Vehicle control device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle control device capable of improving safety in a vehicle having a cruise control function.SOLUTION: A vehicle control device includes: a notification part 4 that notifies a driver of various information; an accelerator opening degree sensor 14 that detects an accelerator opening degree which is an opening degree of an accelerator pedal 13 operated by a driver; and a control part 5 that automatically activates a cruise control function with a setting vehicle speed set to a current vehicle speed when an accelerator operation by the driver is detected and it is determined that a rate of change in the vehicle speed in a predetermined time is less than a determination value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle control device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cruise control function is known that allows a vehicle to travel at a constant speed set by the driver.

[0003] Generally, the driver must operate a button or the like to activate the cruise control function.

[0004] Patent document 1 describes that in the auto cruise set state, the actual vehicle speed when the set switch is turned on is set as the target vehicle speed, and feedback control is performed to maintain the actual vehicle speed at the target vehicle speed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-202537 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Although the cruise control function is generally activated when the driving conditions allow, it requires the driver to pay attention to the button operation, even if only for a moment, which is not desirable from a safety perspective and leaves room for improvement.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle control device that can improve safety in a vehicle having a cruise control function. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a vehicle control device that has an accelerator opening sensor that detects accelerator operation by the driver and has a cruise control function that maintains the vehicle speed set by the driver and drives at a constant speed, and that has a control unit that, when accelerator operation by the driver is detected and it is determined that the rate of change of vehicle speed over a specified period of time is less than a judgment value, automatically activates the cruise control function with the vehicle speed at that time as the set vehicle speed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] In this way, according to the present invention, safety can be improved in a vehicle having a cruise control function. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the cruise control operation control process of the vehicle control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A vehicle control device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle control device that has an accelerator opening sensor that detects accelerator operation by the driver and has a cruise control function that maintains the vehicle speed set by the driver and drives at a constant speed, and is configured to have a control unit that, when accelerator operation by the driver is detected and it is determined that the rate of change of vehicle speed over a predetermined period of time is less than a judgment value, automatically activates the cruise control function with the vehicle speed at that time as the set vehicle speed.

[0012] As a result, the vehicle control device according to the embodiment of the present invention can improve safety in a vehicle having a cruise control function. [Example]

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] In FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 equipped with a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an engine 2, a transmission 3, a notification unit 4, and a control unit 5.

[0015] The engine 2 is formed with a plurality of cylinders. In this embodiment, the engine 2 is configured so that each cylinder undergoes a series of four strokes, which are an intake stroke, a compression stroke, an expansion stroke, and an exhaust stroke.

[0016] The transmission 3 changes the speed of the rotation output from the engine 2 and drives the drive wheels 10 via a drive shaft 11. The transmission 3 is equipped with a constant mesh type speed change mechanism made up of a parallel shaft gear mechanism (not shown).

[0017] The transmission 3 is configured such that the gear stages in the transmission mechanism are changed by an actuator (not shown) controlled by the control unit 5.

[0018] The notification unit 4 is composed of, for example, a monitor device, a speaker, a lamp, a meter, a buzzer, etc., and notifies the driver of various information visually, audibly, etc.

[0019] The control unit 5 is composed of a computer unit equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), flash memory for storing backup data, etc., input ports, and output ports.

[0020] The ROM of this computer unit stores a program for causing the computer unit to function as the control unit 5, along with various constants and maps.

[0021] That is, the CPU executes the program stored in the ROM using the RAM as a work area, and this computer unit functions as the control unit 5 in this embodiment.

[0022] To the input port of the control unit 5, various sensors such as a vehicle speed sensor 12, an accelerator opening sensor 14, a brake switch 16, etc. are connected.

[0023] The vehicle speed sensor 12 detects the speed of the vehicle 1 from the rotational speed of the drive wheels 10, etc. The accelerator position sensor 14 detects the accelerator position, which is the position of the accelerator pedal 13 operated by the driver. The brake switch 16 detects whether the brake pedal 15 is depressed by the driver.

[0024] On the other hand, various control objects including an injector and a throttle valve (not shown) are connected to the output port of the control unit 5. The injector supplies fuel to the engine 2. The throttle valve adjusts the amount of intake air of the engine 2. The control unit 5 controls the injector, throttle valve, etc., to control the operation of the engine 2.

[0025] The control unit 5 controls a variable speed limiter function that allows the user to arbitrarily set an upper limit for the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1.

