JP4830840B2 - Hybrid vehicle control device and hybrid vehicle control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a hybrid vehicle control device and a hybrid vehicle control method.

Conventionally, a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine and a prime mover as a vehicle drive source is known. In Patent Document 1, information such as the destination, the remaining battery level, the chargeable place, the chargeable time at the chargeable place, and the like are input, and the battery before reaching the destination based on the input information. The technology which uses efficiently is described.
JP 2004-7969 A

  From the viewpoint of environmental load and fuel consumption, it is desirable to run the vehicle using a battery as much as possible without using fuel. However, when such control is performed so that the battery is used preferentially, there is a possibility that the traveling period without using fuel may last for a long time. Specifically, for example, the battery is frequently charged at home or at a charging facility before the remaining battery level is exhausted. If the traveling period without using the fuel, that is, without using the internal combustion engine continues for a long time, there is a problem that the fuel itself and the mechanism of the internal combustion engine system deteriorate. When the fuel or the internal combustion engine deteriorates, the performance of the internal combustion engine may not be exhibited.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of suppressing deterioration of fuel or an internal combustion engine in a hybrid vehicle.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the internal combustion engine information acquisition means acquires information indicating the use status of the internal combustion engine, and the determination means does not store the internal combustion engine for a predetermined time based on the information. It is determined whether or not the vehicle is in use, and when it is determined that the vehicle is not used, the driving force control means uses the internal combustion engine to drive the host vehicle. According to this configuration, since the internal combustion engine is unused for a predetermined period, deterioration of the fuel and the internal combustion engine can be suppressed. The “predetermined interval” expresses the length of a temporal or spatial interval, and the unit may be, for example, the number of days or a travel distance. Note that the “predetermined period” refers to, for example, the period from when the fuel is replenished until immediately before the fuel deteriorates (quality assurance period), or before the deterioration, if the fuel is used at the latest before the deterioration. It refers to the time until it can be used up. In addition, for example, it refers to a period from when the internal combustion engine was last used to immediately before the internal combustion engine is deteriorated, or before it is deteriorated and it is recommended to use the internal combustion engine periodically. The information indicating the use status of the internal combustion engine is information for determining when the internal combustion engine has been used, how long it has been unused, when the fuel has been replenished, and how much has been used. Point to.

  In the driving force control means, traveling using an internal combustion engine refers to traveling using at least the internal combustion engine. For example, the internal combustion engine and the electric motor are switched or used together in a situation where each other's performance can be effectively exhibited. The vehicle may be a hybrid vehicle running or may use only an internal combustion engine. Further, since the driving force control means is configured to run the host vehicle by the electric motor when it is not determined that the internal combustion engine is unused for a predetermined period, the environmental load and fuel consumption can be reduced.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the internal combustion engine information acquisition means acquires information indicating the usage status of the internal combustion engine, and the determination means determines a predetermined internal combustion engine based on the information. A configuration is adopted in which it is determined whether or not the battery is unused, and when it is determined that the battery is not used, the notification means prompts the user to replace the fuel. According to this configuration, the user can recognize the fuel replacement time. In addition, the user can be made aware that the fuel may be deteriorated because it has not been used for a predetermined period.

  Note that the notification means uses the internal combustion engine at a point in time before urging replacement of the fuel, that is, before the fuel deteriorates and at the time when the fuel can be used up before the deterioration at the latest. Then, the user may be guided to run the vehicle. Moreover, the aspect of an alerting | reporting means should just be able to inform a user of the above information, and is not specifically limited, such as visual and auditory.

In the present invention, the internal combustion engine information acquisition means may acquire the elapsed time from the fuel replenishment time and the amount of fuel used from the replenishment time. The determination means may determine that the internal combustion engine is unused for a predetermined period when the elapsed period is equal to or greater than the predetermined period and the usage amount is equal to or less than the predetermined amount. According to this configuration, it is determined from the amount of fuel used and the elapsed period from the replenishment time whether or not the fuel has been used within a predetermined period or more from the replenishment time, that is, whether or not the internal combustion engine has been used. be able to. The remaining amount of fuel may be derived from the amount of fuel used, and it can also be determined whether or not fuel that may have deteriorated after a predetermined period from the replenishment timing remains in the fuel tank. .
The determination means determines, for example, how long a period has elapsed without using the internal combustion engine, using the travel history information of the host vehicle including, for example, which section is used for which power. It may be.

