JPH085740A - Traveling controller for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the effect of the irradiation with a laser beam on pedestrians, multiplication, etc.., of a preceding vehicle by constituting a traveling controller for vehicle so that it can switch the pulsed light emitting output of a vehicle and suppressing the output when a vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller is not actuated or a proximity sensor detects a pedestrian. CONSTITUTION:An instruction switch 10 for instructing increase/ decrease of light emitting outputs, light emitting output increasing/decreasing means 11, and proximity sensor 12 are added to a vehicle equipped with a vehicle-to-vehicle distance controller 7. When the distance to a preceding vehicle from its own vehicle becomes shorter than a prescribed value (e.g. about 30m) in a dangerous domain, a vehicle-to-vehicle distance alarming device 5 issues an alarm to warn the driver of its own vehicle of the proximity of its own vehicle to the preceding vehicle. When the vehicle runs through an urban district and the switch 10 is not operated, the means 11 suppresses the output of a light emitting section 2 to a lower level so as to reduce the influence of the light emitted from the section 2 on pedestrians, etc. When the sensor 12 composed of an ultrasonic distance sensor, etc., detects a pedestrian, the means 11 also suppresses the light emitting output of the section 2. When the vehicle runs on a highway where no pedestrian exists, the light emitting output is increased by operating the switch 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle traveling control device capable of traveling while maintaining an appropriate inter-vehicle distance from a vehicle in front to a vehicle, and more particularly to a pedestrian when the inter-vehicle distance control device is not operating. In addition to preventing the danger to the occupants in front of the vehicle, etc., when there is a short-distance object during the operation of the inter-vehicle distance control device or the vehicle in front approaches abnormally,
Further, the present invention relates to a vehicle travel control device capable of suppressing the danger to pedestrians and occupants in front of the vehicle even in rainy weather.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a vehicle running control device for performing braking control or acceleration control for maintaining an appropriate inter-vehicle distance, see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-34439 or No. 4-273600. As described above, a device using a laser radar device has been proposed. This type of device detects the vehicle-to-vehicle distance from a vehicle ahead by a laser radar device, calculates the vehicle speed by a vehicle speed sensor, calculates an appropriate vehicle-to-vehicle distance based on the vehicle-to-vehicle distance and the vehicle-to-vehicle speed, and calculates the appropriate vehicle-to-vehicle distance. It controls the operation of the brake and accelerator so that the distance is maintained.

A laser diode is generally used as a laser radar device mounted on a vehicle travel control device of this type, and a laser beam (pulse light in the infrared region) from the laser diode is sent to a vehicle ahead. By emitting the light and receiving the reflected light, an appropriate inter-vehicle distance is calculated based on the propagation delay time of the light transmission / reception timing.

However, the pulsed light used for the inter-vehicle distance control is supposed to be applied to a forward vehicle located about 100 m ahead while receiving reflected pulsed light scattered by the forward vehicle, assuming traveling on a highway. Because there is
Relatively high light output is required. Therefore, for example, when driving in an urban area with many pedestrians, it is very dangerous that such a laser beam may cause blindness when entering human eyes. Must be secured.

Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-10658.
No. 7 (first publication) or Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 58-189978.
As referred to in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2 (Gazette No. 2), etc., a safety technique has been proposed in which the light output of laser light is controlled according to the vehicle speed or the detected inter-vehicle distance. Further, as referred to, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 49-16463 (3rd publication), a safety technique has been proposed in which the light output of laser light is controlled according to the weather.

However, in both the first and second publications, the laser beam is always transmitted regardless of whether or not the inter-vehicle distance control is performed, so that the occupant or the pedestrian in front of the vehicle is irradiated with the laser beam. There is a high risk that
It cannot be said that it is a sufficient safety measure. Further, in the case of the third publication, since the weather condition is determined based on the information such as the brightness, the reliability of the weather determination is low, and it cannot be said that it is a sufficient safety measure.

[0007]

As described above, the conventional vehicular travel control device always sends a laser beam regardless of the necessity of inter-vehicle distance control in the first and second publications. Therefore, there is a possibility that a pedestrian or an occupant of a vehicle ahead may be irradiated with the laser beam, and the danger cannot be completely prevented.

