JPH07121661B2 - Dead band controller for digital speedometer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] The present invention relates to an auto speed control device (hereinafter referred to as AS
Abbreviated as CD. The present invention relates to a dead band control device for a digital speedometer, which controls a display operation of a digital speedometer arranged in a vehicle equipped with the same.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as a speedometer arranged on an instrument panel of an automobile, a digital speedometer that digitally displays a vehicle speed numerically has been put into practical use, and an ASCD is mounted together with the digital speedometer. The vehicle is in practical use (refer to the "NEW SOARER" catalog issued by Toyota Motor Corporation in April 1989). ASCD
Is composed of a controller, an actuator controlled by an output signal of the controller to open and close the throttle of the engine, a set switch and the like.

Then, for example, when the accelerator pedal is depressed to reach a desired vehicle speed and then the set switch is operated, the controller stores the current vehicle speed as a cruise vehicle speed and starts the control of the actuator. The opening / closing is adjusted so that the current vehicle speed converges to the cruise vehicle speed. As a result, even if the accelerator pedal is released, the constant speed traveling control is performed so that the current vehicle speed is maintained at the cruise vehicle speed, and at this time, the current vehicle speed is digitally displayed on the digital speedometer.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the constant speed traveling control, even if the throttle opening is adjusted so that the current vehicle speed converges to the cruise vehicle speed in the constant speed traveling control, for example, when traveling uphill or headwind. The current vehicle speed inevitably decreases slightly when the running resistance increases, such as when driving, and the current vehicle speed decreases when the running resistance decreases, such as when driving downhill or when following wind. The vehicle speed inevitably increases slightly. At this time,
Since the digital speedometer faithfully digitally displays the current vehicle speed, the slightly decreased current vehicle speed and the slightly increased current vehicle speed are sequentially digitally displayed, and the speed display is displayed despite the cruise speed being set. It will change.

Therefore, for the occupant, in the digital speedometer, a constant value should be displayed by the constant speed running control,
Due to the fact that the speed display changes sequentially, it feels bothersome and the speed display changes in the increasing direction even though the ASCD is operated and the vehicle is traveling at a constant speed. As a result, there was a risk of feeling anxiety.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and while executing the constant speed traveling control by operating the ASCD, digital that suppresses the display change of the current vehicle speed due to the traveling resistance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dead zone control device for a speedometer.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, the current vehicle speed, that is, the current vehicle speed, an ASCD that executes constant-speed running control that converges to a preset vehicle speed, In a structure provided with a digital speedometer that digitally displays the current vehicle speed with a numerical value, a digital display of the current vehicle speed converged to the set vehicle speed is provided while the vehicle speed difference between the set vehicle speed and the current vehicle speed is within a predetermined range, for example, A display control means is provided for fixing during ± 3 km / h.

[Operation] While the vehicle is traveling, the digital speedometer faithfully digitally displays the current vehicle speed according to the change of the vehicle speed, and therefore the occupant recognizes the current vehicle speed by visually recognizing the digitally displayed numerical value. You can Then, when the set vehicle speed is given to the ASCD, the ASCD executes the constant speed traveling control, and the current speed of the vehicle is controlled so as to converge to the set vehicle speed. At this time, when the current vehicle speed increases or decreases due to a change in running resistance, the display control means changes while the vehicle speed difference between the set vehicle speed and the current vehicle speed is within the predetermined range (for example, within ± 3 km / h). The digital display of the current vehicle speed converged to the set vehicle speed is fixed without performing the digital display of the current vehicle speed.

In other words, if an error occurs between the current vehicle speed and the set vehicle speed due to the running resistance even though the constant speed running control is being executed by the ASCD, check that this error is within the predetermined range. As a condition, the change of the digital display of the vehicle speed is stopped.

Of course, since the display control means fixes the digital display of the set vehicle speed while the vehicle speed difference between the current vehicle speed and the set vehicle speed is within the predetermined range, the current vehicle speed increases above the predetermined range. If the vehicle speed decreases, the current vehicle speed thus increased or decreased is digitally displayed at that time.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the ASCD 1 is provided with the ASCD controller 2 including a microcomputer. The ASCD controller 2 includes a cancel switch 3, a set coast switch 4, an accelerator switch 5, a resume switch 6, and an ASCD main switch 7.
The ON and OFF signals are input, and the vehicle speed signal is given from the speed sensor 12 that detects the current vehicle speed of the vehicle.

