JP4609103B2 - Brake control device for vehicle - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle brake control device that automatically controls a braking force for braking a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a screen control device that controls a display screen of an electronic device mounted on a vehicle according to a driver's line of sight is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In order to avoid the risk of being inadvertent forward by the driver gazing at the video on the display screen, this screen control device is not a video while the driver's line of sight is directed toward the display screen while driving. This information is displayed.
JP 2003-240560 A

  In the above-described prior art, when the vehicle is not running, the moving image that has been displayed on the display screen until then is simply displayed without switching. However, when the driver looks at the display screen, the driving operation tends to be sparse, and this tendency is the same even when the driver is not traveling. As a result of the neglected driving operation, the stopped vehicle may move unexpectedly.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a vehicle brake control device that prevents a stopped vehicle from moving unexpectedly by viewing visually provided information.

In order to solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present invention,
In a vehicle braking control device for automatically controlling a braking force for braking a vehicle,
Has a device for detecting the presence or absence of provision of visual information against the occupant before Symbol vehicle,
When it is detected that visual information is provided while the vehicle is stopped, the braking force is automatically generated, and even if it is detected that visual information is not provided, it is automatically generated. There is provided a vehicle brake control device characterized in that the vehicle is kept stopped without releasing the braking force . At this time, it is preferable to determine whether the visual information is provided based on a display setting signal from a display device that displays the information.

According to this aspect, when the vehicle is stopped, the driver stops the driving operation to stop the vehicle by gazing at the information provided visually (for example, the foot is unconsciously released from the brake pedal). Can be prevented by an automatic braking force.

  In addition, when the visual information is moving image information (for example, television broadcast), the driver will pay more attention to the information, so that the driving operation for stopping the vehicle becomes more sparse, and the stopped vehicle Unexpected movement can be prevented more effectively.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a stopped vehicle from moving unexpectedly by viewing visually provided information.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle braking control apparatus according to the present invention.

  The brake switch 10 is installed on the brake pedal and detects a brake pedal operation by the driver. For example, it is turned on when the brake pedal is depressed, and turned off when the brake pedal is not depressed.

  The vehicle speed sensor 20 detects the wheel speed of the vehicle and outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the vehicle speed to the electric brake ECU 100.

  The accelerator switch 30 is installed on the accelerator pedal and detects an accelerator pedal operation by the driver. For example, it is turned on when the accelerator pedal is depressed, and turned off when the accelerator pedal is not depressed. Note that the depression state of the accelerator pedal may be determined based on the depression amount (analog value) of the accelerator pedal.

  The display unit 50 is a display device that provides visual information to an occupant. More specifically, the display unit 50 is a TFT-LCD (thin film transistor liquid crystal display), a self-luminous EL (Electro Luminescence) panel, a VFD (VFD). Fluorescent display tubes) and head-up displays. The display unit 50 displays a moving image or a still image. For example, television broadcast, text broadcast, text information, navigation system screen (menu screen or route guidance screen), game, movie, DVD video, traffic information, weather forecast, e-mail and other information provided to passengers are displayed visually Is done. Note that information may be provided visually with something like holography displayed in space rather than on screen.

  The display control unit 40 performs display control for causing the display unit 50 to display information to be provided to the occupant exemplified above. As will be described in detail later, the display control unit 40 transmits a display setting signal related to the display setting of the display unit 50 to the electric brake ECU 100. The display control unit 40 may be built in the display unit 50.

  The brake actuator 60 operates an electric brake based on a drive signal from the electric brake ECU 100. In response to the operation of the brake actuator 60, a braking force that causes the electric brake to brake the vehicle is generated. Examples of the electric brake include an electric foot brake and an electric parking brake.

  The electric brake ECU 100 transmits a drive signal to the brake actuator 60 to generate a braking force by the brake actuator 60 and control the braking operation of the vehicle. Even if the driver simply performs a braking operation (for example, a brake pedal operation, a parking brake lever operation or a pedal operation or other manual braking operation), the braking force by the brake actuator 60 is generated.

