JPH0247371B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vehicle speed control device that stores the speed of a vehicle and automatically maintains the vehicle at the stored vehicle speed, and particularly relates to a vehicle speed control device that stores a plurality of stored vehicle speeds.

Generally, this type of device detects the current vehicle speed as a number of pulses, and obtains an analog voltage proportional to the number of pulses as a vehicle speed signal. When the driver reaches a desired vehicle speed, he operates the constant speed travel set switch to set (store) the vehicle speed signal at that time in the memory circuit. The speed control device refers to the set vehicle speed signal as a reference voltage on one side of the comparison circuit, and based on the difference between it and the current vehicle speed, adjusts the opening degree of the throttle valve in a direction such that the difference becomes zero. .

This type of constant speed vehicle traveling device is known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 127991/1983 filed by the same applicant and other publications.

By the way, in this type of conventional device, the vehicle speed is 1
I can only remember the type. Therefore, for example, if 60 km/h is stored in the vehicle speed memory and the vehicle is being driven at that speed using vehicle speed control,
When changing the vehicle speed to 40km/h, first cancel vehicle speed control and reduce the vehicle speed, and when the speedometer display reaches 40km/h, press the set switch again to memorize the vehicle speed and resume vehicle speed control. . However, this type of vehicle speed changing operation is quite troublesome. The upper limit of vehicle speed is set to 40 km/h, 60 km/h, 80 km/h, etc. depending on the road conditions on which the vehicle is traveling. Normally, the vehicle will be driven at this speed limit, so if the control speed changes, the vehicle speed will change. has no choice but to change. However, if you change the vehicle speed and perform a new vehicle speed memorization, the previously memorized vehicle speed data will be erased, so you will have to perform another frequent vehicle speed change operation to return to the original vehicle speed. .

The present invention simplifies the operation of changing the set vehicle speed,
An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle speed control device that can reduce the burden on a driver when road conditions change frequently.

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention,
A plurality of vehicle speed memories are provided, at least three switches are provided, and functions such as vehicle speed storage (set), vehicle speed regeneration (resume), and vehicle speed memory selection are assigned to each switch. According to this, multiple vehicle speeds can be stored, so for example, the vehicle speed can be set to 40km/h in advance.
By setting the vehicle speed to 60 km/h, 60 km/h, 80 km/h, etc., you can easily change the vehicle speed by operating a resume switch or the like according to changes in road conditions.

In one aspect of the present invention, a set switch, a resume switch, and a plurality of vehicle speed memory selection switches are provided, and when the set switch operates,
The vehicle speed at that time is stored in the vehicle speed memory corresponding to the state of the vehicle speed memory selection switch, and when the resume switch is activated, the vehicle speed corresponding to the contents of the vehicle speed memory corresponding to the state of the vehicle speed memory selection switch is set as the target vehicle speed. , the vehicle speed is controlled according to the target vehicle speed. In this embodiment, multiple vehicle speeds can be stored and reproduced with a small number of switches without impairing the driver's operability.

In another aspect of the present invention, set switches and resume switches are provided in numbers corresponding to vehicle speed memories, and each set switch and each resume switch are associated with different vehicle speed memories. For example, when the n-th set switch is operated, the current vehicle speed is stored in the n-th vehicle speed memory, and when the m-th resume switch is operated, the target vehicle speed is set according to the contents of the m-th vehicle speed memory. Then, the vehicle speed is controlled according to the target vehicle speed.

