System for controlling a driving device of a vehicle

• US 5,215,159 A
• Filed: 05/31/1991
• Issued: 06/01/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishida, Minoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US07/708,426
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 180/167, 180/170, 180/171, 180/179, 180/169, 364/426.01, 364/426.04, 123/352
• US Class Current: 180/179
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/047 the memory being digital
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18063 Creeping
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9321 Velocity regulation, e.g. cruise control

Abstract

A system for controlling running of a vehicle comprises a switch for setting a slow-run mode, a sensor for detecting that the brake is being applied, a driving force control device mechanically separated from the accelerator for controlling a driving force of the vehicle, a sensor for detecting the running speed of the vehicle, a switch for setting a slow-run speed command signal. A target speed is generated on the basis of information concerning the brake activation and, the running speed of the vehicle and the slow-run speed command signal value. In the slow-run mode, when the brake is not applied, the driving force control device is driven to cause the vehicle to run at the target slow-run speed, and when the brake is applied, the driving force control device is driven so that no driving force is produced at least in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a driving vehicle operated by a driver, the driving vehicle comprising a brake, and an accelerator, the system comprising:

means for setting a slow-run mode;

means for detecting that the brake of the driving vehicle is being activated;

means, mechanically separated from the accelerator of the driving vehicle, for controlling a driving force of the driving vehicle;

means for detecting a running speed of the driving vehicle;

means for setting a slow-run speed command signal set by the driver representing a commanded speed;

means for receiving information concerning the brake activation, the running speed, and the slow-run speed command signal, and for sequentially generating a target slow-run speed command signal in accordance with the received information so that a target slow-run speed can be sequentially increased incrementally over time, wherein, in the slow-run mode, when the brake is not activated, said means for controlling said driving force is driven so as to allow the running speed of the driving vehicle to increase to become the target slow-run speed in response to the target slow-run speed command signal, and, when the brake is activated, no driving force is produced;

means for measuring an inter-vehicle distance between the driving vehicle and a preceding vehicle in front of the driving vehicle, said means for generating a target slow-run speed command signal being operative, in response to received information concerning the brake activation, the inter-vehicle distance, the running speed of the vehicle, and a slow-run speed command signal, to sequentially generate a target slow-run speed command signal that causes the driving vehicle to incrementally accelerate in accordance with the received information; and

means for setting a commanded inter-vehicle distance;

wherein the system operates operating in one of two control modes selected by a means for selecting wherein, a first control mode is an inter-vehicle distance predominating control mode, and the driving vehicle is incrementally accelerated until the commanded inter-vehicle distance is measured by said means for measuring, and a second control mode is a running speed predominating control mode, and the driving vehicle is incrementally accelerated until the commanded speed is detected as the running speed.

2. A system for controlling a driving vehicle operated by a driver, the driving vehicle comprising a brake, and an accelerator, the system comprising:

means for setting a slow-run mode;

means for detecting that the brake of the driving vehicle is being activated;

means, mechanically separated from the accelerator of the driving vehicle, for controlling a driving force of the driving vehicle;

means for sensing a running speed of the driving vehicle;

means for measuring a distance between the driving vehicle and a preceding vehicle in front of the driving vehicle;

means for setting a slow-run speed command signal representing a commanded speed;

means, in response to information concerning the brake activation, the measured inter-vehicle distance, the running speed of the vehicle, and the slow-run speed command signal, for sequentially generating a target slow-run speed command signal in accordance with the received information so that a target slow-run speed can be sequentially increased incrementally over time; and

decision means, in response to information concerning the inter-vehicle distance and the running speed of the vehicle, for calculating a speed approaching the vehicle in front, to make a decision as to whether the measured inter-vehicle distance is with a proper distance value so as to output a warning signal to the driver and output a braking command signal to said driving force control means when the inter-vehicle distance between the preceding car and the driving car is less than the proper distance value, wherein in the slow-run mode, if the braking command signal is output from said decision means, said driving force control means is driven in accordance with the braking command signal, and wherein, if there is no such command signal, when the brake is not activated, said driving force control means is driven to cause the vehicle to run at the target slow-run speed, and when the brake is activated, said driving force control means is driven such that no driving force is produced;

wherein the system operates in one of two control modes selected by a means for selecting wherein, a first control mode is an inter-vehicle distance predominating control mode, the driving vehicle being incrementally accelerated until the commanded inter-vehicle distance is measured by said means for measuring, and a second control mode is a running speed predominating control mode, the driving vehicle being incrementally accelerated until the commanded speed is detected as the running speed.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said decision means outputs a warning signal when the product of a speed in approaching the vehicle in front and a first set value is larger than a current inter-vehicle distance and outputs a braking command signal when the product of a speed in approaching the vehicle in front and a second set value is larger than a current inter-vehicle distance.