JPS62155141A - Constant speed traveling apparatus for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the speed increase operation of a set vehicle speed by providing means for increasing a vehicle speed in accordance with the operation of an accelerator pedal and performing a constant speed traveling when the operation of the accelerator pedal is released during increasing the speed. CONSTITUTION:A main switch 42 is turned on during traveling and set switch 43 is turned on or off when a desired vehicle speed is achieved, then the vehicle speed at that time point is stored as a set vehicle speed. Thereafter, an actuator 10 is operated so as to maintain the set vehicle speed and the opening of a throttle valve 20 is controlled to perform a constant speed traveling. When the opening of the throttle valve 20 is increased through the operation of an accelerator pedal and the vehicle speed is increased to a desired level, the operation of the accelerator pedal is released, thereby an idle switch 51 is turned on and the speed increase operation to the set level is completed. In such a manner, the speed increase operation can be performed only through an accelerator pedal.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a constant speed traveling device for a vehicle, and particularly to a constant speed traveling device having a speed increasing function that increases the vehicle speed while traveling at a constant speed. be.

[Conventional technology]

While driving at a constant speed, there are times when you want to increase the set vehicle speed.

At this time, by operating the accelerator switch,
During this operation, the opening of the throttle valve is increased to increase the vehicle speed, and the vehicle speed after the speed increase is controlled to be the new set vehicle speed, thereby achieving speed increase while continuing to drive at a constant speed. , is a so-called speed increase function. A constant speed traveling device having such a speed increasing function is used in some commercially available passenger cars, and is also disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-52918.

Furthermore, as a speed increase function while the vehicle is running at a constant speed, it is also possible to increase the speed by operating the accelerator pedal regardless of whether the vehicle is running at a constant speed. In this case, after increasing the speed, if the accelerator pedal is released, the vehicle returns to the original speed and continues constant speed driving. If you want to run at a constant speed after increasing the speed, you can achieve this by operating the ``Set'' switch once the speed has increased to the desired speed, just like when starting constant speed driving.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, as mentioned above, in the conventional device, the accelerator switch or the set switch had to be operated to increase the set vehicle speed.

When driving a vehicle, increasing speed is normally performed using the accelerator pedal, even when driving at a constant speed.
Operating the accelerator switch and set switch to increase speed felt unnatural and unfamiliar.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to increase the set vehicle speed by operating only the accelerator pedal.

[Means for solving problems]

Accordingly, the present invention is designed to increase the speed when the accelerator pedal is operated while driving at a constant speed, and then when the accelerator pedal operation is released, the vehicle continues to drive at the current speed. It is characterized by causing

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the constant speed traveling device for a vehicle of the present invention has a constant speed traveling control means that sets a desired vehicle speed to a set vehicle speed and operates an actuator to maintain the set vehicle speed. Controls the opening of the throttle valve.

On the other hand, an accelerator pedal sensor detects the operation of the accelerator pedal. The speed increasing means increases the vehicle speed in accordance with the operation when the accelerator pedal sensor detects an operation of the accelerator pedal during constant speed driving by the constant speed driving control means, and the resetting means increases the vehicle speed. When the accelerator pedal sensor detects release of the accelerator pedal during acceleration, the vehicle speed at that time is set as the set vehicle speed and the vehicle is driven at a constant speed.

[Effect]

As a result, if the accelerator pedal is operated while the vehicle is running at a constant speed, the speed will be increased, and if the accelerator pedal is released, the vehicle will continue to drive at the constant speed with the vehicle speed set at that time. Therefore, the set vehicle speed can be increased without any operation other than the accelerator pedal.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described using concave surfaces.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of one embodiment, where:
1O is an actuator, 3o is a control circuit, and 20 is an engine throttle valve. In the case of this embodiment, the opening degree of the throttle valve 20 is constantly controlled by the actuator 10, and the throttle valve 20 and the accelerator pedal (not shown) are not connected by a link, as in the -a engine. . Therefore, the actuator 10 is operated by the control circuit 3o even when the vehicle is not running at a constant speed, and controls the opening degree of the throttle valve 20.

The control circuit 30 is mainly composed of a microcomputer 31, and is connected to a vehicle speed sensor 41 via an I10 circuit 32.
, main switch 42, set switch 43, cancel switch 44, throttle sensor 45, and accelerator pedal sensor 5o.
A signal is output to the actuator 10 via the circuit 33.

The actuator 10 is a pneumatic or electric motor actuator, and is connected to control the opening degree of the throttle valve 20 when actuated by an output signal from the control circuit 30.

