JP2008221973A - Vehicle speed controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle speed controller that notifies a user about the timing when the speed of a vehicle which travels at a constant speed changes. <P>SOLUTION: When the vehicle is 500 m before a legal speed change point, enlarged maps (30a, 30b) of a legal speed change point periphery are displayed as divided pictures together with a map (20) of a periphery of its own vehicle position. In the center enlarged map (30a), the legal speed change point (31) and an indicator (32a) indicating the distance to the legal speed change point are displayed together with a position mark (21) of its own vehicle. In the left-side enlarged map (30b), the legal speed change point (31), an acceleration start point (33), and a speed change graph (34a) are displayed together with the position mark (30b) of its own vehicle. When the vehicle is 50 m before the legal speed change position, the enlarged maps are updated into enlarged maps (30c, 30d) larger in scale than the enlarged maps (30a, 30b). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle speed control device that automatically controls the speed of a vehicle.

Calculate the relative speed of the preceding vehicle relative to the host vehicle, determine the traveling lane of the preceding vehicle based on the position of the preceding vehicle and the calculated relative speed, and follow the distance between the vehicles that follow the preceding vehicle traveling in the same lane. A traveling device is known as a prior art (for example, Patent Document 1). With this fixed inter-vehicle distance tracking travel device, if the preceding vehicle is traveling beyond the maximum speed (legal speed) allowed on the road on which the vehicle is traveling, the vehicle speed is controlled so that the vehicle travels at the legal speed. To do.
JP-A-7-84048

  In a conventional constant inter-vehicle distance following traveling device as described in Patent Document 1, a road sign is photographed by a camera, and a legal speed of a road on which the host vehicle is traveling is detected. Then, the vehicle speed is updated so that the vehicle travels at the detected legal speed. At this time, if the legal speed changes before and after the update, there is a problem that the vehicle speed changes at a timing unexpected by the user.

(1) The vehicle speed control device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a point detection means for detecting that the vehicle has reached a predetermined point, a braking / driving control means for changing the vehicle speed when the vehicle reaches the predetermined point, and a vehicle having a predetermined value. It is provided with the alerting | reporting means which alert | reports the vehicle speed change by the braking / driving control means before reaching a point.
(2) The invention according to claim 2 is the vehicle speed control device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined point is a legal speed change point, and the braking / driving control means controls the vehicle speed using the legal speed on the road ahead of the host vehicle as a target value. It is characterized by doing.
(3) The invention according to claim 3 is the vehicle speed control device according to claim 2, wherein the legal speed change point is set based on the legal speed information recorded in the map data, and the point detection means is configured such that the vehicle travels. When the point on the map data is detected and the braking / driving control unit determines that the detected point is the set legal speed change point, the vehicle speed is changed.
(4) The invention according to claim 4 is the vehicle speed control device according to claim 2, wherein the legal speed change point is set based on legal speed information transmitted from the outside of the vehicle, and the point detection means is configured so that the vehicle travels. A point on the map data is detected, and the braking / driving control means changes the vehicle speed when it is determined that the detected point is a set legal speed change point.
(5) The invention according to claim 5 is the vehicle speed control device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising display means for displaying a legal speed change point.
(6) The invention according to claim 6 is the vehicle speed control device according to claim 5, wherein the display means displays the distance from the vehicle position to the legal speed change point.
(7) The invention according to claim 7 is the vehicle speed control device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the braking / driving control means is set before the legal speed change point when the legal speed at the legal speed change point becomes small. When the statutory speed at the statutory speed change point increases, the braking / driving control means starts accelerating from the acceleration start point set behind the statutory speed change point and displays it. The means displays either one of a deceleration start point and an acceleration start point.
(8) The invention according to claim 8 is the vehicle speed control device according to claim 7, wherein when the vehicle speed is decelerated, a voice is notified from before the deceleration start point, and when the vehicle speed is accelerated, acceleration is started. It is characterized by notifying by voice from before the point.
(9) The invention according to claim 9 is the vehicle speed control device according to claim 1, wherein a curvature road detecting means for detecting any one of a corner, a branch road, and a right / left turn intersection, a corner, a branch road, and a right / left turn intersection. When any point is detected, the vehicle further includes target speed calculation means for calculating a target vehicle speed when traveling at any one of the corner, the branch road, and the right-left turn intersection. It is a point where the vehicle speed is controlled to the target vehicle speed by the braking / driving control means before entering the point of either the branch road or the right / left turn intersection.

