JP4604598B2 - Automatic transmission display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device for an automatic transmission, and in particular, when a vehicle decelerates from a predetermined vehicle speed and stops when a high-speed gear stage of 2 speeds or more is selected by manual operation, the gear stage is set before stopping. A first shift control mode that automatically downshifts to the lowest gear, and a downshift according to the first shift control mode when a predetermined high-speed gear is selected and started by manual operation in the manual mode when the vehicle is stopped. The present invention relates to a display device for an automatic transmission that displays a shift position of an automatic transmission having a manual mode having a second shift control mode for prohibiting and fixing the shift speed to a predetermined high speed shift speed.

In recent years, as an automatic transmission for a vehicle, in addition to an auto mode in which a shift is automatically performed based on a preset shift characteristic, a manual mode in which a shift is performed based on a driver's manual operation is provided. Those having shift control means have been put into practical use. For example, the shift control means switches the shift lever from the D (drive) range where the auto mode is achieved to the M (manual) range where the manual mode is achieved, and operates the shift lever forward in the M range. The shift stage is shifted up by one stage, and if operated backward, the shift stage is shifted down by one stage. In order to smoothly perform the next start when the vehicle is stopped in the manual mode, it is common to have a function of automatically downshifting the gear position to the first gear position when the vehicle stops. is there. However, when the vehicle stops with such a function, that is, with a manual operation in the manual mode and a high-speed gear of 2 or more selected, the gear is automatically downshifted to the lowest gear before the vehicle stops. In the first shift control mode alone, if the tire slips at the first speed on a low-μ road such as a snowy road or a muddy ground and the vehicle cannot start, the manual mode up switch operation will cause the second or higher speed to be changed. If you start and stop repeatedly due to traffic jams or the like, you will need to perform the troublesome operation of shifting to the second gear every time you stop, so in addition to the first shift control mode, When a predetermined high speed shift stage is selected and started by manual operation in the manual mode, downshift by the first shift control mode is prohibited and the shift stage is set to the predetermined high speed shift stage. Adding a second shift control mode of fixing the manual mode is conventionally performed (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2.). In addition, in an automatic transmission having such a manual mode, it is necessary to inform the driver of the gear position that is currently set in the manual mode. For example, a display lamp is provided for each shift stage on the panel and lights up for each shift stage, or a seven-segment display is provided to display the shift stage with numbers ( For example, see Patent Document 3).
JP 2001-104825 A JP 2001-235027 A JP 2000-97337 A

  By the way, when the vehicle stops with the high speed gear selected, in addition to the first shift control mode in which the gear is automatically downshifted to the lowest gear before the vehicle stops, manual operation in the manual mode is performed when the vehicle is stopped. A manual mode having a second shift control mode in which a downshift by the first shift control mode is prohibited and the shift step is fixed to the predetermined high speed step when a predetermined high speed shift step is selected by operation. In the case of an automatic transmission having an automatic transmission, when displaying the shift position in the manual mode on the display device, the conventional display device displays the display device before stopping when the vehicle decelerates and stops from a state where a predetermined high-speed shift speed is selected. Even if the number of the gear position displayed on is, for example, “2” (second gear), the gear position set in preparation for the next manual start after the actual stop is In the first shift control mode, “1” (first gear) is selected, and in the second shift control mode, for example, “2” (second gear) of the selected shift gear at the time of manual start. If it is fixed, the driver may misrecognize that the vehicle is starting at the 1st speed even though it is fixed at the 2nd speed. For this reason, the problem of acceleration failure is likely to occur at intersections or on slopes.

  An object of the present invention is to allow a driver to recognize that an automatic transmission is fixed to a high speed gear in a manual mode, and to prevent acceleration failure based on erroneous recognition of the gear position.

