JPH06131597A - Device for changing control content of vehicle control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the safety of traveling by simple constitution by judging whether the control contents of a vehicle control device are to be changed or not in addition to the generation of an alarm when an inter-vehicle distance becomes shorter than a set inter-vehicle distance corresponding to a vehicle speed, and making it possible to change the control contents without adding a specific circuit to the control device itself. CONSTITUTION:When a relation between an inter-vehicle distance and a vehicle speed detected by an inter-vehicle distance sensor 1 and a vehicle speed sensor 2 becomes a prescribed relation, an inter-vehicle distance alarm judging means 31 outputs a command for generating an alarm and a control contents changing command judging means 32 judges whether the control contents of the vehicle control device 7 are to be changed in accordance with the current traveling state or not in parallel or independently with/of the output of the command, and at the time of judging the change of the control contents, generates a signal for commanding the change to a command signal input means 6 for the control device 7 through a command signal generating means 33.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control content changing device for a vehicle control device, which is interlocked with a vehicle provided with a control device such as a constant speed traveling control device when an inter-vehicle distance warning is issued. The present invention relates to a control content changing device that can change the control content of a constant speed traveling control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-16680 proposes an inter-vehicle distance warning generator as shown in FIG. This inter-vehicle distance warning generator is to issue a warning if the time it takes for a signal emitted from a vehicle to an object in front of the vehicle to be reflected to the vehicle is less than a predetermined time at the vehicle speed at that time. is there. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the concept of the inter-vehicle distance warning control in this conventional example. The inter-vehicle distance control means has an inter-vehicle distance sensor 1 that measures the inter-vehicle distance between the own vehicle and the vehicle in front, and a vehicle speed sensor 2 that measures the traveling speed of the own vehicle. The preset inter-vehicle distance is compared according to the traveling speed, and when the inter-vehicle distance is shorter than the set inter-vehicle distance, it is determined that the vehicle is in an abnormal approaching state, an alarm is issued by the alarm device 4, and the driver is warned. ing.

[0003]

However, the above-described prior art can only issue an alarm when the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle are in an abnormally close state, and for example, a vehicle control device such as a constant speed traveling control device. It was not possible to change the control contents of (1) according to the above approach. Further, if it is attempted to be changeable, there is a problem that it is necessary to add a circuit for inputting a signal line for transmitting a change request to the target control device itself, and the control device itself becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and does not add a circuit for inputting a signal line for transmitting a change request to the target control device itself, and the other control device It is an object of the present invention to provide a control content changing device for a vehicle control device, which makes it possible to change the control content.

[0005]

According to the present invention, an inter-vehicle distance sensor for detecting an inter-vehicle distance between a host vehicle and a front vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed of the own vehicle, and an inter-vehicle distance between the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed. The control content change command determination means for determining whether to change the control content of the control device according to a predetermined relationship and the same signal as the command signal input means for the control device are generated to generate the command. The above problem is solved by a control content changing device of a vehicle control device having a command signal generating means for forming a command signal for changing the control content to the control device by connecting the signal input means in parallel.

Further, as in the invention of claim 2, the control content change command determining means may determine whether to change the control content of the control device according to the presence or absence of the inter-vehicle distance warning. As in the invention of Item 3, the control content change command determination means determines whether to change the control content of the control device according to a predetermined relationship among the inter-vehicle distance, the vehicle speed, and the inter-vehicle distance warning. It may be one. Further, as the command signal generation means, one connected in series with the command signal input means of the control device may be adopted.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the vehicle control device is controlled by the control content change command determining means in accordance with the predetermined relationship between the vehicle distance and the vehicle speed measured by the vehicle distance sensor and the vehicle speed sensor. It is determined whether to change the control content of, and the same signal as the signal of the command signal input means of this control device is generated to the control device in parallel by the command signal generation means according to this determination result, This generally causes the controller to perform a predetermined control.

