Vehicle control device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle control device that allows a vehicle occupant to easily visually recognize that an eco mode is selected. [Solution] The vehicle is equipped with an adaptive cruise control (ACC) control unit that executes an ACC function that maintains a set vehicle speed and drives at a constant speed when there is no preceding vehicle in the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, and maintains a set distance to follow the preceding vehicle when there is a preceding vehicle traveling at a speed slower than the set vehicle speed, a meter display installed on the instrument panel, and a display control unit that controls the display of the meter display.The ACC function has two driving modes: a normal mode with normal energy efficiency and an eco mode with better energy efficiency than the normal mode, and the display control unit switches the display of the meter display depending on whether the normal mode or the eco mode is set as the driving mode of the ACC function.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle control device, and more particularly to a vehicle control device that controls the display of an adaptive cruise control function. [Background technology]

[0002] An adaptive cruise control (ACC) function is known that controls a vehicle to maintain an appropriate distance from a preceding vehicle when there is one, and to travel at a constant speed when there is no preceding vehicle. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle control device that has a normal mode and an eco mode as driving modes for a vehicle that can execute constant speed driving control. The eco mode is a driving mode for achieving fuel-efficient driving. When the eco mode is selected by the driver, the vehicle is accelerated at a second acceleration rate that is lower than the first acceleration rate in response to an acceleration request in the normal mode. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7333230 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] With growing interest in environmental issues, the eco mode, which allows for fuel-efficient driving, is an effective vehicle driving mode for improving the fuel economy, i.e., energy efficiency, of a vehicle. Therefore, there is a need for a means for vehicle occupants to easily visually recognize that the vehicle is driving in the eco mode.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a vehicle control device that can easily allow vehicle occupants to visually recognize that eco mode has been selected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Book invention One According to an embodiment, a vehicle control device includes an ACC control unit configured to execute an adaptive cruise control function that maintains a set vehicle speed and drives at a constant speed when there is no preceding vehicle in the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, and that maintains a set inter-vehicle distance and drives to follow the preceding vehicle when there is a preceding vehicle traveling at a speed lower than the set vehicle speed; a meter display installed on an instrument panel at the front of the vehicle; and a display control unit configured to control the display of the meter display.The adaptive cruise control function has driving modes including a normal mode with normal energy efficiency and an eco mode with better energy efficiency than the normal mode.The display control unit switches the display of the meter display between when the normal mode is set as the driving mode of the adaptive cruise control function and when the eco mode is set.When the normal mode is set, the display control unit displays a first display on the meter display.When the eco mode is set, the display control unit displays a second display on the meter display with letters and / or figures added to the first display.When the eco mode is set, the second display flashes when the driving state of the vehicle is more energy efficient than the normal mode. According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle control device includes an ACC control unit configured to execute an adaptive cruise control function that maintains a set vehicle speed and travels at a constant speed when there is no preceding vehicle in the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, and that maintains a set inter-vehicle distance and travels to follow the preceding vehicle when there is a preceding vehicle traveling at a speed equal to or slower than the set vehicle speed; a meter display installed on an instrument panel at the front of the vehicle; and a display control unit configured to control the display of the meter display, wherein the adaptive cruise control function has, as driving modes, a normal mode with normal energy efficiency and an eco mode with better energy efficiency than the normal mode, and the display control unit switches the display of the meter display between when the normal mode is set as the driving mode of the adaptive cruise control function and when the eco mode is set, and displays a first display on the meter display when the normal mode is set, and displays a second display, in which characters and / or figures are added to the first display, on the meter display when the eco mode is set. the ACC control unit has a plurality of set accelerations to be selected when the vehicle accelerates in each of the normal mode and the eco mode, the plurality of set accelerations including at least a first set acceleration corresponding to a lowest acceleration selectable in the adaptive cruise control function and a second set acceleration higher than the first set acceleration, the first set acceleration in the eco mode and the first set acceleration in the normal mode being equal, and the second set acceleration in the eco mode being lower than the second set acceleration in the normal mode, the display control unit does not flash the second indication or change the display color of the second indication when the first set acceleration is selected in the eco mode, and does not flash the second indication or change the display color of the second indication when the second set acceleration is selected in the eco mode,Or the display color of the second display is changed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The vehicle control device according to the present invention can easily allow a vehicle occupant to visually recognize that the eco mode has been selected. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an example of the display when normal mode is selected. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an example of a display when the eco mode is selected. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle control device 1 according to this embodiment. The vehicle control device 1 according to this embodiment is configured to perform display control, particularly for an adaptive cruise control (ACC) function executed in the vehicle.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle control device 1 includes an imaging device 11, an obstacle detection device 12, a vehicle speed sensor 13 that detects the vehicle speed, an ACC switch unit 14, a controller 20, a braking device 30, a drive device 40, and a meter display 50.

