JP2021142796A - Auto-cruise control device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an auto-cruise control device that can more reliably start constant speed travel by auto-cruise control with a resume switch operation while reducing such the burden on a driver that the driver has to recognize whether a memory stores data.SOLUTION: An auto-cruise control device 100 includes a control unit 113 that controls an engine 1 to start travelling by auto-cruise control even when a resume switch 108 is operated while a RAM 111 does not store vehicle speed data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an auto-cruise control device, and more particularly to an auto-cruise control device including a set switch and a resume switch which are mounted on a vehicle and operated by a driver.

In recent years, vehicles such as four-wheeled vehicles and large motorcycles have a constant-speed driving function that travels at a vehicle speed (target vehicle speed) set by the driver, and if necessary, a function to follow the vehicle in front. The auto-cruise control device with the addition of is installed. For example, in the constant speed driving function, the vehicle speed set by the driver is set as the target vehicle speed of the own vehicle, and the actual vehicle speed is feedback-controlled so as to be the target vehicle speed to which the actual vehicle speed of the own vehicle is applied.

Under such circumstances, Patent Document 1 relates to an auto-cruise device and a program, and the operation unit 20 of the auto-cruise device 1 is a main switch 32, a cancel switch 34, a set switch 36, a resume switch 38, etc. connected in parallel to each other. Among them, the set switch 36 is a switch for instructing the control unit 10 to start constant-speed running by auto-cruise control at the vehicle speed at the time when the set switch 36 is pressed and turned on, and the resume switch 38. Discloses that it is a switch for instructing the control unit 10 to start constant-speed running by auto-cruise control at the vehicle speed when running at constant speed by auto-cruise control immediately before the resume switch 38 is pressed. do.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-30699

However, according to the study of the present inventor, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, if the vehicle speed at the time of constant speed traveling by auto cruise control immediately before is not stored in the memory, the resume switch is operated. Even so, constant speed running by auto cruise control is not started. For this reason, in determining whether or not the resume switch needs to be operated, it is necessary for the driver himself to know whether or not the vehicle speed is stored in the memory, which is a burden on the driver. There is room for improvement in this regard.

The present invention has been made through the above studies, and operates the resume switch while reducing the burden on the driver that the driver needs to recognize whether or not the vehicle speed data is stored in the memory. It is an object of the present invention to provide an auto-cruise control device capable of reliably starting constant-speed driving by auto-cruise control.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a storage unit that stores the target vehicle speed set at the time of executing the auto cruise control of the vehicle as vehicle speed data, and when the first operation unit of the vehicle is operated. When the second operation unit of the vehicle is operated while the vehicle speed data is stored in the storage unit while the vehicle is started to travel by the auto cruise control, the vehicle speed data is used as the basis for the operation. A vehicle auto-cruise control device including a control unit that controls a drive source of the vehicle so as to set a target vehicle speed and start the traveling by the auto-cruise control. Even when the second operation unit is operated in a state where the vehicle speed data is not stored in the storage unit, the drive source is controlled so as to start the traveling by the auto cruise control. This is the first phase.

Further, in the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, when the second operation unit is operated in a state where the vehicle speed data is not stored in the storage unit, the control unit is at the time of the operation. The second phase is to control the drive source so as to set the target vehicle speed based on the vehicle speed of the vehicle and start the traveling by the auto cruise control.

According to the auto-cruise control device according to the first aspect of the present invention described above, even when the control unit is operated by the second operation unit while the vehicle speed data is not stored in the storage unit. Since the drive source is controlled so as to start driving by auto-cruise control, the burden on the driver's memory that the driver needs to recognize whether or not the data is stored in the memory is reduced. While doing so, it is possible to reliably start constant-speed driving by auto-cruise control by operating the second operation unit.

