JPH0451374B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a constant speed traveling device for an automobile that is used to automatically control the traveling speed of an automobile to a certain set speed.

(Prior Art) There are various configurations of this type of constant speed vehicle for automobiles, but some of them include:
A vehicle speed sensor that generates a signal proportional to the actual vehicle speed,
A command switch including a set switch and a resume switch that generates a cruise command signal, a vehicle speed memory unit that stores the vehicle speed when the set switch and the resume switch are operated, an actuator that drives a throttle valve, and the actual vehicle speed and the stored vehicle speed. There is a constant speed traveling device for an automobile that includes a controller that sends a command to the actuator in response to the difference between the two.

In this constant speed vehicle driving system, by operating a set switch and a resume switch, the speed at the time of the operation is memorized, and the control and actuator are operated according to the difference between the stored vehicle speed and the actual vehicle speed. The actual vehicle speed is set to the memorized vehicle speed by driving a throttle valve to drive the vehicle at a constant speed, which is convenient when driving on a highway.

However, in such conventional constant speed traveling devices for automobiles, the initialization time at the time of resuming is the same as the initialization time at the time of setting (see Figure 5), so there is no initial feeling of acceleration when resuming, and the vehicle There was a problem in that the response was slow, which reduced driving maneuverability.

(Purpose of the Invention) This invention was made by focusing on the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is possible to improve driving maneuverability compared to the conventional method by increasing the feeling of acceleration immediately after operating the resume switch. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a constant speed traveling device for automobiles that enables the following.

(Structure of the Invention) The present invention includes a vehicle speed sensor that generates a signal proportional to the actual vehicle speed, a command switch that includes a set switch that generates a cruise command signal, and a resume switch that generates a resume command signal;
a vehicle speed storage means for storing a vehicle speed signal when the set switch is operated as a stored vehicle speed signal; an actuator having a throttle valve drive circuit for driving a throttle valve; and a controller that sends a control signal to the actuator,
In the constant speed driving device for an automobile, the vehicle is equipped with a set initialize signal generating means that generates a set initialize signal having a predetermined time width based on an edge signal when the set switch is operated. connected to,
Based on the edge signal of the resume command signal generated by the resume switch, a resume initialize signal whose time width is larger than the time width of the set initialize signal is generated, and this resume initialize signal is applied to the actuator. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a resume initialization signal generating means for supplying the throttle valve drive circuit.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a circuit configuration of a constant speed traveling device for an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention,
In FIG. 1, 1 is a vehicle speed sensor that generates a vehicle speed signal proportional to the actual vehicle speed, and 2 is a command switch. This command switch 2 includes a set switch 2a that generates a cruise command signal and a rigid switch that generates a resume command signal. Yum Switch 2
b is included. Outputs from the vehicle speed sensor 1 and command switch 2 are input to a microcomputer 6 also within the controller 3 via interfaces 4 and 5 within the controller 3, respectively. This microcomputer 6 has a built-in vehicle speed storage section (vehicle speed storage means) that stores the vehicle speed when the set switch 2a of the command switch 2 is operated.

Moreover, 10 is an actuator, and this actuator 10 is equipped with a vent valve 11, a safety valve 12, and a vacuum valve 13, as shown in FIG. It is open to the atmosphere, and one end of the vacuum valve 13 is connected to an intake manifold (negative pressure source).
Further, the other end of each valve 11, 12, 13 communicates with a negative pressure chamber 17 formed by the casing 15 and one side of the diaphragm 16 (right side in FIG. 2), and the other end of the diaphragm 16 One end of a control wire 18 is connected to the control wire 18 (left side in FIG. 2), and the other end of the control wire 18 is connected to a throttle valve shaft 19.

Further, 21 is a vent valve switching unit located within the controller 3 and controls the vent valve 11 on and off according to the output from the microcomputer 6, and 22 is also located within the controller 3 and controls the vent valve 11 according to the output from the microcomputer 6. The vacuum valve switching unit 23 is also located in the controller 3 and is an actuator switching unit that turns on and off the power supply to the actuator 10 in accordance with the output from the microcomputer 6. At this time, the power supply is turned on and off via a relay 25 consisting of a relay coil 25a and a relay switch 25b.