The specific value of the predetermined amount related to the amount of fuel used may be appropriately designed according to conditions such as the type of fuel and the type of vehicle. For example, the amount of use that is small enough to cause deterioration of the internal combustion engine, specifically, the degree of deterioration of the performance of the internal combustion engine and the amount of fuel used are defined in association with each other, and the amount of fuel used that has a certain degree of deterioration is set May be. The specific value for the predetermined period may be appropriately designed according to conditions such as the type of fuel, the type of internal combustion engine, and the number of years since manufacture.
The configuration in which the elapsed time from the replenishment time and the remaining amount of fuel are used for the determination in this way is not only when the vehicle is run without using the internal combustion engine for a predetermined period, but also when the vehicle is run. For example, the same effect can be obtained when the state where the vehicle is parked in the parking lot continues.

In the present invention, the internal combustion engine information acquisition means may acquire the travel distance from the fuel replenishment timing and the fuel usage from the replenishment timing. The determination means may determine that the internal combustion engine is unused for a predetermined period when the travel distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance and the usage amount is equal to or less than the predetermined amount. According to this configuration, whether or not the fuel is used while traveling a predetermined distance or more from the replenishment time, that is, whether or not the internal combustion engine has been used, is determined from the amount of fuel used and the travel distance from the replenishment time. Can be determined. The remaining amount of fuel may be derived from the amount of fuel used, and this remaining amount may have deteriorated due to the passage of a period of time assumed to have traveled more than a predetermined distance from the replenishment timing. It can also be determined whether or not a certain amount of fuel remains in the fuel tank.
Note that the determination means determines the travel distance from the end point of the last travel using the internal combustion engine using the travel history information of the host vehicle including, for example, which section is used for which power. May be.

  The specific value of the predetermined amount related to the amount of fuel used may be appropriately designed according to conditions such as the fuel and the vehicle type. For example, the amount of fuel used is small enough to cause deterioration of the internal combustion engine, specifically the internal combustion engine. The degree of deterioration of performance and the amount of fuel used may be defined in association with each other, and the amount of fuel used that has a certain degree of deterioration may be set. In addition, the specific value of the predetermined distance may be appropriately designed. For example, the period from the time when a certain base point is reached until the deterioration of the fuel or the internal combustion engine starts, and the speed when it is assumed that the vehicle travels at a certain speed. From the above, a predetermined distance may be set.

In the present invention, the internal combustion engine information acquisition means may acquire the travel distance of the host vehicle from the first charging time to the second charging time of the storage battery for driving the electric motor. The determination means may determine that the internal combustion engine is unused for a predetermined period when the traveling distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance for a predetermined number of times. The travelable distance according to the storage amount of the storage battery may be set in advance according to the vehicle type and other conditions. In the configuration of the present invention in which the vehicle is driven by the electric motor when it is not determined that the internal combustion engine is not used for a predetermined period, the travel distance from the first charging time to the second charging time is the travelable distance. If it is below, it can be determined that the vehicle was running using the electric motor. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the internal combustion engine is unused for a predetermined period by the number of times of running using the electric motor, that is, running without using the internal combustion engine.
In addition, the specific value of the predetermined distance may be appropriately set according to conditions such as the type of storage battery and the vehicle type. For example, a value close to the above-described travelable distance may be set.

  Note that, as in the present invention, information indicating the use status of the internal combustion engine of the host vehicle including the internal combustion engine and the electric motor as drive sources is acquired, and the internal combustion engine is determined based on the information indicating the use status. The method of running the host vehicle using the internal combustion engine when it is determined whether the internal combustion engine is unused for a predetermined period is a program or method for performing this vehicle control. Is also applicable. In addition, the hybrid vehicle control device and method as described above may be realized as a single device or may be realized using components shared with each part provided in the vehicle. Is included. Further, some changes may be made as appropriate, such as a part of software and a part of hardware. Furthermore, the invention is also established as a program for controlling the hybrid vehicle control device and a recording medium for recording the program. Of course, the software recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or any recording medium to be developed in the future.

Here, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
(1) First embodiment:
(1-1) Configuration of hybrid vehicle control device:
(1-2) Hybrid vehicle control:
(2) Second embodiment:
(3) Other embodiments:

(1) First embodiment:
(1-1) Configuration of hybrid vehicle control device:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a hybrid vehicle control device 11 according to the present invention. The hybrid vehicle control device 11 includes a driving force control unit 45 and a navigation device 10. The hybrid vehicle according to the present invention includes an electric motor and an internal combustion engine as drive sources, and enables traveling using only the electric motor, traveling using only the internal combustion engine, and hybrid traveling using the electric motor and the internal combustion engine.

  The navigation device 10 includes a control unit 20 including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like and a storage medium 30, and the control unit 20 can execute a program stored in the storage medium 30 or the ROM. In this embodiment, the navigation program 21 can be implemented as one of the programs, and the navigation program 21 has a function of performing hybrid vehicle control, which will be described later, as one of its functions.