Further, according to the auto-cruise control device according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the control unit operates the second operation unit while the vehicle speed data is not stored in the storage unit, the vehicle at that time is operated. Since the drive source is controlled so that the target vehicle speed is set based on the vehicle speed of the vehicle and the vehicle starts traveling by the auto cruise control, the constant speed traveling by the auto cruise control is performed more reliably by the operation of the second operation unit. Can be started.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a block diagram of an auto cruise control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, together with a schematic cross-sectional view of an engine to which it is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a set switch and a resume switch of the auto cruise control device according to the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, the auto cruise control device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The auto-cruise control device according to the present embodiment is typically mounted on a vehicle such as a two-wheeled vehicle (not shown) to control the operation of an engine which is an internal combustion engine as a drive source of the vehicle, such as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) or the like. It forms part of the electronic control unit of. The drive source of such a vehicle may be not only an engine but also a combination of an engine and an electric motor, or a vehicle in which only an electric motor is used instead of the engine may be used.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a block diagram of an auto cruise control device according to the present embodiment together with a schematic cross-sectional view of an engine to which it is applied. Further, FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a set switch and a resume switch of the auto cruise control device according to the present embodiment.

<Engine configuration>
First, with reference to FIG. 1, the configuration of the engine to which the ECU including the auto cruise control device according to the present embodiment is applied will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 1, the engine 1 to which the ECU 100 including the auto-cruise control device in the present embodiment is applied is a single-cylinder or multi-cylinder internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle (own vehicle) such as a two-wheeled vehicle (not shown). There is, and a cylinder 2a serving as a combustion chamber 9 is defined in the cylinder block 2. For convenience, the ECU and the auto cruise control device are designated by the same reference numeral 100.

A piston 4 is arranged inside the cylinder 2a, and the piston 4 is connected to the crankshaft 6 via a connecting rod 5. The crankshaft 6 is provided with a retractor 7 that rotates coaxially with the crankshaft 6. On the outer peripheral surface of the retractor 7, a plurality of tooth portions 7a arranged side by side in a predetermined pattern are erected in the circumferential direction thereof.

A cylinder head 8 is mounted on the upper part of the cylinder block 2. The inner wall surface of the cylinder block 2, the upper surface of the piston 4, and the inner wall surface of the cylinder head 8 cooperate to define the combustion chamber 9 of the cylinder 2a.

The cylinder head 8 is provided with a spark plug 10 that ignites an air-fuel mixture composed of fuel and air in the combustion chamber 9.

Further, the cylinder head 8 is equipped with an intake pipe 11 that communicates with the combustion chamber 9. The intake pipe 11 communicates with the combustion chamber 9 via an intake passage 11a formed in the cylinder head 8. An intake valve 12 is provided at a corresponding connection portion between the combustion chamber 9 and the intake passage 11a.

Inside the intake pipe 11, a throttle valve 14 is provided on the intake valve 12 side. The throttle valve 14 is a component of a throttle device (not shown), and the main body of the throttle device is attached to the intake pipe 11. Further, the intake pipe 11 is provided with an injector 15 which is arranged on the downstream side of the throttle valve 14 in the intake direction of the intake air and injects fuel while facing the inside thereof.

The injector 15 is provided for each cylinder 2a. The injector 15 includes a coil (not shown), and when the coil is energized under the control of the ECU 100, the injector 15 opens a valve to inject and supply fuel to the engine 1.

The cylinder head 8 is equipped with an exhaust pipe 17 that communicates with the combustion chamber 9. The exhaust pipe 17 communicates with the combustion chamber 9 via an exhaust passage 17a formed in the cylinder head 8. An exhaust valve 18 is provided at a corresponding connection portion between the combustion chamber 9 and the exhaust passage 17a.

<Configuration of auto cruise control device>
Next, the configuration of the auto cruise control device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. For convenience, the electrical connection relationship between the ECU 100 and various sensors will be described as represented by the auto cruise control device 100 which is a part of the ECU 100.

