Transmission control device for vehicle

The present invention provides a transmission control device for a vehicle capable of changing a threshold of a shift map for determining shift-up, thereby preventing occurrence of the shift-up during depression of an accelerator and preventing occurrence of a torque interruption. In a transmission control device for a vehicle 1 including a T/M-ECU 50 which automatically performs shift control for switching a plurality of shift gears of a transmission 20 for shift-up or shift-down, the T/M-ECU 50 has a shift threshold setting unit 54 which sets a shift threshold to be used for the shift control, on the basis of an operation plan or a surrounding state of the vehicle 1, and the shift threshold setting unit 54 sets the shift threshold to perform the shift control on the transmission 20 so as not to perform the shift-up of the transmission 20 during acceleration of the vehicle 1.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a transmission control device for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

In a vehicle including a multi-stage transmission such as an automatic transmission (AT) and an automated manual transmission (AMT), if a clutch is released according to shift-up during acceleration by depression of an accelerator, a time for which an engine torque is not transmitted to the tire side occurs (hereinafter, referred to as a torque interruption). Particularly, in the AMT that controls a single clutch on the basis of a manual transmission (MT) and performs shift-up/shift-down automatically, a long-time torque interruption occurs as compared with other transmission systems.

If the torque interruption suddenly occurs during the acceleration of the vehicle, a driver who drives the vehicle receives an impact due to the sudden torque interruption (hereinafter, referred to as a torque interruption shock).

Due to the occurrence of the torque interruption, even though the driver depresses the accelerator to accelerate the vehicle, a time for which the acceleration expected by the driver (or an automated driving electronic control unit (ECU)) is not obtained occurs. As a result, drivability of the driver is impaired. Further, riding comfort of the driver is impaired due to the occurrence of the torque interruption shock.

By reducing a depression amount of the accelerator immediately before the shift-up, the driver (or the automated driving ECU) can reduce the torque interruption shock. However, a time for which the vehicle cannot be accelerated further increases.

A method in which, even if the driver keeps depressing the accelerator, the ECU performs control to temporarily loosen a throttle for adjusting an amount of air to be sent to an engine, thereby mitigating the torque interruption shock at the time of the shift-up (performing control for releasing the clutch after loosening the throttle little by little, before releasing the clutch) is also considered. However, in the above method, the torque interruption shock can be mitigated. However, the torque interruption occurs, and as a result of performing the control for loosening the throttle by the ECU, the time for which the vehicle cannot be accelerated rather increases.

Here, technologies in which, in the ECU, a plurality of types of shift maps used to determine whether or not to perform the shift-up of the multi-stage transmission are prepared and a shift map selected according to a traveling state of the vehicle is selected are disclosed (PTL 1, PTL 3, and PTL 4).

Further, technology for performing shift control of the multi-stage transmission on the basis of a relative speed between an own vehicle and a preceding vehicle, an inter-vehicle distance, and a target inter-vehicle distance is disclosed (PTL 2).

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

However, the technologies of PTL 1 to PTL 4 do not control the multi-stage transmission so that the shift-up does not occur during the acceleration of the vehicle, and cannot prevent the torque interruption due to the occurrence of the shift-up during the acceleration of the vehicle.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems and an object thereof is to provide a transmission control device for a vehicle capable of changing a threshold of a shift map for determining shift-up, thereby preventing occurrence of the shift-up during depression of an accelerator and preventing occurrence of a torque interruption.

Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the above object, a transmission control device for a vehicle according to a first invention described in claim1is a transmission control device for a vehicle including a control unit which automatically performs shift control for switching a plurality of gears of a multi-stage transmission for shift-up or shift-down. The control unit has a shift threshold setting unit which sets a shift threshold to be used for the shift control, on the basis of an operation plan or a surrounding state of the vehicle, and the shift threshold setting unit sets the shift threshold to perform the shift control on the multi-stage transmission so as not to perform the shift-up of the multi-stage transmission during acceleration of the vehicle.

Further, in a transmission control device for a vehicle according to a second invention described in claim2, in the first invention, the shift threshold setting unit sets the shift threshold, on the basis of an upper limit vehicle speed of the vehicle to be predicted during an acceleration period until the vehicle starts to accelerate and then reduces an acceleration amount.

