JP2010196640A - Fuel consumption reduction support system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel consumption reduction support system capable of appropriately promoting execution of drive operation for fuel consumption reduction. <P>SOLUTION: The fuel consumption reduction support system 10 includes: a rotation speed sensor 11 and a torque sensor 12 detecting vehicle state quantities corresponding to drive operation of a driver and outputting signal of the detection result; a boundary estimation part 23 estimating a present boundary corresponding to the drive operation (namely, a boundary of a fuel economy reduction state and states other than the fuel economy reduction state in a two dimensional coordinates of rotation speed and torque) based on detection results output from the rotation speed sensor 11 and the torque sensor 12 in the past, and outputting an estimation result; and a prediction determination part 24 determining prediction whether it is in the fuel consumption reduction state or not based on the detection result of the present vehicle state quantities output from the rotation speed sensor 11 and the torque sensor 12 and the estimation result output from the boundary estimation part 23, and outputting a determination result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel consumption reduction support system.

  Conventionally, for example, when selecting a shift mode for improving fuel consumption, it is determined whether or not the driving operation by the driver is an operation suitable for improving the fuel efficiency, and if the operation is suitable for improving the fuel efficiency, the lamp is controlled to be turned on. Thus, a display device that prompts execution of an operation suitable for improving fuel consumption is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-220851 A

  By the way, in the display device according to the above prior art, it is merely determined whether or not the instantaneous driving operation of the driver at each time is an operation suitable for improving the fuel consumption, and the fuel consumption is continuously improved. There arises a problem that it is not possible to prompt the execution of the driving operation to be improved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a fuel consumption reduction support system that can appropriately prompt the execution of a driving operation for reducing fuel consumption.

  In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, a fuel consumption reduction support system according to a first aspect of the present invention is a fuel consumption reduction support system that supports fuel consumption reduction by a driving operation of a vehicle driver, Vehicle state quantity detection means (for example, the rotational speed sensor 11 and the torque sensor 12 in the embodiment) that detects a vehicle state quantity corresponding to the driving operation and outputs a detection result signal, and the current state corresponding to the driving operation Estimation means (for example, the boundary estimation unit 23 in the embodiment) for estimating the fuel consumption state quantity of the vehicle based on the detection result output from the vehicle state quantity detection means in the past, and the vehicle Based on the detection result of the current vehicle state quantity output from the state quantity detection means and the estimation result output from the estimation means, it is determined whether or not the fuel consumption reduction state is predicted. It comprises output determination means (e.g., prediction judgment unit 24 in the embodiment) and a.

  Furthermore, in the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the estimation means estimates the current fuel consumption state quantity using a boundary function.

  Furthermore, the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the third aspect of the present invention is a correcting means for correcting the fuel consumption state quantity when it is determined that the fuel consumption reduction state is predicted based on the determination result output from the determination means ( For example, the boundary estimation unit 23 in the embodiment also serves as).

  Furthermore, the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is a notification means for performing notification according to the determination result output from the determination means (for example, the notification control unit 26 and visual transmission in the embodiment). Device 14, auditory transmission device 15 and tactile transmission device 16).

  Further, in the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the notification means is a first lighting means (when the determination result output from the determination means is predicted to be in the fuel consumption reduction state) For example, when the first lighting unit 31) in the embodiment is turned on and the determination result output from the determination unit is predicted to be not in the fuel consumption reduction state, the second lighting unit (for example, the implementation) The second lighting part 32) in the form is lit.

  Furthermore, in the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the notification means predicts the fuel consumption reduction state based on the determination result output from the determination means, and determines from the determination means. In accordance with the ratio of the output determination result to the frequency determined to be not the fuel consumption reduction state, the notification is performed.

  Furthermore, in the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the notification means predicts and determines that the fuel consumption reduction state is in the determination result output from the determination means according to the ratio. Notification to urge the execution of the driving operation that increases

  Furthermore, in the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the determination level setting means (for example, the boundary estimation unit 23 in the embodiment) sets the determination level related to the fuel consumption reduction state according to the ratio. And the estimation means estimates the current fuel consumption state quantity according to the determination level set by the determination level setting means.

