(19) Japan Patent Office (JP)
`
`(11) Utility Model
`Application Disclosure
`Utility Model H4-102059
`(12) Utility Model Disclosure Publication (U)
`(43) Disclosure September 3, 1992 (H4)
`
`(51) Int. CI. 5th
`G 01 P 1/07
`B60 K 31100
`35/00
`1110
`
`GOIP
`
`Classification
`
`Internal Control No.
`Z 901O-2F
`Z 6948-30
`Z 6948-30
`Z 901O-2F
`
`FI
`
`Technical index
`
`(21) Application number: Utility Model H3-1 0762
`(22) Date of filing:
`February 7,1991 (H3)
`
`Examination requested Not requested Number of inventions 1 (Total 4 pages)
`(71) Applicant 000006895
`Y AZAKI Corporation
`4-28 Mita 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo
`(72) Inventor Y oshikazu NAGASHIMA
`c/o Y AZAKI Corporation
`1500 Mishuku, Susono-shi, Shizuoka 410-1194
`Japan
`(72) Inventor Keizo NISHIT ANI
`c/o Y AZAKI Meter Co., Ltd.
`1500 Mishuku, Susono-shi, Shizuoka 410-1194
`Japan
`(72) Inventor Yutaka INOUE
`c/o Y AZAKI Meter Co., Ltd.
`1500 Mishuku, Susono-shi, Shizuoka 410-1194
`Japan
`(74) Agent Hideo TAKINO, Patent Attorney
`(and one other)
`Continued on the last page
`
`(54)[Title ofInvention]
`
`SETTING SPEED DISPLAY READOUT FOR CRUISE CONTROL UNIT
`
`I AL EAt
`, .....
`DARREN L DFJ
`NOTARY PUBLIC · STATE Oi" ILLINOIS
`MY COMMISSION EXPIRES:02l07/16
`
`Ford Motor Company et al.
`Ex. 1009-001
`
`

`

`(57) [Summary]
`[Purpose] The purpose is to provide setting speed
`display readout of cruise control unit which can be set
`up in the vicinity of speedometer in a limited space,
`and as a result, speed setting of cruise control and the
`actual speed can be easily compared.
`[Composition] Setting speed display readout (3)
`which displays said setting speed of cruise control
`unit controlling vehicle travel in order to travel at
`preset constant speed, wherein a plurality of
`indicators (31) is arranged in dots along a scale (111 a)
`of speedometer (11) and that which corresponds to the
`setting speed mentioned above in a said plurality of
`indicators (31) is lit to display the setting speed.
`
`Ilia
`
`Jill
`
`11
`
`3
`31
`11
`lIla
`
`Setting speed display meter
`Indicator
`Speedometer
`Scale
`
`-179-
`
`Ford Motor Company et al.
`Ex. 1009-002
`
`

`

`(2)
`
`Utility Model Disclosure JP H4-102059
`
`[Claims of the Utility Model Registration]
`[Claim 1]
`The setting speed display readout of cruise control unit characterized by setting speed display readout (3)
`which displays said setting speed of cruise control unit controlling vehicle travel in order to travel at preset
`constant speed, wherein a plurality of indicators (31) is arranged in dots along a scale (111 a) of speedometer
`(11) and that which corresponds to the setting speed mentioned above in a said plurality of indicators (31) is lit
`to display the setting speed.
`[Brief Explanation of Drawings]
`[Figure 1] This depicts one embodiment of the setting speed display readout of the cruise speed device
`according to the present invention.
`[Figure 2] This is a circuit schematic drawing of the cruise speed device of the present invention.
`[Figure 3] This is a partial flow chart explaining the operation of the cruise speed device of the present
`embodiment.
`[Figure 4] This is a partial flow chart explaining the operation of the cruise speed device of the present
`embodiment.
`[Figure 5] This is a drawing depicting another embodiment of the cruise speed display meter of a conventional
`cruise speed device relating to the present invention.
`[Figure 6] This is a drawing depicting the conventional cruise speed indicator.
`[Explanation of symbols]
`
`3
`31
`11
`lIla
`
`Setting speed display meter
`Indicator
`Speedometer
`Scale
`
`[Figure 1]
`
`11 Ie!
`
`lib
`
`II
`
`3
`31
`11
`lIla
`
`Setting speed display meter
`Indicator
`Speedometer
`Scale
`
`Ford Motor Company et al.
`Ex. 1009-003
`
`