  According to the vehicle speed control device of the present invention, the vehicle speed change is notified to the user in advance before the vehicle speed is changed. Therefore, the user does not feel uncomfortable due to acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle at an unexpected timing.

  FIG. 1 shows a vehicle speed control device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle speed control device 1 controls the speed of the host vehicle so as to travel while maintaining a predetermined inter-vehicle distance with respect to the preceding vehicle. When the preceding vehicle does not exist, or when the own vehicle exceeds the legal speed when following the preceding vehicle, the vehicle speed control device 1 controls the speed so that the vehicle travels at the legal speed. The vehicle speed control device 1 includes a control circuit 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a current location detection device 14, an image memory 15, a display monitor 16, a speaker 17, an input device 18, an inter-vehicle measurement device 19, a brake control device 110, an engine control device 111, and a disk. It has a drive 112. The disk drive 112 is loaded with a DVD-ROM 113 in which map data is stored. Other than the inter-vehicle measuring device 19, the brake control device 110, and the engine control device 111 function as a navigation device.

  The control circuit 11 includes a microprocessor and its peripheral circuits, and performs various controls by executing a control program stored in the ROM 12 using the RAM 13 as a work area. The control circuit 11 controls the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle by operating the brake control device 110 and the engine control device 111 based on the inter-vehicle distance and relative speed with the preceding vehicle detected by the inter-vehicle measuring device 19.

  The current location detection device 14 is a device that detects the current location of the vehicle. The current location device 14 includes a vibration gyro 14a, a vehicle speed sensor 14b, a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor 14c, and the like. The vibration gyro 14a detects the traveling direction of the vehicle, the vehicle speed sensor 14b detects the vehicle speed, and the GPS sensor 14c detects a GPS signal from a GPS satellite. The vehicle speed control device 1 displays a map on the display monitor 16 based on the current location of the vehicle detected by the current location detection device 14 and displays the current location on the map.

  The control circuit 11 estimates a route on which the vehicle will travel based on the current location and the traveling direction of the vehicle detected by the current location detection device 14.

  If there is a branch start point on the road ahead of the vehicle, it must be estimated which road of the roads branched from the branch start point. In such a case, the road on which the vehicle travels is estimated as follows. Among the road types of roads that branch from the starting point, the travel route is preferentially estimated in the order of intercity highway, urban highway, toll road, general national road, prefectural road, municipal road, and general road. For example, when the vehicle approaches a Y-shaped road, if one road is a national road and the other road is a prefectural road, it is estimated that the vehicle travels on the national road. Narrow streets that are narrower than ordinary roads are excluded from the estimation.

  When a route cannot be selected by road type, the route is estimated based on a link angle formed by a pair of links corresponding to roads before and after a branch point. For each link that branches from a branch start point other than the link that the vehicle enters the branch point, the link angle between the link that the vehicle enters the branch start point and the link that branches from the branch start point is calculated and compared. Then, the road corresponding to the link with the smallest link angle is estimated as the road on which the vehicle travels.

  The image memory 15 stores image data to be displayed on the display monitor 16. This image data includes map drawing data and various graphic data, which are appropriately generated based on the map data stored in the DVD-ROM 113. The vehicle speed control device 1 can perform map display and the like by using the image data generated in this way.

  The disk drive 112 reads map data from the DVD-ROM 113. The map data includes map display data and the like. The map display data includes road link information and node information stored in the map data. The control circuit 11 can acquire the legal speed of the road estimated that the vehicle travels from the information of the legal speed of the road included in the link information, and can detect the legal speed. The map display data has map data of a plurality of scales from wide areas to details, and the scale of the display map can be changed according to a user request. The map data may be read from a recording medium other than the DVD-ROM 113, such as a CD-ROM or a hard disk.