  Furthermore, in the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the notification means notifies the determination level set by the determination level setting means.

  Furthermore, in the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the notification means is tactile when a variation in the fuel consumption state quantity in the estimation result output from the estimation means is within a predetermined range. The notification means (for example, the tactile transmission device 16 in the embodiment) is activated.

  According to the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the current fuel consumption state quantity corresponding to the driving operation of the driver is estimated based on the vehicle state quantity corresponding to the past driving operation, and this fuel consumption state quantity and By predicting whether or not the fuel consumption is reduced based on the current vehicle state quantity, prediction determination based on the continuous driving operation of the driver can be performed. In addition, since the fuel consumption state amount is estimated according to the driving operation for each driver, it is predicted and determined that the fuel consumption is reduced, so that a sense of achievement of fuel consumption reduction is achieved according to the fuel consumption reduction skill for each driver. This can increase the desire to reduce fuel consumption.

According to the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the second aspect of the present invention, for example, an interface that distinguishes between a region corresponding to the fuel consumption reduction state and a region corresponding to a state other than the fuel consumption reduction state in the coordinate space based on the vehicle state quantity is a boundary function. And is estimated as the current fuel consumption state quantity. Thereby, the estimation accuracy of the current fuel consumption state quantity and the determination accuracy by the determination means can be improved.
According to the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the determination result by the determination means predicts and determines that the fuel consumption is reduced, the fuel consumption state quantity is corrected, thereby correcting the estimation accuracy of the fuel consumption state quantity and The determination accuracy by the determination unit can be further improved.

According to the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by performing notification according to the determination result by the determination unit, the determination result can be intuitively recognized by the driver, and the driver can Prediction accuracy when predicting a driving operation that contributes to a reduction can be improved, and learning and execution by the driver of a driving operation that contributes to a reduction in fuel consumption can be appropriately promoted.
According to the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the determination result by the determination means can be visually recognized by the driver, and the prediction when the driver predicts the driving operation that contributes to the fuel consumption reduction. The accuracy can be improved, and learning and execution by the driver of the driving operation that contributes to the reduction in fuel consumption can be appropriately promoted.

According to the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the driver can intuitively grasp the history of determination results by the determination means, and the driver predicts a driving operation that contributes to fuel consumption reduction. The prediction accuracy can be improved, and learning and execution by the driver of driving operations that contribute to fuel consumption reduction can be appropriately promoted.
According to the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to allow the driver to grasp the driving operation that contributes to fuel consumption reduction in real time, and also contributes to fuel consumption reduction even for a driver with low fuel consumption reduction skill The prediction accuracy when predicting the driving operation to be performed can be improved, and the learning and execution of the driving operation that contributes to the reduction of fuel consumption can be appropriately promoted.

According to the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the fuel consumption state amount changes according to the determination level that changes according to the history of the fuel consumption reduction state, the fuel consumption reduction skill of the driver is improved. Therefore, it is possible to estimate an appropriate fuel consumption state quantity, and to further improve the driver's fuel consumption reduction skill.
According to the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a boundary estimated by a boundary function as the current fuel consumption state quantity as the determination level becomes higher is changed to the fuel consumption reduction side (for example, In the coordinate space based on the vehicle state quantity, the interface that divides the region corresponding to the fuel consumption reduction state and the region corresponding to a state other than the fuel consumption reduction state is changed to a contraction tendency. As a result, according to the improvement of the driver's fuel economy reduction skill, the degree of fuel efficiency reduction is appropriately increased, and the driver's fuel efficiency reduction skill is further improved while appropriately increasing the willingness to reduce fuel consumption. Can do.

  According to the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the determination level can be visually recognized by the driver, and the prediction accuracy when the driver predicts a driving operation that contributes to fuel consumption reduction is improved. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately promote learning and execution by the driver of driving operations that contribute to fuel consumption reduction.