`

`(2)
`
`Utility Model Disclosure JP H4-102059
`
`Figure 2]
`
`1
`
`/
`
`J'
`;\a,. r-,,'W1'\
`7?~"%-11
`
`I
`
`ti'III:I:nI
`
`a
`
`f-----
`
`\
`1-< !1'::!!' .• :,-/sw
`
`a
`
`9
`
`10
`
`~~-lMr:.o1l' ~
`1 Dttt'i'USwl--
`8.
`lII.ii'WJfp "wI--- CPU
`.,..-..sW t--
`~l'",-ASW I -
`a'f *'I'~J.~SW I--
`
`5
`Ignition switch
`6 Speed sensor
`7 Cruise speed set SW
`8 Cruise speed change SW
`9 Brake SW
`20 Resume SW
`29 Cancel SW
`21 Throttle valve actuator
`3 Cruise speed display meter
`
`22
`
`am/b
`
`[Fi ure 5]
`
`222g
`
`-180 -
`
`Ford Motor Company et al.
`Ex. 1009-004
`
`

`

`(3)
`
`Utility Model Disclosure JP H4-102059
`
`[Fi ure 3]
`
`2
`
`v
`
`y
`
`y
`
`f
`
`-,
`
`S 1 Is cruise speed travel SW7 ON?
`S2 Store in speed memory
`S3 Cruise speed travel flag ON
`S4 Indicator (31) lights
`S5 Is cancel SW 23 operated as ON?
`S6 Is Brake SW 9 ON?
`S7 Is speed reduced above a certain speed?
`S20 Cancel cruise speed travel
`Indicator 31 light off
`S21 Cruise speed travel flag OFF
`
`Ford Motor Company et al.
`Ex. 1009-005
`
`

`

`(3)
`
`Utility Model Disclosure JP H4-102059
`
`Fi ure 4
`
`'I $ 15
`
`SU
`
`It
`
`S8 Cruise speed travel flag OFF?
`S9 Throttle value actuator 21 cruise speed travel drive
`S10 Set cruise speed change SW (illegible number) ON?
`Sl1 Cruise speed travel set SW7 OFF?
`S12 Cruise speed travel flag OFF?
`S 13 Cruise speed travel indicator 31 flashes
`S14 Resume SW2 ON?
`S 15 Cruise speed travel flag ON?
`S 16 Cruise speed travel resume
`Cruise speed travel indicator 31 lights again
`S17 UP or DOWN?
`S 1 (illegible) Decrement speed memory
`S 1 (illegible) Increment speed memory
`
`Ford Motor Company et al.
`Ex. 1009-006
`
`

`

`(3)
`
`Utility Model Disclosure JP H4-102059
`
`Fi ure 6
`
`11
`
`110
`
`15
`
`Continued from front page
`
`(72) Inventor Masaya SUGITA
`c/o Y AZAKI CORPORA nON
`1500 Misuku, Susono-shi,Sizuoka Pref.
`(72) Inventor Kunimitsu AOKI
`c/o Y AZAKI CORPORA nON
`1500 Misuku, Susono-shi, Sizuoka Pref.
`
`(72) Inventor Tatsumi OHTSIKA
`c/o Y AZAKI CORPORA nON
`1500 Misuku, Susono-shi,Sizuoka Pref.
`
`-.'
`:1
`:I
`j
`
`- 181 - / - 182-
`
`Ford Motor Company et al.
`Ex. 1009-007
`
`

`

`Utility Model Disclosure JP H4-102059
`
`[DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION]
`[0001]
`[Field of the Invention]
`The present invention relates to a cruise control unit controlling vehicle travel in order to
`travel at preset constant speed, comprising a setting speed display readout which displays setting
`speed.
`[0002]
`[PRIOR ART]
`A Cruise control unit, for example, is used in the case of travel for long hours without
`accelerator operation or brake operation on the highways, etc. The setting of cruise control speed
`is carried out by turning the setting switch on after confirming travelling at any desired speed by
`the speed display of the speedometer. After travel speed is set, setting speed and actual travel
`speed are compared, and according to the comparison result, the opening of a throttle valve of
`the engine is automatically controlled for the opening and closing, and because of this, the
`vehicle can travel maintaining the set constant speed. The setting speed which is set as described
`above does not necessarily match the desired value, and in this case, changing by lever operation
`is possible.
`[0003]
`With the conventional cruise control unit, as shown in Figure 6, only a cruise control indicator
`la was set up in a part of the combination meter (1) for vehicles, indicating respectively the ON(cid:173)
`mode by lighting and OFF-mode by non-lighting ofthe cruise control unit.
`[0004]
`Figure 6 indicates combination meter (1) provided with speedometer (11) having dial face
`(11a) and indicator needle 11 b which displays speed in cooperation with this dial face (11a), shift
`position display readout 12 displaying shift position of transmission, tachometer (13) displaying
`number of revolutions of the engine, fuel level indicator (14) displaying fuel level, and water
`temperature meter (15) displaying the temperature of coolant water of the engine. Furthermore,
`the lower section of combination meter (1) is provided, along with said cruise control indicator
`(1a), a warning display readout (16) displaying various warnings such as battery voltage drop.
`On the front surface of combination meter (1), there are installed in the facing (17), in order to
`hide the extra portion other than the display area ofthe speedometer (11), a shift position display
`readout (12), a tachometer (13), a fuel level indicator (14), a water temperature meter (15), and a
`warning display readout (16).
`
`- 5-
`
`Ford Motor Company et al.
`Ex. 1009-008
`
`