  The display monitor 16 provides the user with various information such as a map near the vehicle position as a screen display based on various information such as map data. The speaker 17 outputs sound for instructing the user to perform various input operations and informing various information. The input device 18 has an input switch for a user to set various commands, and is realized by a button switch on an operation panel.

  The inter-vehicle measuring device 19 irradiates a laser in front of the vehicle and detects reflected light from a preceding vehicle or the like. Based on the detected signal, the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle and the relative speed of the preceding vehicle are calculated. The control circuit 11 determines the set speed of the vehicle based on the measurement result of the inter-vehicle measuring device 19. The engine control device 111 controls the opening degree of a throttle valve of an engine (not shown) according to a command from the control circuit 11. The brake control device 110 adjusts the brake fluid pressure of a brake device (not shown) according to a command from the control circuit 11.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 2-4, the display of the legal speed change point of the vehicle speed control apparatus 1 in one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. In the following description, a case where there is no preceding vehicle, that is, a case where the vehicle travels at a constant speed at a legal speed will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display screen of the display monitor 16 displaying the map 20 around the vehicle position. At the vehicle position, a vehicle position mark 21 is displayed over the map 20. Further, the legal speed is displayed as the set speed 22 of the constant speed traveling control. Note that when following the preceding vehicle, the speed of the preceding vehicle is displayed as the set speed, and when the speed of the preceding vehicle exceeds the legal speed, the legal speed is displayed as the set speed 22.

  When the vehicle reaches a position 500 m before the point where the legal speed changes (hereinafter referred to as the legal speed change point), the legal speed increases at the legal speed change point (for example, the legal speed changes from 60 km / h to 100 km / h). h), the speaker 17 outputs a voice “The legal speed changes from 500 meters ahead. The vehicle automatically accelerates.” Then, as shown in FIG. 3A, enlarged maps 30a and 30b around the legal speed change point are displayed as a divided screen together with the map 20 around the vehicle position. That is, the display screen of the display monitor 16 is displayed in a three-divided screen.

  Along with the vehicle position mark 21, a broken line indicating the legal speed change point 31 and an indicator 32a indicating the distance from the vehicle position to the legal speed change point 31 are displayed on the enlarged map 30a in the center. In the indicator 31, the distance between the vehicle position 21 and the legal speed change point 31 is displayed as the length of the bar, and the length of the bar becomes shorter as the legal speed change point 31 is approached.

  Along with the own vehicle position mark 21, a broken line indicating the legal speed change point 31, a broken line indicating the acceleration start point 33, and a speed change graph 34a are displayed on the enlarged map 30b on the left side. The acceleration start point 33 is a point where acceleration is started so that the vehicle speed becomes the legal speed. The acceleration start point 33 is set at a position traveled a predetermined distance from the legal speed change point 31. The speed change graph 34a is a graph that displays a vehicle speed assumed on the road of the enlarged map 30b. The horizontal axis represents speed, and the vertical axis represents road position. By referring to the speed change graph 34a, the user can recognize at which point the acceleration starts from the acceleration start point 34a and reaches the legal speed.

  When the vehicle reaches a position 50 m before the legal speed change point 31, the speaker 17 outputs a voice “The legal speed will change soon. The vehicle will automatically accelerate.” And as shown in FIG.3 (b), an enlarged map is updated by the enlarged maps 30c and 30d with a larger scale ratio compared with the enlarged maps 30a and 30b.

  When the vehicle passes the statutory speed change point 31 and passes through the acceleration start point 33, the speaker 17 outputs a voice saying "Because it entered the acceleration region, it will accelerate." Then, the enlarged maps 30c and 30d are deleted, and the screen returns to the one-screen display of the map 20 around the vehicle position.

