JP2002243030A - Shift range changing control device for automatic transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shift range changing control device of an automatic transmission easy in starting a vehicle after canceling a vehicle staring standby state while reducing useless energy when the idle stop vehicle stops. SOLUTION: This shift range changing control device is provided with a shift range changing mechanism 10 for changing a shift range of the automatic transmission 50 for the idle stop vehicle to various travel ranges, an actuator 100 being a driving source of the changing mechanism 10, a driving circuit 20b for driving the actuator 100, and a control means for controlling the shift range of the automatic transmission 50 to a shift range corresponding to a changing command by driving the actuator 100 via the driving circuit 20b according to the command inputted by external operation. A control circuit 20 automatically controls a range to a shift range becoming a travel possible state other than a neutral range regardless of the changing command when determined as being in the starting standby state when the vehicle is in a stopping state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a shift range switching control device for an automatic transmission.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a shift range switching device for an automatic transmission, there is known a shift range switching device in which the position of a spool valve for controlling the hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic circuit inside the automatic transmission is operated to shift the shift range (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-1999). No. 93721).

In this device, the spool valve is mechanically linked to a shift lever selecting device, and a driver operates the shift lever selecting device to thereby enable a neutral (hereinafter, referred to as N), parking (Hereinafter referred to as P) and reverse (hereinafter referred to as R) shift levers.

When this device is applied to a so-called idle stop vehicle in which the engine is stopped when the vehicle is stopped, and when the vehicle is stopped at a traffic light or the like in a city area, the engine is also stopped. The hydraulic pump that feeds the oil also stops.

In particular, when the driver operates the shift lever selection device to select the N range, the position of the spool valve is fixed at a position for returning the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic circuit to the drain side. Therefore, when starting the vehicle by starting the engine, there is a problem that the securing of the operating oil pressure in the hydraulic circuit is delayed. In some cases, a sudden increase in the hydraulic pressure due to the response delay may cause a deterioration in the running comfort such as a shock at the time of shift range switching.

As a countermeasure against this, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-93721
According to the publication, a second hydraulic supply circuit including a second hydraulic pump operated by an electric motor is connected to a hydraulic circuit between the hydraulic pump and the spool valve via a check valve. It has a configuration.

[0007]

In the conventional configuration, when the driver operates the shift lever selecting device to select the N range while the vehicle is stopped, the spool valve is fixed at a position for returning the hydraulic pressure to the drain side. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously drive the second hydraulic pump to feed oil while the vehicle is stopped. Accordingly, the size of the second hydraulic pump is increased due to the position of the spool valve in the N range, and the consumption of electric energy is increased.

For this reason, consideration has not been given to reducing wasteful energy while the idle stop vehicle is stopped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has as its object to reduce wasteful energy while an idle stop vehicle is stopped, and to reduce the amount of waste energy when the vehicle is in a standby state for starting the vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a shift range switching control device for an automatic transmission that can be easily started.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a shift range switching mechanism for switching a shift range of an automatic transmission to various traveling ranges including parking, and a drive source of the shift range switching mechanism are provided. The shift range of the automatic transmission is controlled to the shift range corresponding to the switching command by driving the actuator via the driving circuit according to the actuator to be formed, the driving circuit for driving the actuator, and the switching command input by an external operation. Control means, the automatic transmission is connected to an engine for transmitting propulsion to the idle stop vehicle, and the control means, when the vehicle is in a stop state, waits for the driver to wait for the vehicle to start. If it is determined that the vehicle is in the state, the vehicle can be driven outside the neutral range regardless of the switching command. Automatically controlled to become shift range.

With this arrangement, when the idle stop vehicle is stopped and the driver is in a standby state for starting the vehicle, regardless of the switching command, that is, even if the driver selects the shift lever selection device and selects the neutral range. ,
Since the shift range is automatically controlled to a shift range in which a vehicle other than the neutral range can be driven, the vehicle can be started immediately when the cause of the standby state is resolved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the idle vehicle is stopped in the start standby state, the control means, when determining that the switching command is in the neutral range, changes the shift range of the automatic transmission to the drive range. To control.

Thus, if the reason for the start standby state is eliminated, the shift range of the automatic transmission is switched to the drive range, so that the vehicle can be started immediately.

According to claim 3 of the present invention, the control means includes:
A detection device for detecting the switching of the traffic light is provided from outside the vehicle, and a switching signal indicating the switching of the traffic light is transmitted from the detection device, and when it is determined that the switching from the red signal to the blue signal is performed, the engine is restarted.

