JPH0138013B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an economical and fuel efficient driving instruction method for instructing that a vehicle operating state (including engine operating state, hereinafter the same) is in a state with good fuel efficiency.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY It is determined whether or not the driving condition of a vehicle satisfies predetermined economic and fuel efficiency driving conditions, and when the driving condition is satisfied, it is assumed that the vehicle is running under economic and fuel economy conditions with good fuel efficiency, and this fact is notified to the driver, etc. A method of giving instructions using a lamp or the like is already known. For example, Tokukai Akira
No. 55-31669 discloses a device which generates an economical and fuel efficient driving instruction on the assumption that economical and fuel efficient driving conditions are satisfied if the vehicle is in a driving state that does not satisfy the shift up condition or down shift condition of a manual transmission.

In order to determine whether such economic and fuel consumption driving conditions are satisfied, various parameters representing the driving state of the vehicle are usually detected by a plurality of detectors, and the determination is made from the output signal of each of the detectors. However, there are cases where the economic fuel efficiency driving condition is instantaneously met or not satisfied due to minute fluctuations in the output signal of the detector or due to the noise, and in such a case, for example, the indicator lamp flashes,
Economical fuel efficiency driving instructions become unclear.

Furthermore, it is desirable for the vehicle to be running under economical fuel efficiency, and it is required to generate an economical fuel efficiency driving instruction as much as possible when the vehicle is running under economical fuel efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an economical fuel consumption driving instruction method that can clearly indicate that the driving state of a vehicle is economical fuel consumption driving.

The economical fuel efficiency driving instruction method of the present invention prohibits the economical fuel consumption driving instruction until a first predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the satisfaction of the economical fuel consumption driving conditions is detected, and the time when the economic fuel consumption driving conditions are no longer detected to be satisfied. The feature is that the economic fuel consumption driving instruction continues until a second predetermined time period elapses.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the driving instruction device to which the economical fuel consumption driving instruction method according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is applied, a control circuit 1 consisting of a microcomputer is provided,
A throttle switch 2, negative pressure switches 3 and 4, a clutch switch 5, a coolant temperature switch 6, a crank angle sensor 7, a vehicle speed sensor 8, and lamps 9 to 11 are connected to the control circuit 1. The throttle switch 2 is turned on when a throttle valve of an internal combustion engine (not shown) is closed. The negative pressure switch 3 is turned on when the negative pressure P _B in the intake pipe downstream of the slot valve is above a predetermined pressure P _BWOT (for example, -85 mmHg), and the negative pressure switch 4 is turned on when the negative pressure P _B in the intake pipe is equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure P BWOT (for example, -85 mmHg). Predetermined pressure P _BINT smaller than _BWOT
(for example, -370mmHg) or higher, it turns on. The clutch switch 5 is turned on when the clutch is released to cut off the engine power transmission system. These switches 2 to 5 output a predetermined voltage when turned on. The coolant temperature sensor 6 generates an output voltage at a level corresponding to the engine coolant temperature. Crank angle sensor 7 generates an angular position signal with a period inversely proportional to the rotation speed of the crankshaft of the engine, and vehicle speed sensor 8 generates an angular position signal with a period inversely proportional to the rotation speed of the output shaft of the manual transmission. Lamp 9 indicates that the manual transmission is in an operating state in which a downshift is required, lamp 10 indicates that the vehicle is in economical fuel efficiency driving, and lamp 11 indicates that the manual transmission is in an operating state in which it should be shifted up. Instruct.

The control circuit 1 includes a level correction circuit 15 that corrects each output level of a throttle switch 2, negative pressure switches 3, 4, clutch switch 5, and cooling water temperature sensor 6, and a switch whose level is corrected by the level correction circuit 15. A multiplexer 16 that selectively outputs the output signal of any one of sensors 2 to 5 and sensor 6;
A D converter 17, waveform shaping circuits 18 and 19 that shape the angular position signals outputted from the crank angle sensor 7 and the vehicle speed sensor 8 into pulse signals, and a predetermined clock pulse to set the generation interval of the output pulses of the waveform shaping circuit 18. a Ne counter 20 which generates a digital signal representing a value inversely proportional to the engine speed by counting the number of revolutions; and a waveform shaping circuit 19.
V counter 2 which measures the generation interval of output pulses by counting predetermined clock pulses and generates a digital signal representing a value inversely proportional to the vehicle speed.
1, drive circuits 22 to 24 for lighting and driving the lamps 9 to 11, and a CPU (central processing circuit) 25.
and various programs and data were stored.
It is composed of a ROM 26 and a RAM 27.
A/D converter 17, counters 20, 21, drive circuits 22 to 24, CPU 25, ROM 26, and
RAM 27 is connected by an input/output bus 28.

