JPH08133066A - Program control circuit for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To detect an alarm flag aright at a time when something wrong has occurred in a brake switch as well as to prevent any confusion in control to be caused by this trouble by setting this alarm flag at the time of displaying any acceleration, where car speed information goes beyond the setting value, in a state of continuing this brake switch being turned on. CONSTITUTION: A program control circuit 10 reads information from a brake switch 2, judging whether this brake switch 2 shows its state of being turned on or not as a brake pedal is operated. If it shows the on-state, a car speed is taken out of a torque sensor 1, operating an mount of acceleration, and a fact that whether the acceleration goes beyond the setting acceleration or not is judge. If it exceeds the setting acceleration, a timer is started into operation, and likewise whether the acceleratingness is still continued or not even after passing though the setting time. When this acceleratingness is still continued, an alarm flag is delivered to another program control circuit, and control is converged on the safety side, while an alarm output is transmitted to an alarm system 30, sounding an alarm buzzer 31.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used in a computer device mounted on an automobile and executing various controls accompanying the traveling of the automobile. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention utilizes a brake operation information as one of input information for a computer device that executes control.

Examples of control circuits in which the present invention is used include a slope start assist device, an anti-skid brake device, an automatic speed control device (auto cruising), and a drive shaft load control device.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In a computer device mounted on an automobile and performing control by using information on a brake operation performed by a driver as one of input information, on / off information of a brake switch for turning on a stop lamp is used. Is common. The brake switch is turned on when the brake pedal is depressed, the stop lamp is lit at this time, and is turned off when the brake pedal is released, at which time the stop lamp is extinguished. An example of this switch is a hydraulic responsive switch provided in a hydraulic circuit generated by a brake pedal.The hydraulic responsive switch turns on when the hydraulic pressure exceeds a certain value and turns off when the hydraulic pressure falls below the certain value. It becomes a state.

This on / off binary information is taken into a computer device as input information indicating whether or not a brake operation is being performed, and the computer device executes a logical operation with other input information to execute control. It is supposed to do.
In the slope start assist device, the brake pressure is maintained even when the brake pedal is released and the brake pedal is released when the vehicle speed becomes zero. In the anti-skid brake system, when the vehicle speed above a predetermined value suddenly becomes zero while the brake pedal is depressed, it is assumed that the wheels are slipping and the brake pressure is intermittently lowered. Control is performed. In the automatic speed control device, when the automatic state is set, the fuel supply valve is automatically controlled to maintain the set vehicle speed, but when the brake pedal is stepped on, the automatic state is automatically released. . Furthermore, in the drive shaft load control device, the driven shaft is controlled to be higher than the road surface when the load is small, the driven shaft load is reduced and the driven shaft load is increased, and the drive shaft wheel and the road surface are accelerated during acceleration. It is controlled so that slip does not occur between the drive shaft and the drive shaft. However, when the brake pedal is depressed, the load on the driven shaft is controlled to be equal to that on the drive shaft.

[0005]

In the computer device mounted on such an automobile, the input information indicating that the brake operation is performed is important input information.
If the input information is incorrect, normal control will not be performed. On the other hand, the brake switch is generally a device with mechanical contacts, and it must be taken into consideration that malfunctions such as wear of contacts or adhesion of contacts may occur after long-term use. I won't.

For this reason, the contact portion of the brake switch is hermetically sealed to prevent foreign matter from entering from the outside, and an inert gas is enclosed to reduce contact wear due to electric sparks. Improvements were made to improve the reliability of the brake switch, such as installing a relay amplifier circuit to prevent large currents from flowing.

It is conceivable that the brake switch used as the input information of the computer device may be duplicated to cause a failure when a contradiction occurs, but the operating points for the operating hydraulic pressure are set to be completely equal for the two switches. It is difficult to do so, and even if the two switches can be set, it is difficult to keep the operating points for the operating oil pressures of the two switches equal over a long period of time.

The present invention has been made against such a background, and provides a device capable of correctly detecting an abnormality in a brake switch and preventing confusion of control caused thereby. The purpose is to do. The present invention, when an abnormality occurs in the brake switch,
An object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of correctly detecting this and converging control to the safe side.

[0009]

The present invention is characterized in that the occurrence of an abnormality such as a break or short circuit of a brake switch is automatically detected to prevent control confusion.

