JPS6299218A - Constant speed running device for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to comfortably and safely drive a vehicle, by accelerating the vehicle when the distance between the vehicle and a vehicle thereahead is greater than a set value while the distance between the vehicle and a vehicle therebehind is less than a set value. CONSTITUTION:The distance between the instant vehicle and a vehicle therebehind is delivered from a detecting means B1 to a comparing means B5 to compare the distance with an acceleration reference value B3, and the result of the comparison is delivered to a condition discriminating means B7. The distance B2 between the instant vehicle and a vehicle thereahead is similarly processed and is delivered to the discriminating means B7. The latter delivers an accelerating instruction to an acceleration control means B8 to accelerate the vehicle when the distance B1 to the vehicle thereahead is above a reference value while the distance B2 to the vehicle therebehind is below a reference value, and therefore, the distances among the vehicles are increased, With this arrangement, it is possible to appropriately maintain the distances among the vehicles and therefore it is possible to enhance the safety of the vehicles.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a constant-speed running device for a vehicle that maintains the vehicle speed at a desired set value and drives the vehicle at a constant speed. The present invention relates to a constant speed driving device for an automobile that automatically increases speed accordingly.

[Prior art]

A conventional device of this type is provided with an inter-vehicle distance detection circuit 21 for detecting the inter-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle and a vehicle speed sensor 22, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 58-213311 and also shown in FIG. It is being

Signals from the inter-vehicle distance detection circuit 21 and the vehicle speed sensor 22 are input to the discrimination circuit 23, and the control circuit 24 is activated when the required inter-vehicle distance at the set vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value. As a result, the opening degree of the throttle valve becomes smaller, and constant speed running is canceled. Therefore, the distance between the vehicle and the vehicle ahead is maintained at a predetermined value or more.

However, in the above-mentioned constant speed driving system for automobiles, the following distance to the vehicle behind is not taken into consideration, so the following distance to the vehicle behind is shorter than the following distance that is normally considered necessary. There is a risk that

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has been developed to provide a vehicle that allows the driver to drive comfortably and safely by maintaining a distance between the vehicle in front and the vehicle behind. The purpose is to provide a high-speed traveling device.

[Structure of the invention]

A constant speed running device for a motor vehicle according to the present invention is a constant speed running device for a motor vehicle that controls the amount of fuel supplied to the engine based on a set vehicle speed signal inputted from the outside, and maintains the vehicle speed at approximately the set vehicle speed. A forward inter-vehicle distance detection means for detecting an inter-vehicle distance to a preceding vehicle, a rear inter-vehicle distance detection means for detecting an inter-vehicle distance to a rear vehicle, and a forward inter-vehicle distance detection means detect an inter-vehicle distance equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and and speed increasing means for issuing a speed increase command when the rear inter-vehicle distance detecting means detects an inter-vehicle distance of less than a predetermined value. The present invention is characterized in that the distance between the vehicle and the vehicle can be maintained at a predetermined value or more.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on FIGS. 1 to 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, the constant speed traveling device for an automobile according to the present invention includes a rear inter-vehicle distance detection means B1 and a front inter-vehicle distance detection means B2 for detecting the inter-vehicle distance between the rear vehicle and the front vehicle.
, speed increase reference value setting means B3 and B4 that determine the standard distance between the rear vehicle and the front vehicle when speeding up, and signals from the rear inter vehicle distance detection means B1 and speed increase reference value setting means B3. a comparing means B5 for comparing the signals from the forward inter-vehicle distance detecting means B2 and the speed increase reference value setting means B4; a comparing means B5 and the comparing means B;
6, and a speed increase control means B8 that increases the speed based on the signal from the condition determination means B7.

The constant speed traveling device described above has a circuit shown in FIG. 3. This circuit is connected to a power supply circuit 3 led from the electric power 't1.1 via the ignition switch 2 to the main switch 4.
It has a controller 5 as a speed increasing means connected via a. This controller 5 receives signals from an accelerator switch 6, a deceleration switch 7, and a return switch 8 as vehicle speed setting means, a vehicle speed sensor 9, a front inter-vehicle distance sensor 10 as a forward inter-vehicle distance detection means, and a rear inter-vehicle distance detection means. A signal from the rear inter-vehicle distance sensor 11 is input. Further, the controller 5 outputs a signal to an actuator drive circuit 12 that controls the throttle valve. The accelerator switch 6, deceleration switch 7, and return switch 8 are connected between the controller 5 and ground. Among these switches, the accelerator switch 6 is a switch that also serves as a set function.

That is, when the vehicle speed indicated by the signal from the vehicle speed sensor 9 is within the range of 40 to 1100 k/h, for example, by turning on the ON operation when the desired vehicle speed is reached, the vehicle speed at that time is set to constant speed driving. By having a vehicle speed setting function to set the vehicle speed and maintaining the ON state,
During this time, it also has an acceleration function that increases the set vehicle speed and, when turned off, switches the increased vehicle speed to the set vehicle speed to perform constant speed driving. Also, deceleration switch 7
is used when decelerating while driving at a constant speed, and during the ON operation, the set vehicle speed decreases. Furthermore, when the constant speed traveling is canceled by a method other than turning off the main switch 4, turning on the return switch 8 causes the vehicle to return to the set vehicle speed before the cancellation.