[0011] The imaging device 11 is configured to capture an image of the area around the vehicle. The imaging device 11 is configured as a digital camera having an imaging element such as a CCD or CMOS, and is configured to output information about the area around the vehicle as still images and / or videos. The image data of the area around the vehicle captured by the imaging device 11 is input to the controller 20.

[0012] The obstacle detection device 12 is configured to detect obstacles around the vehicle and measure the relative distance (inter-vehicle distance) between the vehicle and the obstacle. For example, a millimeter-wave radar, a sonar sensor, or a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) can be used as the obstacle detection device 12. The distance measurement by the obstacle detection device 12 is dynamically performed at a predetermined measurement period. The distance between the vehicle and the obstacle detected by the obstacle detection device 12 is input to the controller 20. The obstacles present around the vehicle include a preceding vehicle present ahead in the lane in which the vehicle is traveling.

[0013] The ACC switch unit 14 is operated by the driver and is configured to accept various operational inputs related to the ACC function described below. The ACC switch unit 14 includes, for example, an on / off switch operated to switch the ACC function on and off, a vehicle speed setting switch for setting the vehicle speed in the ACC function, a following distance setting switch for setting the following distance in the ACC function, and a mode selection switch for switching the driving mode of the ACC function described below.

[0014] The ACC switch unit 14 is configured as, for example, a steering switch installed on a steering wheel (not shown). The ACC switch unit 14 may be configured as independent switches each corresponding to a different role, or may be configured so that multiple roles are assigned to a single switch. For example, an on / off switch for turning the ACC function on and off and a mode selection switch for switching the driving mode of the ACC function may be configured as a single switch. Alternatively, the ACC switch unit 14 may be configured as, for example, a touch panel integrated with a navigation system display located in the center of the instrument panel at the front of the vehicle.

[0015] The controller 20 is configured by a computer including, for example, a ROM that stores programs and data, a CPU that performs arithmetic processing, a RAM that stores dynamic data and arithmetic processing results, an input / output interface, etc. The controller 20 is configured to execute the functions of the ACC control unit 21, the display control unit 22, etc., and to control the entire vehicle control device 1. Details of the control by the controller 20 will be described later.

[0016] The braking device 30 is a braking device that generates a braking force on the vehicle in accordance with the amount of depression of the brake pedal (not shown) by the driver, and is equipped with a brake controller and a brake actuator for generating a braking force in accordance with the vehicle system or the braking command of the controller 20.

[0017] The drive unit 40 is configured to generate a drive force for running the vehicle, and includes an engine controller (not shown) that controls the drive force in accordance with the amount of depression of an accelerator pedal (not shown) by the driver or in accordance with a control command from the controller 20. Note that the drive unit 40 of the vehicle may be, for example, an internal combustion engine, a motor, or the like.

[0018] The meter display 50 is a display device installed on the instrument panel at the front of the vehicle and configured to visually provide vehicle-related information to the driver. The meter display 50 is configured, for example, as a liquid crystal display and functions as a combination meter having multiple functions, such as a speedometer, tachometer, and fuel meter. The meter display 50 is sometimes simply called a meter, or a meter panel or a multi-information display. The meter display 50 is further configured to display information related to the ACC function in response to a command from the controller 20.

[0019] Next, the control in the controller 20 will be described in detail. First, the processing in the ACC control unit 21 of the controller 20 will be described. The ACC control unit 21 is configured to execute the ACC function based on image data of the area ahead of the vehicle input from the imaging device 11, the distance to an obstacle input from the obstacle detection device 12, the vehicle speed input from the vehicle speed sensor 13, and the like. The ACC function includes constant speed driving control of the vehicle and control of following a preceding vehicle.

[0020] When the ACC function is turned on by operating the ACC switch unit 14 and there is no preceding vehicle in the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, the ACC control unit 21 controls the braking device 30 and the drive device 40 to travel at a constant speed in accordance with the set vehicle speed (target vehicle speed) input from the ACC switch unit 14. Furthermore, when the ACC function is turned on by operating the ACC switch unit 14 and there is a preceding vehicle in the lane in which the vehicle is traveling at a speed equal to or slower than the set vehicle speed, the ACC control unit 21 controls the braking device 30 and the drive device 40 to follow the preceding vehicle while maintaining the set inter-vehicle distance input from the ACC switch unit 14.

[0021] The ACC function is configured to operate within a predetermined vehicle speed range (for example, approximately 0 km / h to approximately 100 km / h). The ACC function is configured to temporarily stop operation when the accelerator pedal is operated, and to stop operation when the brake pedal is operated.

