Control apparatus for vehicle and method of switching mode of control unit of control apparatus

• US 20060287804A1
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Astemo Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Takayanagi, Keiichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,349,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/112
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0809 Judging failure of purge control system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/089 Layout of the fuel vapour installation

Abstract

In an engine of a vehicle provided with a normally-closed solenoid valve in a fresh air induction port of a canister, in the case where a refueling cap is open when the engine is stopped, a control module operates in a usual-power consumption mode, and forces closing of the solenoid valve. In the case where the refueling cap is closed, the control mode shifts to a low-power consumption mode, and maintains the solenoid valve in the closed condition.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a vehicle installing thereon an engine, comprising:

at least an electric component installed in the vehicle;

a detector configured to detect a condition of the vehicle; and

a control unit which receives input of a signal from the detector, and outputs a drive signal to the electric component,

wherein

said control unit determines whether or not conditions require the output of a drive signal to said electric component, and selects, based on result of said determination, either one of a low-power consumption mode that cannot output said drive signal, and a usual-power consumption mode that can output said drive signal to thereby allow said control unit per se to operate on the basis of the selected mode.

2. A control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said control unit shifts to said low-power consumption mode, when conditions do not require the output of said drive signal, and returns from said low-power consumption mode to said usual-power consumption mode, when conditions require the output of said drive signal to said electric component.

3. A control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said control unit shifts to said low-power consumption mode, when a duration of said usual-power consumption mode exceeds a predetermined time, in a stop condition of an engine installed in said vehicle.

4. A control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said electric component is a solenoid valve which enables refueling of a fuel tank installed in said vehicle.

5. A control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

said electric component is a normally-closed type solenoid valve provided in a fresh air induction port of a canister that collects fuel vapor generated in said fuel tank.

6. A control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

said control unit determines whether or not conditions require refueling of said fuel tank, and shifts to said low-power consumption mode when refueling is not required, and shifts to said usual-power consumption mode when a requirement for refueling occurs.

7. A control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein

said control unit determines whether or not conditions require refueling of said fuel tank, based on whether a cap which covers a filler hole of said fuel tank is open or not.

8. A control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein

said control unit determines whether or not conditions require refueling of said fuel tank, based on whether said vehicle is stopped at a gas station or not.

9. A control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein

said control unit shifts to said low-power consumption mode when conditions requiring refueling of said fuel tank continue for more that a predetermined time.

10. A control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said control unit determines in said usual-power consumption mode, whether or not there are actually conditions requiring the output of a drive signal to said electric component, and controls the output of a drive signal based on whether or not there are actually conditions requiring the output of said drive signal.

11. A control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein

said control unit outputs said drive signal when, in said usual-power consumption mode, there are actually conditions requiring the output of said drive signal.

12. A control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein

when within a predetermined time from establishment of conditions requiring output of a drive signal to said electric component, outputs said drive signal to said electric component, and when said predetermined time is surpassed, controls output of said drive signal based on whether there are actually conditions requiring output of said drive signal or not.

13. A control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein

said electric component is a solenoid valve which enables refueling of a fuel tank installed in said vehicle, when a drive signal is received, and

said control unit determines whether there are actually conditions requiring output of said drive signal or not, based on a fuel level in said fuel tank.

14. A control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein

said electric component is a solenoid valve which enables refueling of a fuel tank installed in said vehicle, when a drive signal is received, and

said control unit determines whether there are actually conditions requiring output of said drive signal or not, based on a pressure of said fuel tank.

15. A control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

an engine and a fuel supply system for supplying fuel to said engine are installed in said vehicle, and

said control unit comprises a fuel supply control unit which is provided separately to an engine control unit for controlling said engine, and which controls an electric component included in said fuel supply system.

16. A method of switching a mode of a control unit which controls an output of a drive signal to an electric component installed in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

determining whether or not conditions require the output of a drive signal to said electric component, and

based on said determination result, selecting either one of a low-power consumption mode that cannot output said drive signal, and a usual-power consumption mode that can output said drive signal.

17. A method of switching a mode of a control unit according to claim 16, wherein

said mode selecting step, comprises the following steps;

selecting said low-power consumption mode, when conditions do not require the output of said drive signal, and

selecting said usual-power consumption mode, when conditions require the output of said drive signal.

18. A method of switching a mode of a control unit according to claim 16, further comprising the step of;

shifting to said low-power consumption mode, when a duration of said usual-power consumption mode exceeds a predetermined time, in a stop condition of an engine installed in said vehicle.

19. A method of switching a mode of a control unit according to claim 16, wherein

said electric component comprises a solenoid valve which enables refueling of a fuel tank installed in said vehicle.

20. A method of switching a mode of a control unit according to claim 19, wherein

said electric component comprises a normally-closed type solenoid valve arranged in a fresh air induction port of a canister that collects fuel vapor generated in said fuel tank.

21. A method of switching a mode of a control unit according to claim 19, wherein

said step for determining whether or not conditions require the output of a drive signal to said electric component, determines whether or not conditions require refueling of said fuel tank.

22. A method of switching a mode of a control unit according to claim 21, wherein

said step for determining whether or not conditions require refueling of said fuel tank, includes the step of;

determining whether or not a cap which covers a filler hole of said fuel tank is open.

23. A method of switching a mode of a control unit according to claim 21, wherein

said step for determining whether or not conditions require refueling of said fuel tank, includes the step of;

determining whether or not a vehicle is stopped at a gas station.

24. A method of switching a mode of a control unit according to claim 21, further including the step of;

shifting the control unit to said low-power consumption mode when conditions requiring refueling of said fuel tank continue for more that a predetermined time.

25. A method of switching a mode of a control unit according to claim 16, further including the steps of;

determining in said usual-power consumption mode, whether or not there are actually conditions requiring the output of a drive signal, and

controlling the output of a drive signal, based on whether there are actually conditions requiring the output of said drive signal.

26. A method of switching a mode of a control unit according to claim 25, wherein

said step for controlling the output of said drive signal outputs said drive signal when, in said usual-power consumption mode, there are actually conditions requiring the output of said drive signal.

27. A method of switching a mode of a control unit according to claim 25, wherein

said step for controlling the output of said drive signal, includes the steps of;

outputting a drive signal to said electric component when a predetermined time has not been surpassed from establishment of conditions requiring outputting of a drive signal to said electric component, and

when said predetermined time has been surpassed, controlling output of said drive signal based on whether or not there are actually conditions requiring output of said drive signal.

28. A method of switching a mode of a control unit according to claim 25, wherein

said electric component is a solenoid valve which enables refueling of a fuel tank installed in said vehicle, when a drive signal is received, and

said step for determining whether or not there are actually conditions requiring the output of said drive signal, includes the step of;

detecting a change in a fuel level in said fuel tank.

29. A method of switching a mode of a control unit according to claim 25, wherein

said electric component is a solenoid valve which enables refueling of a fuel tank installed in said vehicle, when a drive signal is received, and

said step for determining whether or not there are actually conditions requiring the output of said drive signal, includes the step of;

detecting a change in a pressure in said fuel tank.

30. A method of switching a mode of a control unit according to claim 16, wherein

an engine and a fuel supply system for supplying fuel to said engine are installed in said vehicle, and

said control unit comprises a fuel supply control unit which is provided separately to an engine control unit for controlling said engine, and which controls an electric component included in said fuel supply system.