JP2006160012A - Vehicle traveling control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle traveling control device with the reduced number of switches around a steering wheel, providing improvements in operability of shift-up or shift-down and in operability of a cruise control switch. <P>SOLUTION: This device comprises a transmission control part 22, a manual mode control part 10c for executing a manual mode, an auto-cruise mode control part 10b for executing an auto-cruise mode, a main SW 30, an input SW group 100, and a mode determination part 10a for detecting the operation of the main SW 30 and determining which of the manual mode or the auto-cruise mode has been selected. When the mode determination part 10a determines that the manual mode has been selected, a function for performing a speed change operation of a gear shift is added to the input SW group 100, and when the mode determination part 10a determines that the auto-cruise mode has been selected, a function for performing a setting operation for constant speed traveling is added to the input SW group 100. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle travel control device that includes manual mode execution means and auto-cruise mode execution means and is capable of selectively switching between both modes.

  In recent years, vehicles having an automatic transmission function (hereinafter referred to as A / T vehicles) such as an A / T (Automatic transmission) vehicle or a CVT (Continuously variable transmission) vehicle having a manual mode in addition to a normal drive mode are well known. It has been put into practical use.

  A / T vehicles with manual mode are designed to operate A / T transmissions as well as M / T (Manual transmission) vehicles by operating a manual mode shift knob (hereinafter referred to as manual shift knob). By shifting up or down, it is possible to quickly drive on a winding road or the like.

  The manual shift knob is disposed at a position where the driver can easily operate. Recently, the manual shift knob is not limited to the shift knob, and is a paddle type having a pull switch and a push switch provided on the fixed portion side of the handle, so-called A paddle switch provided with a shift-up and shift-down function has been put into practical use.

An A / T vehicle equipped with an auto-cruise mode capable of traveling at a constant speed without continuing to step on the accelerator is also well known, and is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1. A switch for setting the auto-cruise mode (hereinafter referred to as a cruise control switch) is also provided at a position where the driver can easily operate, for example, in the vicinity of a winker disposed on the fixed portion side of the steering wheel. By doing so, it is possible to perform setting, cancellation, setting of a constant speed, setting for returning to the speed set before the cancellation after the cancellation of the automatic cruise mode (hereinafter referred to as resume), and the like.
JP-A-11-59221

  However, both the paddle switch with the shift function for the manual mode and the cruise control switch are provided on the handle fixing part side, so the number of switches near the handle fixing part increases, and the operation is complicated and easy to use. bad.

  For this reason, a technique for providing a cruise control switch on a handle peripheral portion, for example, a driver side surface of the handle is well known, but a switch for audio operation or the like is already provided on the driver side surface of the handle. However, the number of switches disposed on the driver side surface of the steering wheel increases, resulting in a problem that the operation becomes complicated. In addition, there is a problem that the number of connecting connector circuits provided in the fixed portion of the handle becomes insufficient, and the peripheral structure becomes more complicated, such as adding additional connectors.

  Therefore, in order to provide a cruise control switch on the driver side of the steering wheel, etc., it is necessary to reduce the number of existing audio operation switches or to reduce the size of all the switches arranged, In addition to the functional degradation caused by the deletion, there was a problem that the operability of the switch deteriorated.

  The object of the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to reduce the number of switches around the handle, and to improve the operability of the upshift or downshift and the operability of the cruise control switch. It is in providing a vehicle travel control device.

  In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle travel control apparatus according to the present invention includes an automatic transmission that automatically sets a gear ratio in accordance with a running state of the vehicle, and a plurality of fixed gear ratios manually as a shift mode of the automatic transmission. Manual mode execution means for executing a selectable manual mode, auto cruise mode execution means for executing an auto cruise mode that runs at a constant speed at a set speed, first and second switch sections, and the first switch section Mode determining means for detecting whether the manual mode or the auto cruise mode is selected, and when the mode determining means determines that the manual mode is selected. Is provided with a function of performing a shifting operation of the fixed gear ratio to the second switch portion, and the mode determination means performs the above-mentioned auto switching function. When the cruise mode is determined to be selected, wherein the function of setting operation for constant speed running at a set speed to the second switch unit is applied.

