JPS60222329A - Speed controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To aim at improvements in controllability and reduce the space required for a device as well as to make the fine adjustment of an indicated speed easily come to fruition, by letting an automatic speed-up switch of the constant speed running device take a function for a tap-up switch in addition. CONSTITUTION:In case of a device which is provided with a tap-up function at the time of desiring a minute speed-up during constant speed running, when time, during which an automatic accelerating switch 3 is being turned on in order to make an automatic speed-up switch serve as a tap-up switch in combination, is shorter than a specified period of time, it is so judged that a constant speed running device control part 1 demands the tap-up function, and in contrast with this, when longer is the case, it is judged that the control part 1 demands an automatic speed-up function the other way. Therefore, it will merely do that the constant speed running control part 1 times the on-time of the automatic accelerating switch 3 and selects a control function in conformity with a function criterion, so that the tap-up switch and the automatic speed-up switch are combinedly used, thus the number of switches is reducible. The figure 4 is of an automatic decelerating switch serving the same function.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a speed control method for maintaining a constant running speed of an automobile, and particularly relates to a speed control method that allows a set speed to be changed.

[Prior art]

In general, constant-speed traveling devices operate regardless of changes in road gradient.
Speed instructed by the driver (hereinafter referred to as "instructed speed")
A device that controls the temperature to maintain it constant. Then, the driver sets the commanded speed by operating a switch attached to, for example, the center of the steering wheel, the tip of the direction indicator lever, or the like. When canceling the ti control, the control can be canceled from the moment the pedal is depressed by using a switch that is linked to the brake pedal or the clutch pedal. Considering the case where, for example, only a set switch is provided as a switch for setting the speed, the driver depresses the accelerator pedal until the desired speed is reached during constant speed driving. When the speed is reached, the set switch is pressed and the speed is stored as the command speed. In a constant speed traveling device having only such a set switch, the following operation is required to change the commanded speed while traveling at a constant speed.

In other words, if you wish to set a higher speed as the new commanded speed (from the original commanded speed), press the accelerator pedal, increase the speed, and press the set switch when the new commanded speed is reached.1 : Good behavior. However, if you wish to set a new commanded speed that is lower than the original commanded speed, step on the brake pedal, release the control, reduce the speed, and when the new commanded speed is reached, This is done by pressing the set switch.

Therefore, in a constant speed traveling device having only a set switch, it is extremely complicated to change the commanded speed, and it is difficult to make small changes.

Therefore, a conventional constant speed traveling device that eases the above-mentioned complicated table operations and allows minute changes in the indicated speed will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, 1 is a constant speed traveling device control unit, 2 is a throttle valve gas, a is an automatic speed increase switch, 4 is an automatic deceleration switch, 5 is a tap-up switch, and 6 is a tap-down switch. ). Note that a speed sensor for detecting vehicle speed is not shown in the figure.

With such a configuration, operations for changing the commanded speed during constant speed driving will be described. When the automatic speed increase switch 3 is turned on, the speed of the automobile is increased at a constant acceleration (automatic speed increase function), and the vehicle speed when the automatic speed increase switch 3 is turned off is stored as the commanded speed. Therefore, the driver can increase the speed without depressing the accelerator pedal, and can easily change the commanded speed. Further, when the automatic deceleration switch 4 is turned on, the vehicle is in the same state as when the so-called engine brake is activated, and the vehicle decelerates accordingly, and the vehicle speed when the automatic deceleration switch 4 is turned off is stored as the commanded speed. Therefore, the driver can decelerate the vehicle without pressing the brake pedal, and can easily change the commanded speed.

Furthermore, the tap-up switch 5 or the tap-down switch 6 may be used for slight changes in the indicated speed. In other words, for example, 1m1m/
If you want to change to a higher IZ instruction speed, just turn on the tap-up switch 5 once (tap-up function). Therefore, in order to set N Ila / H higher, N
All you have to do is turn on 1 Pl.

Conversely, IKm/I (if you want to change to a lower commanded speed, you only need to turn on the tap-down switch 6 once (tap-down function); therefore, to similarly set N b / H low, turn it on N times. It would be a good thing to do.

In this way, by using the tap-up switch 5 and the tap-down switch 6 together to change the indicated speed,
This allows the driver to easily change the commanded speed desired by the driver, and is extremely effective when the vehicle speed needs to be slightly changed in order to maintain a constant distance from the vehicle in front.

However, providing the tap-up switch 5 and the tap-down switch 6 separately from the automatic speed increase switch 3 and automatic deceleration switch 4 results in an increase in the number of switches. Since these switches are usually arranged in one place, if the driver operates the switch at the same time as the steering wheel, he or she may accidentally operate another switch. Furthermore, since the vehicle interior is already equipped with a wide variety of switches, it would be structurally unreasonable and economically unreasonable to provide as many as four independent switches for constant speed operation. ineffective.

[Summary of the invention]

The invention of O was made in order to eliminate the drawbacks of the conventional ones as described above, and it provides an automatic speed increase switch with the function of a one-tap-up switch, and an automatic deceleration switch that also has the function of a tap-down switch. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a speed control method that improves operability, reduces space requirements, and easily realizes fine adjustment of the indicated speed.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

In FIG. 2, the same parts as in FIG. 1 are indicated by the same symbols.

First, regarding the automatic acceleration switch 3 regarding speed increase control,
The control method will be described below. automatic acceleration switch 3
has two control functions, namely an automatic speed increase function and a tap-up function, but the present invention relates the selection of these two functions to the duration of time the switch is on, and executes the control of the selected function without delay. It is characterized by:

FIG. 3 shows a control flowchart when the automatic speed increase switch is turned on.

Even if the automatic acceleration switch 3 turns on/off during constant speed driving control, it is unclear to the constant speed driving device control unit 1 whether the tag-up function or the automatic speed increase function is being requested. be. Therefore, as a criterion for distinguishing between these functions, if the time T during which the automatic acceleration switch 3 is on is shorter than a certain fixed time TthN, it is determined that the tap-up function is requested; , it is determined that the automatic speed increase function is requested. When redeemed, if the condition of ToN≦Tth is satisfied, it is determined that a request for the tap-up function is specified, and if the condition of TON>Tth is satisfied, a request for the automatic speed increase function is specified. It is determined that the instruction is being given. Therefore, if the constant speed traveling device control unit 1 measures the ON time of the automatic acceleration switch 30 and selects the control function according to the function judgment criteria described above, the tag-up switch 5 in FIG. 1 can be combined with the automatic speed increase switch 3. and the number of switches can be reduced.

However, in order to select the control function according to the above-mentioned criteria, the determination cannot be made until at least the time Tth has elapsed since the automatic acceleration switch 3 was turned on.

Therefore, from when the automatic acceleration switch 3 is turned on until the time Tth, the constant speed traveling device control section 1 cannot output a control signal. This means that there is a delay of time Tth until the start of control in response to the driver's speed change request, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of control responsiveness. In other words, the driver expects the speed control to start from the moment the automatic acceleration switch 3 is turned on, but the fact that the control is always delayed by the time Tth goes against the driver's will and results in a poor operating feel. Become.

Therefore, in order to avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages, the constant speed traveling device control unit 1 outputs tap-up output for a certain period of time immediately after the automatic acceleration switch 3 is turned on, regardless of the driver's intention to select the function. As a result of this output to the throttle valve drive section 2, the engine output increases, and a feeling of acceleration is obtained without delay, resulting in a feeling of acceleration that is consistent with the driver's intention.

If it is determined that the tap-up function is requested according to the above-mentioned criteria, then, for example, 1b/H is added to the currently stored designated speed, and the re-storage is completed as a new designated speed.

Further, if it is determined that the automatic speed increase function is requested, a boost output is sent out, and a speed increase output is sent out until the automatic acceleration switch 3 is turned off.

Then, the vehicle speed when the automatic acceleration switch 3 is turned off is stored as a new commanded speed, and control is shifted to normal constant speed driving control. The function of the automatic acceleration switch 3 has been described above. FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example of the output signal waveform to the throttle valve drive section 2 from the time when the automatic acceleration switch 3 is turned on. FIG. 4 shows a waveform diagram when the tag-up function is determined, and FIG. 5 shows a waveform diagram when the automatic speed increase function is determined.

Next, it is necessary to explain the function 1 of the automatic deceleration 4, but if the above-mentioned output signal to be accelerated is replaced with an output signal to be decelerated, the processing contents are exactly the same, so the explanation will be omitted.

Note that FIG. 6 shows the output signal waveforms when it is determined to be the book tap-down function, and FIG. 7 shows the output signal waveforms when it is determined to be the automatic deceleration function.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, one switch has both a tap-up (down) function and an automatic speed increase (deceleration) function, so the number of switches can be reduced, and the switch can be turned on and off. At the same time, the control is performed so as to send out an increasing (decreasing) speed output for a certain period of time, which has the effect of being consistent with the driver's intention and improving control responsiveness.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional constant speed traveling device, FIG. 2 is a pull diagram of a constant speed traveling device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a control flowchart according to the present invention, and FIGS. FIG. 7 is a waveform diagram of the operation of the constant speed traveling device shown in FIG. 2. In the figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 6 Setting vehicle speed Procedure amendment (voluntary) 1. Display of the case Japanese Patent Application No. 59-76545 2, Name of the invention Speed control method 3, Person making the amendment Relationship to the case Patent applicant address 2-2-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Name Name
(601) Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Representative Hitoshi Katayama 4, Agent Postal code 105 Address 1-4-10-5 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo Column for detailed description of the invention in the specification subject to amendment fl) 6. Contents of amendment

Claims (1)

[Claims] The vehicle is equipped with a control switch having a first function of automatically increasing or decreasing the vehicle speed and a second function of increasing or decreasing the set vehicle speed by a predetermined value, and the control switch is turned on for a period of time or more that is set in advance. When the time comes, select the first function above,
A speed control method characterized in that when the above-mentioned period is not reached, a second function is selected and the vehicle speed of the above-mentioned automobile is controlled.