  According to the fuel consumption reduction support system according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the change in the current fuel consumption state amount corresponding to the driving operation corresponds to the change in the vehicle state amount, for example, the vehicle state such as during cruise driving of the vehicle. A state in which the variation in the amount is small is a fuel consumption reduction state compared to a state in which the variation in the vehicle state amount is large, such as when the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating. In other words, by operating the tactile notification means when the variation in the fuel consumption state quantity is within the predetermined range, the driver can intuitively grasp the fuel consumption reduction state, and the driver contributes to the fuel consumption reduction. The prediction accuracy at the time of predicting the operation can be improved, and the learning and execution by the driver of the driving operation contributing to the reduction in fuel consumption can be appropriately promoted.

It is a block diagram of the fuel consumption reduction assistance system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of the fuel consumption reduction assistance system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the fuel consumption reduction assistance system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the correspondence of the speed of the vehicle which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and the time change of a boundary function.

Hereinafter, a fuel consumption reduction support system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A fuel efficiency reduction support system 10 according to the present embodiment includes, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, a rotational speed sensor 11 that detects the rotational speed of an internal combustion engine (not shown) of a vehicle, a torque sensor 12 that detects torque, and a processing device. 13, a visual transmission device 14 such as a display device, an auditory transmission device 15 such as a speaker, and a tactile transmission device 16.

  The processing device 13 includes, for example, an input data setting unit 21, a boundary function calculation unit 22, a boundary estimation unit 23, a prediction determination unit 24, a data storage unit 25, and a notification control unit 26. Yes.

The input data setting unit 21 outputs signals of the current detection results output from the rotation speed sensor 11 and the torque sensor 12 at a predetermined timing, and the data storage unit 25 output from the rotation speed sensor 11 and the torque sensor 12 in the past. The function input data required for the calculation of the boundary function is set based on the data stored in, and the function input data is output.
The function input data includes, for example, a combination of the rotational speed and torque selected from grid points at predetermined intervals set in advance on two-dimensional coordinates based on the rotational speed and torque of an internal combustion engine (not shown) of the vehicle. It is data. That is, the function input data is stored in the data storage unit 25 and the grid points corresponding to the combination of the rotation speed and the torque based on the current detection result signals output from the rotation speed sensor 11 and the torque sensor 12. It is composed of lattice points corresponding to combinations of the rotation speed and torque that are detected at the same time in the data.
Furthermore, the input data setting unit 21 outputs various calculation parameters required for calculating the boundary function.

  The boundary function calculation unit 22 performs a boundary function calculation using, for example, an Aalen Kahn (AC) type equation, and separates each grid point of the function input data into a state of “+1” and “−1”. Output the calculation result.

  For example, the boundary function calculation unit 22 uses the following equation (1) as a partial differential equation describing an unknown function u related to a variable (x, y) and time in a normalized two-dimensional space corresponding to the rotational speed and torque. The partial differential equation described as shown in FIG.

In the above formula (1), the function ω (u) is a double well type potential in which two minimum values correspond to two different phases. As the parameter ε approaches zero, the unknown function u approaches one of “+1” or “−1” corresponding to the two minimum values in the two regions separated by the boundary. The boundary is described by an interface with unknown function u = 0.
The boundary function calculation unit 22 calculates the value of the unknown function u in the normalized two-dimensional space based on the function input data output from the input data setting unit 21 as time passes, and outputs the calculation result.

Based on the calculation result output from the boundary function calculation unit 22, the boundary estimation unit 23 assumes that the state of “+1” is a fuel consumption reduction state, and the state of “−1” is a state other than the fuel consumption reduction state, The current boundary between the fuel consumption reduction state and the state other than the fuel consumption reduction state on the two-dimensional coordinates based on the rotation speed and torque is estimated, and this estimation result is output.
The boundary estimation unit 23 corrects or sets the boundary according to the determination result output from the prediction determination unit 24. This process will be described later.

