VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20160244059A1
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Published: 08/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Inventors: FAIRGRIEVE, Andrew, KELLY, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,457,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/24 Speed setting methods
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/244 changing target speed or setting a new target speed, e.g. changing algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0095 Automatic control mode change
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/05 Type of road, e.g. motorways, local streets, paved or unpaved roads
• 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 2720/30 Wheel torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input

Abstract

A vehicle speed control system that carries out a method of receiving a user input of a target set-speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel and applying torque to the at least one of the vehicle wheels for propelling the vehicle at a vehicle control speed. The user input is received via an input device that enables the user to incrementally increase the target set-speed by pressing and holding a target set-speed + button. The system includes a controller configured to incrementally increase the target set-speed while the set-speed + button is held, and, once the set-speed + button is released the controller is configured to continue to increase the target set-speed by a value determined by the controller in dependence on at least one of the instantaneous vehicle speed and the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling.

Claims

1. A vehicle speed control system for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, the vehicle speed control system configured to automatically control the speed of the vehicle to a vehicle control speed in dependence on an input target set-speed and comprising:

receiving means for receiving a user input of a target set-speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel comprising an input device to enable the user to incrementally increase the target set-speed by pressing and holding a target set-speed + button;

applying means for applying torque to the at least one of the plurality of wheels for propelling the vehicle at the vehicle control speed; and

a control means is configured to incrementally increase the target set-speed while the set-speed + button is held, and, once the set-speed + button is released the controller is configured to continue to increase the target set-speed by a value determined by the controller in dependence on at least one of the instantaneous vehicle speed and the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling.

2. The vehicle speed control system of claim 1, wherein said receiving means and said control means comprise:

an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving the one or more signals indicative of user input of a target set-speed and an electrical output for outputting a signal indicative of a desired torque; and

an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the electronic processor and having instructions stored therein,

wherein the processor is configured to access the memory device and execute the instructions stored therein such that it is operable to;

incrementally increase the target set-speed while it receives said one or more signals indicative of user input of a target set-speed, and, once said processor stops receiving said one or more signals indicative of user input of a target set-speed, to increase the target set-speed by a value determined in dependence on at least one of the instantaneous vehicle speed and the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling.

3. The vehicle speed control system of claim 2 wherein said applying means comprises said processor is configured to access the memory device and execute the instructions stored therein such that it is operable to output a powertrain torque request signal to request a powertrain of said vehicle produce said requested torque.

4. The vehicle speed control system of claim 2 configured to continue to increase the target set-speed by a value determined in dependence on receipt of a signal indicative of a terrain operating mode in which the vehicle is configured to operate.

5. The vehicle speed control system of claim 2 wherein a maximum value of set speed comprises absolute maximum value determined in dependence on the at least one of said instantaneous vehicle speed and said terrain over which the vehicle is travelling

6. The vehicle speed control system of claim 2 wherein the system is configured to limit the maximum input target set-speed by defining a maximum value of a difference between an existing target set-speed and a new user input target set-speed based on the at least one of said instantaneous vehicle speed and said terrain over which the vehicle is travelling

7. The vehicle speed control system of claim 2 wherein the maximum value of a difference between an existing target set-speed and a new user input target set-speed is reduced in dependence upon the instantaneous torque being applied to the at least one of the plurality of wheels.

8. The vehicle speed control system of claim 2, the electronic processor being configured to reduce the target set-speed in dependence upon the vehicle control speed and wherein the target set-speed is reduced to vehicle control speed+Δ

V_set_max, wherein Δ

V_set_max defines a maximum value by which the target set-speed is allowed to exceed the control speed at a given vehicle speed.

10. A vehicle comprising the vehicle speed control system of claim 2.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 comprising one or more of:

a terrain mode controller via which a terrain operating mode can be selected by the driver, the terrain mode controller being configured to output a signal indicative of the selected terrain mode; and

an automatic terrain response controller configured to determine an appropriate terrain mode in dependence on sensed vehicle and/or environmental parameters, and to automatically configure the vehicle to operate in said determined appropriate terrain mode, the automatic terrain response controller further configured to output a signal indicative of the terrain mode in which the vehicle is configured.

9. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. A method of automatically controlling the speed of a vehicle having a plurality of wheels at a vehicle control speed in dependence on an input target set-speed, the method comprising:

receiving a user input of a target set-speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel comprising an receiving, via said user input of a target set-speed input device configured to enable the user to incrementally increase the target set-speed by pressing and holding a target set-speed + button, and;

incrementally increasing the target set-speed while the set-speed + button is pressed;

once the set-speed + button is released, continuing to increase the target set-speed by a value determined in dependence on at least one of the instantaneous vehicle speed and the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling; and

applying a torque to the at least one of the plurality of wheels for propelling the vehicle at the vehicle control speed.

15. The method of claim 13 comprising continuing to increase the target set-speed by a value determined in dependence on receipt of a signal indicative of a terrain operating mode in which the vehicle is configured to operate.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said signal indicative of a terrain operating mode in which the vehicle is configured to operate comprises a signal indicative of a user selected terrain mode.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said signal indicative of a terrain operating mode in which the vehicle is configured to operate comprises a signal indicative of a terrain mode automatically selected in dependence on sensed vehicle and/or environmental parameters.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein a maximum value of set speed comprises absolute maximum value determined in dependence on the at least one of said instantaneous vehicle speed and said terrain over which the vehicle is travelling

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising limiting a maximum input target set-speed by defining a maximum value of a difference between an existing target set-speed and a new user input target set-speed based on the at least one of said instantaneous vehicle speed and said terrain over which the vehicle is travelling

20. The method of claim 13 wherein a maximum allowable value of a difference between an existing target set-speed and a new user input target set-speed is reduced in dependence upon the instantaneous torque being applied to the at least one of the plurality of wheels.

21. The method of claim 13 further comprising the electronic processor being configured to reduce the target set-speed in dependence upon the vehicle control speed.

22. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that when executed by one or more electronic processors causes the one or more electronic processors to carry out the method of claim 13.

14. (canceled)

23. An electronic controller for a vehicle having a storage medium associated therewith storing instructions that when executed by the controller causes the control of the operation of a vehicle in accordance with the method of:

receiving a user input of a target set-speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel comprising an receiving, via said user input of a target set-speed input device configured to enable the user to incrementally increase the target set-speed by pressing and holding a target set-speed + button, and;

incrementally increasing the target set-speed while the set-speed + button is pressed;

once the set-speed + button is released, continuing to increase the target set-speed by a value determined in dependence on at least one of the instantaneous vehicle speed and the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling; and

applying a torque to the at least one of the plurality of wheels for propelling the vehicle at the vehicle control speed.

24. (canceled)