JP6206038B2 - Brake lamp control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device for lighting a brake lamp.

  Conventionally, a brake lamp is provided at the rear of the vehicle to alert the driver of the following vehicle of the braking state of the host vehicle. The lighting signal for lighting the brake lamp detects the depression state of the brake pedal by the driver by a brake pedal sensor capable of detecting the depression state of the brake pedal, and the lighting signal from the brake pedal sensor is passed through the lighting circuit. Lighting control is performed by outputting to the brake lamp.

  The lighting of the brake lamp using the brake pedal sensor as described above is because the brake pedal sensor is in direct contact with the brake pedal, and the operation state of the brake pedal is detected by the reaction force, and the structure is very simple, Although it is low-cost, it is possible to reliably detect the driver's intention to brake before the braking system actually starts and starts braking. Sensor.

  Further, in recent vehicles, a system for increasing braking force (brake assist control) or the like when a driver suddenly operates a brake (brake assist control) is used. In order to control the braking force, a parameter (for example, a master) Some are equipped with various sensors that detect cylinder pressure.

  However, in the brake lamp control apparatus as described above, when an abnormality such as a disconnection occurs in a lighting circuit that outputs a brake pedal sensor lighting signal to the brake lamp, there arises a problem that the brake lamp cannot be lit.

Therefore, in Patent Document 1, a brake pedal sensor for detecting the operation of the probe Rekipedaru, enter the detection signal by the brake pedal sensor and a sum signal generating unit, automatically brake lamp control unit to light the brake lamp, The brake lamp is turned on based on one of the two branched signals.

  Therefore, even if one of the lighting circuits of the two paths downstream from the brake pedal detection unit is disconnected, the lighting signal from the brake pedal sensor can be input to the brake lamp, and the brake lamp is not lit. Can be avoided.

JP 2011-168103 A

  In the conventional brake lamp control device as described in Patent Document 1, the brake lamp sensor itself on the upstream side of the brake pedal detection unit can prevent the brake lamp from being unlit due to disconnection of the lighting circuit. If a failure occurs, the brake lamp can be lit during automatic brake braking, but the brake lamp cannot be lit during braking by the driver's brake pedal operation.

  Therefore, the conventional brake lamp lighting control circuit does not consider any alternative means when the brake pedal sensor itself fails.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the cost is greatly increased even in a situation where an abnormality occurs in the brake pedal sensor itself and a brake lamp lighting signal cannot be output by the driver's brake pedal operation. The purpose of the present invention is to make sure that the brake lamp is lit reliably at the time of braking when the driver depresses the brake pedal by an easier method.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention is directed to a brake switch that detects a depression state of a brake pedal by a driver, and a brake operation system that is different from the brake switch and that changes as the brake pedal is operated. A brake operating state detecting means for detecting a parameter change of the vehicle , a first lighting circuit for supplying a current to the brake lamp via the brake switch when the brake pedal is operated, and a conductive state of the brake switch. The brake lamp lighting request determination means for determining the brake lamp lighting request by the driver's brake pedal operation, and the brake lamp lighting determination means for determining the lighting state of the brake lamp, the brake lamp lighting request determination Brake lamp lighting request by means is not detected And, the lighting state of the brake lamp by the brake lamp lighting determining means when the non-lighting, depending on the parameters detected by the brake operation state detecting means, at least one of the brake switch and the first lighting circuit It is determined that there is a failure, and the brake lamp is turned on.

  According to the present invention, the lighting or non-lighting of the brake lamp normally uses a brake pedal sensor (brake switch) that directly detects the operation of the brake pedal, whereas the predetermined change that changes depending on the driver's operation of the brake pedal. These parameters (master cylinder pressure, etc.) are detected by the brake operating state detecting means to control the lighting / non-lighting of the brake lamp.

  In this way, by enabling the brake lamp lighting signal to be output not only by the brake pedal sensor but also by the brake operating state detecting means, even if the brake pedal sensor itself breaks down, the lighting of the brake lamp is continued auxiliary. I can do it.

  Further, as described above, the vehicle equipped with the automatic brake control device for performing the brake assist control or the like includes a sensor for detecting a parameter change (for example, a master cylinder pressure or the like) resulting from the operation of the brake, Such sensor signals can be utilized.

  Therefore, by using the detection means provided conventionally, even if the brake pedal sensor is in a state of failure without detecting a significant increase in cost, it is possible to reliably detect the depression state of the driver's brake pedal and Can be lit.

  In the present invention, when the brake pedal sensor is normal and the brake lamp is normally lit, the brake lamp is not controlled by a predetermined parameter (master cylinder pressure or the like). Even if a brake lamp lighting request is detected by other sensors (hydraulic pressure sensors), etc., power is not supplied to the relay device etc. provided in the lighting circuit attached to the brake lamp, so power consumption is reduced and the relay is turned on / off. It is also good against deterioration of durability due to repetition of the above.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the brake operating state detecting means is means for detecting a master cylinder pressure generated by operating a brake pedal, and a brake lamp is turned on when the detected master cylinder pressure is a predetermined value or more. It is to light up.

  According to the present invention, by controlling the lighting of the brake lamp according to the value of the master cylinder pressure, the brake pressure of the brake pedal can be controlled by the hydraulic pressure sensor conventionally provided for brake assist control without adding a new sensor or the like. The operation state can be determined.

  In addition, by turning on the brake lamp when the hydraulic pressure sensor for detecting the master cylinder pressure is equal to or higher than a predetermined output value, the brake lamp can be lit without variation in a constant operation state.

  Therefore, it is not troublesome for the driver of the following vehicle, and the brake lamp can be turned on reliably.

The invention of claim 3 is provided in parallel with the upper Symbol first lighting circuit, when the automatic braking to avoid a collision with the vehicle in front of the obstacle is activated, first causes the brake lights automatically lit 2 a lighting circuit, when the automatic brake, and a switching means for switching the brake lamp lighting circuit from the first lighting circuit to the second lighting circuit, when the master cylinder pressure detected on SL is a predetermined value or more, the The brake lamp is turned on by operating the switching means.

  According to the present invention, since the brake lamp is energized when the brake pedal sensor fails using the relay device for automatic braking, the brake lamp can be easily turned on using a conventional system.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when a brake lamp lighting request by the brake lamp lighting request determining means is not detected and a brake pedal operation by the brake operating state detecting means is detected, an abnormality alarm is output. To do.

  According to the present invention, although the brake lamp is lit in an auxiliary manner when the brake pedal sensor breaks down, the driver is promptly warned of an abnormality, thereby promptly repairing the brake pedal sensor and improving the driver's safety. Secure.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, during the abnormality alarm, the brake control is automatically performed according to the traveling state of the vehicle to prohibit the vehicle from being decelerated.

  According to the present invention, by prohibiting automatic brake control when an abnormality is detected in the brake pedal detection means, it is possible to reliably notify the driver of an abnormality even in a vehicle that does not include a brake lamp abnormality alarm device.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even if the brake pedal detection means for detecting the brake pedal operation by the driver is out of order, the brake lamp can be turned on supplementarily, so This is to ensure sufficient driving safety even in the event of a sudden abnormality.

1 is a circuit configuration and block diagram showing an embodiment of a brake lamp control device according to the present invention. It is the schematic of the vehicle provided with the control apparatus of the brake lamp which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control content in the control apparatus of the brake lamp which concerns on this invention.

(1) Overall Configuration of Brake Lamp Control Device Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a circuit configuration and a block diagram of a brake lamp control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  This vehicle brake lamp control device includes a brake switch 1 for detecting the depression state of the brake pedal 13 by the driver. When the brake switch 1 detects the driver's brake pedal operation, the brake lamp 2 The 1st lighting circuit 3 which lights up is provided.

  The vehicle further includes an automatic brake operation requesting unit 20 that outputs a signal for automatically operating a brake in accordance with the traveling state of the vehicle, such as a high risk of collision with a preceding vehicle during traveling of the vehicle. A second lighting circuit 4 is provided for automatically lighting the brake lamp 2 even during automatic brake braking when the brake pedal operation is not performed.

  When the brake pedal 13 is depressed by the driver, the first lighting circuit 3 detects that the operation of the brake pedal 13 is ON by the brake switch 1. When the brake switch 1 is turned on, the battery 10 mounted on the vehicle and the brake lamp 2 are brought into conduction via the switching means (brake lamp relay) 9, and the battery 10 is switched to the brake lamp 2. Current is supplied and the brake lamp 2 is lit.

  The second lighting circuit 4 bypasses the brake switch 1 and switches the brake lamp relay 9 so that the battery 10 and the brake lamp 2 are in a conductive state via the brake lamp relay 9. The electromagnetic coil 9a is provided.