Further, 27 is a brake switch, and 28 is a brake lamp, which sends a signal to the controller to cancel the system when the brake is operated.
The data is input to the microcomputer 6 via an interface 29 within the computer.

Furthermore, 31 is a constant voltage circuit, 32 is a reset circuit, 33 is a power source, 34 is a main switch for the control device, and 35 is a cruise lamp.

FIG. 3 shows a control circuit in the microcomputer 6 that sets the time width of the initialization signal at the time of resume to be longer than the time width of the initialization signal at the time of setting, thereby increasing the feeling of acceleration immediately after the resume operation. This control circuit 41 includes an edge detection section 42 that detects an edge signal of a resume command signal generated when the resume switch 2b is turned off after being turned on; a resume initialize section 43 (resume initialize signal generating means) that generates a resume initialize signal having a time width longer than the time width of the initialize signal at the time of setting based on the detection of the edge signal; OR in which one terminal inputs the signal from the set switch 2a and the other terminal inputs the signal from the resume initialization section 43.
a circuit 44, an edge detection section 45 that detects an edge signal of the output signal of the OR circuit 44, and a set initialization section 45 that generates a set initialization signal of a predetermined time width based on the edge detection of the edge detection section 45. A rise section 46 (set initialize signal generating means), one terminal inputs the signal from the set initialize section 46 and the other terminal inputs the signal from the resume initialize section 43. The output from the OR circuit 47 is input to a throttle valve drive circuit 48 to drive the throttle valve system.

Next, to explain the operation of the constant speed traveling device for automobiles having such a configuration, including FIGS. 4 and 5, first, in order to operate the constant speed traveling device for automobiles, the main switch 34 is turned on. I'll keep it. The vehicle speed sensor 1 generates pulses proportional to the actual vehicle speed as a vehicle speed signal, inputs this pulse signal into the microcomputer 6 in the controller 3, samples it within a fixed period, and constantly records the number of pulses proportional to the vehicle speed. Let the computer 6 recognize it. In this state, for example, a set signal is sent by the set switch 2a of the command switch 2 at time t1 shown in FIG. 4, and a _third signal is sent at time _t2 when the set signal is released.
At the same time as the edge detection section 45 shown in the figure detects the release of the set signal, the cruise lamp 35 lights up, and the set initialization section 46 generates a set initialization signal of a predetermined time width, and the microcomputer 6 At the same time, the vent valve 11 and the safety valve 12 close to isolate the negative pressure chamber 17 from the atmosphere, and the vacuum valve 13 opens to close the negative pressure chamber. Introducing negative pressure into 17,
Via the control wire 18 the throttle valve shaft 19 can be held in position.
After this, even if the accelerator pedal is released, the throttle valve shaft 19 is held at a position corresponding to the vehicle speed at time _t2 , so that constant speed driving is performed. After this, a control signal is sent to the actuator 10 so that the number of pulses corresponding to the detected actual vehicle speed becomes equal to the stored number of pulses (that is, the stored vehicle speed), and the vent valve switching section By controlling the vent valve 11 and the vacuum valve 13 on and off through the vacuum valve switching section 21 and the vacuum valve switching section 22, the negative pressure state in the negative pressure chamber 17 of the actuator 10 is controlled. When the pressure decreases by a predetermined value, the vacuum valve switching unit 22 controlled by the microcomputer 6 operates to turn on the vacuum valve 13 and introduce negative pressure into the negative pressure chamber 17, thereby reducing the throttle valve shaft. 1
9 slightly in the valve opening direction to increase the vehicle speed. On the other hand, when the actual vehicle speed becomes greater than the memorized vehicle speed by a predetermined value, the microcomputer 6
By operating the vent valve switching section 21 controlled by the vent valve 11, the vent valve 11 is turned off and atmospheric air is introduced into the negative pressure chamber 17, thereby slightly rotating the throttle valve shaft 19 in the valve closing direction. Decrease vehicle speed. By repeating such operations, the vehicle speed is controlled to be constant.