When storing a predetermined vehicle speed, it is troublesome to operate a switch by hand while changing the vehicle speed by operating the accelerator, brake, etc. with your foot. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the set switch and the resume switch are in a predetermined state,
While this state is maintained, the vehicle speed is increased or decreased. According to this, the driver can easily change the vehicle speed and store the vehicle speed with only his hands without using his feet.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an electric circuit of a vehicle speed control device according to an embodiment. This will be explained with reference to FIG. In this example, the electronic control device 10 is mainly configured with a single-chip microcomputer CPU.
The runaway detection circuit 20 is connected to the reset port RESET of the CPU, and the external interrupt input port
IRQ, input ports K2, K3, K0 and K1 have interface circuits IF1, IF2,
Via IF3, IF4 and IF5, vehicle speed detection reed switch SW2, clutch switch SW3,
Stop switch SW4, Set switch SW5
and resume switch SW6 are connected, and input ports R1, R2, R3, R4 and R
5, memory selection switches NS1, NS2, NS3,
NS4 and NS5 are connected.

Near the vehicle speed detection reed switch SW2,
A permanent magnet connected to a speedometer cable (not shown) is arranged, and when the vehicle moves and the permanent magnet rotates, the contacts of SW2 open and close accordingly. When the contact of SW2 changes from closed to open, the output level of the interface circuit IF1 becomes low level L, and an interrupt request is issued to the microcomputer CPU.

Clutch switch SW3 opens and closes in conjunction with the vehicle's clutch pedal, and stops switch SW4
opens and closes in conjunction with the vehicle's brake pedal. A stop lamp is connected to the stop switch SW4, and the stop lamp lights up when SW4 is turned on (closed).

Set switch SW5, resume switch
SW6 and memory selection switch NS1 to NS5
is a push button switch located on the instrument panel at a position that is easy for the driver to operate.

The output port Oo of the microcomputer CPU is connected to the runaway detection circuit 20.
2 and O3 are connected to drivers DV1 and DV2, respectively. The output of the driver DV1 is connected to a control solenoid SL ₁ that controls a negative pressure actuator, which will be described later, and the output of the driver DV2 is connected to a release solenoid.
SL ₂ is connected.

The control solenoid SL ₁ , the release solenoid SL ₂ , and the constant voltage power supply circuit 30 that generates the constant voltage Vcc include an ignition key switch.
Voltage from the vehicle battery is applied via SW1. When the brake is applied, the circuit 40
This is to deenergize release solenoid SL ₂ independently of CPU operation.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the negative pressure actuator 100 controlled by the electric circuit shown in FIG. 1. This will be explained with reference to FIG. The housing 101 consists of two parts 101a and 101b. The diaphragm 102 is held between the flange portions of two portions 101a and 101b. Diaphragm 102
The space surrounded by the housing 101a and the diaphragm 102 is a negative pressure chamber, and the diaphragm 102 and the housing 101b
The space surrounded by is in communication with the atmosphere. 103
is a compression coil spring inserted between the housing 101a and the diaphragm 102, which pushes the diaphragm 102 back to the position of the imaginary line when the pressure in the negative pressure chamber is close to atmospheric pressure. A projection 104 fixed near the center of the diaphragm 102 is connected to a link of a throttle valve 105. The housing 101a is provided with a negative pressure intake 107 communicating with the intake manifold 106 and atmospheric intakes 108 and 109.

110 is a negative pressure control valve, and 111 is a negative pressure release valve, both of which are fixed to the housing 101a. The movable piece 112 of the negative pressure control valve 110 is
It is tiltable about P as a fulcrum, and a tension correl spring 113 is connected to one end, and the other end faces the control solenoid SL ₁ . Movable piece 1
Both ends of 12 function as valve bodies, and they open the negative pressure intake port 10 in response to energization and deenergization of solenoid SL ₁ .
7 is open, the air intake port 108 is closed (state shown), or the negative pressure intake port 107 is closed, and the air intake port 108 is open.

Similarly to the negative pressure release valve 110, the movable piece 11
4, has a tension coil spring 115 and a solenoid SL ₂ , but the movable piece 114 is connected to the atmospheric air intake 1
09 is closed (state shown) or opened. Note that 116 is an accelerator pedal, and 117 is a tension coil spring.