  According to the vehicle travel control device of the present invention, the number of switches around the steering wheel can be reduced, and the operability of upshifting or downshifting and the operability of the cruise control switch can be improved.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a vehicle travel control device showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example in which the second switch part of FIG. 1 is configured by a paddle switch (SW).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle travel control device 1 includes an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as “ECU”) 10, a throttle control unit 21, a shift control unit 22, and a first switch unit. A main part is configured by including a switch (SW) 30 and an input switch (SW) group 100 as a second switch part.

  The ECU 10 controls the traveling state of the vehicle. The ECU 10 has functions for controlling the traveling state of the vehicle, such as an auto cruise mode control unit 10b that is an auto cruise mode execution unit and a manual mode that is a manual mode execution unit. The control part 10c and the mode determination part 10a which is a mode determination means which determines which one of both modes was selected are comprised.

  The mode determination unit 10a detects the operation of the main SW 30 and determines whether the main SW 30 is in an on state or an off state. If the main SW 30 is in the ON state, the mode determination unit 10a determines that the auto cruise mode in which the driver runs at a constant speed at the set speed has been selected, and outputs a signal to the auto cruise mode control unit 10b.

  Alternatively, if the main SW 30 is in an off state, the mode determination unit 10a determines that a manual mode in which a plurality of fixed gear ratios can be manually selected is selected as a shift mode of the automatic transmission described later by the driver, A signal is output to the manual mode control unit 10c.

  The auto-cruise mode control unit 10b is connected to the output side of the ECU 10 so as to execute the auto-cruise mode in accordance with the state of the paddle SW100 when a signal determined as the auto-cruise mode is input from the mode determination unit 10a. The throttle control unit 21 is controlled. Specifically, for example, a drive signal corresponding to a predetermined throttle opening is output to a throttle control unit 21 such as an electronic control throttle that electronically controls the opening of the throttle valve.

  The manual mode control unit 10c is connected to the output side of the ECU 10 so as to execute the manual mode according to the state of the paddle SW100 when a signal determined as the manual mode is input from the mode determination unit 10a. 22 is controlled. Specifically, a shift signal corresponding to the shift selected by the driver is output to a shift control unit 22 such as an automatic transmission that automatically sets the gear ratio according to the traveling state of the vehicle.

  The main SW 30 is connected to the input side of the ECU 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the main SW 30 is, for example, a normally open on / off switch, and is provided in a driver's operation area such as a console box (not shown). .

  The input SW group 100 is also connected to the input side of the ECU 10, and as shown in FIG. 2, the input SW group 100 is at least 2 connected to the driver's operation area, for example, the fixed portion side of the handle 50. This is a known paddle switch (SW) having two switches (SW) SW_L (Left) 100a and SW_R (Right) 100b. In the following description, the paddle SW is denoted by the same reference numeral as the input SW group and will be described as a paddle SW100.

  Also, an audio operation switch (SW) 60 is disposed on a part of the driver side surface 50a of the handle 50. Further, the paddle SW may be of a type that rotates integrally with the handle 50 or may be fixed to the fixed portion side of the handle 50 regardless of the rotation of the handle 50.

  The paddle SW100 is composed of SW_L100a located on the left side of the handle 50 and SW_R100b located on the right side of the handle 50, and the SW_L100a and SW_R100b can be switched between, for example, a no-input state and an input-present state. And a pull switch (pull SW).

  The SW_L 100a is provided with a function of performing a shifting operation with the above fixed gear ratio when the mode determining unit 10a determines that the manual mode is selected. Specifically, the SW_L 100a is provided with a shift switch function used for downshifting of the transmission control unit 22. It has been done.

  Further, SW_L 100a is provided with a function of performing a setting operation of traveling at a constant speed at a set speed when it is determined by the mode determination unit 10a to be in the auto cruise mode. Specifically, the SW_L 100a is set to a constant speed (SET), or It functions as a cruise control switch provided with a switch function used for a deceleration (COAST) operation.

