JPH03273936A - Fixed speed travel controller for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure safe driving travel by releasing an automatic return mode when the present car speed at the time of the automatic return mode drops drastically to a certain degree in comparison with the maximum car speed detected at the time of the automatic return mode. CONSTITUTION:A car speed operating means 12 operating a car speed from the pulse row signal of a car speed sensor 11, is equipped, and at the same time automatic return action starting means 15 such as a set signal inputting means 13, a cancellation signal inputting means 14 and a resuming switch, are equipped. And the maximum car speed at the time of an automatic return is memorized at an automatic return time car speed memorizing means 16 by means of output from the car speed operating means 12 and automatic return action starting means 15, and a car speed comparing means 17 decides whether or not a difference between the memorized car speed and the present car speed has become more than a predetermined value, and it is arranged that a release signal is outputted to an actuator 20 connected mechanically to a throttle valve 21 by means of a fixed speed travel releasing means 18, in a case in which a cancellation signal is inputted from the cancellation signal inputting means 14 or YES is decided by means of the car speed comparing means 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a constant speed cruise control device for a vehicle that automatically maintains the traveling speed of a vehicle constant.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional constant speed cruise control device for a vehicle. In the figure, l is an engine, 2 is an intake pipe of the engine 1, and 3 is a throttle valve rotatably provided in the intake pipe 2. It is. The throttle valve 3 has a first valve. Second throttle links 4a, 4b are connected. The first throttle valve 4a is coupled to an accelerator pedal 5 via a wire.

The second throttle link 4b is connected via a wire to an electric motor type actuator 6 having, for example, an electric motor. 7 is a vehicle speed sensor that detects the vehicle speed, and 8 is a speed meter that displays the vehicle speed. Reference numeral 9 denotes a cent switch for instructing constant speed driving, a resume switch 9b for setting the vehicle to automatic return mode when operated and automatically returning the vehicle speed to constant speed driving, a cancel switch 90 for canceling constant speed driving, etc. This is a control switch section consisting of. 10 is a control unit composed of a microcomputer, and a control switch section 9
inputs an instruction signal from the vehicle speed sensor 7, inputs a vehicle speed pulse train signal from the vehicle speed sensor 7, outputs a drive signal to the actuator 6 based on both human power signals, and controls the opening degree of the throttle valve 3.

Next, the operation will be explained. The engine 1 takes in air from the intake pipe 2 in an amount corresponding to the opening degree of the throttle valve 3 and rotates to drive the vehicle. When the driver operates the set switch 9a while the vehicle is running, the control unit 10 receives this center instruction signal and sets the current vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 7 to the target vehicle speed for constant speed running. After setting, the control unit 10 controls the opening degree of the throttle valve 3 via the actuator 6 based on the difference between the target vehicle speed and the current vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 7 so that the vehicle speed converges to the target vehicle speed. Next, when the driver operates the cancel switch 9C, the control unit 10 that has received this instruction signal cancels the constant speed running and makes the throttle valve 3 free from the actuator 6. Then, the driver operates the accelerator pedal 5 to adjust the opening degree of the throttle valve 3 to achieve a desired vehicle speed. Next, when the resume switch 9b is operated by the driver, the control unit 10 that receives this instruction signal automatically accelerates, for example, to reach the target vehicle speed that was previously stored and set, and determines that the target vehicle speed has been returned to ( For example, the deviation between the current vehicle speed and the target vehicle speed has become within several km/h.) Afterwards, so-called automatic return control is performed to adjust the opening degree of the throttle valve 3 via the actuator 6 so that the vehicle can travel at a constant speed. Then, after the control unit 10 determines that the vehicle speed has automatically returned to the target vehicle speed, the current vehicle speed is significantly lower than the target vehicle speed (for example, 15 km/h or more) due to, for example, climbing a steep slope.
In this case, the constant speed driving mode is canceled, but if the above judgment is not established, the automatic return mode is not canceled even if the vehicle speed decreases significantly.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Conventional constant speed cruise control devices for vehicles are configured as described above, so even if the vehicle speed drops significantly for some reason during the automatic return operation, the automatic return mode cannot be canceled. However, since the actuator 6 continues to be controlled so that the throttle valve 3 opens more and more, there is a problem that driving the vehicle becomes dangerous.

This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and by canceling the automatic return mode when the current vehicle speed in that mode is considerably lower than the maximum vehicle speed detected during the automatic return mode, The object of the present invention is to obtain a constant speed cruise control device for a vehicle that allows safe driving.

