JPS6261836A - Automatic vehicle speed control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent actual vehicle speed from exceeding an upper limit, by increasing a memorized vehicle speed in association with instant turn-on and -off operation of an accelerator switch, by fixing the memorized vehicle speed when it reaches the upper limit. CONSTITUTION:When an accelerator switch 7 is turned off, a vehicle speed is stored in a vehicle speed memory means 4 to automatically control the vehicle speed. Further, a slight acceleration means 9 slightly increases the stored vehicle speed in association with instant turn-on and -off operation of the accelerator switch 7, and when the stored vehicle speed reaches the upper limit of a set range, the means 9 fixes the stored vehicle speed to the upper limit. Accordingly, even if the instant turn-on and -off operation of the accelerator switch 7 is subsequently carried out, the stored vehicle speed does not increases, and therefore, it is possible to confine the actual speed which increases as the stored vehicle speed increases below the upper limit of the set speed range.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention relates to an automatic vehicle speed control device used to automatically control the traveling speed of a vehicle to a certain set speed. be.

(Prior Art) This type of automatic vehicle speed control system has been conventionally available in various configurations. Among them, there is a vehicle speed sensor that outputs operating data proportional to the actual vehicle speed, and a vehicle speed sensor that outputs a cruise command signal. a command switch; a vehicle speed storage means for storing a vehicle speed at the time of operation within a speed setting range (approximately 50 to loOkm/h) in response to an operation of a set switch among the command switches; and an actuator for driving a throttle valve; control means that sends a command to the actuator in response to a difference between the actual vehicle speed and the stored vehicle speed, and increases the actual vehicle speed and the stored vehicle speed within a speed setting range in response to an operation of an accelerator switch among the command switches; , momentary (about 0.5 seconds) 0N of the accelerator switch
- There is an automatic vehicle speed control device equipped with a slight speed increase means for slightly increasing the vehicle speed stored in the vehicle speed storage means (approximately 1.5 km/h) in response to an OFF operation.

In this automatic vehicle speed control device, by turning on a set switch among the command switches and then turning it off, the vehicle speed at the time of the OFF operation is stored, and the control means responds to the difference between the stored vehicle speed and the actual vehicle speed. sends a command to the actuator, and the actuator operates to drive the throttle valve, adjusting the actual vehicle speed to the memorized vehicle speed and driving at a constant speed. Note that if you operate the accelerator switch during automatic vehicle speed control, the actual vehicle speed and memorized vehicle speed can be increased within the speed setting range only while the accelerator switch is being operated. It is convenient for Further, since the slight speed increasing means can slightly increase the vehicle speed stored in the vehicle speed storage means in response to an instantaneous ON-OFF operation of the accelerator switch, the speed increaser can slightly increase the vehicle speed stored in the vehicle speed storage means. This is useful for adjusting the increase in inter-vehicle distance due to slight speed differences.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional automatic vehicle speed control system described above, the instantaneous ON-OFF operation of the accelerator switch is repeated, and the slight speed increase stage is activated in response to this operation. As shown in Fig. 6, when the stored vehicle speed in the vehicle speed storage means is increased little by little, if the stored vehicle speed reaches the upper limit of the speed setting range, the accelerator switch is still momentarily turned OFF.
If the operation is continued, there is a problem in that the stored vehicle speed increases beyond the upper limit of the speed setting range, and as the stored vehicle speed increases, the actual vehicle speed also increases beyond the upper limit of the speed setting range. , there was a problem that the setting of the speed setting range became meaningless.

Therefore, the present invention has been made by focusing on the above-mentioned conventional problems.
To provide an automatic vehicle speed control device capable of fixing the stored vehicle speed to the upper limit of the speed setting range when the stored vehicle speed increases slightly in response to an operation and reaches the upper limit of the speed setting range. The purpose is

[Configuration of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The configuration of the present invention for achieving the above object will be explained using the functional block diagram shown in FIG. A vehicle speed sensor 1 that outputs a cruise command signal, a command switch 2 that outputs a cruise command signal, and a vehicle speed memory that stores operational data of the vehicle speed sensor 1 within a speed setting range in response to operation of a set switch 3 of the command switches 2. means 4, an actuator 6 for driving the throttle valve 5, and a means for sending a command to the actuator 6 in response to the difference between the actual vehicle speed and the stored vehicle speed, and in response to the operation of the accelerator switch 7 of the command switches 2; The control means 8 increases the actual vehicle speed and the memorized vehicle speed within the speed setting range, and the accelerator switch 7 instantaneously turns ON.
- Slightly increase the vehicle speed stored in the vehicle speed storage means 4 in response to the OFF operation, and when the stored vehicle speed reaches the upper limit of the speed setting range, fix the stored vehicle speed at the upper limit of the speed setting range. It is equipped with a slight speed increase means 9.

