DRIVE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE

• US 20130143716A1
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masashi Takagi, Motonari Ohbayashi, Shinya Kodama, Toshihiro Takagi, Yuki Minase
• Inventors: KODAMA, Shinya, MINASE, Yuki, TAKAGI, Masashi, TAKAGI, Toshihiro, OHBAYASHI, Motonari
• Granted Patent: US 9,156,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/115 with planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0604 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/101 Transmission neutral state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/04 Vehicle stop
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1846 Preventing of breakage of drive line components, e.g. parts of the gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0488 during range shift from neutral (N) to drive (D)
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2063/508 for limiting transmission input torque, e.g. to prevent damage of transmission parts

Abstract

A drive control apparatus for a vehicle includes: a control unit that controls drive force output from an engine in accordance with operation of an accelerator pedal; and a shift mechanism capable of selectively switching a shift position to a driving position or a non-driving position. The shift mechanism transmits the drive force to wheels when the shift position is in the driving position, and interrupts transmission of the drive force when the shift position is in the non-driving position. The control unit executes a drive force restriction process of reducing the drive force when the shift position is switched from the non-driving position to the driving position while the accelerator pedal is in an on state, and, when the switching is from a neutral position, the control unit changes a mode of reducing the drive force in accordance with a continuation time of the neutral position.

Claims

1. A drive control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a control unit that is configured to control drive force output from a prime mover serving as a drive power source of a vehicle, in accordance with operation of an accelerator; and

a shift mechanism capable of selectively switching a shift position to one of a driving position and a non-driving position, wherein;

the shift mechanism is configured to transmit the drive force from the prime mover to vehicle wheels when the shift position is in the driving position, and to interrupt transmission of the drive force from the prime mover to the vehicle wheels when the shift position is in the non-driving position;

the control unit is configured to execute a drive force restriction process of reducing the drive force output from the prime mover when the shift position is switched from the non-driving position to the driving position while the accelerator is in an on state; and

the control unit is configured so that, in executing the drive force restriction process, when the switching of the shift position is from a neutral position, which is one of the non-driving positions, the control unit changes a mode of reducing the drive force in accordance with a continuation time of the neutral position, during which the shift position is in the neutral position.

2. The drive control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit is configured to reduce the drive force output from the prime mover while maintaining the drive force at or above a value enough to get the vehicle out of a muddy road during execution of the drive force restriction process if the continuation time of the neutral position is shorter than a prescribed time.

3. The drive control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

the control unit is configured to, during execution of the drive force restriction process, make an amount of reduction of the drive force output from the prime mover smaller when the continuation time of the neutral position is equal to or greater than the prescribed time as compared to the amount of reduction of the drive force when the continuation time of the neutral position is shorter than the prescribed time.

4. The drive control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit is configured to terminate execution of the drive force restriction process and to execute a drive force restoration process of restoring the drive force output from the prime mover, when a prescribed condition is established during the execution of the drive force restriction process;

and

the control unit is configured so that, when the switching of the shift position is from the neutral position, the control unit changes the prescribed condition in accordance with the continuation time of the neutral position.

5. The drive control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

the control unit is configured to reduce the drive force output from the prime mover while maintaining the drive force at or above a value enough to get the vehicle out of a muddy road during execution of the drive force restriction process if the continuation time of the neutral position is shorter than a prescribed time;

the control unit is configured to, during execution of the drive force restriction process, make an amount of reduction of the drive force output from the prime mover smaller when the continuation time of the neutral position is equal to or greater than the prescribed time as compared to the amount of reduction of the drive force when the continuation time of the neutral position is shorter than the prescribed time; and

the control unit is configured to relax the prescribed condition when the continuation time of the neutral position is equal to or greater than the prescribed time as compared to the prescribed condition when the continuation time of the neutral position is shorter than the prescribed time.

6. The drive control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein

the prescribed condition is established when an operation amount of the accelerator is equal to or less a prescribed operation amount;

and

the prescribed operation amount is made greater when the continuation time of the neutral position is equal to or greater than the prescribed time as compared to the prescribed operation amount when the continuation time of the neutral position is shorter than the prescribed time.

7. The drive control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

the control unit is configured to terminate execution of the drive force restriction process and to execute a drive force restoration process of restoring the drive force output from the prime mover, when a prescribed condition is established during the execution of the drive force restriction process;

and

the control unit is configured so that, when the switching of the shift position is from the neutral position, the control unit changes the prescribed condition in accordance with the continuation time of the neutral position.

8. The drive control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

the control unit is configured to relax the prescribed condition when the continuation time of the neutral position is equal to or greater than the prescribed time as compared to the prescribed condition when the continuation time of the neutral position is shorter than the prescribed time.

9. The drive control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein

the prescribed condition is established when an operation amount of the accelerator is equal to or less a prescribed operation amount;

and

the prescribed operation amount is made greater when the continuation time of the neutral position is equal to or greater than the prescribed time as compared to the prescribed operation amount when the continuation time of the neutral position is shorter than the prescribed time.