Cruise Controller for Motor Vehicles and Method of Operating Same

• US 20100100281A1
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: HUANG, Pei-Shih
• Granted Patent: US 9,114,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/125 Lateral acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence

Abstract

A cruise controller and method are provided for motor vehicles for the purpose of adjusting the vehicle speed on the basis of a predefined setpoint speed. The cruise controller includes a monitoring device, which is designed to evaluate the vehicle state variables steering wheel angle, lateral acceleration, and/or yaw rate. If one of the evaluated vehicle state variables exceeds a predefined first vehicle state variable limit value, the cruise control function is switched into a standby mode.

Claims

1. A cruise controller for a motor vehicle that adjusts a speed of the vehicle based on a predefined setpoint speed, the cruise controller comprising:

a monitoring device operatively configured to evaluate vehicle state variables in order to modify a cruise control function as a function of determined roadway data, the monitoring device evaluating as said vehicle state variables at least one of a current steering wheel angle, a current lateral acceleration of the vehicle, and a current yaw rate of the vehicle; and

wherein when at least one of said evaluated vehicle state variables exceeds a predefined first vehicle state variable limit value, the cruise control function is switched into a standby mode of operation.

2. The cruise controller according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device automatically switches the cruise control function into an active mode from the standby mode if no evaluated vehicle state variable exceeds a predefined second vehicle state variable limit value.

3. The cruise controller according to claim 2, wherein the monitoring device automatically switches the cruise control function into an active mode from the standby mode if no evaluated vehicle state variable exceeds the predefined first or second vehicle state variable limit value for a predefined time interval.

4. The cruise controller according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device switches the cruise control function into an active mode from the standby mode if one of a gas pedal actuation signal or an actuated gas pedal release signal is received by the cruise controller.

5. The cruise controller according to claim 4, wherein upon receiving the actuated gas pedal release signal, the predefined first vehicle state variable limit value is replaced by a correspondingly current vehicle state variable if the current vehicle state variable is greater than the predefined first vehicle state variable limit value.

6. The cruise controller according to claim 2, wherein upon receiving the actuated gas pedal release signal, at least one of the predefined first and second vehicle state variable limit values is replaced by the correspondingly current vehicle state variable if the current vehicle state variable is greater than the currently predefined first or second vehicle state variable limit value.

7. The cruise controller according to claim 4, wherein upon receiving the actuated gas pedal release signal, the predefined first vehicle state variable limit values is replaced by a vehicle state variable that is increased in comparison to the current vehicle state variable if the current vehicle state variable is greater than the currently predefined first vehicle state variable limit value.

8. The cruise controller according to claim 2, wherein after the actuated gas pedal release signal is received, at least one of the predefined first and second vehicle state variable limit values is replaced by a vehicle state variable that is increased compared to the current vehicle state variable if the current vehicle state variable is greater than the currently predefined first or second vehicle state variable limit value.

9. The cruise controller according to claim 2, wherein after switching back into the active mode, the current speed or the predefined setpoint of the vehicle at a time prior to the standby mode is preset as the predefined setpoint speed.

10. A method of operating a cruise control of a motor vehicle, the cruise control adjusting a speed of the vehicle based on a predefined setpoint speed, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving as vehicle state variables providing roadway data a current steering wheel angle signal, a current lateral acceleration signal, and a current yaw rate signal;

determining whether a predefined first vehicle state variable limit value for a vehicle state variable is exceeded by an associated one of the evaluated vehicle state variables; and

upon determining that the predefined first vehicle state variable limit value is exceeded by the associated one of the evaluated vehicle state variables, switching an active cruise control function into a standby mode.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the act of:

switching the cruise control function from the standby mode into the active mode if none of the evaluated vehicle state variables exceed predefined second vehicle state variable limit values for the respective vehicle state variables.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the cruise control function is switched into the active mode from the standby mode if none of the evaluated vehicle state variables exceeds the respective predefined first or second vehicle state variable limit value for a predefined time interval.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the acts of:

receiving at least one of a gas pedal actuation signal or an actuated gas pedal release signal; and

switching the cruise control function from the standby mode into the active mode upon receipt of one of said gas pedal actuation signal or said actuated gas pedal release signal.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the acts of:

receiving at least one of a gas pedal actuation signal or an actuated gas pedal release signal; and

switching the cruise control function from the standby mode into the active mode upon receipt of one of said gas pedal actuation signal or said actuated gas pedal release signal.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the acts of:

upon receiving the actuated gas pedal release signal, replacing at least one of the predefined first and second vehicle state variable limit values by at least one of;

(a) a correspondingly current vehicle state variable, and

(b) a vehicle state variable that is increased compared to the current vehicle state variable;

if the current vehicle state variable is greater than the respective currently predefined first or second vehicle state variable limit value.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein after switching back into the active mode, the current speed or the predefined setpoint speed of the vehicle at a time prior to the standby mode is preset as the predefined setpoint speed.