Further, in the second aspect, the control content of the control device is changed depending on the presence or absence of the inter-vehicle distance warning, regardless of the predetermined relationship between the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed. Further, in the third aspect, the control content of the control device is changed if a predetermined condition defined among the inter-vehicle distance, the vehicle speed, and the inter-vehicle distance alarm is satisfied.
In the invention of claim 4, the connection from the command signal generating means to the command signal input means is a serial connection, and it is generally determined that a certain control is not executed if a predetermined condition is satisfied.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Embodiment 1 An embodiment of a control content changing device of a vehicle control device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a concrete configuration diagram of the embodiment, and FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram showing a concrete circuit configuration of one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 1 is an inter-vehicle distance sensor that detects the inter-vehicle distance between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle, 2 is a vehicle speed sensor that detects the vehicle speed of the own vehicle, and 3 is a control content changing device body. The control content changing device main body 3 includes an inter-vehicle distance detected by the inter-vehicle distance sensor 1 and a vehicle speed sensor 2.
The inter-vehicle distance warning determination means 31 for determining whether or not to issue the inter-vehicle distance warning according to a predetermined relationship with the vehicle speed detected by the inter-vehicle distance sensor 1, and the inter-vehicle distance detected by the inter-vehicle distance sensor 1 and the vehicle speed. Other control device control content change command determination means 32 for determining whether or not to change the control content of the control device according to a predetermined relationship between the vehicle speed detected by the sensor 2 and the inter-vehicle distance warning, It is composed of a command signal generating means 34 which generates the same signal as the command signal input means to the control device and which is connected in parallel to the command signal input means to form a command signal for changing the control content to the control device. That is, in this embodiment, the inter-vehicle distance, the vehicle speed, and the inter-vehicle distance alarm are used as the criteria for determining whether the control content needs to be changed.

Reference numeral 7 is a control device, for example, a constant speed traveling control device for keeping the vehicle speed at a desired speed, and 6 is a command signal input means for inputting a command signal to the constant speed traveling control device. Figure 3
It is a circuit diagram showing the concrete circuit composition of this example. 33
Is a command signal generating means of the control content changing device main body 3 and has a relay (RY) having a normally open contact (a contact in which the relay contact is opened when the exciting circuit of the relay is not excited). And a transistor (Tr). Reference numeral 6 is a command signal input means, and 7 is a control device. In this embodiment, a constant speed traveling device for a vehicle, which is proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-1972238 and which keeps the traveling speed of the vehicle constant, is taken as an example. ing.

First, before describing the aspect of the control content change determination of the present invention, the constant speed traveling control device will be described. The command signal input means 6 is configured as a command switch, and the known cancel switch S1 is used.
And a set / coast switch S2, a resistor R1, a resume / accelerator switch S3 and a resistor R2, which are connected to the command signal generating means 33 and the control device 7 as shown in the figure. Reference numeral 7 denotes another control device, and in this embodiment, like the command signal input means 6, a known constant-speed traveling control device for vehicle is taken as an example, and the circuit configuration for inputting the signal line thereof is the command switch input I. / F circuit 71 and resistance R
3 and 3.

Next, the specific operation will be described. First, an operation example of this constant speed traveling control device will be described using Table 1.

[Table 1] However, V1 = VIG (Equation 1) V2 = VIG × R3 / (R1 + R3) (Equation 2) V3 = VIG × R3 / (R2 + R3) (Equation 3) Here, the constant speed traveling control device 7 is an O switch of the command switch 6.
According to the N / OFF mode, four different control contents of modes 1 to 4 can be executed. Mode 1 is switch S
1, S2, S3 are all in the OFF state, and the voltage is not applied to the resistor R3 inside the constant speed traveling control device 7 and becomes 0V. In mode 2, only the switch S1 is in the ON state, and the voltage R1 is applied to the resistor R3 of the control device 7. This voltage is generated by the current value flowing in the resistor R3 through the switch S1 and the resistor R1 by the IG power source (VIG), and can be calculated by the above equation 1. Similarly, modes 3 and 4 have voltages V2 and V3, respectively, which are calculated by the above equations 2 and 3. This voltage value is used as the constant speed traveling control device 7
It is converted to a digital value by an internal A / D converter (not shown), read by a microcomputer (not shown), etc., and if the control content is in the mode 1 state, it is not changed in the normal state. If it is in the state, it is changed to the state in which the constant speed traveling control is canceled, if it is in the mode 3, the control state is changed to the control state in which the vehicle speed value of the constant traveling vehicle speed is set, and in the case of the mode 4, the control state is automatically changed. Then, the automatic return control state for returning the vehicle speed to the target vehicle speed is set. In this way, the control contents of the constant speed traveling control device 7 can be changed depending on the state of the command signal input means 6.