That is, a first aspect of the present invention is to detect that the brake switch is in a short-circuited state and to electrically detect that the brake pedal is depressed. In a program control circuit for an automobile that takes in information and executes a specific control, a means for taking in vehicle speed information and setting an alarm flag when the vehicle speed information indicates acceleration exceeding a set value while the brake switch remains on. It is characterized by having.

An example of acceleration in which the vehicle speed information exceeds the set value is acceleration that changes from zero to a set value in the vehicle speed information.

A second aspect of the present invention is to detect that the brake switch is in a broken state, and to provide information on the brake switch that electrically detects that the brake pedal is depressed. A program control circuit for an automobile that executes a specific control is provided with a means for taking in vehicle speed information and setting an alarm flag when the vehicle speed information decelerates from a set speed to zero while the brake switch remains off. It is characterized by

It is desirable to have means for converging the specific control to the safe side and means for transmitting an alarm output when the alarm flag is generated.

[0014]

If the brake switch is normal, the brake switch is turned on when the brake pedal is depressed and the braking is executed, and is turned off when the brake pedal is released and the braking is released. It is normal to decelerate when the brake switch is on. However, if the vehicle speed exceeded the set speed and was accelerated while the brake switch was continuously on, it is considered that an abnormality has occurred due to a short circuit of the brake switch. To be Also, if it is shown that the vehicle speed is decelerating to the set speed or lower, for example, to zero speed when the brake switch is in the off state, an abnormality occurs due to the breakage of the brake switch. It is thought that it is doing.

Therefore, when there is such inconsistent input information, an alarm is generated to notify the driver and an alarm flag is set, and a hill start assist device, an anti-skid brake device, an automatic speed control device, Alternatively, the alarm flag is sent to another control circuit that controls the drive shaft load control device or the like to converge the control of each device to the safe side.

With this, it is possible to prevent various controls from being executed due to erroneous information caused by a failure of the brake switch, and the various controls performed by the operation information of the brake switch are automatically performed on the safety side. The driving safety can be further improved because it is converged to.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the embodiment of the present invention.

The embodiment of the present invention comprises a program control circuit 10 for taking in vehicle speed information from the rotation sensor 1 and taking in brake switch information from the brake switch 2. This program control circuit 10 turns on the brake switch. Means for setting an alarm flag when the vehicle speed information indicates acceleration exceeding a set value in a continuous state. The program control circuit 10 also includes means for setting an alarm flag when the vehicle speed information decelerates from the set speed to zero while the brake switch remains off. This warning flag is sent to "another program control circuit" such as a slope start assist device, anti-skid brake device, automatic speed control device, or drive shaft load control device, and means for converging each control to the safe side. Prepare Further, the device of the present invention includes means for generating an alarm signal, sending this alarm signal to the alarm device 30, and generating an alarm from the alarm buzzer 31 and the alarm lamp 32.

Next, the control operation of the embodiment of the present invention thus constructed will be described. First, the control operation when receiving the input information indicating acceleration in the braking state will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The program control circuit 10 takes in information from the brake switch 2 and determines whether or not the brake pedal is depressed and the brake switch 2 is in the ON state. If it is in the ON state, the vehicle speed is taken in from the rotation sensor 1, the acceleration α is calculated from the vehicle speed, and it is determined from the calculated value whether or not the acceleration exceeds a preset speed.

If the set speed is exceeded, a timer (time t)
Is started, and it is determined whether or not the acceleration state continues even after the set time t (for example, 30 seconds) has elapsed. If the acceleration state continues, an alarm flag is sent to another program control circuit to converge the control to the safe side, and the alarm device 3
Send an alarm output to 0. The alarm device 30 is an alarm buzzer 3
Sound 1 to notify the driver of the abnormal condition. The alarm may be issued by turning on the alarm lamp 32, or the alarm buzzer 31 may be sounded and the alarm lamp may be turned on at the same time to give a notification.

The control operation in the braking state, that is, in the case where the input information indicating the acceleration is received in the state where the brake switch 2 is ON, can be performed by taking in the vehicle speed. The control operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The program control circuit 10 includes a rotation sensor 1
The vehicle speed is taken in from and it is determined whether the vehicle speed is 0 km / h and the vehicle is stopped. If the vehicle is in a stopped state, an alarm flag is set, the vehicle speed is taken again from the rotation sensor 1, and it is determined whether or not the vehicle speed has reached a predetermined value v ₁ (for example, 30 km / h). If the predetermined value v ₁ is reached, it is determined whether or not the brake switch 2 has been in the OFF state during that time. If it has been shown to be off, it is normal. Therefore, the alarm flag that has been set is cleared and control is returned to the original state.