  The host vehicle includes a fueling device 40, a fuel tank 41, an internal combustion engine 42, an electric motor 43, a storage battery 44, and a driving force control unit 45. In order to realize the navigation program 21, various sensors such as a GPS receiver, a vehicle speed sensor, a gyro sensor, and a geomagnetic sensor (not shown) are also provided. The exchange of signals between these units and the control unit 20 is realized by an interface (not shown).

  The fueling device 40 includes a fueling determination unit 40a and a fuel remaining amount determination unit 40b. The fuel supply determination unit 40a detects, for example, the opening / closing of a fuel lid (not shown) of the fuel tank 41, determines that the fuel supply has been performed when the opening / closing is detected, and informs the control unit 20 that the fuel supply has been performed. Notice. The remaining fuel amount determination unit 40 b determines the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank 41 and notifies the control unit 20 of the remaining amount of fuel. In addition, when it is the structure which detects the fuel replenishment timing by the displacement of residual amount, the fuel supply determination part 40a may be abbreviate | omitted.

  The driving force control unit 45 includes a travel mode determination unit 45a. The driving force control unit 45 is configured by an HVECU (Hybrid Vehicle Engine Control Unit) including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and according to a determination result notified from the determination unit 21b by performing a travel mode determination process described later. Thus, the internal combustion engine 42 and the electric motor 43 of the host vehicle are driven.

By executing the navigation program 21, the control unit 20 performs route guidance to the destination and hybrid vehicle control to be described later, based on the various information acquired as described above.
In the storage medium 30, map information 30 a is stored in order to perform guidance by the navigation program 21. The map information 30a includes node data indicating nodes set on the road, link data indicating connection between nodes, and the like.
The time measuring unit 31 has a function of measuring time information such as the current date and time. The time information acquired by the internal combustion engine information acquisition unit 21a may be acquired from the outside of the navigation device 10.

In the present embodiment, the navigation program 21 includes an internal combustion engine information acquisition unit 21a and a determination unit 21b in order to perform hybrid vehicle control described later.
The internal combustion engine information acquisition unit 21a is a module that acquires information indicating the usage status of the internal combustion engine 42 and stores the information in a memory (not shown). In the present embodiment, information indicating that fuel has been replenished and information indicating the remaining amount of fuel are acquired from the fuel supply device 40, and time information such as the current date and time is acquired from the time measuring unit 31. The internal combustion engine information acquisition unit 21a derives the fuel replenishment timing from the information indicating that the fuel has been replenished and the time information, and stores it in a memory (not shown) together with the information that the fuel has been replenished. Further, the amount of fuel used is derived from the information indicating the remaining amount of fuel and stored in a memory (not shown). Note that the fuel supply device 40 may have a time measuring function, and the date / time information may be included in the information indicating that fuel supply has been performed.

The determination unit 21b is a module that determines whether the internal combustion engine 42 is unused for a predetermined period by executing an internal combustion engine use state determination process described later. The determination unit 21b notifies the driving force control unit 45 of the determination result. The “predetermined period” expresses the length of a temporal or spatial interval, and may be, for example, the number of days or a travel distance.
The configuration of the hybrid vehicle control device 11 has been described above.

(1-2) Hybrid vehicle control:
Next, hybrid vehicle control performed by the hybrid vehicle control device 11 according to the present embodiment in the above configuration will be described. In the present embodiment, as the hybrid vehicle control, the navigation device 10 performs the internal combustion engine usage state determination process, and the driving force control unit 45 performs the travel mode determination process.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the internal-combustion-engine usage status determination process in the present embodiment. The internal combustion engine usage status determination process is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals, for example.

First, the determination unit 21b determines whether fuel supply has been performed (step S100). Specifically, for example, it is determined whether or not information indicating that fuel supply has been performed is notified from the fuel supply device 40. When the fuel supply is performed, the determination unit 21b updates the supply time (step S105).
Next, the determination unit 21b determines whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed from the fuel supply time (step S110). Specifically, the fuel replenishment time updated in step S105 is compared with the current date and time to determine whether a predetermined period has elapsed. Here, the predetermined period may be appropriately set according to conditions such as the type of fuel, the type of the internal combustion engine 42, and the number of years since manufacture.

