known, and the vehicle driver appropriately operates an operation switch for setting the mode of each of the driving characteristic adjusting means provided in the driver's seat. Is selected, and the traveling characteristics are manually changed to perform traveling suited to road conditions and the like.

However, with the recent diversification of traveling preferences and various technological innovations, the traveling characteristic adjusting means has also been diversified and the traveling characteristics to be set have been increased, and as a result, the number of operation switches for setting the traveling characteristics has also increased. I am doing it. For this reason,
The operation of all these operation switches is very complicated for the driver, and it is difficult to operate these switches while traveling. The fact is that they are not able to fully demonstrate.

[0005] In view of this, there has been proposed a driving force control device for a vehicle that obtains the state of the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling from a navigation device and automatically controls the output of the engine in accordance with the road condition (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-157556). JP-A-5-180023). In this device, for example, when the navigation device detects that the vehicle is traveling on a backstreet or a narrow bend in a residential area other than the main road, the engine output is controlled to be small according to the road conditions. Is done.
As a result, the acceleration force of the vehicle is limited, so that the driver can appropriately drive the vehicle according to road conditions other than the main road.

[0006]

However, in such a configuration in which the driving force characteristic is reduced only when traveling on road conditions such as a back road or a curved road other than the main road, a relatively low speed such as in an urban area is required. While driving in,
At the time of quick steering operation that requires a large drive torque,
Alternatively, when the engine brake is applied by releasing the accelerator, sufficient driving force and braking force may not be obtained. For this reason, the driver's operation intention cannot be sufficiently reflected while traveling in an urban area, and driving may be difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a vehicle driving force control device capable of appropriately controlling the driving force characteristics of a vehicle in accordance with the attribute of a region in which the vehicle is traveling. It is assumed that.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle driving force control device for controlling a driving force of an automatic transmission mounted on a vehicle. And an automatic transmission control means for switching a shift pattern by the automatic transmission based on a result of the judgment by the city area traveling judgment means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the urban area traveling judging means is used for obtaining a current position of the own vehicle, and a local attribute storing means for storing a local attribute relating to a main road in advance. A position information detecting means for detecting the position information to be obtained, a current position calculating means for calculating and determining a current position of the own vehicle based on a detection result of the position information detecting means, A detecting means for comparing the regional attribute with a result of the calculation by the current position calculating means to detect whether or not the own vehicle is traveling in an urban area is provided.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the regional attribute storage means stores in advance a regional attribute relating to an urban area on a map.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the automatic transmission control means, when the city running determination means determines that the area where the vehicle is currently traveling is an urban area, the highest gear in the automatic transmission. It is characterized in that selection of a gear is prohibited.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the automatic transmission is a continuously variable transmission, and the automatic transmission control means determines that the currently traveling area is an urban area by the city area traveling determining means. In such a case, the use of the high transmission range in the automatic transmission is prohibited.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is further provided an operating condition detecting means for detecting an operating condition of the host vehicle, wherein the automatic transmission control means detects a predetermined operating condition by the operating condition detecting means. , The switching of the shift pattern is permitted.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the shift pattern switching is allowed when an accelerator operation amount is zero.