Further, in a transmission control device for a vehicle according to a third invention described in claim3, in the first invention, a measurement unit which measures the presence or absence of other vehicle located in front of the vehicle and a distance and/or a relative speed between the vehicle and other vehicle is included. The presence or absence of other vehicle and the distance or the relative speed between the vehicle and other vehicle, measured by the measurement unit, are used to determine the surrounding state.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, since occurrence of a torque interruption shock in a multi-stage transmission is prevented, it is not necessary for a driver to perform a complicated operation such as temporarily loosening an accelerator near shift timing during acceleration of a vehicle. Therefore, for the driver, drivability of the vehicle is improved.

Further, when the vehicle is accelerated on the basis of a driver's intention or an operation plan of an automated driving ECU, it is possible to perform the acceleration as expected by the driver or the automated driving ECU without occurrence of a torque interruption state. As a result, for the driver, the drivability of the vehicle is improved, and for the automated driving ECU, driving can be reliably performed according to the operation plan and a degree of freedom of the operation plan is improved.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[Entire Structure of Vehicle]

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described on the basis of the drawings. In the embodiment, a vehicle1including an AMT will be described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a vehicle including a transmission having a multi-stage transmission may be used and a vehicle including an AT having a multi-stage transmission may be used.

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating an entire structure of the vehicle1according to the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 1, in the vehicle1, a transmission (T/M)20is connected to an output shaft11of a drive source10and a rotation number of the output shaft11is shifted to a predetermined rotation number by the transmission20.

The rotation number of the output shaft11shifted by the transmission20is transmitted to a propeller shaft21to be the input side of a differential gear30and is transmitted to left and right tires40and40via the differential gear30.

The drive source10has a configuration generally used as a drive source of the vehicle, such as an internal combustion engine such as an engine, a motor, and a combination of the internal combustion engine and the motor.

The transmission20is a multi-stage transmission with a plurality of gears having different numbers of teeth. By selecting an optimum gear from the plurality of gears, the transmission20converts the rotation number of the drive source10(output shaft11) into a desired rotation number or changes the rotation direction and transmits it.

In the embodiment, the transmission20has five shift gears of a first gear, a second gear, a third gear, a fourth gear, and a fifth gear not shown in the drawing. The shift gears are sequentially switched from the first gear to the fifth gear, so that it is possible to shift the vehicle1from low-speed traveling to high-speed traveling.

Further, any shift gear of the first to fifth gears is appropriately switched, so that acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle1is smoothly performed.

Further, there is a clutch (or a torque converter) not shown in the drawing between the shift gears in the transmission20and the drive source10. When the shift gear is shifted, the clutch is temporarily disconnected and the clutch is connected again after switching the shift gear.

Switching of the shift gear is performed by a T/M-ECU50.

The T/M-ECU50automatically performs switching of each shift gear, on the basis of a shift map100(refer toFIG. 2) having a shift threshold defined by a relation between a speed of the vehicle (vehicle speed) and a depression amount of an accelerator95(accelerator opening).

The T/M-ECU50has a CPU51, a RAM52for temporarily storing data processed by the CPU51, and a ROM53for storing the shift map100and a control program150executed by the CPU51. The control program150includes a shift threshold setting unit54.

The T/M-ECU50constitutes a control unit of the present invention.

The central processing unit (CPU)51is a so-called microprocessor, and reads and executes the control program150stored in the ROM53to perform processing for controlling switching of the shift gear of the transmission20.

The random access memory (RAM)52is a volatile memory, and has a work area in which data processed by the CPU51is temporarily stored so as to be readable and writable. The data processed by the CPU51is temporarily stored in the RAM52, and the stored data is read by the CPU51and is used again for processing by the CPU51.

The read only memory (ROM)53is a non-volatile memory, and the control program150necessary for the T/M-ECU50to execute control for switching the shift gear of the transmission20is stored in the ROM53. The control program150is read and executed by the CPU51.

The shift map100used by the CPU51to determine timing at which the shift gear of the transmission20is switched is stored in the ROM53. The shift map100is read by the CPU51and is temporarily stored in the RAM52.

The shift threshold setting unit54included in the control program150calculates a shift threshold used in the shift map100, on the basis of a surrounding state of the vehicle1or an operation plan preset in the case of automated driving, and resets (changes) the shift threshold of the shift map100temporarily stored in the RAM52to the calculated new shift threshold.

