JP6368938B2 - Display device for hybrid vehicle - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device for a hybrid vehicle including an engine (internal combustion engine) and a motor (electric motor) as drive sources, and is particularly suitable for a plug-in hybrid vehicle in which a battery can be charged with an external commercial power source. is there.

  Conventionally, a hybrid vehicle including an engine and a motor has been developed. In recent years, a plug-in hybrid vehicle in which a battery can be charged by an external commercial power source has also been developed (Patent Document 1).

  The plug-in hybrid vehicle has an EV mode in which driving wheels are driven using only the motor as a power source, a series mode in which the motor is used as a power source and the engine is used as a power supply source (generator) of the motor, or an engine and a motor. Some parallel modes using both power sources are switched according to the driving conditions. Thereby, fuel consumption can be remarkably suppressed.

  By the way, in an engine that has been left for a long time, oil (oil film) attached to a cylinder or the like falls due to gravity or running vibration, and the protection performance against friction between metal parts is lowered. If the engine start (dry start) is repeated while the oil film is insufficient, damage to the internal parts of the engine, such as seizure, may occur. In addition, the engine may not be able to operate smoothly due to sticking of the injector (fuel injection device) or air-engagement in the fuel pipe due to long-term standing.

  In other words, the hybrid vehicle has an advantage that the fuel consumption can be reduced as compared with the gasoline vehicle, but there is a problem that the above-described problems are likely to occur if the engine is left for a long time.

  In particular, since the plug-in hybrid vehicle can perform electric traveling by external charging to the battery for a long period without consuming fuel in the fuel tank for a long period of time, depending on the usage method of the user, Since it is commonly used as an electric vehicle, it easily falls into the above-described case, and problems caused by leaving the engine for a long time are likely to occur.

JP 2012-30668 A

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem of long-term engine leaving, a general plug-in hybrid vehicle forcibly operates the engine when there is no engine operation (= fuel consumption = refueling opportunity) within a predetermined period. "Engine maintenance mode" is implemented. By executing the engine maintenance mode, an appropriate function as an engine is maintained.
As described above, in the engine maintenance mode, the engine is forcibly operated in order to maintain an appropriate function as the engine. However, the amount of fuel consumed in the engine maintenance mode, that is, the required consumption amount is given to the driver. In the past, display was not performed.

For this reason, the driver may be uneasy because he / she cannot confirm how the fuel is consumed in the engine maintenance mode.
The present invention has been made in view of the above prior art, and in a hybrid vehicle, in order to maintain an appropriate function as an engine, a consumption amount in an engine maintenance mode in which the engine is forcibly operated, that is, the engine is It is to provide a display device that displays a status of continuing driving.

  A display device for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 of the present invention that solves the above problems drives a wheel by consuming fuel supplied from a fuel tank and a motor that drives the wheel by electric power supplied from a battery. In a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine maintenance mode for forcibly operating the engine in order to maintain an appropriate function of the engine, the fuel that stays in the fuel tank (hereinafter referred to as remaining fuel) A display device including a fuel gauge for displaying the amount of fuel in the engine maintenance mode among the remaining amount displayed on the fuel meter. This area is displayed so as to be distinguishable in color.

  A display device for a hybrid vehicle according to a second aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problems is the display device for a hybrid vehicle according to the first aspect, wherein the region corresponding to the amount of fuel consumed in the engine maintenance mode is defined in the implementation of the engine maintenance mode. It is characterized by a decrease along with it.

  A display device for a hybrid vehicle according to a third aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is characterized in that, in the first or second aspect, the battery can be charged by an external commercial power source.

  According to the display device for a hybrid vehicle of the present invention, an area corresponding to the amount of fuel consumed to maintain an appropriate function of the engine in the engine maintenance mode can be distinguished from other areas of the remaining amount in color. Since it has a fuel gauge to display, the status that the engine continues to operate in the engine maintenance mode can be clearly displayed as a status, and the driver can check how the fuel is consumed in the engine maintenance mode There is an effect.

1 is a schematic diagram of a hybrid vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic view showing a display device of a hybrid vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the engine maintenance mode in the hybrid vehicle which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described based on examples.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a hybrid vehicle (hereinafter also simply referred to as “vehicle”) 10 according to the present embodiment is a so-called plug-in hybrid vehicle, and uses a front motor 11, a rear motor 12, and an engine 13 for traveling. As a drive source. The driving force of the front motor 11 is transmitted to the front wheels 15 via the front drive transmission mechanism 14. The driving force of the rear motor 12 is transmitted to the rear wheel 17 via the rear drive transmission mechanism 16.

