VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD

• US 20150224993A1
• Filed: 07/19/2013
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ono, Masashi, Iriyama, Masahiro, Yoshino, Takahiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,376,113 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/107 with endless flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/00 Output or target parameters relating to overall vehicle dynamics
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1882 characterised by the working point of the engine, e.g. by using engine output chart
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/00 Controlling engines, such controlling being peculiar to the devices driven thereby, the devices being other than parts or accessories essential to engine operation, e.g. controlling of engines by signals external thereto
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66272 characterised by means for controlling the torque transmitting capability of the gearing

Abstract

A vehicle control device that sets a target drive force based on a vehicle speed and an accelerator opening degree, in which if a running mode is switched from a normal mode to an acceleration requirement mode, the target drive force is set based on the accelerator opening degree and the vehicle speed at the time of mode switching.

Claims

1. A vehicle control device comprising:

a target drive force setting unit configured to set a target drive force based on a vehicle speed and an accelerator opening degree;

a target speed ratio setting unit configured to set a target speed ratio of a continuously variable transmission so as to realize the target drive force; and

a target torque setting unit configured to set a target torque of a drive source based on the target drive force and the speed ratio,

wherein the vehicle control device further comprises;

a vehicle speed detection unit configured to detect a vehicle speed;

an accelerator opening degree detection unit configured to detect an accelerator opening degree;

an acceleration requirement determination unit configured to determine an acceleration requirement based on the accelerator opening degree; and

a mode switching unit configured to switch a running mode to a normal mode or an acceleration requirement mode based on the acceleration requirement,

wherein if the running mode is switched from the normal mode to the acceleration requirement mode, the target drive force setting unit is configured to set the target drive force based on the accelerator opening degree and the vehicle speed at the time of mode switching.

2. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein if the accelerator opening degree increases beyond a predetermined opening degree after entering the acceleration requirement mode, the acceleration requirement determination unit is configured to determine that further acceleration is required, and

if the further acceleration is required while in the acceleration requirement mode, the target drive force setting unit is configured to set the target drive force based on the accelerator opening degree and a vehicle speed at the time that the further acceleration was required.

3. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, further comprising accelerator opening degree correction unit configured to reduce the accelerator opening degree in the acceleration requirement mode to less than the accelerator opening degree in the normal mode.

4. A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

setting a target drive force based on a vehicle speed and an accelerator opening degree;

setting a target speed ratio of a continuously variable transmission so as to realize the target drive force; and

setting a target torque of a drive source based on the target drive force and the speed ratio,

wherein the method for controlling the vehicle further comprises;

detecting a vehicle speed;

detecting an accelerator opening degree;

determining an acceleration requirement based on the accelerator opening degree; and

switching a running mode to a normal mode or an acceleration requirement mode based on the acceleration requirement,

wherein if the running mode is switched from the normal mode to the acceleration requirement mode, the target drive force is set based on the accelerator opening degree and the vehicle speed at the time of mode switching.

5. A vehicle control device comprising:

target drive force setting means for setting a target drive force based on a vehicle speed and an accelerator opening degree;

target speed ratio setting means for setting a target speed ratio of a continuously variable transmission so as to realize the target drive force; and

target torque setting means for setting a target torque of a drive source based on the target drive force and the speed ratio,

wherein the vehicle control device further comprises;

vehicle speed detection means for detecting a vehicle speed;

accelerator opening degree detection means for detecting an accelerator opening degree;

acceleration requirement determination means for determining an acceleration requirement based on the accelerator opening degree; and

mode switching means for switching a running mode to a normal mode or an acceleration requirement mode based on the acceleration requirement,

wherein if the running mode is switched from the normal mode to the acceleration requirement mode, the target drive force setting means sets the target drive force based on the accelerator opening degree and the vehicle speed at the time of mode switching.