JP2023170473A - Vehicle control device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicle control device capable of supplying, to a vehicle structural member, an appropriate current in accordance with a situation when a vehicle is driven.SOLUTION: A vehicle control device 1 that controls the aerodynamic characteristics of a vehicle by supplying a current to a vehicle body or to a surface member of the vehicle includes: an AC power supply unit 22 that includes an output terminal connected to a vehicle structural member; an obtaining unit that obtains travel situation information of the vehicle or driven state information thereof detected by an in-vehicle sensor 24; and an output control unit that controls the output by the AC power supply unit so as to supply a current from the vehicle structural member to a surface of the vehicle. The output control unit controls the output frequency of the AC power supply unit on the basis of a detection result of the in-vehicle sensor obtained by the obtaining unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle control device that controls aerodynamic characteristics of a vehicle.

Patent Document 1 discloses a plasma-induced drag reduction device that is attached to the lower surface of the front of a vehicle. This plasma-induced drag reduction device creates a plasma region that attracts the airflow passing under the vehicle, reducing separation of the flow field, thereby reducing airflow impact with the ground and reducing vehicle drag. let

US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0072777

Airflow around a vehicle during operation can vary depending on various factors. Therefore, it is preferable to change the air flow according to the vehicle driving conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control device that can supply appropriate current to vehicle components depending on the vehicle driving situation.

In order to solve the above problems, an aspect of the present invention is a vehicle control device that controls aerodynamic characteristics of a vehicle by supplying current to vehicle components including a vehicle body or a surface member of the vehicle. an AC power supply unit having an output terminal connected to the AC power supply unit; an acquisition unit that acquires vehicle running status information or driving status information detected by an on-vehicle sensor; and an AC power supply unit that controls the output of the AC power supply unit to supply current to vehicle components. and an output control unit for supplying the power. The output control section controls the output frequency of the AC power supply section based on the detection result of the on-vehicle sensor acquired from the acquisition section.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle control device that can supply appropriate current to vehicle structural members depending on the situation during vehicle operation.

1 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a vehicle. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a vehicle control device. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining aerodynamic characteristics that can be set by operation. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing frictional current generated from a tire. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the results of simulating pressure fluctuations on the surface of a vehicle.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of a vehicle 10. As shown in FIG. The vehicle 10 is provided with a vehicle control device 1, which controls the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle 10 by supplying current to the vehicle body or the surface member 12 of the vehicle 10. By changing the electrical state of the vehicle body or the vehicle surface, the air flow on the vehicle surface can be changed, and the steering stability and vibration of the vehicle 10 can be changed. Note that the air flow path is also located at a position where the air flows from the front grill toward the inside of the vehicle, and is not limited to the surface of the vehicle.

For example, if the potential of the front part of the vehicle, which receives airflow relative to the rear part of the vehicle, is made positive, the vehicle body will tend to move and vibrate in the vertical and horizontal directions, making the vehicle float. By making the potential of the front part of the vehicle, which is exposed to the current, negative, the vertical and horizontal movements and vibrations of the vehicle body are suppressed, resulting in a characteristic that the vehicle body can be held in check.

The body of the vehicle 10 includes a frame and the like, and the surface members 12 of the vehicle 10 include members disposed on the surface of the vehicle 10 such as a bonnet, door panels, windows 14, and the like. The windows 14 include a windshield 14a, a rear glass 14b, a left front door glass 14c, a left rear door glass 14d, a right front door glass 14e, and a right rear door glass 14f. The vehicle body and surface member 12 function as vehicle components.