When it is determined that the predetermined period has elapsed from the replenishment time, the determination unit 21b determines whether the amount of fuel used is equal to or less than the predetermined amount (step S115). Further, since it can be detected whether or not fuel that may have deteriorated after a predetermined period has elapsed from the replenishment time depending on the remaining amount, it can be determined whether the remaining amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. Good. The predetermined amount related to the amount of fuel used may be appropriately set according to conditions such as the type of fuel and the vehicle type. For example, the amount used is small enough to cause deterioration of the internal combustion engine 42, specifically, the internal combustion engine. The degree of deterioration of performance and the amount of fuel used may be defined in association with each other, and the amount of fuel used that has a certain degree of deterioration may be set. The predetermined amount related to the remaining amount of fuel may also be set according to conditions such as the type of fuel and vehicle type.
When it is determined in step S115 that the amount of fuel used is equal to or less than the predetermined amount, the determination unit 21b notifies the driving force control unit 45 of a determination result that the internal combustion engine 42 is unused for a predetermined period (step S120). ).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a travel mode determination process in the present embodiment. This travel mode determination process is a process that is repeatedly executed by the travel mode determination unit 45a.
First, the traveling mode determination unit 45a determines whether or not a determination result is notified from the control unit 20 (step S200). When the determination result that the internal combustion engine 42 is unused for a predetermined period is notified, the travel mode determination unit 45a causes the vehicle to travel using the internal combustion engine 42 (step S205). If the determination result indicating that the internal combustion engine 42 has not been used for a predetermined period has not been notified, the motor 43 is used to travel the vehicle (step S210).

  The travel using the internal combustion engine in step S205 refers to travel using at least the internal combustion engine 42, may be travel using only the internal combustion engine 42, and the internal combustion engine 42 and the electric motor 43 are effective in mutual performance. It may be a hybrid running that is switched or used in combination. At this time, it is desirable to run until the fuel is once empty. The traveling using the electric motor in step S210 refers to traveling using only the electric motor 43.

  As described above, when the internal combustion engine is unused for a predetermined period, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the fuel and the internal combustion engine by running the vehicle using the internal combustion engine. Further, since the vehicle is driven by the electric motor when it is not determined that the internal combustion engine is unused for a predetermined period, the environmental load and fuel consumption can be reduced. The configuration in which the elapsed time from the replenishment time and the remaining amount of fuel are used for the determination in this way is not only when the vehicle is run without using the internal combustion engine for a predetermined period, but also when the vehicle is run. For example, the same effect can be obtained when the state where the vehicle is parked in the parking lot continues.

(2) Second embodiment:
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the navigation device 10 as the hybrid vehicle control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Constituent elements common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that when the internal combustion engine 42 is unused for a predetermined period, the user is notified of that fact.

  The own vehicle according to the second embodiment includes a speaker 46, and the navigation program 21 includes a notification unit 21c. The notification unit 21c is a module that, when notified of the determination result that the internal combustion engine 42 is unused for a predetermined period, notifies the user of the content corresponding to the determination result through the speaker 46. There is no limitation on the manner of notification, such as visual and auditory. It may be displayed on the display.

  In the second embodiment, a process of notifying the user in place of the process described in the first embodiment is performed in step S120 of the internal combustion engine usage status determination process of FIG. Thus, the hybrid vehicle control device according to the second embodiment can make the user recognize the fuel replacement time. In addition, the user can be made aware that the fuel may be deteriorated because it has not been used for a predetermined period. It should be noted that at the time before the fuel replacement is urged, that is, before the fuel deteriorates and at the latest when the fuel can be used up from that point, the vehicle can be used using the internal combustion engine. The user may be guided to run.

(3) Other embodiments:
The above embodiment is an example for carrying out the present invention. Information indicating the use status of the internal combustion engine of the host vehicle is acquired, and the internal combustion engine is unused for a predetermined period based on the information. As long as it is determined whether or not, various other embodiments can be adopted.

  For example, the internal combustion engine information acquisition unit 21a acquires the travel distance from the fuel replenishment timing and the fuel usage amount, and the determination unit 21b has the travel distance equal to or greater than a predetermined distance and the usage amount equal to or less than the predetermined amount. Sometimes, it may be determined that the internal combustion engine 42 is unused for a predetermined period. As described in the first embodiment, the processing after the determination may be performed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, or may be notified to the user as described in the second embodiment. good. In this configuration that is determined using the travel distance, the replenishment time and the travel distance at that time are updated in step S105 of the internal combustion engine usage status determination process of FIG. 2, and at the current travel distance and replenishment time in step S110. Are compared. The travel distance can be acquired from, for example, a travel distance meter included in the host vehicle or a sensor that detects rotation of the wheel. The specific value of the predetermined distance is set based on, for example, a period from the time when a certain base point is reached until the deterioration of the fuel or the internal combustion engine starts, and the speed when the vehicle travels at a certain speed. Also good.