Further, since the output power of the laser beam is controlled according to the vehicle speed or the detected inter-vehicle distance, when the vehicle approaches a pedestrian or abnormally approaches a vehicle in front, in the state before the approach state is detected. However, there is a problem that a pedestrian or an occupant in front of the vehicle may be irradiated with the laser beam, and therefore the danger due to irradiation of high-power pulsed light cannot be completely suppressed.

Further, in the case where the light output of the laser light is controlled according to the weather as in the third publication, the reliability of the rain judgment is low, and therefore the pulse of the high light output is output even when it is not raining. There is a problem in that there is a risk of being irradiated with light and the risk cannot be sufficiently suppressed. In particular,
The pulsed light output in rainy weather has a very high output in order to enable distance measurement to a distant place even in rainy weather, and the risk of being incident on the human eye due to an erroneous judgment in rainy weather is high. There was a problem.

Claim 1 of the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and suppresses the light output of the laser beam while the inter-vehicle distance control is not operating, so that the laser beam emits light. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a vehicle travel control device that prevents a risk when the vehicle is irradiated with an occupant or the like of a vehicle ahead.

Further, claim 2 or claim 3 of the present invention.
Was made in order to solve the above problems, and there is a risk when the laser beam is emitted to a pedestrian by suppressing the light output of the laser beam while the inter-vehicle distance control is not operating. In addition, it prevents the laser beam from being emitted to a pedestrian or an occupant in front of the vehicle while detecting a short-distance object or abnormally approaching the vehicle in front during inter-vehicle distance control. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a vehicle travel control device that suppresses the danger of being irradiated with light.

A fourth aspect of the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. It is possible to reliably determine a rainy state based on the operation of a wiper switch, and to determine the laser beam only when it is raining. An object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle travel control device that increases the light output and suppresses the danger when a pedestrian or an occupant of a vehicle ahead is irradiated with a laser beam.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle travel control device for transmitting pulsed light and receiving reflected pulsed light to detect an inter-vehicle distance from a host vehicle to a preceding vehicle. In a vehicle travel control device including a laser radar device, a vehicle speed detection device that detects the vehicle speed of the host vehicle, and an inter-vehicle distance control device that adjusts the vehicle speed to maintain an appropriate inter-vehicle distance based on the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed , The pulsed light transmission output is a relatively low first light transmission output for detecting at least a short-distance object located in front of the host vehicle, and at least a relatively high first light transmission output for use in controlling the inter-vehicle distance. 2 and the indicator switch for selectively operating the inter-vehicle distance control device to enable the function of the inter-vehicle distance control device and the pulsed light transmitter output according to the operation of the indicator switch. With increasing the light output transmission of, is provided with a the light-sending output decreasing means for decreasing the transmission optical power of the pulsed light to the first light transmitting output according to the non-operation of the instruction switch.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle travel control device according to the first aspect, wherein a short-range sensor for detecting a short-range object located in front of the host vehicle is provided, When the short distance sensor detects a short distance object, the light output of pulsed light is reduced to the first light output.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle travel control device according to the first or second aspect, further comprising a brake sensor for detecting a brake operation of the vehicle.
The light transmission output increasing / decreasing means reduces the light transmission output of the pulsed light to the first light transmission output when the brake sensor detects the operation of the brake.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle traveling control device, which is a laser radar device for transmitting pulsed light and receiving reflected pulsed light to detect an inter-vehicle distance from a host vehicle to a preceding vehicle. A vehicle speed control device that detects a vehicle speed of the host vehicle and an inter-vehicle distance control device that adjusts the vehicle speed so as to maintain an appropriate inter-vehicle distance based on the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed. The light transmission output is at least a relatively low first light transmission output for detecting a short-distance object located in front of the own vehicle, and at least a relatively high second light transmission output used for controlling the inter-vehicle distance. The output of the pulsed light is switched to the second output, and the wiper switch for operating the wiper device arranged on the windshield of the host vehicle and the light output of the pulsed light are output in response to the operation of the wiper switch. With increasing the sending output is obtained by providing a light-sending output decreasing means for decreasing the light output transmission of the pulsed light in response to the non-operation of the wiper switch to the first light transmitting output.