With this configuration, the control device is configured to transmit a switching signal indicating the switching of the traffic light from the detection device that detects the switching of the traffic light, so that when the traffic light switches from the red signal to the blue signal, , The switching signal is sensed by the control means, and the engine can be restarted.

[0016] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the detection device includes a rank detecting means for detecting from outside the vehicle that the vehicle is the N-th vehicle stopped by the lighting of the red light of the traffic light. When the control means determines that the switching signal has been switched from the red signal to the green signal, the control means starts the engine after an elapsed time obtained by multiplying a predetermined time for the vehicle to start by the Nth.

Accordingly, the control device, that is, the detecting device constituting the control device, includes the rank detecting means for detecting whether the vehicle is the N-th vehicle stopped by turning on the red signal of the traffic light. Even if the stopped vehicle is stopped by the lighting and the vehicle stops in the (N-1) vehicle start standby state, if the traffic light switches from the red signal to the green signal, the Nth stopped vehicle starts the preceding vehicle. , It is possible to start the engine after a lapse of time obtained by multiplying the N-th by a predetermined time when the vehicle starts moving.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the lighting of the red signal of the traffic light is a reason for the start standby state, the control means detects the lighting of the brake lamp of the preceding vehicle which stops in front of the vehicle. The engine is restarted when it is determined from the switching signal from the detecting device that the signal has been switched from the red signal to the green signal, and when it is determined from the light-off signal from the forward detecting device that the brake lamp has been turned off.

Thus, the control means restarts the engine when two conditions are satisfied, that is, the switching signal is switched from the red signal to the green signal and the brake lamp of the preceding vehicle is turned off. After switching from the red signal to the green signal, even if the preceding vehicle is delayed due to engine stall or the like, it is possible to wait for the preceding vehicle to start and restart the engine to start.

According to claim 6 of the present invention, the control means includes:
When the switching command is a parking range, control is performed to a shift range corresponding to the switching command. That is, when the driver operates the shift lever selection device to set the switching command to the parking range, the control is performed to the shift range corresponding to the switching command, that is, the parking range.

Accordingly, even if the vehicle is stopped in the start standby state due to the lighting of the red signal of the traffic light or the like,
There is a reason to hesitate to start the vehicle immediately after the traffic light is switched from the red signal to the green signal, for example, a reason for the driver to perform an operation different from the driving operation such as confirming the destination using a map while the vehicle is stopped. At this time, the driver's will to select the parking range can be respected.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the shift range switching mechanism includes a range switching valve for controlling the hydraulic pressure inside the automatic transmission, the range switching valve including a spool valve and a valve body.
This spool valve returns the hydraulic pressure to the drain side when held at the spool valve position corresponding to the neutral range by the switching command.

The present invention is suitable for a shift range switching control device of an automatic transmission having a shift range switching mechanism having the above-described configuration.

That is, the shift range switching control device for an automatic transmission according to the present invention automatically controls the shift range in which the vehicle can travel outside the neutral range, so that the vehicle is ready to start (except when the switching command is the parking range). When the vehicle stops, the spool valve is not fixed at the position for returning the hydraulic pressure to the drain side, so that the hydraulic pressure inside the automatic transmission does not drop out.

For this reason, when compared with a shift range switching control device of an automatic transmission having a configuration in which a neutral range is set when the vehicle is stopped, for example, when the oil pressure is returned to the drain side, when the engine is stopped, a power supply such as a battery is stopped. There is no need to waste energy, such as driving an electric pump using a hydraulic pump to supply hydraulic pressure.

Therefore, while the idle stop vehicle is stopped, the shift range is set so that the vehicle can run outside the neutral range while reducing the wasted energy. It is possible to immediately start the engine and start the vehicle without deteriorating running comfort such as shock due to range switching.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention applied to a control device for an automatic transmission for a vehicle, particularly for an automatic transmission for an idle stop vehicle, will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a shift range switching control device for an automatic transmission according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an electrical configuration diagram showing an electrical configuration for controlling the shift range by driving the actuator unit in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a determination process for determining a vehicle stopped in the start standby state and a shift range control process in the start standby state, which are executed by the control circuit in FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a shift range control process of an embodiment in which the shift range control process in the start standby state of FIG. 3 is embodied.

