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US 8,948,964 B2Granted
Vehicle control system for minimizing fuel consumption
AssigneeDenso Corporation
InventorLiangchen Pan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control unit of a vehicle control system estimates running-condition of a vehicle for a predetermined estimation period. A fuel-amount estimating portion estimates an engine condition related to a cooling efficiency, based on the estimated running condition. The control unit estimates multiple possible control patterns and calculates evaluation values related to the cooling efficiency for respective cases, in which a compressor is operated in accordance with each of the control patterns. The control unit selects one of control patterns to actually operate the compressor in accordance with the selected control pattern, so that fuel consuming amount can be reduced.
Claims12
The A vehicle control system for controlling a driving source of a vehicle comprising:
- a processor for executing non-transitory portions comprising:
- a running-condition estimating portion for estimating a running condition of the vehicle for a predetermined estimation period based on information related to vehicle condition;
- a driving-amount calculating portion for calculating an amount of driving power necessary for the driving source in order to operate an accessory device with the driving power;
- an accessory-device controlling portion for controlling an operation of the accessory device;
- and
- a control-pattern calculating portion for calculating a control pattern for the accessory device and controlling the accessory-device controlling portion in accordance with the control pattern,
- wherein the control pattern is calculated based on:
- (i) characteristic data showing a relationship between the driving power of the driving source and a fuel consuming amount;
- (ii) information from the running-condition estimating portion;
- and
- (iii) information from the driving-amount calculating portion;
- wherein the fuel consuming amount of the driving source is minimized for the predetermined estimation period, when the accessory device is operated in accordance with the control pattern calculated by the control-pattern calculating portion;
- wherein the control-pattern calculating portion is composed of:
- a control-pattern estimating portion for estimating multiple possible control patterns;
- a threshold-value calculating portion for calculating threshold values based on the information from the accessory-condition detecting portion for the condition of the accessory device or the accessory system, wherein the threshold values are related to the operation efficiency of the accessory device or the accessory system;
- and
- a selecting portion for selecting one control pattern for the accessory device from the multiple possible control patterns based on the threshold value.
14 more elements
A vehicle control system for controlling a driving source of a vehicle comprising:
- a processor for executing non-transitory portions comprising:
- a running-condition estimating portion for estimating a running condition of the vehicle for a predetermined estimation period based on information related to vehicle condition;
- a driving-amount calculating portion for calculating an amount of driving power necessary for the driving source in order to operate an accessory device with the driving power;
- an accessory-device controlling portion for controlling an operation of the accessory device;
- and
- a control-pattern calculating portion for calculating a control pattern for the accessory device and controlling the accessory-device controlling portion in accordance with the control pattern,
- wherein the control pattern is calculated based on:
- (i) characteristic data showing a relationship between the driving power of the driving source and a fuel consuming amount;
- (ii) information from the running-condition estimating portion;
- and
- (iii) information from the driving-amount calculating portion;
- wherein the fuel consuming amount of the driving source is minimized for the predetermined estimation period, when the accessory device is operated in accordance with the control pattern calculated by the control-pattern calculating portion;
- wherein the vehicle control system further comprises an accessory-condition detecting portion for detecting a condition of the accessory device or an accessory system;
- wherein the driving-amount calculating portion is composed of an efficiency estimating portion for estimating operation efficiency of the driving source or an energy-consuming amount estimating portion for estimating an energy consuming amount of the driving source, based on the information from the running-condition estimating portion as well as a condition of the driving source;
- wherein the control-pattern calculating portion calculates the control pattern for the accessory device based on:
- (iv) the operation efficiency of the driving source estimated by the efficiency estimating portion or the energy consuming amount of the driving source estimated by the energy-consuming amount estimating portion;
- and
- (v) information from the accessory-condition detecting portion for the condition of the accessory device or the accessory system, and
- wherein the energy consuming amount of the driving source is minimized for the predetermined estimation period, when the accessory device is operated in accordance with the control pattern;
- wherein the control-pattern calculating portion is composed of:
- a provisional-work-volume calculating portion for calculating a provisional work volume of the accessory device based on:
- the information from the accessory-condition detecting portion for the condition of the accessory device or the accessory system, and
- the information from the driving-amount calculating portion for the operation efficiency of the driving source or the energy consuming amount of the driving source;
- an accessory-driving-power amount calculating portion for calculating a driving-power amount of the driving source necessary for operating the accessory device so as to generate the provisional work volume and for calculating the operation efficiency of the accessory device related to the provisional work volume;
- and
- a corrected work-volume calculating portion for correcting the provisional work volume of the accessory device by use of the operation efficiency of the accessory device, so as to calculate a corrected work volume of the accessory device as the control pattern.