The present invention includes an auto mode in which switching of a plurality of shift speeds is performed based on a preset shift characteristic and a manual mode in which switching of the shift speed is performed based on a manual operation of a driver, and the manual mode includes: When the vehicle decelerates from a predetermined vehicle speed and stops with manual operation in manual mode selected with a high gear of 2 or more, the gear is automatically downshifted to the lowest gear before stopping. When the vehicle is stopped and a predetermined high speed shift stage is selected and started by manual operation in the manual mode when the vehicle is stopped, downshifting by the first shift control mode is prohibited and the shift stage is set to a predetermined level. An automatic transmission having a shift control means having a second shift control mode fixed to a high speed shift stage and displaying a shift stage currently set by the shift control means. A display device of the machine, and determination means for shifting control mode in the manual mode of the shift control means determines a whether the first of said second speed change control mode or a speed control mode, the vehicle speed When the shift control mode discriminated by the discriminating means in the region below the predetermined vehicle speed is the second shift control mode, the display of the shift stage is more emphasized than in the first shift control mode. In accordance with the detected gradient, the greater the degree of downhill when descending, the lower the predetermined vehicle speed, and the uphill A display device for an automatic transmission is provided, characterized in that a highlight display area changing means for increasing the predetermined vehicle speed as the degree increases is provided.

  This display device for an automatic transmission displays the shift stage currently set by the shift control means. The display indicates that the vehicle is decelerated from a predetermined vehicle speed or more and stopped when the shift control mode in the manual mode is selected in the manual mode in the manual mode and the high-speed shift stage of 2 or more is selected. This is the first shift control mode in which the shift stage is automatically downshifted to the lowest shift stage before stopping, or the first high-speed shift stage is selected by a manual operation in the manual mode when the vehicle stops. If the second shift control mode is the second shift control mode, the first shift control mode is determined depending on whether the shift control mode is a second shift control mode in which downshifting is prohibited and the shift stage is fixed to a predetermined high speed shift stage. Emphasize the display at certain times. For this reason, when the vehicle is decelerated from the state where the predetermined high-speed gear is selected and the vehicle stops, if the display on the display device is emphasized, the second gear-change control mode and the gear position at the next start is the high-speed gear shift. The driver can recognize that the vehicle is fixed to the stage, and for example, it is possible to prevent an acceleration failure at an intersection or a hill start due to erroneous recognition that the vehicle is starting at the 1st speed although it is fixed at the 2nd speed. And the highlighting can be easily performed only by changing the display mode of the existing display device without adding a new dedicated display means.

In the display device of the automatic transmission, the highlighting means is assumed that the vehicle speed to perform a highlighted in the following areas a predetermined vehicle speed. If the vehicle speed enters a high vehicle speed range exceeding a predetermined vehicle speed, the acceleration failure based on the erroneous recognition of the driver is no longer a problem, and the highlighting becomes troublesome. In order to prevent such annoyance, highlighting is stopped in the high vehicle speed region.

Further, in the display device for the automatic transmission , the predetermined vehicle speed is further decreased as the degree of downhill is large when the downhill is detected according to the gradient detecting means for detecting the odor distribution of the traveling road and the detected gradient. is, the larger the degree of climbing when climbing is provided with a highlight region changing means for increasing said predetermined vehicle speed. Even when the driver is not aware that the vehicle is fixed at a high gear, the area to be highlighted may be on the lower vehicle speed side and the vehicle speed may be higher. Emphasizing increases the annoyance. On the other hand, when climbing, if the driver misrecognizes that the vehicle is down-shifted to the lowest gear, although it is actually fixed at the high gear, the acceleration failure is severe even at high vehicle speeds. Therefore, the highlight area is narrowed to the low vehicle speed side or widened to the high vehicle speed side in consideration of the gradient of the traveling road, thereby enabling more effective display.

  The highlighting includes, for example, means for changing from a lighting display to a blinking display, and the highlighting control may be a highlighting by changing the display of the shift position from lighting to blinking. Therefore, effective alerting to the driver can be achieved.

  The highlighting includes means for changing a display color, and the highlighting control is to highlight the display by changing the display color of the shift stage to a predetermined display color (for example, a fluorescent color). In that case, the driver can be alerted effectively.

  The highlighting includes means for changing the display brightness, and the highlighting control may be performed by increasing the brightness of the display of the shift stage, and in this case, the effect on the driver is also achieved. Can be alerted.

  The emphasis display may include means for changing the background display of the gear position display, and the emphasis display control may be an emphasis display by changing the background display to a predetermined background display. Effectively alert the driver.