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, whether or not the vehicle is traveling in an urban area is determined by the city area traveling determining means, and the automatic transmission control means determines whether or not the vehicle is in automatic transmission based on the determination result. The shift pattern by the machine is switched. For this reason, the driving force of the vehicle by the automatic transmission is controlled in accordance with the attribute of the area in which the host vehicle travels, by appropriately setting the shift pattern switching according to the driving in the urban area and the area other than the urban area. In any case other than the above, it is possible to travel comfortably according to the local attribute.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the current position of the own vehicle is detected by the position information detecting means, and the detection result is compared with the local attribute stored in the local attribute storing means. It is determined whether the vehicle is traveling. Here, as in the third aspect of the present invention, if the area information regarding the city area is stored in the area attribute storage means in advance,
Based on the area information and the detection result by the position information detection means, it is determined whether or not the own vehicle is traveling in an urban area. For this reason, when it is determined that the vehicle is traveling in an urban area, the automatic transmission control means can switch the shift pattern of the automatic transmission so as to be suitable for traveling in the urban area. Operation can be performed by force. Also, compared to the case of judging the surrounding situation from the correlation between the accelerator operation amount and the vehicle acceleration, it is possible to judge the local attribute faster and more accurately, and to select the gear suitable for city driving, such as driving performance characteristics. Changes can be made easily.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the vehicle is traveling in an urban area, the selection of the highest gear of the automatic transmission is prohibited, so that the responsive operation is performed by the low-speed gear. be able to. Further, when the automatic transmission is a continuously variable transmission as in the invention of the fifth aspect, the use of the high shift range is prohibited, and the operation with good response is realized by the low shift range as in the invention of the fourth aspect. It can be carried out. Therefore, even in an urban area where it is often necessary to avoid obstacles due to sudden jumping from a side road or to require engine braking, it is possible to drive comfortably with sufficient driving and braking forces to improve the vehicle's emergency avoidance performance. Can be improved.

According to the invention of claim 6, for example, claim 7
As in the invention of the third aspect, the switching of the shift pattern is permitted during an idle time when the accelerator is not operated, and therefore, it is possible to prevent the shift pattern from being switched against the driver's will during driving or the like. Can be.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle driving force control device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle driving force control device according to the present embodiment includes a position information detecting unit 1 that detects position information used for obtaining a current position of the host vehicle, and a position information detection unit. Means 1
The current position detecting means 2 such as a navigation device for calculating and determining the current position of the own vehicle based on the detection result of the vehicle, the urban area area storing means 3 preliminarily storing an area attribute relating to the urban area, and the urban area area storing means 3 City running judgment means 4 for judging whether or not the vehicle is running in the city based on the area attribute and the detection result by the current position detecting means 2, vehicle speed and throttle opening of the automatic transmission during city running , A normal speed change pattern 6 in which a speed change pattern other than when driving in an urban area is set, and a city speed change pattern 5 based on the determination result of the city area determination means 4. Shift pattern selecting means 7 for switching to the normal shift pattern 6 and switching of the driving force characteristics by the shift pattern selecting means 7. And a driving force characteristic changing means 8 for recombination.

That is, the vehicle driving force control device according to the present embodiment has such a configuration, detects the current traveling position of the vehicle by the current position calculating means 2 such as a navigation device, and outputs the CD-ROM of the navigation device. The local attribute stored in advance in the ROM or the like is compared with the current traveling position of the vehicle, and the most suitable shift pattern is selected according to the regional attribute in which the vehicle is currently traveling, and is appropriately switched.

Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle to which the vehicle driving force control device according to the present embodiment is applied. The output of engine 101 is supplied to driving wheels via an automatic transmission 103 with a built-in torque converter. (Not shown).

An electronically controlled throttle valve 102, which is opened and closed by a motor or the like, is interposed in the intake passage of the engine 101. The intake air amount of the engine 101 is adjusted according to the opening of the electronically controlled throttle valve 102. Thus, the output torque of the engine 101 is controlled. The electronically controlled throttle valve 102 is operated by a control signal from a throttle control module (TCM) 51.

The TCM 51 has a power train
An opening command signal indicating the opening of the electronically controlled throttle valve 102 is transmitted from a control module (hereinafter referred to as PCM) 50, and the TCM 51 converts the opening command signal into a motor drive voltage and calculates the actual throttle valve 102.
The electronic control throttle 102 is feedback-controlled so that the opening of the electronic control throttle 102 becomes the opening obtained by the opening command signal from the PCM 50.

The PCM 50 receives an accelerator pedal opening from an accelerator pedal opening sensor 105, a brake operation signal from a brake operation switch 106, a select range signal from a range selection lever 107 of an automatic transmission, and the like. It controls the amount of fuel supplied to the engine and the ignition timing, controls the gear position or the hydraulic pressure of the automatic transmission 103, and controls the brake pressure of each wheel of the brake actuator 104.