The vehicle control device 1 includes a processing device 20, an AC power supply section 22, an on-vehicle sensor 24, and a plurality of output terminals 26. The first output terminal 26a is connected to the windshield 14a, the second output terminal 26b is connected to the rear glass 14b, the third output terminal 26c is connected to the left front door glass 14c, and the fourth output terminal 26d is The fifth output terminal 26e is connected to the left rear door glass 14d, the fifth output terminal 26e is connected to the right front door glass 14e, the sixth output terminal 26f is connected to the right rear door glass 14f, and the seventh output terminal 26g is connected to the lower part of the vehicle 10. Connected to the vehicle body frame where it is located. The output terminals 26 may include a first output terminal 26a, a second output terminal 26b, a third output terminal 26c, a fourth output terminal 26d, a fifth output terminal 26e, a sixth output terminal 26f, and a seventh output terminal 26g. , used when there is no need to distinguish between them. Note that the output terminal 26 is connected to a vehicle component, but the connection destination is not limited to the member shown in FIG. 1, but may be any member that can change the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle 10 by supplying current. For example, the output terminal 26 may be connected to a vehicle component such as a front fender, roof, bumper, or pillar.

The output terminal 26 may be connected to a portion protruding from the vehicle body, such as a door mirror, a fender mirror, or an antenna on the roof. In other words, the vehicle component to which the output terminal 26 is connected may be a portion that protrudes to the outside. This allows the output terminal 26 to be connected to a portion that has a large influence on the aerodynamic characteristics, making it easier to change the aerodynamic characteristics.

The plurality of output terminals 26 are provided at positions separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and may be arranged, for example, at the front, center, and rear of the vehicle, respectively. Further, a frequency control device and a DC bias application device may be provided for each output terminal 26. This allows individual output frequencies and polarities to be set for each output terminal 26.

The ground terminal 16 is connected to a ground point on the vehicle body or the like. In order to define the ground of the AC power supply section 22, the vehicle body and the case ground of the AC power supply section 22 are connected. The earth terminal 16 is supplied with current from the AC power supply section 22, and the AC power supply section 22 applies current to the vehicle components via the output terminal 26 with reference to the ground point connected by the ground terminal 16.

The AC power supply section 22 supplies current to the output terminal 26. The AC power supply unit 22 may include, for example, an inverter and a storage battery. The output of the AC power supply section 22 is controlled by the processing device 20. By supplying current from the AC power supply unit 22 to the output terminal 26, the airflow vortex around the output terminal 26 is changed, and the force that the vehicle surface receives from the airflow is changed. The AC power supply unit 22 may use a voltage source and a resistor to apply a voltage from the voltage source and supply current to the output terminal 26 .

The on-vehicle sensor 24 detects driving status information and/or driving status information of the vehicle 10 and transmits the detection result to the processing device 20. The on-vehicle sensors 24 include, for example, a current sensor that detects the frequency of frictional current of tires, a pressure sensor that detects the pressure of the surface member 12, a sensor that detects electromagnetic waves around the vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor, an accelerator sensor, a brake sensor, and a steering angle sensor. It may be a sensor, a touch panel that detects an operation input from an occupant, or a combination of these various sensors.

The driving situation information detected by the on-vehicle sensor 24 includes the frequency of the frictional current of the tires, the electromagnetic wave intensity around the vehicle, the pressure of the surface member 12, and the like. Further, the driving situation information may include position information of the vehicle 10. The driving state information detected by the on-vehicle sensor 24 includes vehicle speed, steering angle of the vehicle 10, accelerator operation amount, brake operation amount, driver's operation input, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the vehicle control device 1. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, each element described as a functional block that performs various processes can be configured with a circuit block, memory, or other LSI in terms of hardware, and can be configured with a circuit block, memory, or other LSI in terms of software. This is achieved through programs, etc. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that these functional blocks can be implemented in various ways using only hardware, only software, or a combination thereof, and are not limited to either.

The processing device 20 includes an acquisition section 30, an output processing section 32, and an output control section 34. The acquisition unit 30 acquires vehicle running status information and/or driving status information detected by the on-vehicle sensor 24.

The output processing section 32 determines the output frequency of the AC power supply section 22 based on the detection result of the on-vehicle sensor 24. For example, when applying an aerodynamic characteristic that makes the vehicle body float, the output processing section 32 corrects the output frequency of the AC power supply section 22 from the reference value based on the detection result of the on-vehicle sensor 24, and uses the corrected AC The output frequency of the power supply unit 22 is calculated. Note that the reference value of the output frequency of the AC power supply section 22 may be set in advance according to aerodynamic characteristics that raise the rear part of the vehicle body, aerodynamic characteristics that suppress the front part of the vehicle body, and the like. Further, the output processing unit 32 may determine the output frequency of the AC power supply unit 22 so as to reduce pressure fluctuations on the vehicle surface detected by the on-vehicle sensor 24. The output frequency of section 22 may be determined.

