Vehicle control device

• US 7,292,915 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Koike, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Gary
• Application Number:
  US11/052,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20050273214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/29, 701/36, 701/86, 701/87, 701/95, 340442-445, 731/46, 731/465
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/061 by monitoring wheel speed measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles G01C22/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/228 Warning displays
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809

Abstract

A vehicle control device having a tire air pressure detecting unit for detecting tire air pressure of a vehicle having an engine mounted in the vehicle and outputting a tire air pressure signal, a tire air pressure reduction judging unit for judging on the basis of the tire air pressure signal whether the tire air pressure is reduced to predetermined pressure or less, and an output varying unit for varying driving force of the engine to tires according to a predetermined varying function on the basis of the judgment result. Even if a driver does not perceive an alarm when reduction of tire air pressure is detected, a driving system such as an engine, a transmission and a clutch is controlled according to a predetermined varying function. Therefore, for example, the rotational speed of the engine is periodically varied, and thus the driver has an uncomfortable feeling. Therefore, the driver can surely recognize the reduction of the tire pressure.

Claims

1. A vehicle control device comprising:

a tire air pressure detecting unit for detecting air pressure of a tire equipped to a vehicle having an engine mounted therein and outputting a tire air pressure signal;

a tire air pressure reduction judging unit for judging on the basis of the tire air pressure signal whether tire air pressure is reduced to predetermined pressure or less; and

an output varying unit for periodically varying driving force of the engine to the tire according to a predetermined varying function on the basis of the judgement result.

2. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the engine is an internal combustion engine, and the output varying unit is equipped with an air-fuel ratio control unit for varying a fuel supply amount or air supply amount to the internal combustion engine according to the predetermined varying function.

3. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the engine is an electrical spark ignition type engine, and the output varying unit is equipped with an ignition timing control unit for varying an ignition timing of the electrical spark ignition type engine according to the predetermined varying function.

4. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the engine is equipped with a transmission for transmitting a rotational speed of an output shaft of the engine to the tire with increasing/reducing the rotational speed, and the output varying unit is equipped with a change gear ratio control unit for varying a change gear ratio of the transmission according to the predetermined varying function.

5. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the engine is equipped with a clutch for controlling connection/disconnection of rotational transmission of the output shaft from the engine to the tire, and the output varying unit is equipped with a clutch control unit for varying press-fit force of the clutch according to the predetermined varying function.

6. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the output varying unit is equipped two or more of a fuel-air ratio control unit, an ignition timing control unit, a change gear ratio control unit and a clutch control unit.

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

a speed detecting unit for detecting a travel speed of the vehicle; and

a vehicle speed linking unit for changing the predetermined varying function in accordance with the vehicle speed.

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

an engine rotational speed detecting unit for detecting the rotational speed of the engine; and

an engine rotational speed linking unit for changing the predetermined varying function in accordance with the rotational speed of the engine.

9. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the engine is equipped with a transmission for transmitting a rotational speed of an output shaft of the engine to the tire with increasing/reducing the rotational speed, a change gear ratio detecting unit for detecting a change gear ratio of the transmission, and a change gear ratio linking unit for changing the predetermined varying function according to the change gear ratio.

10. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, further comprising a tire air pressure linking unit for changing the predetermined varying function on the basis of the air pressure of the tire.

11. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, further comprising;

a travel distance measuring unit for measuring a travel distance of the vehicle after the tire air pressure reduction judging unit judges reduction of the tire air pressure,

and a travel distance linking unit for changing the predetermined varying function on the basis of the travel distance.

12. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, further comprising;

a tire performance inputting unit for inputting at least one of a specification, performance and a model number of the tire, and

a tire performance linking unit for changing the predetermined varying function on the basis of information input by the tire performance inputting unit.

13. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, further comprising a check input unit which is equipped around a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, and outputs an instruction for changing the predetermined varying function to the output varying unit for only a predetermined time when the output varying unit varies the output according to the predetermined varying function.