  When the automatic brake operation request unit 20 outputs an automatic brake operation request to the brake control unit (DSC unit) 6 while the vehicle is running, the DSC unit 6 turns on the brake lamp to the brake lamp relay control means 53. When a request signal is output and an ON signal is input from the brake lamp relay control means 53 to the transistor 30, an exciting current flows through the electromagnetic coil 9a, so that the electrical contact 9b is connected to the contact of the first lighting circuit 3. , The contact point of the second lighting circuit 4 is switched.

  Therefore, even when the driver does not operate the brake pedal 13 by switching the electrical contact 9b, current is supplied from the battery 10 to the brake lamp 2 by bypassing the brake switch 1, The brake lamp 2 lights up.

  Thus, in the normal state, the brake lamp relay 9 is in a state in which the transistor 30 is in the OFF state and the electrical contact 9b is connected to the first lighting circuit 3 side. On the other hand, when the transistor 30 is turned on by the operation of the automatic brake, the electrical contact 9b is connected to the second lighting circuit 4 side.

  The brake lamp lighting circuit including the first lighting circuit 3 and the second lighting circuit 4 includes a brake lamp lighting request determining means 51 and a brake lamp lighting determining means 52 capable of detecting the conduction state of the circuit. Yes.

  The operation state of the brake pedal 13 by the driver is determined by the brake switch 1 that directly detects the reaction force of the brake pedal 13 and the pedal depression force applied to the brake pedal 13 by the driver by the booster 12. 8 is detected by a brake operating state detecting means (hydraulic pressure sensor) 11 for detecting the master cylinder pressure of the master cylinder 8 when it is input to the cylinder 8.

  The brake lamp lighting request determination means 51 monitors the current of the brake switch 1 in the first lighting circuit 3 and detects the operation of the brake pedal by the hydraulic pressure sensor 11. When the current of the lighting circuit cannot be detected, it is possible to determine the disconnection of the circuit from the brake switch 1 to the battery 10 or the failure of the brake switch 1 itself.

  The brake lamp lighting determination means 52 is provided in parallel with the brake lamp 2, and when a lighting request is detected by the brake lamp lighting request determination means 51 or in the master cylinder 8 by the hydraulic pressure sensor 11. When the current of the lighting circuit cannot be detected even though the hydraulic pressure is detected, the disconnection of the lighting circuit downstream of the brake switch 1 or the failure of the brake lamp relay 9 or the brake lamp 2 is determined. be able to.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a vehicle equipped with a brake lamp control device.

  For example, in AEB (Auto-Emergency Brake), when the automatic brake operation requesting unit 20 determines that there is a high risk that the host vehicle will collide with a preceding vehicle, an automatic brake operation request signal is sent to the DSC unit 6. Although not shown, the DSC unit 6 outputs a signal to the vehicle brake device to perform automatic brake braking.

When the automatic brake is activated, a brake lamp lighting request signal is output from the DSC unit 6 to the brake lamp relay control means 53 provided in the control unit 5 mounted on the vehicle, and the brake lamp relay 9 is turned on. As a result, the brake lamp 2 is turned on.
(2) Control contents in brake lamp control device Next, specific control contents in the control device of the present invention will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, in step S1 after the start, the brake lamp lighting request determination means 51 determines whether or not the brake pedal 13 is depressed by the driver and the brake switch 1 is turned on.

  When the brake switch 1 is turned on and it is determined that the driver has operated the brake pedal, the process proceeds to step S2.

  In step S2, the brake lamp lighting determining means 52 determines whether or not the current of the battery 10 is supplied to the brake lamp 2 when the brake switch 1 is turned on. If the lighting determination of the brake lamp 2 is in the ON state by the brake lamp lighting determination means 52, the brake lamp 2 is turned on in step S3.

  If no current is supplied from the battery 10 to the brake lamp 2 in step S2 and the brake lamp lighting determination is OFF, the process proceeds to step S6, where the brake is relayed from the DSC unit 6 to the brake lamp relay control means 53. A lamp lighting request signal is output, and the brake lamp relay control means 53 controls the transistor 30 to be ON, thereby driving the brake lamp relay 9.

  When a current flows through the electromagnetic coil 9a, the electrical contact 9b is switched to the second lighting circuit 4 side, and the brake lamp 2 and the battery 10 can be brought into conduction even when the brake switch 1 is in the OFF state. In step S3, the brake lamp 2 is turned on.

  Therefore, even if the first lighting circuit 3 on the downstream side of the brake switch 1 is disconnected, the brake lamp 2 can be turned on.

  On the other hand, although the brake switch itself is normal, a disconnection or the like has occurred in the first lighting circuit 3 on the downstream side of the brake switch 1, so illustration is omitted, but the DSC control state is set to the driver. A failure of the brake system is notified by turning on a lamp or the like.