[Means to solve the problem]

The constant speed running control device for a vehicle of the present invention includes a vehicle speed detection means, a constant speed running control means, and an automatic return vehicle speed storage means for automatically returning the vehicle speed to the target vehicle speed before cancellation after the constant speed running is canceled. When in automatic recovery mode,
An automatic return vehicle speed storage means for detecting and storing the maximum value of the vehicle speed, and a comparison/cancellation means for outputting a signal for canceling the automatic return mode when the difference between the maximum value and the current vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. It was established.

[For production]

In the constant speed running control device for a vehicle according to the present invention, in the automatic return mode, when the comparing/cancelling means detects that the current vehicle speed has decreased due to some trough and the difference from the maximum vehicle speed has become more than a predetermined value. Then, a release signal is output to release the automatic return mode and place the vehicle in a non-constant speed running state.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1st
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a constant speed cruise control device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
12 is a vehicle speed calculation means for calculating the vehicle speed from the pulse train signal; 13 is a seven-step signal input means such as a set switch; and 14 is a cancel signal, for example. A cancel signal input means such as a switch, and 15 are automatic return vehicle speed storage means such as a resume switch. The vehicle speed sensor 11 and the vehicle speed calculation means 12 constitute a vehicle speed detection means for detecting the vehicle speed. 16 is an automatic return vehicle shorthand means whose input terminal is connected to the vehicle speed calculation means 12 and the automatic return vehicle speed storage means 15 and which stores the maximum vehicle speed at automatic return; and 17 is an automatic return vehicle shorthand means whose input terminal is connected to the vehicle speed memory means 15. 16 and the vehicle speed calculation means 12, and is a vehicle speed comparison means for comparing and determining whether or not the difference between the stored vehicle speed and the current vehicle speed has reached a predetermined value, for example, 15 km/h or more.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a constant speed running cancellation means for canceling constant speed running, and when a cancel signal is input from the cancel signal input means 14 or a signal is input from the vehicle speed comparison means 17 when it is determined that the difference in vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. In this case, a release signal is output. Reference numeral 19 denotes a constant speed running control means whose input terminals are connected to the vehicle speed calculation means 12, cent signal input means 13, automatic return vehicle speed storage means 15, and constant speed running cancellation means 18, and whose output terminal is connected to the actuator 20. , sets and resets constant speed travel, and outputs the drive signal to the actuator 20. Actuator 20 is mechanically connected to throttle valve 21 as in the prior art. Furthermore, when the difference between the maximum vehicle speed in the automatic return mode and the current vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined value by the vehicle speed comparing means 17 and constant speed running canceling means 18, a comparing/cancelling means outputs a signal for canceling the constant speed running state. is configured.

This configuration is the same as that shown in FIG. 4 except for the internal configuration of the control unit, and the cent signal input means 13, cancel signal input means 14, and automatic return vehicle speed storage means 15 correspond to the control switch section, and are designated by reference numeral 12.16. ~1
The control unit corresponds to element 9. The operation of the control unit within this broken line is shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, and this flowchart is stored in the ROM of the control unit as a control program.

Next, the operation will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. First, in step 101, initial settings are performed. In step 102, the vehicle speed calculation means 12, which receives a pulse train signal with a period inversely proportional to the vehicle speed from the vehicle speed sensor 11, determines whether or not the period of the pulse train signal can be measured. For example, the vehicle speed calculation means 12 calculates the current vehicle speed in step 103 based on the measurement period. In step 104, the constant speed running control means 19 determines whether or not the vehicle speed storage means 15 is in the automatic return mode, which was operated by the driver during the cancel mode.

If it is not the automatic return mode, the process jumps to step 110, which will be described later, and if it is the automatic return mode, the constant speed running control means 19 sets the constant speed running flag to "1" in step 105. In step 106, the automatic return vehicle shorthand means 16
Memory vehicle speed at automatic return stored in and vehicle speed calculation means 1
The automatic return time recording means 16 compares the current vehicle speed calculated in step 2 with the current vehicle speed, and if the current vehicle speed is greater, the vehicle speed is stored in step 107, and if it is less than that, the process jumps to step 108. In step 108, the vehicle speed comparison means 17 calculates the difference between the vehicle speed at the time of automatic return stored in the vehicle shorthand recording means 16 at the time of automatic return and the current vehicle speed calculated by the vehicle speed calculation means 12, and the vehicle speed difference is set to a predetermined value. For example, it is determined whether the speed is 15 km+/h or more. If this is the case, a cancellation signal is output from the constant speed running canceling means 18 which has input the comparison result, so in step 109, the constant speed running control means 19 sets the cancel flag to "1". If the vehicle speed difference is less than the predetermined value, the process directly proceeds to step 110.

