Abstract: There is provided a cruise control apparatus whose reliability can be improved by protecting the actuator from failing. A cruise control apparatus with a controller ECU capable of canceling the cruise control when the temperature data given by the actuator temperature estimation unit exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: An automatic constant-speed cruising control apparatus for a vehicle comprises a vehicle speed sensor for sensing a present vehicle speed; a command switch group; a controller including a memory for storing an desired cruising speed, a calculator for generating an actuator drive signal in response to the difference between the desired cruising speed and the present vehicle speed, a cancel controller, a resume controller, a transition controller, integration means for integrating duration time of the actuator drive signal during constant acceleration control by the resume controller, and decision means for detecting the present vehicle speed to approach the desired cruising speed; and an actuator for driving a throttle valve according to the actuator drive signal. The transition controller drives drastically in the closing direction of the throttle valve for the time calculated depending on the integral time obtained by the integration means when the present vehicle speed approaches the desired cruising speed.

Abstract: A wiper control device includes a wiper switch having a variable resistor which is switched to the respective resistance value corresponding to the respective operation mode of the wiper apparatus. An interface circuit is provided with a reference resistor and a capacitor. A microcomputer is provided with a reference charging port for changing the capacitor through the reference resistor, a detective charging port for changing the same capacitor through the variable resistor switched into various resistance values corresponding to the respective operation modes and a reading port for reading as to whether the capacitor is changed up to a predetermined potential level. The microcomputer determines the selected operation mode on the basis of a relative value calculated from the time required for charging the capacitor through the reference resistor by the reference charging port and the time required for charging the capacitor through the variable resistor of the wiper switch by the detective charging port.

Abstract: An automatic vehicle speed controlling apparatus for a vehicle includes a vehicle speed sensor for sensing the actual speed of the vehicle and providing actual speed data proportional to the actual speed of the vehicle, a command switch operable for generating a cruise command signal and an actuator for driving a throttle valve with the vehicle. The control unit is responsive to the actual speed data and the cruise command signal and includes storage memory for storing a desired speed datum in response to the cruise command signal. The control unit selectively generates a speed increasing signal and a speed decreasing signal in response to a difference between the actual speed data and the desired speed datum stored in the memory and supplying the speed increasing signal and the speed decreasing signal to the actuator.

Abstract: A cruising control apparatus for a vehicle, which comprises a vehicle speed sensor, a command switch, a microcomputer for generating an actuator control signal and including a vehicle speed signal memory and a watch-dog signal generator for generating a pulse signal with a predetermined period, an actuator for driving a throttle valve, an actuator driving circuit for driving the actuator in response to the actuator control signal, a watch-dog signal detector for discriminating whether the pulse signal is normal or not, a prohibiting circuit for opening the actuator driving circuit when the pulse signal is abnormal, and the microcomputer further includes vehicle speed decision means for deciding the vehicle speed signal being higher than a predetermined upper limit signal or lower than a predetermined lower limit signal and means for maintaining the watch-dog signal generator in an OFF-state in response to the result of the vehicle speed decision means.

Abstract: A self-holding circuit is provided with an input terminal (2), an output terminal (3), a self returnable push switch (SW2), a first transistor TR1), a first time constant circuit (R3 and C1) having a predetermined charging time constant (T1), a second transistor (TR2), a relay (RL), first and second diodes (D1, D2), a second time constant circuit (R8, R9 and C2) having a predetermined discharging constant (T2), and a third transistor (TR3). The circuit may be switched on by a first pushing operation of the push switch and switched off by a second pushing operation of the same push switch.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control method and apparatus are provided which can ensure a smooth driving feeling even if an automotive vehicle has entered into an ascending sloped road during a constant speed control. The speed increasing control is stopped when the vehicle speed data obtained from the vehicle speed sensor is not greater than the memory vehicle speed, a deviation between the vehicle speed data and the memory vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined level and the acceleration at that time is greater than a predetermined level.

