Engine control device

• US 6,629,515 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2000
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Aoki, Shigeru, Yamamoto, Kazuhisa, Tatara, Yusuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolinar, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US09/679,145
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.4, 307/10.6, 701/112, 701/113
• US Class Current: 123/179.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/62 Vehicle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/68 Traffic data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/18 Controlling the braking effect B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/702 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0814 comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0837 Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/061 Battery state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0802 Transmission state, e.g. gear ratio or neutral state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0806 Air condition state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0807 Brake booster state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/104 : Driver's intention to turn, e.g. by evaluating direction indicators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/123 : Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation systems or GPS signals
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/125 : Information about other vehicles, traffic lights or traffic congestion
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/306 : with external senders or receivers, e.g. receiving signals from traffic lights, other vehicles or base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 : where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 : where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 : where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/918 : Continuously variable

Abstract

An engine control device is provided, capable of restarting the engine when starting the vehicle rapidly and without giving any feeling of unease to the driver at the time of starting the vehicle by restarting the engine from the idle stop state. The engine control device comprises an engine stop determination device for determining the propriety of stopping the engine; an engine stop device for stopping the engine based on the determination of the engine stop determination device; an engine start determination device for determining the propriety of starting the engine; an engine starting device for starting the engine based on the determination of the engine start determination device; and a vehicle forward signal state detecting device for detecting the state of the traffic light directly ahead in the vehicle travelling direction; wherein said engine start determination device determines whether it is appropriate to start the engine based on the change of the traffic light state detected by said vehicle forward signal state detecting device, when the engine is stopped by the determination of said engine stop determination device while the vehicle stops during driving.

Claims

1. An engine control device in a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

an engine for propelling the hybrid vehicle;

a motor for propelling the hybrid vehicle;

an engine stop determination device for determining an appropriateness of stopping the engine;

an engine stop device for stopping the engine based on a determination of the engine stop determination device,

an engine start determination device for determining an appropriateness of starting the engine;

an engine starting device for starting the engine based on a determination of the engine start determination device; and

a vehicle forward signal state detecting device for detecting a state of the traffic light directly ahead in a vehicle traveling direction;

wherein said engine start determination device determines whether it is appropriate to start the engine based on a change of the traffic light state detected by said vehicle forward signal state detecting device, when the engine is stopped by the determination of said engine stop determination device while the vehicle is temporarily stopped in compliance with a command signal of the traffic light; and

wherein said engine start determination device determines a timing to start the engine depending on a distance between an intersection provided with the traffic light and vehicle.

2. An engine control device according to claim 1, wherein said engine start determination device starts the engine when the state of the traffic light detected by said vehicle front signal state detecting device changes from red to green.

3. An engine control device according to claim 1, wherein the change of the state of the traffic light detected by said vehicle front signal state detecting device is recognized by color recognition processing.

4. An engine control device in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said engine control device further comprises a car navigation system for determining a traffic condition of the road ahead of the traveling direction, and said engine start determination device determines not to start the engine when said car navigation system determines that the traffic of the road ahead is the congested.

5. An engine control device in a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

an engine for propelling the hybrid vehicle;

a motor for propelling the hybrid vehicle;

an engine stop determination device for determining an appropriateness of stopping the engine;

an engine stop device for stopping the engine based on a detennination of the engine stop determination device;

an engine start determination device for detemining an appropriateness of starting the engine;

an engine starting device for starting the engine based on a determination of the engine start determination device;

a vehicle forward signal state detecting device for detecting information of a traffic light directly ahead in a vehicle traveling direction by receiving an electromagnetic wave sent by the traffic light indicating a state of the traffic light; and

a map matching system for determining a road or a lane on which the vehicle travels;

wherein said engine start determination device detennines a timing to start the engine based on information received by the vehicle forward signal state detecting device and the map matching system on the vehicle, when the engine is stopped by the determination of said engine stop determination device while the vehicle is temporarily stopped in compliance with a command signal of the traffic light.

6. An engine control device in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said engine start determination device determines a timing to start the engine depending on a distance between an intersection provided with the traffic light and the vehicle.

7. An engine control device in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said engine control device further comprises a car navigation system for determining a traffic condition of the road ahead of the traveling direction, and said engine start determination device determines not to start the engine when said car navigation system determines that the traffic of the road ahead is the congested.

8. An engine control device in a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

an engine for propelling the hybrid vehicle;

a motor for propelling the hybrid vehicle;

an engine stop determination device for deter an appropriateness of stopping the engine;

an engine stop device for stopping the engine based on a determination of the engine stop determination device;

an engine start determination device for determining an appropriateness of starting the engine;

an engine stating device for starting the engine based on a determination of the engine start determination device; and

a vehicle forward signal state detecting device for detecting information of a trafic light directly ahead in a vehicle traveling direction by receiving an electromagnetic wave emitted by the traffic light;

an azimuth sensor for determining a road on which the vehicle travels based on the angular difference from the azimuth sensor, wherein said engine start determination device determines a timing to start the enginc based on information of the vehicle forward signal state detecting device and road information obtained based on the azimuth sensor when the engine is stopped by the determination of said engine stop determination device while the vehicle is temporarily stopped in compliance with a command signal of the traffic light.

10. An engine control device in a hybrid vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said engine control device further comprises a car navigation system for determining a traffic condition of the road ahead of the traveling direction, and said engine start determination device determines not to start the engine when said car navigation system determines that the traffic of the road ahead is the congested.

9. An engine control device in a hybrid vehicle according to claim, wherein said engine start detemination device determines a timing to start the engine depending on a distance between an intersection provided with the traffic light and the vehicle.