  The emphasis display includes means for changing a shift stage number to a synonym, and the emphasis display control changes the shift stage number to a synonym (for example, changing an Arabic numeral to a Roman numeral). In this case, the driver can be effectively alerted.

  Further, the highlighting includes means for selectively displaying a shift stage number and a specific alphabetic character (for example, “H” meaning fast gear stage fixing, “S” meaning snow mode, etc.), The emphasis display control may be an emphasis display by repeatedly and alternately displaying a shift stage number and a specific alphabet character, and in this case, an effective alerting to the driver can be achieved.

  As described above, the display device of the automatic transmission according to the present invention allows the driver to recognize when it is fixed to the high speed gear stage in the manual mode without adding a new dedicated display means. Further, it is possible to prevent the acceleration failure based on the erroneous recognition of the gear position.

  1-6 shows an example of embodiment. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an operation unit of an automatic transmission, FIG. 2 is a front view of an instrument panel provided with a display device of the automatic transmission, FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of the automatic transmission, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main routine of highlighting control of the display device, FIG. 5 is an area diagram of execution and release of highlighting in highlighting control of the display device of the automatic transmission, and FIG. 6 is highlighting control of the display device of the automatic transmission. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a highlight display area change.

  The automatic transmission according to this embodiment includes a manual mode in which a shift is performed based on a manual operation of a driver, in addition to an auto mode in which a shift is automatically performed based on a preset shift characteristic. In addition to switching each range in the auto mode by operating the lever of the control unit mounted on the vehicle and arranged in the driver's seat, switching between the auto mode and the manual mode, and shifting up and shifting in the manual mode Down is done.

  The operation portion is as shown in FIG. 1, a guide plate 2 is disposed on the console portion 1 on the side of the driver's seat, and a shift gate 4 for guiding the shift lever 3 is provided on the guide plate 2. The shift gate 4 constitutes a stepped path composed of a combination of a path in the vehicle longitudinal direction (shift direction) and a path in the vehicle width direction (select direction), from the front P range to the rear, the R range, N The selection positions of the range and the D range are sequentially provided, and the M range is arranged in the selection direction from the D range, the forward position of the neutral position Mc is the shift up position Mu, and the rear is the shift down position Md. .

  If the shift lever 3 is switched from the D range in which the auto mode is achieved to the M range in which the manual mode is achieved, and the shift lever 3 is operated forward in the M range, the shift stage is shifted up one step and operated backward. Then, the gear position is shifted down by one step.

  And the instrument panel 10 shown in FIG. 2 is arrange | positioned at the driver's seat of the vehicle carrying this automatic transmission. In addition to the speedometer 11 for displaying the vehicle speed, the engine tachometer 12 for displaying the engine speed, the water temperature meter 13 for displaying the engine water temperature, the fuel gauge 14 for displaying the remaining fuel amount, etc. As a display device for an automatic transmission that displays the currently achieved range, gear stage, etc., a P range lamp 15P, an R range lamp 15R, an N range lamp 15N, a D range lamp 15D, and an M range lamp 15M are arranged in a vertical line. An arranged range display unit 15, a liquid crystal type gear stage display unit 16, and a lamp type warning display unit 17 are arranged.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle is provided with a shift control control unit (ATCU) 20 constituting shift control means of the automatic transmission, and a display control control unit (MECU) 30 of the meter panel 10. Is provided. Various signals are transmitted and received between the ATCU 20 and the MECU 30.

  The ATCU 20 includes a signal from the M range switch 5, the shift up switch 7 and the shift down switch 8, a signal from the vehicle speed sensor 21 for detecting the vehicle speed, and a signal from the turbine speed sensor 22 for detecting the turbine speed. A signal from the engine speed sensor 23 for detecting the engine speed, a signal from the throttle opening sensor 24 for detecting the throttle opening of the engine, a signal from the oil temperature sensor 25 for detecting the temperature of the hydraulic oil, etc. Is entered.