[0026] The control unit 5 controls cruise control, which causes the vehicle 1 to travel at a constant speed while maintaining a predetermined vehicle speed.

[0027] For this reason, the control unit 5 is equipped with a cruise control control unit 51. For example, when a cruise control switch provided on the instrument panel is turned on, the cruise control control unit 51 controls the throttle opening, fuel injection amount, etc. so that the vehicle 1 travels at a constant speed, maintaining a preset vehicle speed. For example, the cruise control control unit 51 calculates a torque value required of the engine 2 to make the vehicle 1 travel at the set vehicle speed from the difference between the set vehicle speed and the current vehicle speed of the vehicle 1, calculates the throttle opening, fuel injection amount, etc. from the torque value, and controls the throttle valve and injectors to control the cruise control that travels the vehicle 1 at a constant speed at the set vehicle speed.

[0028] When the control unit 5 detects an accelerator operation by the driver of the vehicle 1 and determines that the rate of change in the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1 over a predetermined time period is less than a determination value, the control unit 5 automatically activates the cruise control function with the vehicle speed at that time as the set vehicle speed. Note that the control unit 5 may also automatically activate the cruise control function with the vehicle speed at that time as the set vehicle speed when it determines that the rate of change in the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1 is less than the determination value and the vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance or more.

[0029] When the control unit 5 determines that the state in which the vehicle is traveling at the upper limit vehicle speed set by the variable speed limiter function has continued for a predetermined time, it automatically activates the cruise control function with the upper limit vehicle speed as the set vehicle speed.

[0030] The control unit 5 acquires speed limit information for the road on which the vehicle 1 is currently traveling, and automatically activates the cruise control function only when the current vehicle speed of the vehicle 1 is within a range from a speed that is a predetermined value lower than the speed limit to the speed limit.

[0031] For this purpose, the control unit 5 includes a position information acquisition unit 52 and a speed limit information acquisition unit 53.

[0032] The location information acquisition unit 52 receives radio waves from a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellite using, for example, a GNSS receiver (not shown), and acquires the latitude and longitude of the current location from information contained in the received radio waves.

[0033] The speed limit information acquisition unit 53 acquires road information such as the road type and speed limit of the current location of the vehicle 1, for example, from map information of a navigation device (not shown). The speed limit information acquisition unit 53 may also acquire road information such as the road type and speed limit from a server device or a roadside communication device via a communication unit (not shown), for example.

[0034] The control unit 5 automatically activates the cruise control function when the speed limit of the road on which the vehicle 1 is currently traveling continues for a predetermined distance or more from the point where the speed limit information was acquired.

[0035] The control unit 5 notifies the driver by the notification unit 4 that the cruise control function has been automatically activated.

[0036] The cruise control operation control process performed by the vehicle control device according to this embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The cruise control operation control process described below starts when the control unit 5 starts operation, and is executed at preset time intervals.

[0037] In step S1, the control unit 5 acquires the speed limit of the road on which the vehicle 1 is currently traveling. After executing the process of step S1, the control unit 5 executes the process of step S2.

[0038] In step S2, the control unit 5 determines whether the speed limit does not change by a predetermined distance or more from the current point.

[0039] If it is determined that the speed limit does not change by more than the predetermined distance from the current location, the control unit 5 executes the process of step S3. If it is determined that the speed limit will change within the predetermined distance from the current location, the control unit 5 ends the cruise control activation control process.

[0040] In step S3, the control unit 5 determines whether the current vehicle speed of the vehicle 1 is within a range from a speed that is lower than the speed limit by a predetermined value to the speed limit.

[0041] If it is determined that the current vehicle speed of the vehicle 1 is within the range from a speed that is lower than the speed limit by a predetermined value to the speed limit, the control unit 5 executes the process of step S4. If it is determined that the current vehicle speed of the vehicle 1 is not within the range from a speed that is lower than the speed limit by a predetermined value to the speed limit, the control unit 5 ends the cruise control activation control process.

[0042] In step S4, the control unit 5 determines whether or not the rate of change in the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1 over a predetermined time period is less than a determination value.

[0043] If it is determined that the rate of change in the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1 over the predetermined time is less than the determination value, the control unit 5 executes the process of step S5. If it is determined that the rate of change in the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1 over the predetermined time is not less than the determination value, the control unit 5 ends the cruise control operation control process.