As shown in FIG. 1, a shift range switching control device 1 for an automatic transmission includes a shift range selection device 10.
, A control circuit 20a, a display unit 30, and a drive circuit 20b.
And a shift range switching mechanism 40 incorporated in the automatic transmission 50 for switching a shift range, an actuator unit 100 for driving the shift range mechanism 40, a vehicle speed sensor 70, and a brake switch 80. I have.

The shift range selection device 10 includes a position switch which is switched by operating a shift lever by a driver to select various driving ranges including parking of the automatic transmission 50, or an operation switch which is directly operated by the driver. Be composed.

The control circuit 20a uses a microcomputer, a read-only memory (ROM) storing programs necessary for various software processes for switching the running range of the automatic transmission 50, and a central processing unit for executing the programs. Processing unit (CPU), writable memory (RA) for temporarily storing variables necessary for the program
M) and the like.

A switching command (hereinafter referred to as a range signal) output by operating the range selection device 10 is input to the control circuit 20a.
00a (see FIG. 5) for detecting the rotation angle
3 is input.

The control circuit 20a drives the actuator section 100 via a drive circuit 20b, which will be described later, in accordance with a range signal input by an external operation of the range selection device 10 or the like, so that a shift signal corresponding to the range signal is obtained. Control means for controlling to a range.

The drive signal output from the control circuit 20a according to the range signal is input to the drive circuit 20b. The drive circuit 20b supplies a current according to the drive signal,
The driving range switching actuator unit 100 is driven.

The display unit 30 is a device for notifying a vehicle occupant such as a driver, for example, a range indicator 30a on an instrument panel provided in front of a driver's seat or a voice navigation control unit (not shown). Note that a warning lamp 30b may be used as a means for notifying the driver or the occupant of the state of the shift range switching control device 1. Further, signals output from the control circuit 20 to the range indicator 30a and the voice navigation control unit are input to the display unit 30, respectively. Range indicator 30
In a, basically, the current traveling range of the automatic transmission 50 is lit and displayed, and the voice navigation control unit outputs sound from a speaker (not shown) to notify the driver of an erroneous operation of the range selection device 10 and the like. It is possible to perform a function such as a warning.

Vehicle speed sensor 70 and brake switch 8
0 is a device for recognizing the driving state of the vehicle,
For example, in response to a range signal output from the shift range selection device 10 by a driver's operation of a shift lever or the like, a target travel range is corrected according to the driving state of the vehicle, or a shift range selection device by the driver. Signals of the vehicle speed sensor 70 and the brake switch 80 are input to the control circuit 20 so that the operation of the vehicle 10 can be restricted.

Here, the actuator section 100 is the same as that shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
2, the encoder 103, and the neutral start switch 108.

As the actuator 101, a DC motor or a synchronous motor is used.
One rotating shaft 100a is connected to a speed reduction mechanism 102 that increases output torque.

The output end of the speed reduction mechanism 102 is connected to a control output shaft 408 of the shift range switching mechanism 40 (see FIG. 5). Therefore, when the driver operates the range selection device 10 to switch to the P range, the reduction mechanism 102 uses the actuator 101 to park the parking mechanism 40p (FIG. 5).
A large output torque can be generated without increasing the size of the actuator 101 so as to operate the mechanical locking means (see (2)).

The encoder 103 includes the actuator 10
It detects the rotation angle of one rotation shaft 100a,
In order to operate the shift range switching mechanism by rotating the actuator 101 a plurality of times via the speed reduction mechanism 102, an absolute rotation angle can be detected.

The shift range switching mechanism 40 sets the shift range of the automatic transmission 50 to each of parking (P), reverse (R), neutral (N), drive (D), second (2), and low (L). This is for sequentially switching to the driving range.

As shown in FIG. 5, the shift range switching mechanism 40 includes a range switching valve 40h and a parking mechanism 4
0p. The range switching valve 40h is connected to the automatic transmission 50.
By supplying hydraulic pressure to the internal hydraulic circuit and controlling the position of the spool valve 401, the discharge port is switched to engage and disengage a friction engagement device (not shown) for setting each travel range. It is controlled. In addition,
When the actuator 101 is operated to hold the spool valve at the spool valve position corresponding to the N range, the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic circuit is returned to the drain side. Further, the parking mechanism 40p is a mechanical locking means interlocked with the position of the spool valve 401, and switches to the P range.

