DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] Embodiment 1.

[0022] Hereinafter, a control device of auxiliary apparatus for vehicle according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is described referring to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control device of auxiliary apparatus for vehicle according to the first embodiment of this invention.

[0024] With reference to FIG. 1 , reference numeral 1 designates control means for controlling vehicle auxiliary apparatus including peripheral recognition assist means such as a wiper or a headlight, and peripheral auxiliary means such as an active sensor. Numeral 11 designates vehicle speed detection means for detecting a vehicle speed of one's vehicle with the use of, e.g., a vehicle speed sensor. Numeral 12 designates vehicle-ahead start detection means using, e.g., an image sensor or ultrasonic wave, and this vehicle-ahead start detection means 12 operates when one's vehicle is stopped. Numeral 13 designates wiper operation setting means such as a switch or a volume switch for setting an operation speed or an intermittent time period of the wiper. Numeral 14 designates headlight lighting setting means such as a switch or volume switch for performing ON/OFF of the headlight. Numeral 15 designates infrared camera operation setting means such as a switch for setting the operation of a near-infrared camera. Numeral 31 designates wiper drive means, and numeral 32 designates a wiper. Numeral 41 designates headlight drive means, and numeral 42 designates a headlight. Numeral 51 designates floodlight drive means, and numeral 52 designates an active sensor consisting of a floodlight 53 and a near-infrared camera 54 .

[0025] FIG. 2 is an operation waveform chart showing the manner of determining a mode by the control device of auxiliary apparatus for vehicle according to the first embodiment of the invention.

[0026] With reference to FIG. 2 , F 1 indicates a one's vehicle speed obtained from the vehicle speed detection means 11 . F 11 indicates a state that the one's vehicle is stopped. F 2 indicates a start state of a vehicle ahead obtained from the vehicle-ahead start detection means 12 . F 21 indicates that the start of the vehicle ahead is under detection. F 3 indicates a mode state determined in the step of mode determination. F 31 indicates a power-saving mode. F 32 indicates a normal mode. F 33 indicates a predetermined time period TS. F 34 indicates a predetermined time period TS.

[0027] Now, referring to FIG. 2 and the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 to 7 , operations are described.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an overall processing content of the control means 1 including an input processing step S 11 , a mode determination step S 12 , a wiper determination step S 13 , a headlight determination step S 14 , a floodlight, determination step S 15 , and an output processing step S 16 . The steps are hereinafter described in sequential order respectively.

[0029] In the input processing step S 11 , signals are received from the vehicle speed detection means 11 , the vehicle-ahead start detection means 12 , the wiper operation setting means 13 , the headlight lighting setting means 14 and the infrared camera operation setting means 15 .

[0030] Then, in the mode determination step S 12 , whether it is a power-saving mode or a normal mode is determined depending upon a vehicle speed and a start state of the vehicle ahead obtained in the input processing step S 11 . This determination is conducted as follows.

[0031] An operation waveform in FIG. 2 sows a manner of mode determination.

[0032] When one's vehicle speed comes to be 0 km/h, in other words, one's vehicle is stopped (F 11 ), the operation proceeds to a power-saving mode (F 31 ) after a predetermined time period TS (F 33 ) has passed. The predetermined time period TS can be obtained by way of experiment, and is set to be, for example, three seconds.

[0033] When the start of the vehicle ahead (F 21 ) is detected while one's vehicle being stopped, the operation immediately returns to the normal mode (F 32 ). Even if the start of the vehicle ahead is once sopped thereafter, the operation holds the normal mode as long as a predetermined time period TS (F 34 ). This operation waveform shows that the start of the vehicle ahead is detected again and therefore the normal mode continues as it is.

[0034] Further, even if the start of the vehicle ahead is not detected, the operation returns to the normal mode upon start of the one's vehicle.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the mode determination. In Step S 21 , it is determined whether or not one's vehicle speed is 0 km/h, in other words, one's vehicle is stopped. Furthermore, when the start of the vehicle ahead is not detected in Step S 22 and it is determined in Step S 23 that a predetermined time period TS has passed in the state that the start of the vehicle ahead is not detected, the operation proceeds to the power-saving mode S 24 .

