# US 9,434,390 B2 · Vehicle control device and vehicle control method

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- Number: US 9,434,390 B2
- Document ID: US9434390B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/737,752
- Filed: 2015-06-12
- Published: 2016-01-14
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-07-14
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Takahiro Yokokawa; Masami Kondo; Youhei Hareyama
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434390B2

## CPC

- B60W 50/0098: {Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for}
- B60W 10/02: including control of driveline clutches
- B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines
- B60W 10/10: including control of change-speed gearings
- B60W 10/107: with endless flexible members
- B60W 2030/1809: {Without torque flow between driveshaft and engine, e.g. with clutch disengaged or transmission in neutral}
- B60W 2510/0638: Engine speed
- B60W 2520/10: Longitudinal speed
- B60W 2540/10: Accelerator pedal position
- B60W 2710/02: Clutches
- B60W 2710/06: Combustion engines, Gas turbines
- B60W 2710/10: Change speed gearings
- B60W 2710/1005: Transmission ratio engaged
- Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems
- Y02T 10/60: Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A vehicle control device includes a control unit configured to execute free-run traveling in which an engine is stopped and a clutch that transmits power of the engine to a drive wheel is disengaged, at a time acceleration is not requested during traveling. The control unit is configured to prohibit upshifting of a continuously variable transmission at least during execution of the free-run traveling, drive the engine from the free-run traveling state in response to an acceleration request, and upshift the continuously variable transmission at a time of returning to a normal traveling state in which the clutch is engaged.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle control device comprising:
a control unit configured to execute free-run traveling in which an engine is stopped and a clutch that transmits power of the engine to a drive wheel is disengaged, at a time acceleration is not requested during traveling, wherein
the control unit is configured to prohibit upshifting of a continuously variable transmission at least during execution of the free-run traveling, drive the engine from the free-run traveling state in response to an acceleration request, and upshift the continuously variable transmission at a time of returning to a normal traveling state in which the clutch is engaged.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to upshift the continuously variable transmission before starting engagement of the clutch.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The vehicle control device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to fix a variable speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission during the execution of the free-run traveling.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to fix a variable speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission during the execution of the free-run traveling.

### Claim 5

A vehicle control method comprising:
a control step of executing free-run traveling in which an engine is stopped and a clutch that transmits power of the engine to a drive wheel is disengaged, at a time acceleration is not requested during traveling, wherein
the control step includes:
prohibiting upshifting of a continuously variable transmission at least during execution of the free-run traveling;
driving the engine from the free-run traveling state in response to an acceleration request; and
upshifting the continuously variable transmission at a time of returning to a normal traveling state in which the clutch is engaged.