As a specific configuration, the range switching valve 40
h, a spool valve 401, a valve body 402, and a detent spring 40 for holding each travel range.
3, a detent lever 404, a parking mechanism 405, a parking gear 405 provided on an output shaft (not shown) of the automatic transmission 50, and the parking gear 4
The parking lock pole 406 is fitted with a parking rod 405, a parking rod 407 for converting the rotation of the control output shaft 408 into a linear motion, and a control output shaft 408 to which the detent lever 404 is fixed.

In the parking mechanism 40p, the rotation of the control output shaft 408 is linked by the detent lever 404 and the parking rod 407 in the directions indicated by arrows A and B via the parking rod 407, and the parking king pole 406 is moved to the parking gear 405. To fit. Thereby, the control output shaft 4 connected to the output shaft 100a of the actuator section 100
The rotation to 08 switches to the P range.

The configuration of the shift range switching control device 1 of the automatic transmission has been described above. The electrical configuration for controlling the shift range by driving the actuator unit 100 is as shown in FIG. Here, the actuator control circuit 20 includes the control circuit 20a and the drive circuit 2 described above.
0b, and includes a control unit 201, a counter unit 202, a nonvolatile memory unit 203 built in the control unit 201, a signal input / output stage 204, and the like. The power supply to the actuator control circuit 20 is performed by a battery 600 charged by an alternator (not shown) when the engine is driven, and the power from the battery 600 to the actuator control circuit 20 is turned on and off by the ignition key 620. Is supplied and cut off via the relay 610.

In the shift range switching control device 1 of the automatic transmission having the above-described configuration, the control circuit 20a receives a range signal output from the shift range selecting device 10 by a shift lever operation by a driver or the like. Next, the control circuit 20a controls the rotation shaft 100 detected by the encoder 103 provided in the actuator unit 100 to be in a target travel range (hereinafter, referred to as a target travel range).
A signal representing the rotation angle of a and a drive signal for switching from the current travel range to the target travel range are sent to the drive circuit 20b. As a result, the drive circuit 20b is connected to the actuator 1
01 is supplied to switch to the target travel range.

Here, when the vehicle, which is a feature of the present invention, is stopped in the start standby state, the vehicle, particularly the automatic transmission, reduces waste energy, and after the vehicle start standby state is resolved, the vehicle start is stopped. The means that can be easily implemented are described below in FIG.
3 and FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the actuator control circuit 20 is provided with various sensors for transmitting signals indicating the running state of the vehicle, such as the vehicle speed sensor 70, the brake switch 80, and the ignition key 620, to the control circuit 20. It is connected to the input / output stage 204.

Next, after the standby state for starting the vehicle is eliminated while reducing the wasted energy of the automatic transmission, the control circuit 20 as control means, which is means for easily starting the vehicle, stops the vehicle and stops. Determines that the vehicle is in the start standby state,
Regarding the shift range control processing in the start standby state, FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a control process for judging that the vehicle is stopped and in the start standby state, and shifting to the shift range control process in the start standby state (hereinafter, shift range control process in the start standby state). (Referred to as transition determination processing)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the shift range control process in the start standby state.

As shown in FIG. 3, a shift determination process S300 (S represents a step) for shifting to the shift range control process in the start standby state is performed by inputting and outputting a vehicle speed signal transmitted from the vehicle speed sensor 70 in S301. The vehicle speed is read by taking it into the stage 204. When this vehicle speed is read, S302
Then, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is in a stopped state (a state in which the vehicle speed is substantially zero). If the vehicle speed is substantially zero, the process proceeds to S303. Conversely, if the vehicle speed is not substantially zero, the process returns to S301 and the process is set to a standby state. This standby state is set in S30
The processing is canceled in accordance with a predetermined reading cycle in which the vehicle speed is read in 1 and the processing after S300 is continued.

The reason why the vehicle stop state is to be recognized when the vehicle speed is substantially zero is that a vehicle speed detection system error of the vehicle speed sensor 70 or the like when the vehicle is completely stopped, or a signal waiting state. This takes into account the vehicle stop state of waiting for starting on a sloped road such as an uphill road.

In step S303, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is in a state of waiting for the elimination of the reason for restricting the vehicle start, that is, a so-called vehicle start standby state. If it is the vehicle start standby state, the process shifts to the shift range control process in the start standby state in S500, and the process ends. Conversely, if the vehicle is not in the vehicle start standby state, the process returns to S301 and the process is set to the standby state.