  Further, for example, the internal combustion engine information acquisition unit 21a acquires the travel distance of the host vehicle from the previous charging time to the current charging time, and the determination unit 21b determines that the travel distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance. When the above continues, it may be determined that the internal combustion engine 42 is unused for a predetermined period. Specifically, the internal combustion engine information acquisition unit 21a acquires the travel distance at that time for each charge and stores it in a memory (not shown). The travelable distance according to the storage amount of the storage battery 44 may be set in advance according to the vehicle type and other conditions. In the configuration of the present invention in which the vehicle is driven by the electric motor when it is not determined that the internal combustion engine is not used for a predetermined period, the travel distance from the first charging time to the second charging time is the travelable distance. If it is below, it can be determined that the vehicle was running using the electric motor. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the internal combustion engine is unused for a predetermined period by the number of times of running using the electric motor, that is, running without using the internal combustion engine. In this configuration, the specific value of the predetermined distance may be appropriately set according to conditions such as the type of storage battery and the vehicle type, and may be set based on, for example, the above-described travelable distance.

  Further, for example, the internal combustion engine information acquisition unit 21a acquires the travel history information of the host vehicle including which section is used to travel using which power, and the determination unit 21b performs determination using the travel history information. Also good. As the travel history information, for example, information stored in the storage medium 30 by another module of the navigation program 21 can be used. The determination unit 21b uses this travel history information to determine how much time has passed without using the internal combustion engine, or how far the last travel end point using the internal combustion engine has traveled. You may judge.

It is a block diagram of the hybrid vehicle control device concerning a first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the internal combustion engine use condition determination process concerning 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the driving mode determination process concerning 1st embodiment. It is a block diagram of the hybrid vehicle control apparatus concerning 2nd embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Navigation apparatus, 11 ... Hybrid vehicle control apparatus, 20 ... Control part, 21 ... Navigation program, 21a ... Internal combustion engine information acquisition part, 21b ... Determination part, 21c ... Notification part, 30 ... Storage medium, 30a ... Map information, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 ... Time measuring part, 40 ... Fuel supply apparatus, 40a ... Fuel supply determination part, 40b ... Fuel remaining amount determination part, 41 ... Fuel tank, 42 ... Internal combustion engine, 43 ... Electric motor, 44 ... Storage battery, 45 ... Driving force control part, 45a ... travel mode determination unit, 46 ... speaker.

Claims (4)

An internal combustion engine information acquisition means for acquiring information indicating an elapsed period from a fuel replenishment timing of the internal combustion engine of the host vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as a drive source, and a usage amount of the fuel from the replenishment timing ;
The elapsed period is equal to or longer than the predetermined period, and when the amount is equal to or less than the predetermined amount, a determination unit and the internal combustion engine is not in use for a predetermined determined in advance,
Wherein by said electric motor when the internal combustion engine is not determined to be unused for a predetermined allowed to travel the vehicle, using said internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is determined to be unused for a predetermined Driving force control means for running the host vehicle;
A hybrid vehicle control device. An internal combustion engine information acquisition means for acquiring information indicating an elapsed period from a fuel replenishment timing of the internal combustion engine of the host vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as a drive source, and a usage amount of the fuel from the replenishment timing ;
The elapsed period is equal to or longer than the predetermined period, and when the amount is equal to or less than the predetermined amount, a determination unit and the internal combustion engine is not in use for a predetermined determined in advance,
Informing means for prompting the user to replace the fuel in the internal combustion engine when it is determined that the internal combustion engine is unused for a predetermined period;
A hybrid vehicle control device. An internal combustion engine information acquisition step of acquiring information indicating an elapsed period from a fuel replenishment timing of the internal combustion engine of the host vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as a drive source, and a fuel usage amount from the replenishment timing ;
A determination step of determining that the internal combustion engine is unused for a predetermined period when the elapsed period is equal to or longer than a predetermined period and the usage amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount ;
Wherein by said electric motor when the internal combustion engine is not determined to be unused for a predetermined allowed to travel the vehicle, using said internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is determined to be unused for a predetermined A driving force control step of running the host vehicle;
A hybrid vehicle control method including: An internal combustion engine information acquisition step of acquiring information indicating an elapsed period from a fuel replenishment timing of the internal combustion engine of the host vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as a drive source, and a fuel usage amount from the replenishment timing ;
A determination step of determining that the internal combustion engine is unused for a predetermined period when the elapsed period is equal to or longer than a predetermined period and the usage amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount ;
A notification step that prompts the user to replace the fuel in the internal combustion engine when it is determined that the internal combustion engine is unused for a predetermined period;
A hybrid vehicle control method including:

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