  Further, when the electric brake ECU 100 detects a display setting signal from the display control unit 50 when it is determined that the vehicle is stopped based on information from the brake switch 10, the vehicle speed sensor 20, and the accelerator switch 30. The braking force by the brake actuator 60 is automatically generated regardless of whether or not the driver performs a braking operation.

  Further, when the braking force is automatically generated, even if the braking operation by the driver is stopped when the vehicle is stopped (for example, even if the foot that was stepping on the brake pedal to release the vehicle is released), the vehicle The braking force for braking is kept generated.

  The vehicle stoppage determination is, for example, determined that the vehicle is stopped when the vehicle speed value detected by the vehicle speed sensor 20 is zero and the accelerator switch 30 is OFF. For example, the vehicle traveling determination is determined as traveling when the vehicle speed value detected by the vehicle speed sensor 20 is greater than zero and the accelerator switch 30 is ON. The establishment conditions for stopping and running are not limited to these, and may be changed according to the system specifications and the like. Information from the brake switch 10, the vehicle speed sensor 20, and the accelerator switch 30 may be acquired from another ECU such as an engine ECU or a brake ECU.

  Now, an example of the operation of the vehicle brake control device of the present invention in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Hereinafter, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 will be described separately.

  FIG. 2 is an example of a flowchart executed by the electric brake ECU 100 when the vehicle stops when visual information is being provided. The flowchart of FIG. 2 is a repetitive routine having a predetermined cycle.

  First, in step 100, the electric brake ECU 100 determines whether or not the vehicle is stopped. When the vehicle speed value detected by the vehicle speed sensor 20 is zero and the accelerator switch 30 is OFF, it is determined that the vehicle is stopped. If it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, the process proceeds to step 110. If it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped, the process proceeds to step 130.

  In step 110, it is confirmed whether or not a display state signal that is a display setting signal from the display control unit 40 is ON. Here, the display state signal is a signal that is turned on when some visual information is displayed on the display unit 50 and turned off when nothing is displayed. When the display state signal is ON, the electric brake ECU 100 transmits a drive signal to the brake actuator 60 to automatically generate the braking force by the brake actuator 60 (step 120). On the other hand, when the display state signal is OFF, the process returns to the beginning of the flowchart and this flow is repeated.

  In step 100, the electric brake ECU 100 determined that the vehicle is not stopped transmits a drive release signal for releasing the braking force automatically generated to the brake actuator 60, and releases the braking force by the brake actuator 60 (step 130). .

  Therefore, according to the flowchart of FIG. 2, when the vehicle is stopped while visual information is being provided, the automatic brake remains activated based on the display state signal. Even if the vehicle is closely watched, it is possible to prevent the vehicle from moving because the driving operation for stopping the vehicle is obscured. In the flowchart of FIG. 2, the automatic brake is not released immediately when the display state signal is turned off while the vehicle is stopped, and the automatic brake is released only when it is determined that the vehicle is not stopped. This is because if the vehicle that has been stopped by the automatic brake is released only when the display control signal is turned off while the vehicle is stopped, the vehicle may move unexpectedly.

  Next, the flowchart of FIG. 3 which is an operation example different from FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is an example of a flowchart executed by the electric brake ECU 100 when it is requested to provide visual information. The flowchart of FIG. 3 is a repetitive routine having a predetermined cycle.

  First, in step 200, the electric brake ECU 100 determines whether the vehicle is stopped or traveling. When the vehicle speed value detected by the vehicle speed sensor 20 is zero and the brake switch 10 is ON, it is determined that the vehicle is stopped. When the vehicle speed value detected by the vehicle speed sensor 20 is greater than zero and the accelerator switch 30 is ON, it is determined that the vehicle is traveling. If it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, the process proceeds to step 205. If it is determined that the vehicle is traveling, the process proceeds to step 240.

  In step 205, the electric brake ECU 100 checks whether or not the state variable PKB indicating that the electric parking brake is operating is ON based on the PKB signal from the electric parking brake. If the PKB signal is ON, the process proceeds to step 230. If the PKB signal is not ON, the process proceeds to step 210.

