Vehicular constant speed cruising control device

Claim 2

A vehicular constant speed cruising control system for a vehicle which has an automatic transmission control device that automatically shifts gears of a transmission in said vehicle, said vehicular constant speed cruising control system comprising: vehicular speed detection means for detecting a vehicular speed of said vehicle; an actuator for adjusting a throttle opening of an engine of said vehicle; down-shift detection means for detecting a down-shift in said automatic transmission control device; constant speed cruising control means for adjusting a driving force of said engine based on a difference between said detected vehicular speed and a target cruising speed by controlling said actuator, using an actuator adjustment amount, to make said vehicular speed coincide with said target cruising speed; down-shift adjustment amount storage means for storing an actuator adjustment amount generated by said constant speed cruising control means when said down-shift detection means detects a down-shift; up-shift prohibition means for prohibiting a regular up-shift of said automatic transmission control device after said down-shift detection means detects a down-shift; and up-shift release means for releasing an up-shift prohibition of said up-shift prohibition means when said actuator adjustment amount generated by said constant speed cruising control means drops by an amount, not less than a first predetermined amount, from said actuator adjustment amount stored by said down-shift adjustment amount storage means.

Claim 3

The vehicular constant speed cruising control system of claim 1, wherein: said automatic transmission control device is further for manually executing a down-shift; and said system further includes down-shift vehicular speed storage means for storing a detected vehicular speed when said down-shift detection means detects a down-shift, and additional up-shift release means for releasing an up-shift prohibition when an actuator adjustment amount generated by said constant speed cruising control means rises above an actuator adjustment amount stored by said down-shift adjustment amount storage means by a second predetermined amount and said detected vehicular speed is approximately equal to said vehicular speed stored by said down-shift vehicular speed storage means.

Claim 4

The vehicular constant speed cruising control system of claim 2, wherein a target shift gear for up-shift prohibition by said up-shift prohibition means and for up-shift release by said up-shift release means is overdrive.

Claim 5

The vehicular constant speed cruising control system of claim 2, said vehicular constant speed cruising control system further comprising up-shift release means for releasing an up-shift prohibition of said up-shift prohibition means when said actuator adjustment amount generated by said constant speed cruising control means drops by an amount, not less than a first predetermined amount, from said actuator adjustment amount stored by said down-shift adjustment amount storage means.

Claim 6

The vehicular constant speed cruising control system of claim 2, said vehicular constant speed cruising control system further comprising up-shift release means for releasing an up-shift prohibition of said up-shift prohibition means when an actuator adjustment amount generated by said constant speed cruising control means falls below an amount not less than and approximately equal to said actuator adjustment amount that corresponds to a throttle opening for flat roads at said target cruising speed after down-shift.

Claim 7

The vehicular constant speed cruising control system of claim 1, wherein said first predetermined amount is set according to said detected vehicular speed.

Claim 8

The vehicular constant speed cruising control system of claim 1, wherein said constant speed cruising control means is for computing said actuator adjustment amount by accumulating values derived through computations in which outputs which drive said actuator are parameters.

Claim 9

The vehicular constant speed cruising control system of claim 1, wherein said constant speed cruising control means is for computing said actuator adjustment amount by accumulating values derived through computations in which outputs and electric power voltages which drive said actuator are parameters.

Claim 10

The vehicular constant speed cruising control system of claim 1, said vehicular constant speed cruising control system further comprising: down-shift vehicular speed storage means for storing a detected vehicular speed when said down-shift detection means detects a down-shift; and additional up-shift release means for releasing an up-shift prohibition of said up-shift prohibition means when said actuator adjustment amount equals or exceeds an amount not greater than, and approximately equal to, an actuator adjustment amount that corresponds to a stable throttle opening at flat roads on said target cruising speed after down-shift.

Claim 11

The vehicular constant speed cruising control system of claim 1, wherein said first predetermined amount is not greater than a difference between said actuator adjustment amount stored by said downshift adjustment amount storage means and an actuator adjustment amount which corresponds to a stable throttle opening for flat roads at said target cruising speed after down-shift.

Claim 12

A vehicular constant speed cruising control system for a vehicle which has an automatic transmission control device that automatically shifts gears of an automatic transmission in said vehicle, said vehicular constant speed cruising control system comprising: vehicular speed detection means for detecting a vehicular speed of said vehicle; an actuator for adjusting a throttle opening of an engine of said vehicle; down-shift detection means for detecting a down-shift in said automatic transmission control device; constant speed cruising control means for adjusting a driving force of said engine based on a difference between said detected vehicular speed and a target cruising speed by controlling said actuator, using an actuator adjustment amount computed by accumulating values derived through computations in which outputs which drive said actuator are parameters, to make said vehicular speed coincide with said target cruising speed; up-shift prohibition means for prohibiting a regular up-shift of said automatic transmission control device after said down-shift detection means detects a down-shift; and up-shift release means for releasing an up-shift prohibition of said up-shift prohibition means when an actuator adjustment amount generated by said constant speed cruising control means falls below an amount not less than and approximately equal to said actuator adjustment amount that corresponds to a throttle opening for flat roads at said target cruising speed after down-shift.