Further, when you want to reduce the speed of constant speed driving, if you keep pressing the set switch 2a at time _t3 in Fig. 4, atmospheric air is introduced into the negative pressure chamber 17, the vehicle speed is reduced by engine braking, and the set switch 2a is pressed. The vehicle speed signal at time _t4 is memorized and the vehicle resumes constant speed driving. Then, at time _t5 when the brake is operated, the system is canceled and the vehicle speed is reduced to the lower limit (for example, 40 to 50 km/hr).
When the resume switch 2b is operated at time _t6 before the time t6 is reached, a resume command signal is generated, and an edge signal when the resume switch 2b is operated to release is detected by the edge detector 42,
In the resume initialization section 43, the fifth
A resume initialize signal with a longer time width (conventional time width + α) than the time width of the conventional resume initialize signal (equal to the time width of the set initialize signal) shown in the figure is given, and the vehicle speed increases. rises again. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, since the time width of the resume initialize signal is set longer than in the conventional case, a stronger sense of acceleration of the automobile can be obtained. Then, when the vehicle speed increases and reaches the speed before the brake operation, constant speed driving is resumed, and when the resume switch 2b is continued to be operated at time _t7 , the vehicle speed gradually increases until the time when the resume switch 2b is turned off.
The speed at t ₈ is memorized and the vehicle runs at a constant speed until time t _9.
The system is released when the clutch is operated in the case of a manual transmission vehicle, or when the torque converter lever position is set to N or P in the case of an automatic transmission vehicle.

(Effect of the invention) As explained above, according to this invention,
A vehicle speed sensor that generates a signal proportional to the actual vehicle speed,
A command switch including a set switch that generates a cruise command signal and a resume switch that generates a resume command signal, a vehicle speed storage means that stores a vehicle speed signal when the set switch is operated as a memory vehicle speed signal, and a throttle that drives a throttle valve. The controller includes an actuator having a valve drive circuit, and a controller that sends a control signal to the actuator in response to the difference between the actual vehicle speed signal and the stored vehicle speed signal. In a constant speed traveling device for an automobile equipped with a set initialize signal generating means for generating a set initialize signal having a predetermined time width, the vehicle is connected to the above-mentioned resume switch, and is connected to the resume command signal generated by the resume switch. Based on the edge signal, a resume initialize signal whose time width is larger than the time width of the set initialize signal is generated, and this resume initialize signal is supplied to the throttle valve drive circuit of the actuator. Since the structure is equipped with a means for generating an initialize signal, the feeling of acceleration immediately after the resume operation can be further enhanced compared to the conventional case, and it is possible to further improve driving maneuverability. Significant effects can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the circuit configuration of a constant speed traveling device for an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory longitudinal cross-sectional view of an actuator, and Fig. 3 is a control circuit for initializing at set time and initializing at resume time. FIG. 4 is a time-lapse explanatory diagram illustrating changes in each valve and vehicle speed due to command switch operation, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing vehicle speed due to differences in time width of resume initialization signals of conventional and present inventions. FIG. 1...Vehicle speed sensor, 2...Command switch,
2a...Set switch, 2b...Resume switch, 3...Controller, 6...Microcomputer, 10...Actuator, 19...
Throttle valve shaft, 41... Control circuit, 43...
...Resume initialization section, 46...Set initialization section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle speed sensor that generates a vehicle speed signal proportional to the actual vehicle speed, a command switch including a set switch that generates a cruise command signal, and a resume switch that generates a resume command signal, and a vehicle speed signal when the set switch is operated as a memorized vehicle speed signal. An actuator having a throttle valve drive circuit for driving a throttle valve; and a controller for sending a control signal to the actuator in response to a difference between the actual vehicle speed signal and the stored vehicle speed signal. , in a constant speed driving device for an automobile, comprising a set initialize signal generating means for generating a set initialize signal with a predetermined duration based on an edge signal when the set switch is operated; is connected to and generates a resume initialize signal whose time width is larger than the time width of the set initialize signal based on the edge signal of the resume command signal generated by the resume switch. A constant speed traveling device for an automobile, comprising a resume initialization signal generating means for supplying a signal to a throttle valve drive circuit of an actuator.