If the brake switch 2 has never been in the off state, the braking state is shown even though the vehicle speed shows the predetermined speed, so that the electric circuit including the brake switch 2 is abnormal. An alarm output is sent to the alarm device 30 as an occurrence. The alarm device 30 issues an alarm from the alarm buzzer 31, the alarm lamp 32, or any one of them. At the same time, an alarm flag is sent to another program control circuit to converge the control to the safe side.

Next, the control operation when the input information indicating the deceleration is received in the non-braking state, that is, in the state where the brake switch 2 is off, will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The program control circuit 10 includes a rotation sensor 1
Then, the vehicle speed is taken from and it is determined whether or not it is equal to or higher than a predetermined value (for example, 50 km / h). If it is a predetermined value or more, an alarm flag is set. The vehicle speed is again taken in from the rotation sensor 1 and it is determined whether or not the vehicle speed has shown zero km / h. Vehicle speed is zero km
If / h is indicated, it is determined whether or not the brake switch 2 has been in the ON state during this period, and if it is in the ON state, it is assumed that the vehicle is normally stopped by braking. , Resets the alarm flag that has been set and returns control to the original.

If the ON state has never been shown, the vehicle is in a stopped state despite showing the non-braking state.
An alarm output is sent to the alarm device 30 as if the electric circuit including the brake switch 2 is abnormal. Alarm device 3
0 generates an alarm from each of the alarm buzzer 31, the alarm lamp 32, or any one of them. At the same time, an alarm flag is sent to another program control circuit to converge the control to the safe side.

(Application Example) Here, an application example relating to the embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking a slope starting assist device as an example. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the slope start assisting device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The slope start assist device includes a rotation sensor 1 for detecting a vehicle speed and an engine speed, a brake switch 2, a clutch sensor 3, and a parking brake.
A switch 4, a clutch hydraulic pressure switch 5, a neutral switch 6 indicating a neutral position of a speed change lever, a gradient sensor 7, and a control valve 9 for holding a brake pressure according to a control signal even when a brake pedal 11 is released.
A program control circuit 10a which receives the outputs of the respective sensors and switches and outputs the control signal, an alarm device 30 which generates an alarm in accordance with an alarm output from the program control circuit 10a, and a program control circuit 10a. A control unit 20 for inputting operation is provided.

The alarm device 30 is provided with an alarm buzzer 31 for generating an alarm by sound and an alarm lamp 32 for emitting an alarm by lighting. Further, the control unit 20 is provided in the driver's seat so that the driver can operate while driving, and has a main switch 21 for opening and closing the power supply to the hill start assist device, and a release point adjustment for holding the brake pressure. Decimal point 2 displaying numbers
A 7-segment display 22 with 6 is provided, a release point adjustment switch 23 that adjusts the position of the release point by operation, and an initial adjustment switch 24 that is operated when performing initial adjustment.

Next, a description will be given of the slope starting assist operation by the slope starting assist device thus configured. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the flow of the brake holding operation by the slope start assist operation, and FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the flow of the brake release operation by the slope start assist device.

First, in the brake holding operation, as shown in FIG. 6, the program control circuit 10a takes in the output from the brake switch 2 and determines whether or not the value of the preset depression amount is exceeded. . If it does not exceed the set value, it means that the vehicle is not stopped by braking, and therefore the sending of the control signal to the control valve 9 is prohibited and the assisting operation for starting the slope is stopped. If the set value exceeds, the rotation sensor 1
It is determined whether the vehicle speed is zero by taking in the output from the vehicle. If the vehicle speed is not zero, the vehicle is running, so the sending of the control signal to the control valve 9 is prohibited and the auxiliary operation for starting the slope is stopped.