Based on the estimation result output from the boundary estimation unit 23, the prediction determination unit 24 has grid points corresponding to combinations of rotation speed and torque based on the current detection result signals output from the sensors 11 and 12. It is determined whether or not the fuel consumption is reduced. Then, the determination result is output as data for instantaneous fuel consumption driving prediction.
For example, the prediction determination unit 24 uses a combination of the rotation speed and torque based on the current detection results of the sensors 11 and 12 according to the uncertainty region related to the boundary width estimated by the boundary estimation unit 23. When the corresponding grid point has a value on the “+1” side with a predetermined probability (for example, 90%, etc.), it is predicted that the fuel consumption is reduced.

  In addition, the prediction determination unit 24 has a predetermined probability (for example, 90%) for each lattice point constituting the function input data according to the uncertainty region related to the boundary width estimated by the boundary estimation unit 23. %) Or the like, the value of “+1” side or “−1” side is regarded as a prediction success, and the cases other than this prediction success are regarded as prediction failure, and each lattice point is divided and this determination data is output.

  In addition, the prediction determination unit 24 predicts and determines that the fuel consumption reduction state is predicted based on the history of the instantaneous fuel consumption driving prediction data from the present to the past predetermined period, and the fuel consumption reduction state does not occur. The ratio with the frequency is output as fuel consumption driving prediction history data.

The data storage unit 25 stores signals of the current detection results output from the rotation speed sensor 11 and the torque sensor 12, and predicts determination among the data output from the rotation speed sensor 11 and the torque sensor 12 in the past. Data corresponding to the lattice point determined to be successful in prediction is stored according to the prediction success or failure determination data for each lattice point output from the unit 24.
Thus, the function input data output from the input data setting unit 21 includes new grid points corresponding to the current detection results of the sensors 11 and 12, and grid points that have been successfully predicted by the prediction determination unit 24. The boundary is estimated by the boundary estimation unit 23 based on the calculation result of the boundary function corresponding to the function input data, so that the boundary is sequentially corrected.

In addition, the boundary estimation unit 23 enters the fuel consumption reduction state based on the fuel consumption driving prediction history data output from the prediction determination unit 24 independently of the boundary estimation based on the calculation result output from the boundary function calculation unit 22. The determination level (for example, determination levels L0 to L4) is set, and the current boundary is estimated according to the determination level.
For example, the boundary estimation unit 23 uses, as a prediction rate, the ratio of the frequency that is predicted to be in the fuel consumption reduction state based on the data of the fuel consumption driving prediction history output from the prediction determination unit 24, and the prediction rate is predetermined. The determination level is updated to a higher determination level every time it becomes larger than the determination threshold (for example, 90%). Then, the current boundary is changed so as to be within a predetermined area preset for each determination level on the two-dimensional coordinates based on the rotation speed and the torque. The predetermined area set for each determination level is set so that, for example, the degree of fuel consumption reduction increases as the determination level becomes higher toward a predetermined upper limit determination level (for example, determination level L4, etc.). Change to a shrinking tendency.

  The notification control unit 26 performs various processes based on the boundary estimation result and determination level output from the boundary estimation unit 23, the instantaneous fuel consumption driving prediction data and the fuel consumption driving prediction history data output from the prediction determination unit 24, and the like. Is notified.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the notification control unit 26 determines that the fuel consumption reduction state is predicted in the instantaneous fuel consumption driving prediction data on the display screen 30 of the display device of the visual transmission device 14. The first lighting unit 31 is lit in green or the like, and the second lighting unit 32 is lit in red or the like when it is determined that the fuel consumption reduction state is not in the instantaneous fuel consumption driving prediction data.
In addition, the notification control unit 26, for example, on the display screen 30 of the display device of the visual transmission device 14, based on the fuel consumption driving prediction history data, The ratio of the predicted and determined frequency that is not in the fuel consumption reduction state to the whole is displayed by a bar graph 33 of green and red, which are the same lighting colors as the lighting units 31 and 32, respectively.
Further, the notification control unit 26, for example, on the display screen 30 of the display device of the visual transmission device 14, for example, below the display position of the bar graph 33, for example, the ratio of the frequency determined to be the fuel consumption reduction state to the whole A numerical display 34 (that is, a prediction rate) is displayed.
Further, the notification control unit 26 is set by the boundary estimation unit 23 among the plurality of level lighting units 35 provided below the numerical value display 34 on the display screen 30 of the display device of the visual transmission device 14, for example. The level lighting unit 35 corresponding to the determined determination level is lit.