A battery 19 is connected to the front motor 11 via a front (Fr) motor inverter 18, and a battery 19 is connected to the rear motor 12 via a rear (Re) motor inverter 20. Electric power corresponding to the pedal operation of the passenger is supplied from the battery 19 to the motors 11 and 12 via the inverters 18 and 20.
Further, a sub-battery (12V battery) 22 for driving auxiliary machinery is connected to the battery 19 via a DC / DC converter 21. When the charge amount of the sub battery 22 decreases, the battery 19 charges the battery. Moreover, the vehicle-mounted charger 23 is connected to the battery 19, and the battery 19 can be charged also by an external commercial power source.

  The engine 13 is driven by burning the fuel supplied from the fuel tank 24. The engine 13 is connected to a generator (generator) 26 through an output system 25. The generator 26 is connected to the battery 19 (and the front motor 11) via a generator inverter 27. The output system 25 is connected to the generator 26, and is also connected to the front drive transmission mechanism 14 via the clutch 28.

  When the engine 13 is driven according to the driving state of the vehicle 10, the driving force of the engine 13 is first transmitted to the generator 26 via the output system 25. The generator 26 is operated by the driving force of the engine 13, and the electric power generated by the generator 26 is appropriately supplied to the front motor 11 and the battery 19. When the clutch 28 is connected in accordance with the driving state of the vehicle 10, the driving force of the engine 13 is transmitted to the front wheels 15 via the front drive transmission mechanism 14.

In addition, the vehicle 10 is provided with a control device (ECU) 30 that comprehensively controls various devices mounted on the vehicle 10. The control device 30 grasps the driving state of the vehicle 10 based on signals from various sensors provided in the vehicle 10, and comprehensively controls various devices based on the grasped state. In other words, the control device 30 also selects the travel mode according to the driving state of the vehicle 10.
Further, the control device 30 forcibly operates the engine 13 in order to maintain an appropriate function as an engine when there is no engine operation (= fuel consumption = refueling opportunity) within a predetermined period of time. "Is implemented.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fuel gauge 40 shown in FIG. 2 is provided in the vehicle 10 as a display device. The fuel gauge 40 has an E (empty) character at the bottom and an F (full) character at the top, and a fuel station mark as a symbol in the middle. An extending rectangular display unit (scale) 41 is arranged.
The display unit 41 includes a remaining amount portion 41a indicating an amount corresponding to fuel (remaining amount) staying in the fuel tank 24 at the present time, and an empty portion 41b indicating an amount corresponding to an empty amount that can be refueled to the fuel tank 24 at the present time. Become. The empty portion 41b has the same color as the background color.

The remaining amount displayed on the remaining amount portion 41 a is calculated by the control device 30 based on the height measured by a fuel level sensor (not shown) installed in the fuel tank 24.
The remaining amount portion 41a includes a remaining amount upper portion (indicated by a dot in the drawing) 41aa for displaying an amount corresponding to a required consumption amount in the engine maintenance mode, and fuel remaining in the fuel tank in the engine maintenance mode. The remaining amount lower part 41ab (indicated by hatching in the figure) 41ab that displays an amount corresponding to the amount excluding the necessary consumption amount is displayed. For example, the remaining amount upper part 41aa is displayed in orange, and the remaining amount lower part 41ab is displayed. It is displayed in blue.

The required amount of consumption in the engine maintenance mode displayed on the remaining amount upper portion 41aa, that is, the amount of fuel consumed to maintain an appropriate function as the engine is determined in advance as a fixed amount (for example, 2 to 5 liters). Just keep it. It may be calculated by the control device 30 based on a period when there is no refueling.
Further, the remaining amount upper portion 41aa is displayed so as to gradually decrease due to fuel consumption accompanying the execution of the engine maintenance mode. The amount of fuel consumed is the background color.

  Here, FIG. 2 is a display in the fuel system maintenance mode, as will be described later. In the fuel system maintenance mode, the remaining amount upper portion 41aa and the remaining amount lower portion 41ab are discolored. It is possible to visually display the status of how much consumption is required. Note that the remaining amount upper portion 41aa has the same color as the remaining amount lower portion 41ab except in the fuel system maintenance mode.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the fuel gauge 40, and various modifications can be made. For example, as the display unit 41, a digital display unit in which a plurality of segments of different colors are stacked, an analog meter display using needles of different colors, or a semicircular arc shape is not limited to a rectangle. It is also possible to do. In any case, an area corresponding to the amount of fuel consumed in the engine maintenance mode in the remaining amount may be displayed so as to be distinguishable in color from other areas of the remaining amount.

  Furthermore, a warning display for forcibly operating the engine for consumption of a predetermined amount of fuel during engine maintenance mode, which will be described later, and a warning display for prompting refueling of a predetermined amount or more before starting the engine maintenance mode are added to the fuel meter 40. Alternatively, such a display may be displayed at another location so as to be particularly noticeable to the driver.

