Running control device mounted in a vehicle

Claim 2

A control device mounted in a vehicle comprising: a navigation system controlling unit for controlling a memory unit for storing map information including position information of a vehicle, a position detecting unit for detecting a present position of the vehicle, a course determining unit having road information of a scheduled running course of the vehicle for determining an estimated running course of the vehicle wherein the road information includes location of known impediments on the road, a display unit for displaying map information, a present position and a scheduled running course of the vehicle, and a voice message informing unit for outputting a voice message; wherein the navigation system controlling unit includes position information calculating means for calculating and outputting position information of a present position of the vehicle on the basis both of position information detected from said position detecting unit and map information read out from said memory unit; a central control unit for totally managing a plurality of control units provided to the vehicle, on the basis of information of a plurality of sensors mounted in the vehicle; and a terminal device connected to said navigation system controlling unit and said central control unit, for processing information from both of said navigation system controlling unit and said central control unit, and transmitting information to at least one of said navigation system controlling unit and said central control unit; wherein said terminal device includes: moving distance calculating means for calculating a moving distance of the vehicle in a certain time interval on the basis of position information at a present vehicle position transmitted from said navigation system controlling unit and position information at a present vehicle position after said certain time interval; low speed condition determining means for deciding whether or not the vehicle is in a low speed condition by determining whether or not calculated vehicle moving distance is a predetermined value or below; running course determining means for determining on the basis of road information of a scheduled vehicle running course transmitted from said navigation system controlling unit whether or not the vehicle will change a running course in future, when said low speed condition determining means determines that the vehicle is in a low speed condition; and traffic jam determining means for determining that the vehicle is not in a traffic jam condition when said running course determining means determines that the vehicle will change a running course in future, and determining that the vehicle is in a traffic jam condition when said running course determining means determines that the vehicle will not change a running course in future.

Claim 3

A running control device mounted in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said terminal device further includes traffic jam control information forming means for forming traffic jam control information for reducing an output from an engine to lessen fuel consumption, in case said traffic jam determining means determines that the vehicle is in a traffic jam condition, and wherein said central control unit instructs to an engine controlling unit provided as one of said plural control units, to perform a traffic jam control which is to reduce output of said engine on the basis of traffic jam control information transmitted from said terminal device.

Claim 4

A running control device mounted in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said terminal device further includes engine output control information forming means for forming engine output control information for keeping a normal idle condition, in case said traffic jam determining means determines that the vehicle is not in a traffic jam condition, and wherein said central control unit instructs to an engine controlling unit provided as one of said plural control units, to keep said normal idle condition on the basis of engine output control information transmitted from said terminal device.

Claim 5

A running control device mounted in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said terminal device further includes intersection/tollgate determining means for determining whether or not a present position of the vehicle reached near one of an intersection and a tollgate on the basis of scheduled vehicle running course road information transmitted from said navigation system controlling unit after said running course determining means determines that the vehicle will not change a running course in future, and wherein said traffic jam determining means determines that the vehicle is not in a traffic jam condition in case said running course determining means determines that the vehicle will not change a running course and said intersection/tollgate determining means determines that the vehicle present position reached near one of an intersection and a tollgate, and determines that the vehicle is in a traffic jam condition in case said intersection/tollgate determining means determines that the vehicle present position does not reach near one of an intersection and a tollgate and the vehicle will not change a running course in future.

Claim 6

A running control device mounted in a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said terminal device further includes traffic control cancel information forming means for forming traffic control cancel information for canceling a traffic control in case said intersection/tollgate determining means determines that the vehicle present position reached near one of an intersection and a tollgate after said running course determining means determines that the vehicle will not change a running course in future, after said low speed condition determining means determines that a vehicle moving distance calculated by said moving distance calculating means is a predetermined value or below and the vehicle is in said low speed condition, when said engine controlling unit provided as one of said plural control units performs said traffic jam control so as to reduce the output of said engine on the basis of traffic jam controlling information transmitted from said terminal device, and wherein said central control unit instructs to said engine controlling unit to cancel said traffic control on the basis of traffic control canceling information transmitted from said terminal device.

Claim 7

A running control device mounted in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said low speed condition determining means determines whether or not a vehicle moving distance calculated by said moving distance calculating means assumes a predetermined value or above thereby the vehicle condition is changed or not from said low speed condition into a no-low speed condition, when said engine controlling unit provided as one of said plural control units performs said traffic jam control so as to reduce said output from said engine on the basis of traffic jam controlling information transmitted from said terminal device, wherein said terminal device further includes traffic control cancel information forming means for forming traffic control cancel information for canceling a traffic control when said low speed condition determining means determines that the vehicle is not in said low speed condition, and wherein said central control unit instructs to said engine controlling unit to cancel said traffic control on the basis of traffic control canceling information transmitted from said terminal device.