[0044] In step S5, the control unit 5 activates the cruise control function. After executing the process of step S5, the control unit 5 executes the process of step S6.

[0045] In step S6, the control unit 5 notifies the driver that the cruise control function has been automatically activated by the notification unit 4. After executing the process of step S6, the control unit 5 ends the cruise control activation control process.

[0046] Thus, in this embodiment, when the control unit 5 detects accelerator operation by the driver of the vehicle 1 and determines that the rate of change in the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1 over a predetermined period of time is less than a judgment value, it automatically activates the cruise control function, setting the vehicle speed at that time as the set vehicle speed.

[0047] This allows the cruise control function to be automatically activated when there is little change in vehicle speed over a certain period of time, making it possible to use the cruise control function without operating buttons, etc., thereby improving safety.

[0048] Furthermore, when the control unit 5 determines that the state in which the vehicle is traveling at the upper limit vehicle speed set by the variable speed limiter function has continued for a predetermined time, it automatically activates the cruise control function with the upper limit vehicle speed as the set vehicle speed.

[0049] If the vehicle continues to travel at the upper limit speed set by the variable speed limiter function, it can be determined that the driver likely intends to drive at a constant speed, and control that goes against the driver's intentions can be prevented.

[0050] In addition, the control unit 5 acquires speed limit information for the road on which the vehicle 1 is currently traveling, and automatically activates the cruise control function only when the current vehicle speed of the vehicle 1 is within a range from a speed that is a predetermined value lower than the speed limit to the speed limit.

[0051] If the speed limit is exceeded or the vehicle is traveling at a speed that is far below the speed limit, the driving conditions are not desirable and the operation of the cruise control function is inappropriate. Therefore, by not automatically activating the cruise control function, the continuation of the undesirable driving conditions can be prevented.

[0052] Furthermore, the control unit 5 automatically activates the cruise control function when the speed limit of the road on which the vehicle 1 is currently traveling continues for a predetermined distance or more from the point where the speed limit information was acquired.

[0053] This prevents the cruise control function from being automatically activated when the speed limit is about to change, thereby preventing unnecessary control from being performed.

[0054] Furthermore, the control unit 5 notifies the driver through the notification unit 4 that the cruise control function has been automatically activated.

[0055] This allows the driver to recognize that the cruise control function has been activated automatically, and can prevent the driver from continuing unnecessary operations while the cruise control function is activated.

[0056] In this embodiment, an example has been described in which the control unit 5 performs various judgments and calculations based on various sensor information, but this is not limited to this. The vehicle 1 may be provided with a communication unit capable of communicating with an external device such as an external server, and various judgments and calculations may be performed by the external device based on the detection information of the various sensors transmitted from the communication unit. The judgment results and calculation results may be received by the communication unit, and various controls may be performed using the received judgment results and calculation results.

[0057] While an embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention, and it is intended that all such modifications and equivalents be included in the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1 vehicle 2 engines 4. Notification Department 5. Control section 12 Vehicle speed sensor 14 Accelerator opening sensor 51 Cruise control control unit 52 Location information acquisition unit 53 Speed ​​limit information acquisition unit

Claims

1. Equipped with an accelerator opening sensor that detects the driver's accelerator operation, A control device for a vehicle having a cruise control function that maintains a vehicle speed set by a driver and travels at a constant speed, A vehicle control device that has a control unit that automatically activates a cruise control function when accelerator operation by the driver is detected and it is determined that the rate of change of vehicle speed over a predetermined period of time is less than a judgment value, setting the vehicle speed at that time as a set vehicle speed.

2. The vehicle has a variable speed limiter function that allows a user to arbitrarily set an upper limit of vehicle speed, 2. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit, when determining that the vehicle is traveling at the upper limit vehicle speed set by the variable speed limiter function for a predetermined period of time, automatically activates a cruise control function with the upper limit vehicle speed set as a set vehicle speed.

3. the control unit is configured to be able to acquire speed limit information of a road currently being traveled; 3. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit automatically activates the cruise control function only when the current vehicle speed of the vehicle is within a range from a speed lower than the speed limit by a predetermined value to the speed limit.

4. 4. The vehicle control device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit automatically activates a cruise control function when the speed limit of the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling continues for a predetermined distance or more from the point where the speed limit information was obtained.

5. 3. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit notifies the driver that the cruise control function has been automatically activated.

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