As shown in FIG. 1, the auto cruise control device 100 includes an internal combustion engine temperature sensor 101, a crank angle sensor 102, an intake pressure sensor 103, a throttle opening sensor 104, an accelerator opening sensor 105, a vehicle speed sensor 106, and a set switch 107. , And the resume switch 108 are electrically connected.

The internal combustion engine temperature sensor 101 is provided in the cooling system or the lubricating system of the engine 1, and sends an electric signal of an output voltage indicating the temperature of the engine 1 (the temperature of the cooling water of the engine 1 or the temperature of the lubricating oil) to the auto cruise control device 100. Output to.

The crank angle sensor 102 is attached to a lower case (not shown) assembled to the lower part of the cylinder block 2 in a manner facing the tooth portion 7a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the retractor 7. The crank angle sensor 102 detects an electric signal of an output voltage indicating the rotation speed of the crankshaft 6 (rotational speed (rotational speed) of the engine 1) by detecting the tooth portion 7a that rotates with the rotation of the crankshaft 6. Output to the auto cruise control device 100.

The intake pressure sensor 103 is mounted on the intake pipe 11 and outputs an electric signal of an output voltage indicating the pressure (intake pressure) of the air sucked into the intake pipe 11 and flowing therethrough to the auto cruise control device 100.

The throttle opening sensor 104 is attached to the main body of the throttle device, and outputs an electric signal of an output voltage indicating the opening degree (throttle opening) of the throttle valve 14 to the auto cruise control device 100.

The accelerator opening sensor 105 is attached to a bracket or the like of an accelerator operating member (not shown), and outputs an electric signal of an output voltage indicating an operating amount of the accelerator operating member to the auto cruise control device 100.

The vehicle speed sensor 106 is attached to a wheel holding member or the like (not shown), and outputs an electric signal of an output voltage indicating the rotation speed of the wheel (vehicle speed only in the forward direction) to the auto cruise control device 100.

As shown in FIG. 2, the set switch 107 (first operation unit) is a switch provided on the switch panel 109 of the auto cruise control device 100. The set switch 107 outputs an electric signal indicating that the on operation has been performed to the auto cruise control device 100 in response to an on operation such as a pressing operation by the driver of the vehicle. It functions as a start switch to start the running of the vehicle. In addition, the set switch 107 may also function as an acceleration switch for accelerating the vehicle depending on whether it is pressed in a short time or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the resume switch 108 (second operation unit) is a switch provided on the switch panel 109 of the auto cruise control device 100 together with the set switch 107. The resume switch 108 outputs an electric signal indicating that the on operation has been performed to the auto cruise control device 100 in response to an on operation such as a pressing operation by the driver of the vehicle. It functions as a return switch that returns to the running of the vehicle. In addition, the resume switch 108 may also function as a deceleration switch for decelerating the vehicle depending on whether the resume switch 108 is pressed in a short time or the like. Further, the switch panel 109 is mounted on an instrument panel, a steering member, or the like (not shown).

In the present embodiment, the auto cruise control device 100 has a ROM (Read only memory) 110, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 111, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 112.

The ROM 110 is composed of a non-volatile storage device, and stores control programs such as engine control and auto cruise control, and control data related thereto.

The RAM 111 is composed of a volatile storage device and functions as a working area of the CPU 112. Here, in the present embodiment, when the driver of the vehicle turns on the set switch 107 at the time of executing the auto cruise control, the vehicle speed value (actual vehicle speed value) at that time is the auto at the time of the on operation. Since it is set as a target vehicle speed value for cruise control, the set target vehicle speed value is stored as vehicle speed data. Various data including vehicle speed data stored in the RAM 111 are held in the RAM 111 when the power supply to the RAM 111 in the auto cruise control device 100 is stopped due to the ignition switch of the vehicle being turned off or the like. It disappears without.

