In-vehicle controller

• US 9,211,796 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2012
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Kondoh, Masayoshi, Nagayanagi, Keiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Han, Charles J
• Application Number:
  US13/409,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20120316714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/18 Controlling the braking effect B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• 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

Abstract

A control device for a vehicle includes: a plurality of controllers, each of which executes a plurality of energy saving control modes for restricting reduction of driving energy of the vehicle; a selector for displaying the plurality of energy saving control modes at the same time and for prompting an user of the vehicle to select execution or rejection of one of the plurality of energy saving control modes; and a central control device for controlling one of the plurality of controllers to execute a corresponding energy saving control mode, of which the execution is selected by the user, so that a maximum cruising range of the vehicle is expanded without providing a feeling of discomfort.

Claims

1. A control device for a vehicle comprising:

a plurality of controllers, each of which includes a microcomputer and each of which executes a plurality of energy saving control modes for restricting reduction of driving energy of the vehicle;

a selector for displaying the plurality of energy saving control modes at the same time and for prompting an user of the vehicle to select execution or rejection of one of the plurality of energy saving control modes; and

a central control device, including a microcomputer, for controlling one of the plurality of controllers to execute a corresponding energy saving control mode, of which the execution is selected by the user, so that a maximum cruising range of the vehicle is expanded,

wherein the selector includes;

a display device that displays the plurality of energy saving control modes and an increase distance of the maximum cruising range, which is an effect in a case where one of the energy saving control modes is selected, when a remaining energy for driving the vehicle is smaller than a predetermined value;

an input device that prompts the user to select execution or rejection of one of the plurality of energy saving control modes;

a recalculation device that calculates again the maximum cruising range when a selected energy saving control mode is executed; and

a determination device that determines based on a recalculated maximum cruising range whether the user further selects another one of the energy saving control modes;

wherein the control device further comprises;

a driving record storing device form storing a driving record of the vehicle; and

a driving distance calculation element for automatically setting a destination based on the driving record when the driving record storing device stores the driving record corresponding to a day of week and a time zone, at which the vehicle is activated, and for calculating a driving distance to the destination, which is set at a current driving opportunity; and

wherein the predetermined value is an energy for driving the vehicle to reach the destination, and the predetermined value is set according to the calculated driving distance.

2. The control device according to claim 1,

wherein the energy for driving the vehicle is an electric power charged in a battery of the vehicle, and

wherein each energy saving control mode provides to restrict reduction of a remaining electric power in the battery.

3. The control device according to claim 2,

wherein each energy saving control mode provides to reduce electric power consumption in the battery, or to increase electric power to be charged in the battery so that the reduction of the remaining electric power in the battery is restricted.

4. The control device according to claim 3,

wherein the plurality of energy saving control modes include a control mode for limiting an output torque of a rotating electric machine for driving the vehicle so that the electric power consumption in the battery is reduced.

5. The control device according to claim 3,

wherein the plurality of energy saving control modes include a control mode for switching automatically to a shift range, at which a regeneration electric power regenerated by a rotating electric machine for driving the vehicle and charged in the battery is increased.

6. The control device according to claim 3,

wherein the plurality of energy saving control modes include a control mode for controlling a ratio between a braking force of a brake device of the vehicle and a braking force generated by a regeneration process of a rotating electric machine for driving the vehicle when a speed of the vehicle is reduced so that a regeneration electric power to be charged in the battery is increased.

7. The control device according to claim 1,

wherein the plurality of energy saving control modes include a control mode, which causes a large change in a behavior or state of the vehicle so that the user detects the large change.

8. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the driving distance calculation element calculates the driving distance from a current position to the destination when the destination is set in a navigation device of the vehicle.

9. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the driving record storing device stores a usual driving record of driving the vehicle at a specific time zone in a specific day of a week as the driving record of the vehicle.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a display configured to display the plurality of energy saving control modes at the same time and to prompt a user of a vehicle to select execution or rejection of one of a plurality of energy saving control modes respectively executable by a plurality of controllers for restricting reduction of driving energy of the vehicle;

a user interface configured to prompt the user to select execution or rejection of one of the plurality of energy saving control modes; and

a processing system, including a microprocessor, configured to control one of the plurality of controllers to execute a corresponding energy saving control mode selected for execution by the user, so that a maximum cruising range of the vehicle is expanded;

wherein the display is further configured to display the plurality of energy saving control modes and an increase distance of the maximum cruising range, which results from a case in which one of the energy saving control modes is selected, when a remaining energy for driving the vehicle is smaller than a predetermined value;

wherein the processing system is further configured to;

calculate again the maximum cruising range when a selected energy saving control mode is executed, and determine based on a recalculated maximum cruising range whether the user further selects another one of the energy saving control modes;

store a driving record of the vehicle in a driving record storing device; and

automatically set a destination based on the driving record when the driving record storing device stores the driving record corresponding to a day of a week and a time zone, at which the vehicle is activated, and calculate a driving distance to the destination, which is set at a current driving opportunity; and

wherein the predetermined value is an energy for driving the vehicle to reach the destination, and the predetermined value is set according to the calculated driving distance.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein the energy for driving the vehicle is an electric power charged in a battery of the vehicle, and

wherein each energy saving control mode restricts reduction of a remaining electric power in the battery.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein each energy saving control mode reduces electric power consumption in the battery, or increases electric power to be charged in the battery so that the reduction of the remaining electric power in the battery is restricted.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the plurality of energy saving control modes include a control mode for limiting an output torque of a rotating electric machine for driving the vehicle so that the electric power consumption in the battery is reduced.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the plurality of energy saving control modes include a control mode for switching automatically to a shift range, at which a regeneration electric power regenerated by a rotating electric machine for driving the vehicle and charged in the battery is increased.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the plurality of energy saving control modes include a control mode for controlling a ratio between a braking force of a brake device of the vehicle and a braking force generated by a regeneration process of a rotating electric machine for driving the vehicle when a speed of the vehicle is reduced so that a regeneration electric power to be charged in the battery is increased.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein the plurality of energy saving control modes include a control mode, which causes a large change in a behavior or state of the vehicle so that the user detects the large change.

17. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processing system is further configured to calculate the driving distance from a current position to the destination when the destination is set in a navigation device of the vehicle.

18. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processing system is further configured to store, in the driving record storing device, a usual driving record of driving the vehicle at a specific time zone in a specific day of a week as the driving record of the vehicle.