The throttle sensor 45 converts the opening degree of the throttle valve 20 into a voltage signal, and also the vehicle speed sensor 4
1 consists of a known reed switch that is turned on and off at a frequency proportional to the vehicle speed, and the on/off signal from the vehicle speed sensor 41 is converted into a voltage signal proportional to the vehicle speed by an F-V converter (not shown). . Further, the accelerator pedal sensor 50 includes a potentiometer 52 that converts the opening degree of the accelerator pedal into a voltage signal, and an idle switch 51 that is turned off when the accelerator pedal is operated and turned on when the accelerator pedal is not operated. In other words, the movable contact 50a is
By moving in the left-right direction in FIG. 2 with the operation of the accelerator pedal, it becomes a slider for the potentiometer 52 and a movable contact for the idle switch 51. Note that the illustrated position of the movable contact 50a is when the accelerator pedal is released.

The voltage signals from the throttle sensor 45, the F-V converter that generates the vehicle speed signal as described above, and the potentiometer 52 are sequentially converted into binary signals by a multiplexer and an AD converter, although not shown. It is stored in the memory within the microcomputer 31.

The main switch 42 is a switch that can be turned on and off at will by the occupant, and the main switch 43 is
It is a momentary type switch that is turned on when operated arbitrarily by the occupant and turned off when the operating force is released. Further, although the cancel switch 44 is illustrated as one switch, it actually consists of three switches, one is a stop lamp switch that is turned on when the brake pedal is depressed, and one is a parking brake switch. One is the Birkin brake switch that turns on when the brake is operated, and the other is the clutch switch that turns on when the clutch pedal is depressed. If the transmission is an automatic transmission, the clutch switch is replaced by a neutral start switch that is turned on when the shift lever is operated to the neutral position.

The signals from the main switch 42, set switch 43, and cancel switch 44 are transmitted to the idle switch 5.
1 is read into the microcomputer 31 by a program.

The microcomputer 31 controls the opening degree of the throttle valve 20 according to the operating angle of the accelerator pedal and controls the constant speed running based on a program stored in the memory. The opening degree of the throttle valve 20 is controlled by operating the actuator 10 in response to changes in the operating angle of the accelerator pedal, as if the accelerator pedal and the throttle valve 20 were connected by a link. There is something that controls the opening. This control is known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-190441, and
Since it is not directly related to the present invention, detailed explanation will be omitted.

On the other hand, constant speed running control is performed as follows.

That is, while the vehicle is running, by turning on and off the set switch 43 when the desired vehicle speed is reached with the main switch 42 turned on, the vehicle speed at that time is memorized as the set vehicle speed, and from then on, the set switch 43 is turned on and off. The actuator 10 is operated to control the opening degree of the throttle valve 20 so that the vehicle speed is maintained.

When the cancel switch 44 is turned on while driving at a constant speed, the constant speed driving control is canceled, and when the set switch 43 is turned on while driving at a constant speed, the actuator closes the throttle valve 20 during that time. IO is activated to reduce the vehicle speed and to continue constant speed driving control with the vehicle speed after deceleration as the new set vehicle speed.

Although the constant speed running control described above is the same as the known one, the present invention is characterized by the following speed increasing control.

While driving at a constant speed, the accelerator pedal is not operated, but when the driver operates the accelerator pedal greatly to exceed the opening degree of the throttle valve 20 in order to increase the speed,
Similarly to when the cancel switch 44 is operated, the constant speed running control is temporarily canceled and the opening degree of the throttle valve 20 is controlled according to the operating angle of the accelerator pedal.

In this way, when the desired vehicle speed is reached, when the idle switch 51 is turned on by releasing the accelerator pedal operation, constant speed driving is resumed in the same way as when the set switch 43 was turned on and off, and the set vehicle speed is increased. Fast or complete.

Microcomputer 3 in the constant speed running control described above
1 is achieved by executing a program stored in the microcomputer 31, and FIG.
The program contents of the microcomputer 31 are shown, and this constant speed running (A/D) control routine program is a time interrupt routine program that is activated every 1001, J seconds.