(Function) Depending on how the accelerator switch 7 is operated, it is possible to increase the actual vehicle speed and the stored vehicle speed during automatic vehicle speed control, and also to slightly increase the stored vehicle speed in the vehicle speed storage means 4 during vehicle speed index control. .

That is, to increase the actual vehicle speed and the stored vehicle speed, the control means 8 sends a command to the actuator 6 only while the accelerator switch 7 is in the ON state during vehicle speed automatic control, and rotates the throttle valve 5 toward the acceleration side to increase the actual vehicle speed. is increased, the vehicle speed when the accelerator switch 7 is OFF is stored as a memorized vehicle speed in the vehicle speed storage means 4 within the vehicle speed setting range, and the vehicle speed is automatically controlled based on this memorized vehicle speed.

In addition, in order to slightly increase the vehicle speed stored in the vehicle speed storage means 4, the slight speed increase means 9 slightly increases the stored vehicle speed in response to the instantaneous ON-OFF operation of the accelerator switch 7. 7 instantaneous 0N-OFF
When the stored vehicle speed, which increases little by little, reaches the upper limit of the speed setting range when the operation is repeated, the slight speed increasing means 9 fixes the stored vehicle speed of the vehicle speed storage means 4 to the upper limit of the speed setting range. No matter how many instantaneous ON/OFF operations of the accelerator switch 7 are performed thereafter, if the memorized vehicle speed has reached the upper limit of the speed setting range,
This stops the memorized vehicle speed from increasing.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on the drawings.

FIGS. 2 to ff15 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the circuit configuration of the automatic vehicle speed control device. In FIG. 2, 11 is a vehicle speed sensor that outputs operation data proportional to the actual vehicle speed, and 12 is a command switch that outputs a cruise command signal. The command switch 12 includes a set switch 12a, a resume switch 12b, and an accelerator switch 12c. Outputs from the vehicle speed sensor 11 and the command switch 12 are input to a microcomputer 16, which is a control section within the controller 13, via an interface 14 and an interface 15, respectively, within the controller 13. In this micro convenience store 6, a vehicle speed sensor 1 detects the vehicle speed at the time of operation in response to the operation of the set switch 12a of the command switch 12.
1, the vehicle speed is kept constant according to the difference between the actual vehicle speed of the vehicle speed sensor 11 and the vehicle speed stored in the vehicle speed storage means, and the vehicle speed is kept constant according to the difference between the actual vehicle speed of the vehicle speed sensor 11 and the vehicle speed stored in the vehicle speed storage means. control means for increasing the actual vehicle speed and the stored vehicle speed within a speed setting range, and slightly increasing the stored vehicle speed of the vehicle speed storage means in response to an instantaneous ON-OFF operation of the accelerator switch 12c;
and when the stored vehicle speed reaches the upper limit of the speed setting range,
A slight speed increase means for fixing the stored vehicle speed to the upper limit value of the speed setting range is built-in.

Moreover, 20 is an actuator, and this actuator 20 is equipped with a belt valve 21, a safety valve 22, and a vacuum valve 23, as shown in FIG. In addition to opening to the atmosphere, vacuum valve 2
One end of 3 is connected to the intake manifold (negative pressure source). Further, the other end of each valve 21, 22, 23 communicates with a negative pressure chamber 27 formed by the casing 25 and one side (third zone side) of the diaphragm 26, and the other end of the diaphragm 26 One end of a control wire 28 is connected to the side (third prisoner side), and the other end of the control wire 28 is connected to a throttle valve shaft 29.

Furthermore, 31 is located in the controller 13 and is connected to a vent valve 21 according to the output from the microcomputer 16.
Vent valve switching unit that controls on-off
32 is also in the controller 13 and operates the vacuum valve 23 according to the output of the microcomputer 16.
A vacuum valve switching section 33 is also located in the controller 13 and controls the actuator 2 according to the output from the microcomputer 16.
This is an actuator switching unit that controls on/off the power supply to 0.
Off is relay coil 35a and relay switch 35b
This is done via a relay 35 consisting of.

Further, 37 is a brake switch, 38 is a brake lamp, and a signal for canceling the system when the brake is operated is input into the microcomputer 16 via an interface 39 in the controller 13.

