Drive control apparatus for prime mover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9863334-B2
Application number	US-201414897391-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2014
Priority date	Nov 13, 2013
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A drive control apparatus in which the target torque which is a target value of an output torque of the prime mover for driving a vehicle, is calculated, and the output torque control is performed so that the output torque of the prime mover coincides with the target torque, is provided. An estimated output torque which is an estimated value of the actual output torque of the prime mover, is calculated, and the torque difference accumulated value which approximates a time-integration value of a torque difference between the target torque and the estimated output torque, is calculated. It is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the output torque control when the torque difference accumulated value exceeds a determination threshold value which is set to a constant value.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drive control apparatus for a prime mover, including:
output torque control means for calculating a target torque which is a target value of an output torque of said prime mover for driving a vehicle, and performing an output torque control so that the output torque of said prime mover coincides with the target torque,
wherein said output torque control means includes an actuator for changing the output torque of said prime mover; and
abnormality determining means for determining an abnormality of said output torque control means,
said drive control apparatus being characterized by including:
estimated output torque calculating means for calculating an estimated output torque which is an estimated value of an actual output torque of said prime mover;
torque difference accumulated value calculating means for calculating a torque difference accumulated value which approximates a time-integration value of a torque difference between the target torque and the estimated output torque;
correction coefficient calculating means for calculating a correction coefficient according to the torque difference, the correction coefficient being relative to a characteristic of a drive power train which transmits the output torque of said prime mover to driving wheels of said vehicle; and
correcting means for calculating a corrected torque difference by multiplying the correction coefficient with the torque difference,
wherein said abnormality determining means includes first determining means for determining that an abnormality has occurred in said output torque control means when the torque difference accumulated value exceeds a determination threshold value which is set to a constant value,
wherein the torque difference accumulated value is calculated by accumulating a value obtained by multiplying the torque difference and a period of calculating the torque difference, a value calculated at the beginning of the period of calculation being applied as the torque difference,
wherein said torque difference accumulated value calculating means calculates the torque difference accumulated value by accumulating the corrected torque difference, and
wherein the correction coefficient is set to a value which is less than “1” when the torque difference is greater than a predetermined upper limit value, and when the torque difference is less than a predetermined lower limit value.

2. The drive control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said abnormality determining means includes:
determination time period setting means for setting a determination time period according to the torque difference; and
second determining means for determining that an abnormality has occurred in said output torque control means when a state where the torque difference is greater than a predetermined difference value continues for a time period which is equal to or longer than the determination time period,
wherein said abnormality determining means fixes an abnormality determination by adjusting a final determination result when both of said first and second determining means determine that the abnormality has occurred.

3. The drive control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said second determining means uses a minimum value of the determination time period for the determination when the determination time period changes corresponding to a change in the torque difference.

4. The drive control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said output torque control means includes an actuator for changing the output torque of said prime mover; detecting means for detecting operation parameters indicative of an operating condition of said actuator and an acceleration operation amount of said vehicle; and control calculation means for outputting an actuation signal according to the operation parameters detected by said detecting means, the actuation signal actuating said actuator,
wherein said abnormality determining means determines an abnormality in a calculation performed by said control calculation means, and relevant device abnormality determining means is provided separately from said abnormality determining means, said relevant device abnormality determining means determining an abnormality except the abnormality in the calculation performed by said control calculation means.

5. The drive control apparatus according to claim 2 , further including:
allowable torque calculating means for calculating an allowable torque according to an operating condition of said prime mover; and
third determining means for determining that there exists a possibility that an abnormality has occurred in said output torque control means, when the estimated output torque exceeds the allowable torque,
wherein when said third determining means determines that there exists the possibility that an abnormality has occurred in said output torque control means, the determination by said first determining means or the determination by said first and second determining means is performed.

6. The drive control apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein when an acceleration operation amount indicative of the acceleration of said prime mover is “0”, an allowable torque setting means sets the allowable torque to a decelerating condition predetermined amount.

7. The drive control apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said allowable torque calculating means calculates the allowable torque by adding an accelerating condition predetermined amount to the target torque, when the acceleration operation amount is equal to or greater than a first operation amount threshold value, in which the first operation amount threshold value is greater than “0”, the accelerating condition predetermined amount being greater than the decelerating condition predetermined amount.

8. The drive control apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein when the acceleration operation amount is equal to or greater than the first operation amount threshold value and less than a second operation amount threshold value which is greater than the first operation amount threshold value, and the target torque is greater than a predetermined torque threshold value, said allowable torque calculating means sets the allowable torque to the predetermined torque threshold value, and then the predetermined torque threshold value is subsequently set to a value which is greater than an average value of the target torque corresponding to the second operation amount threshold value.

9. The drive control apparatus according to claim 5 , further including acceleration detecting means for detecting a rotational acceleration of said prime mover,
wherein when the rotational acceleration exceeds a predetermined acceleration threshold value, the determination by said first and third determining means or the determination by said first, second, and third determining means is inhibited.

10. A drive control method for a prime mover, including the steps of:
a) calculating a target torque which is a target value of an output torque of said prime mover for driving a vehicle, and performing an output torque control so that the output torque of said prime mover coincides with the target torque,
wherein calculating the target torque includes detecting operation parameters indicative of an operating condition of an actuator and an acceleration operation amount of said vehicle, said actuator changing the output torque of said prime mover; and
b) determining an abnormality of the output torque control,
said drive control method being characterized by further including the steps of:
c) calculating an estimated output torque which is an estimated value of an actual output torque of said prime mover;
d) calculating

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• ARIKAI Tatsuya
• Ochiai Shinobu
• Tsuji Naoki

Classifications

• F02D41/045

  Detection of accelerating or decelerating state (detection thereof in general G01P) · CPC title

• F02D41/0215

  in relation with elements of the transmission · CPC title

• F02D41/18

  by measuring intake air flow · CPC title

• F02D2200/602

  Pedal position · CPC title

• F02D41/22

  Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions {(in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809)} · CPC title