VEHICLE SPEED AND CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 3,763,954 A
• Filed: 05/13/1971
• Issued: 10/09/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alan R. Permut, Albert A. Permut, Ronald M. Permut
• Original Assignee: Alan R. Permut, Albert A. Permut, Ronald M. Permut
• Inventors: Permut, Albert A., Permut, Ronald M., Permut, Alan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/143,079
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 180/98,105,15E,109 317/5 246/187B,182R 318/600,602,603 340/171,163
• US Class Current: 180/167
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0058 responsive to externally generated signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/08 and one or more electrical components for establishing or regulating input pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0605 Throttle position

Abstract

A vehicle speed control system is disclosed in which a first train of pulses, at a frequency directly related to actual vehicle speed, is generated. Also generated is a second train of pulses at a frequency which is directly related to maximum vehicle speed. The frequency of the second pulse train is controlled either manually or by the code of any one of a plurality of coded signals received by the system'"'"''"'"'s receiver from a low power transmitter. When the frequency of the first train exceeds that of the second train, a restraining force is generated which is applied to the vehicle'"'"''"'"'s throttle mechanism in opposition to the force or pressure applied by the operator'"'"''"'"'s foot.

Claims

1. A vehicle speed control system comprising:

first means coupled to said vehicle for generating a first sequence of pulses at a frequency which is directly related to actual vehicle speed;

receiving means in said vehicle for receiving a coded signal which is transmitted to said vehicle, the code defining a received maximum vehicle speed;

second means in said vehicle coupled to said receiving means for decoding said signal to provide a first output which is related to said received maximum vehicle speed;

manually operable means for providing a second output which is related to a manually set maximum vehicle speed;

pulse generating means in said vehicle;

selecting means in said vehicle and responsive to said first and second outputs and coupled to said pulse generating means for activating said pulse generating means to provide a second sequence of pulses at a frequency which is directly related to a selected speed which is the smaller of said received maximum vehicle speed and said manually set maximum vehicle speed;

third means in said vehicle for comparing the frequencies of said first and second sequences of pulses and for providing a third output which is a function of the speed with which said vehicle speed exceeds said selected speed; and

fourth means in said vehicle for utilizing said third output to provide a force proportional tO said output.

2. The arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle is of the type operable by an operator and including a throttle mechanism to which an operator-produced force is appliable to increase vehicle speed, said system including means for applying the force produced by said fourth means to saId throttle mechanism in a direction which is opposite to the direction in which the operator-produced force is appliable.

3. The arrangement as recited in claim 2 wherein said receiving means include means for receiving any one of a plurality of coded signals, each coded signal of said plurality representing a different received maximum vehicle speed.

4. The arrangement as recited in claim 3 wherein said second means include means for providing said first output which is related to the last received maximum vehicle speed as represented by the code of the last received coded signal until the reception by said receiving means of a subsequent coded signal.

5. The arrangement as recited in claim 3 wherein the vehicle is of the type operable by an operator and including a throttle mechanism to which an operator-produced force is appliable to increase vehicle speed, said system including means for applying the force produced by said fourth means to said throttle mechanism in a direction which is opposite to the direction in which the operator-produced force is appliable.

6. The arrangement as recited in claim 4 wherein each coded signal includes a first direction code defining the direction in which said received maximum vehicle speed is to be maintained, said system further including means for providing a second direction code defining the actual vehicle direction, and means including code comparing means for controlling said second means to supply said first output only when said first and second direction codes are substantially the same.

7. The arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein said third means further include means for providing a fourth output which is a function of the speed with which said selected speed exceeds said vehicle speed, and said fourth means comprise means which is responsive to said third and fourth outputs for providing a first force in a first direction which is a function of said third output and a second force in a second direction opposite said first direction which is a function of said fourth output.

8. The arrangement as recited in claim 7 further including gating means coupled to said third and fourth means for selectively inhibit the supply of said fourth output to said fourth means.

9. The arrangement as recited in claim 8 wherein the vehicle is of the type operable by an operator and including a throttle mechanism to which an operator-produced force is appliable to increase vehicle speed, said system including means for applying the first force in said first direction produced by said fourth means to said throttle mechanism in a direction which is opposite the direction in which the operator-produced force is appliable and for applying the second force in said second direction produced by said fourth means to said throttle mechanism in the same direction in which said operator-produced force is appliable, said vehicle further including a manually operable brake pedal, and means for activating said gating means to inhibit the supply of said fourth output to said fourth means, whenever said brake pedal is operable.