Information of the surrounding state of the vehicle1to be used by the shift threshold setting unit54is acquired by an AD/ADAS-ECU60mounted on the vehicle1.

The AD/ADAS-ECU60is an ECU of a system for automatically driving a vehicle or assisting driving by a driver D, and is generally called an automated driving/advanced driver assistance system.

The AD/ADAS-ECU60is connected to a camera (stereo camera)90for photographing the surroundings of the vehicle1, a radar91for detecting an object around the vehicle1, and an ultrasonic wave92.

The AD/ADAS-ECU60determines the surrounding state of the vehicle1, on the basis of information obtained by the camera90, the radar91, and the ultrasonic wave92.

For example, the AD/ADAS-ECU60determines whether or not there is a preceding vehicle Cf in front of the vehicle1, on the basis of a photographed image of the camera90which has photographed the front of the vehicle1(own vehicle). When there is the preceding vehicle Cf, the AD/ADAS-ECU60calculates a distance S(t) and a relative speed Vr(t) between the preceding vehicle Cf and the vehicle1. Further, in the case of the automated driving of the vehicle, an immediate operation plan is calculated on the basis of the surrounding state. At this time, an immediate vehicle speed plan V(t) of a time and a vehicle speed is calculated as a part of the operation plan.

Information of the distance S(t) and the relative speed Vr(t) between the preceding vehicle Cf and the vehicle1, calculated by the AD/ADAS-ECU60, or the immediate vehicle speed plan V(t) is transmitted to the T/M-ECU50via an in-vehicle communication path98such as a controller area network (CAN) and is used for calculation of the shift threshold in the shift threshold setting unit54.

An ENG-ECU70is a control device that controls the drive source10. The ENG-ECU70has a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like not shown in the drawing.

In the ENG-ECU70, the CPU executes a control program stored in the ROM not shown in the drawing, so that processing for controlling the drive source10is performed.

For example, the ENG-ECU70controls an opening (throttle opening) of a throttle to adjust an amount of air sent to the drive source10, on the basis of a required drive force or a required rotation number transmitted from the T/M-ECU50via the in-vehicle communication path98. Thereby, in the vehicle1, an output (rotation number of the output shaft11) of the drive source10is controlled. As a result, a vehicle speed V of the vehicle1is adjusted.

The T/M-ECU50constitutes a transmission control device of the present invention.

Next, the shift map100that is stored in the ROM53will be described.

FIG. 2is a diagram illustrating the shift map100.

The T/M-ECU50(ROM53) has shift maps for shift-up and shift-down, respectively, and uses each shift map to determine timing of switching (shift change) of the shift gears (first gear to fifth gear).

The shift map (shift map100) for the shift-up will be described below and the description of the shift map for the shift-down will be omitted.

The shift map100in which a vehicle speed V of the vehicle1is represented by a horizontal axis to be one axis and a depression amount (accelerator opening A) of the accelerator95by the driver D is represented by a vertical axis to be the other axis is shown.

Since the depression amount (accelerator opening A) of the accelerator95and the opening (throttle opening) of the throttle for adjusting the amount of air sent to the drive source10(engine) are normally in a correspondence relation, the vertical axis of the shift map100may represent the throttle opening indicating the opening of the throttle.

In the shift map100, a plurality of shift thresholds defined by the vehicle speed V and the accelerator opening A are set.

In the embodiment, a 1-2 shift threshold101defining switching timing from the first gear to the second gear, a 2-3 shift threshold102defining switching timing from the second gear to the third gear, a 3-4 shift threshold103defining switching timing from the third gear to the fourth gear, and a 4-5 shift threshold104defining switching timing from the fourth gear to the fifth gear are set.

For example, in the shift map100, if the driver D depresses the accelerator95by a constant amount, the vehicle speed V of the vehicle1gradually increases. If the vehicle speed V exceeds the 1-2 shift threshold101, the T/M-ECU50performs control for switching the shift gear of the transmission20from the first gear to the second gear and instructs the ENG-ECU70to output the drive force or the rotation number according to the transient state at the time of shifting and the gear after shifting. In this way, the shift-up of the transmission20is performed.