3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, and 3e, the microcomputer of FIG.
This shows the general operation of the CPU. While referring to each figure,
We will explain the operation of the CPU step by step. Incidentally, when the vehicle moves, the reed switch SW2 is constantly turned on and off, and each time the reed switch SW2 is turned off, the microcomputer CPU executes the external interrupt processing shown in FIG. 3d.

First, when the power is turned on, initial settings are performed. That is, the output port is set to the initial level and the contents of the memory are cleared.

Inverts the level of output port Oo. That is, if this port Oo is set to a high level H, the level is set to a low level L, and if it is set to a low level, it is set to a high level H. This process is always executed at least once within a predetermined period of time if the CPU is operating normally.
As a result, a substantially constant periodic pulse signal is applied to the runaway detection circuit 20 from the CPU. The runaway detection circuit 20 sets the output level of the comparator CP to H when a pulse signal is applied, and turns on the transistor Q1.
Turn on and set the CPU RESET terminal to high level H. However, in the unlikely event that the CPU goes out of control, the port
When no pulse is generated at Oo, the output level of the comparator CP is inverted to L, turning off the transistor Q1 and applying a low level L to the reset terminal RESET of the CPU. When the reset terminal RESET becomes L, the CPU performs the same operation as when the power is turned on, so the runaway stops.

If the operation is progressing normally, the CPU reads the levels of input ports K0, K1, K2, K3, R1 to R5, etc., determines the operation of the switches as shown below, and responds according to the determined switch. Process.

If there is no change in the input (unless timers, flags, etc. are set), the step
A processing loop is executed which passes through S2-S3-S4-S42-S43, executes the multiple storage routine of FIG. 3c, and returns to step S2 again. In this case, the contents of the vehicle speed memory, target value register, flag, etc. do not change.

Clutch switch SW3 or stop switch
When SW4 is turned on or the vehicle speed falls below a predetermined value (for example, below 30 km/h), the output port level is set in a direction that does not energize the solenoid, and the contents of target value register R0 are cleared to cancel constant speed control. . Also clear all flags. As a result, if the constant speed driving mode is set, it is canceled. Furthermore, the release solenoid SL ₂ is deenergized so that the negative pressure actuator 100 quickly moves in the direction of closing the throttle valve. Next, the process advances to step S61, passes through the multiple storage routine, and returns to step S2.

When the set switch SW5 is turned on, the process proceeds through steps S9-S17-S18-S19-S20 for the first time, setting the set-on flag SET-ON to "1" and setting the control solenoid control duty to 5%. When the control solenoid control duty is 5%, the proportion of time that the negative pressure control valve 110 communicates the inside of the negative pressure actuator 100 with the atmosphere increases, so the negative pressure actuator 110 moves in the direction of closing the throttle valve, and the vehicle speed increases with time. descend. Actual control solenoid drive is performed in steps according to the set duty.
Do it with S43. When the set switch SW5 is pressed, the process proceeds to S61-S63-S72-S81... and exits the multiple storage routine, and then goes to S2-S3...S9-S17-S18.
-Proceed to S61.

When the set switch SW5 is turned off, the process proceeds to steps S9-S10-S11-S12-S13-S14, where the set-on flag SET-ON is cleared (0) and the set-off flag SET-OFF is set to 1. Next, proceed to step S61 to set the set-off flag SET.
-OFF is 1, so proceed as S69-S70-S81..., clear and start the 1-second timer for set, clear the set-off flag SET-OFF to "0",
Clear the contents of vehicle speed memory specification register RA.

When one of the numerical keys, that is, the vehicle speed memory selection switch, is turned on, the process proceeds through steps S72-S73-S81, and the value corresponding to the turned-on switch is stored in the vehicle speed memory designation register RA.

1 after the set switch SW5 was turned off.
When the seconds have elapsed, a time-over is detected in step S63, and the process proceeds to steps S64-S65-S66. This results in
The contents of the target value register R0 are stored in the vehicle speed memory specified by the contents of the register RA, and after a throttle initialization routine to be described later is executed, the operation mode is set to constant speed control mode.