By executing various control programs stored in the ROM 110, the CPU 112 executes an internal combustion engine temperature sensor 101, a crank angle sensor 102, an intake pressure sensor 103, a throttle opening sensor 104, an accelerator opening sensor 105, and a vehicle speed sensor 106. , The operation of the entire auto cruise control device 100 is controlled according to the electric signals input from the set switch 107 and the resume switch 108. The CPU 112 typically includes a control unit 113 as a functional block that operates on a program such as various control programs.

When an ignition switch (not shown) is turned on, the control unit 113 is input from the internal combustion engine temperature sensor 101, the crank angle sensor 102, the intake pressure sensor 103, the throttle opening sensor 104, the accelerator opening sensor 105, and the vehicle speed sensor 106. Control to open and close the throttle valve 14 provided in the intake pipe 11 of the engine 1, control to inject fuel so that fuel reaches the cylinder 2a of the engine 1 from the injector 15, and an ignition coil (not shown) based on the electric signal. The engine control for controlling the operation of the engine 1 is executed by executing the control of igniting the air-fuel mixture composed of fuel and air in the combustion chamber 9 through the ignition plug 10.

Here, the control unit 113 feedback-controls the actual vehicle speed value so that the actual vehicle speed value becomes the target vehicle speed value set by the driver during the execution of the engine control, and causes the own vehicle to travel at a constant speed. It is possible to perform auto-cruise control, including control. Specifically, the control unit 113 is operated by the driver to turn on the set switch 107 while the engine control is being executed and the auto cruise control is being executed according to the driver's setting. Then, when an electric signal indicating that the vehicle has been turned on is input to the auto cruise control device 100, the vehicle speed value (actual vehicle speed value) calculated based on the input electric signal is set as the target vehicle speed value, and the actual vehicle is set. Feedback control of the actual vehicle speed value is executed so that the speed value matches the target vehicle speed value, and constant speed running control is executed to adjust the output of the engine 1 so that the own vehicle runs at a constant speed. At the same time, when the target vehicle speed value is set in this way, the control unit 113 stores the set target vehicle speed value as vehicle speed data in the RAM 111. In addition, such auto-cruise control feeds back the inter-vehicle distance so that the inter-vehicle distance between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle traveling in front of the own vehicle becomes the target inter-vehicle distance selected in advance, and follows the preceding vehicle to follow the preceding vehicle. Control may be included.

Further, in the control unit 113, the resume switch 108 is turned on by the driver while the execution of the engine control is being executed, the execution of the auto cruise control is stopped, and the vehicle speed data is stored in the RAM 111. Then, when an electric signal indicating that the vehicle has been turned on is input to the auto-cruise control device 100, the target vehicle speed value is read from the vehicle speed data in the RAM 111, and this is set to the latest target vehicle speed value to execute the auto-cruise control. Is restarted, and constant speed cruise control is restarted.

Further, the control unit 113 is in the state where the engine control is being executed, the auto cruise control is executed according to the driver's setting, and the vehicle speed data is not stored in the RAM 111, and the resume switch 108 is set by the driver. When an electric signal indicating that is turned on and then turned on is input to the auto cruise control device 100, the vehicle speed value (actual vehicle speed value) calculated based on the input electric signal is set as the target vehicle speed value. Is set to, and feedback control of the actual vehicle speed value is executed so that the actual vehicle speed value matches this target vehicle speed value, and constant speed driving control is executed to adjust the output of the engine 1 so that the own vehicle runs at a constant speed. .. The target vehicle speed value set in this way remains until the set switch 107 is turned on and a new target vehicle speed value is set while engine control and auto-cruise control, particularly constant speed driving control, are being executed. It is maintained as it is like normal constant speed cruise control. At this time, the control unit 113 acquires the traffic information in front of the own vehicle in the data in the server outside the vehicle via communication, and when the vehicle travels on the road in front of the own vehicle, the own vehicle has acceleration force and centrifugal force. If the vehicle is on a downhill road or a curve, the resume switch 108 is turned on by the driver, and then when an electric signal indicating that the resume switch 108 is turned on is input to the auto cruise control device 100, the input electricity is input. A target vehicle speed value may be set by subtracting a positive predetermined value from the vehicle speed value (actual vehicle speed value) calculated based on the signal according to the boarding angle, the radius of curvature, and the rate of change thereof.

