Vehicle control system

A vehicle control system, comprising:

• a brake control section configured for
• controlling transition of a mechanical brake between a released state and a braking state, the braking state being one wherein a braking force is applied to at least one vehicle wheel, and
• switching between selection modes comprising a selection of a manual mode wherein the mechanical brake is configured for transitioning between the released state and the braking state in response to a vehicle user's operation, and a selection of an automatic mode wherein the mechanical brake is configured for automatically transitioning from the released state to the braking state in response to a running condition of the vehicle;
• a power control section configured to control an automatic stopping of a drive power source based on the running condition of the vehicle, the drive power source being a power source that delivers drive power to at least one vehicle wheel;
• a manipulation section in communication with the brake control section and configured to switch the brake control section between the selection modes comprising the selection of the manual mode and the selection of the automatic mode in response to a manual input;
• and
• an inclination detection section for detecting an inclination of a road surface on which the vehicle stops,
• wherein the power control section is configured to
• prevent the vehicle from starting to move due to an inclination of the road surface by inhibiting the automatic stopping of the drive power source when the brake control section is set to the manual selection and additionally the inclination detection section detects a predetermined inclination, and
• carry out the automatic stopping of the drive power source when the running condition of the vehicle satisfies a predetermined condition for determining that the vehicle is in a vehicle stop condition, and the brake control section is set to the automatic selection.

A vehicle control system, comprising:

• a braking mechanism that is adjustable between a vehicle wheel braking state and a vehicle wheel release state;
• a parking brake controller configured to selectively place the braking mechanism in the braking state or the release state;
• a power control section configured to control an automatic stopping of a drive power source of the vehicle based on a running condition of the vehicle, the drive power source being a source of drive power for at least one vehicle wheel;
• and
• an inclination detection section for detecting an inclination of a road surface on which the vehicle stops, wherein
• the parking brake controller is in communication with the power control section and the parking brake controller comprises a diagnostic portion configured to determine whether a manual braking mode or an automatic braking mode is selected, the manual braking mode being a mode wherein the braking mechanism is configured to transition between the release state and the braking state based on a vehicle user input, and the automatic braking mode being a mode wherein the braking mechanism is configured to permit an automatic transition from the release state to the braking state based on a determination by the diagnostic portion that the automatic braking mode is selected,
• the power control section is configured to
• carry out the automatic stopping of the drive power source when a running condition of the vehicle satisfies a predetermined condition for determining that the vehicle is in a vehicle stop condition, and the diagnostic portion determines that the automatic braking mode is selected, and
• prevent the vehicle from starting to move due to an inclination of the road surface by inhibiting the automatic stopping of the drive power source, despite a running condition of the vehicle satisfying the predetermined condition for determining that the vehicle is in a vehicle stop condition, when the diagnostic portion determines that the manual braking mode is selected and additionally the inclination detection section detects a predetermined inclination, and
• the power control section is configured such that, when carrying out the automatic stopping of the drive power source, the drive power source is stopped after the braking mechanism transitions from the released state to the braking state.

A vehicle control system, comprising:

• a brake controller that is configured to transition a parking brake between a braking state and a non-braking state, with transition of the parking brake including the adjustment of a wheel contact brake component;
• an operation switch that is settable by a vehicle user to one of an automatic braking mode “ON” setting and an automatic braking mode “OFF” setting;
• an idle stop control unit that is configured to detect a running condition of the vehicle;
• a power control section that is configured to communicate with the idle stop control unit, and to direct an automatic stopping of a drive power source, the drive power source being a source of vehicle power including a source of drive power to at least one vehicle wheel;
• and
• an inclination detection section for detecting an inclination of a road surface on which the vehicle stops, wherein
• the power control section is configured to
• carry out the automatic stopping of the drive power source when (a) the idle stop control unit determines the running condition of the vehicle satisfies a predetermined condition for determining that the vehicle is in a vehicle stop condition, and (b) the operation switch is set to the automatic braking mode “ON” setting;
• and
• prevent the vehicle from starting to move due to an inclination of the road surface by inhibiting the automatic stopping of the drive power source when the operation switch is set to the automatic braking mode “OFF” setting and additionally the inclination detection section detects a predetermined inclination, despite a determination by the idle stop control unit that the running condition of the vehicle satisfies the predetermined condition for determining that the vehicle is in the vehicle stop condition, and
• the brake controller is configured to control transition of the parking brake between the braking state and the non-braking state based on a manual input by a user when the operation switch is set to the automatic braking mode “OFF” setting.