Furthermore, 41 is a constant voltage circuit, 42 is a reset circuit, 43
44 is a main switch for the control device, and 45 is a cruise lamp.

Next, the operation of the automatic vehicle speed control bag with such a configuration will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
To operate the automatic vehicle speed control device, press the main switch 44.
Leave it on. At this time, the vehicle speed sensor 11 outputs a pulse signal that is operation data proportional to the actual vehicle speed, and this pulse signal is input to the microcomputer 16 in the controller 13 and sampled within a certain period of time.
The microcomputer 1 constantly calculates the number of pulses proportional to the vehicle speed.
In this state, the set switch 12a is turned ON and a set signal is input to the microcomputer 16.
a to the OFF state and the set signal is released, the cruise lamp 45 is turned on, and the control means of the microcomputer 16 closes the vent valve 21 and the safety valve 22 to isolate the negative pressure chamber 27 from the atmosphere.
L and the vacuum valve 23 are opened to introduce negative pressure into the negative pressure chamber 27, and the throttle valve shaft 29 is held at a predetermined position via the control wire 28. After this,
Even if the accelerator pedal is released, the throttle valve shaft 29 is held at a predetermined position, so that the vehicle can travel at a constant speed. After this, a command is sent to the actuator 20 so that the detected number of pulses proportional to the actual vehicle speed becomes equal to the stored number of pulses (that is, the stored vehicle speed), and the vent valve switching section 31 The negative pressure chamber 2 of the actuator 20 is controlled by turning on and off the vent valve 21 and the vacuum valve 23 through the vacuum valve switching unit 32 and the vacuum valve switching unit 32.
For example, when the actual vehicle speed is lower than the stored vehicle speed by a predetermined value, the vacuum valve 23 is activated by the vacuum valve switching section 32 controlled by the microcomputer 16.
is turned on to introduce negative pressure into the negative pressure chamber 27, thereby slightly rotating the throttle valve shaft 29 in the valve opening direction and increasing the vehicle speed. On the other hand, when the actual vehicle speed becomes higher than the memorized vehicle speed by a predetermined value, the vent valve switching section 31 controlled by the microcomputer 16 operates to turn off the vent valve 21 and introduce atmospheric air into the negative pressure chamber 27. As a result, the throttle valve shaft 29 is slightly rotated in the valve closing direction to reduce the vehicle speed. By repeating such operations, the vehicle speed is controlled to be constant.

When automatic vehicle speed control is started in this way, the program shown in FIG. 4 is also activated.

That is, in step 101, it is determined whether or not automatic vehicle speed control is being performed, and if vehicle speed eye movement control is not being performed (No),
After executing another program in step 102, the process returns to step 101.

In addition, if it is determined in step 101 that the vehicle speed is under automatic control (YES), the next step 1 is performed.
03, it is determined whether or not the accelerator switch 12c has been operated, and if the accelerator pedal 12c has not been operated (No), another program is executed in step 102, and then the process returns to step 101, and the accelerator switch 12c is not operated. Step 101 until 12c is operated.
It is in a loop state between 103 and 103.

Further, in step 103, the accelerator switch 1
If it is determined that the accelerator switch 12c has been operated (YES), then in the next step 104, the method of operating the accelerator switch 12c that was operated in step 103 is determined.

In other words, it is determined whether or not the accelerator switch 12c is instantaneous 0N-OFF operation to slightly increase the speed.
If F is not operated (NO), in the next step 105, the actual vehicle speed is increased only while the accelerator switch 12c is in the ON state, and in the next step 106, the increased actual vehicle speed is stored in the vehicle speed storage means of the microcomputer 16. set the memorized vehicle speed.

Further, in step 104, the operation method of the accelerator switch 12c is an instantaneous 0N-O for slightly increasing speed.
If it is determined that it is an FF operation (YES), in the next step 107, the tap-up vehicle speed (approximately 1.5 km/h) is added to the stored vehicle speed stored in the vehicle speed storage means in the microcomputer 16. The vehicle speed added is the new memorized vehicle speed. In other words, tap-up is to slightly increase the memorized vehicle speed, which is the basis of vehicle speed movement control, in response to an instantaneous ON-OFF operation of the accelerator switch 12c, and to slightly increase the actual vehicle speed accordingly. It speeds up and makes subtle speed adjustments.