The control unit 113 can determine whether or not the vehicle speed data is stored in the RAM 111 by referring to the flag information indicating whether or not the vehicle speed data is stored in the RAM 111, for example.

As is clear from the above description, in the auto cruise control device 100 of the present embodiment, the control unit 113 is auto even when the resume switch 108 is operated while the vehicle speed data is not stored in the RAM 111. Since the engine 1 is controlled so as to start traveling by cruise control, the resume is reduced while reducing the burden on the driver's memory that the driver needs to recognize whether or not the vehicle speed data is stored in the RAM 111. By operating the switch 108, it is possible to reliably start constant-speed driving by auto-cruise control.

Further, in the auto cruise control device 100 of the present embodiment, when the resume switch 108 is operated by the control unit 113 in a state where the vehicle speed data is not stored in the RAM 111, the target vehicle speed value is based on the vehicle speed value of the vehicle at that time. Since the engine 1 is controlled so as to start traveling by auto-cruise control, the constant-speed traveling by auto-cruise control can be started more reliably by operating the resume switch 108.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment in terms of type, shape, arrangement, number, etc. of members, and the gist of the invention is described by appropriately substituting its constituent elements with those having the same effect. Of course, it can be changed as appropriate without deviation.

As described above, the present invention reduces the burden on the driver that the driver needs to recognize whether or not the data is stored in the memory, and reliably controls the auto cruise by operating the resume switch. It is possible to provide an auto-cruise control device capable of starting constant-speed driving, and it is expected that it can be widely applied to automobiles due to its general-purpose universal nature.

1 ... Engine 2 ... Cylinder block 2a ... Cylinder 4 ... Piston 5 ... Conrod 6 ... Crank shaft 7 ... Retractor 7a ... Tooth 8 ... Cylinder head 9 ... Combustion chamber 10 ... Ignition plug 11 ... Intake pipe 11a ... Intake passage 12 ... Intake Valve 14 ... Throttle valve 15 ... Injector 17 ... Exhaust pipe 17a ... Exhaust passage 18 ... Exhaust valve 100 ... Auto cruise control device 101 ... Internal combustion engine temperature sensor 102 ... Cylinder angle sensor 103 ... Intake pressure sensor 104 ... Throttle opening sensor 105 ... Accelerator opening sensor 106 ... Vehicle speed sensor 107 ... Set switch 108 ... Resume switch 109 ... Switch panel 110 ... ROM
111 ... RAM
112 ... CPU
113 ... Control unit

Claims (2)

A storage unit that stores the target vehicle speed set when the vehicle's auto cruise control is executed as vehicle speed data, and a storage unit.
When the operation of the first operation unit of the vehicle is performed, the vehicle starts running by the auto-cruise control, while the vehicle speed data is stored in the storage unit of the second operation unit of the vehicle. When the operation unit is operated, the control unit that controls the drive source of the vehicle so as to set the target vehicle speed based on the vehicle speed data and start the traveling by the auto cruise control.
It is an auto-cruise control device for vehicles equipped with
The control unit drives the control unit so as to start the traveling by the auto-cruise control even when the second operation unit is operated in a state where the vehicle speed data is not stored in the storage unit. A vehicle auto-cruise control device characterized by controlling the source. When the second operation unit is operated in a state where the vehicle speed data is not stored in the storage unit, the control unit sets the target vehicle speed based on the vehicle speed of the vehicle at the time of the operation. The vehicle auto-cruise control device according to claim 1, wherein the drive source is controlled so as to start the traveling by the auto-cruise control.

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