Since the target value register R0 stores the vehicle speed at the moment when step S14 is executed, that is, the set switch SW5 is turned off, the vehicle speed at that time is stored in the memory specified by RA.

In this embodiment, switches NS1, NS2, NS
3. NS4 and NS5 are respectively set to vehicle speed memory 1,
There is a one-to-one correspondence with 2, 3, 4, and 5.
For example, when the numerical key 5 (NS5) is turned on after the set switch SW5 is operated, the vehicle speed when the SW5 is turned off is stored in the vehicle speed memory 5.

When the constant speed control mode is entered, steps S40-S41
-S42, and each time this process is executed, the control solenoid control duty is reset so that the contents of the target value register R0, that is, the stored speed and the current vehicle speed are equal. Set switch SW5
If the button is held down, the control duty will continue to be set at 5% in step S20, so the vehicle speed will gradually decrease.

When the resume switch SW6 is turned on, the sequence progresses from S31 to S44 to S45 to S46 to S47 to S48 to S43 for the first time, sets the resume on flag RESUME-ON to "1", and clears the 0.9 second timer for resume. Start. Next, S61...S81−S82−
Executes the processing loop that continues with S2. When the resume switch SW6 remains pressed (on) for 0.9 seconds, a time over is detected in step S48, and the process proceeds to S49, where the control solenoid control duty is set to 90%. When the control solenoid control duty is 90%, the proportion of time that the negative pressure control valve 110 communicates the inside of the negative pressure actuator 100 with the negative pressure source (intake manifold) increases, so the negative pressure actuator 110
moves in the direction of opening the throttle valve over time, increasing vehicle speed.

When the resume switch SW6 is turned off, steps S31-S32-S33-S34-S35-S36...
and proceed with resume on flag RESUME−ON
Clear to “0” and resume off flag
Set RESUME-OFF to “1”. If the ON time of resume switch SW6 is long and the 0.9 second timer has timed out, S36−S37−S38
-S39, the current vehicle speed is stored in the target value register R0, and the contents of the target value register are stored in the vehicle speed memory indicated by the contents of RA, as in the case of turning on/off the set switch SW5. Also, the resume-off flag RESUME-OFF is cleared to "0" so that the normal resume operation is not performed in the multiple storage routine.

If the resume switch SW6 turns off before the 0.9 second timer times out, the resume off flag RESUME-OFF is “1”, so
Proceed to S81-S89-S90, clear and start the 1 second timer for resume, and resume off flag
Clear RESUME-OFF to “0”. When one of the numeric keys, that is, the vehicle speed memory selection switch, is turned on, the process proceeds through S83-S92-S93, and the value corresponding to the turned-on switch is stored in the vehicle speed memory specification register.
Store in RA.

When one second passes after the resume switch SW6 is turned off, the one second timer for resume times out, so S81-S83-S84-S85-
The process proceeds to S86, and when the vehicle speed memory specified by the contents of the register RA, for example, the numerical key NS3, is operated, the contents stored in the vehicle speed memory 3 are stored in the target value register R0. Then, the throttle initialization routine S86 is executed to set the constant speed control mode. In constant speed control mode, the step
In steps S40-S41-S42-S43, the control solenoid control duty is updated so that the current vehicle speed approaches the contents of the target value register.

The throttle initialization routine will now be described with reference to FIG. 3e. Roughly speaking, this process is a prospective control (open loop control) in order to quickly drive the negative pressure actuator 100 to a predetermined position (throttle initial opening position). That is, the control solenoid control duty is set to a high value (90%), the time to continue this state is calculated in advance according to the contents of the target value register R0, this is set in a timer, and the timer sets the time. Continue 90% duty control until overload. When the time is over, set the constant speed control flag to set the constant speed mode.

