Method and arrangement for controlling the speed of a vehicle

• US 20040088098A1
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Muehlbauer, Christian, Lock, Erwin
• Granted Patent: US 7,194,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0058 responsive to externally generated signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/042 where at least one electrical quantity is set by the vehicle operator
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/80 Country specific, e.g. driver age limits or right hand drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data

Abstract

A method and an arrangement for controlling the speed of a vehicle make possible a comfortable adaptation of an incrementation or decrementation of a pregiven desired speed. The desired speed is changed by the actuation of an operator-controlled element (1). The extent of the change of the desired speed is adjusted in dependence upon at least one piece of data as to the instantaneous driving situation of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the speed of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

changing a desired value for said speed by actuating an operator-controlled element; and

,

adjusting the extent of the change of said desired value in dependence upon at least one piece of data as to the instantaneous driving situation of said vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said instantaneous driving situation is defined by the instantaneous location of said vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said instantaneous driving situation is defined by the roadway over which said vehicle is instantaneously traveling.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said instantaneous driving situation is defined by the instantaneous actual speed of said vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein various extents of the change of said desired value are assigned to different speed ranges.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the extent of the change of said desired value is pregiven at an operator-controlled element for different driving situations.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the extent of the change of said desired value is changed by means of a hysteresis in dependence upon the instantaneous driving situation.

8. An arrangement for controlling the speed of a vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

an operator-controlled element for changing a desired value for said speed;

means for detecting at least one piece of data as to an instantaneous driving situation of said vehicle; and

,

an evaluation unit for adjusting the extent of the change of said desired value in dependence upon said at least one piece of data as to said instantaneous driving situation of said vehicle.