VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20130151074A1
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Keisuke, Tanahashi, Toshio, Koibuchi, Ken, Itabashi, Kaiji, Noumura, Shin, Kanehara, Youji, Agata, Yoshimitsu, Kawasaki, Tomohide
• Granted Patent: US 8,954,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/37
• 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 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0604 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/104 Output speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/125 Lateral acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/28 Wheel speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/00 Input parameters relating to data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/06 Improving the dynamic response of the control system, e.g. improving the speed of regulation or avoiding hunting or overshoot
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input

Abstract

A vehicle control system includes a control portion configured to determine a single parameter based on a running condition of a vehicle, and determine control amounts for a plurality of actuators provided in the vehicle based on the parameter. A relation of the control amount for each of the plurality of actuators to the parameter is predetermined. The control portion is configured to, when the parameter is determined, determine the control amounts for the respective actuators based on the parameter, and control the actuators based on the determined control amounts.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system comprising:

a control portion configured to determine a single parameter based on a running condition of a vehicle, and determine control amounts for a plurality of actuators provided in the vehicle based on the parameter, wherein

a relation of the control amount for each of the plurality of actuators to the parameter is predetermined; and

the control portion is configured to, when the parameter is determined, determine the control amounts for the respective actuators based on the parameter, and control the actuators based on the determined control amounts.

2. The vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein

the parameter includes a parameter determined based on a measured acceleration detected by a sensor provided in the vehicle, or an estimated acceleration calculated from an operation amount of an operating mechanism that causes an acceleration in the vehicle.

3. The vehicle control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

the parameter includes a parameter determined based on a synthetic acceleration obtained by synthesizing an acceleration in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and an acceleration in a lateral direction of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle control system according to claim 3, wherein

the parameter rises immediately in response to an increase in the synthetic acceleration, and lowers after a delay in response to a decrease in the synthetic acceleration.

5. The vehicle control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

the plurality of actuators include at least any two of an output control actuator that changes an output from a drive power source of the vehicle, a shift actuator that changes a speed ratio of a transmission provided in the vehicle, an actuator of a steering mechanism provided in the vehicle, a suspension actuator of a suspension mechanism provided in the vehicle, and an effect producing actuator provided in the vehicle.

6. The vehicle control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

the plurality of actuators include at least any two of an output control actuator that changes an output from a drive power source of the vehicle, a shift actuator that changes a speed ratio of a transmission provided in the vehicle, an actuator of a steering mechanism provided in the vehicle, and a suspension actuator of a suspension mechanism provided in the vehicle.

7. The vehicle control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

the plurality of actuators include an output control actuator that changes an output from a drive power source of the vehicle, a shift actuator that changes a speed ratio of a transmission provided in the vehicle, an actuator of a steering mechanism provided in the vehicle, and a suspension actuator of a suspension mechanism provided in the vehicle.

8. The vehicle control system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein

an operation characteristic of each of the plurality of actuators is predetermined, the operation characteristic being a relation of an operating amount to a command signal;

and

the control amount includes a control amount that changes the operation characteristic.

9. The vehicle control system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein

the control amount for each of the plurality of actuators changes at least one of a timing at which the actuator is operated, and an operating amount of the actuator.

10. The vehicle control system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising

an adjustment mechanism that is manually operated to change the control amounts determined based on the single parameter.

11. The vehicle control system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising

a switching portion that switches a running mode of the vehicle among an automatic mode, an economy mode, a sport mode, a snow mode, and a normal mode, wherein

the control portion is configured to determine the single parameter, determine the control amounts for the respective actuators based on the parameter, and control the actuators based on the determined control amounts, when the automatic mode is selected using the switching portion.

12. The vehicle control system according to claim 8, wherein

the control portion determines whether the running condition of the vehicle is in one of an acceleration region and a deceleration region set in a tire friction circle;

if the control portion determines that the running condition of the vehicle is in one of the acceleration region and the deceleration region, the control portion determines whether a time derivative of an acceleration or an amount of change in the acceleration per unit time is equal to or less than a predetermined determination reference value; and

if the control portion determines that the time derivative of the acceleration or the amount of change in the acceleration per unit time is equal to or less than the predetermined determination reference value, the control portion changes the operation characteristic of each of the plurality of actuators using the control amount.