When the vehicle speed V of the vehicle1exceeds each of the 2-3 shift threshold102, the 3-4 shift threshold103, and the 4-5 shift threshold104, the T/M-ECU50performs control for switching the shift gear from the second gear to the third gear, from the third gear to the fourth gear, and from the fourth gear to the fifth gear, respectively, so that the shift-up of the transmission20is sequentially performed.

As described above, for example, in the shift map100shown inFIG. 2, if the current accelerator opening is constant at A1and the vehicle speed V of the vehicle1exceeds the 2-3 shift threshold102, the shift gear of the transmission20is switched from the second gear to the third gear.

Here, when the shift gear is switched from the second gear to the third gear, in the transmission20, an operation is performed in which the clutch not shown in the drawing is temporarily released and then the clutch is connected again.

In the transmission20, a time during which the torque of the drive source10is not transmitted to the side of the tires40and40from the clutch release to the reconnection occurs and a so-called torque interruption state occurs. Further, at the time of entering the torque interruption state, an impact (torque interruption shock) occurs due to a change from a state where the torque is applied to a state where the torque is not applied suddenly.

As such, if the accelerator opening is constant at A1and the torque interruption shock occurs during acceleration of the vehicle1, a time for which the acceleration expected by depressing the accelerator by the driver D is not obtained occurs, and riding comfort of the vehicle worsens due to the torque interruption shock.

Further, in the case of automatically driving the vehicle, a time for which the vehicle does not accelerate according to the predetermined operation plan occurs and an operation plan should be made in consideration of the time for which the vehicle does not accelerate. For this reason, a degree of freedom of the operation plan becomes narrow.

As a result of earnest research, the present inventors have found that switching control of the shift gear for the shift-up is not performed during the acceleration of the vehicle1so as to prevent the torque interruption shock from occurring, thereby preventing the riding comfort of the vehicle1from being impaired and increasing the degree of freedom of the operation plan in the case of automatically driving the vehicle1.

In the embodiment, in the shift map100shown inFIG. 2, for example, the shift threshold (2-3 shift threshold102) defining the timing at which the second gear of the transmission20is switched to the third gear is changed to a position shifted to the right side in the drawing as compared with an upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) of the vehicle1predicted from the accelerator opening A1at the current shift position (changed 2-3 shift threshold102A: broken line in the drawing).

As shown inFIG. 2, in the case of the current accelerator opening A1, the changed 2-3 shift threshold102A is positioned on the right side in the drawing as compared with the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) of the vehicle1predicted at the current shift position.

Thereby, the vehicle1reaches the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) before switching (shift-up) from the second gear to the third gear. As a result, the driver D performs an operation of loosening the accelerator95(the accelerator opening A decreases), on the basis of that the vehicle speed of the vehicle1has exceeded the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg).

When the accelerator95is loosened and the accelerator opening A becomes an accelerator opening A2smaller than the accelerator opening A1during an acceleration period, the vehicle speed V of the vehicle1exceeds the changed 2-3 shift threshold102A, so that the second gear is switched to the third gear at this timing (shift-up).

As a result, in the transmission20, switching of the shift gear is performed in a state where the accelerator95of the vehicle1is loosened, so that an influence of the torque interruption shock occurring at the time of switching of the shift gear can be reduced.

Here, in the embodiment, the changed shift threshold (for example, the 2-3 shift threshold102A) is set to pass through the coordinates (V(tg)+α, A1−β) of (V(tg)+α) larger than the predicted upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) by a margin amount α and (A1−β) smaller than the current accelerator opening A1by a margin amount β.

As such, in the T/M-ECU50, by changing the shift threshold of the shift map100, the shift-up is not performed during the acceleration period during which the vehicle1accelerates up to the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) predicted at the shift position, in a state of the accelerator opening A1.

After the vehicle1reaches the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) predicted at the shift position and the driver D loosens the accelerator95, the vehicle speed V of the vehicle1exceeds the changed 2-3 shift threshold102A, so that switching (shift-up) from the second gear to the third gear is performed at timing when the driver D loosens the accelerator95.

That is, loosening of the accelerator95by the driver D (or the automated driving ECU) means that the driver D attempts to reduce the acceleration of the vehicle1. Therefore, by performing the shift-up of the vehicle1at this timing, a sense of discomfort when the acceleration is not performed temporarily due to the torque interruption is reduced, and the torque interruption shock is also reduced.