On the other hand, above the windshield of the vehicle,
Camera 1 for capturing the situation in front of the vehicle as a video
11 are provided. The image captured by the camera 111 is input to the image processing device 53 and processed as a road condition, a vehicle condition, obstacle information, and the like in front. The processing result is transmitted to the external environment information processing module 52.

Further, a GPS antenna 113 for receiving a signal from a satellite is provided at a rear portion of the vehicle. GPS
Information obtained from the antenna 113 is input to the position information processing device 54. The position information processing device 54 is a CD-R storing map information in which geographical attributes are incorporated in advance.
A storage medium such as an OM is stored.
Based on the signal from PS antenna 113, the position where the vehicle is currently traveling is detected. Then, the detection result is transmitted to the external environment information processing module 52. Further, a signal from the position information processing device 54 is also displayed on a monitor 112 provided in the driver's seat.

The external environment information processing module 52 converts a signal representing the current vehicle environment into a PC based on the signals input from the image processing device 53 and the position information processing device 54.
Send to M50. The PCM 50 receives this signal and controls the output of the engine 101, the shift of the automatic transmission 103, and the like. Conversely, the PCM 50 transmits output torque information of the engine 101, gear position information of the automatic transmission 103, signal states from the accelerator opening sensor 105 and the brake operation switch 106, and the like to the external environment information processing module 52. The external environment information processing module 52 may receive this signal to increase the accuracy of determining the external environment or estimate the driver's mental state.
Further, the PCM 50 is provided with a local attribute information storage memory (not shown) for storing the local attribute information where the current vehicle is present, which is transmitted from the external environment information processing module 52, as described later. .

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed in the vehicle driving force control device according to the present embodiment.

First, in step S1, the external environment information processing module 52 determines the attribute of the area where the vehicle is currently traveling.

FIG. 4 shows the external environment information processing module 52.
5 showing a region attribute determination process in FIG.
7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating images displayed on a monitor 112. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, first, in step S11
, The position coordinates C (x, y) of the vehicle on the map are detected based on the satellite reception information from the GPS antenna 113. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5A, determination on which road on the surrounding road the vehicle is located is also performed on the map.

In the next step S12, it is determined to which of the pre-stored regional attributes (city area, non-city area, etc.) the position coordinates C (x, y) detected in step S11 belong. For example, the vehicle is shown in FIG.
If the vehicle exists at the position of the coordinates C (x, y) shown in (a), it is determined that the own vehicle belongs to the attribute A (for example, an urban area) in the attributes on the map as shown in FIG. Is done.

Then, in step S13, information relating to the attribute of the own vehicle at the current position determined in step S12 is transmitted to the PCM 50, and the process ends.

Returning to FIG. 3, in the next step S2, the PCM 50 performs a process of switching the city area control. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the process of switching the city area control. First, in step S21, it is determined based on a signal from the accelerator pedal opening sensor 105 whether or not the accelerator is off, that is, whether or not the accelerator operation amount is zero. When the accelerator operation amount is zero, it is determined that the regional attribute may be newly set, and the result of step S21 is affirmative, and the process proceeds to step S22. Conversely, even if the regional attribute signal changes, if the accelerator operation amount is not zero, it is prohibited to newly change the regional attribute in order to prevent the driving force of the vehicle from suddenly changing during traveling,
Maintain the regional attributes processed in the previous task,
The process ends without performing any setting.

In step S22, based on the attribute information of the area where the current vehicle is transmitted from the external environment information processing module 52, it is determined whether the attribute of the area where the vehicle is currently running is an urban area. A determination is made as to whether or not it is. If step S22 is affirmed, step S2
In 4, the area attribute information storage memory is set to be an urban area. If step S22 is denied, the process proceeds to step S23 assuming that the area is not an urban area, and the area attribute information storage memory is set to be a normal traveling area. The driving force characteristic of the vehicle can be switched by switching the shift pattern of the automatic transmission 103 based on the regional attribute set in the regional attribute information storage memory as described later.