  The SW_R 100b is provided with a function of performing a shift operation at the fixed gear ratio when the mode determination unit 10a determines that the manual mode is selected. Specifically, the SW_R 100b is provided with a shift switch function used for upshifting the transmission control unit 22. It has been done.

  Further, SW_R 100b is provided with a function of performing a setting operation of traveling at a constant speed at a set speed when it is determined by the mode determination unit 10a to be in the auto cruise mode. Specifically, resume (RES) or acceleration (ACC) ) The switch function used for the operation is added and functions as a cruise control switch.

  Therefore, the paddle SW 100 is configured so that the function of the shift switch and the function of the cruise control switch can be switched by one switch according to the state of the main SW 30.

  Next, the operation of the vehicle travel control device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 to 5. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a switching control operation between the manual mode and the auto cruise mode performed by the ECU of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a chart and diagram showing an input function of the paddle SW when the main SW of FIG. 1 is on. FIG. 5 is a chart showing the input function of the paddle SW when the main SW of FIG. 1 is off.

  As shown in FIG. 3, first, when a signal indicating that the paddle SW 100 is operated is input to the ECU 10 in step S1, the mode determination unit 10a of the ECU 10 determines whether the main SW 30 is in an on state in the subsequent step S2. Is determined.

  When the mode determination unit 10a determines that the main SW 30 is in the on state, the process proceeds to step S3, and the throttle control unit 21 is controlled by the auto cruise mode control unit 10b of the ECU 10. At this time, the paddle SW 100 has a cruise control function.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, when only the SW_L 100a of the paddle SW100 is pulled once at a speed at which the auto-cruise mode is to be set, the auto-cruise mode control unit 10b keeps the A / T vehicle constant. The throttle control unit 21 is controlled so as to be set (SET) at the speed of. That is, the auto cruise mode is set by one pull operation of the SW_L 100a.

  After only the SW_L 100a of the paddle SW 100 is continuously operated after the auto cruise mode is set, the auto cruise mode control unit 10b controls the throttle control unit 21 to decelerate (COAST) the A / T vehicle.

  Alternatively, if only the SW_R 100b of the paddle SW 100 is continuously operated after the auto cruise mode is set, the auto cruise mode control unit 10b controls the throttle control unit 21 to accelerate (ACC) the A / T vehicle. .

  Thereafter, a brake pedal or the like (not shown) is depressed, and after the auto-cruise mode is canceled by a known control, when only the SW_R 100b of the paddle SW 100 is pulled once, the auto-cruise mode control unit 10b / Throttle control unit 21 is controlled to resume (RES) the vehicle, that is, to return to the speed set before the release.

  Further, when it is desired to cancel the auto-cruise mode after setting the auto-cruise mode, if the SW_L 100a and SW_R 100b of the paddle SW 100 are simultaneously pulled once or continuously pulled, the auto-cruise mode control unit 10b Cancel the auto cruise mode.

  Returning to step S2 of FIG. 3, when the mode determination unit 10a determines that the main SW 30 is in the OFF state, the process branches to step S4, and the shift control unit 22 is controlled by the manual mode control unit 10c of the ECU 10. . At this time, the paddle SW 100 is given the function of a shift switch.

  Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 5, when only the SW_L 100 a of the paddle SW 100 is pulled once, the manual mode control unit 10 c controls the shift control unit 22 to shift down from the current gear.

  Alternatively, when only the SW_R 100b of the paddle SW 100 is pulled once, the manual mode control unit 10c controls the shift control unit 22 to shift up from the current gear.

  When the mode determination unit 10a determines whether the current mode is the manual mode or the auto cruise mode, in other words, whether the paddle SW 100 functions as a cruise control switch. The paddle SW 100 may be provided with a means that allows the driver to identify whether it functions as a shift switch.

  FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged front view of SW_L in FIG. 2 showing visual recognition means for allowing the driver to identify the manual mode or the auto cruise mode. As shown in FIG. 6, display means such as LED 150 is provided on SW_L 100a. When the auto-cruise mode is set, the LED 150a of the part indicated as SET / COAST as the visual recognition means is turned on so that the driver can visually recognize that the auto-cruise mode has been set. May be.

