IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0323137
(2011-12-12)
|
등록번호 |
US-8577575
(2013-11-05)
|
우선권정보 |
JP-2010-276077 (2010-12-10) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Tomura, Masayuki
- Kawahara, Kenji
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
2 |
초록
▼
A control apparatus for a vehicle, where the vehicle includes control means for stopping an engine automatically when a stopping condition is met, and restarting the engine after the automatic stoppage of the engine, when a predetermined restarting condition is met, a braking device that is actuated
A control apparatus for a vehicle, where the vehicle includes control means for stopping an engine automatically when a stopping condition is met, and restarting the engine after the automatic stoppage of the engine, when a predetermined restarting condition is met, a braking device that is actuated to apply braking force to a drive wheel, and a plurality of vehicle-mounted devices involved in operations of the vehicle. The apparatus includes abnormality detection means for determining whether or not there exists an abnormality in at least one of the vehicle-mounted devices, and fail-safe means for, when during the automatic stoppage of the engine it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in at least one of the vehicle-mounted devices, restarting the engine forcibly. The apparatus enables the user to take suitable measures in the presence of an abnormality in the vehicle-mounted devices.
대표청구항
▼
1. A control apparatus for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising control means for stopping an engine automatically when a stopping condition is met, which includes a condition that a traveling speed of the vehicle is equal to or smaller than a first prescribed speed larger than zero, and restarting the
1. A control apparatus for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising control means for stopping an engine automatically when a stopping condition is met, which includes a condition that a traveling speed of the vehicle is equal to or smaller than a first prescribed speed larger than zero, and restarting the engine after the automatic stoppage of the engine, when a predetermined restarting condition is met, a braking device that is actuated to apply braking force to a drive wheel, and a plurality of vehicle-mounted devices involved in operations of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising: abnormality detection means for determining whether or not there exists an abnormality in at least one of the vehicle-mounted devices; andfail-safe means for, when during automatic stoppage of the engine it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in at least one of the vehicle-mounted devices, restarting the engine forcibly and/or assisting the braking device in applying the braking force to the wheel. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fail-safe means restarts the engine forcibly when during automatic stoppage of the engine it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in at least one of the vehicle-mounted devices and a user is riding in the vehicle. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vehicle further comprises traveling speed detection means for detecting a traveling speed of the vehicle, and the apparatus further comprising running state detection means for determining that the vehicle is running when the traveling speed of the vehicle detected by the traveling speed detection means is equal to or larger than a threshold value larger than zero, whereinthe fail-safe means determines that the user of the vehicle is riding in the vehicle when it is determined by the running state detection means that the vehicle is running. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices include occupant presence detection means for determining whether or not the user is riding in the vehicle, the fail-safe means restarts the engine forcibly when it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in the occupant presence detection means and it is determined by the running state detection means that the vehicle is running. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices include a starter that is powered by a vehicle-mounted battery and applies an initial torque to an output shaft of the engine, and a converter that boosts and outputs a voltage of the battery, the apparatus is driven by the output power of the converter and is reset when the output voltage of the converter is equal to or smaller than the a specified voltage, andthe fail-safe means includes restriction means for restricting the forcible restarting of the engine when it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in the converter. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the restriction means cancels the restriction of forcible restarting of the engine when it is determined that the traveling speed of the vehicle is smaller than a second prescribed speed smaller than the first prescribed speed. 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the vehicle further comprises a actuation element that is actuated by the user to accelerate and/or decelerate the vehicle, the apparatus further comprises restart intention detection means for determining whether or not the user intends to restart the engine on the basis of an actuation state of the actuation element,the restriction means cancels the restriction of forcible restarting of the engine, provided that it is determined by the restart intention detection means that the user intends to restart the vehicle. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fail-safe means is implemented in each of a plurality of control units including a main control unit and a substitution control unit with respect to the forcible restarting of the engine, the plurality of control units being communicable with each other and being included in the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices, and the substitution control unit restarts the engine forcibly in place of the main control unit when it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in the main control unit. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices include a starter that applies an initial torque to an output shaft of the engine, the fail-safe means is implemented in each of a plurality of control units including a main control unit and a substitution control unit with respect to the forcible restarting of the engine, the plurality of control units being communicable with each other and being included in the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices,the starter can be driven by each of the main and substitution control units via their respective electrical paths, and is driven normally by the main control unit via its corresponding electrical path,the substitution control unit restarts the engine forcibly by driving the starter in place of the main control unit via the electrical path associated with the substitution control unit when it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in the electrical path associated with the main control unit. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices include a starter that applies an initial torque to an output shaft of the engine, the starter can be driven by the control apparatus via one of a plurality of electrical paths,the fail-safe means restarts the engine forcibly by driving the starter via one of the other electrical paths when it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in the one of the plurality of electrical paths. 11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vehicle further comprises traveling speed detection means for detecting a traveling speed of the vehicle,the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices include occupant presence detection means for determining whether or not the vehicle user is riding in the vehicle,the apparatus further comprising stationary state detection means for determining that the vehicle is stationary when the traveling speed of the vehicle detected by the traveling speed detection means is smaller than a threshold value larger than zero, whereinthe fail-safe means restarts the engine forcibly, provided that it is determined by the occupant presence detection means that the user is riding in the vehicle, when it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in at least one of the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices other than the occupant presence detection means and it is determined by the stationary state detection means that the vehicle is stationary. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices include a starter that applies an initial torque to an output shaft of the engine, the fail-safe means is implemented in each of a plurality of control units including a main control unit and a substitution control unit with respect to the forcible restarting of the engine, the plurality of control units being communicable with each other and being included in the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices,the starter can be driven by each of the main and substitution control units, and is driven normally by the main control unit,the substitution control unit restarts the engine forcibly by driving the starter in place of the main control unit when it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in the main control unit and it is determined by the stationary state detection means that the vehicle is stationary. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the fail-safe means is implemented in each of a plurality of control units including a main control unit and a substitution control unit with respect to the forcible restarting of the engine, the plurality of control units being communicable with each other and being included in the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices,the substitution control unit includes restriction means for restricting the forcible restarting of the engine when it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in the main control unit and it is determined by the stationary state detection means that the vehicle is stationary. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the vehicle further comprises an actuation element that is actuated by the user to accelerate and/or decelerate the vehicle, the apparatus further comprises restart intention detection means for determining whether or not the user intends to restart the engine on the basis of a actuation state of the actuation element,the restriction means cancels the restriction of forcible restarting of the engine, provided that it is determined by the restart intention detection means that the user intends to restart the vehicle. 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the vehicle further comprises a transmission that transfers a torque of the engine to a drive wheel, the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices include a starter that applies an initial torque to an output shaft of the engine, andthe fail-safe means actuates the transmission so that the torque transfer between the output shaft and the drive wheel is interrupted, when it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in the starter such that the starter has been driven unintentionally and it is determined by the stationary state detection means that the vehicle is stationary. 16. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vehicle further comprises traveling speed detection means for detecting a traveling speed of the vehicle, and a brake booster that assists the user in actuating a brake-actuating element by means of a negative pressure downstream of an intake-air throttle valve disposed in an intake manifold of the engine, and the apparatus further comprising: running state detection means for determining that the vehicle is running when the traveling speed of the vehicle detected by the traveling speed detection means is equal to or larger than a threshold value larger than zero; andnotification means for providing a notification to the user for prompting the user to pay attention to actuation of a brake-actuating element when it is determined that the forcible restarting of the engine has failed and it is determined by the running state detection means that the vehicle is running. 17. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vehicle further comprises traveling speed detection means for detecting a traveling speed of the vehicle, and the apparatus further comprising: stationary state detection means for determining that the vehicle is stationary when the traveling speed of the vehicle detected by the traveling speed detection means is smaller than a threshold value larger than zero; andnotification means for providing a notification to the user for prompting the user to start the engine by turning an ignition key when it is determined that the forcible restarting of the engine has failed and it is determined by the stationary state detection means that the vehicle is stationary. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the time when it is determined that the forcible restarting of the engine has failed is set to be equal to the time when it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in at least one of the vehicle-mounted devices. 19. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vehicle further comprises traveling speed detection means for detecting a traveling speed of the vehicle, and a clutch and a manual transmission that are actuated by the user to transfer a torque of an output shaft of the engine to a drive wheel, the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices include occupant presence detection means for determining whether or not the user is riding in the vehicle, and the apparatus further comprising:stationary state detection means for determining that the vehicle is stationary when the traveling speed of the vehicle detected by the traveling speed detection means is smaller than a threshold value larger than zero; andthe fail-safe means restarts the engine forcibly, provided that it is determined that the clutch is being actuated, when it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in the occupant presence detection means and it is determined by the stationary state detection means that the vehicle is stationary. 20. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vehicle further comprises a clutch and a manual transmission that are actuated by the user to transfer a torque of an output shaft of the engine to a drive wheel, the fail-safe means restarts the engine forcibly when it is determined that the torque transfer between the output shaft of the engine and the drive wheel is being interrupted by at least one of the clutch and the manual transmission. 21. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vehicle further comprises traveling speed detection means for detecting a traveling speed of the vehicle, and a transmission that transfers a torque of an output shaft of the engine to a drive wheel, the apparatus further comprises stationary state detection means for determining that the vehicle is stationary when the traveling speed of the vehicle detected by the traveling speed detection means is smaller than a threshold value larger than zero, whereinthe fail-safe means actuates the transmission so that the torque of the output shaft of the engine can be transferred to the drive wheel, when it is determined that the forcible restarting of the engine has failed and it is determined by the stationary state detection means that the vehicle is stationary. 22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises traveling speed detection means for detecting a traveling speed of the vehicle, and the braking device applies braking force to the wheel by the user actuating a brake-actuating element or actuating a motorized actuator by controlling power supply thereto, the apparatus further comprises:stationary state detection means for determining that the vehicle is stationary when the traveling speed of the vehicle detected by the traveling speed detection means is smaller than a threshold value larger than zero; andforcible braking-force application means actuates the motorized actuator by controlling power supply thereto to apply the braking force forcibly to the wheel during automatic stoppage of the engine, whereinthe fail-safe means continues the application of the braking force to the wheel by the forcible braking-force application means until it is determined that the engine has been restarted forcibly, when it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in at least one of the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices and it is determined by the stationary state detection means that the vehicle is stationary. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the fail-safe means stops the forcible application of the braking force to the wheel by the forcible braking-force application means when it is determined that the engine has been restarted. 24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises traveling speed detection means for detecting a traveling speed of the vehicle, the braking device includes a brake booster that assists the user in actuating a brake-actuating element by means of a negative pressure downstream of an intake-air throttle valve disposed in an intake manifold of the engine, and the apparatus further comprises:running state detection means for determining that the vehicle is running when the traveling speed of the vehicle detected by the traveling speed detection means is equal to or larger than a threshold value larger than zero, whereinthe fail-safe means actuates the brake booster by controlling power supply thereto so as to assist in applying the braking force forcibly to the wheel according to actuation of the brake-actuating element, when during automatic stoppage of the engine it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in at least one of the vehicle-mounted devices and it is determined by the running state detection means that the vehicle is running. 25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-mounted devices include at least one of an actuator for combustion control of the engine including a fuel injection valve that supplies fuel to a combustion chamber of the engine, a brake booster that assists the user in actuating a brake-actuating element by means of a negative pressure downstream of an intake-air throttle valve disposed in an intake manifold of the engine, and an engine-driven air-conditioner that demists a windscreen of the vehicle. 26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises traveling speed detection means for detecting a traveling speed of the vehicle, the apparatus further comprises reliability determination means for determining whether or not a detection value of the traveling speed detection means is of high reliability, whereinthe fail-safe means determines, on the basis of the detection value of the traveling speed detection means determined to be of high reliability, whether or not the vehicle is running. 27. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vehicle further comprises traveling speed detection means for detecting a traveling speed of the vehicle, and an automatic transmission that transfers a torque of an output shaft of the engine to a drive wheel, the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices include occupant presence detection means for determining whether or not the user is riding in the vehicle, and the apparatus further comprising:stationary state detection means for determining that the vehicle is stationary when the traveling speed of the vehicle detected by the traveling speed detection means is smaller than a threshold value larger than zero; andthe fail-safe means doesn't restart the engine forcibly, when it is determined by the abnormality detection means that there exists an abnormality in the occupant presence detection means and it is determined by the stationary state detection means that the vehicle is stationary.
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