Speed control system and method for operating the same
First Claim
1. A method for operating a cruise control system of a vehicle, comprising:
- imposing a maximum positive torque limit having a fixed value upon activation of the cruise control system, wherein the cruise control system varies application of torque to maintain a set speed while in an active state;
identifying a torque required to achieve a desired set speed;
assessing whether the required torque exceeds the fixed value of the maximum positive torque limit of the cruise control system;
when the required torque exceeds the fixed value of the maximum positive torque limit, determining if it is appropriate to temporarily increase the maximum positive torque limit above the fixed value, wherein determining if it is appropriate to increase the maximum positive torque limit comprises evaluating one or more criteria, the one or more criteria relating to a vehicle configuration or vehicle operation;
when at least one of the one or more criteria are met, temporarily increasing the maximum positive torque limit above the fixed value while maintaining the cruise control in the active state, and thereafter reducing the maximum positive torque limit back to the fixed value when either (a) the required torque no longer exceeds the fixed value or (b) the one or more criteria are no longer met; and
when the at least one of the one or more criteria are not met, maintaining the imposed maximum positive torque limit at the fixed value.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for operating a speed control system of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises identifying a torque required to achieve a desired operating parameter of the vehicle. The method further assessing whether the required torque exceeds a predetermined torque limit, and when it does, determining if it is appropriate to increase the torque limit. When it is determined that it is appropriate to do so, the method further comprises increasing the predetermined torque limit. A speed control system of a vehicle comprising an electronic control unit configured to: determine a torque required to achieve a desired operating parameter of the vehicle, assess whether the required torque exceeds a predetermined torque limit; when the torque exceeds the torque limit, determine if it is appropriate to increase the torque limit; and when it is determined that it is appropriate to do so, increase the torque limit, is also provided.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for operating a cruise control system of a vehicle, comprising:
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imposing a maximum positive torque limit having a fixed value upon activation of the cruise control system, wherein the cruise control system varies application of torque to maintain a set speed while in an active state; identifying a torque required to achieve a desired set speed; assessing whether the required torque exceeds the fixed value of the maximum positive torque limit of the cruise control system; when the required torque exceeds the fixed value of the maximum positive torque limit, determining if it is appropriate to temporarily increase the maximum positive torque limit above the fixed value, wherein determining if it is appropriate to increase the maximum positive torque limit comprises evaluating one or more criteria, the one or more criteria relating to a vehicle configuration or vehicle operation; when at least one of the one or more criteria are met, temporarily increasing the maximum positive torque limit above the fixed value while maintaining the cruise control in the active state, and thereafter reducing the maximum positive torque limit back to the fixed value when either (a) the required torque no longer exceeds the fixed value or (b) the one or more criteria are no longer met; and when the at least one of the one or more criteria are not met, maintaining the imposed maximum positive torque limit at the fixed value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for operating a cruise control system of a vehicle, comprising:
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imposing a maximum positive torque limit having a fixed value upon activation of the cruise control system, wherein the cruise control system varies application of torque to maintain a desired speed while in an active state; monitoring a speed and a powertrain output torque of the vehicle to maintain the desired speed in the active state; when the speed of the vehicle falls below the desired speed, and the powertrain output torque has met the maximum positive torque limit of the speed control system, determining if it is appropriate for the output torque to temporarily exceed the fixed value of the maximum positive torque limit, wherein determining if it is appropriate to increase the torque limit comprises evaluating one or more criteria; when at least one of the one or more criteria are met, temporarily increasing the powertrain output torque to a level at which the desired vehicle speed is achieved while maintaining the cruise control in the active state, and thereafter reducing the maximum positive torque limit back to the fixed value when either (a) the required torque no longer exceeds the fixed value or (b) the one or more criteria are no longer met; and when the at least one of the one or more criteria are not met, maintaining the imposed maximum positive torque limit at the fixed value. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A cruise control system for a vehicle, comprising:
an electronic control unit, configured to; impose a maximum positive torque limit having a fixed value upon activation of the cruise control system, wherein the cruise control system varies application of torque to maintain a set speed while in an active state; determine a torque required to achieve a desired set speed; assess whether the required torque exceeds the fixed value of the maximum positive torque limit of the cruise control system; when the required torque exceeds the fixed value of the maximum positive torque limit, determine if it is appropriate to temporarily increase the maximum positive torque limit above the fixed value, wherein determining if it is appropriate to increase the maximum positive torque limit comprises evaluating one or more criteria, the one or more criteria relating to a vehicle configuration or vehicle operation; when at least one of the one or more criteria are met, temporarily increase the maximum positive torque limit above the fixed value while maintaining the cruise control in the active state, and thereafter reduce the maximum positive torque limit back to the fixed value when either (a) the required torque no longer exceeds the fixed value or (b) the one or more criteria are no longer met; and when the at least one of the one or more criteria are not met, maintain the imposed maximum positive torque limit at the fixed value. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A vehicle comprising a cruise control system, said cruise control system comprising an electronic control unit, configured to:
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impose a maximum positive torque limit having a fixed value upon activation of the cruise control system, wherein the cruise control system varies application of torque to maintain a set speed while in an active state; determine a torque required to achieve a desired set speed; assess whether the required torque exceeds the fixed value of the maximum positive torque limit of the cruise control system; when the required torque exceeds the fixed value of the maximum positive torque limit, determine if it is appropriate to temporarily increase the maximum positive torque limit above the fixed value, wherein determining if it is appropriate to increase the maximum positive torque limit comprises evaluating one or more criteria, the one or more criteria relating to a vehicle configuration or vehicle operation; when at least one of the one or more criteria are met, temporarily increase the maximum positive torque limit above the fixed value while maintaining the cruise control in the active state, and thereafter reduce the maximum positive torque limit back to the fixed value when either (a) the required torque no longer exceeds the fixed value or (b) the one or more criteria are no longer met; and when the at least one of the one or more criteria are not met, maintain the imposed maximum positive torque limit at the fixed value.
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Specification