  The ATCU 20 receives these signals, sets a gear position based on the operation of the shift lever 3 by the driver and the driving state of the vehicle and the engine, and hydraulic control for gear shift control so that the gear speed is realized. While outputting a control signal to the circuit 40, the gear stage signal S-1 (first speed), S-2 (second speed), S-3 (third speed) or S-4 (fourth speed) is output to the output port 27a, 27b, 27c and 27d output to the input ports 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d of the MCU 30.

  A signal from an inhibitor switch 26 that is configured by a P range switch 26P, an R range switch 26R, an N range switch 26N, and a D range switch 26D and that detects a range selected by the shift lever 3 is input to the MECU 30. The

  The MECU 30 receives these signals and controls the display of the range display unit 15, the gear stage display unit 16 and the warning display unit 17.

  The automatic transmission automatically shifts the shift speed to the lowest speed when the vehicle is stopped so that the next start when the vehicle is stopped in the manual mode can be smoothly performed as a function of the shift control means configured by the ATCU 20. If the vehicle decelerates from a predetermined vehicle speed or higher and stops at a state where a high-speed gear stage of 2 or higher is selected by manual operation in the manual mode, the vehicle stops until the vehicle stops. The first shift control mode that automatically downshifts the shift speed to the lowest shift speed, and when the tire slips at the first speed and cannot start on a low μ road such as a snowy road or a muddy ground. If you try to start at a high gear position of 2nd gear or higher by operating the up switch in the manual mode, and start and stop repeatedly due to traffic jams etc., you will shift to 2nd gear every time you stop. In addition to the first shift control mode described above, the first shift control is performed when a predetermined high speed shift stage is selected and started by manual operation in the manual mode when the vehicle is stopped. A second shift control mode is provided in which the downshift according to the mode is prohibited and the gear stage is fixed to a predetermined high speed gear stage.

  The liquid-crystal-type gear stage display unit 16 displays the gear stage currently set by the ATCU 20 serving as a gear shift control means, and a display control control unit (MECU) 30 for controlling the gear stage display unit 16. Is a determining means for determining whether the shift control mode in the manual mode is the first shift control mode or the second shift control mode, and the shift control mode determined by the determining means is the second. In the shift control mode, there is an emphasis display control means for executing the highlight display control for making the display of the shift level by the shift step display unit 16 more emphasized than in the first shift control mode. .

  The highlighting is performed, for example, by changing the number of the shift stage displayed by the shift stage display unit 16 from lighting display to blinking display. In addition, the highlighting may be a highlighting by changing the display color of the shift stage to a predetermined display color (for example, fluorescent color), and includes means for changing the display brightness. The display may be highlighted by increasing the brightness of the display of the shift speed, and it is provided with means for changing the background display of the shift speed display and is highlighted by changing the background display to a predetermined background display. It is also possible to provide means for changing the shift stage number to a synonym and to highlight it by changing the shift stage number to a synonym (for example, changing Arabic numerals to Roman numerals). There may be a means for selectively displaying a shift stage number and a specific alphabetic character (for example, “H” meaning fast gear stage fixation, “S” meaning snow mode, etc.). For example, the highlight control may be one which highlighted by displaying alternately repeated and a specific alphabetic characters and numbers shift position display. In addition to the liquid crystal display, a seven segment display may be used for the gear stage display unit 16, and an LED lamp or the like may be used.

  The highlighting is executed in a region where the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a predetermined vehicle speed. If the vehicle speed enters a high vehicle speed range exceeding a predetermined vehicle speed, the acceleration failure based on the erroneous recognition of the driver is no longer a problem, and the highlighting becomes troublesome. In order to prevent such annoyance, the highlighting is canceled in the high vehicle speed region. As shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle speed (predetermined vehicle speed) that defines the highlighted display area is set to a higher vehicle speed side as the throttle opening increases with the throttle opening of the engine as a parameter.

  Further, the MECU 30 reduces the vehicle speed (predetermined vehicle speed) that defines the highlight area as the degree of downhill is large when descending, according to the gradient detection means that detects the scent of the road and the detected gradient. When climbing, the highlight area changing means is configured to increase the vehicle speed (predetermined vehicle speed) as the climbing degree is larger. And when descending, even if the driver is not aware that it is fixed at a high gear, it is unlikely that acceleration will be poor, so the area to be highlighted may be on the lower vehicle speed side and the vehicle speed is higher If the highlighting is performed up to the area, the troublesomeness increases, so the area of the highlighting is narrowed to the low vehicle speed side as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. If the driver misrecognizes that the gear is downshifted, the acceleration failure will be severe even at high vehicle speeds. Therefore, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5, the highlighted area is expanded to the high vehicle speed side. .

