Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Transmission control
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-18
2004-04-20
Beaulieu, Yonel (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Transmission control
C701S051000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06725144
ABSTRACT:
The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-402054 filed Dec. 28, 2001 including the specification, drawings and claims is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a vehicle control apparatus, a control method and a control program which can execute control of shifting of an automatic transmission apparatus capable of changing a speed of rotation of a driving source and outputting this rotation, in accordance with road information and vehicle state information.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, in order to control engine braking force in accordance with the expectations of a driver with respect to the condition of the road the vehicle is running on, a vehicle control apparatus or so-called navigation assisted shift control has been proposed. This type of vehicle control apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission based on information concerning the road ahead, and the like, detected by a navigation device, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-230322.
The disclosed navigation assisted shift control mentioned above calculates a predetermined target input shaft rotation number such that engine brake is applied in accordance with the road information. The road information includes information concerning the road configuration (for example, corner shape, road gradient) detected by a navigation device, road condition (for example, degree of road surface smoothness, snow fall) detected by various sensors, and operating condition (for example, vehicle speed, intentions of the driver with respect to deceleration), and the like. The navigation assisted shift control uses the predetermined target to control a shift ratio and a shifting speed of a continuous variable transmission (CVT), such that the engine braking force accords with the expectations of the driver. As a result, the drivability of the vehicle is improved, and in particular, the stability of the vehicle when driving around corners and curves is improved (so-called cornering control is executed).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, for example, when a vehicle enters a first corner from a straight road, the driver can see the first corner at an early stage. Thus, it is comparatively easy for the driver to realize that a corner exists prior to entering the first corner. On the other hand, for example, in the case of a road which has two corners or more in close succession, it is difficult to see the second corner and subsequent corners that will be entered, as the distance between the corners is short, and/or there may be obstructions, such as buildings and the like. As a result, it is difficult to see that next corner at an early stage. Thus, before entering the next corner, the driver may not realize that there is a corner ahead early enough, or indeed, may not realize the corner exists at all.
Moreover, in the case of the shifting speed of the navigation assisted shift control, the magnitude of the shifting speed with respect to the aforementioned information concerning operating state, and the like, is set in advance. Accordingly, in the case of entering the first corner from the straight road, even if the driver realizes the first corner exists, the strength of the engine brake obtained may not be in accordance with the expectations of the driver. As a result, the driver, or another occupant, may feel a sense of discomfort.
On the other hand, in the case of entering the second or subsequent corners in the example described above, even when the driver does not realize there is a second corner early enough, or indeed, does not realize that a second corner exists at all, a degree of engine brake which the driver is not expecting (anticipating) is applied. As a result, the driver or the other occupant may feel a sense of discomfort. In addition, as the vehicle continues running around the next corner in the example, the aforementioned unexpected degree of brake engine brake is applied. Accordingly, as the vehicle is turning, a degree of engine brake which is not expected (anticipated) is applied, and as a result the driver or the other occupant may feel a sense of discomfort.
It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle control apparatus, a control method and a control program which can solve the aforementioned problems which relate to the described related art. In the vehicle control apparatus, the control method and the control program according to the invention, a shifting speed setting device sets a shifting speed to a predetermined shifting speed such that shifting is rapidly executed, when a control by a shift control device is initiated. When shifting needs to be executed during the execution of the control by the shift control device, the shifting speed is set to be lower than the aforementioned predetermined shifting speed.
According to the first aspect of the invention, the shift control device calculates the predetermined target input shaft rotation number based on the road information and the vehicle state information, and controls the input shaft rotation number such that the input shaft rotation number becomes equal to the predetermined target input shaft rotation number, by executing shifting of the shift execution device. Moreover, the shifting speed setting device sets the shifting speed, when control based on the road information begins after switching from control based on the vehicle state information by the shift control device, to the predetermined shifting speed such that shifting is executed rapidly, and sets the shifting speed, when shifting needs to be executed during control based on the road information by the shift control device, such that the shifting speed is lower than the predetermined shifting speed. Accordingly, the control by the shift control device can respond to differences in the expectation of a driver with respect to vehicle acceleration change magnitude, depending on whether it is a time of starting control based on the road information after switching from control based on the vehicle state information, or a time during which control based on road information is in-progress. As a result, it is possible to prevent the driver from feeling a sense of discomfort.
Further, according to the first aspect of the invention, the road information shift control device calculates the predetermined target input shaft rotation number based on the road information, and controls the input shaft rotation number such the input shaft rotation number becomes equal to the predetermined target input shaft rotation number, by executing shifting of the shift execution device. Furthermore, the continuous control detection device detects that shifting needs to be executed while control by the road information shift control device is continued during control by the road information shift control device. Moreover, the shifting speed setting device sets the shifting speed to a predetermined shifting speed such that shifting is executed rapidly when control by the road information shift control device starts, and sets the shifting speed such that the shifting speed is lower than the predetermined shifting speed when shifting needs to be executed during control by the road information control device, based on the detection result of the continuous control detection device. Accordingly, it is possible to detect the need to execute shifting while continuing control by the road information shift control device. As a result, the control by the shift control device can respond to differences in the expectation of the driver with respect to the vehicle acceleration change magnitude, depending on whether the control by the shift control device is starting or in-progress. As a result, it is possible to prevent the driver, or an occupant from feeling a sense of discomfort.
Also, according to the first aspect of the invention, the road information is information which includes at least one of the corner shape and the road gradient. As a result, it is possible to execute control
Imanaga Yuuji
Inoue Daisuke
Ogawa Fumiharu
Okasaka Kazuomi
Shiimado Toshihiro
Aisin AW Co. Ltd.
Beaulieu Yonel
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
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