  In step 210, the electric brake ECU 100 confirms a display request signal that is a display setting signal from the display control unit 40. Here, the display request signal is a signal for requesting permission to display predetermined visual information on the display unit 50. For example, a display request signal for requesting permission to display a television broadcast is transmitted from the display control unit 40 to the electric brake ECU 100. When there is a display request signal, the electric brake ECU 100 transmits a drive signal to the brake actuator 60 to automatically generate a braking force by the brake actuator 60 (step 220). At this time, when the electric parking brake is activated, the electric parking brake turns on a state variable PKB indicating that the electric parking brake is activated, and transmits a PKB (= ON) signal to the electric brake ECU 100.

  And electric brake ECU100 can confirm that the electric parking brake act | operated by receiving the PKB (= ON) signal. If the operation is confirmed, it is permitted to display visual information on the display unit 50, and the PKB state (= ON) is transmitted to the display control unit 40 (step 230). As a result, the display control unit 40 that has received the PKB state (= ON) causes the display unit 50 to display the permitted visual information on the display unit 50.

  In step 210, if there is no display request signal, the process returns to the beginning of the flowchart and this flow is repeated.

  In step 200, the electric brake ECU 100 determined to be traveling transmits a drive release signal for releasing the braking force automatically generated to the brake actuator 60, and releases the braking force by the brake actuator 60 (step 240). At this time, when the electric parking brake is deactivated, the electric parking brake turns off the PKB and transmits a PKB (= OFF) signal to the electric brake ECU 100.

  The electric brake ECU 100 can confirm that the electric parking brake has been deactivated by receiving the PKB (= OFF) signal. If the non-operation is confirmed, it is prohibited to display visual information on the display unit 50, and the PKB state (= OFF) is transmitted to the display control unit 40 (step 250). As a result, the display control unit 40 that has received the PKB state (= OFF) prevents the display unit 50 from displaying visual information prohibited by the display unit 50.

  Therefore, according to the flowchart of FIG. 3, when it is requested to provide visual information when the vehicle is stopped, the visual information is provided after the automatic brake is operated. Even if the visual information is watched, it is possible to prevent the vehicle from moving due to the lack of driving operation for stopping the vehicle. In the flowchart of FIG. 3, the automatic brake is not released immediately when the display request signal disappears while the vehicle is stopped, and the automatic brake is released only when it is determined that the vehicle is running. This is because if the vehicle that has been stopped by the automatic brake is released only when the display request signal disappears while the vehicle is stopped, the vehicle may move unexpectedly by the driver.

  In other words, the contents illustrated using FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 can be more specifically described. When the user stops watching a TV broadcast or reads the displayed character information, the user forgets to brake the vehicle. The braking operation may be stopped unconsciously. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the vehicle from moving unexpectedly by applying the automatic brake without keeping the driver stepping on the brake pedal or applying the parking brake. Can do. In particular, when the vehicle stops on a slope, the assist function is useful because the creeping phenomenon caused by the automatic vehicle can be stopped or the creeping phenomenon caused by the automatic vehicle can be stopped.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Can be added.

  For example, the braking force may be automatically generated only when specific visual information (for example, television broadcasting) is provided. When other information is provided, the brake actuator 60 does not automatically operate, so that there is an effect that the operation frequency is reduced and its durability is improved.

It is the figure which showed one structural example of the braking control apparatus for vehicles of this invention. It is an example of the flowchart which electric brake ECU100 performs at the time of stopping when visual information provision is performed. It is an example of the flowchart which electric brake ECU100 performs when it is requested | required to provide visual information.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Brake switch 20 Vehicle speed sensor 30 Accelerator switch 40 Display control part 50 Display part 60 Brake actuator 100 Electric brake ECU

Claims (3)

In a vehicle braking control device for automatically controlling a braking force for braking a vehicle,
Has a device for detecting the presence or absence of provision of visual information against the occupant before Symbol vehicle,
When it is detected that visual information is provided while the vehicle is stopped, the braking force is automatically generated, and even if it is detected that visual information is not provided, it is automatically generated. A braking control device for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is kept stopped without releasing the braking force .   The vehicle braking control device according to claim 1, wherein whether or not the visual information is provided is determined based on a display setting signal from a display device that displays the information.   The vehicular braking control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the visual information is moving image information.

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