Speed control method for vehicle approaching and traveling on a curve
First Claim
1. A speed control system adapted for use with a vehicle having a steering wheel and operator, said system comprising:
- a map database having at least one record, wherein the record presents at least one path, said path presenting a plurality of position points, wherein a portion of the points present adjacent curve points that define a curve;
a locator device communicatively coupled to the database, and configured to determine the location of the vehicle and match the location with a first of said points on the path, when the vehicle is located on the path; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the device and database, and configured to identify an approaching curve point and determine an allowable curve point management speed, wherein the improvement comprises, said controller being further configured to determine a desired curve point management speed based in part on the allowable curve point management speed and an operator preference or vehicle characteristic input.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle curve speed control system (10) adapted for use with a vehicle (12) having an operator (14), includes a map database (16) representing a current vehicle path, and a locator device (20) communicatively coupled to the database (16) and configured to determine the location of the vehicle (12) on the path. The system (10) further includes a controller (36) configured to identify approaching curve points of a curve (18a) in terms of curvature or radius, and determine a desired speed profile based on operator preference and/or vehicle characteristic input. An acceleration profile is determined, based on the current vehicle speed, and desired speed profile. An acceleration/deceleration command at the present control loop is modified towards achieving an optimal curve speed, and is delivered to either a brake or acceleration module (40,42) to automatically accelerate or decelerate the vehicle (12) accordingly.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A speed control system adapted for use with a vehicle having a steering wheel and operator, said system comprising:
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a map database having at least one record, wherein the record presents at least one path, said path presenting a plurality of position points, wherein a portion of the points present adjacent curve points that define a curve;
a locator device communicatively coupled to the database, and configured to determine the location of the vehicle and match the location with a first of said points on the path, when the vehicle is located on the path; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the device and database, and configured to identify an approaching curve point and determine an allowable curve point management speed, wherein the improvement comprises, said controller being further configured to determine a desired curve point management speed based in part on the allowable curve point management speed and an operator preference or vehicle characteristic input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A speed control system adapted for use with a vehicle having a steering wheel and operator, said system comprising:
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a map database having at least one record, wherein the record presents at least one path, said path presenting a plurality of position points, wherein a portion of the points present adjacent curve points;
a locator device communicatively coupled to the database, and configured to determine the location of the vehicle and match the location with a first of said points on the path;
a controller communicatively coupled to the device and database, and configured to identify a plurality of approaching curve points and determine an allowable curve speed profile;
a brake module communicatively coupled to the controller, and configured to decelerate the vehicle upon command; and
an acceleration module communicatively coupled to the controller, and configured to accelerate the vehicle upon command, wherein the improvement comprises, said controller being further configured to determine a desired curve speed profile based on the allowable curve speed profile and an operator preference or vehicle characteristic input, the current vehicle speed, an acceleration profile based on the desired curve speed profile, and a command that is delivered to the brake or acceleration module based on the current vehicle speed.
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10. A method of vehicular curve management by a controller, wherein the vehicle includes a navigation system having a map database, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) accessing and locating the current position of the vehicle upon a path in the database;
b) identifying an approaching curve point of a curve on the path;
c) determining a curve point radius and an allowable curve point management speed; and
d) receiving an input relating to an operator preference or vehicle characteristic, and determining a desired curve point management speed, based on the allowable curve point management speed and input. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification