JPS6149126B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a constant speed traveling device for an automobile.

For example, constant speed driving devices have already been developed that automatically control the vehicle speed to a constant speed without the driver operating the accelerator pedal, such as when driving on a highway.

A conventional constant speed traveling device is, for example, as shown in Fig. 1, in which a pulse generator B for detecting vehicle speed is attached to a transmission A, and the pulses of this pulse generator B are input to a computer C to control a control relay. D, which operates actuator E to control the opening degree of the throttle valve of carburetor F, thereby controlling the rotation of engine G. The operation of the speed control system H, which consists of the pulse generator B, computer C, control relay D, actuator E, etc., is controlled by the control set switch I.
This is done by manually operating the control set switch and inputting an ON signal of the control set switch to the computer C. J is a control power supply, and K is a cancel circuit of the speed control system H.

As mentioned above, in the conventional device, the operation of the speed control system H is performed manually, which makes the setting operation cumbersome, and the constant speed running device is rarely used and is not fully effective. The current situation is that this has not been achieved.

In addition, in order to deal with the above-mentioned problems, a vehicle has been developed in which a constant speed traveling device is automatically activated in conjunction with the driver's release of both the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal. However, if you do this, even when you release the accelerator and brake pedals to apply the engine brake, the vehicle will automatically switch to constant speed driving, and in the end coasting with only the engine brake applied will no longer be possible. There is a problem of getting used to it.

The present invention improves the conventional control set switch I, and automatically controls the speed control system H when predetermined driving conditions are satisfied.
By configuring the vehicle to operate, the speed control system can be easily activated under normal driving conditions, not only on expressways but also on ordinary roads, thereby increasing the frequency of use of the constant speed system. be.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In Fig. 2, L is an example of the automatic setting circuit of the control set switch I in the present invention, and 1 is a vehicle speed detector that converts the vehicle speed into pulses using a pulse generator and converts the pulses into constant width pulses using a one-shot multi-circuit. configured to convert. This constant width pulse is divided into predetermined time intervals, and the number of pulses in one section and the number of pulses in the next section are respectively replaced with voltage by the DA converters 2 and 2', and each is connected to a capacitor or the like. memory device 3,
It is stored and memorized in 3'. Then, the comparator 4 compares the two voltages, and if there is no difference between the two, a comparison signal is generated, the control set switch I is activated, and the speed control system H begins to operate.

The predetermined time divisions in the above operation are performed using the pulses of the reference pulse generator 5 as a reference. That is, the predetermined range of pulses generated by the reference pulse generator 5 is
As shown in the figure, it is divided into four sections n, n+1, n+2, n+3, which are considered as one cycle, and the first section n and the next section n+1 are set by the detection time setting device 6 to detect the vehicle speed Vn+.
1 detection time. The next section n+2 is set as the time for comparing the vehicle speed Vn and Vn+1 in the sections n and n+1 using the comparison time setter 7, and the last section n+3 is set as the time for comparing the vehicle speed Vn and Vn+1 in the sections n and n+1.
is activated to erase all vehicle speed memorization and comparison signals in sections n and n+1.

When the above cycle is completed, in the next cycle, the vehicle speeds of the first section and the next section are similarly detected and memorized, the two are compared in the third section, and finally they are erased, and this operation is repeated further. .

The vehicle speed detection time (the time in sections n and n+1 in FIG. 3) can be arbitrarily set using the detection time setting device 6, but a practical value of several seconds to more than ten seconds is practical.

With the above configuration, if the vehicle speed is constant during the vehicle speed detection time, that is, the interval n and n+1 in FIG. Even if the driver takes his or her foot off the accelerator pedal, the vehicle can still travel at the current speed. The fact that the control set switch I has been activated is indicated by, for example, the lighting of an indicator lamp, so that the driver can easily recognize the fact that the control set switch I has been activated. It is possible to enter constant speed driving.

It goes without saying that constant speed running can also be entered by operating the manual set switch as in the conventional case.

The operation of the speed control system H is stopped when a cancel circuit K (see FIG. 1) is activated, for example, when the driver depresses the accelerator pedal or activates a braking device.

In addition to the circuits shown in the embodiments shown in Figs. 2 and 3 above, the automatic set circuit L for determining whether the automobile is running at a constant speed for a certain period of time may be, for example, a DC generator that generates an output according to the vehicle speed. The rate of change in vehicle speed is detected by differentiating the output of the vehicle speed sensor, which consists of A well-known Schmitt Trigger circuit with a falling characteristic is used to detect whether the vehicle speed is within a range that can be considered as a constant speed (a range below a threshold value), and the Schmitt Trigger circuit's falling signal is used to detect Using a well-known timer circuit that starts operating in response to a falling signal from the Schmitt Trigger circuit and is set by a rising signal, if the timer circuit starts operating in response to a falling signal from the Schmitt Trigger circuit and remains in that state for a set period of time, the timer circuit is set. The timer circuit issues a signal to activate the speed control system H, and if the rising signal of the Schmitt trigger circuit is issued within the set time after the timer circuit starts operating, the timer circuit is reset and the next stop trigger circuit is activated. It goes without saying that it is also possible to employ a so-called analog type automatic set circuit which is in a standby state until a falling signal is issued.

However, if an analog automatic set circuit like the one described above is adopted, for example, when electrical noise enters the differential circuit, it is difficult to determine whether it is due to a change in vehicle speed or just a single electrical noise. Therefore, the timer circuit repeats resetting and setting each time, and therefore there are few opportunities to determine that the speed is constant for a certain period of time, and there are fewer opportunities to use the automatic constant speed device.

On the other hand, digital automatic setting circuits such as those shown in the embodiments of Figures 2 and 3 look at the average vehicle speed within a certain time period, so transient changes in vehicle speed or electrical noise are averaged out. This does not significantly affect the determination of a constant speed for a certain period of time, and there are more opportunities to use an automatic speed constant device. The automatic set circuit is more effective.

As mentioned above, in the present invention, when the vehicle is driven at a constant speed for a certain period of time, the state is detected and the speed control system is automatically activated to allow the vehicle to travel at a constant speed. There is no hassle of switching to high-speed driving, and constant-speed driving can be easily performed anytime and anywhere without interfering with engine braking operation, and it is expected that the range and frequency of use of constant-speed driving devices will expand. This is extremely effective.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a general constant speed traveling device, and FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of operating time divisions of the circuit of FIG. 2. A...Transmission, F...Carburizer, G...Engine, H...Speed control system, I...
...Control set switch, J...Power, K
...Cancel circuit, L...Automatic set circuit, 1
...Vehicle speed detector, 2,2'...D-A converter,
3, 3'... Memory device, 4... Comparator, 5... Reference pulse generator, 6... Detection time setter, 7... Comparison time setter, 8... Extinguishing time setter, 9... Eraser.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an automobile equipped with a speed control system that detects the vehicle speed and automatically controls the opening of the throttle valve to drive at a constant speed, when the vehicle is driven at a constant speed for a certain period of time, the above speed is automatically adjusted. A constant speed driving device for an automobile, characterized in that it is provided with an automatic setting circuit for setting a control system. 2. In a vehicle equipped with a speed control system that detects the vehicle speed and automatically controls the opening of the throttle valve to drive at a constant speed, divide the predetermined time into four sections and adjust the vehicle speed in each of the first and second sections. is detected, the speeds of both vehicles are compared in the third section, and if there is no difference between the two vehicle speeds, a signal is issued to set the speed control system, and in the fourth section, the comparison signal is erased, and this cycle is repeated. 1. A constant speed running device for an automobile, characterized in that it is provided with an automatic set circuit configured as follows. 3. A patent characterized in that vehicle speed detection in the automatic set circuit is performed by a pulse generator that generates pulses according to the vehicle speed and a one-shot multi-circuit that converts the pulses of the pulse generator into pulses of a constant width. A constant speed traveling device for a motor vehicle according to claim 2. 4 The detected vehicle speeds are converted into voltages and stored, and the voltages are compared and if there is no difference between the two vehicle speeds, a signal is generated to activate the speed control system. 3. The constant speed running device for a motor vehicle according to item 1 or 3.