DRIVER INTERACTION PERTAINING TO ECONOMICAL CRUISE CONTROL

• US 20140074370A1
• Filed: 05/09/2012
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Maria Sodergren
• Inventors: Sdergren, Maria, Johansson, Oscar, Roos, Fredrik
• Granted Patent: US 10,131,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/244 changing target speed or setting a new target speed, e.g. changing 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 2552/20 Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/103 Speed profile
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A method for an economical cruise control and an economical cruise control which demands from a vehicle engine system a reference speed v_ref, which may differ from a chosen set speed v_set. Adjustment of at least the set speed v_set is allowed when the reference speed v_ref differs from the set speed v_set. The adjustment is based at least partly on input from a user of the economical cruise control. A user of the economical cruise control is thus provided with an increased feeling of control over the vehicle'"'"'s speed.

Claims

1. A method for an economical cruise control which demands from an engine system a reference speed v_ref which may differ from a chosen set speed v_set,

characterised in that adjustment of at least said set speed v_set is allowed when said reference speed v_ref differs from said set speed v_set, which adjustment is based at least partly on input from a user of said economical cruise control.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which said adjustment results in said reference speed v_ref being set to the set speed v_set so that v_ref=v_set.

3. A method according to claim 2, in which the set speed v_set is set to an upwardly adjusted value v_{set, old}+v_adj before said adjustment of said reference speed v_ref, so that v_ref=v_set=v_{set, old}+v_adj.

4. A method according to claim 2, in which the set speed v_set is set to an downwardly adjusted value v_{set, old}−

v_adj before said adjustment of said reference speed v_ref, so that v_ref=v_set−

v_{set, old}−

v_adj.

5. A method according to claim 1, in which said adjustment results in said reference speed v_ref being set to a current speed v_pres so that v_ref=v_pres.

6. A method according to claim 5, in which said current speed v_pre is a temporary lowest speed v_{min, temp} so that v_ref=v_{min temp}.

7. A method according to claim 5, in which said current speed v_pres is a temporary highest speed v_{max temp} so that v_ref=v_{max temp}.

8. A method according to claim 1, in which said adjustment results in said reference speed v_ref being set to an upwardly adjusted value v_{ref, old}+v_adj.

9. A method according to claim 1, in which said adjustment results in said reference speed v_ref being set to a downwardly adjusted value v_{ref, old}−

v_adj.

10. A method according to any one of claims 1-9, in which said adjustment of said reference speed v_ref is applicable for a distance S.

11. A method according to claim 10, in which at least one particular driving situation continues for said distance S.

12. A method according to claim 10, in which an end of said distance S is reached when a deactivation condition is fulfilled.

13. A method according to claim 12, in which said deactivation condition is related to any of the following events:

a gear change,

a braking,

a clutch operation,

a change in engine torque demanded,

a new input by said user, and

reaching a predetermined part of said distance S.

14. A method according to any one of claims 11-13, in which said particular driving situation comprises at least one of the following:

an uphill run,

a downhill run,

an overtaking,

an acceleration, and

a tunnel.

15. A method according to any one of claims 1-14, in which said adjustment enables said user to at least partly influence said reference speed v_ref.

16. A method according to any one of claims 1-15, in which said adjustment results in said economical cruise control applying a reference speed v_ref which according to said economical cruise control is suboptimised.

17. A method according to any one of claims 1-16, in which said adjustment imposes upon a control of said reference speed v_ref a limitation which is applied by said economical cruise control.

18. A method according to any one of claims 1-17, in which said input is effected by means of at least one of the following input devices:

a button

a lever

a knob

a pedal

a touchscreen

a voice input device and

a menu choice.

19. A method according to any one of claims 1-18, in which said economical cruise control is a cruise control which uses knowledge about sections of road ahead.

20. A computer programme which comprises programme code and which, when said programme code is executed in a computer, causes said computer to apply the method according to any one of claims 1-19.

21. A computer programme product comprising a computer-readable medium which contains a computer programme according to claim 20.

22. An economical cruise control arranged to demand from an engine system of a vehicle a reference speed v_ref which may differ from a chosen set speed v_set,

characterised by an adjusting unit adapted to allowing adjustment of at least said reference speed v_ref when it differs from said set speed v_set, and to basing said adjustment at least partly on input from a user of said economical cruise control.