If it is determined in step S1 that the brake switch 1 is in the OFF state, the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, the pedaling force of the brake pedal 13 by the driver is detected by the hydraulic pressure sensor 11 that detects the master cylinder pressure.
When the pressure detected by the hydraulic pressure sensor 11 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it is determined that the brake pedal sensor 7 and the brake switch 1 are broken but the driver has operated the brake pedal, and the process proceeds to step S5.

If the brake lamp lighting determination is ON in step S5, the brake lamp 2 is turned on in step S3.

  On the other hand, since the brake lamp 2 is lit while the brake switch 1 is in the OFF state, the control unit 5 recognizes that the brake lamp lighting request determination means 51 is out of order. By turning on a lamp or the like indicating the control state of the DSC, a brake system failure is notified.

  If the brake lamp lighting determination is OFF in step S5, the process proceeds to step 6 and a brake lamp lighting request signal is output from the DSC unit 6 to the brake lamp relay control means 53. The brake lamp relay control means 53 The brake lamp relay 9 is driven by turning on the transistor 30.

  When a current flows through the electromagnetic coil 9a, the electrical contact 9b is switched to the second lighting circuit 4 side, and the brake lamp 2 and the battery 10 can be brought into conduction even when the brake switch 1 is in the OFF state. In step S3, the brake lamp 2 is turned on, and a lamp indicating the control state of the DSC is turned on to notify the driver of the failure of the brake system.

  Therefore, even if the brake switch itself is out of order, the brake lamp 2 can be turned on only by inputting the pedal effort of the brake pedal 13 by the driver.

  When the pedal depression force by the driver is not detected in step S4, the process proceeds to step S7, and the brake lamp 2 remains unlit.

  As for an alarm when the lighting circuit fails, an alarm device provided in a meter or the like may be lit, and automatic traveling such as ACC may be prohibited during the alarm. By prohibiting automatic traveling, it is possible to promptly perform repairs.

  In this embodiment, the relay circuit is used as the device for switching between the first lighting circuit 3 and the second lighting circuit 4, but the control may be performed by a device having a function equivalent to that of the relay circuit. .

  It goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  The present invention relates to a control device for a vehicle brake lamp, and is particularly useful when a brake switch fails.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Brake switch 3 1st lighting circuit 4 2nd lighting circuit 5 Control unit 9 Switching means (brake lamp relay)
11 Brake operating state detecting means 51 Brake lamp lighting request determining means 52 Brake lamp lighting determining means 53 Brake lamp relay control means

Claims (5)

A brake switch that detects the depression state of the brake pedal by the driver;
Brake operation state detection means for detecting a parameter change of a brake operation system that changes with operation of a brake pedal, different from the brake switch ,
A first lighting circuit for supplying a current to the brake lamp via the brake switch when the brake pedal is operated;
Brake lamp lighting request determination means for determining a brake lamp lighting request by operating the brake pedal of the driver by detecting a conduction state of the brake switch ;
Brake lamp lighting determining means for determining the lighting state of the brake lamp, and
When the brake lamp lighting request by the brake lamp lighting request determining means is not detected and the brake lamp lighting state by the brake lamp lighting determining means is not lit, the parameter detected by the brake operating state detecting means is used. Accordingly, the brake lamp control device determines that a failure has occurred in at least one of the brake switch and the first lighting circuit, and lights the brake lamp. The brake lamp control device according to claim 1 ,
The brake operating state detecting means is means for detecting a master cylinder pressure generated by operating a brake pedal, and the brake lamp is turned on when the detected master cylinder pressure is a predetermined value or more. Control device. The brake lamp control device according to claim 2 ,
A second lighting circuit that is provided in parallel with the first lighting circuit and automatically lights a brake lamp when an automatic brake for avoiding a collision with an obstacle ahead of the vehicle is activated;
During the automatic braking, and a switching means for switching the brake lamp lighting circuit from the first lighting circuit to the second lighting circuit,
When the detected master cylinder pressure is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the brake lamp is turned on by operating the switching means. The brake lamp control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
When a brake lamp lighting request by the brake lamp lighting request determining means is not detected and a brake pedal operation by the brake operation state detecting means is detected, an abnormality alarm is output. Control device. The brake lamp control device according to claim 4 ,
A brake lamp control device that automatically performs brake control in accordance with the traveling state of the vehicle and prohibits the vehicle from being decelerated during the abnormality alarm.

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