[0022] The ACC function has two driving modes: a normal mode with normal energy efficiency and an eco mode with better energy efficiency than the normal mode. The normal driving mode of the ACC function is the normal mode, and the normal mode is selected when the ACC function is turned on. The driver can switch between the normal mode and the eco mode by operating the mode selection switch of the ACC switch unit 14. For example, operating the mode selection switch once selects the normal mode, and operating it a second time selects the eco mode. Operating the mode selection switch while the eco mode is selected selects the normal mode. Note that if the on / off switch of the ACC switch unit 14 is configured to also function as a mode selection switch, the ACC function may be configured to be turned on (standby) in the normal mode when the on / off switch is operated once, switch to the eco mode when operated a second time, and turn off the ACC function when operated a third time.

[0023] Here, good energy efficiency essentially means good fuel economy (generally called electricity efficiency in the case of electric vehicles). A vehicle's fuel economy depends on various factors such as vehicle weight, road conditions, and driving operation, but generally, the smaller the acceleration and deceleration (vehicle speed fluctuations) while the vehicle is running, the better the fuel economy, or energy efficiency. Therefore, the Eco mode of the ACC function is configured to run with smaller acceleration and deceleration than in normal mode.

[0024] The ACC function presets the acceleration (set acceleration) when accelerating the vehicle to achieve a set vehicle speed during constant-speed driving or to follow a preceding vehicle during follow-up driving. Normal mode has multiple set accelerations An that can be selected when the vehicle accelerates, and eco mode has multiple set accelerations Ae that can be selected when the vehicle accelerates. ACC control unit 21 selects one of the multiple set accelerations An and Ae in response to an acceleration request based on the vehicle's driving conditions, etc., and controls braking device 30 and drive device 40 to accelerate the vehicle according to the selected set acceleration.

[0025] The set acceleration in eco mode is set to a value equal to or less than the set acceleration in normal mode. For example, in normal mode, a first set acceleration An1 and a second set acceleration An2 are set as multiple set accelerations An. The first set acceleration An1 corresponds to the lowest acceleration selectable in the ACC function, and the second set acceleration An2 is greater than the first set acceleration An1. Similarly, in eco mode, a first set acceleration Ae1 and a second set acceleration Ae2 are set as multiple set accelerations Ae. The first set acceleration Ae1 corresponds to the lowest acceleration selectable in the ACC function, and the second set acceleration Ae2 is greater than the first set acceleration Ae1. The first set acceleration Ae1 in eco mode and the first set acceleration An1 in normal mode are equal, and the second set acceleration Ae2 in eco mode is smaller than the second set acceleration An2 in normal mode.

[0026] When normal mode is selected, the ACC control unit 21 selects the first set acceleration An1 in response to an acceleration request at the minimum acceleration, and when eco mode is selected, selects the first set acceleration Ae1 in response to an acceleration request at the minimum acceleration. When normal mode is selected, the ACC control unit 21 selects the second set acceleration An2 in response to an acceleration request at an acceleration greater than the minimum acceleration, and when eco mode is selected, selects the second set acceleration Ae2 in response to the same acceleration request. As a result, when the vehicle accelerates when eco mode is selected, the vehicle accelerates at the second set acceleration Ae2 which is smaller than when normal mode is selected, thereby improving the energy efficiency of the vehicle.

[0027] In addition to the plurality of set accelerations An and Ae described above, the ACC function may have a plurality of following accelerations that are selected when the vehicle accelerates during following cruise control. For example, a plurality of values ​​are prepared for the following acceleration so that an appropriate acceleration can be selected depending on the acceleration of the preceding vehicle that is the target of following cruise control. If the acceleration of the preceding vehicle is high, a higher acceleration is selected from the plurality of following accelerations, and if the acceleration of the preceding vehicle is low, a lower acceleration is selected from the plurality of following accelerations.

[0028] The normal mode has a plurality of following accelerations Bn that are selected when the vehicle accelerates during follow-up driving, and the eco mode has a plurality of following accelerations Be that are selected when the vehicle accelerates during follow-up driving. The plurality of following accelerations Be in the eco mode are smaller than the plurality of following accelerations Bn in the normal mode. In other words, the following accelerations selected in response to an acceleration request in the eco mode are smaller than the following accelerations selected in response to the same acceleration request in the normal mode. As a result, when the vehicle accelerates while the eco mode is selected during follow-up driving, the vehicle accelerates at a smaller following acceleration than when the normal mode is selected, thereby improving the energy efficiency of the vehicle.

[0029] The ACC function may have an auxiliary function that automatically accelerates the vehicle in response to the driver's operation of a turn signal (not shown) when overtaking a preceding vehicle during follow-up driving in both normal mode and eco mode. In this case, the auxiliary function of the ACC function includes pre-overtaking acceleration control that accelerates the vehicle at a first overtaking acceleration C1 to shorten the inter-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle in response to the driver's operation of the turn signal, and overtaking acceleration control that accelerates the vehicle at a second overtaking acceleration C2 to overtake the preceding vehicle in response to the driver's steering operation after the pre-overtaking acceleration control. The driver's steering operation is determined based on the steering angle detected by a steering angle sensor (not shown), for example.