  The notification control unit 26 also includes a boundary estimation unit 23 together with lattice points 36a at predetermined intervals set in advance on two-dimensional coordinates based on the number of rotations and torque on the display screen 30 of the display device of the visual transmission device 14. A graph 36 showing the boundary 36b estimated by the above is displayed.

Further, the notification control unit 26 increases the ratio (that is, the prediction rate) of the frequency that is predicted to be the fuel consumption reduction state based on the data of the fuel consumption driving prediction history output from the prediction determination unit 24. It is determined whether or not. If it is determined that there is no increase in the prediction rate over a predetermined upper limit number of times of execution of the prediction determination process by the prediction determination unit 24, if the execution of driving support is permitted, the prediction determination unit 24 A predetermined voice guidance is output from the speaker of the auditory transmission device 15 so as to prompt the execution of a driving operation that increases the frequency of the prediction determination that the fuel consumption is reduced.
The predetermined voice guidance is, for example, “please return the accelerator” in a state where the boundary estimated by the boundary estimation unit 23 changes in an expanding tendency.
Whether or not driving assistance can be performed is set by a driver's input to an input device (not shown) such as a switch, for example. Then, if the execution of driving support is permitted, the notification control unit 26 lights the permission lighting unit 37 indicating permission to execute driving support on the display screen 30 of the display device of the visual transmission device 14.

  The fuel consumption reduction support system 10 according to the present embodiment has the above-described configuration. Next, the operation of the fuel consumption reduction support system 10 will be described.

First, for example, in step S01 shown in FIG. 3, various initial setting processes for the calculation of the boundary function are performed. At this time, if the boundary between the fuel consumption reduction state and the state other than the fuel consumption reduction state on the two-dimensional coordinates based on the rotation speed and the torque has not been estimated yet, a predetermined initial boundary is set.
Next, in step S02, signals of current detection results output from the rotation speed sensor 11 and the torque sensor 12 are acquired.
In step S03, the current detection result signals output from the rotational speed sensor 11 and the torque sensor 12, and the past output from the rotational speed sensor 11 and the torque sensor 12 and stored in the data storage unit 25 are stored. The function input data required for the calculation of the boundary function is set based on the existing data.

  In step S04, for example, the boundary function is calculated using an Aalen Kahn (AC) type equation or the like, and the lattice points of the function input data are separated into states of “+1” and “−1”. Then, it is assumed that the state of “+1” is a fuel consumption reduction state, the state of “−1” is a state other than the fuel consumption reduction state, and the fuel consumption reduction state and the fuel consumption reduction state on the two-dimensional coordinates by the rotation speed and torque Estimate the current boundary with other states.

  In step S05, based on the current boundary, whether the grid point corresponding to the combination of the rotation speed and the torque based on the current detection result signals output from the sensors 11 and 12 is in the fuel consumption reduction state. It is determined whether or not, and this determination result is used as data for predicting instantaneous fuel consumption driving. Further, based on the history of instantaneous fuel consumption driving prediction data from the present to the past predetermined period, the ratio between the frequency determined to be a fuel consumption reduction state and the frequency determined to be a fuel consumption reduction state is determined, The fuel consumption driving prediction history data. Then, based on the data of the fuel consumption driving prediction history, the ratio of the frequency determined to be the fuel consumption reduction state to the whole is set as the prediction rate.