10. The arrangement as recited in claim 9 wherein said receiving means include means for receiving any one of a plurality of coded signals, each coded signal of said plurality representing a different received maximum vehicle speed.

11. The arrangement as recited in claim 10 wherein said second means include means for providing said first output which is related to the last received maximum vehicle speed as represented by the code of the last received coded signal until the reception by said receiving means of a subsequent coded signal.

12. The arrangement as recited in claim 11 wherEin each coded signal includes a first direction code defining the direction in which said received maximum vehicle speed is to be maintained, said system further including means for providing a second direction code defining the actual vehicle direction, and means including code comparing means for controlling said second means to supply said first output only when said first and second direction codes are substantially the same.

13. A system for controlling the speed of a vehicle adapted to travel over long distances, the system comprising:

first means in said vehicle for generating a first sequence of pulses at a frequency which is directly related to actual vehicle speed;

receiver means in said vehicle for receiving aperiodically any one of a plurality of coded signals, which are transmitted to said vehicle, each coded signal representing a different desired vehicle speed;

second means in said vehicle for responding to the coded signal last received by said receiver means for providing a second sequence of pulses at a frequency which is independent of actual vehicle speed and which is a function of the desired vehicle speed represented by said last received coded signal, said second means providing said second sequence of pulses for the entire duration following said last received coded signal until a subsequent coded signal is received aperiodically by said receiver means;

third means in said vehicle for continuously comparing the frequencies of said first and second sequences of pulses and for providing a first output which is a function of the speed with which said actual vehicle speed exceeds said desired vehicle speed; and

fourth means in said vehicle for providing a first force proportional to said first output.

14. The arrangement as recited in claim 13 wherein the vehicle is of the type operable by an operator and including a throttle mechanism to which an operator-produced force is appliable to control vehicle speed, said system including means for applying the first force produced by said fourth means to said throttle mechanism in a direction which is opposite to the direction in which the operator-produced force is appliable.

15. The arrangement as recited in claim 13 wherein said third means further include means for providing a second output which is a function of the speed with which said desired speed exceeds said vehicle speed, and said fourth means comprise means which is responsive to said first and second outputs for providing said first force in a first direction and a second force which is a function of said second output in a second direction opposite said first direction.

16. The arrangement as recited in claim 15 wherein the vehicle is of the type operable by an operator and including a throttle mechanism to which an operator-produced force is appliable to control vehicle speed, said system including means for applying the first force in said first direction produced by said fourth means to said throttle mechanism in a direction which is opposite the direction in which the operator-produced force is appliable and for applying the second force in said second direction produced by said fourth means to said throttle mechanism in the same direction in which said operator-produced force is appliable.

17. A system for controlling the speed of a vehicle operable by an operator, the system comprising:

first means in said vehicle for generating a first sequence of pulses at a frequency which is directly related to actual vehicle speed which is variable over a range of n miles per hour, n being not less than 50;

receiver means in said vehicle for receiving aperiodically any one of a plurality of coded signals, which are transmitted to said vehicle, each coded signal representing a different desired vehicle speed in miles per hour, the smallest difference between the desired speeds represented by any two coded signals being not less than z miles per hour, where z is an integer, not less tHan one;

second means in said vehicle for responding to the coded signal last received by said receiver means for providing a second sequence of pulses at a frequency which is independent of actual vehicle speed and which is a function of the desired vehicle speed represented by said last received coded signal, said second means providing said second sequence of pulses for the entire duration following said last received coded signal until a subsequent coded signal is received aperiodically by said receiver means;

third means in said vehicle for continuously comparing the frequencies of said first and second sequences of pulses and for providing a first output having an amplitude which is a function of the speed with which said actual vehicle speed exceeds said desired vehicle speed;

fourth means in said vehicle for providing a first force proportional to the amplitude of said first output;

throttle means in said vehicle for controlling actual vehicle speed as a function of the force applied by said operator to said throttle means; and

means for applying said first force to said throttle means in a direction opposite the direction in which the operator force is applied.