Vehicle speed control system
First Claim
1. A vehicle speed control system for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, the vehicle speed control system configured to automatically control the speed of the vehicle in dependence on an input target set-speed and comprising:
- an electronic processor having an electrical input and an electrical output; and
an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the electronic processor and having instructions stored therein,wherein the processor is configured to access the memory device and execute the instructions stored therein such that it is operable to;
receive at the electrical input thereof one or more signals indicative of a user input of a target set-speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel; and
output at the electrical output thereof a powertrain torque request signal to request a powertrain of said vehicle to produce a desired torque to propel the vehicle at the target set-speed;
wherein the system further comprises an input device to enable the user to incrementally increase the target set-speed by pressing and holding a target set-speed + button, andwherein the processor is further operable to incrementally increase the target set-speed while it receives said one or more signals indicative of a user input of a target set-speed while the set-speed + button is held, and, once said processor stops receiving said one or more signals indicative of a user input of a target set-speed when the set-speed + button is released, to set the target set-speed to a value equal to the instantaneous vehicle speed +Δ
V set max, wherein Δ
V set max defines a maximum value by which the target set-speed is allowed to exceed the instantaneous vehicle speed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle speed control system that carries out a method of receiving a user input of a target set-speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel and applying torque to the at least one of the vehicle wheels for propelling the vehicle at a vehicle control speed. The user input is received via an input device that enables the user to incrementally increase the target set-speed by pressing and holding a target set-speed + button. The system includes a controller configured to incrementally increase the target set-speed while the set-speed + button is held, and, once the set-speed + button is released the controller is configured to continue to increase the target set-speed by a value determined by the controller in dependence on at least one of the instantaneous vehicle speed and the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling.
42 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A vehicle speed control system for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, the vehicle speed control system configured to automatically control the speed of the vehicle in dependence on an input target set-speed and comprising:
-
an electronic processor having an electrical input and an electrical output; and an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the electronic processor and having instructions stored therein, wherein the processor is configured to access the memory device and execute the instructions stored therein such that it is operable to; receive at the electrical input thereof one or more signals indicative of a user input of a target set-speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel; and output at the electrical output thereof a powertrain torque request signal to request a powertrain of said vehicle to produce a desired torque to propel the vehicle at the target set-speed; wherein the system further comprises an input device to enable the user to incrementally increase the target set-speed by pressing and holding a target set-speed + button, and wherein the processor is further operable to incrementally increase the target set-speed while it receives said one or more signals indicative of a user input of a target set-speed while the set-speed + button is held, and, once said processor stops receiving said one or more signals indicative of a user input of a target set-speed when the set-speed + button is released, to set the target set-speed to a value equal to the instantaneous vehicle speed +Δ
V set max, wherein Δ
V set max defines a maximum value by which the target set-speed is allowed to exceed the instantaneous vehicle speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 15)
-
-
7. A method of automatically controlling the speed of a vehicle having a plurality of wheels in dependence on an input target set-speed, the method comprising:
-
receiving a user input of a target set-speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel comprising receiving said user input via a target set-speed input device configured to enable the user to incrementally increase the target set-speed by pressing and holding a target set-speed + button; incrementally increasing the target set-speed while the set-speed + button is pressed; once the set-speed + button is released, setting the target set-speed to a value equal to the instantaneous vehicle speed + Δ
V set max, wherein Δ
V set max defines a maximum value by which the target set-speed is allowed to exceed the instantaneous vehicle speed; andapplying a torque to the at least one of the plurality of wheels for propelling the vehicle at the target set-speed. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16)
-
-
13. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that when executed by one or more electronic processors causes the one or more electronic processors to carry out the method of:
-
receiving a user input of a target set-speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel comprising receiving said user input via a target set-speed input device configured to enable the user to incrementally increase the target set-speed by pressing and holding a target set-speed + button; incrementally increasing the target set-speed while the set-speed + button is pressed; once the set-speed + button is released, setting the target set-speed to a value equal to the instantaneous vehicle speed +Δ
V set max, wherein Δ
V set max defines a maximum value by which the target set-speed is allowed to exceed the instantaneous vehicle speed; andcausing the application of a torque to the at least one of the plurality of wheels for propelling the vehicle at the target set-speed.
-
-
14. An electronic controller for a vehicle having a storage medium associated therewith storing instructions that when executed by the controller causes the control of the operation of a vehicle in accordance with the method of:
-
receiving a user input of a target set-speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel comprising receiving said user input via a target set-speed input device configured to enable the user to incrementally increase the target set-speed by pressing and holding a target set-speed + button; incrementally increasing the target set-speed while the set-speed + button is pressed; once the set-speed + button is released, setting the target set-speed to a value equal to the instantaneous vehicle speed +Δ
V set max, wherein Δ
V set max defines a maximum value by which the target set-speed is allowed to exceed the instantaneous vehicle speed; andapplying a torque to the at least one of the plurality of wheels for propelling the vehicle at the target set-speed.
-
Specification