  The highlighting control main routine is as shown in FIG. 4. When the routine is started, it is determined whether or not the manual mode is set (step S1), and if it is not the manual mode, that is, the auto mode, the routine returns without doing anything. In the manual mode, it is determined whether or not the previous time was the auto mode (step S2). If the previous time is not the auto mode, that is, if the previous mode has been switched to the manual mode, nothing is done. When it is in the auto mode, that is, when it is switched to the manual mode this time, the high-speed gear stage fixed flag F is set to 0 to switch to the first shift control mode (step S3).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is starting (step S4). If the vehicle is starting, it is further determined whether or not the vehicle is starting at the 2nd speed (step S5). F is set to 1 to switch to the second shift control mode (step S6), and the process proceeds to the next process (step S7). Further, when it is not at the time of starting or when it is not at the second speed even at the time of starting, the process proceeds to the next process (step S7) as it is.

  Then, it is determined whether a second shift control mode release condition such as a manual shift operation after starting, a vehicle speed exceeding a predetermined vehicle speed, or a switch to the auto mode is established (step (S7) When established, the high-speed gear stage fixed flag F is returned to 0 (step S8), and the process proceeds to the next process (step S9). On the other hand, when the second shift control mode release condition is not satisfied, the process directly proceeds to the next process (step S9).

  Then, it is determined whether the high-speed gear stage fixed flag F is 1 (step S9). If the flag F is 1, highlighting is started (step S10). If the flag F is 0 instead of 1, highlighting is canceled (step S11).

  Further, the highlighting area changing subroutine in the highlighting control is as shown in FIG. 6 and starts, and the traveling road gradient is detected from the traveling resistance (step T1). Then, the highlighted area is changed as shown in FIG. 5 according to the traveling road gradient.

  As mentioned above, although an example of embodiment was explained, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to this but can be implemented in various aspects.

It is a top view of the shift lever operation part of the automatic transmission which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the instrument panel provided with the display apparatus of the automatic transmission which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an automatic transmission according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the main routine of the highlight display control of the display apparatus of the automatic transmission of embodiment of this invention. It is an area | region figure of emphasis display execution and cancellation | release in the emphasis display control of the display apparatus of the automatic transmission of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the highlight display area change in the highlight display control of the display apparatus of the automatic transmission of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

3 Shift lever 15 Range display section 16 Shift stage display section 20 Control unit for shift control (shift control means)
30 Control unit for display control

Claims (1)

An auto mode for switching a plurality of shift speeds based on a preset shift characteristic, and a manual mode for switching the shift speeds based on a manual operation by a driver. When the vehicle decelerates from a predetermined vehicle speed and stops with a high speed gear of 2 or more selected by manual operation, the first gear is automatically downshifted to the lowest gear before stopping. When a predetermined high-speed shift stage is selected and started by manual operation in manual mode when the vehicle is stopped, downshift by the first shift control mode is prohibited and the shift stage is changed to a predetermined high-speed shift stage. An automatic transmission having a shift control means having a second shift control mode to be fixed, and an automatic transmission display that displays a shift stage currently set by the shift control means. A location,
Discrimination means for discriminating whether the shift control mode of the shift control unit in the manual mode is the first shift control mode or the second shift control mode; and in a region where the vehicle speed is a predetermined vehicle speed or less. When the shift control mode determined by the determination unit is the second shift control mode, highlight display control means for displaying the shift stage in a more emphasized display than in the first shift control mode ; A slope detecting means for detecting the scent of the traveling road, and depending on the detected slope, the predetermined vehicle speed is decreased as the degree of downhill is large when descending, and the predetermined vehicle speed is increased as the degree of uphill is ascending A display device for an automatic transmission, characterized in that highlighting area changing means for raising the speed is provided.

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