Claim 13

A vehicular constant speed cruising control system for a vehicle which has an automatic transmission control device that automatically shifts gears of an automatic transmission in said vehicle, said vehicular constant speed cruising control system comprising: vehicular speed detection means for detecting a vehicular speed of said vehicle; an actuator for adjusting a throttle opening of an engine of said vehicle; down-shift detection means for detecting a down-shift in said automatic transmission control device; constant speed cruising control means for adjusting a driving force of said engine based on a difference between said detected vehicular speed and a target cruising speed by controlling said actuator, using an actuator adjustment amount computed by accumulating values derived through computations in which outputs which drive said actuator are parameters, to make said vehicular speed coincide with said target cruising speed; up-shift prohibition means for prohibiting a regular up-shift of said automatic transmission control device after said down-shift detection means detects a down-shift; and up-shift release means for releasing an up-shift prohibition of said up-shift prohibition means when an actuator adjustment amount generated by said constant speed cruising control means falls below an amount not less than and approximately equal to said actuator adjustment amount that corresponds to a throttle opening for flat roads at said target cruising speed after down-shift.

Claim 14

The vehicular constant speed cruising control system of claim 11, said vehicular constant speed cruising control device further comprising: down-shift vehicular speed storage means for storing a detected vehicular speed when said down-shift detection means detects a down-shift; and additional up-shift release means for releasing an up-shift prohibition of said up-shift prohibition means when said actuator adjustment amount equals or exceeds an amount not greater than, and approximately equal to, an actuator adjustment amount that corresponds to a stable throttle opening at flat roads on said target cruising speed after down-shift.

Claim 15

The vehicular constant speed cruising control system of claim 11, wherein a target shift gear for up-shift prohibition by said up-shift prohibition means and for up-shift release by said up-shift release means is overdrive.

Claim 16

The vehicular constant speed cruising control system of claim 11, wherein said constant speed cruising control means is for computing said actuator adjustment amount by accumulating values derived through computations in which outputs and electric power voltages which drive said actuator are parameters.

Claim 17

A vehicular constant speed cruising control system for a vehicle which has an automatic transmission control device that automatically shifts gears of an automatic transmission in said vehicle, said vehicular constant speed cruising control system comprising: vehicular speed detection means for detecting a vehicular speed of said vehicle; an actuator for adjusting a throttle opening of an engine of said vehicle; down-shift detection means for detecting a down-shift in said automatic transmission control device; constant speed cruising control means for adjusting a driving force of said engine based on a difference between said detected vehicular speed and a target cruising speed by controlling said actuator, using an actuator adjustment amount, to make said vehicular speed coincide with said target cruising speed; up-shift prohibition means for prohibiting a regular up-shift of said automatic transmission control device after said down-shift detection means detects a down-shift; and up-shift release means for releasing an up-shift prohibition of said up-shift prohibition means when an actuator adjustment amount generated by said constant speed cruising control means falls below an amount not less than and approximately equal to said actuator adjustment amount that corresponds to a throttle opening for flat roads at said target cruising speed after down-shift; and actuator position setting means for setting an actuator position which is derived from a relationship between detected vehicle speed and throttle opening when said down-shift detection means detects a down-shift; wherein said constant speed cruising control means computes said actuator adjustment amount by multiplying said actuator adjustment amount from said actuator position setting means by an amount which derived from a computation in which power which drives said actuator is a parameter.

Claim 18

A vehicular constant speed cruising control system for a vehicle which has an automatic transmission control device that automatically shifts gears of an automatic transmission in said vehicle, said vehicular constant speed cruising control system comprising: vehicular speed detection means for detecting a vehicular speed of said vehicle; an actuator for adjusting a throttle opening of an engine of said vehicle; down-shift detection means for detecting a down-shift in said automatic transmission control device; constant speed cruising control means for adjusting a driving force of said engine based on a difference between said detected vehicular speed and a target cruising speed by controlling said actuator, using an actuator adjustment amount, to make said vehicular speed coincide with said target cruising speed; up-shift prohibition means for prohibiting a regular up-shift of said automatic transmission control device after said down-shift detection means detects a down-shift; and up-shift release means for releasing an up-shift prohibition of said up-shift prohibition means when an actuator adjustment amount generated by said constant speed cruising control means falls below an amount not less than and approximately equal to said actuator adjustment amount that corresponds to a throttle opening for flat roads at said target cruising speed after down-shift; and actuator position setting means for setting an actuator position which is derived from a relationship between detected vehicle speed and throttle opening when said down-shift detection means detects a down-shift; wherein said constant speed cruising control means computes said actuator adjustment amount by multiplying said actuator adjustment amount from said actuator position setting means by an amount which derived from a computation in which power which drives said actuator is a parameter.

Claim 19

The vehicular constant speed cruising control system of claim 15, said vehicular constant speed cruising control device further comprising: down-shift vehicular speed storage means for storing a detected vehicular speed when said down-shift detection means detects a down-shift; and additional up-shift release means for releasing an up-shift prohibition of said up-shift prohibition means when said actuator adjustment amount equals or exceeds an amount not greater than, and approximately equal to, an actuator adjustment amount that corresponds to a stable throttle opening at flat roads on said target cruising speed after down-shift.

Claim 20

The vehicular constant speed cruising control system of claim 15, wherein a target shift gear for up-shift prohibition by said up-shift prohibition means and for up-shift release by said up-shift release means is overdrive.

Claim 21

The vehicular constant speed cruising control system of claim 15, wherein said constant speed cruising control means is for computing said actuator adjustment amount by accumulating values derived through computations in which outputs which drive said actuator are parameters.