The rear inter-vehicle distance sensor 11 and the front inter-vehicle distance sensor 10 are connected between the controller 5 and the ground, and detect the inter-vehicle distance using radar, ultrasonic waves, or the like. In addition, the operation of the above switches 6, 7, and 8 and the vehicle speed sensor 9
, a front inter-vehicle distance sensor 10 and a rear inter-vehicle distance sensor 11
Based on the signals from the controller 5, the controller 5 outputs a signal to the actuator 10 to maintain, increase, decelerate, or return the vehicle speed.

Further, in this constant speed traveling device, a clutch switch 13 and a brake switch 14 for canceling constant speed traveling control are arranged in parallel between the power supply circuit 3 and the controller 5. These switches 13 and 14 are turned ON when the clutch is disengaged and when the brake is applied, respectively, to input a release signal to the controller 5.

In the above configuration, the control process by the constant speed traveling device of the present invention will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG. 2.

By turning on the accelerator switch 6 when the desired vehicle speed is reached, constant speed driving is started with the current vehicle speed set as the vehicle speed for constant speed driving (step Fl). Then,
A signal from the rear inter-vehicle distance sensor 11 is input to the controller 5 (step F2), and a signal from the front inter-vehicle distance sensor 10 is further input to the controller 5 (step F3). Thereafter, based on the output signal from the rear inter-vehicle distance sensor 11, the rear inter-vehicle distance D'l) shown in FIG.
The controller 5 determines whether or not the speed is greater than the speed increase line (S,) in the figure (step F4). When the result of this determination is affirmative, the constant speed traveling device is continued (step F7), and the operations from step F2 are repeated.

On the other hand, when the determination result is negative, the output signal from the forward distance sensor 10 changes the forward distance (12) shown in FIG. 4 to the acceleration line (B2) shown in FIG.
It is determined by the controller 5 whether or not it is smaller (step F5). If the determination result is affirmative, constant speed running is continued (step F7), and the operations from step F2 are repeated. On the other hand, if the determination result is negative, the controller 5 sends the actuator drive circuit 1
A speed increase signal is output to step F6, and the opening degree of the throttle valve is increased to increase the speed (step F6). Then, the operations from step F2 are repeated again.

As described above, the constant speed traveling device for a vehicle according to the present invention detects the inter-vehicle distance between the following vehicle and the preceding vehicle, and detects when the inter-vehicle distance between the following vehicle and the preceding vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and when the inter-vehicle distance between the following vehicle and the preceding vehicle is less than or equal to a predetermined value. The speed is increased only when is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent collisions with the vehicle behind and the vehicle ahead while traveling at a constant speed.

In addition, in step F4 and step F5, the values of the speed increase line (Sl) and the speed increase line (B2) are inter-vehicle distances set according to the vehicle speed.

Further, in this embodiment, a means may be provided to forcefully flash the stop lamp when the distance between the vehicle and the vehicle behind is less than a predetermined value and the distance between the vehicle and the vehicle ahead is too short to accelerate the vehicle.

[Effects of the Invention] The constant speed traveling device for a motor vehicle according to the present invention includes: a forward distance detecting means for detecting the distance between the front vehicle and the vehicle ahead; a rear following distance detecting means detecting the distance between the vehicles behind the vehicle; Since the distance detecting means detects an inter-vehicle distance equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the rear inter-vehicle distance detecting means detects an inter-vehicle distance equal to or less than a predetermined value, the speed increasing means issues a speed increase command. While driving, the distance between the vehicle in front of the vehicle and the vehicle ahead can be maintained at a predetermined value or more, and the distance between the vehicle and the vehicle behind the vehicle can be maintained at a predetermined value or more by increasing the speed. This makes it possible to reliably prevent a rear-end collision with the vehicle in front and also to avoid a rear-end collision with the vehicle behind, allowing the driver to drive comfortably and safely. play.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a constant speed traveling device for an automobile according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a flow diagram of the above device, Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram of the above device, and Fig. 4 is an explanation of the inter-vehicle distance. 5 is a graph showing an example of the speed increasing region in the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a conventional constant speed traveling device for an automobile. 5 is a controller, 6 is an accelerator switch, 7 is a deceleration switch, 8 is a return switch, 9 is a vehicle speed sensor, 10 is a front vehicle distance sensor, 11 is a rear vehicle distance sensor, 12 is an actuator drive circuit, and B1 is a rear vehicle distance detection means, B2 is a front inter-vehicle distance detection means, B3 and B4 are speed increase standard value setting means, B5 and B6 are comparison means, B7 is a condition determination means, B8 is a speed increase control means, and the above B3 to B8 are speed increase control means. constitute means. Figure 1 Figure 2'1lJ3 Figure 4 Figure 5'$6 Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A forward inter-vehicle distance that detects the inter-vehicle distance to a vehicle in front in a constant speed driving system for an automobile that controls the amount of fuel supplied to the engine based on a set vehicle speed signal input from the outside and maintains the vehicle speed at approximately the set vehicle speed. The detection means, the rear inter-vehicle distance detection means for detecting the inter-vehicle distance with the rear vehicle, and the forward inter-vehicle distance detection means detect an inter-vehicle distance of a predetermined value or more, and the rear inter-vehicle distance detection means detects an inter-vehicle distance of less than a predetermined value. 1. A constant speed traveling device for an automobile, comprising: a speed increasing means for issuing a speed increasing command when detecting a speed increase command.