The vehicle start standby state is a vehicle stop state which is a prerequisite for applying the idle stop state in idle stop control processing applied to an idle stop vehicle, in particular, control processing relating to engine stop for stopping the engine. Although it depends on the determination criterion, an example of determining that the vehicle is in the vehicle start standby state will be described below. (1)
After a predetermined stop period in the idle stop vehicle,
The engine is stopped, (2) the driver is performing a brake operation such as depressing a brake pedal, and (3) the driver is not performing an accelerator operation such as depressing an accelerator pedal. , (4) that the ignition key is turned on.

It should be noted that the determination as to whether the vehicle is in the vehicle start standby state is based on a so-called idle stop mode signal indicating that the vehicle stop state determination criterion in the idle stop control process is satisfied. Input / output stage 2
04 is desirable.

The above-mentioned conditions are specifically, for example,
Brake switch 8 indicating the operation state of the brake pedal
0, transmitted from an accelerator switch (not shown) indicating an operation state of an accelerator pedal and an ignition key 620 indicating an ON state of an ignition key, and taken into a signal input / output stage 204 of the control circuit 20 to be in a vehicle start standby state. It is determined whether or not there is.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the shift range control process S500 in the start standby state is executed in response to a command to switch to various shift ranges selected by operating the shift lever selection device 10 by the driver. To a shift range where vehicles other than the N range can run, in principle,
Control is possible.

That is, in the shift range control process in the start standby state S500, it is determined in S501 whether or not the switching command is the N range, and if it is the N range, the process proceeds to S502. Conversely, if it is not the N range, the flow shifts to S503.

When it is determined in S501 that the switching command is in the N range, in S502, the control circuit 20 drives the actuator 101 to change the shift range of the automatic transmission 50 from the start standby state. Then, control is performed to switch to the D range in which the vehicle can run, and the process ends.

In S503, it is determined whether or not the switching command is in the P range, and if it is in the P range, the flow shifts to S504. On the other hand, if it is not the P range, the flow shifts to S505.

If it is determined in S503 that the switching command is in the P range, in S504, the control circuit 20 via the actuator 101 determines that the shift range of the automatic transmission 50 is a shift range corresponding to the switching command, that is, It is controlled to the P range.

That is, when the driver operates the shift lever selection device 10 to set the switching command to the P range, the shift range of the automatic transmission 50 is controlled to the P range.

Thus, even when the vehicle is stopped in the start standby state due to, for example, the lighting of the red signal of the traffic signal, he / she hesitates to start the vehicle immediately after the traffic signal is switched from the red signal to the green signal. For example, when there is a reason that the driver wants to perform an operation different from a driving operation such as checking a destination using a map by using a vehicle stop, the intention of the driver to select the P range can be respected.

In S505, it is determined whether or not the switching command is in the R range, and if it is in the R range, the flow shifts to S506. Conversely, if it is not the R range, the process ends.

When it is determined in S505 that the switching command is in the R range, in S506, the control circuit 20 via the actuator 101 moves the shift range of the automatic transmission 50 if the start standby state is canceled. The process is controlled to the R range in which the process can be performed, and the process ends.

Thus, when the idle-up vehicle stops,
When the driver is in the standby state for starting the vehicle, regardless of the switching command, in principle, the shift range is automatically controlled to a state in which the vehicle can be driven other than the N range. As soon as it is resolved, the vehicle can be started.

In the shift range mechanism 40 described above, when the spool valve 401 of the range switching valve 40 is held at the spool valve position corresponding to the N range, the automatic transmission 5
Since the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic circuit inside the automatic transmission 50 is returned to the drain side, the hydraulic pressure inside the automatic transmission 50 may be extracted.

On the other hand, the shift range switching control device 1 of the automatic transmission according to the present invention automatically controls the shift range other than the N range so that the vehicle can travel. When not stopped)
The spool valve 401 is not fixed at the position where the hydraulic pressure returns to the drain side. Therefore, it does not occur that the hydraulic pressure inside the automatic transmission is extracted.

For this reason, in comparison with a shift range switching control device of an automatic transmission in which the N range is entered when the vehicle is stopped, for example, when the hydraulic pressure is returned to the drain side,
When the engine is stopped, there is no need to waste energy by driving an electric pump using a power source such as a battery to supply hydraulic pressure.