[0030] The first overtaking acceleration C1 corresponds to the lowest acceleration selectable in the ACC function and is smaller than the multiple following accelerations Bn and Be described above. The second overtaking acceleration C2 is larger than the first overtaking acceleration C1 and is also larger than the multiple following accelerations Bn and Be. The first overtaking acceleration C1 includes the first overtaking acceleration Ce1 in eco mode and the first overtaking acceleration Cn1 in normal mode, and the first overtaking acceleration Ce1 in eco mode and the first overtaking acceleration Cn1 in normal mode are equal. The second overtaking acceleration C2 includes the second overtaking acceleration Ce2 in eco mode and the second overtaking acceleration Cn2 in normal mode, and the second overtaking acceleration Ce2 in eco mode is smaller than the second overtaking acceleration Cn2 in normal mode.

[0031] When follow-up driving is being performed in normal mode, the ACC control unit 21 selects the first overtaking acceleration Cn1 in response to operation of the turn signal, and then selects the second overtaking acceleration Cn2 in response to steering operation toward the overtaking lane. Similarly, when follow-up driving is being performed in eco mode, the ACC control unit 21 selects the first overtaking acceleration Ce1 in response to operation of the turn signal, and then selects the second overtaking acceleration Ce2 in response to steering operation toward the overtaking lane. As a result, when the vehicle performs a steering operation to overtake the preceding vehicle while eco mode is selected, the vehicle accelerates at the second overtaking acceleration Ce2 which is smaller than when normal mode is selected, thereby improving the energy efficiency of the vehicle.

[0032] The plurality of set accelerations An and Ae for the normal mode and the eco mode, the plurality of following accelerations Bn and Be, the first overtaking accelerations Cn1 and Ce1, and the second overtaking accelerations Cn2 and Ce2 described above are each set to appropriate values ​​in advance based on experiments or the like, and are stored in a memory (not shown) of the controller 20. The ACC control unit 21 selects an appropriate acceleration for executing the ACC function from the plurality of accelerations stored in the memory based on the vehicle's traveling conditions, the acceleration of the preceding vehicle, and the like.

[0033] Next, the processing in the display control unit 22 of the controller 20 will be described. The display control unit 22 is configured to control the meter display 50 to display information related to the ACC function. The display control unit 22 switches the display on the meter display 50 depending on whether the normal mode is set as the driving mode for the ACC function or the eco mode is set. Fig. 2 shows an example of the display on the meter display 50 when the normal mode is selected as the driving mode for the ACC function, and Fig. 3 shows an example of the display on the meter display 50 when the eco mode is selected as the driving mode for the ACC function.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, when the ACC function is operating in normal mode, the display unit 51 of the meter display 50 displays a first display for normal mode. The first display includes an adaptive cruise control (ACC) indicator light 52 and a setting indicator light 53 that indicates the set vehicle speed and set following distance for the ACC function. The setting indicator light 53 shown in FIG. 2 indicates, as an example, that the set vehicle speed is 100 km / h and the set following distance is "long." As shown in FIG. 2, during follow-up driving, the setting indicator light 53, including an image of a preceding vehicle, is displayed. During constant speed driving, the image of a preceding vehicle on the setting indicator light 53 is turned off. The ACC indicator light 52 and the setting indicator light 53 are lit when the ACC function is turned on in normal mode by operating the ACC switch unit 14. The display color of the ACC indicator light 52 and the setting indicator light 53 is, for example, white. The design of the ACC indicator light 52 and the setting indicator light 53 is specified, for example, by an international standard.

[0035] When the ACC function is operating in eco mode, as shown in FIG. 3, the display unit 51 of the meter display 50 displays a second display for eco mode. The second display includes an ACC indicator light 54, a setting indicator light 55 that indicates the set vehicle speed and set following distance for the ACC function, and a symbol 56 that indicates good energy efficiency. The ACC indicator light 54 is a display that adds the word "ECO" to the ACC indicator light 52 for normal mode. The symbol 56 is a leaf-shaped mark. The ACC indicator light 54, setting indicator light 55, and symbol 56 are lit when the ACC function is turned on in eco mode by operating the ACC switch unit 14. The display colors of the ACC indicator light 54, setting indicator light 55, and symbol 56 are, for example, green.

[0036] The form of the second display for the eco mode shown in Fig. 3 is an example and is not limited to the form shown in Fig. 3. For example, the letters "ECO" on the ACC indicator light 54 may be lowercase instead of uppercase, or may be written in katakana (e.g., "eco") or kanji (e.g., "low fuel consumption") to indicate good energy efficiency. Alternatively, instead of the letters "ECO" on the ACC indicator light 54, another letter, figure, mark, symbol, etc. indicating good energy efficiency may be displayed. The figure, mark, or symbol is, for example, a leaf shape. The ACC indicator light 54 may include both letters and a figure indicating good energy efficiency.