In step 110, the constant speed running control means 19 determines whether the constant speed running flag is "1" or not. If it is "1", in step 111 the constant speed running control means 19 determines whether the cancel flag is "1" or not. Determine whether

Unless the cancellation signal input means 14 is operated or the processes from steps 108 to 109 are performed, the cancellation signal is not output from the constant speed running cancellation means 18, so the cancellation flag is set to "0". If it is "0", the process proceeds to step 112, where the constant speed running control means 19 calculates the control amount of the actuator 20 so that the deviation between the target vehicle speed and the current vehicle speed determined by the vehicle speed calculation means 12 becomes zero, and in step 113 A driving pulse is output to the actuator 20 to adjust the opening degree of the throttle valve 21.

If it is determined in step 111 that the cancel flag is rlJ, the process proceeds to step 114, where the constant speed running control means 19
resets the constant speed running flag to rOJ, and in the next step 115 prohibits the output of the drive signal to the actuator zO.

At step 110, the constant speed running flag is not "1" but "0".
”, the constant speed running control means 19 performs step 1.
At step 16, the cancel flag is reset to "0", and at step 117, the automatic return memorized vehicle speed in the vehicle shorthand recording means 16 at the time of automatic return is cleared. Step 113, step 115,
After performing any of the steps 117, the process proceeds to the next step 118, where the process waits until a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and after waiting, the process returns to step 102 and repeats the above operations.

Note that when the cent signal input means 13 is operated, the constant speed traveling control means 19 that has input this set signal sets the constant speed traveling flag to "1" and changes the current vehicle speed from the vehicle speed calculation means 12 to the target vehicle speed. Set.

Further, the constant speed running control means inputs the cancellation signal via the constant speed running canceling means 18 by operating the cancel signal inputting means 14, and sets the cancel flag to rlJ. This process may be performed as part of the interrupt processing routine.

FIG. 3 shows a timing diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention, where ta+ indicates on/off of the vehicle speed storage means during automatic return, and bl indicates the target vehicle speed (-dotted chain line) and the actual vehicle speed during constant speed driving. (solid line) and the automatic return memorized vehicle speed (dashed line).In Fig. 3, until time t, the constant speed running is in a released state, and at time t1, the automatic return vehicle speed memorizing means is turned on and the automatic return memorized vehicle speed is Return mode is entered. In this mode, the vehicle speed increases toward the previously set target vehicle speed. During this period, the maximum value of the vehicle speed is stored. At time t2, the current vehicle speed decreases due to some reason. There is a difference of ΔV1 between the maximum vehicle speed and the vehicle speed difference Δ■1, for example, 15km/
Since it is less than h, the automatic return mode continues as it is. Thereafter, the current vehicle speed reaches a peak at time t, which is less than the target vehicle speed, and decreases for some reason until time t4. Time t4
Now, since the difference between the peak value and the current vehicle speed is Δv2, which is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the automatic return mode is canceled and the mode becomes a constant speed running canceled state.

In the above embodiments, an electric motor type actuator has been described, but even if a negative pressure type actuator or the like is used, the same effects as in the above embodiments can be obtained.

Note that the vehicle speed stored in the automatic return vehicle shorthand recording means 16 can be cleared by the output of the constant speed running control means 19 or the constant speed running canceling means 18.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, in the automatic return mode,
The system is configured so that when the difference between the detected maximum vehicle speed and the current vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value, the automatic return mode is canceled and the vehicle enters a non-constant speed driving state, resulting in excellent vehicle driving safety. There is an effect that can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing the operation of a control unit according to the above embodiment, and FIG. The timing diagram shown in FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional device. In the figure, 11...Vehicle speed sensor, 12...Vehicle speed calculation means, 13...Set signal input means, 14...Cancel signal input means, 15...Vehicle speed storage means at automatic return,
16... Auto return vehicle shorthand recording means, 17... Vehicle speed comparison means, 18... Constant speed running canceling means, 19... Constant speed running control means, 20... Actuator, 21...
throttle valve.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a vehicle speed detection means for detecting the vehicle speed; a constant speed travel control means for controlling an actuator and adjusting the opening of the throttle valve so that the current vehicle speed converges to the target vehicle speed when the constant speed travel is set; In a constant speed cruise control device for a vehicle, the maximum value of the vehicle speed is detected and stored in the automatic return mode. The present invention further comprises a vehicle speed storage means at the time of automatic return, and a comparison/cancellation means for outputting a signal for canceling the constant speed driving state in the automatic return mode when the difference between the maximum value and the current vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. A constant speed driving control device for a vehicle, which is characterized by: