Vehicle control device and vehicle control method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9664123-B2
Application number	US-201314421217-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2013
Priority date	Aug 16, 2012
Publication date	May 30, 2017
Grant date	May 30, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle control device for controlling a vehicle with an engine includes a target engine output calculation unit configured to calculate a target engine output based on a target drive force, a vehicle speed and an air density, and a target engine torque calculation unit configured to calculate a target engine torque based on the target engine output and the air density. The target engine output calculation unit is configured to set a smaller target engine output when the air density is low than when the air density is high, and the target engine torque calculation unit is configured to set a larger target engine torque when the air density is low than when the air density is high.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle control device for controlling a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a target drive force calculation unit configured to calculate a target drive force based on a driving state of the vehicle;
a vehicle speed detection unit configured to detect a vehicle speed of the vehicle;
an air density calculation unit configured to calculate an air density;
a target engine output calculation unit configured to calculate a target engine output of the internal combustion engine based on the target drive force, the vehicle speed and the air density; and
a target engine torque calculation unit configured to calculate a target engine torque of the internal combustion engine based on the target engine output and the air density,
wherein:
the target engine output calculation unit is configured to set a smaller target engine output of the internal combustion engine as the air density becomes lower; and
the target engine torque calculation unit is configured to set a larger target engine torque of the internal combustion engine as the air density becomes lower.

2. The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the target engine output calculation unit is configured to calculate the target engine output by adding a first engine output based on the target drive force and a second engine output for operating an auxiliary machine of the vehicle, to correct the first engine output based on the air density and not to correct the second engine output based on the air density.

3. The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle includes a motor generator capable of generating power by rotation produced in the engine; and
the target engine output calculation unit is configured to correct a third engine output for generating power in the motor generator based on the air density when the motor generator is caused to generate power by the engine.

4. A vehicle control method for controlling a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, comprising:
calculating a target drive force based on a driving state of the vehicle;
detecting a vehicle speed of the vehicle;
calculating an air density;
calculating a target engine output of the internal combustion engine based on the target drive force, the vehicle speed and the air density; and
calculating a target engine torque of the internal combustion engine based on the target engine output and the air density,
wherein:
calculating the target engine output comprises calculating a smaller target engine output of the internal combustion engine as the air density becomes lower; and
calculating the target engine torque comprises calculating a larger target engine torque of the internal combustion engine as the air density becomes lower.

5. A vehicle control device for controlling a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, comprising:
target drive force calculation means for calculating a target drive force based on a driving state of the vehicle;
vehicle speed detection means for detecting a vehicle speed of the vehicle;
air density calculation means for calculating an air density;
target engine output calculation means for calculating a target engine output of the internal combustion engine based on the target drive force, the vehicle speed and the air density; and
target engine torque calculation means for calculating a target engine torque of the internal combustion engine based on the target engine output and the air density,
wherein:
the target engine output calculation means sets a smaller target engine output of the internal combustion engine as the air density becomes lower; and
the target engine torque calculation means sets a larger target engine torque of the internal combustion engine as the air density becomes lower.

Assignees

• Nissan Motor

Inventors

• Kageyama Yuzo
• Yoshino Takahiro
• Ono Masashi
• Iriyama Masahiro

Classifications

• B60W2555/20

  Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain · CPC title

• F02D31/00

  Use of speed-sensing governors to control combustion engines, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• F02D2200/602

  Pedal position · CPC title

• F02D29/02 Primary

  peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers · CPC title

• F02D11/105

  characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque · CPC title