Claim 8

A running control device mounted in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said terminal device further includes traffic control cancel information forming means for forming traffic control cancel information for canceling a traffic control in case said running course determining means determines that the vehicle will change a running course in future, after said low speed condition determining means determines that a vehicle moving distance calculated by said moving distance calculating means is a predetermined value or below and the vehicle is in a low speed condition, when said engine controlling unit provided as one of said plural control units performs said traffic jam control so as to reduce the output of said engine on the basis of traffic jam controlling information transmitted from said terminal device, and wherein said central control unit instructs to said engine controlling unit to cancel said traffic control on the basis of traffic control canceling information transmitted from said terminal device.

Claim 9

A running control device mounted in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said terminal device further includes a driving power source selecting means for selecting one of an engine driving power source and a motor driving power source, on the basis of existence of a vehicle traffic jam condition determined by said traffic jam condition determining means, as a driving source of a hybrid type vehicle having said engine power source and said motor driving power source, and wherein said central control unit instructs to a driving power source controlling unit provided as one control unit for said hybrid type vehicle so as to set a driving power source as said motor driving power source on the basis of driving power source information, transmitted from said terminal device, of said hybrid type vehicle, when said traffic jam determining means determines that the vehicle is in a traffic jam condition.

Claim 10

A running control device mounted in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said terminal device further includes a driving power source selecting means for selecting one of an engine driving power source and a motor driving power source, on the basis of existence of a vehicle traffic jam condition determined by said traffic jam condition determining means, as a driving source of a hybrid type vehicle having said engine power source and said motor driving power source, and wherein said central control unit instructs to a driving power source controlling unit provided as one control unit for said hybrid type vehicle so as to set a driving power source as said engine driving power source on the basis of driving power source information, transmitted from said terminal device, of said hybrid type vehicle, when said traffic jam determining means determines that the vehicle is not in a traffic jam condition.

Claim 11

A running control device mounted in a vehicle comprising: a navigation system controlling unit for controlling a memory unit for storing map information including position information of a vehicle, a position detecting unit for detecting a present position of the vehicle, a course determining unit having road information of a scheduled running course of the vehicle for determining an estimated running course of the vehicle wherein the road information includes location of known obstacles on the road, a display unit for displaying map information, a present position and a scheduled running course of the vehicle, and a voice message informing unit for outputting a voice message; wherein the navigation system controlling unit includes position information calculating means for calculating and outputting position information of a present position of the vehicle on the basis both of position information detected from said position detecting unit and map information read out from said memory unit; a central control unit for totally managing a plurality of control units provided to the vehicle, on the basis of information of a plurality of sensors mounted in the vehicle; and a terminal device connected to said navigation system controlling unit and said central control unit, for processing information from both of said navigation system controlling unit and said central control unit, and transmitting information to at least one of said navigation system controlling unit and said central control unit; wherein said terminal device includes: moving distance calculating means for calculating a moving distance of the vehicle in a certain time interval on the basis of position information at a present vehicle position transmitted from said navigation system controlling unit and position information at a present vehicle position after said certain time interval; low speed condition determining means for deciding whether or not the vehicle is in a low speed condition by determining whether or not calculated vehicle moving distance is a predetermined value or below; intersection/tollgate determining means for determining that a present vehicle position reached near one of an intersection and a tollgate on the basis of road information of a scheduled vehicle running course transmitted from said navigation system controlling unit, when said low speed condition determining means determines that the vehicle is in a low speed condition; and traffic jam condition determining means for determining that the vehicle is not in a traffic jam condition when said intersection/tollgate determining means determines that a vehicle present position reached near one of said intersection and said tollgate, and for determining that the vehicle is in a traffic jam condition when said intersection/tollgate determining means determines that a vehicle present position does not reach near one of said intersection and said tollgate.

Claim 12

A running control device mounted in a vehicle comprising: a navigation system controlling unit for controlling a memory unit for storing map information including position information of a vehicle, a position detecting unit for detecting a present position of the vehicle, a course determining unit having road information of a scheduled running course of the vehicle for determining an estimated running course of the vehicle wherein the road information includes location of known obstacles on the road, a display unit for displaying map information, a present position and a scheduled running course of the vehicle, and a voice message informing unit for outputting a voice message; wherein the navigation system controlling unit includes position information calculating means for calculating and outputting position information of a present position of the vehicle on the basis both of position information detected from said position detecting unit and map information read out from said memory unit; a central control unit for totally managing a plurality of control units provided to the vehicle, on the basis of information of a plurality of sensors mounted in the vehicle; and a terminal device connected to said navigation system controlling unit and said central control unit, for processing information from both of said navigation system controlling unit and said central control unit, and transmitting information to at least one of said navigation system controlling unit and said central control unit; wherein said terminal device includes: moving distance calculating means for calculating a moving distance of the vehicle in a certain time interval on the basis of position information at a present vehicle position transmitted from said navigation system controlling unit and position information at a present vehicle position after said certain time interval; low speed condition determining means for deciding whether or not the vehicle is in a low speed condition by determining whether or not calculated vehicle moving distance is a predetermined value or below; intersection/tollgate determining means for determining that a present vehicle position reached near one of an intersection and a tollgate on the basis of road information of a scheduled vehicle running course transmitted from said navigation system controlling unit, when said low speed condition determining means determines that the vehicle is in a low speed condition; and traffic jam condition determining means for determining that the vehicle is not in a traffic jam condition when said intersection/tollgate determining means determines that a vehicle present position reached near one of said intersection and said tollgate, and for determining that the vehicle is in a traffic jam condition when said intersection/tollgate determining means determines that a vehicle present position does not reach near one of said intersection and said tollgate.