Returning to FIG. 3, in step S3, P
In the CM 50, the drive control of the automatic transmission 103 is switched. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process of switching the drive control of the automatic transmission.

First, in step S31, FIG.
It is determined whether or not the city area attribute is currently set by referring to the area attribute information storage memory in which the area attribute set in step S23 or step S24 is stored. When step S31 is affirmed, it is determined that the vehicle is currently traveling in the city area, and the process proceeds to step S32.
Switching of the automatic transmission 103 to the highest gear is prohibited as the switching of the shift pattern. On the other hand, step S31
If the answer is NO, it is determined that the vehicle is not currently traveling in the city area, and the process proceeds to step S33, and the state of prohibiting the automatic transmission 103 from switching to the highest gear is released. If it is determined in step S33 that the switching to the highest gear has already been prohibited, the switching prohibition state is maintained without performing any processing.

As described above, in the present embodiment, it is detected whether or not the vehicle is traveling in an urban area, and when the vehicle is traveling in an urban area, the driving force characteristics are switched by the automatic transmission 103. Since the change to the highest gear is performed by prohibiting the change, the vehicle can be driven with a good response to the interruption of the vehicle in front of the own vehicle, which is likely to occur while traveling in an urban area. The emergency avoidance performance can be improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the use of the stepped automatic transmission 103 inhibits switching to the highest gear when traveling in an urban area. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, a relatively low-speed / high-torque type shift pattern is set as a shift pattern, and this shift pattern is selected during traveling in an urban area, or when the automatic transmission 103 is a continuously variable transmission, By restricting the control range of the gear ratio so as not to use a region with a high gear ratio during running in an urban area, it is possible to perform a driving with good response as in the above embodiment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle to which the vehicle driving force control device according to the embodiment is applied;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing performed in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a region attribute determination process.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a map displayed on a monitor.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a city area control switching process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a driving force control switching process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Position information detecting means 2 Current position detecting means 3 Urban area area storing means 4 Urban area determining means 5 Urban area shifting pattern 6 Normal shifting pattern 7 Shifting pattern 8 Driving force characteristic changing means 50 PCM 51 TCM 52 External environment information processing module 54 Position information processing device 101 Engine 102 Electronically controlled throttle valve 103 Automatic transmission

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle driving force control device for controlling a driving force of an automatic transmission mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a city running determining means for determining whether or not a host vehicle is running in a city; An automatic transmission control means for switching a shift pattern of the automatic transmission based on a result of the judgment by the traveling judgment means. 2. The city area traveling judging means includes: a regional attribute storing means for preliminarily storing a regional attribute relating to a main road; and a position information detecting means for detecting position information used for obtaining a current position of the host vehicle. Means, a current position calculating means for calculating and determining a current position of the own vehicle based on a detection result of the position information detecting means, a regional attribute in the local attribute storing means, and a calculation result by the current position calculating means 2. The vehicle driving force control device according to claim 1, further comprising: a detection unit configured to detect whether or not the vehicle is traveling in an urban area by comparing the driving force with the vehicle. 3. The vehicle driving force control device according to claim 2, wherein said local attribute storage means stores a local attribute related to an urban area on a map in advance. 4. The automatic transmission control means prohibits the selection of the highest gear in the automatic transmission when the city running determination means determines that the area where the vehicle is currently traveling is an urban area. The method according to claim 1,
4. The vehicle driving force control device according to 2 or 3. 5. The automatic transmission, wherein the automatic transmission is a continuously variable transmission, and wherein the automatic transmission control means determines that the area where the vehicle is currently traveling is an urban area by the city area traveling determining means. 4. The vehicle driving force control device according to claim 1, wherein use of a high shift range in the automatic transmission is prohibited. 6. An automatic transmission control means further comprising a driving condition detecting means for detecting a driving condition of the vehicle.
The vehicle driving force control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein switching of the shift pattern is permitted only when a predetermined driving condition is detected by the driving condition detecting means. 7. The vehicle driving force control device according to claim 6, wherein switching of the shift pattern is allowed when an accelerator operation amount is zero.