The accelerator, set coast, and resume switches 4, 5 and 6 are integrally incorporated in an operating lever 8 shown in FIG. 2, and the operating lever 8 is pivotally supported at a base end portion (not shown). In addition to being biased to the neutral position N, a knob 9 is provided at the tip end portion so as to be projectingly biased and capable of retracting. The accelerator switch 5 is provided with the operation lever 8
Is turned on by rotating upwards (in the direction of arrow A) against the bias, and turned off by returning to the neutral position N by the bias.

Further, the resume switch 6 is turned on by rotating the operation lever 8 downward (in the direction of arrow B) against the bias.
And is turned off by returning to the neutral position N by the bias. Further, the set coast switch 4 is turned on by pressing the knob 9 and retracting it inside the operation lever 8, and turned off by the knob 9 protruding to the outside of the operation lever 8 by the biasing. It is configured.

The cancel switch 3 and the ASCD switch 7 are provided at appropriate parts such as an instrument panel or a steering wheel (not shown). A cruise lamp 10 and an actuator 11 are connected to the output port of the ASCD controller 2,
Reference numeral 11 is linked to a throttle inserted in the intake manifold of the engine (not shown).

On the other hand, the digital speedometer 13 is composed of a cruise traveling discrimination circuit 14, a digital speedometer control unit 15 as display control means, and a digital display unit 16. The cruise traveling discrimination circuit 14 has a function of discriminating the operating states of the respective switches 3 to 7 based on the ON and OFF signals of the respective switches 3 to 7, which are inputted to the digital speedometer control unit 15. Is supplied with a light-on / light-off signal of the cruise lamp 10, an output signal from the cruise running determination circuit 14, and a vehicle speed signal from the speed sensor 12.

Further, the digital display unit 16 is provided with an output signal from the digital speedometer control unit 15 and a vehicle speed signal from the speed sensor 12, and the digital display unit 15 receives the vehicle speed signal. A display area (not shown) for displaying the vehicle speed within a range beyond the decimal point is provided.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to the operation flowchart of the digital speedometer 13 shown in FIG. That is, this flow chart is started on condition that the ASCD main switch 7 is turned ON, and it is first determined whether or not the set coast switch 4 is turned ON-OFF (step 101). The ON-OFF of the set coast switch 4 is a start condition for setting the cruise vehicle speed which is the set vehicle speed and executing the constant speed traveling control. When the set coast switch 4 is turned ON and then turned OFF, This determination is YES, and it is further determined whether or not the cruise lamp 10 is turned on (step 102).

The cruise lamp 10 is controlled by the ASCD controller 2 so as to be turned on when the execution of the constant speed traveling control is started. Therefore, when the determination is YES, the ASCD1
It means that the constant speed traveling control by is started.

The constant speed traveling control is a control for driving the actuator 11 linked to the throttle by the output signal of the ASCD controller 2. The ASCD controller 2 maintains the current vehicle speed detected by the speed sensor 12 at the cruise vehicle speed. Control as described. That is, the operation of the actuator 11 linked to the throttle is controlled so that the current vehicle speed detected by the speed sensor 12 always converges to the cruise vehicle speed.

When the cruise lamp 10 is turned on by the start of the constant speed traveling control, the determination at step 102 is YES, and then the current vehicle speed is set coast switch 4
It is determined whether or not the vehicle speed has turned off, that is, the cruise vehicle speed has been reached (step 103). That is, for example, 90 km / h
When setting the cruise vehicle speed, the accelerator pedal is depressed to accelerate the vehicle, and even if the set coast switch 4 is switched from ON to OFF at the time when "90 km / h" is displayed on the digital display unit 16, the vehicle is driven by inertia or the like. Continues to accelerate.

Therefore, while the vehicle continues to accelerate, the digital display unit 16 displays a value of 91 km / h, 92 km / h, ... And a cruise vehicle speed of “90 km / h” or higher. Therefore, when the constant speed running control is started and the current vehicle speed becomes 90 km / h and "90 km / h" is displayed on the digital display unit 16 (when the determination in step 103 is YES), the display lock is performed. (Step 104), and the digital display of the cruise vehicle speed of "90 km / h" is fixed.

On the other hand, if the determination in step 101 is NO and the set coast switch 4 is not turned on and off, it is determined whether the resume switch 6 is turned on and off (step).
105). If this determination is YES, the resume switch 6
If is turned on and off, it is determined whether or not the cruise lamp 10 is turned on (step 106). If this determination is YES and the cruise lamp 10 is lit, it means that the constant speed traveling control has been started, and the previous cruise vehicle speed (previous,
It is determined whether or not the cruise vehicle speed has been set when the constant speed running control was performed (step 107), and this determination is Y.
The display is locked when it becomes ES (step 108).