`

`Utility Model Disclosure JP H4-102059
`
`[0005]
`[PROBLEM(S) THAT THE INVENTION IS TO SOLVE]
`With the conventional cruise control unit, the setting speed can be confinned by viewing the
`speed display of speedometer (11) after the cruise control unit is turned on; however, only the
`cruise control indicator (1 a) which indicates on/off of cruise control unit is provided, leading to a
`problem, for example, oflosing sight of the value ofthe setting speed in the case accelerator
`operation or brake operation are perfonned in the middle of cruise control, thus no longer in the
`cruise control mode. Such problem can be resolved by setting up, for example, a 3 digit 7
`segment digital display readout which displays a setting speed in the cruise control and
`infonning the driver of the setting speed immediately after the setting operation.
`[0006]
`However, to set up such a display readout adjacent to speedometer (11) is not possible in
`tenns of space, as clearly indicated from combination meter (1) depicted in Figure 6; as a result,
`the place to set up this display readout can only be outside of combination meter (1). A problem
`not conducive to safe driving occurs if both displays are in separate locations in this way, since
`both displays have to be compared by moving the line of sight when changing the setting speed,
`which requires comparing of the setting speed, and the actual speed and confinnation of the
`difference of both.
`[0007]
`Moreover, the cruise control unit has the function of temporarily releasing the cruise control
`in the case of a set amount of deceleration by brake operation and the cruise control mode
`resumes when the resume switch is turned on. The turning on operation of the resume switch is
`preferably conducted at the time the difference between the actual speed and the setting speed
`becomes small, and in case the difference is large, is perfonned by approximating the actual
`speed to the setting speed by accelerator operation. In such a case, when the setting speed display
`is perfonned by a digital display and the actual speed display by an analog display respectively,
`there is a drawback in that detennining a large or small difference of both speeds is difficult.
`
`- 6-
`
`Ford Motor Company et al.
`Ex. 1009-009
`
`

`

`Utility Model Disclosure JP H4-102059
`
`[0008]
`Therefore, the issue of the present invention is, by taking into consideration the conventional
`problems described above, to provide the setting speed display readout of cruise control unit
`which can be set up in the vicinity of the speedometer in a limited space, and as a result, can
`easily compare the setting speed and the actual speed of the cruise control.
`[0009]
`[MEANS OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM(S)]
`The setting speed display readout of cruise control unit performed by the present invention in
`order to solve the issue described above is characterized by the setting speed display readout
`which displays said setting speed of cruise control unit controlling vehicle travel in order to
`travel at preset constant speed, wherein a plurality of indicators is arranged in dots along a scale
`of the speedometer and that which corresponds to the setting speed mentioned above in a said
`plurality of indicators is lit to display the setting speed.
`[0010]
`[OPERATION OF THE INVENTION]
`By the above composition, in a plurality of indicators arranged in dots along a scale of
`speedometer, the indicators which correspond to the setting speed of cruise control are lit to
`display the setting speed; therefore, correspondence of a setting speed and the actual speed can
`be recognized at a glance without moving the line of sight and a large space is not required.
`[0011]
`[EMBODIMENT(S)]
`Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained based upon the drawings.
`Figure 1 depicts one embodiment of a set speed display meter of the cruise speed device
`according to the present invention. In the figure, the same symbols are attached to the same
`portion as for the conventional case.
`[0012]
`In Figure 1, on dial face (11 a), on the movable range ofthe indicator needle (11 b) driven by
`internal equipment (not shown in the Figure), scale (111a) is attached, and the speed is displayed
`by indicator needle ( 11 b) providing instructions to this scale ( 111 a).
`
`=j
`·1
`
`- 7-
`
`Ford Motor Company et al.
`Ex. 1009-010
`
`