[0037] Furthermore, the display color of the second display may be green for all of the ACC indicator light 54, setting indicator light 55, and symbol 56, or may be green for only some of these. For example, only the word "ECO" on the ACC indicator light 54 and the symbol 56 may be displayed in green. The shape of the symbol 56 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3, and may be a leaf of another shape, or a mark such as a tree or flower that represents consideration for the natural environment.

[0038] When the eco mode is set, the display control unit 22 may be configured to flash the second display or change the display color of the second display when the vehicle's operating state is more energy efficient than the normal mode. When the second display is configured to flash in the eco mode, the display control unit 22 sets, for example, the longer the flashing cycle of the second display, the better the energy efficiency is relative to the normal mode. When the display color of the second display is configured to change in the eco mode, the display control unit 22 sets, for example, the darker the display color of the second display, the better the energy efficiency is relative to the normal mode. For example, the display control unit 22 changes the display color of the second display from green to a darker green as the energy efficiency improves.

[0039] In eco mode, a vehicle operating state that is more energy efficient than in normal mode refers to, for example, the acceleration state of the vehicle. As described above, the smaller the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle, the better the energy efficiency of the vehicle. Therefore, the display control unit 21, for example, acquires information on the selected set acceleration from the ACC control unit 21, and if the set acceleration in eco mode is lower than that in normal mode for the same acceleration request, determines that the vehicle operating state is more energy efficient than that in normal mode, and changes the display mode (flashing state or display color) of the second display as described above. In other words, if the set acceleration selected in eco mode for the same acceleration request is lower than the set acceleration selected in normal mode, the display mode (flashing state or display color) of the second display is changed.

[0040] Below, specific examples of the display mode of the second display for eco mode according to the set acceleration selected by the ACC control unit 21 will be described. As described above, the first set acceleration Ae1 for eco mode is equal to the first set acceleration An1 for normal mode. Therefore, when the first set acceleration Ae1 is selected in eco mode, the second display does not flash or change color, and is displayed in green. The second set acceleration Ae2 for eco mode is smaller than the second set acceleration An2 for normal mode. Therefore, when the second set acceleration Ae2 is selected in eco mode, the second display flashes or is displayed in dark green.

[0041] As described above, the first overtaking acceleration Ce1 in the eco mode is equal to the first overtaking acceleration Cn1 in the normal mode. Therefore, when the first overtaking acceleration Ce1 is selected in the eco mode, the second display does not flash or change color, and is displayed in green.

[0042] On the other hand, the multiple following accelerations Be and the second overtaking acceleration Ce2 in the eco mode are smaller than the multiple following accelerations Bn and the second overtaking acceleration Cn2 in the normal mode, respectively. Therefore, when either the multiple following accelerations Be or the second overtaking acceleration Ce2 is selected in the eco mode, the second display flashes or is displayed in dark green. In this case, the flashing cycle and display color of the second display may be set to change according to the energy efficiency ratio relative to the normal mode. For example, the ratio of the energy efficiency is used as the energy efficiency ratio, which is the ratio (Be / Bn) of the following acceleration Be in the eco mode to the following acceleration Bn in the normal mode. The display control unit 21 determines that the smaller (Be / Bn) is, the better the energy efficiency, and sets, for example, the flashing cycle of the second display to be longer or the display color of the second display to be darker.

[0043] Furthermore, for example, the controller 20 may store in a memory (not shown) a map associating the display mode (flashing cycle or display color) of the second display with each of a plurality of set accelerations Ae that can be set in the eco mode, a plurality of following accelerations Be, a first overtaking acceleration Ce1, and a second overtaking acceleration Ce2. In this case, the display control unit 22 acquires, for example, information on the acceleration selected while the ACC function is operating from the ACC control unit 21, and determines the display mode (flashing state or display color) of the second display by referring to the map of display modes.

[0044] The vehicle control device 1 according to the present embodiment described above can achieve the following effects.

[0045] (1) A vehicle control device 1 includes an adaptive cruise control (ACC) control unit 21 configured to execute an adaptive cruise control (ACC) function that maintains a set vehicle speed and travels at a constant speed when there is no preceding vehicle in the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, and maintains a set inter-vehicle distance and follows the preceding vehicle when there is a preceding vehicle traveling at or below the set vehicle speed; a meter display 50 installed on an instrument panel at the front of the vehicle; and a display control unit 22 configured to control the display of the meter display 50. The ACC function has two driving modes: a normal mode with normal energy efficiency and an eco mode with better energy efficiency than the normal mode. The display control unit 22 switches the display of the meter display 50 depending on whether the normal mode or the eco mode is set as the driving mode of the ACC function.