The output processing section 32 may determine the output frequency and the polarity of the DC bias of the AC power supply section 22 based on the driver's operation input or the driving situation information around the vehicle. Here, the driver's operation input will be explained with reference to new drawings.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining aerodynamic characteristics that can be set by operation. When setting aerodynamic characteristics, three settings can be made for each part of the vehicle: ``Floating,'' ``Suppressing,'' and ``None.'' In FIG. 3, the settings are "floating" toward the front of the vehicle, "holding" toward the center of the vehicle, "floating" toward the rear of the vehicle, and "holding" toward the underside of the vehicle. The driver can make settings by inputting operations on the touch panel. The output processing unit 32 determines the magnitude of the current or voltage supplied to the output terminal 26 so as to generate aerodynamic characteristics according to settings made by the driver.

Return to Figure 2. The output processing section 32 may determine the output frequency of the AC power supply section 22 based on the frequency of frictional current generated from the tire. The frictional current generated by the tires determines the pressure fluctuations on the vehicle surface, and the applied output frequency is determined based on this frequency. Further, the output processing section 32 may determine the output frequency of the AC power supply section 22 based on pressure fluctuations on the surface of the vehicle. This makes it easier to achieve steering stability that meets the demands of the occupants.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing frictional current generated from a tire. FIG. 4 shows an example of actual measurement of frictional current generated from a tire. While the vehicle is running, friction between the tires and the road surface generates a frictional current as shown in FIG. 4, which flows through the vehicle. This frictional current reaches the window via vehicle components and passengers, but since the positive air ions are negatively charged when the vehicle is on the ground, they are attracted to the surface of the vehicle by the force of the electric field. At this time, since the vehicle is negative, a phenomenon occurs in which the negative charges of the current supplied to the vehicle and some of the positive ions attracted to the surface of the vehicle combine on the surface and are neutralized. The neutralization phenomenon depends on the frequency of the tire's frictional current, and since the frequency has a fundamental wave of 4 hertz, the neutralization phenomenon occurs on the vehicle surface at 4 hertz.

In contrast, the present inventors superimposed a 17 Hz alternating current selected so as not to generate 4 Hz harmonics, and calculated pressure fluctuations using a calculation model that simulated the surface of the top of a vehicle with and without superimposition. The simulation results are shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the results of simulating pressure fluctuations on the vehicle surface. FIG. 5(a) shows pressure fluctuations on the vehicle surface when no current is superimposed on the vehicle surface, and FIG. 5(b) shows pressure fluctuations on the vehicle surface when a current is superimposed on the vehicle surface. The vertical axis in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) indicates pressure, and the horizontal axis indicates frequency.

Airflow from the front of the vehicle hits the front door glass and forms a vortex, which spreads toward the rear of the vehicle. FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) show pressure fluctuations at a position where the vortex begins to flow toward the rear of the vehicle.

Comparing the pressure fluctuations shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b), the pressure fluctuations shown in Figure 5(b) with superimposed current are small between 1 Hertz and several tens of Hertz, which humans can easily feel as vibrations. It has become. In this way, it is possible to easily achieve steering stability that meets the demands of the occupants.

Return to Figure 2. The output processing section 32 may determine the output frequency of the AC power supply section 22 based on the intensity of electromagnetic waves generated in an external environment such as overhead wires. Experiments have revealed that steering stability changes due to electromagnetic waves emitted from commercial power lines such as high-voltage power lines. It is possible to strengthen or weaken the influence of electromagnetic waves in accordance with the electromagnetic waves in the external environment, and by weakening the influence of electromagnetic waves, changes in steering stability can be suppressed.

The output processing section 32 determines the output frequency of the AC power supply section 22 and the polarity of the DC bias based on the driving state information of the vehicle. This makes it possible to adjust the aerodynamic characteristics according to the driving conditions of the vehicle and maintain the required driving characteristics.