[0017]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the inter-vehicle distance control device is not operating, for example, when driving in an urban area, the light output of the laser radar device is set to a relatively low first light output and the laser output is set to a relatively low value. Prevent the danger when the pulsed light of the beam is applied to pedestrians.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, when a short-distance object such as a pedestrian is detected, the light output of the laser radar device is immediately set to the first light output and the pulsed light of the laser beam is set. Surely reduce the risk of being hit by pedestrians.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the operation of the brake is detected due to the abnormal approach of the vehicle in front, the light output of the laser radar device is set to the first light output, and the light output of the laser beam is set. The risk when the occupant of the vehicle ahead is irradiated with the pulsed light is further reliably suppressed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the light output of the laser radar device is set to the second light output only when the wiper switch is operated in rainy weather, and the pulsed light of the laser beam is emitted. Surely suppress the risk of being radiated to occupants or pedestrians in front of the vehicle.

[0021]

【Example】

Example 1. (Corresponding to Claim 1) Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG.
1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a laser radar device mounted on a vehicle, which transmits a pulsed light L1 and a reflected pulsed light L2.
Is received to detect the inter-vehicle distance from the own vehicle to the vehicle in front (not shown).

The laser radar device 1 includes a light-transmitting section 2 including a laser diode for transmitting pulsed light L1, a light-receiving section 3 for receiving reflected pulsed light L2 from an obstacle such as a vehicle ahead, and pulsed light. The distance detection unit 4 detects the inter-vehicle distance D based on the light transmission timing of L1 and the light reception timing of the reflected pulsed light L2.

The light-transmitting unit 2 in the laser radar device 1 uses the light-transmitting output of the pulsed light L1 as a relatively low first light-transmitting output for detecting a short-distance object located in front of the host vehicle. , And a relatively high second light transmission output for use in controlling at least the inter-vehicle distance.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an inter-vehicle distance warning device composed of, for example, a buzzer, which is activated when the inter-vehicle distance D detected by the laser radar device 1 becomes smaller than a predetermined value, and a vehicle in front of the own vehicle is in danger. The driver is notified that the area has been approached. Reference numeral 6 denotes a vehicle speed detection device that detects the vehicle speed V of the host vehicle.

Reference numeral 7 is an inter-vehicle distance control device that adjusts the vehicle speed V so as to maintain an appropriate inter-vehicle distance based on the inter-vehicle distance D and the vehicle speed V, and 8 is an accelerator that is drive-controlled by the inter-vehicle distance control device 7 to accelerate the vehicle speed V. , 9 are brakes that are driven and controlled by the inter-vehicle distance control device 7 to reduce the vehicle speed V,
The above configuration is similar to that of the conventional device.

Reference numeral 10 denotes an instruction switch that is selectively operated by the driver to enable the function of the inter-vehicle distance control device 7 when operated. Reference numeral 11 denotes a light-transmitting power increasing / decreasing unit that controls the light-transmitting unit 2 in the laser radar device 1 in response to the operation of the instruction switch 10, and the pulsed light L1 output from the light-transmitting unit 2
The light output of is switched.

The light output adjusting means 11 is an instruction switch 1
The light transmission output of the pulsed light L1 is increased to the second light transmission output when the operation is 0, and the light transmission output of the pulsed light L1 is decreased to the first light transmission output when the instruction switch 10 is not operated. Further, the light-transmitting output increasing / decreasing means 11 can be configured by a changeover switch that works in conjunction with the instruction switch 10 when the light-transmitting output of the pulsed light L1 is switched in two steps, for example.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The laser radar device 1 transmits the pulsed light L1 from the light transmitting unit 2 toward the front of the own vehicle, and receives the reflected pulsed light L2 from the preceding vehicle (obstacle) by the light receiving unit 3. Distance detection unit 4 in the laser radar device 1
Detects the inter-vehicle distance D from the own vehicle to the preceding vehicle based on the propagation delay times of transmission and reception of the pulsed light L1 and the reflected pulsed light L2, and as inter-vehicle distance information, the inter-vehicle distance warning device 5 and the inter-vehicle distance control device 7 To enter.

The inter-vehicle distance warning device 5 detects that the inter-vehicle distance D becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value (for example, about 30 m) in the dangerous area.
An alarm is generated by voice or display to notify the driver of the approaching state of the vehicle ahead.

At this time, assuming that the host vehicle is traveling in the city and the instruction switch 10 is not operated, the inter-vehicle distance control device 7 is not operating. Further, by the control of the light-transmitting output increasing / decreasing unit 11, the light-transmitting output of the pulsed light L1 from the light-transmitting unit 2 is low enough to detect a short-distance object ahead of at least about several tens of meters. Set to optical output. Therefore, since the safe pulsed light L1 is transmitted at a low level, even if the pulsed light L1 is radiated to the human eye, the risk is surely suppressed.