[0036] In the case where either of the above-mentioned conditions is not satisfied, the operation proceeds to the normal mode S 25 .

[0037] In the mode determination step S 12 , operations of the wiper 32 , the headlight 42 and the floodlight 53 for infrared camera are determined based on a mode state determined and contents set by the setting means 13 to 15 .

[0038] In the wiper determination step S 13 (referring to FIG. 5 ), in the case of the normal, the wiper is controlled so as to operate as set by the wiper operation setting means.

[0039] In the case of the power-saving mode, the wiper is controlled so as to operate at intermittent intervals.

[0040] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the wiper determination. In Step S 31 , it is determined whether a wiper switch is ON or OFF. In the case of ON, it is determined in Step 32 whether or not it is a power-saving mode. In the case of the power-saving mode, a power-saving operation is conducted in Step S 34 . In the case where it is not the power-saving mode, a normal operation is conducted in Step S 33 . In the case where the wiper switch is not ON in Step 31 , the wiper is brought into OFF in Step S 35 .

[0041] Likewise, in the headlight determination step S 14 (referring to FIG. 6 ) and the floodlight determination Step S 15 (referring to FIG. 7 ), in the case of the normal mode, the headlight and the floodlight of the infrared camera is controlled so as to operate as set by the headlight lighting setting means and the infrared camera operation setting means respectively. In the case of the power-saving mode, the headlight is controlled so as to dim, and the floodlight for the infrared camera is controlled so that an output thereof may be reduced.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the headlight lighting determination. In Step S 41 , it is determined whether a headlight switch is ON or OFF. In the case of ON, it is determined in Step S 42 whether or not it is the power-saving mode. In the case of the power-saving mode, the power-saving operation is conducted in Step S 44 . In the case where it is not the power-saving mode, the normal operation is conducted in Step S 43 . In the case where the headlight switch is not ON in Step S 41 , the headlight is brought into OFF in Step S 45 .

[0043] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing this floodlight determination. In Step S 51 , it is determined whether a sensor switch is ON or OFF. In the case of ON, it is determined in Step. 52 whether or not it is the power-saving mode. In the case of the power-saving mode, the power-saving operation is conducted in Step S 54 . In the case where it is not the power-saving mode, the normal operation is conducted in Step S 53 . In the case where the sensor switch is not ON in Step S 51 , the floodlight of the infrared camera is brought in OFF.

[0044] In the output processing Step S 16 , control signals are outputted to the wiper drive means 31 , the headlight drive means 41 and the floodlight drive means 51 based on respective results of determination.

[0045] The control means 1 is arranged so as to repeat the steps described above.

[0046] In addition, the wiper, the headlight and the infrared camera floodlight are employed as the peripheral recognition assist means and peripheral recognition means in the above descriptions. It is, however, also preferable that other means such as laser radar or millimeter wave radar is employed.

[0047] Further, it is also preferable that a return switch is provided so that a driver can return the operation to the normal mode freely whenever a driver intends to return the operation thereto.

[0048] In the foregoing first embodiment, when detecting that a vehicle ahead starts moving at the time of one's vehicle being stopped, the peripheral recognition assist means such as headlight or wiper, and the peripheral recognition means such as active sensor can be controlled so as to be suitable for traveling. Accordingly, the one's vehicle can be brought into a state of being able to start immediately.

[0049] Furthermore, the control means controls the operation so as to hold the suitable state for traveling during a predetermined time period after detecting by the vehicle speed detection means that the one's vehicle is stopped, as well as coming under a state that start of the vehicle ahead is not detected by the vehicle-ahead start detection means. Therefore, even when the vehicle ahead stops for a moment, the suitable state for traveling can be held.