  At this time, the driver may visually recognize that the manual mode has not been set by turning off the LED 150b of the portion displayed as (-) as the visual recognition means.

  Further, when the manual mode is set, the LED 150b of the part indicated by (−) may be turned on so that the driver can visually recognize that the manual mode has been set.

  At this time, the driver may visually recognize that the auto-cruise mode has not been set by turning off the LED 150a in the region indicated as SET / COAST.

  The LED 150 is turned on and off at the same time on the SW_R 100b side. That is, when the auto cruise mode is set, the LED of the part indicated as RES / ACC is turned on, the LED of the part indicated as (+) is turned off, and the manual mode is set. , (+) LED of the part displayed is turned on, and LED of the part displayed RES / ACC is turned off.

  Further, the identification means arranged in the paddle SW 100 is not limited to the LED, and any means may be used as long as it can be visually recognized by the driver. For example, a liquid crystal display device may be provided in SW_L100a and SW_R100b.

  Furthermore, the display for identifying the driver to the manual mode or the auto-cruise mode is not limited to the lighting of the LED provided in the paddle SW, but to indicate which is functioning in the meter provided with the speedometer. Anyway.

  The visual recognition means is not limited to characters such as SET / COAST, (−), RES / ACC, and (+), but may be a character or the like. In other words, any mode can be used as long as the driver can visually recognize the selected mode.

  Thus, in vehicle travel control apparatus 1 showing the present embodiment, mode determination unit 10a of ECU 10 determines whether or not main SW 30 is in an on state, and when main SW 30 is in an on state, a paddle switch The auto-cruise mode is executed according to the state of 100, and when the main SW 30 is in the off state, the manual mode is executed according to the state of the paddle switch 100. That is, the paddle switch 100 is switched between the cruise control switch and the shift switch by turning on and off the main SW 30.

  As a result, the cruise control switch can be shared with the shift switch, so that it is not necessary to provide the cruise control switch on the periphery of the handle 50 separately from the shift switch.

  Therefore, the number of switches around the handle 50 can be increased while maintaining the existing functions without deleting the audio operation SW 60 provided on the driver-side surface 50a of the handle 50 from the driver-side surface 50a. Can be reduced. Further, it is not necessary to make the audio operation SW 60 provided on the driver side surface 50a of the handle 50 small.

  Furthermore, since the up / down down operation and the cruise control switch can be operated by the left / right pull operation of the paddle switch 100, the up / down down operation and the cruise control switch operability can be improved. .

Hereinafter, a modification is shown.
In the present embodiment, the automatic transmission vehicle in which the vehicle travel control device 1 is disposed is shown as an example of an A / T vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this and may be applied to a CVT vehicle. The same effect as the form can be obtained.

  Further, the input SW group 100 has been illustrated by taking the paddle SW as an example, but the input SW group 100 is not limited to this, and has at least two switches, and is disposed in an operation region other than the driver side surface 50a of the handle 50. Of course, any switch can be used.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the paddle SW 100 is used as a cruise control switch when the main SW 30 is on, and is used as a shift switch when the main SW 30 is off.

  Of course, the paddle SW 100 may be used as a shift switch when the main SW 30 is on, and may be used as a cruise control switch when the main SW 30 is off.

  Further, a main switch may be provided separately for the cruise control switch and the shift switch. In this case, when the main switch for the cruise control switch and the main switch for the shift switch are both off, the switch function of the paddle switch 100 is prevented from working, and when both are on, the main switch operated later is You may make it validate.

  In addition, the paddle SW has been described by taking the pull switch as an example, but it is needless to say that the paddle SW may be a push switch. Further, both the SW_L 100a and SW_R 100b of the paddle SW 100 may be provided with functions of a pull switch and a push switch.

  Specifically, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an outline of a modification of the configuration of the electric circuit when the functions of the pull switch and the push switch are provided in both of the SW_L and SW_R of the paddle SW, and FIG. The table which showed the input function of paddle SW in the switch composition of this is shown.