...When this program is started after 100 milliseconds have elapsed since one processing, first, in step 111, it is determined whether or not the main switch 42 is turned on. If the main switch 42 is turned on, in step 112, the current vehicle speed obtained by processing the signal from the vehicle speed sensor 41 is taken in, and further,
The upper limit value, for example, 1100 Km/h, and the lower limit value, for example, 40 Km/h of the vehicle speed ■, which are stored in advance in the memory of the microcomputer 31, are read and the current vehicle speed V is between the upper limit value and the lower limit value. Determine whether or not. If the main switch 42 is not on, or if the current vehicle speed is not between the upper limit and the lower limit, in step 113, "0" is stored at a predetermined address in the memory where the set vehicle speed is to be stored. Then, in step 115, a cancellation process to be described later is performed, and further, in step 1
At step 23, a center switch flag SS1.'' and a center switch flag STF, which will be described later, are reset. In other words,
If the heavy speed V is not between the upper limit value and the lower limit value, it is treated as if the main switch 42 is not turned on.

On the other hand, if the current vehicle speed (2) is between the above upper limit and lower limit, it is determined in step 114 whether the cancel switch 44 is on. If the cancel switch 44 is turned on, cancel processing is executed in step 115, but if the cancel switch 44 is not turned on, the process is executed in step 14.
1, it is determined whether an accelerator flag ACF, which will be described later, is set. At first, accelerator flag AC
Since F is not set, a negative determination is made in step 141. Next, in step 116, it is determined whether or not the set switch 43 is currently turned on. If the set switch 43 is currently turned on, further, in step 125, the set flag S
It is determined whether or not the set flag STF is set, and if the set flag STF is set, in step 11B, coasting processing, which will be described later, is performed and the set flag S is set.
If "F" is not set, the process of step 118 is skipped.Next, in step 119, a set switch flag SSF that memorizes in the set state that the set switch 43 has been turned on is set, and this routine is continued. Finish the process.

If it is determined in step 116 that the set switch 43 is not currently turned on, step 1
At step 17, it is determined whether the set switch 43 was on in the previous processing cycle by determining whether the set switch flag SSF is set.

If the set switch 43 is turned on or off and the set switch flag SSF is set, a set process is executed in step 120. In the cent time processing, the current vehicle speed (2) is stored as the set vehicle speed Vset, and an actuation signal is output to the actuator IO so that the initial opening degree of the throttle valve 20 is determined according to the value of the set vehicle speed Vset. Next, step +2
In step 122, the set switch flag SSF is reset, and a set flag S T F is set to store in a set state that constant speed driving control has been started, and in step 122, processing during setting is executed. During the setting process, find the difference between the current vehicle speed ■ and the set vehicle speed Vset, and then slow it in the direction that eliminates the difference /) Le Valve 2
An actuation signal is supplied to the actuator 10 to control the opening degree of 0.

In this way, constant speed driving control is started by executing the setting process and the setting process.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 117 that the set switch flag SSF is not set, then either the center switch 43 has not been operated at all from the beginning or constant speed driving control has already started. Therefore, in step 124, it is determined whether or not the set flag STF is set, thereby determining whether or not constant speed driving control is currently being performed. At this time,
If constant speed driving control is not in progress, a negative determination is made in step 124, and the processing of this routine is ended; however, if constant speed driving control is already being performed, an affirmative determination is made in step 7. , the process proceeds to step 131, and the operation angle θaC of the accelerator pedal is determined to be the opening degree θth of the throttle valve 20.
A determination is made as to whether it has become larger. θac
and θth is 1. are obtained by signals from potentiometer 52 and throttle sensor 45, respectively.

While driving at a constant speed, the accelerator pedal is usually not operated, so step 1; 31 is negative, and step 122 is
The cent process continues to be executed, and constant speed driving control continues.

During constant speed driving control, if the set switch 43 and cancel switch 44 are not operated and the accelerator pedal operation angle θac is smaller than the throttle valve 20 degree θth, only the main switch 42 is on and the other switches are off. , the processing of this routine is step 111.1.
12.114.141.116.117.124.13
Proceed to 1.122.

When the cancel switch $4 is turned on while the constant speed driving control is being continued in this way, step 114 is determined to be 9 times constant, so the process advances to snap 115 and cancel processing is executed. Ru.

The cancellation process is to change the opening angle of the throttle valve 20 due to constant speed driving control to the middle [1-, ac-nave, eta-10b)', and the operating angle of the accelerator pedal.
, r,)
7. It will now be activated.