However, since the rotation number of the drive source10(engine) at each shift position has an upper limit, and a noise or a vibration of the drive source10increases at the rotation number close to the upper limit and fuel efficiency decreases, it is not possible to increase the shift threshold of the shift-up without limitation.

Therefore, in the shift map100, a maximum vehicle speed Vmax is set for each shift threshold, and each shift threshold is set so as not to exceed each maximum vehicle speed Vmax.

In the embodiment, for example, the changed 2-3 shift threshold102A is set so as not to exceed the maximum vehicle speed Vmax set by the 2-3 shift threshold102A (in the drawing, the 2-3 shift threshold102A is located at the left side of the maximum vehicle speed Vmax).

Next, a method of calculating the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) of the vehicle1will be described.

When the distance S(t) and the relative speed Vr(t) between the preceding vehicle Cf and the own vehicle1are received from the AD/ADAS-ECU60, the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) of the vehicle1can be represented by the following formula.

When the vehicle1is driven by the driver D, the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) represented by the above formula 1 is calculated on the basis of the distance S(t) or the relative speed Vr(t) between the preceding vehicle Cf and the vehicle1, measured using the camera90, the radar91, and the ultrasonic wave92mounted on the vehicle1. Further, when the vehicle1is driven automatically, the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) is calculated on the basis of the operation plan (including the vehicle speed) of the vehicle calculated by the automated driving ECU.

In any case, the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) can be obtained by calculating the upper limit value of the vehicle speed predicted during the acceleration period from the start of the acceleration of the vehicle1to the reduction of the acceleration amount.

Next, a definition for calculating V(tg) will be described.

First, the vehicle speed of the preceding vehicle Cf is constant at Vf and the depression amount of the accelerator95by the driver D is constant until the vehicle catches up with the preceding vehicle Cf.

Further, the inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle Cf and the vehicle1(own vehicle) is set to S(t), the vehicle speed of the vehicle1is set to V (t: start time of the present control is set to t=0), the relative speed between the preceding vehicle Cf and the vehicle1is set to Vr(t)=V(t)−Vf, and the target inter-vehicle distance with the preceding vehicle Cf is set to Sb=Vf×tb+γ (tb: idle running time before sudden braking, γ: margin).

Here, the target inter-vehicle distance Sb is a distance at which the vehicle1can stop without colliding with the preceding vehicle Cf, when the vehicle1stops by sudden braking according to a stop of the preceding vehicle Cf by sudden braking, in a state where the vehicle1has caught up with the preceding vehicle Cf (both vehicles have the vehicle speed of Vf).

Further, when it is assumed that a friction coefficient μb between tires and a road surface when the vehicle1stops by sudden braking is the same value in the preceding vehicle Cf and the vehicle1, a distance until the vehicle1starts to suddenly brake with the vehicle speed Vf and then stops is the same as Vf2/(2 μb×g) in both the vehicle1and the preceding vehicle Cf.

Therefore, the target inter-vehicle distance Sb can be considered as a value obtained by adding a constant margin γ to an idle running distance (=Vf×tb) until the preceding vehicle Cf starts to suddenly brake and then the vehicle1starts to suddenly brake.

Here, tb is considered to be about 0.75 seconds when the driver D of the vehicle1views a brake lamp of the preceding vehicle Cf and depresses the brake. However, if sudden braking by a system can be expected, tb can be decreased. In contrast, when the inter-vehicle distance is increased so that the vehicle can be stopped even if the vehicle is not suddenly braked, tb may be set to a large value.

The remaining distance to the target inter-vehicle distance Sb is Sr(t)=S(t)−Sb.

[Method of Calculating Acceleration Based on Torque Curve]

Next, a method of calculating the acceleration of the vehicle1based on a torque curve will be described.

First, when an air density is set to ρ, an air resistance coefficient is set to Cd, a front projection area is set to A, a vehicle speed is set to V, a rolling resistance coefficient is set to μ, a vehicle weight is set to M, a gravitational acceleration is set to g, and a road gradient is set to θ, running resistance R (=air resistance+rolling resistance+gradient resistance) excluding acceleration resistance can be represented by the following formula 2.
R(V)=½×ρCdAV2+μ×Mg×cos θ+Mg×sin θ  [Formula 2]

Under preconditions that a vehicle type is specified, a load variation is ignored, and a gradient is 0 degrees, an atmospheric pressure is 1 atm, and a temperature is about 20° C., since θ=0 is satisfied and ρ, Cd, A, M, and g can be considered as constants, the running resistance R can be represented by the following formula 3.
R(V)=½×ρCdAV2+μ×Mg[Formula 3]

Therefore, if the rolling resistance coefficient μ can be specified (or it can be considered as a constant value by μ=about 0.01, when dry asphalt is assumed), it can be plotted as a quadratic curve of the vehicle speed V.