In step S06, it is determined whether or not the prediction rate is larger than a predetermined determination threshold (for example, 90%).
If this determination is “NO”, the flow proceeds to step S 09 described later.
On the other hand, if this determination is “YES”, the flow proceeds to step S07.
In step S07, it is determined whether or not the current determination level is lower than a predetermined upper limit determination level.
If this determination is “NO”, the flow proceeds to step S 09 described later.
On the other hand, if the determination is “YES”, the flow proceeds to step S08.
In step S08, the determination level is updated to a higher determination level. Then, the current boundary is changed according to the update of the determination level.

In step S09, as a map window update process, on the display screen 30 of the display device of the visual transmission device 14 or the like, grid points at predetermined intervals set in advance on the two-dimensional coordinates based on the rotation speed and the torque are displayed. A graph 36 indicating the current boundary is also displayed.
In step S10, as the process of updating the fuel consumption display, the lighting of each lighting unit 31, 32 based on the instantaneous fuel consumption driving prediction data, the display of the bar graph 33 based on the fuel consumption driving prediction history data, and the prediction rate A numerical display 34 and a lighting display of the level lighting unit 35 corresponding to the determination level are performed.

In step S11, it is determined whether or not the prediction rate is higher than the previous value of the prediction rate in the previous process.
If this determination is “NO”, the flow proceeds to step S 13.
On the other hand, if the determination result is “YES”, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, it is determined whether an end of execution of a series of processes is instructed, and an end of execution is instructed. To the end, the process ends. On the other hand, if the end of execution is not instructed, the process returns to step S02.

In step S13, the number of stagnation is added.
In step S14, it is determined whether or not the number of stagnation is greater than a predetermined upper limit number.
If this determination is “NO”, the flow proceeds to step S 12.
On the other hand, if the determination is “YES”, the flow proceeds to step S15.

In step S15, it is determined whether or not the driver is instructed to perform driving assistance.
If this determination is “NO”, the flow proceeds to step S 12.
On the other hand, if this determination is “YES”, the flow proceeds to step S16.
In step S16, as the driving support execution process, a predetermined voice guidance is given from the speaker of the auditory transmission device 15 so as to prompt the execution of a driving operation that increases the frequency of the prediction determination that the fuel consumption is reduced. Is output.
In step S17, the number of stagnation is initialized as zero, and the process proceeds to step S12.

  As described above, according to the fuel consumption reduction support system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the current boundary according to the driving operation of the driver (that is, the fuel consumption reduction state and the fuel consumption on the two-dimensional coordinates based on the rotation speed and the torque). (A boundary with a state other than the reduced state) is estimated based on a vehicle state quantity (for example, the rotational speed and torque of the internal combustion engine) according to the past driving operation, and the fuel consumption reduction state is calculated from this boundary and the current vehicle state quantity. By predicting whether or not there is a prediction, it is possible to perform prediction determination based on the continuous driving operation of the driver. In addition, since the boundary is estimated according to the driving operation for each driver, it is predicted and determined that the fuel consumption is reduced, thereby increasing the sense of achievement of fuel consumption reduction according to the fuel consumption reduction skill for each driver. , Can increase the willingness to reduce fuel consumption.

Furthermore, by estimating the boundary between the fuel consumption reduction state and the state other than the fuel consumption reduction state on the two-dimensional coordinates based on the rotation speed and the torque by using a boundary function, the current boundary estimation accuracy and the determination accuracy by the prediction determination unit 24 are increased. Can be improved.
Furthermore, since the function input data for the boundary function is composed of grid points that are predicted to be successful by the prediction determination unit 24, the boundary estimated by the boundary estimation unit 23 is sequentially corrected, and the estimation accuracy and prediction of the fuel consumption state quantity are predicted. The determination accuracy by the determination unit 24 can be further improved.