That is, the operations required to start the constant speed traveling control are the operation of turning on / off the set coast switch 4 shown in step 101 and the operation of turning on / off the resume switch 6 shown in step 105. Exists. And
OFF when the set coast switch 4 is turned ON-OFF
When the constant speed running control is started with the vehicle speed at that point in time as the Cools vehicle speed and the resume switch 6 is turned on and off, the constant speed running is carried out with the previously stored Cooles vehicle speed when the constant speed running control was previously performed. The control is started.

When the constant speed traveling control is started by each operation, the display is locked (step 104), and then it is determined whether or not the set coast switch 4 is turned on (step 108), and this determination is NO. If there is, it is further determined whether or not the resume switch 6 has been turned ON (step 114). If this determination is NO, it is further determined whether or not the accelerator switch 5 has been turned ON (step 11).
9), if all of the determinations in these steps 108, 114, 119 are NO, and none of the set coast switch 4, accelerator switch 5, and resume switch 6 is operated while the constant speed traveling control is being executed, Step 12
Go to 5.

In step 125, the current vehicle speed, which is the vehicle speed at the present time detected by the speed sensor 12, is
It is within ± 3 km / h, which is within a predetermined range, with respect to the display lock vehicle speed (cruise vehicle speed) display-locked in step 104, that is, the vehicle speed difference between the lock vehicle speed and the current vehicle speed is within ± 3 km / h. Is determined, and if the determination is YES, the process returns to step 104 and the vehicle speed is fixedly displayed.

Therefore, in a state where the cruise vehicle speed is 90 km / h and the constant-speed traveling control is performed, the current vehicle speed is 89 km / h under traveling conditions where traveling resistance increases, such as when traveling uphill or headwind. , 88km / h, 87km / h, even if it decreases slightly, the change in the current vehicle speed that has decreased slightly is not displayed on the digital display unit 16, and the digital display "90km / h" is displayed on the digital display unit 16. Keeps being fixed.

Also, under running conditions where the resistance during running decreases, for example, when running downhill or following wind, the current vehicle speed is
Even if the vehicle speed slightly increases to km / h, 92km / h, 93km / h, the slightly increased change in the current vehicle speed is not displayed on the digital display unit 16, and the digital display unit 16 displays "/ h" continues to be fixed.

Therefore, while the cruise vehicle speed is set and the constant speed traveling control is being performed, the digital display does not change due to unavoidable speed fluctuations, and the occupant is relieved from the annoyance caused by the change in the digital display. To be done. Particularly, when the vehicle speed is projected and displayed on the front window using the head-up display, the digital display of the vehicle speed is temporarily fixed because the digital display of the vehicle speed is always present within the driver's field of view. By being
The annoyance can be effectively eliminated. Also,
Even though the cruise vehicle speed is set to "90 km / h" and the vehicle is traveling at a constant speed, the speed display changes in an increasing direction to 91,92,93 km / h, which makes passengers feel uneasy. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience of giving.

Then, for example, when the vehicle travels on a steep uphill or a steep downhill, or when the cancel switch 3 is operated to cancel the constant speed traveling control, the vehicle speed fluctuation is so large that the display lock vehicle speed is When the vehicle speed difference from the current vehicle speed is ± 3 km / h or more (when the current vehicle speed is 94 km / h or more or 86 km / h or less in the above example), the display lock is released (step 126 ).
By releasing the display lock, the current vehicle speed detected by the speed sensor 12 is faithfully digitally displayed on the digital display unit 16.

That is, the lock vehicle speed “90 km / h” is fixedly displayed on the digital display unit 16 as described above when the vehicle speed difference between the lock vehicle speed and the current vehicle speed is within ± 3 km / h. If the vehicle speed difference increases or decreases to ± 3 km / h or more, the increased or decreased current vehicle speed is displayed at that time. Therefore, there is no significant difference between the current vehicle speed and the vehicle speed displayed on the digital display unit 16, and safe driving in which it is important to recognize the current vehicle speed can be implemented without any trouble.

Then, after the display lock is released, it is determined whether or not the cruise lamp 10 is turned off (step 127). If the determination is YES, the cancel switch 3 is turned ON, and the constant speed traveling control is performed. This means that it has been canceled, and in this case, the process returns to step 101. If the determination in step 127 is NO and the cruise lamp 10 is lit, even if the current vehicle speed increases or decreases as described above, the constant speed traveling control is still being executed, In this case, it is determined whether or not the current vehicle speed is the vehicle speed at the time of display lock (cruise vehicle speed) (step 128), and when this determination is YES, the display lock is performed again (step 12).
9).

That is, once the current vehicle speed becomes ± 3km / h or more (94km / h or more or 86km / h or less) than the display lock vehicle speed (90km / h), the current vehicle speed becomes the vehicle speed (90km / h) at the time of display lock. Until that time, the current vehicle speed is displayed on the digital display unit 16 without locking the display (thus, 93,92,9
1,87,88,89 km / h is displayed. ), The display lock is performed again when the current vehicle speed reaches the vehicle speed at the time of the display lock.

On the other hand, when the set coast switch 4 is turned on while the constant speed traveling control is being executed, step 108 is executed.
The determination is YES. When the set coast switch 4 is turned ON while the constant speed traveling control is being executed in this way, the ASCD controller 2 executes the deceleration control during that time.
The actuator 11 is controlled so that the throttle opening is reduced. At the same time, the display lock is released (step 109). Therefore, the current vehicle speed reduced by executing the deceleration control is faithfully displayed on the digital display unit 16.

Then, when the set coast switch 4 is turned off, the determination in step 110 is YES, a new cruise vehicle speed that is lower than the previous cruise vehicle speed is set at this point, and then when the set coast switch 4 is turned on and off. It is determined whether the vehicle speed difference at the time is within 1.5 km / h (step 11
1).

Here, in the ASCD controller 2 in the present embodiment, when the time from turning ON the set coast switch 4 to OFF is within 0.5 seconds, the cruise vehicle speed is 1.5.
Controls are made to reduce km / h. Therefore, by making the determination in step 111, the time required to turn the set coast switch 4 from ON to OFF is substantially reduced.
It is determined whether or not it is within 0.5 seconds, and if this determination is YES, the vehicle speed reduced by 1.5 km / h is set as the cruise vehicle speed, and 5 seconds later, 1 km from the vehicle speed when the set coast switch 4 is ON. The value obtained by subtracting / h is display locked (step 113).

That is, to be precise, the value obtained by subtracting 1.5 km / h from the vehicle speed when the set coast switch 4 is ON becomes the newly set cruise vehicle speed, for example, 90 km / h minus 1.5 km / h.
8.5km / h is the cruise vehicle speed and this 88.5km / h should be display locked. However, since the digital display unit 16 according to the present embodiment is not provided with the display area below the decimal point as described above, when the determination in step 111 is YES and the deceleration is 1.5 km / h, Is displayed after the decimal point. Further, the reason why the display lock is executed 5 seconds after the set coast switch 4 is turned off in step 113 is that the current vehicle speed converges to the cruise vehicle speed about 5 seconds after the deceleration control is started. The display lock is performed when the current vehicle speed converges to the cruise vehicle speed.

If the determination in step 111 is NO, the vehicle speed difference is
If it is 1.5 km / h or more, the vehicle speed when the set coast switch 4 is operated to OFF is locked after 5 seconds have elapsed (step 112).

Further, when the resume switch 6 is turned ON while the constant speed traveling control is being executed, the determination in step 114 becomes YES, and in this state where the constant speed traveling control is being executed, the resume switch 6 is When is turned on, the ASCD controller 2 executes deceleration control during that time, and controls the actuator 11 so that the throttle opening is reduced.
At the same time, the display lock is released (step 11
5) Therefore, the current vehicle speed that is reduced by the execution of the deceleration control is faithfully displayed on the digital display unit 16. Then, turn off the resume switch 6
Then, the determination in step 116 becomes YES, the deceleration control is stopped at this point, and the speed increasing control up to the cruise vehicle speed set when the resume switch 6 is turned on is started.

When the current vehicle speed rises to the vehicle speed when the resume switch 6 is ON by executing this speed-up control, step 1
The determination of 17 is YES, and the display is locked again (step 118). That is, when the resume switch 6 is turned on while the constant speed traveling control is being executed,
When the cruise vehicle speed setting is not changed and only the deceleration control is performed and the resume switch 6 is turned off,
The constant speed traveling control is started again with the cruise vehicle speed set in advance.

Further, when the accelerator switch 5 is turned on while the constant speed traveling control is being executed, the determination in step 119 is YES, and thus the accelerator switch 5 is operated while the constant speed traveling control is being executed. When is turned on, the ASCD controller 2 executes speed-up control during that time, and controls the actuator 11 so that the throttle opening is increased. At the same time, the display lock is released (step 12
0) Therefore, the current vehicle speed increased by the execution of the speed-up control is faithfully displayed on the digital display unit 16.

