LAND VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL

• US 20100332100A1
• Filed: 08/05/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ronald David Faggetter
• Original Assignee: Ronald David Faggetter
• Inventors: Faggetter, Ronald David
• Application Number:
  US12/536,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20100332100A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2031/0091 Speed limiters or speed cutters
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/242 setting initial target speed, e.g. initial algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/00 Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator fittings acting on two or more sub-units B60W30/14; speedometers G01P; systems or devices for controlling speed in general G05D13/00 ; in traffic anti-collision system for road vehicles G08G1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque

Abstract

To control the torque of a rotary engine of a land vehicle, an upper speed limit and a lower speed limit for the vehicle is obtained based on at least one user input. A constant output torque is determined for the rotary engine. This may be based on the upper speed limit. The current speed of the vehicle is obtained. While the current vehicle speed lies between the upper speed limit and the lower speed limit, an engine control signal is generated in order to operate the rotary engine at the constant output torque. If the current vehicle speed increases above the upper speed limit, an engine control signal is generated to operate the rotary engine at a reduced output torque below the constant output torque. If the current vehicle speed decreases below the lower speed limit, an engine control signal is generated to operate said rotary engine at an increased output torque above the constant output torque.

Claims

1. A method of torque control for a rotary engine of a land vehicle, comprising:

based on at least one user input, obtaining an upper speed limit and a lower speed limit for said vehicle;

determining a constant output torque for said rotary engine for said vehicle;

obtaining a current speed of said vehicle;

while said current speed lies between said upper speed limit and said lower speed limit, generating an engine control signal to operate said rotary engine at said constant output torque;

if said current vehicle speed increases above said upper speed limit, generating an engine control signal to operate said rotary engine at a reduced output torque below said constant output torque;

if said current vehicle speed decreases below said lower speed limit, generating an engine control signal to operate said rotary engine at an increased output torque above said constant output torque.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said determining a constant output torque is based on said upper speed limit.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said upper speed limit is obtained from a user input.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said lower speed limit is determined based on said upper speed limit.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said lower speed limit is determined as about 90% of said upper speed limit.

6. A method of energy management for an engine of a land vehicle, comprising:

based on at least one user input, obtaining an upper speed limit and a lower speed limit for said vehicle;

determining a constant output energy for said engine for said vehicle;

measuring current speed of said vehicle;

while said current speed lies between said upper speed limit and said lower speed limit, operating said engine so as to deliver said constant output energy;

if said current vehicle speed increases above said upper speed limit, reducing output energy of said engine below said constant output energy;

if said current vehicle speed decreases below said lower speed limit, increasing output energy of said engine above said constant output energy.

7. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions which, when executed on a controller of a vehicle cruise control system, cause said controller to:

based on at least one user input, obtain an upper speed limit and a lower speed limit for said vehicle;

determine a constant output torque for said rotary engine for said vehicle;

obtain a current speed of said vehicle;

while said current speed lies between said upper speed limit and said lower speed limit, generate an engine control signal to operate said rotary engine at said constant output torque;

if said current vehicle speed increases above said upper speed limit, generate an engine control signal to operate said rotary engine at a reduced output torque below said constant output torque;

if said current vehicle speed decreases below said lower speed limit, generate an engine control signal to operate said rotary engine at an increased output torque above said constant output torque.

8. A cruise control for a land vehicle comprising:

a torque sensor;

a controller receiving an input signal from said torque sensor, a speed sensor, an accelerator pedal, and a user interface, said controller for;

based on at least one user input, obtaining an upper speed limit and a lower speed limit for said vehicle;

determining a constant output torque for said rotary engine for said vehicle;

obtaining a current speed of said vehicle;

while said current speed lies between said upper speed limit and said lower speed limit, generating an engine control signal to operate said rotary engine at said constant output torque;

if said current vehicle speed increases above said upper speed limit, generating an engine control signal to operate said rotary engine at a reduced output torque below said constant output torque;

if said current vehicle speed decreases below said lower speed limit, generating an engine control signal to operate said rotary engine at an increased output torque above said constant output torque.