23 more elements
A vehicle control system for controlling a driving source of a vehicle comprising:
- a processor for executing non-transitory portions comprising:
- a running-condition estimating portion for estimating a running condition of the vehicle for a predetermined estimation period based on information related to vehicle condition;
- a driving-amount calculating portion for calculating an amount of driving power necessary for the driving source in order to operate an accessory device with the driving power;
- an accessory-device controlling portion for controlling an operation of the accessory device;
- and
- a control-pattern calculating portion for calculating a control pattern for the accessory device and controlling the accessory-device controlling portion in accordance with the control pattern,
- wherein the control pattern is calculated based on:
- (i) characteristic data showing a relationship between the driving power of the driving source and a fuel consuming amount;
- (ii) information from the running-condition estimating portion;
- and
- (iii) information from the driving-amount calculating portion;
- wherein the fuel consuming amount of the driving source is minimized for the predetermined estimation period, when the accessory device is operated in accordance with the control pattern calculated by the control-pattern calculating portion;
- wherein the vehicle control system further comprises an accessory-condition detecting portion for detecting a condition of the accessory device or an accessory system,
- wherein the driving-amount calculating portion is composed of an efficiency estimating portion for estimating operation efficiency of the driving source or an energy-consuming amount estimating portion for estimating an energy consuming amount of the driving source, based on the information from the running-condition estimating portion as well as a condition of the driving source;
- wherein the control-pattern calculating portion calculates the control pattern for the accessory device based on:
- (iv) the operation efficiency of the driving source estimated by the efficiency estimating portion or the energy consuming amount of the driving source estimated by the energy-consuming amount estimating portion;
- and
- (v) information from the accessory-condition detecting portion for the condition of the accessory device or the accessory system, and
- wherein the energy consuming amount of the driving source is minimized for the predetermined estimation period, when the accessory device is operated in accordance with the control pattern;
- wherein the control-pattern calculating portion is composed of:
- a control-pattern estimating portion for estimating multiple possible control patterns;
- and
- a selecting portion for selecting one control pattern for the accessory device or the accessory system from the multiple possible control patterns based on:
- the information from the accessory-condition detecting portion for the condition of the accessory device or the accessory system, and
- the information for the operation efficiency of the accessory device or the accessory system
- wherein the selecting portion selects the control pattern based on:
- the information for the operation efficiency,
- a value related to a required energy amount of the accessory system, wherein the required energy amount corresponds to the information for the condition of the accessory system, and
- output of the accessory device.
26 more elements
A vehicle control system for controlling a driving source of a vehicle comprising:
- a processor for executing non-transitory portions comprising:
- a running-condition estimating portion for estimating a running condition of the vehicle for a predetermined estimation period based on information related to vehicle condition;
- a driving-amount calculating portion for calculating an amount of driving power necessary for the driving source in order to operate an accessory device with the driving power;
- an accessory-device controlling portion for controlling an operation of the accessory device;
- and
- a control-pattern calculating portion for calculating a control pattern for the accessory device and controlling the accessory-device controlling portion in accordance with the control pattern,
- wherein the control pattern is calculated based on:
- (i) characteristic data showing a relationship between the driving power of the driving source and a fuel consuming amount;
- (ii) information from the running-condition estimating portion;
- and
- (iii) information from the driving-amount calculating portion;
- wherein the fuel consuming amount of the driving source is minimized for the predetermined estimation period, when the accessory device is operated in accordance with the control pattern calculated by the control-pattern calculating portion;
- wherein a work-volume change-rate is set as such a value, which has an influence on drivability of the vehicle, or which has an influence on a life-time of the accessory device and/or the accessory system, and
- the control pattern is decided depending on the work-volume change-rate.
11 more elements
A vehicle control system for controlling a driving source of a vehicle comprising:
- a processor for executing non-transitory portions comprising:
- a running-condition estimating portion for estimating a running condition of the vehicle for a predetermined estimation period based on information related to vehicle condition;
- an engine-condition detecting portion for detecting an operating condition of an engine;
- an efficiency estimating portion for estimating an engine efficiency based on the estimated running condition of the vehicle and the detected operating condition of the engine;
- an average-value calculating portion for calculating an average value of the engine efficiency for the predetermined estimation period;
- a battery-condition detecting portion for detecting an operating condition of a battery, which is charged with electric power generated by an alternator;
- a provisional electric-power amount calculating portion for calculating a provisional value for electric power to be generated by the alternator based on the detected engine efficiency, the average value of the engine efficiency and the detected operating condition of the battery;
- a driving-power amount calculating portion for calculating a driving-power amount necessary for operating the alternator so as to generate electric power equal to the provisional value for the electric power, the driving-power amount calculating portion further calculating operation efficiency for generating the electric power;
- a correcting portion for correcting the provisional value for the electric power by use of the operation efficiency for generating the electric power, in order to calculate a control pattern for the alternator;
- and
- a driving portion for operating the alternator in accordance with the calculated control pattern.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.