Then, when the accelerator switch 5 is turned off, step 1
The determination of 21 is YES, and at this time, a new cruise vehicle speed that is higher than the preset cruise vehicle speed is set, and then the vehicle speed difference between when the accelerator switch 5 is ON and when it is OFF is within 1.5 km / h. It is determined whether or not (step 122).

Here, even in the ASCD controller 2 in the present embodiment, if the time from turning ON the accelerator switch 5 to OFF is within 0.5 seconds, control for increasing the cruise vehicle speed by 1.5 km / h is performed. Is configured to run. Therefore, by performing the determination in step 122, it is determined whether or not the time from turning ON the accelerator switch 5 to turning it OFF is within 0.5 seconds, and this determination is YES.
If so, the vehicle speed increased by 1.5 km / h is set as the cruise vehicle speed, and after 5 seconds, the value obtained by adding 1 km / h to the vehicle speed when the accelerator switch 5 is ON is locked (step 124). .

In other words, to be exact, the vehicle speed when the accelerator switch 5 is ON,
The value of 1.5 km / h added is the newly set cruise speed, for example 90 km / h added 1.5 km / h to the vehicle speed of 91.5 km / h
Is the cruise vehicle speed and this 91.5km / h should be display locked. However, as described above, since the digital display unit 16 is not provided with the display area below the decimal point, the determination in step 122 is YES and 1.5 km / h.
If the speed is increased, the decimal point is truncated and displayed. Here, the display lock is executed 5 seconds after the accelerator switch 5 is turned off, as described above.

If the determination in step 122 is NO, the vehicle speed difference is
If the speed is 1.5 km / h or more, the vehicle speed when the accelerator switch 5 is turned off is locked after 5 seconds,
(Step 123) The constant speed traveling control is executed with the new cruise vehicle speed locked in this display.

And, in this way, each of the steps 112, 113, 118, 123, 12
For the display lock executed in step 4, step 125 ~
By the determination processing of 129, the display lock release or the re-display lock is executed according to the vehicle speed difference (± 3 km / h) between the current vehicle speed and the lock vehicle speed as described above.

The value of the vehicle speed difference ± 3 km / h used for the determination in step 125 in this embodiment is an example, and the vehicle speed difference is A
It is possible to appropriately use a value larger or smaller than this depending on the control accuracy of the SCD1 and the like.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described above, the present invention does not display the current vehicle speed while the vehicle speed difference between the set vehicle speed of the ASCD and the current vehicle speed is within a predetermined range, and the current vehicle speed converges to the set vehicle speed. Fixed the digital display of vehicle speed. Therefore, in the state where the constant-speed traveling control is performed by the operation of the ASCD, under the traveling condition where the traveling resistance increases or the traveling condition where the traveling resistance decreases, even if the current vehicle speed inevitably changes slightly, The vehicle speed digitally displayed does not change, and a constant vehicle speed is digitally displayed.

Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the annoyance experienced by the occupant due to a change in the digital display indicating the vehicle speed during the constant speed traveling control. Particularly, when the vehicle speed is projected and displayed on the front window using the head-up display, the digital display of the vehicle speed is temporarily fixed because the digital display of the vehicle speed is always present within the driver's field of view. By doing so, the elimination of the annoyance becomes more effective for the driver.

In addition, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that gives an occupant anxiety by changing the digitally displayed vehicle speed in the increasing direction, even though the vehicle speed is set and the vehicle is traveling at a constant speed. Becomes

Moreover, the set vehicle speed is fixedly displayed while the vehicle speed difference between the set vehicle speed and the current vehicle speed is within a predetermined value, and if the vehicle speed difference increases or decreases to a predetermined value or more,
At this time, the increased or decreased current vehicle speed is displayed, so that safe driving performance can be ensured without any trouble.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of an essential part of a switch lever of the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the embodiment. 1 ... ASCD (auto speed control device), 13 ...
… Digital speedometer, 15… Digital speedometer control unit, 16… Digital display unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A structure provided with an auto speed control device for executing control to converge the current vehicle speed to a preset vehicle speed and a digital speedometer for digitally displaying the current vehicle speed, wherein the set vehicle speed is set. A dead band control device for a digital speedometer, comprising display control means for fixing the converged digital display of the current vehicle speed while the vehicle speed difference between the set vehicle speed and the current vehicle speed is within a predetermined range.