  When both the SW_L 100a and the SW_R 100b of the paddle SW100 are provided with the functions of a pull switch and a push switch, respectively, after the mode determination unit 10a (see FIG. 1) determines that the main SW 30 is in the on state, FIG. As shown, when only the SW_L 100a of the paddle SW 100 is pushed once at a speed at which the auto cruise mode is desired to be set, the auto cruise mode is set.

  After the auto-cruise mode is set, if only the SW_L100a of the paddle SW100 is continuously operated by the push operation, the A / T vehicle is controlled to be decelerated (COAST), and if only the SW_R100b or the SW_L100a of the paddle SW100 is continuously operated by the pull operation, / T car is accelerated (ACC) controlled.

  Thereafter, when a brake pedal or the like (not shown) is depressed and the auto-cruise mode is canceled by a known control and only the SW_R 100b or the SW_L 100a is pulled once, the A / T vehicle is resumed (RES). That is, it is controlled to return to the speed set before the release.

  In addition, after setting the auto-cruise mode, when it is desired to cancel the auto-cruise mode, if the SW_L 100a and SW_R 100b of the paddle SW100 are simultaneously pulled once or continuously pulled, the auto-cruise mode is canceled. The

  As described above, even when the functions of the pull switch and the push switch are provided in both of the SW_L 100a and the SW_R 100b of the paddle SW 100, the same effect as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

The functional block diagram of the vehicle travel control apparatus which shows one embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example which comprised the 2nd switch part of FIG. 1 by the paddle switch (SW). The flowchart which shows the switching control operation | movement between the manual mode and auto-cruise mode which ECU of FIG. 1 performs. The chart which showed the input function of paddle SW when the main SW of Drawing 1 is ON. The chart which showed the input function of paddle SW when the main SW of Drawing 1 is OFF. The partial enlarged front view of SW_L of FIG. 2 which shows the visual recognition means which makes a driver | operator identify a manual mode or an auto cruise mode. The block diagram which shows the outline of the modification of the structure of an electric circuit at the time of providing the function of a pull switch and a push switch in both SW_L of SW_R of paddle SW of FIG. FIG. 8 is a chart showing the paddle SW input function in the switch configuration of FIG. 7. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle travel control apparatus 10 ... ECU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10a ... Mode determination part 10b ... Auto cruise mode control part 10c ... Manual mode control part 22 ... Shift control part 30 ... Main SW
100 ... Paddle SW
100a ... SW_L
100b ... SW_R
150a ... LED
150b ... LED
Attorney Susumu Ito

Claims (5)

An automatic transmission that automatically sets the gear ratio according to the running state of the vehicle;
Manual mode execution means for executing a manual mode in which a plurality of fixed gear ratios can be manually selected as a shift mode of the automatic transmission;
Auto cruise mode execution means for executing an auto cruise mode that travels at a constant speed at a set speed;
First and second switch sections;
Mode determining means for detecting an operation of the first switch unit and determining that either the manual mode or the auto cruise mode is selected;
With
When the mode determining means determines that the manual mode is selected, the second switch unit is provided with a function of performing a shifting operation of the fixed gear ratio,
When the mode determination means determines that the auto-cruise mode has been selected, the vehicle travel control is characterized in that the second switch section is provided with a function of performing a setting operation for traveling at a constant speed at a set speed. apparatus. The second switch unit is a paddle switch having at least two switches,
When it is determined by the mode determining means that the manual mode has been selected, one switch of the second switch section is provided with a switch function for upshifting, and the other switch is used for downshifting. The vehicle travel control device according to claim 1, wherein a switch function is provided. The second switch unit is a paddle switch having at least two switches,
When it is determined by the mode determination means that the auto cruise mode has been selected, one of the switches of the second switch section is provided with an auto cruise set or deceleration switch function and the other switch The vehicle travel control device according to claim 1, further comprising a switch function for resume or acceleration.   4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the second switch unit is provided with a display unit that displays whether the manual mode or the auto-cruise mode is selected. Vehicle travel control device. 5. The vehicle travel control device according to claim 4, wherein the display by the display means is performed by turning on or off the visual recognition means.

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