On the other hand, when the driver operates the instruction switch 10 while the vehicle is traveling on a highway, the inter-vehicle distance control device 7 is activated by an operation command from the instruction switch 10 and the inter-vehicle distance control device 7 is operated. Means that the inter-vehicle distance D from the own vehicle to the vehicle in front is a predetermined value in the safety area (for example, 40 m
The vehicle speed V is adjusted so that the vehicle speed V is maintained.

At the same time when the instruction switch 10 is operated,
The light-transmitting output increasing / decreasing means 11 controls the light-transmitting unit 2 to increase the light-transmitting output of the pulsed light L1 to the second light-transmitting output, thereby facilitating detection of the preceding vehicle and the inter-vehicle distance D. The light transmission output of the pulsed light L1 at this time can be set to such an extent that the detection capability of the front vehicle can be secured even in rainy weather, but there is no passerby and the inter-vehicle distance D to the front vehicle is set. Since it is also large, there is no particular danger.

As described above, since the low-power pulse light L1 is transmitted when the inter-vehicle distance control device 7 is not in operation, it is possible to reliably prevent a pedestrian or an occupant in front of the vehicle. In addition, the pulsed light L1 with increased light output is
It is dangerous for human eyes to irradiate at a short distance of about 5 m or less, but since the inter-vehicle distance D with the front vehicle is kept at a predetermined value (about 40 m) in the safety area, the occupant of the front vehicle is irradiated. Even if it is done, there is no problem and it is safe.

Embodiment 2 FIG. (Corresponding to claim 2) In the first embodiment, the inter-vehicle distance control when traveling on a highway is assumed, and the inter-vehicle distance control device 7 keeps an appropriate inter-vehicle distance of about 40 m so that the instruction switch 10 can operate. In response to the operation, the light output of the pulsed light L1 was increased,
For example, when the inter-vehicle distance control is performed in an urban area where there are many short-distance pedestrians, the high-power pulsed light L1 is easily emitted to the eyes of pedestrians, which is dangerous. Therefore, when a short-distance object is detected, the pulsed light L1
It is desirable to immediately reduce the light output power of the first light output power to the first light output power.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention in which the light output of the pulsed light L1 is reduced when a short-distance object is detected, and 1 to 11 are the same as those described above. is there. Reference numeral 12 denotes a short-range sensor provided in front of the own vehicle separately from the laser radar device 1. The short-range sensor 12 includes, for example, an ultrasonic distance sensor or the like other than the laser radar, and detects a short-range object located in front of the own vehicle by the laser radar. It detects before the device 1 detects.

In this case, when the short-distance sensor 12 detects a short-distance object such as a pedestrian, the light-transmitting output increasing / decreasing means 11 controls the light-transmitting unit 2 in the laser radar device 1 to emit the pulsed light L1. The light output is immediately reduced to the first light output. Therefore, even if the pedestrian or the like in the short distance is irradiated with the pulsed light L1, it is safe because the pulsed light L1 has a low output, and the risk to the pedestrian and the occupant in front of the vehicle is further suppressed.

Example 3. (Corresponding to Claim 3) FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention in which the light transmission output of the pulsed light L1 is reduced when an abnormal approach to a vehicle ahead is detected. 11 are the same as above. Reference numeral 13 is a brake sensor for detecting the operation of the brake 9 of the own vehicle, and the brake operation detection signal B of the brake sensor 13 is inputted to the light transmission output increasing / decreasing means 11.

In this case, when the brake sensor 13 detects the operation of the brake 9, the light-transmitting output increasing / decreasing means 11
In response to the brake operation detection signal B, the light output of the pulsed light L1 is reduced. That is, when the brake 9 is operated by the inter-vehicle distance control device 7 during the inter-vehicle distance control operation, or when the brake 9 is operated by the driver, the host vehicle is abnormally approaching the preceding vehicle or the like. , The high-output pulsed light L1 is not emitted to the occupant of the vehicle ahead. The configuration of FIG. 3 (embodiment 3) can be made to overlap with the configuration of FIG. 2 (embodiment 2).

Embodiment 4 FIG. (Corresponding to Claim 4) Furthermore, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the danger in rainy weather in which it is necessary to increase the light transmission output of the pulsed light L1 is not particularly taken into consideration, but the pulsed light L1 is used only when traveling in rainy weather. It is desirable to increase the light output power of the. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention in which the light output of the pulsed light L1 is increased only in the case of rain, and 1 to 11 are the same as those described above.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a wiper switch operated by the driver, which operates a wiper device (not shown) arranged on the windshield of the vehicle and inputs an operation signal to the light transmission output adjusting means 11.

In this case, the light-transmitting-power increasing / decreasing means 11 operates in the inter-vehicle distance control state in which the instruction switch 10 is operated.
The rainy weather is detected in response to the operation of the wiper switch 14, and the light transmission output of the pulsed light L1 is set to the second value only when it is raining.
Increase the light output of. The light-transmitting output of the pulsed light L1 at this time may be set higher than the second light-transmitting output in the above-described embodiment, and is set so that the preceding vehicle can be detected even in the rain.

Therefore, when the wiper switch 12 and the instruction switch 10 are combined as shown in FIG. 4, the wiper switch 12 is not operated and the instruction switch 10 is not operated.
When only one is operated, the second light transmission output may be set lower than the second light transmission output in rainy weather, and the light transmission output may be switched in three stages.

The light output adjusting means 11 sends the pulsed light L1 when the wiper switch 14 is not operated and when the instruction switch 10 is not operated even if the wiper switch 14 is operated. The light output will be set to the first light output.

As a result, the output power of the pulsed light L1 is increased only in rainy weather when the high-powered pulsed light L1 is required,
In other operating conditions, the light output of the pulsed light L1 is reduced, so that the risk of the pulsed light L1 being emitted to the human eye is significantly reduced. The configuration of FIG. 4 (Embodiment 4) can be duplicated with the configuration of FIG. 2 (Embodiment 2) or FIG. 3 (Embodiment 3).

Further, the indicator switch 10 is omitted, and the light-transmitting output adjusting means 11 responds only to the wiper switch 14, and the light-transmitting output is divided into the first light-transmitting output and the second light-transmitting output in rainy weather. You may make it switch to two steps. Also in this case, the reliability of the rainy weather determination can be improved and the risk can be suppressed based on the wiper switch 14, and the same effect as described above can be obtained.

[0046]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a laser radar device for transmitting a pulsed light and receiving a reflected pulsed light to detect an inter-vehicle distance from a vehicle to a vehicle ahead, A vehicle speed control device that includes a vehicle speed detection device that detects a vehicle speed of an own vehicle, and an inter-vehicle distance control device that adjusts the vehicle speed so as to maintain an appropriate inter-vehicle distance based on the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed. The light output is at least a relatively low first light transmission output for detecting a short-distance object located in front of the host vehicle, and at least a relatively high second light transmission output for use in controlling the inter-vehicle distance. And an instruction switch that is selectively operated to enable the function of the inter-vehicle distance control device,
The pulsed light output is set to the second value according to the operation of the instruction switch.
And a light-transmitting power increasing / decreasing means for decreasing the light-transmitting power of the pulsed light to the first light-transmitting power according to the non-operation of the instruction switch, and controlling the inter-vehicle distance when driving in an urban area. When the device is not operating, the light output of the laser radar device is set to a relatively low first light output, so that the pulsed light of the laser beam is applied to a pedestrian or an occupant of a vehicle ahead. In this case, there is an effect that a vehicular travel control device that can prevent the danger in the case is obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a short-distance sensor for detecting a short-distance object located in front of the host vehicle is provided, and the light transmission output increasing / decreasing means is a short-distance sensor. When a short-distance object is detected, the pulsed light transmission output is immediately reduced to the first light transmission output, so that the danger of the inter-vehicle distance control during non-operation can be prevented and the inter-vehicle distance control can be performed. It is possible to obtain the vehicle travel control device that surely suppresses the risk when the pedestrian or the like at a short distance is irradiated with the laser beam during the operation of.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, a brake sensor for detecting the operation of the brake of the host vehicle is provided, and the light-transmitting output increasing / decreasing means uses the brake sensor as a brake. When the motion is detected, the light output of the pulsed light is reduced to the first light output, so that the danger during the non-operation of the inter-vehicle distance control is prevented and the inter-vehicle distance control is in operation. There is an effect that a vehicle traveling control device can be obtained in which the risk when the occupant or the like of the preceding vehicle that has abnormally approached the vehicle is irradiated with the laser beam is more surely suppressed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a laser radar device for transmitting pulsed light and receiving reflected pulsed light to detect the inter-vehicle distance from the vehicle to the vehicle ahead, and the vehicle speed of the vehicle. In the vehicle travel control device, which includes a vehicle speed detection device that detects, and an inter-vehicle distance control device that adjusts the vehicle speed so as to maintain an appropriate inter-vehicle distance based on the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed, the light output of pulsed light is At least a relatively low first light transmission output for detecting a short-distance object located in front of the host vehicle and a relatively high second light transmission output for use in controlling at least an inter-vehicle distance are switched. At the same time, the wiper switch for operating the wiper device arranged on the windshield of the vehicle and the output power of the pulsed light are increased to the second output power according to the operation of the wiper switch. In addition, a laser light output increasing / decreasing means for reducing the light transmission output of the pulsed light to the first light transmission output according to the non-operation of the wiper switch is provided, and the laser radar device is provided only when the wiper switch is operated in rainy weather. Is set to the second light transmission output, it is possible to reliably judge rainy weather and reliably suppress the risk when a pedestrian or an occupant of a vehicle ahead is irradiated with a laser beam. There is an effect that the traveling control device for a vehicle can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 laser radar device, 2 light transmitter, 3 light receiver, 4
Distance detection unit, 6 vehicle speed detection device, 7 inter-vehicle distance control device, 9 brake, 10 instruction switch, 11 light output increasing / decreasing means, 12 short distance sensor, 13 brake sensor, 14 wiper switch, B brake operation detection signal, D inter-vehicle distance Distance, L1 pulsed light, L2 reflected pulsed light, V vehicle speed.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A laser radar device that transmits pulsed light and receives reflected pulsed light to detect an inter-vehicle distance from a vehicle to a vehicle ahead, a vehicle speed detection device that detects a vehicle speed of the vehicle, In a vehicular travel control device that includes an inter-vehicle distance control device that adjusts the vehicle speed so as to maintain an appropriate inter-vehicle distance based on the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed, the light transmission output of the pulsed light is at least that of the host vehicle. A relatively low first light transmission output for detecting a short-distance object located in front is switched to a relatively high second light transmission output for use in controlling the inter-vehicle distance, and a selection is made. Indicator switch that is manually operated to enable the function of the inter-vehicle distance control device, and the transmission output of the pulsed light is changed to the second transmission output in accordance with the operation of the instruction switch. A traveling control device for a vehicle, which is provided with a light transmission output increasing / decreasing means for increasing the transmission light output of the pulsed light to the first light transmission output according to non-operation of the instruction switch. . 2. A short-distance sensor for detecting a short-distance object located in front of the own vehicle is provided, and the light-transmission output increasing / decreasing means is configured to output the pulse when the short-distance sensor detects the short-distance object. The light transmission output of light is set to the first light transmission output.
Vehicle travel control device. 3. A brake sensor for detecting the operation of the brake of the own vehicle is provided, and the light-transmitting-output increasing / decreasing means outputs the light-transmitting output of the pulsed light when the brake sensor detects the operation of the brake. 3. The vehicle travel control device according to claim 1, wherein the first light transmission output is reduced. 4. A laser radar device that transmits pulsed light and receives reflected pulsed light to detect an inter-vehicle distance from a vehicle to a vehicle ahead, a vehicle speed detection device that detects a vehicle speed of the vehicle, In a vehicular travel control device that includes an inter-vehicle distance control device that adjusts the vehicle speed so as to maintain an appropriate inter-vehicle distance based on the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed, the light transmission output of the pulsed light is at least that of the host vehicle. While being switched to a relatively low first light transmission output for detecting a short-distance object located in front, and a relatively high second light transmission output used for controlling at least the inter-vehicle distance, A wiper switch for operating a wiper device arranged on the windshield of the vehicle; and a light transmission output of the pulsed light in response to the operation of the wiper switch. A vehicle traveling characterized by including a light transmission output increasing / decreasing means for increasing the output and reducing the light transmission output of the pulsed light to the first light transmission output in accordance with non-operation of the wiper switch. Control device.