  On the other hand, when the legal speed is reduced at the legal speed change point 31 (for example, when the legal speed is changed from 60 km / h to 40 km / h), when the vehicle approaches the position 500 m before the legal speed change point, the speaker 17 The statutory speed will change from 500m ahead. The vehicle will automatically decelerate. Then, as shown in FIG. 4A, enlarged maps 30e and 30f around the legal speed change point are displayed as a divided screen together with the map 20 around the vehicle position.

  In the central enlarged map 30e, as in the case where the legal speed increases, the broken line indicating the legal speed change point 31 together with the own vehicle position mark 21 and the indicator 32a indicating the distance from the own vehicle position to the legal speed change point 31 are shown. Is displayed.

  In the enlarged map 30f on the left side, a legal speed change point 31 and a speed change graph 34a are displayed together with the vehicle position mark 21 as in the case where the legal speed increases. A broken line indicating a deceleration start point 35 is also displayed instead of the acceleration start point 33. The deceleration start point 35 is a point at which deceleration starts so that the vehicle speed becomes the legal speed. The deceleration start point 35 is set to a deceleration start position at which the vehicle speed becomes the legal speed at the legal speed change point 31 when the vehicle is decelerated at a predetermined deceleration.

  When the vehicle reaches a position 50 m before the legal speed change point 31, the speaker 17 outputs a voice “The legal speed will change soon. The vehicle will automatically decelerate.” And as shown in FIG.4 (b), an enlarged map is updated to the enlarged maps 30g and 30h with a larger scale ratio compared with the enlarged maps 30e and 30f.

  When the vehicle passes the deceleration start point 35 before the statutory speed change point 31, the speaker 17 outputs a voice “Decelerate because it entered the deceleration region”. When the vehicle passes the legal speed change point 31, the enlarged maps 30g and 30h are erased, and the screen returns to the one-screen display of the map 20 around the vehicle position.

  Next, display processing of the legal speed change point 31 of the vehicle speed control device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The process of FIGS. 5 to 9 is performed in the control circuit 11 by executing a program that starts when a mode in which the vehicle travels by speed control by the vehicle speed control device 1 is set.

  In step S501, the current location of the vehicle is detected by the current location detection device 14. In step S502, the legal speed of the road at the current location of the vehicle is detected based on the map data recorded on the DVD-ROM 113. In step S503, the speed at which the vehicle travels at a constant speed is set to the legal speed.

  In step S504, the current location of the vehicle is detected. In step S505, the traveling path along which the vehicle travels is estimated. The travel route is estimated based on the current location and travel direction of the vehicle detected by the current location detection device 14 as described above. Further, when there is a branch point, as described above, it is estimated which road the vehicle travels based on the road type of the branch road at the branch point or the link angle described above. In step S506, it is determined whether or not there is a legal speed change point 31 on the traveling route. If there is, step S506 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step S507. If not, a negative determination is made in step S506, and the process returns to step S504. In step S507, it is determined whether the legal speed is increased at the legal speed change point 31 or not. When it becomes larger, an affirmative determination is made in step S507, and the process proceeds to step S601 in FIG. If it is smaller, a negative determination is made in step S507, and the process proceeds to step S801 in FIG.

  In step S601 of FIG. 6, the acceleration start point 33 is calculated. As described above, the acceleration start point 33 is a position traveled by a predetermined distance from the legal speed change point 31. In step S602, the current location of the vehicle is detected. In step S603, the distance from the current location of the vehicle to the legal speed change point 31 is calculated. In step S604, it is determined whether or not the distance to the legal speed change point 31 is 500 m or less. If the distance is 500 m or less, an affirmative determination is made in step S604, and the process proceeds to step S605. If it is greater than 500 m, a negative determination is made in step S604, and the process returns to step S602.

  In step S605, the speaker 17 outputs a voice “The legal speed changes from 500 m ahead. The vehicle automatically accelerates” and performs voice guidance. In step S606, the display screen of the display monitor 16 is divided into three, the map 20 around the vehicle position is displayed on the right screen, and the enlarged maps 30a and 30b around the legal speed change point are displayed on the center and left screens. . In step S607, the legal speed change point 31 and the indicator 32a indicating the distance to the legal speed change point 31 are displayed on the central enlarged map 30a. In step S608, the legal speed change point 31, the acceleration start point 33, and the speed change graph 34a indicating the vehicle speed are displayed on the left enlarged map 30b.