An upper limit is determined by a constant drive force line (a graph plotting a maximum drive force for each vehicle speed with a vehicle speed on a horizontal axis and a drive force on a vertical axis for each shift position) for each vehicle type.

Here, when Mi is set to an equivalent inertia weight of a rotation portion of a drive system (generally, about several percent of a vehicle weight M), a difference between a drive force T(V) at the current accelerator opening A and the vehicle speed V and the running resistance R(V) is matched with acceleration resistance (M+Mi)dV/dt, so that an acceleration a(t)=dV/dt at the current accelerator opening A and the predetermined shift position can be calculated by the following formula 4

Since it is difficult to exactly derive the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg), an approximate solution is derived.

FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating a method of deriving the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg).

As shown inFIG. 3, a vehicle speed change (solid line in the drawing) when the vehicle1catches up with the preceding vehicle Cf is approximated by a straight line (one-dotted chain line in the drawing), and its vertex is used as an approximate solution of the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg).

There is no problem even if the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) has a slight large value.

An inclination of the approximate straight line (solid line in the drawing) is obtained as follows.

First, a maximum value and a minimum value of T(V)−R(V) are calculated between a current vehicle speed (V(0)) and a maximum vehicle speed Vmax at the current shift gear position (shift position), and a1={T(V)−R(V)}mid/(M+Mi) is calculated on the basis of an intermediate value {T(V)−R(V)}mid thereof.

In addition, a maximum value and a minimum value of −R(V) are calculated between the vehicle speed Vf of the preceding vehicle Cf and the maximum vehicle speed Vmax of the current shift gear position (shift position), and a2={−R(V)}min/(M+Mi) is calculated on the basis of an intermediate value {−R(V)}mid thereof.

By the above, when a1 and a2 are determined, the inter-vehicle distance reduced until the vehicle1catches up with the preceding vehicle Cf and the vehicle speed becomes Vf is represented by a difference between an area of a region K1(leftward oblique hatching inFIG. 3) and an area of a region K2(rightward oblique hatching in the drawing).

Since the reduced inter-vehicle distance becomes equal to Sr(0)=S(0)−(Vf×tb+γ), the following formula 5 is obtained.

If a quadratic equation of the formula 5 is solved, the formula 1 is derived as an approximate expression of V(tg).

In the formula 5, a distance S(0) and a relative speed Vr(0) between the vehicle1and the preceding vehicle Cf at t=0 can be obtained by measuring the distance between the vehicle1and the preceding vehicle Cf using the camera90or the radar91.

Further, the vehicle speed V(0) of the vehicle1at t=0 can be obtained by the rotation number (speed) of the tires40and40.

From these, Vf=V(0)−Vr(0) can be obtained.

Next, a function of the present invention will be described together with an operation of the vehicle1.

FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating the operation (vehicle speed change) of the vehicle in the case of using the shift map100of the present invention, together with the operation (vehicle speed change) of the vehicle in the case of using the conventional shift map.

In the vehicle in the case of using the conventional shift map, the second gear is switched to the third gear before the vehicle (own vehicle) is accelerated and reaches the vehicle speed Vf of the preceding vehicle Cf. Since the vehicle (own vehicle) reaches the vehicle speed Vf (upper limit vehicle speed V(tg)) of the preceding vehicle Cf after the shift gear is switched to the third gear, the driver D loosens the accelerator.

As such, in the vehicle (own vehicle) using the conventional shift map, since the shift gear is switched during acceleration at the accelerator opening A1, the impact (torque interruption shock) due to the torque interruption in a state where the accelerator opening is large increases, the riding comfort of the vehicle worsens, and the drivability of the vehicle by the driver is reduced.

Further, since there is a period during which the acceleration cannot be obtained due to the torque interruption during the acceleration period of the vehicle (own vehicle), the driver D feels that it is not possible to obtain expected acceleration according to the depression amount of the accelerator95. In addition, when the vehicle is operated automatically, the operation plan of the automated driving may be disturbed.

