Vehicle controller

• US 20070061059A1
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advics Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Advics Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Inoue, Gen, Ishida, Yasuhito
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/172 Driving mode indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/10 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/20 Tyre data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18063 Creeping

Abstract

A vehicle controller includes an obstacle-determining portion and a driving torque reducing portion. The obstacle-determining portion determines whether the vehicle is climbing up an obstacle,more specifically, whether the vehicle starts climbing up the obstacle. Them, the driving torque reducing portion performs a driving torque reduction control when it is determined that the vehicle is climbing up onto the obstacle.

Claims

1. A vehicle controller comprising:

an obstacle-determining portion that determines whether a vehicle is climbing up an obstacle; and

a driving torque reducing portion that performs a driving torque reduction control that reduces the driving torque when the obstacle-determining portion determines that the vehicle is climbing up the obstacle.

2. The vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein:

the obstacle-determining portion determines that the vehicle is climbing up the obstacle when the driving torque exceeds a threshold value of the driving torque, in a condition where a vehicle speed is maintained to be substantially constant.

3. The vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein:

the obstacle-determining portion determines that the vehicle is climbing up the obstacle when a vehicle speed increases from substantially 0, and the driving torque exceeds a threshold value of the driving torque.

4. The vehicle controller according to claim 2, wherein:

the threshold value of the driving torque exceeds at least a driving torque that is output when the vehicle starts moving from a standstill.

5. The vehicle controller according to claim 2, wherein:

the threshold value of the driving torque is determined in accordance with at least one of a grade of a road, a gear ratio of a transmission, a vehicle weight, and a diameter of a tire on a wheel.

6. The vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein:

the driving torque reducing portion executes at least one of a first control that reduces a torque output from an engine and a second control that increases a braking torque applied to the vehicle, so that the driving torque reducing portion reduces the driving torque.

7. The vehicle controller according to claim 6, wherein:

the first control reduces the driving torque by controlling a throttle valve.

8. The vehicle controller according to claim 6, wherein:

the first control reduces the driving torque by reducing a boost pressure of a turbocharger.

9. The vehicle controller according to claim 6, wherein:

the second control sets a value obtained by subtracting a road grade torque from the driving torque as the braking torque.

10. The vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein:

the driving torque reducing portion performs the driving torque reduction control in accordance with a grade of a road.

11. The vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein:

the driving torque reducing portion estimates a height of an obstacle based on the driving torque applied when it is determined that the vehicle is climbing up the obstacle, and estimates a distance that the vehicle needs to move in order to get on top of the obstacle based on the estimated height, and starts the driving torque reduction control when the vehicle has moved the estimated distance.

12. The vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein:

the driving torque reducing portion reduces an amount of reduction in the driving torque when the vehicle goes over successive obstacles.

13. The vehicle controller according to claim 11, wherein:

the driving torque reducing portion extends a distance that the vehicle needs to move before the driving torque is reduced when the vehicle goes over successive obstacles.

14. A method for controlling a driving torque of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

determining whether the vehicle is climbing up an obstacle; and

performing a driving torque reduction control that reduces the driving torque when it is determined that the vehicle is climbing up the obstacle.

15. The method for controlling the driving torque of the vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

estimating a height of the obstacle in accordance with the driving torque applied when it is determined that the vehicle is climbing up the obstacle;

estimating a distance that the vehicle needs to move in order to get on top of the obstacle in accordance with the height of the obstacle; and

starting the driving torque reduction control when the vehicle has moved the estimated distance.

16. A vehicle controller, comprising:

obstacle-determining means for determining whether a vehicle is climbing up an obstacle; and

driving torque reducing means for performing a driving torque reduction control that reduces the driving torque when the obstacle-determining means determines that the vehicle is climbing up the obstacle.