`

`Utility Model Disclosure JP H4-102059
`
`[0013]
`In facing (17) installed in the combination meter (1) in order to hide the extra portion other
`than the display area from the top of the (dial 1 Ia), etc. of the speedometer (11), for example, a
`plurality of indicators (31) made of LED is arranged in dots respectively at 5 km speed per hour
`increments along the scale (11Ia) over a range from 40 km speed per hour to 120 km speed per
`hour. This plurality of indicators (31) functions as the setting speed display readout (3) of the
`cruise control unit in cooperation with the scale (1IIa) of the speedometer (11).
`[0014]
`Indicators (31) of the setting speed display readout (3) of the cruise control unit light and
`blink in response to the electric signals from the circuit board (not shown in Figure) arranged on
`the back side of combination meter (1).
`[0015]
`Next, the circuit structure of the cruise control unit having setting speed display readout (3) of
`the present embodiment will be explained using Figure 2.
`[0016]
`In Figure 2, (4) possesses ROM and RAM, which are not shown in the figure, this CPU (4)
`(microcomputer) which operates according to the control program stored in advance, and
`connected to the input port of this CPU (4) are ignition SW 5 which is a switch to control the
`start and stop of the engine, speed sensor (6) which detects the number of revolutions of the
`vehicle tires and generates a pulse signal according to the speed, the cruise control setting SW 7
`which turns the cruise control on and off, the setting speed change SW 8 which changes the
`setting speed of cruise control, brake SW 9 which determines that the brake operation is
`performed, cancel SW 23 which temporarily release cruise control, and resume SW 20 which
`reenters into the cruise control in the case cruise control is temporarily released.
`[0017]
`To the output port of CPU (4) is connected to the throttle valve actuator (21) which drives the
`throttle valve of the engine and the setting speed display readout (3) of the cruise control unit
`depicted in Figure 1.
`
`-8-
`
`Ford Motor Company et al.
`Ex. 1009-011
`
`

`

`Utility Model Disclosure JP H4-102059
`
`[0018]
`The operation of cruise control unit comprising the composition described above will be
`explained by referring with the flowcharts of Figure 3 and Figure 4, which indicates the actions
`the CPU (4) performs.
`[0019]
`CPU4 starts operation when its power supply is turned on, and first, determines whether the
`cruise control setting SW 7 is ON mode or not, more specifically, ifthere is a command to
`perform cruise control or not (Step S 1).
`[0020]
`In step Sl, in the case the cruise control setting SW 7 is in the ON mode, more specifically,
`when there is a command to perform cruise control, the speed is calculated based on the pulse
`signal from speed sensor (6) and is stored in the speed memory (RAM) (step S2). Next, the
`cruise control flag (RAM) is turned to ON mode (step S3), and base on the speed data stored in
`the speed memory, indicators (31) of the setting speed display readout (3) of the cruise control
`unit corresponding to the speed data are lit (step S4).
`[0021]
`Next, whether ON operation is performed by cancel SW 23 or not, more specifically, whether
`there is a command for temporary release of the cruise control or not is determined (step S 5),
`and in the case cancel SW 23 is not turned to ON mode, more specifically, when there is not a
`command for temporary release of the cruise control, next, the brake SW 9 is in ON mode or not,
`more specifically, whether brake operation was performed or not is determined (step S 6). In step
`S6, in the case brake SW 9 is not in the ON mode, more specifically, when brake operation was
`not performed, next, whether there was more than a set amount of deceleration or not is
`determined (step S 7). And, in step 7, in the case there was no deceleration of more than a set
`amount, next, whether the cruise control flag is in OFF mode or not is determined (step S8).
`[0022]
`In step S 8, in the case the cruise control flag is not in the OFF mode, the drive of throttle
`valve actuator 21 is controlled so as to perform cruise control (step S 9).
`
`-";
`
`- 9 -
`
`Ford Motor Company et al.
`Ex. 1009-012
`
`