Therefore, while the idle stop vehicle is stopped, the shift range is set to a shift range in which the vehicle can run other than the N range while reducing wasteful energy. It is possible to immediately start the engine and start the vehicle without deteriorating running comfort such as shock due to range switching.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG.
It is a block diagram showing the whole structure of the shift range switching control device of the automatic transmission of the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a shift range control process in a start standby state executed by the control circuit constituting the present embodiment, in which a start preparation process for preparing a vehicle start while determining a release condition of the start standby state. It is a flowchart showing.

As shown in FIG. 6, the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that switching of blue, yellow, and red signals at which a traffic light 900 installed at an intersection or the like is turned on is detected. The configuration is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment except that a detection device 20c is added to the configuration. The detection device 20c is provided in the control circuit 20 as control means, and among the vehicles waiting for a signal with the traffic light 900 with the red light on, the vehicle is waiting for a signal. There is a rank detecting means 20cr for detecting whether the vehicle is the Nth vehicle from the leading vehicle.

Next, a start preparation process S70 for preparing for starting the vehicle while determining the release condition of the start standby state shown in FIG.
0 will be described below.

In the start preparation process S700, as shown in FIG. 7, in S701, the switching of the traffic light 900 of the traffic signal 900 for which the vehicle is waiting for a signal from the red signal to the green signal is determined, and the red signal is switched to the green signal. If it sees, it will transfer to S702. Conversely, if the red signal remains lit, the process proceeds to S703.

That is, when it is determined in S701 that the red light has been switched to the green light, the engine is automatically started in S702. On the other hand, in S703, since the red signal remains lit, the engine is not started, and the idle stop state of the idle stop vehicle is continued.

As a result, the control device 1
Signal 90 from the detection device 20c for detecting the switching of
Since the switching signal indicating the switching of 0 is transmitted, when the traffic light 900 switches from the red signal to the blue signal, the switching signal is sensed by the control circuit 20,
It is possible to restart the engine.

Further, the control device 1, that is, the detecting device 20c, which constitutes the control device 1, includes the order detecting means 20cr for detecting whether the vehicle is the N-th vehicle stopped by turning on the red light of the traffic light 900. Prepare. For this reason, when the traffic light 900 switches from the red signal to the green signal, the switching of the signal is detected, and the N-th stopped vehicle moves for a predetermined time (for example, the vehicle It is possible to start the engine after an elapsed time obtained by multiplying the N-th by a predetermined time set in consideration of the average value at which the vehicle starts.

Therefore, even if a plurality of vehicles that are stopped by the red light of the traffic light 900 stop in the (N-1) vehicle start standby state, the vehicle waits for the start of the preceding vehicle and starts the vehicle. It is possible to do.

Although the detecting device 20c has been described as a device capable of detecting itself, the detecting device 20c may be a device that detects by transmitting a signal from outside the vehicle.

(Modification) As a modification, in addition to the configuration of the second embodiment, the detection device 2 forming the control circuit 20
0c, the vehicle (in detail,
The N-th vehicle) is turned on by a plurality of vehicles stopped by a traffic light 900 waiting for a traffic light, in particular, by turning on a brake lamp (not shown) of a vehicle ((N-1) th vehicle) in front of the vehicle. Brake lamp lighting detection means is also provided.

As a result, the control device 1, that is, the control circuit 20, when two conditions are satisfied, that is, the switching signal of the traffic light 900 is switched from the red signal to the green signal, and that the brake lamp of the preceding vehicle is turned off. Since the engine is restarted, the vehicle ahead (specifically, any one of the first to (N-1) th vehicles) delays starting the vehicle due to engine stall after switching from the red signal to the green signal. Even if it occurs, the engine can be restarted and started after waiting for the start of the preceding vehicle ((N-1) th vehicle).

Although the brake lamp lighting detecting means has been described as being provided in the detecting device 20c together with the rank detecting means 20cr, the brake lamp lighting detecting device having the brake lamp lighting detecting device is provided together with the detecting device 20c. The configuration provided in the control circuit 20 may be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a shift range switching control device of an automatic transmission according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an electrical configuration diagram illustrating an electrical configuration for controlling a shift range by driving an actuator unit in FIG. 1;