On the other hand, in the vehicle1in the case of using the shift map100of the present invention, after the vehicle1reaches the vehicle speed Vf (upper limit vehicle speed V(tg)) of the preceding vehicle Cf and the driver D loosens the accelerator (after reaching the accelerator opening A2), the second gear is switched to the third gear.

Therefore, the torque interruption occurs in a state where the accelerator opening of the vehicle1decreases from A1to A2, so that the torque interruption shock decreases as compared with the case where the torque interruption occurs in a state of A1where the accelerator opening is large. Further, in the vehicle1, it is possible to obtain expected acceleration according to the depression amount of the accelerator95by the driver D.

As a result, the drivability of the vehicle by the driver D can be increased, and when the vehicle1is driven automatically, the operation plan is not disturbed.

In the embodiment described above, the case where the shift threshold defined by the predetermined shift map100is changed on the basis of the surrounding state of the vehicle1or the operation plan in the case of the automated driving has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

For example, in the T/M-ECU50, a shift map having a shift threshold obtained by previously shifting the shift threshold at each shift position to the high speed side in consideration of the torque interruption shock may be stored in the ROM53.

Further, in the T/M-ECU50, a plurality of shift maps having different shift thresholds according to the surrounding state or the operation plan may be stored in the ROM53, a shift map having an appropriate shift threshold may be read and used according to the surrounding state or the operation plan, and the shift threshold may be changed as described above on the basis of the surrounding state or the operation plan, with respect to the plurality of shift maps.

In this way, the shift map can be adjusted more finely according to the surrounding state or the operation plan, and the drivability of the driver can be improved and the degree of freedom of the operation plan can be increased.

As described above, in the embodiment,

(1) in a transmission control device for the vehicle including the T/M-ECU50(control unit) which automatically performs shift control for switching a plurality of shift gears (first gear to fifth gear: gears) of the transmission20(multi-stage transmission) for shift-up or shift-down, the T/M-ECU50has the shift threshold setting unit54which sets a shift threshold (for example, the 2-3 shift threshold102) to be used for the shift control, on the basis of an operation plan or a surrounding state of the vehicle1, and the shift threshold setting unit54sets the shift threshold (for example, the 2-3 shift threshold102A) to perform the shift control on the transmission20so as not to perform the shift-up of the transmission20during acceleration of the vehicle1.

According to this configuration, in the vehicle1, the shift-up of the transmission20is not performed while the vehicle1accelerates at the constant accelerator opening A1. As a result, impairing of riding comfort of a driver due to occurrence of the torque interruption shock during the acceleration of the vehicle1does not occur.

Further, in the vehicle1, since the torque interruption does not occur during the acceleration of the vehicle1, a time for which the vehicle1cannot accelerate even though the accelerator95is depressed during the acceleration of the vehicle1does not occur and the acceleration expected by the driver can be obtained.

Further, when the vehicle is driven automatically, a non-acceleration time unexpected by the automated driving ECU does not occur. Therefore, it is not necessary to consider occurrence of the time for which the vehicle does not accelerate at the time of making the operation plan of the vehicle and it is possible to increase a degree of freedom of the operation plan.

(2) The shift threshold setting unit54sets the shift threshold, on the basis of the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) of the vehicle to be predicted during an acceleration period until the vehicle1starts to accelerate and then reduces an acceleration amount.

According to this configuration, after the vehicle speed V of the vehicle1exceeds the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) predicted during the acceleration period and the driver D loosens the depression of the accelerator95, the shift threshold setting unit54performs the shift-up of the transmission20. Therefore, the driver D can obtain the expected acceleration in the acceleration period.

(3) The camera90(measurement unit) which measures the presence or absence of the preceding vehicle Cf (other vehicle) located in front of the vehicle1and the distance Sb and/or the relative speed Vr(t) between the vehicle1and the preceding vehicle Cf is provided. The presence or absence of the preceding vehicle Cf and the distance Sb or the relative speed Vr(t) between the vehicle1and the preceding vehicle Cf, measured by the camera90, are used to determine the surrounding state of the vehicle1.

According to this configuration, in the vehicle1, it is not necessary to newly provide a measurement unit used to determine the surrounding state of the vehicle1, and the existing camera90mounted on the vehicle can be effectively used.