External interrupt processing will be explained with reference to FIG. 3d. This process is performed by the reed switch for vehicle speed detection.
This is to find the on/off period of SW2. Every time this process is executed, that is, every time SW2 is turned off, the count value of the internal timer is read and the timer is cleared and started. Furthermore, if the count value of the timer is greater than or equal to a predetermined value (that is, the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined value), a low speed flag is set. When the low speed flag is set, the main routine proceeds from step S8 to S15, and the constant speed control mode is canceled in the same way as when the clutch pedal or brake pedal is operated.

Next, another embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of the device. Referring to FIG. 4, in this embodiment, four switches SA1, SA2, SA3 and SA4 are provided as set switches, and four switches SB1, SB2, SB3 and SB4 are provided as resume switches.

A part of the operation of the electronic control device shown in FIG. 4 is shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b. FIGS. 5a and 5b show the operation of the main routine corresponding to FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c of the embodiment described above. The interrupt handling and throttle initialization subroutines are the same as in the previous embodiment.

To explain the general operation, in this embodiment, each set switch and resume switch are associated with different vehicle speed memories. That is, SA1 and SB1 are vehicle speed memory 1, SA2 and SB2 are vehicle speed memory 2, SA3 and SB3 are vehicle speed memory 3, and SA4 and SB4 are vehicle speed memory 4.
are associated with each other. Therefore, for example, when the set switch SA2 is operated, the vehicle speed is stored in the vehicle speed memory 2, and the vehicle speed is stored in the vehicle speed memory 2.
By operating , the vehicle speed is controlled according to the contents of the vehicle speed memory 4.

This will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5a and 5b.
Set switches SA1, SA2, SA3 and SA4
When any of is turned on, steps S2−S3−S4
...S9-S17-S18-S19-S20..., the set-on flag SET-ON is set to "1", and the control solenoid control duty is set to 5%. Also, the value associated with the switch turned on is stored in the vehicle speed memory specification register RA. For example, when set switch SA3 is turned on, 3 is stored in register RA.

When the set switch that was turned on turns off, S2
−S3−S4……S9−S10−S11−S14−S64−S65−
Proceed to S66... i.e. set-on flag SET
- Clear ON to “0” and set target value register R0.
Store the current vehicle speed in , store the contents of target value register R0 in the vehicle speed memory according to the contents of register RA, clear the contents of register RA, and then execute the throttle initialization routine to enter constant speed control mode. Move.

When any of the resume switches SB1, SB2, SB3 and SB4 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S31-
Proceed as S44-S45-S46-S47..., set the resume-on flag RESUME-ON to 1, clear and start the 0.9 second timer for resume, and set the value associated with the resume switch that was turned on to the vehicle speed. Store in memory specification register RA. For example, when SB1 is turned on, 1 is stored in RA.

When the resume switch that was turned on turns off,
Step S31-S32-S33-S36... and clear the resume-on flag RESUME-ON to "0".
If the ON duration of the resume switch is less than 0.9 seconds, it progresses in the order of S84-S85-S86... and registers.
The contents of the vehicle speed memory specified by the contents of RA are stored in the target value register R0, and after executing the throttle initialization routine, the mode shifts to constant speed control mode.

If the ON duration of the resume switch exceeds 0.9 seconds, a time-over is detected in S36 and S37-
Proceed with S38. In this case, the vehicle speed at that time is stored in the target value register R0, and the contents of R0 are stored in the register RA, similar to when the set switch is operated.
The speed is stored in the vehicle speed memory specified by . Note that if a time-over occurs, step S49 is executed before performing this process, so while the resume switch is on, the control solenoid control duty is maintained at 90%, and the vehicle speed gradually increases. .

In the above embodiment, the number of vehicle speed memory selection switches in the former embodiment and the set switches and resume switches in the latter embodiment are set equal to the number of vehicle speed memories, but the number of vehicle speed memories is greater than the number of switches. You may increase the number of . For example, in the former embodiment, there are five vehicle speed memory selection switches (NS1 to NS5), and there are 32 combinations of on/off states that can be expressed by these switches, so the states of the five switches can be viewed at the same time. can select one of 32 vehicle speed memories. However, in this case, the selection of the vehicle speed memory involves the operation of a plurality of switches, resulting in somewhat poor operability.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned embodiment is one aspect of the present invention, and the present invention can be practiced even if the configuration and operation of the device are partially changed, for example, as described below.

