ACC Extended Mode Operation

• US 20120259516A1
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Original Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Inventors: AMATO, William P., GROLLE, Kenneth A., THOMAS, Thomas J., CUSTER, Robert J., KOSANAM, Srikiran
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/48
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/196 acting within the driveline, e.g. retarders
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle

Abstract

When employing an a cruise control system in a commercial or heavy-duty vehicle, an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system (14) is activated upon activation of a vehicle or set-speed cruise control (SSCC) system (16). The ACC (14) remains on, even after SSCC shutoff, to maintain a minimum following distance for a primary vehicle in which the ACC (14) is employed and a forward vehicle. The ACC (14) is deactivated after detection of an ACC shutoff trigger event, which may be driver application of the brakes of the primary vehicle, driver-initiated acceleration for a predefined time period, expiration of a predetermined time period, manual shutoff (e.g., via a switch or button), etc.

Claims

1. A controller for an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system comprising:

a processor;

an input of the processor for receiving a signal indicative of the state of an associated set speed cruise control (SSCC) system;

an input of the processor for receiving a signal indicative of a driver-initiated acceleration request;

an output of the processor for communicating a deceleration request; and

control logic of the processor for

setting the ACC controller in a first mode in response to the signal indicating the SSCC system is active, regardless of the signal indicative of the driver-initiated acceleration request; and

setting the ACC controller in a second mode in response to the signal indicating the SSCC system is not active;

setting the ACC controller in a third mode in response to the ACC controller being in the second mode and the driver-initiated acceleration request being greater than a predetermined time.

2. The controller as in claim 1, wherein the input for receiving a signal indicative of the state of the SSCC system and the input for receiving a signal indicative of a driver-initiated acceleration request are separate inputs.

3. The controller as in claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to communicate the deceleration request when the ACC controller is in the first mode.

4. The controller as in claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to communicate the deceleration request when the ACC controller is in the second mode.

5. The controller as in claim 1, wherein the deceleration request comprises at least one of an engine torque reduction request, a vehicle retarder request and a foundation braking request.

6. The controller as in claim 5, the control logic setting the ACC controller in the second mode subsequent to communicating a foundation braking request and receiving a signal indicating the SSCC system is not activate in response to the foundation braking request.

7. The controller as in claim 1, wherein the processor does not communicate a deceleration request when the ACC controller is in the third mode.

8. The controller as in claim 1, the control logic further maintaining the ACC controller in the third mode until the SSCC system is active.

9. The controller as in claim 1, the control logic setting the ACC controller in the third mode in response to at least one of a driver-initiated braking request and a manual deactivation of the ACC controller, regardless of the signal indicating SSCC system state and the signal indicating a driver-initiated acceleration request.

10. The controller as in claim 1, wherein the driver-initiated acceleration request is an application of an associated accelerator pedal by the driver.

11. A method for operating an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system, comprising:

determining a state of a set speed cruise control (SSCC) system in a primary vehicle;

activating the ACC system upon a determination that the SSCC system is active, the ACC system maintaining the primary vehicle at a predetermined interval behind a forward vehicle;

receiving a signal indicative of a driver-initiated acceleration request;

setting the ACC system in a first mode when the SSCC system is active, regardless of the position of the accelerator pedal;

setting the ACC system in a second mode when the SSCC system is not active; and

setting the ACC system in a third mode in response to the ACC system being in the second mode and the driver-initiated acceleration request being greater than a predetermined time.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein the ACC system is operable to communicate a deceleration request when in the first mode.

13. The method as in claim 11, wherein the ACC system is operable to communicate a deceleration request when in the second mode.

14. The method as in claim 11, wherein the ACC system does not communicate a deceleration request when in the third mode.

15. The method as in claim 11, wherein a deceleration request comprises at least one of an engine torque reduction request, a vehicle retarder request or a foundation braking request.

16. The method as in claim 15, further comprising deactivating the SSCC system in response to a foundation braking request from the ACC system.

17. The method as in claim 11, further comprising setting the ACC system in the third mode in response to at least one of a driver-initiated braking request and a manual deactivation of the ACC system, regardless of the SSCC system state and the driver-initiated acceleration request.

18. The method as in claim 11, wherein the driver-initiated acceleration request is an application of an associated accelerator pedal by the driver.

19. The method as in claim 11, further comprising maintaining the ACC system in the third mode until the SSCC system is active.

20. An adaptive cruise control (ACC) system, including:

a sensor that detects the position of a forward vehicle relative to a primary vehicle in which the sensor is installed;

an input for receiving a state of an associated set speed cruise control (SSCC) system;

an input for receiving a driver-initiated acceleration request;

control logic for;

receiving a signal from the sensor indicative of a distance between the primary vehicle and the forward vehicle;

transmitting a deceleration request for maintaining the primary vehicle at a predetermined interval behind the forward vehicle;

setting the ACC system in a first mode when the associated SSCC system is active;

setting the ACC system in an second mode when the associated SSCC system in the primary vehicle is not active in response to the deceleration request; and

setting the ACC system in a third mode in response to the ACC system being in a second mode and the driver-initiated acceleration request being greater than a predetermined time.

21. The system as in claim 20, wherein the control logic is operable to communicate the deceleration request when the ACC system is in the first mode.

22. The system as in claim 20, wherein the control logic is operable to communicate the deceleration request when the ACC system is in the second mode.

23. The system as in claim 20, wherein the control logic does not communicate the deceleration request when the ACC system is in the third mode.

24. The system as in claim 20, wherein the deceleration request comprises at least one of an engine torque reduction request, a vehicle retarder request or a foundation braking request.

25. The system as in claim 24, further comprising deactivating the associated SSCC system in response to a foundation braking request from the ACC system.

26. The system as in claim 20, the control logic further setting the ACC system in the third mode in response to at least one of a driver-initiated braking request on the primary vehicle and a manual deactivation of the ACC system, regardless of the associated SSCC system state and the driver-initiated acceleration request.

27. The system as in claim 20, wherein the driver-initiated acceleration request is an application of an associated accelerator pedal by the driver.

28. The system according to claim 20, the control logic further maintaining the ACC controller in the third mode until the associated SSCC system is active.