`

`Utility Model Disclosure JP H4-102059
`
`[0023]
`Next, whether setting speed change SW 8 is in ON mode or not, more specifically, whether
`there is a command for the change of setting speed of cruise control or not is determined (step S
`10). In the case setting speed change SW 8 is not in ON mode, more specifically, when there is
`no command for the change of setting speed of cruise control, next, whether cruise control
`setting SW 7 is turned off or not is determined (step S 11). In step S 11, in the case cruise control
`setting SW 7 is not turned off, return to step S 5 again and return to step S 2 in the case of off.
`[0024]
`In step S 5, in the case ON operation is performed for cancel SW 23, more specifically, when
`there is a command for temporary release of cruise control, in step S 6, in the case brake SW 9 is
`in ON mode, more specifically brake operation is performed, and in step S7, in the case there is
`deceleration of more than a set amount, the cruise control flag is turned to OFF mode (step S 12),
`next, the cruise control is temporally released, and indicators (31) blink (step S 13), returning to
`step S 5.
`[0025]
`Moreover, in step 8, in the case cruise control flag is in ON mode, whether the resume SW 20
`is in ON mode or not, more specifically, if there is a command to perform cruise control again or
`not is determined (step S 14). In step S 14, in the case resume SW 20 is in ON mode, more
`specifically, when there is a command to perform cruise control again, the cruise control flag is
`turned to ON mode (step SIS), cruise control is resumed, and indicators 31 are lit again ( step S
`16), returning to step S 9. In step S 14, in the case resume SW 20 is in OFF mode, more
`specifically, when there is no command to perform cruise control again, proceed to step S 13.
`[0026]
`Furthermore, in step S 10, in the case setting speed change SW 8 is in ON mode, more
`specifically, when there is a command to change the setting speed ofthe cruise control, next,
`whether the setting speed change is up or down is determined (step S 17).
`In the case the setting speed change is up, the data stored in the speed memory is incremented
`(step S 18), and in the case of down, the data stored in the speed memory is decremented (step S
`19). Thereafter, proceed to step S 3 again, and based on the speed data in which th~ data in the
`speed memory is changed, the other indicators (31) of setting speed display readout (3)
`corresponding to this changed data is lit, replacing that which has been lit up until then.
`
`-10 -
`
`Ford Motor Company et al.
`Ex. 1009-013
`
`

`

`Utility Model Disclosure JP H4-102059
`
`[0027]
`Furthennore, in step Sl , in the case the cruise control setting SW 7 is in OFF mode, more
`specifically, when there is a command to release the cruise control, cruise control is released, the
`lights of indicators (31) are turned off (step 20), and the cruise control is in OFF mode (step S
`21).
`[0028]
`According to the present embodiments described above, since a plurality of indicators (31) of
`the setting speed display readout 3 is arranged in dots along a scale (111a) of the speedometer
`(11), the setting speed and the actual speed of the cruise control can be easily compared by the
`driver by lighting and blinking indicators (31) corresponding to the setting speed in the cruise
`control.
`[0029]
`Therefore, by setting the speed change SW 8, when desiring to change the setting speed in the
`cruise control, it can be perfonned while comparing the display of the setting speed by the
`lighting of indicators (31) of the setting speed display readout (3) with the actual speed.
`Moreover, in the case the cruise control is temporarily released by deceleration of more than the
`set amount by brake operation, etc., the difference large or small is detennined between the
`actual speed and the display of the setting speed by the blinking of indicators (31) of setting
`speed display readout 3, and when the difference is large, the cruise control can be perfonned by
`ON operation of resume SW 20 after approximating both speeds, which improves safety.
`[0030]
`During cruise control, in case high load is added to the engine because of sudden uphill, etc.,
`for example, it is possible to add the function of blinking indicators (31) of setting speed display
`readout 3 of the cruise control unit.
`
`-11 -
`
`Ford Motor Company et al.
`Ex. 1009-014
`
`

`

`Utility Model Disclosure JP H4-102059
`
`[0031 ]
`Moreover, in regard to the indicators (31) of the setting speed display readout 3 of the cruise
`control unit, not to arrange these in the facing (17) of combination meter (1), as shown in Figure
`1, but arranging as the scale itself of the dial face (11 a) of speedometer (11) is also possible.
`[0032]
`Furthermore, not only analog speedometer (11) shown in Figure 1, as shown in Figure 5, even
`in the case of the bar graph speedometer (22), the indicators (31) ofthe setting speed display
`readout (3) of the cruise control unit can be arranged sandwiching the bar graph (22) along the
`scale (222a).
`[0033]
`[EFFECT(S) OF THE INVENTION]
`As described above, according to the setting speed display readout 3 of the cruise control unit
`pertaining t'o the present invention, since the setting speed is displayed by the indicators arranged
`along the scale of the speedometer in dots, the effects are obtained in that, without taking up
`space, the actual vehicle speed and the setting speed of the cruise control can be easily compared.
`
`"I
`
`:1
`
`"
`
`-12 -
`
`Ford Motor Company et al.
`Ex. 1009-015
`
`