In addition, constant speed driving control continues, middle, second, Tosuino Sen, 13
When is turned on, steps 1lfi and 125 are both affirmative υ1, so coast processing is executed in step 1110. The coasting process is similar to the above-described canceling process, in which the opening degree control of the throttle valve 20 is stopped. Therefore, while the Sesoto Isochi 43 is on, the coasting process is executed and the vehicle speed is reduced, and when the cent switch 43 is released from the on operation and turned off, the same operation as when starting the constant speed driving control described above occurs. , step 116.117.120.121.12
Proceeding to step 2, the set time processing and the front/back/throttle A processing are executed, so that the constant speed running control is restarted with the decelerated vehicle speed being set as the set vehicle speed.

During constant speed running control, when θac becomes larger than θth, an affirmative decision is made in step 131, and step 13
At step 2, the cancellation process as described above is executed and the constant speed running control is stopped. Therefore, throttle valve 2
0 is the potentiometer 5 of the accelerator pedal sensor 50
The opening degree is controlled 40 based on the accelerator pedal operation angle θaC detected by 2, and the vehicle can be driven at the vehicle speed desired by the person picking up the vehicle. And the next step 133
Now, the accelerator flag ACF is set to store in a set state that the speed increase control has been performed. In this way, when the accelerator flag ACF is set, an affirmative determination is made in step 141, so that from now on, step 111.
112.114.141.142 and step 14
In step 2, it is determined whether the idle switch 51 is on. While the accelerator pedal continues to be operated and the idle switch 51 is turned off, step 1 is executed.
42 is negative, and constant speed driving control is restarted. However, when the desired vehicle speed is reached, the accelerator pedal is released, and the idle switch 5I is turned on, step 1
42 is affirmatively determined, the accelerator flag ACF is reset in step 143, and the constant speed driving control is restarted in the same manner as described above through the processing from step 120 onwards.

As described above, by turning on and off the set switch 43 while the main switch 42 is turned on, constant speed driving control can be started, and after starting the constant speed driving control, turning on the cancel switch 44 By operating it, constant speed driving control can be canceled. In addition, when the center switch 43 is turned on during constant speed running control, the vehicle speed is reduced during the on operation, and when the seventh switch 43 is turned off after being turned on, the vehicle speed is reduced. Constant speed driving control can be resumed with .

Furthermore, if you want to increase the set vehicle speed while driving at a constant speed, operate the accelerator pedal to increase the speed using the desired vehicle speed, and then release the accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle speed at that time. It is possible to resume driving at high speed, increase speed naturally without any other operation, and continue driving at a constant speed.

In addition, in the flowchart of FIG. 3, step 11
The processes of steps 1 to 125 correspond to the constant speed running control 11 means of the present invention, the processes of steps 131 to 133 correspond to the speed increasing means of the present invention, and the processes of steps 141 to 143 correspond to the speed increasing means of the present invention. This corresponds to a setting means.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and includes various embodiments within the scope of the claims. For example, the speed increase control means may be a so-called preset device in which the set vehicle speed can be set in advance.
Alternatively, the accelerator pedal and the throttle/nottle valve may be connected by a link. Furthermore, the speed increasing means may increase the vehicle speed as time passes while the accelerator pedal is being operated. Furthermore, the resetting means may set the maximum speed when the speed is increased by the speed increasing means as the set vehicle speed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, when the accelerator pedal is operated while driving at a constant speed, the speed is increased according to the operation,
Thereafter, when the accelerator pedal operation is released, the vehicle continues to travel at a constant speed at the current speed, so that the set vehicle speed can be increased naturally by operating only the accelerator pedal, as in normal driving.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a claim correspondence diagram, Fig. 2 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the main program contents of the computer in Fig. 2. be. 10 --- Actuator 20 --- Throttle valve 3 (1 --- 1 -- Control circuit 41 --- 1 -- Vehicle speed sensor 42 --- Main switch 43 --・--1--Sesoto Sui・7chi 44-----Cancel switch 45-----Throttle sensor 50------Accelerator pedal sensor 51--
・Idle switch 52 --- Potentiometer Applicant: Toyota Motor Corporation Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Constant speed driving control means for controlling the opening of a throttle valve by operating an actuator to maintain a desired vehicle speed as a set vehicle speed, an accelerator pedal sensor for detecting operation of an accelerator pedal, and constant speed driving control. a speed increasing means for increasing the vehicle speed in accordance with the operation when an accelerator pedal operation is detected by an accelerator pedal sensor while driving at a constant speed; and a speed increasing means for increasing the vehicle speed according to the operation; A constant speed traveling device for a vehicle, comprising: a reset means for setting the vehicle speed at that time to a set vehicle speed and performing constant speed traveling when the vehicle speed is detected.