VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE

• US 20120089309A1
• Filed: 06/12/2009
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jonggap, Kono, Katsumi
• Application Number:
  US13/377,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20120089309A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/58
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/115 with planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/16 Driving resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0627 Fuel flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18072 Coasting
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/101 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/602 Pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/702 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/123 the fuel injection being cut-off

Abstract

A vehicle control device includes an accelerator pedal adjusted in degree of operation, thereby adjusting power generated by an engine as a power source when running a vehicle. In the vehicle control device, in order to enhance fuel economy more reliably, fuel cut is carried out when the degree of operation of the accelerator pedal is other than zero, that is, when an accelerator is not fully opened and the vehicle is decelerating, the fuel cut that is the control in which supply of fuel used for operating the engine is stopped. Thus, even if the accelerator is not fully closed, a quantity of fuel injected by a fuel injector, and hence fuel consumption can be reduced. Accordingly, fuel economy can be enhances more reliably.

Claims

1. A vehicle control device comprising:

a power adjusting unit capable of adjusting power generated by an engine as a power source when a vehicle is running by adjusting degree of operation of the power adjusting unit, wherein

when the degree of operation of the power adjusting unit is other than zero and when a determination that the vehicle is decelerating is made by comparing running resistance of the running vehicle with driving force matching the degree of operation of the power adjusting unit, fuel supply stopping control, in which supply of fuel used for operating the engine is stopped, is exerted.

2. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transmission state altering mechanism capable of altering a transmission state of power between the engine and driving wheels, wherein

the transmission state altering mechanism is controlled such that when the fuel supply control is exerted, a transmission rate at which the power is transmitted between the engine and the driving wheels is decreased.

3. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein when a road on which the vehicle is running is an upward slope, the fuel supply stopping control is inhibited.

4. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein when the degree of operation of the power adjusting unit is increasing, the fuel supply stopping control is inhibited.

5. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transmission state altering mechanism capable of altering a transmission state of power between the engine and the driving wheels; and

a motor that is a power source for running the vehicle, wherein

when the fuel supply stopping control is exerted, the transmission state altering mechanism is controlled such that a transmission rate at which the power is transmitted between the engine and the driving wheels is decreased, and

the motor is configured such that if the transmission rate at which the power is transmitted between the engine and driving wheels is decreased by the transmission state altering mechanism during the fuel supply stopping control, with a result that rotation number of the engine has decreased to a fuel supply resuming engine speed or lower, the power required to independently operate the engine when resuming the fuel supply after the fuel supply stopping control can be transmitted to the engine.