[0046] The eco mode, which enables fuel-efficient driving, is an effective vehicle driving mode for improving the vehicle's fuel economy, i.e., energy efficiency. In this embodiment, by switching the display on the meter display 50 between the normal mode and the eco mode, vehicle occupants, particularly the driver, can easily visually recognize that the eco mode is selected. Because the eco mode affects the acceleration feel, some drivers may hesitate to select the eco mode as the driving mode. By visually recognizing that driving in the eco mode is environmentally friendly, the driver's satisfaction with vehicle driving can be expected to improve. By recognizing that driving in the eco mode is environmentally friendly, it is also expected to encourage environmentally conscious drivers to actively select the eco mode. Furthermore, since the meter display 50 is a display device that has traditionally been used by drivers to check vehicle information while driving the vehicle, the driver can visually recognize the driving mode of the ACC function without feeling uncomfortable.

[0047] (2) When the normal mode is set, the display control unit 22 displays a first display on the meter display 50, and when the eco mode is set, the display control unit 22 displays a second display, which is the first display with additional text and / or graphics, on the meter display 50. The second display for the eco mode is simply the first display for the normal mode with additional text and / or graphics, so the driver can easily visually recognize that the ACC function is on and that a different driving mode is in effect.

[0048] (3) The first display includes an ACC indicator light 52 that is lit when the ACC function is on in normal mode. The second display includes an ACC indicator light 54, which is an indication in the form of the ACC indicator light 52 with text added. The ACC indicator light 52 for normal mode has a design that has been conventionally used, for example, as specified by international standards, and allows the driver to easily understand that the ACC function is on. The ACC indicator light 54 for eco mode is a simple indication in which only text is added to the ACC indicator light 52 for normal mode, allowing the driver to easily visually recognize that the ACC function is set to eco mode.

[0049] (4) When the eco mode is set, the display control unit 22 displays a symbol 56 indicating that the energy efficiency during driving is good. By displaying the symbol 56 instead of text, many people can easily and intuitively recognize that the energy efficiency is good, and the driver can easily understand that the eco mode is currently set.

[0050] (5) Symbol 56 is a mark in the shape of a leaf. The leaf shape is a mark that is widely used to represent eco-friendliness, that is, consideration for the natural environment. By displaying a leaf-shaped mark as symbol 56, the driver can intuitively recognize that the eco mode is set.

[0051] (6) When the eco mode is set, the display control unit 22 displays the second display in green. Green is a color that is widely used to represent eco-friendliness, i.e., consideration for the natural environment. By using green as the display color of the second display, the driver can intuitively recognize that the eco mode is set.

[0052] (7) The vehicle control device 1 further includes an ACC switch unit 14 that includes multiple switches related to the ACC function and is operated by the user. The ACC function's normal mode and eco mode are configured to be switched by operating a switch included in the ACC switch unit 14. Because the normal mode and eco mode are switched by operating the ACC switch unit 14, which has traditionally been used to turn the ACC function on and off, the driver can switch the ACC function's driving mode without feeling uncomfortable. However, by using the existing ACC switch unit 14, the driver may forget that they have switched the ACC function's driving mode or may switch the driving mode unintentionally. Therefore, when the eco mode is set, a second display different from the first display for the normal mode is displayed on the meter display 50, allowing the driver to visually and reliably understand the ACC function's driving mode.

[0053] (8) When the eco mode is set, the display control unit 22 flashes the second display or changes the display color of the second display when the vehicle is operating in a state that is more energy efficient than in the normal mode. By flashing the second display or changing the display color, the driver can more easily recognize that the vehicle is operating in a state that is more energy efficient in the eco mode than in the normal mode, i.e., that fuel economy (electricity cost) is improved.

[0054] (9) When the eco mode is set, the display control unit 22 sets the blinking cycle of the second display to be longer or the display color of the second display to be darker as the energy efficiency is higher compared to the normal mode. By making the blinking cycle of the second display longer as the energy efficiency is higher, the driver feels relaxed and can intuitively understand that the vehicle is fuel efficient and eco-friendly. Similarly, by changing the display color of the second display to be darker as the energy efficiency is higher, the driver can intuitively understand that the vehicle is fuel efficient and eco-friendly.

[0055] (10) The ACC control unit 21 has multiple set accelerations to be selected when the vehicle accelerates in each of the normal mode and the eco mode. The multiple set accelerations include at least first set accelerations An1 and Ae1 that correspond to the lowest acceleration selectable in the ACC function, and second set accelerations An2 and Ae2 that are greater than the first set accelerations An1 and Ae1. The first set acceleration Ae1 in the eco mode is equal to the first set acceleration An1 in the normal mode. The second set acceleration Ae2 in the eco mode is smaller than the second set acceleration An2 in the normal mode. When the first set acceleration Ae1 is selected in the eco mode, the display control unit 22 does not blink the second display or change the display color of the second display. When the second set acceleration Ae2 is selected in the eco mode, the display control unit 22 determines that the vehicle is operating in a more energy-efficient state than in the normal mode, and blinks the second display or changes the display color of the second display.

[0056] As described above, generally, the smaller the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle, the better the energy efficiency. However, energy efficiency in all acceleration states in eco mode is not necessarily better than energy efficiency in acceleration states in normal mode. For example, since the first set acceleration Ae1 in eco mode and the first set acceleration An1 in normal mode are equal, when the first set acceleration Ae1 is selected in eco mode, the vehicle is in an accelerating state, but the energy efficiency in terms of acceleration is not improved compared to normal mode. Therefore, the display control unit 22 does not blink or change the display color of the second display. On the other hand, the second set acceleration Ae2 in eco mode is smaller than the second set acceleration An2 in normal mode, and when the second set acceleration Ae2 is selected in eco mode, the energy efficiency is better than in normal mode. Therefore, the display control unit 22 blinks or changes the display color of the second display to allow the driver to intuitively understand that energy efficiency is improving in the current driving state.

[0057] (11) The ACC control unit 21 has multiple following accelerations Bn, Be selected when the vehicle accelerates during following travel in both normal mode and eco mode. The ACC function includes, during following travel in both normal mode and eco mode, pre-overtaking acceleration control, which accelerates the vehicle at a first overtaking acceleration C1 to shorten the distance to the preceding vehicle in response to operation of the turn signal, and overtaking acceleration control, which accelerates the vehicle at a second overtaking acceleration C2 to overtake the preceding vehicle in response to steering operation after the pre-overtaking acceleration control. The first overtaking acceleration C1 is smaller than the multiple following accelerations Bn, Be and corresponds to the minimum acceleration selectable in the ACC function. The second overtaking acceleration C2 is greater than the first overtaking acceleration C1 and greater than the multiple following accelerations Bn, Be. The multiple following accelerations Be in eco mode are each smaller than the multiple following accelerations Bn in normal mode. The first overtaking acceleration Ce1 in eco mode is equal to the first overtaking acceleration Cn1 in normal mode. The second overtaking acceleration Ce2 in eco mode is smaller than the second overtaking acceleration Cn2 in normal mode. When the first overtaking acceleration Ce1 is selected in eco mode, the display control unit 22 does not blink the second display or change the display color of the second display. When either the multiple following accelerations Be or the second overtaking acceleration Ce2 is selected in eco mode, the display control unit 22 determines that the vehicle is operating in a state that is more energy efficient than in normal mode, and blinks the second display or changes the display color of the second display. For each of the multiple following accelerations Be and the second overtaking acceleration Ce2, the blinking cycle or display color is set according to the ratio of energy efficiency to that in normal mode.

[0058] For example, since the first overtaking acceleration Ce1 in the eco mode is equal to the first overtaking acceleration Cn1 in the normal mode, when the first overtaking acceleration Ce1 is selected in the eco mode, the vehicle is in an accelerating state, but the energy efficiency of the acceleration is not improved compared to the normal mode. Therefore, the display control unit 22 does not blink or change the display color of the second display. On the other hand, the multiple following accelerations Be and the second overtaking acceleration Ce2 in the eco mode are smaller than the multiple following accelerations Bn and the second overtaking acceleration Cn2 in the normal mode, respectively. Therefore, when any of these accelerations is selected in the eco mode, the energy efficiency is better than in the normal mode. Therefore, by blinking or changing the display color of the second display, the driver can intuitively understand that the energy efficiency is improving in the current driving state. Furthermore, by setting the blinking cycle or display color according to the ratio of the energy efficiency to that in the normal mode, the driver can visually recognize how much the energy efficiency is improved in the eco mode compared to the normal mode.

[0059] -Variations- (1) In the above-described embodiment, taking into consideration that the smaller the acceleration / deceleration of a vehicle, the more energy-efficient the vehicle, the more energy-efficient the vehicle. Therefore, when the vehicle accelerates at a specific acceleration rate in eco mode, the vehicle is determined to be in a more energy-efficient driving state than in normal mode. However, the vehicle driving state in eco mode that is more energy-efficient than in normal mode is not limited to an acceleration state and may also include a decelerating state. Furthermore, the driving mode of the ACC function may be configured so that the vehicle does not perform an idling stop in normal mode, but performs an idling stop in eco mode. In this case, the display control unit 22 may determine that the vehicle is in a more energy-efficient driving state than in normal mode, for example, while an idling stop is being performed in eco mode, and may cause the second display to flash or change its color.

[0060] (2) In the above-described embodiment, various accelerations selectable by the ACC function have been described. However, the accelerations selectable by the ACC function are not limited to the above-described examples. In addition to the accelerations described above, one or more selectable accelerations may be set, or one or more of the accelerations described above may be omitted. Also, the auxiliary function that automatically accelerates the vehicle in response to the operation of the turn signal when overtaking a preceding vehicle during follow-up driving may be omitted.

[0061] (3) In the above-described embodiment, an example of the second display shown on the meter display 50 when the eco mode is set is shown in Fig. 3. However, the second display of the eco mode is not limited to the display example shown in Fig. 3, and various forms / modes of display can be adopted as long as the driver can easily visually recognize that the eco mode is set and that a driving mode that is considerate of the natural environment has been selected.