(4) The shift threshold setting unit54sets a maximum vehicle speed during an acceleration period until the vehicle1starts to accelerate and then reduces an acceleration amount as the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg), in the operation plan of the vehicle1, and sets the shift threshold on the basis of the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg).

According to this configuration, in the vehicle1, the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) can be accurately set by setting the maximum vehicle speed in the operation plan of the vehicle1to the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg), and the shift-up can be reliably prevented from being performed during the acceleration of the vehicle1.

(5) The shift threshold setting unit54sets the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) on the basis of the relative speed Vr(t) between the vehicle1and the preceding vehicle Cf.

According to this configuration, the shift threshold setting unit54can calculate the relative speed Vr(t) between the vehicle1and the preceding vehicle Cf, on the basis of only measurement information of the existing camera90(stereo camera) mounted on the vehicle1.

As a result, the shift threshold setting unit54can set the shift threshold used to determine whether or not to perform the shift-up of the transmission20on the basis of only the measurement information of the camera90.

(6) The shift threshold setting unit54sets the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) on the basis of the relative speed Vr(t) and the distance Sb between the vehicle1and the preceding vehicle Cf.

According to this configuration, the shift threshold setting unit54can calculate the relative speed Vr(t) and the distance Sb between the vehicle1and the preceding vehicle Cf, on the basis of only the measurement information of the existing camera90(stereo camera) mounted on the vehicle1.

As a result, the shift threshold setting unit54can set the shift threshold used to determine whether or not to perform the shift-up of the transmission20on the basis of only the measurement information of the camera90, and can calculate the shift threshold with higher accuracy by using the distance Sb.

(7) The shift threshold setting unit54has the shift threshold as the shift map100where a horizontal axis (one axis) represents a vehicle speed V and a vertical axis (the other axis) represents the accelerator opening A or the throttle opening.

According to this configuration, the shift threshold setting unit54temporarily rewrites (changing) the shift threshold of the shift map100, thereby performing control so as not to perform the shift-up during the acceleration of the vehicle1.

(8) The shift threshold setting unit54sets the shift threshold so that the shift-up of the transmission20does not occur, even when the vehicle1reaches a margin speed (V(tg)+α) faster by a predetermined speed than the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg), during an acceleration period until an acceleration amount is reduced from a current vehicle speed of the vehicle1.

According to this configuration, the shift-up is not performed until the vehicle1reaches the margin speed (V(tg)+α) faster than the predicted upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) by the predetermined margin amount α. Therefore, even when the vehicle1exceeds the predicted upper limit vehicle speed V(tg), the shift-up can be reliably prevented from being performed during the acceleration of the vehicle1.

(9) The shift threshold setting unit54sets the shift threshold so that the shift-up of the transmission20does not occur, even when the vehicle1reaches the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg), in a state where the accelerator opening A or the throttle opening of the vehicle1becomes smaller by the predetermined margin amount β than the current accelerator opening A1or throttle opening of the vehicle1.

According to this configuration, even when the accelerator opening A1according to the depression amount of the accelerator95becomes smaller by the predetermined margin amount β due to the variation (play) of the accelerator95or the like, the vehicle speed V does not exceed the shift threshold. Therefore, the shift-up can be reliably prevented from being performed during the acceleration of the vehicle1.

(10) The shift threshold setting unit54sets the maximum vehicle speed Vmax so that a noise, a vibration, or deterioration of fuel efficiency does not exceed an allowable limit, when the vehicle travels without performing the shift-up of the transmission20, and the shift threshold setting unit does not change the shift threshold or changes the shift threshold in a range where the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) does not exceed the maximum vehicle speed Vmax (maximum vehicle speed set in a range that does not enter an engine overspeed region at each shift position), when the upper limit vehicle speed V(tg) becomes larger than the maximum vehicle speed Vmax.

According to this configuration, in the vehicle1, the shift-up of the transmission20is performed in a range of vehicle speeds equal to or lower than the maximum vehicle speed Vmax set to each shift position. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the noise, the vibration, or the deterioration of the fuel efficiency of the vehicle1(drive source10) due to the vehicle1exceeding the maximum vehicle speed Vmax set to each shift position (maximum vehicle speed set in a range that does not enter an engine overspeed region at each shift position).

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST