JPS5881840A - Controller of distance between cars - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To safely perform running of a vehicle, by changing the detecting direction of a distance sensor correspondingly to a change of angle in a steering wheel, in such a manner that the detecting direction of the distance sensor is aligned to a steering direction of the vehicle, and detecting an obstacle in the curved section of a road. CONSTITUTION:A controller 10 of the distance between cars is equipped with a distance sensor 11 changeable with a detecting direction, car speed sensor 12 detecting a car speed of an automobile, a signal processor 13 of said each sensor 11, 12, and a wheel direction sensor 16 detecting a driving direction of the automobile. The signal processor 13 commands a change of detecting direction of the distance sensor 11 in accordance with an output signal of the wheel direction sensor 16, while performs calculation on the basis of output signals of the distance sensor 11 and the car speed sensor 12, to operate an accelerator 14 or brake 15. The wheel direction sensor 16 may be used with a sensor, detecting, for instance, a rotary angle of a steering unit, or the displacement, transmitted to a wheel through a gear from the steering unit, may be detected.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to an inter-vehicle distance control device.

A conventional inter-vehicle distance control device, as shown in FIG.
A distance measuring device 1 using microwave radar or light measures the distance and relative speed to the preceding vehicle, and a signal processing device 3 uses the signal from the vehicle speed sensor 2 to measure the vehicle speed of the vehicle in question. The accelerator 4 or brake 5 is operated to maintain an appropriate distance between vehicles.

With conventional devices like this, there is no problem when driving in a straight line, but when the road is covered with cars! Although the vehicle is located on the roadside in a section where the vehicle is located, the vehicle may detect rails, road signs, standing trees, buildings, etc., and oncoming vehicles, so there is a risk that the driver will judge that there is an obstacle nearby and apply sudden braking, creating a dangerous situation. It was thought to invite

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an inter-vehicle distance control device that eliminates the misunderstandings at curves, etc., which are the drawbacks of conventional devices, by providing a function to detect obstacles in the direction of travel of the vehicle rather than in front of the vehicle body. Our goal is to provide the following.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the inter-vehicle distance control device of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

Inter-vehicle distance control device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, No. 2
As shown in the figure, a distance measuring device or sensor 11 that can change the detection direction, a vehicle speed sensor 12 that detects the vehicle speed of the vehicle, and a signal processing device 13 that processes the signals of each of the sensors 11 and 12. , and a wheel direction sensor 16 that detects the traveling direction of the vehicle. This signal processing device 13 also receives the output signal from the wheel direction sensor 16, and instructs the sensor 11 to change the detection direction of the distance sensor 11 in accordance with this signal. Then, this signal processing device 13 calculates an appropriate inter-vehicle distance and vehicle speed from the distance from the distance sensor 11 to the obstacle in the traveling direction, the relative speed, and the vehicle speed, and operates the accelerator 14 or brake 15.

Next, the operation of the inter-vehicle distance control device of the present invention will be explained.

When driving in a straight line, the system operates similarly to conventional systems to maintain the distance between the vehicle in front and the vehicle at an appropriate value depending on the vehicle speed. Since the stopping distance of a car increases in proportion to the square of the vehicle speed, it is better to set the inter-vehicle distance in proportion to the square of the vehicle speed. However, even if the distance between vehicles becomes shorter (for example, due to an interruption), if the relative speed is zero or the distance between vehicles is increasing, it is dangerous to apply sudden brakes, and gradually reduce the distance between vehicles. All you have to do is bring the distance closer to the appropriate value. Additionally, if the vehicle in front increases its speed and the distance between the vehicles increases beyond the appropriate value, it is sufficient to continue driving at a steady pace.

When driving on a curved section of the road, the conventional device detects an obstacle 18 in front of the vehicle 17, as shown in FIG. It treats this as a distance, and judges that the inter-vehicle distance is narrow and the relative speed is almost zero, and operates to widen the inter-vehicle distance, resulting in an extreme drop in vehicle speed.

As for the oncoming vehicle, if its relative speed exceeded that of the vehicle in question, there was a risk of a head-on collision. At this time, if there is information from the wheel direction sensor, it can be determined that the vehicle is traveling in a curved section and that there is no risk of a head-on collision. In addition, regarding obstacles on the roadside at a curve, it can be determined that they are not obstacles in the direction of travel based on the information from the wheel direction sensor, and there is no need to reduce the vehicle speed unnecessarily. The risk is high due to lack of information.

In the inter-vehicle distance control device 10 according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, since the detection direction of the distance sensor 11 is directed toward the wheels, an obstacle 18 existing on the roadside in the traveling direction of the vehicle 17 is detected in a curve section. However, this is detected as an obstacle on the road extension line in the direction of travel, and the distance is not far away, and as the car moves, the detection point also moves away at the same speed, so its relative speed is almost zero. ), the radius of curvature of the curve can be calculated from the distance to the obstacle, and since there are no other obstacles on the road in the direction of travel, it is possible to drive at a safe speed around the curve. If there is a preceding vehicle on the road, it will naturally indicate the correct inter-vehicle distance.

The wheel direction sensor in the inter-vehicle distance control device of the present invention is
For example, a sensor that detects the rotation angle of the steering device may be used, or a displacement amount transmitted from the steering device to the wheels via a gear may be detected.

The detection direction of the distance sensor 11 is controlled by the wheel direction sensor 1.
The distance sensor 11 may be mechanically coupled to the steering device 20 as shown in FIG. 5 to rotate the distance sensor 11, or as shown in FIG. The distance sensor 11 may be rotated through the actuator 21 after the signal from the wheel direction sensor 16 is processed by the signal processing device 13 so that the distance sensor 11 is rotated.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, an element 22 having the function of deflecting light by applying a voltage, such as a strong electrolyte, is installed in the optical system 23 of the distance sensor, that is, the measuring device 11, Obstacles in the traveling direction can be detected by deflecting the light in the direction indicated by the dotted line using the signal from the signal processing device 13, for example. Further, by shifting the position of the photodetector or light emitter of the distance measuring device from the optical axis, the detection direction can be substantially changed. As an example of this, a light-emitting type distance/knee measuring device, ie, sensor 11 will be explained with reference to FIG.

The light emitter 24 is normally located on the orthogonal optical axis of the light emitting optical system 25, and the light receiver 26 is also located on the orthogonal optical axis of the light receiving optical system 27. Now, when a signal is issued to detect the right side of the wheel by the output of the wheel direction sensor 16, the light emitter and the light receiver move to the eighth position.
Move to the left as indicated by the dotted line in the figure, and move to the position [24'] indicated by the dotted line.

Come to 26'. Therefore, the direction in which light is emitted and received is the direction shown by the dotted line. Although there are several concrete ways to change the detection direction of the distance measuring device 11, any means may be used as long as it can detect obstacles in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

As explained above, according to the inter-vehicle distance control device according to the present invention, obstacles in the traveling direction can be detected even in curved sections of the road, and the vehicle can travel safely.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional inter-vehicle distance control device, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the inter-vehicle distance control device of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional inter-vehicle distance control device. An explanatory diagram showing a state in which an obstacle is detected in a curve section, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 3 explaining a vehicle equipped with the inter-vehicle distance control device of the present invention, and FIG. An explanatory diagram showing an example of how the distance sensor is installed in the distance control device, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another example of the detection direction control method of the front l-pi distance sensor, and FIGS.
The figures are a block diagram and an explanatory diagram showing a direction control method when a device including a light emitter is used as a distance sensor. 10... Inter-vehicle distance control device, 11... Distance sensor,
12...Vehicle speed sensor, 13...Signal processing device, 16
...Wheel direction sensor. Note that the same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or equivalent parts. Agent Shin Kuzuno −

Claims (1)

[Claims] a distance sensor whose detection direction is variable; a vehicle speed sensor; a signal processing device that processes the signals of the distance sensor and the vehicle speed sensor and outputs an output for controlling the inter-vehicle distance; A control device that changes the following distance in response to a changing angle of a steering wheel to match the direction.