Here, a case where the control content changing device main body 3 according to the present invention is connected to the constant speed traveling control device will be described. Command signal generating means 33 of the control content changing device main body 3
Is connected in parallel to the command signal input means 6 as described above,
As a result, the control contents of the control device 7 can be changed as shown in Table 2.

[Table 2] In this table, V1, V2, and V3 are the above formulas 1, 2, 3
The voltage value obtained by The operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Table 2. In Modes 1 to 4, since the relay of the command signal generating means is in the OFF state, the state is exactly the same as the command signal input means 6 which is the command switch of the constant speed traveling control device 7.

Here, first, the inter-vehicle distance sensor 1 detects the inter-vehicle distance between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle, and the vehicle speed sensor 2 detects the traveling speed of the own vehicle. Based on this result, the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed are detected. The inter-vehicle distance warning determination means 31 determines whether or not to issue an alarm according to a predetermined relationship. Then, the control content change command determining means determines whether or not the determination result of the alarm determining means 31, the inter-vehicle distance, and the vehicle speed have a predetermined relationship.
For example, the fact that the inter-vehicle distance at a certain vehicle speed is equal to or less than the set inter-vehicle distance and that an alarm is issued is set as a predetermined relationship, and it is determined whether or not this relationship is established.

Not only is the vehicle approaching distance determined to be an abnormal approaching condition under conditions such as when the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is shorter than the set vehicle-to-vehicle distance, an alarm is issued by an alarm means (not shown) to call attention to the driver's vehicle. When it is determined that it is necessary to change the control content of the constant speed traveling control device due to a predetermined relationship between the vehicle speed and the inter-vehicle distance warning, the control content change command determination means 32 transfers the command content to the command signal generation means 33. In order to instruct that, current is applied between the base and the emitter of the transistor Tr constituting the means 33 to drive this transistor Tr. As a result, the contact of the relay RY is closed (turned on). This voltage is IG power (VIG)
Generated by the current value flowing in the resistor R3 via the relay RY, and the voltage value V1 calculated by the above equation 1
Becomes Therefore, the same state as when the cancel switch S1 of the command signal input means 6 is turned on, the cancel instruction is issued to the control device 7, and the control content is changed to the cancel state of mode 5.

As a result, when abnormally approaching a vehicle ahead while driving at a constant speed, not only a warning is issued to call attention to the driving vehicle, but also the constant-speed driving control is released to ensure running safety. Is improved. In the first embodiment, the relay RY of the command signal generation means 33 is simply replaced by the command signal input means 6
Although an example in which it is connected to the command switch (in this example, the cancel switch S1) is shown, resistors R4 and R5 (not shown) having the same resistance value as the internal resistances R1 and R2 of the command switch are inserted in series with the relay RY. By doing so, it becomes possible to change to the control states of mode 3 and mode 4, respectively.

Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, the command signal generating means 33 is connected in parallel to each switch of the command switch (command signal input means 6), but in the second embodiment, it is connected in series. I have decided. This will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The command signal generating means 33, the command switch (command signal input means 6), and the constant speed traveling control device 7 have exactly the same circuit configuration as in FIG. 3, but the wiring method is relay in this example. RY is connected in series to the switch S3 of the command switch, and the contact of the relay is a normally closed contact unlike the first embodiment. The operation contents will be described according to Table 3.

[Table 3] In the table, V1, V2, and V3 have the same voltage values as those in the above-described embodiments.

The relationship between the constant speed traveling control device 7 and the command switch and the operation up to the mode 1 shell are determined by the relay R.
Since Y is in the ON state (the relay contact is closed), it is the same as in the first embodiment. Here, when a predetermined condition similar to that of the first embodiment is satisfied, the transistor Tr of the command signal generating means 33 is turned on so that the command signal generating means 33 changes the control content of the constant speed traveling control device. As a result, even if the relay contact, which has been closed until then, is opened and the resume switch S3 is turned on, no current flows in the resistors R2 and R3, so that no voltage is generated in the resistor R3 and the voltage remains at 0V. Therefore, even if the resume switch S3 is turned on again to perform the constant speed traveling control at the original set speed again after the constant speed traveling control is released, the control content change command determination means 32
If it is determined that the control content of the control device is changed according to the predetermined relationship between the inter-vehicle distance, the vehicle speed, and the inter-vehicle distance alarm, the alarm means (not shown) issues an alarm and the driver It is possible not only to warn, but also to prohibit the control change of the automatic return command of the constant speed traveling control device, which contributes to the improvement of safety at the time of abnormal approach to the vehicle in front. In this embodiment, the command signal generating means 33 is connected in series with the resume switch S3 of the command switch, but it is obvious that the same effect can be obtained by connecting the command switch 33 in series with the set switch S2.