  In step S609, the current location of the vehicle is detected. In step S610, the distance from the current location of the vehicle to the legal speed change point 31 is calculated. In step S611, it is determined whether the distance to the legal speed change point 31 is 50 m or less. If it is 50 m or less, an affirmative determination is made in step S611, and the process proceeds to step S701 in FIG. If larger than 50 m, a negative determination is made in step S611, and the process returns to step S609.

  In step S701 in FIG. 7, the speaker 17 outputs a voice “The legal speed will change soon. The vehicle automatically accelerates” and performs voice guidance. In step S702, the enlarged maps 30a and 30b are updated to the enlarged maps 30c and 30d having a large scale ratio. At this time, the indicator 32b is also updated to a finer scale.

  In step S703, the current location of the vehicle is detected. In step S704, it is determined whether the vehicle has passed the legal speed change point 31 or not. If it has passed, an affirmative decision is made in step S704 and the operation proceeds to step S705. If it has not passed yet, a negative determination is made in step S704, and the process returns to step S703. In step S705, the speed display value during constant speed traveling is updated to the legal speed changed at the legal speed change point.

  In step S706, the current location of the vehicle is detected. In step S707, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has passed the acceleration start point 33. If it has passed, an affirmative decision is made in step S707 and the operation proceeds to step S708. If it has not passed yet, a negative determination is made in step S707, and the process returns to step S706. In step S708, the speaker 17 outputs a voice “Accelerates because it entered the acceleration region”, and performs voice guidance. In step S709, the enlarged maps 30c and 30d are deleted, and the display screen is set as one screen of the map 20 around the vehicle position. Then return.

  In step S801 in FIG. 8, a deceleration start point 35 is calculated. The deceleration start point 35 is a position that is set to become a legal speed at the legal speed change point 31 when deceleration is started at a predetermined deceleration as described above. In step S802, the current location of the vehicle is detected. In step S803, the distance from the current location of the vehicle to the legal speed change point 31 is calculated. In step S804, it is determined whether the distance to the legal speed change point 31 is 500 m or less. If it is 500 m or shorter, an affirmative determination is made in step S804, and the process proceeds to step S805. If greater than 500 m, a negative determination is made in step S804, and the process returns to step S802.

  In step S805, the speaker 17 outputs a voice “The legal speed changes from 500 meters ahead. The vehicle automatically decelerates” and performs voice guidance. In step S806, the display screen of the display monitor 16 is divided into three, the map 20 around the vehicle position is displayed on the right screen, and the enlarged maps 30e and 30f around the legal speed change point are displayed on the center and left screens. . In step S807, the legal speed change point 31 and the indicator 32a indicating the distance to the legal speed change point 31 are displayed on the central enlarged map 30e. In step S808, the legal speed change point 31, the deceleration start point 35, and the speed change graph 34a indicating the vehicle speed are displayed on the left enlarged map 30f.

  In step S809, the current location of the vehicle is detected. In step S810, the distance from the current location of the vehicle to the legal speed change point 31 is calculated. In step S811, it is determined whether or not the distance to the legal speed change point 31 is 50 m or less. If the length is 50 m or less, an affirmative determination is made in step S811 and the process proceeds to step S901 in FIG. If it is greater than 50 m, a negative determination is made in step S811, and the process returns to step S809.

  In step S901 of FIG. 9, the speaker 17 outputs a voice “The legal speed will change soon. The vehicle will automatically decelerate.” In step S902, the enlarged maps 30e and 30f are updated to those having a large scale ratio of 30g and 30h. At this time, the indicator 32b is also updated to a finer scale.

  In step S903, the current location of the vehicle is detected. In step S904, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has passed the deceleration start point 35. If it has passed, an affirmative determination is made in step S904, and the process proceeds to step S905. If it has not passed yet, a negative determination is made in step S904, and the process returns to step S903. In step S905, the speed at constant speed traveling is updated to the legal speed to be changed at the legal speed change point 31. In step S906, the speaker 17 outputs a voice “Decelerates because it has entered the deceleration region” and performs voice guidance.

