VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS

• US 20090271079A1
• Filed: 04/03/2009
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: SHIBAYAMA, Yoshinori, KOBAYASHI, Yasuhiko
• Granted Patent: US 8,155,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/026 of lock-up clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/446 Detecting vehicle stop, i.e. the vehicle is at stand still, e.g. for engaging parking lock
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/50 Inputs being a function of the status of the machine, e.g. position of doors or safety belts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0031 using auxiliary pumps, e.g. pump driven by a different power source than the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/50 Signals to an engine or motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle control apparatus includes a vehicle drive device having a friction engagement element capable of being engaged and disengaged by an oil pressure generated by an electric oil pump, a start operation detecting unit that detects a start operation of the vehicle, a vehicle status change detecting unit that detects a status change of the vehicle, an electric oil pump control unit that controls the electric oil pump, and a management unit that is connected between the vehicle status change detecting unit and the electric oil pump control unit in a manner capable of transmitting data. The management unit transmits a wakeup signal to the electric oil pump control unit when a status change of the vehicle is detected, and when the wakeup signal is received prior to detection of the start operation, the electric oil pump control unit starts the electric oil pump in response to the wakeup signal.

Claims

1. A vehicle control apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle drive device having a friction engagement element capable of being engaged and disengaged by an oil pressure generated by an electric oil pump;

a start operation detecting unit that detects a start operation of the vehicle;

a vehicle status change detecting unit that detects a status change of the vehicle;

an electric oil pump control unit that controls the electric oil pump; and

a management unit that is connected between the vehicle status change detecting unit and the electric oil pump control unit in a manner capable of transmitting data, wherein

the management unit transmits a wakeup signal to the electric oil pump control unit when a status change of the vehicle is detected by the vehicle status change detecting unit, and

when the wakeup signal is received by the electric oil pump control unit prior to the start operation detecting unit detecting the start operation of the vehicle, the electric oil pump control unit starts the electric oil pump in response to the wakeup signal.

2. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the electric oil pump control unit stops the electric oil pump when the wakeup signal is canceled.

3. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the electric oil pump control unit drives the electric oil pump in a half drive mode having a smaller discharge amount than a full drive mode after the oil pressure has reached a rated oil pressure due to starting of the electric oil pump and until the start operation detecting unit detects the start operation.

4. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the vehicle drive device is provided with a mechanical oil pump coupled to an input member that inputs drive power of a drive source, and the electric oil pump is used as auxiliary to retain the oil pressure when the drive source is stopped.

5. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

an electric motor is used as a drive source in the vehicle drive device.

6. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the vehicle status change detecting unit detects, as the status change of the vehicle, at least one of a status change related to a vehicle body and a status change when getting in or out of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the vehicle status change detecting unit detects, as the status change related to the vehicle body and the status change when getting in or out of the vehicle, at least one of opening and closing of a vehicle door, opening and closing of a door lock, a sitting and leaving operation with respect to a driver'"'"'s seat, a fastening and unfastening operation of a seat belt, an electric mirror operation, a window operation, and a seat adjusting operation.

8. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the management unit cancels the wakeup signal when the start operation is not detected by the start operation detecting unit within a predetermined time after the wakeup signal has been transmitted.

9. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

counting of the predetermined time is performed by a timer, and when a status change of the vehicle is detected by the vehicle status change detecting unit during the counting, the timer is restarted.

10. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operation-before-getting-out detecting unit that detects an off operation of a vehicle start switch, wherein

the management unit cancels the wakeup signal after a predetermined time has passed since detection of the off operation.

11. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the electric oil pump control unit drives the electric oil pump in a half drive mode having a smaller discharge amount than a full drive mode after the oil pressure has reached a rated oil pressure due to starting of the electric oil pump and until the start operation detecting unit detects the start operation.

12. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

the vehicle drive device is provided with a mechanical oil pump coupled to an input member that inputs drive power of a drive source, and the electric oil pump is used as auxiliary to retain the oil pressure when the drive source is stopped.

13. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

an electric motor is used as a drive source in the vehicle drive device.

14. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the vehicle status change detecting unit detects, as the status change of the vehicle, at least one of a status change related to a vehicle body and a status change when getting in or out of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein

the vehicle status change detecting unit detects, as the status change related to the vehicle body and the status change when getting in or out of the vehicle, at least one of opening and closing of a vehicle door, opening and closing of a door lock, a sitting and leaving operation with respect to a driver'"'"'s seat, a fastening and unfastening operation of a seat belt, an electric mirror operation, a window operation, and a seat adjusting operation.

16. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein

the management unit cancels the wakeup signal when the start operation is not detected by the start operation detecting unit within a predetermined time after the wakeup signal has been transmitted.

17. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

counting of the predetermined time is performed by a timer, and when a status change of the vehicle is detected by the vehicle status change detecting unit during the counting, the timer is restarted.

18. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

an operation-before-getting-out detecting unit that detects an off operation of a vehicle start switch, wherein

the management unit cancels the wakeup signal after a predetermined time has passed since detection of the off operation.

19. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the management unit cancels the wakeup signal when the start operation is not detected by the start operation detecting unit within a predetermined time after the wakeup signal has been transmitted.

20. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

an operation-before-getting-out detecting unit that detects an off operation of a vehicle start switch, wherein

the management unit cancels the wakeup signal after a predetermined time has passed since detection of the off operation.