ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL FOR HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES

• US 20090132142A1
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Bengea, Sorin C., Eyabi, Peter B., Avery, Richard M., Nowak, Michael P., Anderson, Robert O.
• Application Number:
  US11/574,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20090132142A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/047 the memory being digital
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/14 Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses

Abstract

An adaptive cruise control system and a method for controlling the speed of a vehicle are disclosed. The system generally includes a controller which determines a torque instruction associated with a limit speed of the vehicle which is less than a selected speed. The method generally includes determining a distance between the vehicle and an object detected in the path of the vehicles determining a torque instruction which is associated with a limit speed which is less than a selected speed from at least the distances and transmitting the torque instruction to an engine controller of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A speed controller, comprising:

a supervisory control logic component configured to determine an operating state of the speed controller;

a torque instruction component configured to determine a torque instruction based upon inputs to the speed controller and the operating state; and

a messaging component configured to include the torque instruction in a message, the message further including an input to an engine braking system of the vehicle.

2. The speed controller of claim 1, wherein the torque instruction includes at least one of a torque command and a torque limit value.

3. The speed controller of claim 1, wherein the operating state is one of a no control state and a control state.

4. A speed controller, comprising:

a supervisory control logic component configured to determine an operating state of the speed controller;

a torque instruction component configured to determine a torque limit value based upon inputs to the speed controller and the operating state; and

a messaging component configured to include the torque limit value in a message.

5. The speed controller of claim 4, wherein the operating state is one of a no control state and a control state.

6. The speed controller of claim 4, wherein the message further includes an input to an engine braking system of the vehicle.

7. A method of controlling the speed of a heavy duty vehicle, comprising:

determining a control state of a speed controller;

determining a torque limit value from at least the control state; and

transmitting the torque limit value to an engine controller of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising reducing a torque output of an engine of the vehicle with an engine braking system.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the control state includes determining a distance between the vehicle and an object in a path of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining the distance with a radar device.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining a speed of the vehicle;

wherein the torque limit value is determined from at least the speed of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving a set speed signal;

wherein the set speed signal is associated with a speed approximately equal to a cruising speed of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving at least one variable parameter for the speed controller.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining a relative speed between the vehicle and an object in a path of the vehicle;

wherein the torque limit value is determined from at least the relative speed between the vehicle and the object.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein transmitting the torque limit value to the engine controller includes providing the torque limit value over a J1939 vehicle communications bus.

16. A computer-readable medium containing processor-executable instructions, the instructions configured to cause a processor to perform the method of claim 7.

17. A method of controlling the speed of a heavy duty vehicle, comprising:

determining a control state of a speed controller;

determining a torque instruction from at least the control state;

transmitting the torque instruction to an engine controller of the vehicle; and

reducing a torque output of an engine of the vehicle with an engine braking system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the torque instruction includes at least one of a torque command and a torque limit value.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein determining the control state includes determining a distance between the vehicle and an object in a path of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining the distance with a radar device.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving a set speed signal;

wherein the set speed signal is associated with a speed approximately equal to a cruising speed of the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving at least one variable parameter for the speed controller.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining a speed of the vehicle;

wherein the torque instruction is determined from at least the speed of the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining a relative speed between the vehicle and an object in a path of the vehicle;

wherein the torque instruction is determined from at least the relative speed between the vehicle and the object.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein transmitting the torque instruction to the engine controller includes providing the torque instruction over a J1939 vehicle communications bus.

26. A computer-readable medium containing processor-executable instructions, the instructions configured to cause a processor to perform the method of claim 17.