(a) The throttle drive means is not limited to the negative pressure actuator, but may also be replaced by a motor such as a stepping motor.

(b) The electronic control device does not necessarily need to use a microcomputer, but may be constructed from general logic circuits or analog circuits. When configured with an analog circuit, for example, the vehicle speed detection pulse is
The voltage may be converted into a voltage through a V conversion circuit, and the vehicle speed memory may be a sampling and holding circuit using a capacitor, an analog gate, etc.

(c) The vehicle speed detection means may be of any type as long as it can provide a frequency output or an analog output according to the vehicle speed.

(d) For example, a switch is a set switch and a resume switch that are housed in one case, and when the top is pressed, the set switch is turned on (the resume switch is turned off), and when the bottom is pressed, the resume switch is turned on. The setting switch may be turned on (the set switch is turned off). Further, the vehicle speed memory selection switch may be configured like a numeric keypad.

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of target vehicle speeds can be stored and reproduced by a switch operation, so if a predetermined type of vehicle speed is stored in advance, the controlled vehicle speed can be changed by a simple switch operation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a negative pressure actuator controlled by the electric circuit of FIG. 1. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, and 3e are flowcharts showing the general operation of the microcomputer CPU of FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the device configuration of another embodiment. Figures 5a and 5b are
5 is a flowchart schematically showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4. 10: Electronic control device (electronic control means), 20:
Runaway detection circuit, 30: Stabilized power supply circuit, 100:
Negative pressure actuator (throttle drive means), 1
01: Housing, 102: Diaphragm, 10
3: Compression coil spring, 104: Protrusion, 10
5: Throttle valve, 106: Intake manifold, 107: Negative pressure intake, 108, 10
9: Atmospheric intake, 110: Negative pressure control valve, 111:
Negative pressure release valve, 112, 114: Movable piece, 116:
Accelerator pedal, 117: Tension coil spring, SW1: Ignition key switch, SW
2: Reed switch (vehicle speed detection means), SW3:
Clutch switch, SW4: Stop switch,
SW5: Set switch (set switch means),
SW6: Reduction switch (resume switch means), NS1 to NS5: (memory selection switch means), SL ₁ : Control solenoid, SL ₂ : Release solenoid, CPU: Microcomputer,
IF1, IF2, IF3, IF4, IF5: Interface circuit, DV1, DV2: Driver, CP: Comparator.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1 Throttle driving means connected to the throttle valve; Set switch means; Restriction switch means; Memory selection switch means; Vehicle speed detection means; and a vehicle speed memory having an area for storing a plurality of target vehicle speeds. When the set switch means is activated,
A value corresponding to the output signal of the vehicle speed detection means is stored in the area of the vehicle speed memory specified by the operation of the memory selection switch means, and when the resume switch means is operated, the value of the vehicle speed memory specified by the operation of the memory selection switch means is stored. reading the contents of the area and energizing the throttle drive means according to the contents;
A vehicle speed control device comprising: electronic control means; 2 Throttle driving means connected to the throttle valve; a plurality of set switch means; a plurality of volume switch means; a vehicle speed detection means; and a vehicle speed memory having an area for storing a plurality of target vehicle speeds, at least one of the set switch means.
When activated, among the multiple areas of vehicle speed memory,
A value corresponding to the output signal of the vehicle speed detection means is stored in an area associated with the activated set switch means, and when at least one of the resume switch means is activated, the activated resume switch is stored in the area associated with the activated set switch means. A vehicle speed control device comprising: electronic control means for reading the contents of a region associated with the means and energizing the throttle drive means according to the contents.