Furthermore, by performing notification according to the determination result by the prediction determination unit 24, the determination result can be intuitively recognized by the driver, and the prediction accuracy when the driver predicts a driving operation that contributes to fuel efficiency reduction. Can be improved, and learning and execution by the driver of driving operations that contribute to fuel efficiency reduction can be appropriately promoted.
Further, according to the lighting of the lighting units 31 and 32 based on the instantaneous fuel consumption driving prediction data, the determination result by the prediction determination unit 24 can be visually recognized by the driver, and the driver contributes to fuel consumption reduction. The prediction accuracy in predicting the driving operation can be improved, and the learning and execution of the driving operation that contributes to the reduction in fuel consumption can be appropriately promoted.

Furthermore, according to the display of the bar graph 33 based on the fuel consumption driving prediction history data, the history of the determination result by the prediction determination unit 24 can be intuitively grasped by the driver, so that the driver can contribute to the fuel consumption reduction. The prediction accuracy at the time of predicting the operation can be improved, and the learning and execution by the driver of the driving operation contributing to the reduction in fuel consumption can be appropriately promoted.
Furthermore, by outputting a predetermined voice guidance from the speaker of the auditory transmission device 15 so as to prompt the execution of a driving operation that increases the frequency of the prediction determination being made by the prediction determination unit 24 as being in the fuel consumption reduction state, the fuel consumption is improved. It is possible to make the driver grasp the driving operation contributing to the reduction in real time. In addition, it is possible to improve the prediction accuracy when predicting a driving operation that contributes to fuel consumption reduction even for a driver with low fuel consumption reduction skill, and appropriate learning and execution of the driving operation that contributes to fuel consumption reduction by the driver. Can be encouraged.

Furthermore, since the boundary changes according to the judgment level that changes according to the history of the fuel consumption reduction state, it is possible to estimate an appropriate boundary according to the improvement of the driver's fuel consumption reduction skill, and to reduce the driver's fuel consumption. The skill can be further improved.
For example, by changing the current boundary to a shrinking tendency as the judgment level becomes higher, changing the current boundary to a shrinking tendency makes it appropriate for the driver to improve the fuel consumption reduction difficulty Thus, the driver's ability to reduce fuel consumption can be further improved while appropriately increasing the willingness to reduce fuel consumption.
Furthermore, the judgment level can be visually recognized by the driver, and the prediction accuracy when the driver predicts the driving operation that contributes to the reduction in fuel consumption can be improved. It is possible to appropriately promote learning and execution by a person.

In the above-described embodiment, the notification control unit 26 is a grid having predetermined intervals set in advance on the two-dimensional coordinates based on the rotation speed and the torque on the display screen 30 of the display device of the visual transmission device 14. Although the graph 36 indicating the current boundary is displayed together with the point, the present invention is not limited to this, and instead of displaying the graph 36, the tactile transmission device 16 may be operated when the variation of the boundary is within a predetermined range. Good.
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the change in the time change of the boundary function according to the driving operation of the driver corresponds to the change in the vehicle state quantity such as the speed of the vehicle, the rotational speed and the torque of the internal combustion engine. For example, a state in which the variation in the vehicle state quantity is small, such as when the vehicle is traveling on a cruise, is a fuel consumption reduction state compared to a state in which the variation in the vehicle state quantity is large, such as when the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating. In other words, when the fluctuation of the boundary is within a predetermined range, the tactile transmission device 16 or the like notifies the driver so that the driver can intuitively understand that the fuel consumption is reduced, and the driver can reduce the fuel consumption. The prediction accuracy at the time of predicting the driving operation that contributes to can be improved, and learning and execution by the driver of the driving operation that contributes to fuel consumption reduction can be appropriately promoted.
The tactile transmission device 16 is, for example, an accelerator pedal control device, a seat belt device, a steering control device, or the like, and the driver perceives the accelerator pedal tactilely according to a control signal output from the notification control unit 26, for example. For example, a predetermined tension is applied to the seat belt to apply a tightening force that can be perceived by the driver tactilely, or vibration that can be perceived by the driver tactilely on the steering wheel ( Steering vibration).
Note that the notification timing is maintained for a predetermined period from the point in time when the boundary (or boundary function) variation reaches a state within a predetermined range (for example, time t2, t5, etc. shown in FIG. 4). It is set as the time (for example, time t3, t6 etc. which are shown in FIG. 4).
Further, for example, when a change in the driving state in which the vehicle transitions from acceleration traveling to constant speed traveling is repeated, the determination level increases to a higher determination level as the prediction rate increases when shifting from acceleration traveling to constant speed traveling. Is updated at the time when the constant speed traveling ends and the vehicle shifts to acceleration traveling or deceleration traveling (for example, at time t4 when the time change of the boundary function shown in FIG. 4 decreases), the determination level is the initial level. Initialized to the judgment level.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fuel consumption reduction support system 11 Rotational speed sensor (vehicle state quantity detection means)
12 Torque sensor (vehicle state quantity detection means)
14 Visual transmission device (notification means)
15 Auditory transmission device (notification means)
16 Tactile transmission device (notification means, tactile notification means)
23 Boundary estimation unit (estimation means, correction means, determination level setting means)
24 Prediction determination unit (determination means)
26 Notification control unit (notification means)
31 1st lighting part (1st lighting means)
32 2nd lighting part (2nd lighting means)

Claims (11)

A fuel consumption reduction support system that supports fuel consumption reduction by driving operation of a vehicle driver,
Vehicle state quantity detection means for detecting a vehicle state quantity corresponding to the driving operation and outputting a detection result signal;
Estimation means for estimating a current fuel consumption state quantity corresponding to the driving operation based on the detection result output from the vehicle state quantity detection means in the past and outputting an estimation result;
Based on the detection result of the current vehicle state quantity output from the vehicle state quantity detection means and the estimation result output from the estimation means, it is determined by predicting whether or not it is in a fuel consumption reduction state. A fuel consumption reduction support system comprising: a determination unit that outputs a result. The fuel consumption reduction support system according to claim 1, wherein the estimation unit estimates the current fuel consumption state quantity using a boundary function. 3. The correction unit according to claim 1, further comprising a correction unit configured to correct the fuel consumption state amount when the determination result output from the determination unit is predicted to be the fuel consumption reduction state. Fuel consumption reduction support system. The fuel consumption reduction support system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a notification unit that performs notification according to the determination result output from the determination unit. The notification means turns on the first lighting means when the determination result output from the determination means is predicted to be in the fuel consumption reduction state, and the fuel consumption is determined according to the determination result output from the determination means. 5. The fuel consumption reduction support system according to claim 4, wherein the second lighting means is turned on when it is determined that it is not in the reduced state. The notification means predicts whether the fuel consumption reduction state is predicted in the determination result output from the determination means, and the fuel consumption reduction state is not predicted in the determination result output from the determination means. 6. The fuel consumption reduction support system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein notification according to a ratio to the frequency of being performed is performed. The notification means performs notification for encouraging execution of a driving operation that increases the frequency of predicting and determining that the fuel consumption is reduced in the determination result output from the determination means according to the ratio. The fuel consumption reduction support system according to claim 6. In accordance with the ratio, a determination level setting means for setting a determination level related to the fuel consumption reduction state is provided,
The fuel consumption reduction support system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the estimation unit estimates the current fuel consumption state amount according to the determination level set by the determination level setting unit. 9. The fuel consumption reduction according to claim 8, wherein the estimation means changes a boundary estimated by a boundary function as the current fuel consumption state quantity to a contraction tendency as the determination level changes to a fuel consumption reduction side. Support system. The fuel efficiency reduction support system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the notification means notifies the determination level set by the determination level setting means. 5. The informing means operates the tactile informing means when the fluctuation of the fuel consumption state quantity in the estimation result output from the estimating means is within a predetermined range. 10. The fuel consumption reduction support system according to any one of 10.

Images