Abstract: A steering wheel positioner for an automatic driving position system is provided with an actuator for driving a steering wheel shaft, a tilt sensor for detecting an inclination of the steering wheel shaft, a car speed sensor, a neutral-park relay for detecting the vehicle to be stepped and a controller for memorizing a steering wheel position suitable for the driver, for driving a steering wheel to the memorized steering wheel position through the actuator, for driving the steering wheel downwardly when the tilt sensor is abnormal, and for preventing the steering wheel from driving in the downward direction when the tilt sensor is abnormal and the neutral-park delay detects the vehicle to be traveling.

Abstract: A constant-speed cruising control system for vehicles comprises a car-speed sensor, a command switch group, a car-speed memory, an actuator for driving a throttle, and a control mechanism which has a cruising control function, a resuming control function after cancelling the cruising control and controls the vehicle speed so as to coincide with a reset cruising speed stored in reponse to a reset operation during the resuming control by driving the throttle in the decelerative direction of the vehicle for the time given by subtracting set initialize time from the sum total of time the throttle is controlled in the accelerative direction of the vehicle during the time from the operation of the resume switch till the reset operation. It is possible to solve the undershooting of the vehicle speed at the transitional time from the acceleration state to the cruising state at the constant-speed.

Abstract: An automatic vehicle speed control device for use in an automatic controlling of the running speed of a vehicle to a certain set speed is disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling a vehicle speed to a desired cruising speed are disclosed in which an abrupt deceleration time for which the vehicle is abruptly decelerated to the vehicle speed at a time when an off operation of an acceleration switch in a cruise command switch group is carried out after an on operation of the acceleration switch to carry out a constant deceleration of the vehicle is calculated from the total duration of time for which the actuator is controlled so that the vehicle speed increases at a constant rate. Therefore, no need to adjust the abrupt deceleration time according to the individual vehicles in which the systems are mounted. In addition, since the actuator is rendered in the abrupt deceleration state within the appropriate duration of time, road conditions, or a speed range in which the vehicle cruises does not affect the performance of the system.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling a vehicle speed to a desired vehicle speed in which, when a set switch is operated, a vehicle speed V.sub.1 at the time of the predetermined set storage unit of microcomputer and a limit vehicle speed switch operation is stored in a vehicle speed V.sub.alpha is set which is lower than the stored vehicle speed by a predetermined value alpha (V.sub.alpha =V.sub.1 -alpha, alpha>0). The limit vehicle speed v.sub.alpha is a criterion of determining if a second initialize control should be executed. The second initialize control is such that an acceleration command signal is intermittently outputted to a throttle actuator until the deceleration of the vehicle becomes below a constant rate upon detection of a change rate of the vehicle speed after a first initialize control in which the acceleration command signal is outputted for a predetermined period of time upon receipt of a cruise command signal from a command switch.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling a cruising speed of a vehicle which can maintain a vehicle speed at a desired cruising speed is disclosed in which a plurality of initialization signal values are set after an accelerator switch installed in a command switch is initially operated and thereafter is released and again operated to command a desired acceleration of the vehicle irrespective of the type of vehicle using the system, i.e., according to the vehicle speed. Second and third initialization signal values have predetermined functional relationships to a first initialization signal value which is set when the accelerator switch is initially operated. These signal values are, e.g., time widths for which a vacuum supply valve of a throttle valve actuator is opened so that an engine throttle valve is opened to increase the vehicle speed.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling a vehicle speed to a desired cruising speed in which a transfer point at which control of the vehicle speed is transferred from that carried out by returning the vehicle speed to the cruising speed set through an operation of a set switch at a controllable acceleration in the vehicle speed to that carried out by controlling the vehicle speed so that the vehicle speed coincides with the set cruising speed is determined on the basis of a sum of an acceleration value multiplied by a constant and speed difference from the actual vehicle speed to set cruising speed. Consequently, an overshooting of the vehicle speed does not occur when the vehicle speed is returned toward and finally settles at the set cruising speed.