3 is a flowchart illustrating a determination process of determining a vehicle stopped in a start standby state and a shift range control process in a start standby state, which are executed by the control circuit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a shift range control process of an embodiment in which the shift range control process in the start standby state of FIG. 3 is executed by the control circuit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a shift range switching mechanism in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a shift range switching control device for an automatic transmission according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a shift range control process in a start standby state, which is executed by a control circuit included in the second embodiment, and is a start preparation process for preparing for starting the vehicle while determining a release condition of the start standby state. It is a flowchart showing.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Shift range switching control device of automatic transmission 10 Shift range selecting device 20a Control means (control circuit) 20b Drive circuit 20c Detecting device 20cr Rank detecting means 30 Display unit 30a Range indicator 30b Warning lamp (warning lamp) 40 Shift range switching mechanism 40h Range switching valve 50 Automatic transmission 70 Vehicle speed sensor 80 Brake switch 100 Actuator section 101 Actuator 102 Reduction gear 103 Encoder 401, 402 Spool valve, valve body 900 (constituting range switching valve 40h) 900 Signal S300 (S301 to S303) Start Transition determination processing to shift range control processing in standby state S500 (S501 to S506) Shift range control processing in start standby state S700 (S701 to S703) Start preparation processing

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) // F16H 59:04 F16H 59:04 59:24 59:24 59:44 59:44 59:54 59: 54 59:74 59:74 (72) Inventor Masafumi Hori 14 Iwatani, Shimowakaku-cho, Nishio-shi, Aichi Pref. Japan Automobile Parts Research Institute (72) Inventor Hitoshi Tanaka 1-1-1 Showa-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi Pref. F-term in company Denso (reference) 3G092 AC03 BB01 CA01 EA11 FA04 FA24 GA01 GB01 GB10 HF05X HF12X HF19X HF20X HF21Z HF26Z 3G093 AA05 BA03 BA19 CA01 CA02 CB05 DA12 DA13 DB05 DB11 DB12 DB15 EB03 PA01 PA01 PA02 QA06B QA08B QA48B QB07 RB03 RC02 SA01 SB04 SB05 TA06 VA62W VA63W VA65W VA66W VA76W VB01W VB16W VC03W VD18W

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A shift range switching mechanism for switching a shift range of an automatic transmission to various traveling ranges including parking, an actuator serving as a drive source of the shift range switching mechanism, and a drive circuit for driving the actuator. By driving the actuator via the drive circuit according to a switching command input by an external operation,
Control means for controlling a shift range of the automatic transmission to a shift range corresponding to the switching command, wherein the automatic transmission is connected to an engine that transmits propulsive force to an idle stop vehicle; Is a state in which when the driver determines that the vehicle is in a standby state of waiting for the start of the vehicle when the vehicle is in a stopped state, the vehicle can be driven outside the neutral range regardless of the switching command. A shift range switching control device for an automatic transmission, characterized in that the shift range is automatically controlled to the following shift range. 2. The automatic transmission according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the shift range of the automatic transmission to a drive range when determining that the switching command is in a neutral range. Shift range switching control device. 3. The control means includes a detection device for detecting switching of the traffic signal from outside the vehicle, and a switching signal indicating the switching of the traffic signal is sent from the detection device, and the switching from the red signal to the blue signal is performed. 3. The shift range switching control device for an automatic transmission according to claim 1, wherein the engine is restarted when it is determined that the engine has changed. 4. The detection device includes:
It is provided with rank detecting means for detecting that the vehicle is the Nth vehicle stopped by the lighting of the red signal of the traffic light, and the control means, when the switching signal has been switched from a red signal to a blue signal 4. The shift range switching control device for an automatic transmission according to claim 3, wherein when the determination is made, the engine is started after an elapsed time obtained by multiplying the predetermined time for starting the vehicle by the N-th time. 5. 5. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a front detection device that detects a lighting of a brake lamp of a front vehicle that stops in front of the vehicle, and the switching signal from the detection device switches from a red signal to a blue signal. The shift of the automatic transmission according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the engine is restarted when the determination is made and when it is determined from the light-off signal from the forward detection device that the brake lamp is turned off. Range switching control device. 6. The control device according to claim 1, wherein when the switching command is a parking range, the control means controls the shift range corresponding to the switching command. Shift range switching control device for automatic transmission. 7. The shift range switching mechanism includes a range switching valve that controls a hydraulic pressure inside the automatic transmission, the range switching valve including a spool valve and a valve body, and the spool valve is set to a neutral range according to the switching command. The shift range switching control device for an automatic transmission according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the hydraulic pressure is returned to the drain side when the spool is held at a corresponding spool valve position.