When the vehicle speed is zero, the output from the gradient sensor 7 is fetched and it is determined whether or not the current gradient exceeds the set predetermined value S. If the slope exceeds the predetermined value S, it is determined that the vehicle is on a road where the ability to start the slope is not reached, and the control signal is not sent to the control valve 9 to stop the auxiliary operation. If the value does not exceed the predetermined value S, it is determined that the vehicle is on a road on which slope start assistance is possible, the output from the clutch sensor 3 is taken, and it is determined whether or not the stroke of the clutch exceeds the predetermined value. Control valve 9
Is driven to operate the brake valve 12 to maintain the braking pressure, and the slope start assisting operation is executed. If it does not exceed the predetermined value, the control signal transmission to the control valve 9 is prohibited and the execution of the auxiliary operation is stopped.

Next, the brake release operation that is normally performed will be described with reference to FIG.

The clutch sensor 3 and the neutral switch 6 when the vehicle is in the brake holding state on a slope.
The output from is taken and it is judged whether the clutch pedal is depressed and the gear is set to the forward drive position (low or second) or the reverse position.

When the clutch pedal is depressed and the gear is set to the starting state, it is determined from the output of the clutch sensor 3 whether or not the stroke is equal to or less than a preset stroke. When the stroke is equal to or less than the predetermined stroke, it is assumed that the vehicle is started, and the sending of the control signal to the control valve 9 is prohibited and the brake is released. When the gear is not set to the starting state or the amount of depression of the clutch pedal is equal to or greater than the predetermined stroke, the control signal is continuously sent to the control valve 9 to maintain the brake holding state.

The initial settings of the clutch and the brake can be made arbitrarily by adapting to the driver's preference by an operation input from the control unit 20 or a change due to wear of the brake and the clutch. The values of the set strokes of the clutch pedal and the brake pedal 11 are held until they are reset. If each stepping stroke does not exceed the set reference value, the program control circuit 10a prohibits the sending of the control signal to the control valve 9 to stop the starting assist operation, and each stepping stroke is set. If it exceeds the reference value, the slope start assist operation is continued.

Here, in the program control circuit 10 according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle speed information exceeds the set value when the brake switch is continuously turned on, or the vehicle speed is kept when the brake switch is continuously turned off. When it is detected that the information has decelerated from the set speed to zero, the set alarm flag is sent to the program control circuit 10a of the slope start assist device. In accordance with this warning flag, the program control circuit 10a prohibits the control signal from being sent to the control valve 9 in order to converge the control to the safe side when the slope start assist operation is being executed, and the slope start assist operation is performed. Stop.
This is displayed as an alarm on the driver's seat, and the driver knows that an abnormality has occurred in the slope start assist device, and performs a driving operation without using the slope start assist device.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, when an abnormality such as a short circuit or disconnection occurs in the brake switch, the abnormality can be detected correctly and the confusion of control caused thereby can be prevented. At the same time, there is an effect that the control can be converged to the safe side and the reliability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of control operation when input information indicating acceleration in a braking state is received in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of another control operation when input information indicating acceleration in a braking state is received in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of control operation when input information indicating deceleration is received in a non-braking state in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a slope starting assistance device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of a brake holding operation by the slope start assist device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of a brake release operation by the slope start assist device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Rotation sensor (vehicle speed sensor) 2 Brake switch 3 Clutch sensor 4 Parking brake switch 5 Clutch hydraulic switch 6 Neutral switch 7 Gradient sensor 9 Control valve 10, 10a Program control circuit 11 Brake pedal 12 Brake valve 20 Control unit 21 Main switch 22 7-segment display 23 Release point adjustment switch 24 Initial adjustment switch 26 Decimal point 30 Alarm device 31 Alarm buzzer 32 Alarm lamp

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A program control circuit for an automobile, which acquires information on a brake switch for electrically detecting that a brake pedal is depressed and executes a specific control, acquires vehicle speed information and turns on the brake switch. A program control circuit for an automobile, comprising means for setting an alarm flag when the vehicle speed information indicates acceleration exceeding a set value in a continuous state. 2. The acceleration exceeding the set value is an acceleration in which the vehicle speed information reaches from a vehicle speed of zero to a set speed.
A program control circuit for an automobile as described. 3. A vehicle program control circuit for fetching information on a brake switch for electrically detecting that a brake pedal is depressed and executing a specific control, fetches vehicle speed information, and turns off the brake switch. A program control circuit for an automobile, comprising means for setting an alarm flag when the vehicle speed information decelerates from a set speed to zero in a continuous state. 4. The program control circuit for an automobile according to claim 1, further comprising means for converging the specific control to a safe side and means for transmitting an alarm output when the alarm flag is generated.