In the control content change command determination means 32 in the above-described embodiment, the elements of the control content change determination are:
Although the vehicle speed, the inter-vehicle distance, and the alarm are adopted, if the relationship between the vehicle speed and the inter-vehicle distance is a predetermined relationship, the control content may be changed independently of the presence / absence of the alarm. Regardless of the relationship between the vehicle speed and the inter-vehicle distance, the control content may be changed using only the presence / absence of an alarm as a determination factor.

In the above embodiment, the control device 7 is a constant speed traveling control device and the command signal input means 6 is a command switch. However, the command signal input means 6 may be other than a command switch. Further, the control device 7 may be a control device other than the constant speed traveling control device, for example, an automatic shift control device for an automatic vehicle. In this case, for example, if the vehicle distance becomes a certain predetermined value or less, the control content change command determining means determines It is conceivable that automatic downshift will be performed by the command of. In short, each constituent means may be configured so that the control state of the control device can be changed.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the inter-vehicle distance becomes less than a predetermined value, not only an alarm is issued to call the driver's attention, but also control of a control device such as a constant speed traveling control device is performed. By automatically changing the contents, it is possible to prevent an accident such as the own vehicle colliding with a vehicle ahead. In addition, since the means for changing the control content is not a circuit for that purpose added to the control device itself, the control device is not complicated by the setting of the control content changing means.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional inter-vehicle distance warning device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control content changing device of the vehicle control device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a control content changing device of the vehicle control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a control content changing device of a vehicle control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 inter-vehicle distance sensor 2 vehicle speed sensor 3 control content change device main body 31 inter-vehicle distance alarm determination means 32 control content change command determination means 33 command signal generation means 6 command signal input means 7 control device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle having a control device and a command signal input means for generating a signal for changing the control content of the vehicle, an inter-vehicle distance sensor for detecting an inter-vehicle distance between a host vehicle and a preceding vehicle, and a vehicle speed of the host vehicle. And a control content change command determining means for determining whether to change the control content of the control device according to a predetermined relationship between the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed, and the control device. Command signal generating means for generating the same signal as that of the command signal inputting means, and connecting in parallel to the command signal inputting means to form a command signal for changing the control content of the control device. And a control content changing device for the vehicle control device. 2. A vehicle having a control device and a command signal input means for generating a signal for changing the control content of the control device, an inter-vehicle distance sensor for detecting an inter-vehicle distance between the own vehicle and a preceding vehicle, and a vehicle speed of the own vehicle. A vehicle speed sensor for detecting the vehicle distance, an inter-vehicle distance warning determining means for determining whether to issue an inter-vehicle distance warning according to a predetermined relationship between the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed, and whether or not the inter-vehicle distance warning is present. Therefore, the same signal as the control content change command determination means for determining whether to change the control content of the control device and the command signal input means for the control device is generated and connected in parallel to the command signal input means. A control content changing device for a vehicle control device, comprising command signal generating means for forming a command signal for changing the control content of the control device. 3. A vehicle having a control device and a command signal input means for generating a signal for changing the control content of the control device, and an inter-vehicle distance sensor for detecting an inter-vehicle distance between a host vehicle and a preceding vehicle, and a vehicle speed of the host vehicle. And a vehicle speed sensor for detecting whether or not an inter-vehicle distance alarm is issued according to a predetermined relationship between the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed, and the inter-vehicle distance, the vehicle speed, and the inter-vehicle distance. The same signal as the control content change command determining means for determining whether to change the control content of the control device according to a predetermined relationship with the distance alarm and the command signal inputting means for the control device. And a command signal generating means for generating a command signal for changing the control content to the control device by connecting the control signal in parallel to the command signal input means. Control content change device for both control devices. 4. The control content changing device for a vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the command signal generating means is connected in series with the control device.