The output processing unit 32 may determine the output frequency, current value, and current polarity of the plurality of output terminals 26, respectively. That is, currents with different output frequencies, current values, and polarities are supplied to each part of the vehicle to which the output terminal 26 is connected. For example, each window 14 is provided with an output terminal 26, and when turning right, the polarity of the current supplied to the right front door glass 14e and the right rear door glass 14f is made negative, and the current is supplied to the left front door glass 14c and the left rear door glass 14d. By setting the polarity of the current to be positive, it is possible to improve the ground contact feeling of the tires on the right side of the vehicle and stabilize the turning of the vehicle. Furthermore, the front of the vehicle is stabilized by making the polarity of the current supplied to the windshield 14a negative when the vehicle is accelerated, and the rear of the vehicle is stabilized by making the polarity of the current supplied to the rear glass 14b negative during braking. Can be done. In this way, by varying the current balance between multiple parts of the vehicle, it is possible to vary the aerodynamic characteristics in the front, back, left, right, top and bottom of the vehicle.

The output control unit 34 controls the output of the AC power supply unit 22 to supply current from the vehicle components to the surface of the vehicle. The output control unit 34 controls the output frequency of the AC power supply unit 22 at an output frequency determined based on the detection result of the on-vehicle sensor 24 acquired from the acquisition unit 30. The output control section 34 controls the output of the AC power supply section 22 according to the output frequency, current value, and polarity determined by the output processing section 32.

For example, the voltage is applied from the output terminal 26 connected to the front of the vehicle with the ground terminal 16 as a reference. By applying alternating current to the front of the vehicle, the steering stability changes when going over bumps or responding to steering. This is because the friction between the tires and the ground causes the vehicle to become negatively charged at the ground, and positive air ions, which are abundant in the air, are attracted to the vehicle surface and neutralize the vehicle's negative charge. This is because the pressure fluctuation changes with the application of alternating current. Thereby, the aerodynamic characteristics can be changed to change the steering stability.

The output control unit 34 controls the output frequency from the AC power supply unit 22 using an AC current that sweeps over time or an AC current that has a random frequency. It is more efficient to apply a chirp signal whose frequency is changed over time than to continue applying an alternating current with the same frequency. As a result, by not applying only a specific frequency to the vehicle component connected through the output terminal 26, changes in steering stability can be suppressed from decreasing.

The output control unit 34 applies a positive or negative DC bias to the AC power supply unit 22 to cause current to flow therein. Depending on the polarity of the bias, the effect of changing steering stability can be changed, allowing fine control.

The output control unit 34 controls the AC power supply unit 22 so that a current of a predetermined value or more does not flow. The output control section 34 may monitor the current output from the AC power supply section 22 and stop the output when the current exceeds a predetermined value. A switch capable of stopping the output of the AC power supply section 22 may be provided.

It should be noted that the embodiments are merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention.

1 Vehicle control device, 10 Vehicle, 12 Surface member, 14a Windshield, 14b Rear glass, 14c Left front door glass, 14d Left rear door glass, 14e Right front door glass, 14f Right rear door glass, 16 Ground terminal, 20 Processing device, 22 AC power supply unit, 24 in-vehicle sensor, 26 output terminal, 26a first output terminal, 26b second output terminal, 26c third output terminal, 26d fourth output terminal, 26e fifth output terminal, 26f sixth output terminal, 26g 7 output terminals, 30 acquisition section, 32 output processing section, 34 output control section.

Claims (1)

A vehicle control device that controls aerodynamic characteristics of a vehicle by supplying current to vehicle components including a vehicle body or a surface member of the vehicle,
an AC power supply unit having an output terminal connected to the vehicle component;
an acquisition unit that acquires vehicle running status information or driving status information detected by an on-vehicle sensor;
an output control unit that controls the output of the AC power supply unit to supply current to the vehicle component,
The vehicle control device is characterized in that the output control section controls the output frequency of the AC power supply section based on the detection result of the in-vehicle sensor acquired from the acquisition section.

Images