Control system and method

• US 10,106,158 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2015
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Inventors: Woodley, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peche, Jorge O
• Application Number:
  US15/120,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20170096140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/244 changing target speed or setting a new target speed, e.g. changing algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/248 resuming speed control, e.g. returning to old target speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18063 Creeping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system comprising: a first, controller operable to assume an off state or one of one or more on states, in a first on state the first controller being configured to generate a first controller powertrain signal in order to cause a powertrain to develop drive torque and cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value, the system being configured to cause the first controller to assume the first on state in dependence at least in part on receipt of a first input signal indicative that the controller is required to assume the first on state and a second signal indicative that a driver is maintaining a driver-operated brake control device in a brake-applied condition, being a condition in which a braking system of a vehicle is caused to apply a brake to one or more wheels.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first controller operable to assume an off state or one of one or more on states, in a first on state the first controller being configured to generate a first controller powertrain signal in order to cause a powertrain to develop drive torque and cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value,

the system being configured to cause the first controller to assume the first on state in dependence at least in part on receipt of a first input signal indicative that the controller is required to assume the first on state and a second signal indicative that a driver is operating a driver-operated brake control device in a brake-applied condition, being a condition in which a braking system of a vehicle is caused to apply a brake to one or more wheels.

2. A system according to claim 1, the system being configured to cause the first controller to assume the first on state in dependence at least in part on receipt of the first input signal after, and in overlapping coincidence with, the second signal.

3. A system according to claim 1 configured to cause the first controller to assume the first on state in dependence at least in part on the first and second signals in further dependence on a vehicle speed signal indicative of vehicle speed only when the vehicle speed signal indicates that a speed of the vehicle does not exceed a predetermined threshold speed.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein the predetermined threshold speed is one in the range from zero to 2 kph.

5. A system according to claim 1 configured to cause the first controller to assume the first on state when a further condition is met that subsequent to receipt of the first signal, the second input signal provides an indication that the driver-operated brake control device has transitioned from the brake-applied condition to a brake-released condition in which the braking system does not apply a brake to one or more wheels.

6. A system according to claim 5 configured to cause the first controller to assume the first on state in dependence on the first and second signals when at least a further condition is met that a vehicle speed signal indicative of the vehicle speed indicates that a speed of the vehicle did not exceed a predetermined threshold immediately prior to the second signal providing the indication of the transition to the brake-released condition.

7. A system according to claim 5 configured to cause the first controller to assume the first on state when at least a further condition is met that the second signal provides the indication of the transition to the brake-released condition within a predetermined time-out period of the first signal providing the indication that the controller is required to assume the first on state.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein the at least a further condition comprises the condition that the second signal provides the indication of the transition to the brake-released condition within the predetermined time-out period of a most recent moment at which the first signal provided the indication that the controller is required to assume the first on state.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the first controller is configured to assume, in dependence on a third input signal:

a predetermined one of one or more on states, and

the off state, being a state in which the first controller is substantially unresponsive to the first and second input signals.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the first controller is further configured to generate a first controller brake signal in order to cause application of said brake to one or more wheels thereby to cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with the target speed value.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the first controller is configured to generate the first controller brake signal when in the first on state.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein the first controller is operable in a second on state in which the first controller is configured to generate the first controller brake signal and not the first controller powertrain signal in order to cause said vehicle to operate in accordance with the target speed value.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein when the first controller transitions from the off state to an on state, the first controller is configured to assume the second on state.

14. A system according to claim 1 wherein in response to receipt of the first input signal indicative that the controller is required to assume the first on state the controller is configured to set the target speed value to a predetermined value.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein in response to receipt of the first input signal indicative that the controller is required to assume the first on state the controller is configured to increase the prevailing target speed value from a prevailing value each time the first input signal is received provided the input signal indicative that the controller is required to assume the first on state has already been received at least once within a preceding predetermined time period.

16. A motor vehicle comprising a system according to claim 1.

17. A vehicle comprising a chassis, a body attached to said chassis, a plurality of wheels, a powertrain to drive said wheels, a braking system to brake said wheels, and a system according to claim 1.

18. A method of controlling a motor vehicle comprising:

causing a first, speed, controller to assume one of a plurality of respective on states, in a first on state the method comprising generating by means of the first controller a first controller powertrain signal to cause a powertrain to develop drive torque and cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value,

the method comprising causing the first controller to assume the first on state in dependence at least in part on receipt of a first input signal indicative that the controller is required to assume the first on state and a second signal indicative that a driver is maintaining a driver-operated brake control device in a brake-applied condition, being a condition in which a braking system of said vehicle is caused to apply a brake to one or more wheels.

19. A non-transitory carrier medium carrying computer readable code for controlling a vehicle to carry out the method of claim 18.

20. A processor arranged to implement the method of claim 18.