[0062] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 Vehicle control device 14 ACC switch unit 20 Controller 21 ACC control unit 22 Display control unit 50 Meter display

Claims

1. an ACC control unit configured to perform an adaptive cruise control function that maintains a set vehicle speed and travels at a constant speed when there is no preceding vehicle in the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, and maintains a set inter-vehicle distance and travels following the preceding vehicle when there is a preceding vehicle traveling at a speed equal to or slower than the set vehicle speed; A meter display installed on the instrument panel at the front of the vehicle, a display control unit configured to control the display of the meter display; Equipped with the adaptive cruise control function has, as driving modes, a normal mode with normal energy efficiency and an eco mode with better energy efficiency than the normal mode, The display control unit switching the display of the meter display between a case where the normal mode is set as the driving mode of the adaptive cruise control function and a case where the eco mode is set; When the normal mode is set, a first display is displayed on the meter display, and when the eco mode is set, a second display in which characters and / or graphics are added to the first display is displayed on the meter display; A vehicle control device that, when the eco mode is set, causes the second display to flash when the vehicle is operating in a state where the energy efficiency is better than in the normal mode.

2. 2. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein when the eco mode is set, the display control unit sets the second display so that the blinking cycle of the second display becomes longer or the display color of the second display becomes darker as the energy efficiency becomes better compared to the normal mode.

3. an ACC control unit configured to perform an adaptive cruise control function that maintains a set vehicle speed and travels at a constant speed when there is no preceding vehicle in the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, and maintains a set inter-vehicle distance and travels following the preceding vehicle when there is a preceding vehicle traveling at a speed equal to or slower than the set vehicle speed; A meter display installed on the instrument panel at the front of the vehicle, a display control unit configured to control the display of the meter display; Equipped with the adaptive cruise control function has, as driving modes, a normal mode with normal energy efficiency and an eco mode with better energy efficiency than the normal mode, The display control unit switching the display of the meter display between a case where the normal mode is set as the driving mode of the adaptive cruise control function and a case where the eco mode is set; When the normal mode is set, a first display is displayed on the meter display, and when the eco mode is set, a second display in which characters and / or graphics are added to the first display is displayed on the meter display; When the eco mode is set, the second indicator flashes or the display color of the second indicator is changed when the driving state of the vehicle is a driving state in which the energy efficiency is better than that in the normal mode; the ACC control unit has a plurality of set accelerations that are selected when the vehicle accelerates in each of the normal mode and the eco mode, and the plurality of set accelerations include at least a first set acceleration that corresponds to a minimum acceleration that can be selected in the adaptive cruise control function, and a second set acceleration that is greater than the first set acceleration; the first set acceleration in the eco mode is equal to the first set acceleration in the normal mode, the second set acceleration in the eco mode is smaller than the second set acceleration in the normal mode, A vehicle control device wherein, when the first set acceleration is selected in the eco mode, the display control unit does not flash the second display or change the display color of the second display, and when the second set acceleration is selected in the eco mode, the display control unit determines that the vehicle is in an operating state that is more energy efficient than in the normal mode and flashes the second display or changes the display color of the second display.

4. the ACC control unit has a plurality of follow-up accelerations that are selected when the vehicle accelerates during the follow-up traveling in each of the normal mode and the eco mode, the adaptive cruise control function includes, in each of the normal mode and the eco mode, during the following running, a pre-overtaking acceleration control for accelerating at a first overtaking acceleration in order to shorten the inter-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle in response to an operation of a direction indicator, and a during-overtaking acceleration control for accelerating at a second overtaking acceleration in order to overtake the preceding vehicle in response to a steering operation after the pre-overtaking acceleration control, the first overtaking acceleration is smaller than the plurality of following accelerations and corresponds to a minimum acceleration selectable in the adaptive cruise control function; the second overtaking acceleration is greater than the first overtaking acceleration and greater than the plurality of following accelerations; the plurality of follow-up accelerations in the eco mode are each smaller than the plurality of follow-up accelerations in the normal mode, the first overtaking acceleration in the eco mode is equal to the first overtaking acceleration in the normal mode, the second overtaking acceleration in the eco mode is smaller than the second overtaking acceleration in the normal mode, the display control unit, when the first overtaking acceleration is selected in the eco mode, does not blink the second indication or change the display color of the second indication, 2. The vehicle control device of claim 1, wherein when either the plurality of following accelerations or the second overtaking acceleration is selected in the eco mode, the display control unit determines that the vehicle is in an operating state in which the energy efficiency is better than in the normal mode, and flashes the second display or changes the display color of the second display, and the flashing cycle or display color is set for each of the plurality of following accelerations and the second overtaking acceleration according to the ratio of the energy efficiency to the normal mode.

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