Claim 13

A running control device mounted in a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said terminal device further includes traffic jam control information forming means for forming traffic jam control information for reducing an output from an engine to lessen fuel consumption, in case said traffic jam determining means determines that the vehicle is in a traffic jam condition, and wherein said central control unit instructs to an engine controlling unit provided as one of said plural control units, to perform a traffic jam control which is to reduce output of said engine on the basis of traffic jam control information transmitted from said terminal device.

Claim 14

A running control device mounted in a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said terminal device further includes engine output control information forming means for forming engine output control information for keeping a normal idle condition, in case said traffic jam determining means determines that the vehicle is not in a traffic jam condition, and wherein said central control unit instructs to an engine controlling unit provided as one of said plural control units, to keep said normal idle condition on the basis of engine output control information transmitted from said terminal device.

Claim 15

A running control device mounted in a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said low speed condition determining means determines whether or not a vehicle moving distance calculated by said moving distance calculating means assumes a predetermined value or above thereby the vehicle condition is changed from said low speed condition into a no-low speed condition, when said engine controlling unit provided as one of said plural control units performs said traffic jam control so as to reduce said output from said engine on the basis of traffic jam controlling information transmitted from said terminal device, wherein said terminal device further includes traffic control cancel information forming means for forming traffic control cancel information for canceling a traffic control when said low speed condition determining means determines that the vehicle is not in a low speed condition, and wherein said central control unit instructs to said engine controlling unit to cancel said traffic control on the basis of traffic control canceling information transmitted from said terminal device.

Claim 16

A running control device mounted in a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said terminal device further includes running course determining means for determining whether or not the vehicle will change a running course in future on the basis of road information of a scheduled vehicle running course transmitted from said navigation system control unit when said low speed condition determining means determines that the vehicle is in a low speed condition, and wherein said traffic jam determining means determines that the vehicle is not in a traffic jam condition when said running course determining means determines that the vehicle will not change a running course in future and said intersection/tollgate determining means determines that the vehicle reaches near one of said intersection and said tollgate, and determines that the vehicle is in a traffic jam condition when said running course determining means determines that the vehicle will not change a running course in future and said intersection/tollgate determining means determines that the vehicle does not reach near one of said intersection and said tollgate.

Claim 17

A running control device mounted in a vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said terminal device further includes traffic control cancel information forming means for forming traffic control cancel information for canceling a traffic control when said running course determining means determines that the vehicle will change a running course in future, after said low speed condition determining means determines that a vehicle moving distance calculated by said moving distance calculating means is a predetermined value or below and the vehicle is in a low speed condition, when said engine controlling unit provided as one of said plural control units performs said traffic jam control so as to reduce said output from said engine on the basis of traffic jam controlling information transmitted from said terminal device, and wherein said central control unit instructs to said engine controlling unit to cancel said traffic control on the basis of traffic control canceling information transmitted from said terminal device.

Claim 18

A running control device mounted in a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said terminal device further includes a driving power source selecting means for selecting one of an engine driving power source and a motor driving power source, on the basis of existence of a vehicle traffic jam condition determined by said traffic jam condition determining means, as a driving source of a hybrid type vehicle having said engine power source and said motor driving power source, and wherein said central control unit instructs to a driving power source controlling unit provided as one control unit for said hybrid type vehicle so as to set a driving power source as said motor driving power source on the basis of driving power source information, transmitted from said terminal device, of said hybrid type vehicle, when said traffic jam determining means determines that the vehicle is in a traffic jam condition.

Claim 19

A running control device mounted in a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said terminal device further includes a driving power source selecting means for selecting one of an engine driving power source and a motor driving power source, on the basis of existence of a vehicle traffic jam condition determined by said traffic jam condition determining means, as a driving source of a hybrid type vehicle having said engine power source and said motor driving power source, and wherein said central control unit instructs to a driving power source controlling unit provided as one control unit for said hybrid type vehicle so as to set a driving power source as said engine driving power source on the basis of driving power source information, transmitted from said terminal device, of said hybrid type vehicle, when said traffic jam determining means determines that the vehicle is not in a traffic jam condition.

Claim 20

The control device of claim 1 wherein said known impediments on the road comprises at least one of an intersection and a tollbooth.

Claim 21

The control device of claim 10 wherein said known obstacles on the road comprises at least one of an intersection and a tollbooth.