  In step S907, the current location of the vehicle is detected. In step S908, it is determined whether the vehicle has passed the legal speed change point 31 or not. If it has passed, an affirmative decision is made in step S908 and the operation proceeds to step S909. If it has not passed yet, a negative determination is made in step S908, and the process returns to step S907. In step S909, the enlarged maps 30g and 30h are deleted, and the display screen is set as one screen of the map 20 around the vehicle position. Then, the process proceeds to FIG.

The vehicle speed control device 1 according to the above embodiment has the following operational effects.
(1) Before reaching the statutory speed change point 31, the user is informed in advance of the vehicle speed change. Therefore, the user does not feel uncomfortable due to acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle at an unexpected timing.

(2) Since the vehicle speed is controlled with the legal speed on the road ahead of the host vehicle (several hundred meters ahead) as the set speed 22 (target value), the vehicle can be prevented from traveling beyond the legal speed.

(3) Since the information on the legal speed of the road is obtained from the map data stored in the DVD-ROM 113, the existence of the legal speed change point 31 can be recognized in advance. On the other hand, in the prior art, since the legal speed is detected by photographing a road sign with a camera, the legal speed change point 31 cannot be recognized in advance. Therefore, there is a possibility that the vehicle travels beyond the legal speed after passing the legal speed change point 31.

(4) Since the legal speed change point 31 is displayed on the display monitor 16, the position of the legal speed change point 31 can be easily grasped.

(5) The distance from the current location of the vehicle to the legal speed change point 31 is displayed by the indicators 32a and 32b. Therefore, the user can recognize visually the position which becomes the standard which changes the speed of a vehicle.

(6) When the legal speed at the legal speed change point 31 is small, deceleration starts from the deceleration start point 35 set before the legal speed change point 31, and the legal speed at the legal speed change point 31 increases. In this case, acceleration is started from the acceleration start point 33 set behind the legal speed change point 31, and one of the deceleration start point 35 and the acceleration start point 31 is displayed. Therefore, the user can predict the point where the vehicle accelerates or decelerates.

(7) When the vehicle speed is decelerated, the sound is notified from the front of the deceleration start point 35, and when the vehicle speed is accelerated, the sound is notified from the front of the acceleration start point 33. Specifically, when the legal speed increases at the legal speed change point 31, voice guidance that the vehicle accelerates from before the acceleration start point 33 ("The legal speed changes automatically from 500m ahead. Accelerate. "," The legal speed will change soon. The vehicle will automatically accelerate. "). Also, if the legal speed becomes small at the legal speed change point 31, voice guidance that the vehicle will decelerate from before the deceleration start point 35 ("The legal speed will change from 500m ahead. The vehicle will automatically decelerate. ”,“ The legal speed will change soon. The vehicle will automatically decelerate. ”). Therefore, the user can recognize the acceleration or deceleration timing of the vehicle by voice, and does not need to watch the display monitor.

(8) When the vehicle approaches the statutory speed change point 31, the enlarged maps 30a to 30h around the statutory speed change point are displayed, so that the information on the point where the statutory speed change can be recognized in detail. Thereby, the user can recognize the point where the legal speed changes by using the landmarks displayed on the enlarged maps 30a to 30h as landmarks.

The vehicle speed control device 1 of the above embodiment can be modified as follows.
(1) The speed at which the vehicle travels at a constant speed (hereinafter referred to as a constant speed travel speed) is the legal speed, but the constant speed travel speed is not limited to the legal speed as long as it does not exceed the legal speed. For example, the traveling speed may be determined based on road gradient, road type, weather, and road gradient. In this case, instead of the legal speed change point 31 as a point where the travel speed changes (hereinafter referred to as a vehicle speed change point), the control of the travel speed is started by the road gradient, road type, weather, and road gradient. The user is notified of the point to be played.