In such a configuration, information on opening/closing of the throttle valve, negative pressure in the intake pipe P _B , clutch on/off, and cooling water temperature Tw is transmitted from the A/D converter 17 either alternatively or
The CPU 2 receives information about the engine speed Ne from the Ne counter 20 and information about the vehicle speed V from the V counter 21.
5 via an input/output bus 28.
The CPU 25 reads each of the above information according to the calculation program stored in the ROM 26, and based on the information, determines whether the operating state is such that it should be shifted up, whether it is in an operating state that should be shifted down, or whether the operating state is economical. Determine whether or not the fuel consumption is low,
When it is determined that a shift down is required, a lamp lighting command is output to the drive circuit 22, and when it is determined that a shift up is required, a lamp lighting command is output to the drive circuit 24, and it is determined that the vehicle is in economical and fuel efficient driving. When this happens, a lamp lighting command is output to the drive circuit 22.

Next, the procedure of the economic fuel consumption driving instruction method according to the present invention executed by the control circuit 1 will be explained with reference to the operational flow diagram of FIG.

In this procedure, first, it is determined whether the operating state satisfies the shift-up conditions (step
41). If the shift up condition is satisfied, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time t _up has elapsed since the shift up condition was satisfied (step 42). If the predetermined time t _up has elapsed, a lamp 24 is activated in the drive circuit. Lamp 1 is supplied with a lighting command and indicates shift-up timing.
1 is lit (step 43). If the predetermined time t _up has not elapsed after the shift up condition is satisfied,
A lamp lighting stop command is supplied to the drive circuit 24, and lighting of the lamp 11 is stopped (step
44). Further, even if the shift-up condition is not satisfied in step 41, step 44 is executed and lighting of the lamp 11 is stopped. Next, it is determined whether the operating state satisfies downshift conditions (step 45). If the operating state satisfies the downshift conditions, a predetermined time t _DN
It is determined whether or not the predetermined time _tDN has elapsed (step 46), and if the predetermined time tDN has elapsed, a lamp lighting command is supplied to the drive circuit 22, and the shift down instruction lamp 9 is turned on (step 47). . If the predetermined time _tDN has not elapsed after the shift down condition was satisfied, a lamp lighting stop command is supplied to the drive circuit 22 to stop lighting the lamp 9 (step 48). Further, even if the downshift condition is not satisfied in step 45, step 48 is executed and the lamp 9 is turned off.

Next, it is determined as follows whether or not the vehicle is in an inappropriate driving range even if it is in the economic fuel efficiency driving range, that is, whether the vehicle is in an unsteady driving state. First, the engine rotation speed Ne is set to a predetermined rotation speed Ne _L1 (for example, 900r, p,
m) or more is determined (step
49). The predetermined rotation speed Ne _L1 is set slightly higher than the idling rotation speed of the engine. Ne≧
If Ne _L1 , it is determined whether the negative pressure P _B in the intake pipe is less than a predetermined pressure P _BWOT (negative pressure side) (step 50). If P _B ≦ P _BWOT , that is, the negative pressure switch 3 is off, it is assumed that the operating state is not such as sudden acceleration or the like where the throttle is fully opened, and it is determined whether the gear position of the transmission is other than a low speed gear. (Step 51). This gear position is determined by the ratio between the engine speed Ne and the vehicle speed V. If the gear is other than low speed, the vehicle speed V is the predetermined speed V _L1
(for example, 15 km/h) or more (step 52), and if V≧V _L1 , it is assumed that high fuel efficiency can be expected instead of low speed so-called slow driving, and the deceleration ΔV of the vehicle is set to the predetermined speed ΔV. _DEC (for example, −
10 Km/h/sec ² ) or more is determined (step 53). If ΔV≧ΔV _DEC , the degree of deceleration is considered to be small, and the vehicle speed V is set at a predetermined speed V _MAX , such as the maximum speed regulated by legal speed (for example, 103 Km/h).
It is determined whether V≦V _MAX (step 54).
If so, it is determined whether the vehicle is in the in-gear state (step 55). This determination is determined from the on/off state of the clutch switch 5.
When is on, it is considered not to be in gear. If the vehicle is in the in-gear state, it is determined that the driving state satisfies the economic and fuel efficiency driving condition, and it is determined whether a predetermined time _tEFON has elapsed since the economic and fuel efficiency driving condition was satisfied (step 56). When the predetermined time t _FEON has elapsed after the economic fuel consumption driving condition is satisfied, a lamp lighting instruction is supplied to the drive circuit 23, and the economic fuel consumption driving instruction lamp 10 is turned on (step 57) _. If the elapsed time has not elapsed, the lamp 10 is brought to a non-lighting state by issuing a lamp lighting stop command to the drive circuit 23 (step 58). That is, if the economical fuel efficiency driving condition is no longer satisfied before the predetermined time _tEFON has elapsed from the time when the condition was satisfied, the lamp 10 will not turn on.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 49 that Ne<Ne _L1 , if it is determined in step 50 that P _B > P _BWOT , and if it is determined in step 51 that the gear position of the transmission is a low speed gear, then step 52 is determined. If it is determined that V<V _L1 at step 53, if ΔV<ΔV _DEC is determined at step 53, if V>V _MAW is determined at step 54,
Alternatively, if it is determined in step 55 that the vehicle is not in gear, the driving state is set to satisfy unsteady driving conditions other than economical and fuel efficient driving.

