DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SPEED OF VEHICLE

• US 20150151756A1
• Filed: 06/18/2014
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HL Klemove Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mando Corporation
• Inventors: HAN, Kwangjin
• Granted Patent: US 9,187,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/188 hydraulic brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• 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 2552/30 Road curve radius
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/40 Coefficient of friction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/125 Lateral acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/04 related to roll-over prevention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/146 Speed limiting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18145 Cornering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/06 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/072 Curvature of the road

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and a method for controlling a speed of a vehicle. A safe speed of the vehicle is determined based on a curvature of a forward path and weather conditions. When a travelling speed of the vehicle is higher than the safe speed, the speed of the vehicle is controlled such that the vehicle is decelerated.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a vehicle speed, comprising:

a digital map that determines a current location of a vehicle and a curvature of a forward path;

a safe speed determining unit that determines a safe speed of the vehicle based on the curvature of the forward path;

a vehicle speed sensor that measures a travelling speed of the vehicle; and

a controller that controls the vehicle speed such that the vehicle is decelerated when the travelling speed of the vehicle is higher than the safe speed.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a weather information extracting unit that extracts weather conditions outside the vehicle,

wherein the safe speed determining unit determines the safe speed of the vehicle based on the weather conditions.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the safe speed determining unit calculates allowable lateral acceleration based on the curvature of the forward path and the safe speed based on the allowable lateral acceleration.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising:

a weather information extracting unit that extracts weather conditions outside the vehicle,

wherein the safe speed determining unit calculates the safe speed by reducing the safe speed or the allowable lateral acceleration by a predetermined amount or rate when the weather information extracting unit judges that it is snowing, raining, or foggy, or the forward path is frozen.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the weather information extracting unit comprises a driver operated sensor for sensing an operation of a driver according to the weather conditions or a detecting sensor for sensing a state outside the vehicle, the driver operated sensor comprises at least one of a sensor for sensing an operation of a wind shield wiper and a sensor for sensing an operation of a fog light, and the detecting sensor comprises at least one of a rain sensor, a fog sensor, and a temperature sensor.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the weather information extracting unit comprises a communication unit that receives weather information or road information from the outside.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the vehicle speed based on a difference between the travelling speed of the vehicle and the safe speed, and a distance between the current location of the vehicle and a region where the safe speed is set.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a cruise controller that maintains the vehicle at a cruise speed set by a driver,

wherein the controller controls the vehicle speed based on the lower value of the safe speed and the cruise speed.

9. A method of controlling a vehicle speed, comprising:

determining a current location of a vehicle and a curvature of a forward path;

determining a safe speed of the vehicle based on the curvature of the forward path;

measuring a travelling speed of the vehicle; and

controlling the vehicle speed such that the vehicle is decelerated when the travelling speed of the vehicle is higher than the safe speed.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

extracting weather conditions outside the vehicle,

wherein the determining of the safe speed of the vehicle comprises determining the safe speed of the vehicle based on the weather conditions.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining of the safe speed comprises:

calculating allowable lateral acceleration based on the curvature of the forward path; and

calculating the safe speed based on the allowable lateral acceleration.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

extracting weather conditions outside the vehicle,

wherein the determining of the safe speed comprises calculating the safe speed by reducing the safe speed or the allowable lateral acceleration by a predetermined amount or rate when it is determined during the step of extracting the weather conditions outside the vehicle that it is snowing, raining, or foggy, or the forward path is frozen.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the extracting of the weather conditions outside the vehicle is performed using a driver operated sensor for sensing an operation of a driver according to the weather conditions or a detecting sensor for sensing a state outside the vehicle, the driver operated sensor comprises at least one of a sensor for sensing an operation of a wind shield wiper and a sensor for sensing an operation of a fog light, and the detecting sensor comprises at least one of a rain sensor, a fog sensor, and a temperature sensor.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the extracting of the weather conditions outside the vehicle comprises:

receiving weather information or road information from an outside.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the controlling of the vehicle speed comprises:

controlling the vehicle speed based on the lower value of the safe speed and a cruise speed set by a driver.