(2) The present invention can be applied to a vehicle speed control device that controls the vehicle speed according to the curvature of the road ahead of the vehicle. For example, the curvature of the route that the vehicle is estimated to travel from is calculated, and a corner of the road, a branch road, or a right / left turn intersection is detected from the curvature. When a corner of a road, a branch road, or a right / left turn intersection is detected, a set speed 22 (target vehicle speed) for traveling at any of the corner, branch road, or right / left turn intersection of the road is detected. Is calculated, and the vehicle speed is controlled to the target vehicle speed before entering the corner of the road, the branch road, or the right-left turn intersection. In such a vehicle speed control device, the user may be notified of the point at which vehicle speed control is started. As a result, the user can recognize in advance the approximate point where the vehicle speed changes, and the vehicle will not accelerate or decelerate at an unexpected timing and will not feel uncomfortable.

(3) Information on the legal speed of the road was obtained from the map data stored in the DVD-ROM 113. However, the legal speed may change depending on the weather. Therefore, legal speed information transmitted from the outside of the vehicle may be acquired such as acquiring a legal speed from the information center using a communication means. In this case, the vehicle speed control device includes a communication device for receiving information from the information center. Since the latest information on the legal speed can be received in real time, the vehicle can travel at a constant speed with the latest legal speed changed. And the legal speed change point in the legal speed after a change can be alert | reported to a user. Since the legal speeds of all roads may not be received from the information center, it is preferable to use the legal speed information stored in the DVD-ROM 113 and the legal speed information acquired from the information center in combination.

(4) Although the legal speed change point 31, the acceleration start point 33, the deceleration start point 35, the indicators 32a and 32b, and the speed change graphs 34a and 34b are displayed on the display monitor 16, the legal speed change point 31 and the like can be notified to the user. If it is a thing, it will not be limited to these display modes. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a legal speed change point 31 may be displayed on the head-up display 100. This is convenient because it is not necessary to shift the line of sight to the display monitor 16. Since the head-up display 100 cannot display the shape of a fine road, it is displayed with an arrow. Further, in order to make the legal speed change point 31 stand out, the legal speed change point 31 is displayed blinking.

(5) The distance from the current location of the vehicle to the legal speed change point 31 is displayed by the indicators 32a and 32b. However, if the distance from the current location of the vehicle to the legal speed change point 31 can be recognized, it is limited to the indicators 32a and 32b. Not.

(6) As shown in FIG. 11, the vehicle speed control device 1A includes a navigation device 121, a BCU (Brake Control Unit) 122, an engine ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 123, and an inter-vehicle measuring device 124. (Network) may be used for connection. The navigation device 121 includes a control circuit 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a current location detection device 14, an image memory 15, a display monitor 16, a speaker 17, an input device 18, a disk drive 112, and a DVD. -Corresponds to the ROM 113. The BCU 122 corresponds to the brake control device 110. The engine ECU 123 corresponds to the engine control device 111. The inter-vehicle measuring device 124 corresponds to the inter-vehicle measuring device 19.

