Vehicle travel control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9656670-B2
Application number	US-201214439056-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2012
Priority date	Oct 31, 2012
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine, a connecting/disconnecting device separating the engine and wheels, and a transmission transmitting power of the engine toward the wheels, the running control device being configured to execute a normal running-mode performed by using the power of the engine with the engine and the wheels coupled, a free-run inertia running-mode that is performed by separating the engine and the wheels and stopping the engine during running, and a neutral inertia running-mode that is a performed by separating the engine and the wheels and operating the engine in a self-sustaining manner during running, the running control device setting a gear ratio of the transmission on a low vehicle speed side in the case of return from the free-run inertia running-mode to the normal running-mode as compared to the case of return from the neutral inertia running-mode to the normal running-mode.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A running control device of a vehicle including an engine, a connecting/disconnecting device separating the engine and wheels, and a transmission selectively transmitting power of the engine toward the wheels, the running control device comprising:
a processor configured to execute a normal running mode performed by using the power of the engine with the engine and the wheels coupled, a free-run inertia running mode that is an inertia running mode performed by separating the engine and the wheels and stopping the engine during running, and a neutral inertia running mode that is an inertia running mode performed by separating the engine and the wheels and operating the engine in a self-sustaining manner during running, and
the processor configured to set a gear ratio of the transmission on a lower vehicle speed side in a first case of return from the free-run inertia running mode to the normal running mode as compared to a second case of return from the neutral inertia running mode to the normal running mode.

2. The running control device of a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein
one of a plurality of conditions for returning to the normal running mode is a condition that is an increase in a drive demand amount, wherein
the processor is configured to set the gear ratio of the transmission on the lower vehicle speed side at a time of return to the normal running mode associated with the increase in the drive demand amount, and
the processor is configured set the gear ratio of the transmission to a gear ratio for the normal running mode at the time of return to the normal running mode associated with a condition other than the increase in the drive demand amount.

3. The running control device of a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein
the processor is configured with a predefined relationship determining a gear ratio of the transmission for the normal running mode, and wherein
the processor is configured to set the gear ratio of the transmission on the lower vehicle speed side relative to the gear ratio determined from the predefined relationship in the first case of return from the free-run inertia running mode to the normal running mode as compared to the second case of return from the neutral inertia running mode to the normal running mode.

4. The running control device of a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein
the processor is configured with a predefined relationship for free-run inertia running mode determining a gear ratio of the transmission at a time of a first return from the free-run inertia running mode to the normal running mode and a predefined relationship for neutral inertia running mode determining a gear ratio of the transmission at a time of a second return from the neutral inertia running mode to the normal running mode, and wherein
the relationship for free-run inertia running mode has a gear ratio of the transmission set on the lower vehicle speed side as compared to the relationship for neutral inertia running mode.

5. A running control device of a vehicle including an engine, a connecting/disconnecting device separating the engine and wheels, and a transmission selectively transmitting power of the engine toward the wheels, the running control device comprising:
a processor configured to execute a normal running mode performed by using the power of the engine with the engine and the wheels coupled, a free-run inertia running mode that is an inertia running mode performed by separating the engine and the wheels and stopping the engine during running, and a neutral inertia running mode that is an inertia running mode performed by separating the engine and the wheels and operating the engine in a self-sustaining manner during running,
the processor is configured with a predefined relationship determining a gear ratio of the transmission for the normal running mode, and
the processor being configured to set the gear ratio of the transmission on a lower vehicle speed side relative to the gear ratio determined from the predefined relationship in a first case of return from the free-run inertia running mode to the normal running mode as compared to a second case of return from the neutral inertia running mode to the normal running mode.

6. A running control device of a vehicle including an engine, a connecting/disconnecting device separating the engine and wheels, and a transmission selectively transmitting power of the engine toward the wheels, the running control device comprising:
a processor configured to execute a normal running mode performed by using the power of the engine with the engine and the wheels coupled, a free-run inertia running mode that is an inertia running mode performed by separating the engine and the wheels and stopping the engine during running, and a neutral inertia running mode that is an inertia running mode performed by separating the engine and the wheels and operating the engine in a self-sustaining manner during running,
the processor is configured with a predefined relationship for free-run inertia running mode determining a gear ratio of the transmission at a time of a first return from the free-run inertia running mode to the normal running mode and a predefined relationship for neutral inertia running mode determining a gear ratio of the transmission at a time of a second return from the neutral inertia running mode to the normal running mode, and
the relationship for free-run inertia running mode having the gear ratio of the transmission set on the lower vehicle speed side as compared to the relationship for neutral inertia running mode.

7. The running control device of a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to set a gear ratio of the transmission determined from a predefined relationship for the normal running mode at a time of return from the neutral inertia running mode to the normal running mode to a gear ratio of the transmission for the normal running mode.

Assignees

• Mitsuyasu Masaki
• Kim Jonggap
• Kuroki Rentaro
• Hirai Takuya
• Matsunaga Masaki
• Kido Yasunari
• Suzuki Takeaki
• Kogure Takayuki
• Okamura Yukari
• Sato Akihiro
• Kinoshita Yusuke
• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Mitsuyasu Masaki
• Kim Jonggap
• Kuroki Rentaro
• Hirai Takuya
• Matsunaga Masaki
• Kido Yasunari
• Suzuki Takeaki
• Kogure Takayuki
• Okamura Yukari
• Sato Akihiro
• Kinoshita Yusuke

Classifications

• B60W30/18072 Primary

  Coasting · CPC title

• F16H2059/186

  Coasting · CPC title

• B60W2030/1809

  Without torque flow between driveshaft and engine, e.g. with clutch disengaged or transmission in neutral · CPC title

• B60W10/06

  including control of combustion engines · CPC title

• B60W2030/18081

  With torque flow from driveshaft to engine, i.e. engine being driven by vehicle · CPC title