  In addition, the fuel meter 40 is provided with a display unit for displaying numerical values of the consumption required amount in the engine maintenance mode / the amount already consumed in the engine maintenance mode, and the time / elapsed time required for executing the engine maintenance mode is added. It is also possible to add a display unit that displays a bar graph or a numerical value. Such a time is also calculated by the control device 30.

  The display of the fuel gauge 40 accompanying the execution of the engine maintenance mode in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, FIG. 3 shows the engine maintenance mode in which the required amount in the engine maintenance mode in which the engine is operated and the fuel is forcibly consumed, that is, the status in which the engine continues to operate is displayed.

First, it is determined whether or not the engine has been continuously operated for a predetermined time within a predetermined period (step S1). This is because, in order to maintain an appropriate function as an engine, oil circulation in the engine is required, so that continuous operation for a predetermined time is required.
If YES in step S1, the process ends without starting the engine maintenance mode. On the other hand, if NO, that is, if the engine is not continuously operated for a predetermined time within a predetermined period, a predetermined amount of fuel is stored in the fuel tank 24. It is determined whether or not there is fuel (step S2). This is because the engine cannot be forcibly operated without a predetermined amount of fuel in the fuel tank 24.
Next, in the case of NO in step S2, a warning display for prompting refueling of a predetermined amount or more is performed (step S2). As a warning display for prompting refueling of a predetermined amount or more, for example, a message “Insufficient fuel for engine maintenance. Please refuel” is displayed.

On the other hand, if YES in step S2, that is, if there is a predetermined amount of fuel in the fuel tank 24, an engine maintenance mode for forcibly operating the engine 13 is started (step S4).
In the engine maintenance mode, as shown in FIG. 2, a warning that the engine is forcibly operated to consume a predetermined amount of fuel is displayed, and at the same time, the fuel display is discolored only for the amount of fuel that needs to be consumed in the engine maintenance mode. That is, the remaining amount upper portion 41aa and the remaining remaining amount lower portion 41ab are color-coded in the remaining amount portion 41a, and the remaining amount upper portion 41aa is displayed so as to gradually decrease due to the consumption of fuel accompanying the execution of the engine maintenance mode (step S5). .

The warning that the engine is forcibly operated displays, for example, “fuel is consumed for engine maintenance and the engine is operated”.
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not a predetermined amount of fuel has been consumed (step S6). If NO, step S5 is repeated. On the other hand, if YES, that is, if consumption of the required amount in the engine maintenance mode has been completed, the engine maintenance mode Is finished (step S7). When the engine maintenance mode ends, the engine 13 is stopped and the warning display is turned off.

  As described above in detail based on the embodiment, in the display device of the hybrid vehicle 10 in which the engine maintenance mode for forcibly operating the engine is implemented in order to maintain an appropriate function of the engine, the fuel gauge 40 Of the displayed remaining amount portion 41a, the remaining amount upper portion 41aa corresponding to the amount of fuel consumed in the engine maintenance mode is changed to a color different from the remaining remaining amount lower portion 41ab, and the amount of fuel accompanying the execution of the engine maintenance mode is changed. Since the remaining amount upper portion 41aa is displayed so as to gradually decrease due to consumption, the status in which the engine continues to operate can be clearly displayed visually as the status, and the driver can see how the fuel is consumed in the engine maintenance mode. It has the effect of being able to confirm and feel secure.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be widely used industrially as a display device for a hybrid vehicle in which an engine maintenance mode for forcibly driving the engine is implemented in order to maintain an appropriate function of the engine, particularly as a display device for a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Is.

10 Vehicle (hybrid vehicle)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Front motor 12 Rear motor 13 Engine 14 Front drive transmission mechanism 15 Front wheel 16 Rear drive transmission mechanism 17 Rear wheel 18 Front motor inverter 19 Battery 20 Rear motor inverter 21 DC / DC converter 22 Sub battery 23 Car charger 24 Fuel tank 25 Output system 26 Generator 27 Generator inverter 28 Clutch 30 Control device 40 Fuel meter 41 Display unit 41a Remaining part 41aa Remaining part upper part 41ab Remaining part lower part 41b Empty part

Claims (3)

A motor that drives the wheels by power supplied from a battery;
An engine that consumes fuel supplied from a fuel tank and drives a wheel or generates a motor;
In a hybrid vehicle that implements an engine maintenance mode for forcibly operating the engine in order to maintain an appropriate function of the engine,
A display device comprising a fuel gauge that displays fuel (hereinafter referred to as remaining amount) remaining in the fuel tank,
Of the remaining amount displayed on the fuel gauge, an area corresponding to the amount of fuel consumed in the engine maintenance mode is displayed in a color distinguishable manner from other areas of the remaining amount. A display device for a hybrid vehicle. The display device for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the region corresponding to the amount of fuel consumed in the engine maintenance mode decreases as the engine maintenance mode is performed. The display device for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the battery can be charged by an external commercial power source.

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