One-touch cruise control system

• US 20050247497A1
• Filed: 05/06/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clifford J. Pendleton
• Original Assignee: Clifford J. Pendleton
• Inventors: Pendleton, Clifford J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,234,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/170
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/042 where at least one electrical quantity is set by the vehicle operator

Abstract

A vehicle cruise control system comprises a plurality of pre-set cruise control speed buttons and cruise control logic circuitry coupled to the pre-set cruise control speed buttons. Each one of the pre-set cruise control speed buttons corresponds to a respective pre-set cruise control speed. The cruise control logic circuitry is configured for implementing control of a vehicle speed to maintain the respective pre-set cruise control speed corresponding to a selected one of said pre-set cruise control speed buttons.

Claims

1. A vehicle cruise control system, comprising:

a plurality of pre-set cruise control speed buttons each corresponding to a respective pre-set cruise control speed; and

cruise control logic circuitry coupled to said pre-set cruise control speed buttons and configured for implementing control of a vehicle speed to maintain the respective pre-set cruise control speed corresponding to a selected one of said pre-set cruise control speed buttons.

2. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 1 wherein each one of said pre-set cruise control speeds corresponds to a respective legal roadway speed.

3. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 1 wherein implementing control of the vehicle speed includes:

determining the respective pre-set cruise control speed; and

outputting a control signal corresponding to the respective preset cruise control speed.

4. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 1 wherein implementing control of the vehicle speed includes:

activating components of an original equipment cruise control system; and

setting said components of the original equipment cruise control system to maintain the respective pre-set cruise control speed corresponding to the selected one of said pre-set cruise control speed buttons.

5. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a current speed set button for implementing control of the vehicle speed to maintain a vehicle speed exhibited at the time when the current speed set button is depressed.

6. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 1 wherein:

said cruise control logic circuitry is segmented between a first cruise control circuitry module comprising said pre-set cruise control speed buttons and a second cruise control circuitry module comprising original equipment manufacturer cruise control circuitry of a vehicle.

7. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 4 wherein:

implementing control of the vehicle speed includes determining the respective pre-set cruise control speed and outputting a control signal corresponding to the respective preset cruise control speed;

determining the respective pre-set cruise control speed is performed by the first cruise control circuitry module; and

outputting the control signal includes outputting the control signal from the first cruise control circuitry module for reception by the second cruise control circuitry module.

8. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 5 wherein the control signal is configured for activating the second cruise control circuitry module.

9. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 5 wherein the control signal simulates a signal interpretable by logic of the second cruise control circuitry module.

10. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 1 wherein:

implementing control of the vehicle speed includes determining the respective pre-set cruise control speed and outputting a control signal corresponding to the respective preset cruise control speed;

said cruise control logic circuitry is segmented between a first cruise control circuitry module comprising said pre-set cruise control speed buttons and a second cruise control circuitry module comprising original equipment manufacturer cruise control circuitry of a vehicle;

determining the respective pre-set cruise control speed is performed by the first cruise control circuitry module; and

outputting the control signal includes outputting the control signal from the first cruise control circuitry module for reception by the second cruise control circuitry module;

the control signal is configured for activating the second cruise control circuitry module; and

the control signal simulates a signal interpretable by logic of the second cruise control circuitry module.

11. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 1 wherein:

implementing control of the vehicle speed includes activating components of an original equipment cruise control system and setting said components of the original equipment cruise control system to maintain the respective pre-set cruise control speed corresponding to the selected one of said pre-set cruise control speed buttons;

setting said components of the original equipment cruise control system includes outputting a control signal corresponding to the respective preset cruise control speed;

said cruise control logic circuitry is segmented between a first cruise control circuitry module comprising said pre-set cruise control speed buttons and a second cruise control circuitry module comprising original equipment manufacturer cruise control circuitry of a vehicle;

the control signal is configured for activating the second cruise control circuitry module; and

the control signal simulates a signal interpretable by logic of the second cruise control circuitry module.

12. A speed setting module for a cruise control system, comprising:

a plurality of pre-set cruise control speed buttons each corresponding to a respective pre-set cruise control speed;

a current speed set button for implementing control of the vehicle speed to maintain a vehicle speed exhibited at the time when the current speed set button is depressed; and

cruise control logic circuitry coupled to each one of said buttons and configured for implementing control of a vehicle speed to maintain a cruise control speed corresponding to a selected one of said buttons, wherein implementing control of the vehicle speed includes determining the cruise control speed corresponding to a selected one of said buttons and outputting a control signal corresponding to the cruise control speed corresponding to a selected one of said buttons and wherein the control signal simulates a signal interpretable by logic of an original equipment manufacturer cruise control system.

13. The speed setting module of claim 12 wherein each one of said pre-set cruise control speeds corresponds to a respective legal roadway speed.

14. The speed setting module of claim 12 wherein implementing control of the vehicle speed includes:

activating components of an original equipment cruise control system; and

the control signal is configured for setting said components of the original equipment cruise control system to maintain the cruise control speed corresponding to a selected one of said buttons.

15. A method for facilitating vehicle cruise control operation, comprising:

receiving a speed control request signal corresponding to a selected one of a plurality of pre-set cruise control speed buttons each corresponding to a respective pre-set cruise control speed; and

implementing control of a vehicle speed to maintain the respective pre-set cruise control speed corresponding to the selected one of said pre-set cruise control speed buttons in response to receiving the speed control signal.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein implementing control of the vehicle speed includes:

determining the respective pre-set cruise control speed; and

outputting a control signal corresponding to the respective preset cruise control speed.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein implementing control of the vehicle speed includes:

activating components of an original equipment cruise control system; and

setting said components of the original equipment cruise control system to maintain the respective pre-set cruise control speed corresponding to the selected one of said pre-set cruise control speed buttons.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein:

implementing control of the vehicle speed includes determining the respective pre-set cruise control speed and outputting a control signal corresponding to the respective preset cruise control speed;

determining the respective pre-set cruise control speed is performed by a first cruise control circuitry module comprising said pre-set cruise control speed buttons; and

outputting the control signal includes outputting the control signal from the first cruise control circuitry module for reception by a second cruise control circuitry module comprising original equipment manufacturer cruise control circuitry of a vehicle;

the control signal is configured for activating the second cruise control circuitry module; and

the control signal simulates a signal interpretable by logic of the second cruise control circuitry module.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein:

implementing control of the vehicle speed includes activating components of an original equipment cruise control system and setting said components of the original equipment cruise control system to maintain the respective pre-set cruise control speed corresponding to the selected one of said pre-set cruise control speed buttons;

setting said components of the original equipment cruise control system includes outputting a control signal corresponding to the respective preset cruise control speed;

the control signal simulates a signal interpretable by logic of the original equipment cruise control system.