In other words, if Ne < Ne _L1 , the ACG (alternating current generator) charge/discharge balance and to prevent deterioration of drivability at low engine speeds, and if P _B > P _BWOT , the throttle valve should be fully opened during sudden acceleration, etc. Due to the high load operation condition, it is not considered to be economical and fuel efficient driving.
When the gear position of the transmission is a low speed gear, the engine brake in the low speed gear is too effective, which is undesirable, and slow driving does not guarantee good fuel efficiency, so it is said that the vehicle is not in economical and fuel efficient driving mode. Even in the case of V<V _L1 , the vehicle speed sensor 8
In this case, the output waveform becomes small and there is a tendency for malfunction to occur, so in order to prevent this, the system is not set as economic fuel consumption mode. If ΔV<ΔV _DEC , the vehicle decelerates suddenly, which is not only a waste of driving energy, but also likely caused by insufficient inter-vehicle distance, which is not favorable for driving, so economical and fuel-efficient driving is not recommended. Among them, the unsteady driving conditions are said to have been satisfied. In addition, if V>V _MAX , the vehicle speed is so high that it is originally not allowed to travel at that speed. Furthermore, if it is determined that the engine is not in gear, the engine power transmission system such as neutral deceleration is cut off, and the engine brake is not working due to brake vapor lock during a long descent or master power malfunction when the engine stalls. Because this is not preferable, and because the in-gear state improves fuel efficiency when fuel is cut during deceleration, it is considered to be an inappropriate emergency driving state even during economical and fuel-efficient driving.

In this manner, when the unsteady driving condition is satisfied even during economical and fuel-efficient driving, it is determined whether a predetermined time _tFEOFF has elapsed since the condition was satisfied (step 59). If the predetermined time t _FEOFF has elapsed after the unsteady driving condition is satisfied even during economical fuel consumption driving,
Step 58 is executed and lighting of the lamp 10 is stopped. If the predetermined time _tFEOFF has not elapsed, step 57 is executed and the lamp 10 continues to be lit.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, if the predetermined time t _FEOFF is made shorter than the predetermined time t _FEON , the chances of the lamp 10 being turned on will be reduced. Even if the fuel consumption is in a good range, it is not located in a very good region, so turning off the lamp 10 has the advantage of forcing driving to be located in a region with very good fuel efficiency. .

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the economic fuel consumption driving instruction method of the present invention, the economic fuel consumption driving instruction is prohibited until the first predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the satisfaction of the economic fuel consumption driving conditions is detected, and the economic fuel consumption driving instruction is prohibited. Since the economic fuel consumption driving instruction continues until the second predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the satisfaction of the conditions is no longer detected, the instruction lamp will continue to be displayed even if the output signal of the driving parameter detector fluctuates slightly or noise occurs. This prevents the occurrence of instantaneous economical fuel consumption driving instructions such as flashing of , and it is possible to clearly indicate the driving state under economical fuel consumption driving. Furthermore, if an upshift or a downshift is performed during economical fuel efficiency driving and the economical fuel efficiency driving conditions are not met for a moment, the economical fuel economy driving instruction will not be stopped unnecessarily.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a driving instruction device to which the economic fuel consumption driving instruction method according to the present invention is applied;
FIGS. 2a and 2b are operational flow diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention. Explanation of symbols of main parts, 1...Control circuit, 9,
10, 11...Lamp, 25...CPU.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An economic fuel efficiency driving instruction method for instructing that the vehicle is under economic fuel efficiency driving when it is detected that the driving state of a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission satisfies the economic fuel efficiency driving condition, which comprises: The economical fuel consumption driving instruction is prohibited until a first predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the satisfaction of the economical fuel efficiency driving condition is detected, and a second predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the satisfaction of the economical fuel consumption driving condition is no longer detected. A method for instructing economical fuel efficiency driving, characterized in that the instruction for economical fuel economy driving is continued until then. 2. The economic and fuel efficiency driving condition is characterized in that the driving state does not satisfy a shift-up condition or a shift-down condition of the manual transmission and does not satisfy a predetermined unsteady driving condition. The method for instructing economical fuel efficiency driving as described in item 1. 3. The economic fuel efficiency driving instruction method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined unsteady driving condition is an engine speed that is lower than a reference engine speed that is slightly higher than an idling speed. 4. The method for instructing economical and fuel efficient driving according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined unsteady driving condition is a low vehicle speed. 5. The method for instructing economical and fuel-efficient driving according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined unsteady driving condition is that the manual transmission is in a low gear.