  The above description is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

The correspondence between the elements of the claims and the embodiments will be described.
The braking / driving control means of the present invention corresponds to the control circuit 11, the inter-vehicle measuring device 19, the brake control device 110 and the engine control device 111, and the point detecting means is the control circuit 11, the current position detecting device 14, the disk drive 112 and the DVD-ROM 113. Corresponding to The notification means corresponds to the control circuit 11, the display monitor 16 and the speaker 17, and the display means corresponds to the control circuit 11 and the display monitor 16. The curvature road detection means and the target speed calculation means correspond to the control circuit 11. In addition, the above description is an example to the last, and when interpreting invention, it is not limited to the correspondence of the component of said embodiment and the component of this invention at all.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle speed control apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the map around the own vehicle position displayed on the display screen of a display monitor. FIG. 3A is a diagram for explaining a display screen displayed when the distance to the legal speed change point becomes 500 m when the legal speed becomes large at the legal speed change point, and FIG. These are the figures for demonstrating the display screen displayed when the distance to a statutory speed change point becomes 50 m. FIG. 4A is a diagram for explaining a display screen displayed when the distance to the legal speed change point becomes 500 m when the legal speed becomes small at the legal speed change point, and FIG. These are the figures for demonstrating the display screen displayed when the distance to a statutory speed change point becomes 50 m. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process until a legal speed change point is detected in the display process which displays a legal speed change point. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the display process which displays a legal speed change point when approaching to the distance within 500 m from a legal speed change point, when legal speed becomes large at a legal speed change point. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the display process which displays a legal speed change point when approaching to the distance within 50m from a legal speed change point, when legal speed becomes large at a legal speed change point. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the display process which displays a legal speed change point when approaching to the distance within 500 m from a legal speed change point, when legal speed becomes small at a legal speed change point. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the display process which displays a legal speed change point when approaching to the distance within 50m from a legal speed change point, when legal speed becomes small at a legal speed change point. It is a figure for demonstrating the projection screen of the head-up display which displayed the legal speed change point. It is a figure for demonstrating the vehicle speed control apparatus comprised by connecting a navigation apparatus, BCU, engine ECU, and the inter-vehicle distance measuring apparatus by CAN.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1A Vehicle speed control device 11 Control circuit 14 Current position detection device 16 Display monitor 17 Speaker 19 Inter-vehicle measurement device 22 Road 31 Legal speed change point 32a, 32b Indicator 33 Acceleration start point 34a, 34b Speed change graph 35 Deceleration start point 110 Brake control Device 111 Engine control device 112 Disk drive 113 DVD-ROM
121 Navigation device 122 BCU
123 Engine ECU
124 inter-vehicle measuring device

Claims (9)

Point detecting means for detecting that the vehicle has reached a predetermined point;
Braking / driving control means for changing the vehicle speed when the vehicle reaches the predetermined point;
A vehicle speed control device comprising: an informing means for informing the vehicle speed change by the braking / driving control means before the vehicle reaches the predetermined point. The vehicle speed control device according to claim 1,
The predetermined point is a legal speed change point,
The braking / driving control means controls the vehicle speed using the legal speed on the road ahead of the host vehicle as a target value. The vehicle speed control device according to claim 2,
The legal speed change point is set based on legal speed information recorded in the map data,
The point detection means detects a point on the map data where the vehicle is traveling,
When the braking / driving control means determines that the detected point is the set legal speed change point, the vehicle speed control device changes the vehicle speed. The vehicle speed control device according to claim 2,
The legal speed change point is set based on legal speed information transmitted from the outside of the vehicle,
The point detection means detects a point on map data where the vehicle is traveling,
When the braking / driving control means determines that the detected point is the set legal speed change point, the vehicle speed control device changes the vehicle speed. The vehicle speed control device according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The vehicle speed control apparatus further comprising display means for displaying the legal speed change point. The vehicle speed control device according to claim 5,
The vehicle speed control apparatus, wherein the display means displays a distance from a vehicle position to the legal speed change point. The vehicle speed control device according to claim 5 or 6,
When the legal speed at the legal speed change point becomes small, the braking / driving control means starts deceleration from the deceleration start point set before the legal speed change point, and the legal speed at the legal speed change point. Is increased, the braking / driving control means starts acceleration from an acceleration start point set behind the legal speed change point,
The vehicle speed control device, wherein the display means displays either the deceleration start point or the acceleration start point. The vehicle speed control device according to claim 7,
When decelerating the vehicle speed, the vehicle speed control device is notified by voice from before the deceleration start point, and when the vehicle speed is accelerated, the vehicle speed control device is notified by voice from before the acceleration start point. The vehicle speed control device according to claim 1,
Curvature road detection means for detecting any one of corners, branch roads, right and left turn intersections,
When any one of the corner, the branch road, and the right / left turn intersection is detected, target speed calculation means for calculating a target vehicle speed when traveling at any one of the corner, the branch road, and the right / left turn intersection; In addition,
The vehicle speed control device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined point is a point at which the vehicle speed is controlled to a target vehicle speed by the braking / driving control means before entering the corner, the branch road, or the right-left turn intersection.

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