IP Library Granted Patent US 12686414
Granted Patent B2
US 12686414 · App. 18/762,957 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Vehicle control device performing hardware protection control

Inventors: Masayuki Matsui (Ichinomiya, JP); Keigo Matsubara (Nagoya, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60W60/005B60W50/0098
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12686414
App. No.
18/762,957
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

When the driving mode is the automatic driving mode, the vehicle control device executes the first hard protection control according to the component-related parameter representing the state or the operating environment of the in-vehicle component, and when the driving mode is the manual driving mode, the vehicle control device executes the second hard protection control having a higher protection performance of the in-vehicle component than the first hard protection control according to the component-related parameter.

Claims (15)

1 . A vehicle control device for a vehicle, comprising a hardware protection control unit configured to execute hardware protection control of an in-vehicle component including an engine, an electric motor, a battery, a clutch, and a transmission, wherein:

functions of the hardware protection control unit are realized by a processor executing a computer program stored in a non-volatile storage medium;

in a case where a driving mode is in an autonomous driving mode, the hardware protection control unit executes first hardware protection control in accordance with a temperature of the in-vehicle component, wherein, in the autonomous driving mode, the vehicle travels in accordance with a traveling plan and a traveling environment is known;

in a case where the driving mode is in a manual driving mode, the hardware protection control unit executes second hardware protection control having a higher protection performance for the in-vehicle component than the first hardware protection control in accordance with the temperature of the in-vehicle component, wherein, in the manual driving mode, a driving environment and a driver operation condition are unknown, and the hardware protection control with the higher protection performance than the first hardware protection control is necessary;

the hardware protection control unit is configured to determine a start timing and an end timing of the hardware protection control in accordance with the temperature of the in-vehicle component;

the temperature of the in-vehicle component includes a first threshold and a second threshold which is smaller than the first threshold; and

the hardware protection control unit is configured to execute the hardware protection control after a preset delay time in a case where the temperature of the in-vehicle component becomes equal to or larger than the first threshold.

2 . A vehicle control device for a vehicle, comprising a hardware protection control unit configured to execute hardware protection control of an in-vehicle component including an engine, an electric motor, a battery, a clutch, and a transmission, wherein:

functions of the hardware protection control unit are realized by a processor executing a computer program stored in a non-volatile storage medium;

in a case where a driving mode is in an autonomous driving mode, the hardware protection control unit executes first hardware protection control in accordance with a temperature of the in-vehicle component, wherein, in the autonomous driving mode, the vehicle travels in accordance with a traveling plan and a traveling environment is known;

in a case where the driving mode is in a manual driving mode, the hardware protection control unit executes second hardware protection control having a higher protection performance for the in-vehicle component than the first hardware protection control in accordance with the temperature of the in-vehicle component, wherein, in the manual driving mode, a driving environment and a driver operation condition are unknown, and the hardware protection control with the higher protection performance than the first hardware protection control is necessary;

the hardware protection control unit is configured to determine a start timing and an end timing of the hardware protection control in accordance with the temperature of the in-vehicle component;

the temperature of the in-vehicle component includes a first threshold and a second threshold which is smaller than the first threshold; and

the hardware protection control unit is configured to enhance protection performance by lowering the first threshold.

3 . The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein the hardware protection control unit is configured to enhance protection performance by shortening the preset delay time.