Then, in the next step 108, the step 1
In step 06 or step 107, it is determined whether the stored vehicle speed stored in the vehicle speed storage means has reached the upper limit of the speed setting range. In other words, automatic vehicle speed control devices are generally used when traveling long distances at a constant speed on expressways, etc.
1 o.

km/h) is assumed to be used at the legal speed on expressways, etc., and if it is determined in step 108 that the stored vehicle speed has reached the upper limit of the speed setting range (
If YES), the vehicle speed stored in the vehicle speed storage means is fixed at the upper limit of the speed setting range in the next step 109, and the vehicle speed is automatically controlled in the next step 110 based on this stored vehicle speed.

Further, if it is determined in step 108 that the stored vehicle speed has not reached the upper limit of the speed setting range (No.
), automatic vehicle speed control is performed in step 110 based on the stored vehicle speed determined in step 106.

Then, in the next step 102, another program is executed, and then the process returns to step 101.

As described above, in this embodiment, step 104. The slight speed increase means formed in steps 107 to 109 correspondingly increases the stored vehicle speed in the microcomputer 16 as shown in FIG. 5, and fixes the stored vehicle speed at the upper limit of the speed setting range. After that, no matter how much the accelerator switch 12c is instantaneously turned ON/OFF, the memorized vehicle speed will not increase, the memorized vehicle speed will not exceed the upper limit of the speed setting range, and it will be fixed at the upper limit of the speed setting range. can.

Also, if you press and hold the accelerator switch 12c, steps 103 to 106. By steps 108-110,
The actual vehicle speed and the stored vehicle speed are increased within the speed setting range only while the accelerator switch 12c is pressed, and automatic vehicle speed control can be performed at the vehicle speed when the accelerator switch 12c is released.

Note that in this embodiment, the actuator 2 that uses negative pressure
Although the vehicle speed automatic control device equipped with 0 has been described, a motor-driven actuator that drives the throttle valve shaft 29 according to a command from the microcomputer 16 may be used, and the present invention is not particularly limited to the negative pressure type actuator 20.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, there is a vehicle speed sensor that outputs operation data proportional to the actual vehicle speed, a command switch that outputs a cruise command signal, and an operation of a set switch among the command switches. a vehicle speed storage means for storing operation data of the vehicle speed sensor within a speed setting range in response to the vehicle speed, an actuator for driving a throttle valve, and sending a command to the actuator in response to a difference between the actual vehicle speed and the stored vehicle speed; and a control means for increasing the actual vehicle speed and the stored vehicle speed within a speed setting range in response to an operation of an accelerator switch among the command switches, and a vehicle speed storage means in response to an instantaneous ON-OFF operation of the accelerator switch. the accelerator switch; instantaneous 0N-O
When the stored vehicle speed increases slightly in response to the FF operation, if the stored vehicle speed reaches the upper limit of the speed setting range, the stored vehicle speed can be fixed at the upper limit of the speed setting range. An excellent effect can be obtained in that the actual vehicle speed, which increases as the speed increases, can be kept within the upper limit of the speed setting range.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a circuit configuration of an automatic vehicle speed control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. A cross-sectional view showing the structure of the actuator, Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the control routine performed by the microcomputer in Figure 2, and Figure 5 shows the instantaneous 0 of the accelerator switch.
An explanatory diagram showing the tap-up state corresponding to the N-OFF operation, Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the tap-up state corresponding to the N-OFF operation.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a tap-up state corresponding to an OFF operation. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Vehicle speed sensor, 2... Command switch, 3... Set switch, 4... Vehicle speed memory means, 5... Throttle valve, 6... Actuator, 7... Accelerator switch, 8 ...control means, 9...slight speed increase means. Patent applicant Patent attorney representing Jidosha Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
Yutaka Ko Shio Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 ++-8! Hashikushit ('12C) Fig. 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A vehicle speed sensor that outputs operating data proportional to the actual vehicle speed; a command switch that outputs a cruise command signal; an actuator for driving a throttle valve, a vehicle speed storage means for storing a vehicle speed within the command switch, an actuator for driving a throttle valve, a command for sending a command to the actuator in response to a difference between the actual vehicle speed and the stored vehicle speed, and a command for transmitting a command to the actuator in response to an operation of an accelerator switch among the command switches. A control means for increasing the actual vehicle speed and the memorized vehicle speed within the speed setting range, and instantaneous ON-Off of the accelerator switch.
A slight speed increase that slightly increases the vehicle speed stored in the vehicle speed storage means in response to the F operation, and fixes the stored vehicle speed at the upper limit of the speed setting range when the stored vehicle speed reaches the upper limit of the speed setting range. An automatic vehicle speed control device comprising means.