System and method for automatically controlling vehicle speed to desired cruise speed
First Claim
1. A method for automatically controlling a vehicle speed to a desired cruise speed, comprising the steps of:
- (a) detecting a current vehicle speed;
(b) providing second means having a first command switch through which the current vehicle speed is set as a cruise speed at which the vehicle is desired to cruise and which outputs a first command signal to command the contents thereof, a second command switch through which the current cruise speed set through the second means is increased at a constant change rate of the vehicle speed to another cruise speed at which the vehicle is desired to cruise and which outputs a second command signal to command the contents thereof, and a third command switch through which the current vehicle speed is again returned to the original cruise speed before a system operation is released and which outputs a third command signal to command the contents thereof;
(c) providing third means responsive to any one of the first, second, and third command signals for outputting a control command signal through each of a plurality of output ports thereof according to the corresponding one of the first, second, and third command signals;
(d) providing fourth means having a plurality of control valves for, with a power supply therefor being received, adjusting an operating variable of a vehicular engine driving force adjusting mechanism according to the contents of the control command signals outputted from the third means via the respective output ports so that the current vehicle speed is controlled according to the corresponding one of the contents of the first, second, and third command signals;
(e) detecting at least one of conditions that none of the first, second, and third command signals is outputted from the corresponding first, second, and third command switches of the second means to the third means and that the third means erroneously outputs one of the control command signals indicating that the corresponding one of the control valves is energized; and
(f) disabling the power being supplied to the control valves when detecting at least one of the conditions in the step (e).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for automatically controlling a vehicle speed to a desired cruise speed are disclosed in which when at least one of conditions that any one of command signals from corresponding operation command switches is outputted and that a microcomputer of the automatic cruise speed controlling system normally operates and outputs control command signals indicating that corresponding one of control valves is energized is satisfied, the power supply to the control valves is enabled. On the contrary, when at least one of conditions that none of the command signals from the corresponding command switches is outputted and that the microcomputer erroneously outputs control command signals indicating that the corresponding one of the control valves is energized is satisfied, the power supply to the control valves is disabled. The control valves cause air pressure in a chamber defined by a diaphragm to be adjusted, the diaphragm being linked to an engine throttle valve, so that an opening angle of the throttle valve is adjusted to control the vehicle speed.
13 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for automatically controlling a vehicle speed to a desired cruise speed, comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting a current vehicle speed; (b) providing second means having a first command switch through which the current vehicle speed is set as a cruise speed at which the vehicle is desired to cruise and which outputs a first command signal to command the contents thereof, a second command switch through which the current cruise speed set through the second means is increased at a constant change rate of the vehicle speed to another cruise speed at which the vehicle is desired to cruise and which outputs a second command signal to command the contents thereof, and a third command switch through which the current vehicle speed is again returned to the original cruise speed before a system operation is released and which outputs a third command signal to command the contents thereof; (c) providing third means responsive to any one of the first, second, and third command signals for outputting a control command signal through each of a plurality of output ports thereof according to the corresponding one of the first, second, and third command signals; (d) providing fourth means having a plurality of control valves for, with a power supply therefor being received, adjusting an operating variable of a vehicular engine driving force adjusting mechanism according to the contents of the control command signals outputted from the third means via the respective output ports so that the current vehicle speed is controlled according to the corresponding one of the contents of the first, second, and third command signals; (e) detecting at least one of conditions that none of the first, second, and third command signals is outputted from the corresponding first, second, and third command switches of the second means to the third means and that the third means erroneously outputs one of the control command signals indicating that the corresponding one of the control valves is energized; and (f) disabling the power being supplied to the control valves when detecting at least one of the conditions in the step (e).
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2. A system for a vehicle, comprising:
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(a) first means for detecting a current vehicle speed; (b) second means through which the current vehicle speed is set as a cruise speed at which the vehicle is desired to cruise and which outputs a first command signal to command the contents thereof; (c) third means through which the current cruise speed set through the second means is increased at a constant change rate to another cruise speed at which the vehicle is desired to cruise and which outputs a second command signal to command the contents thereof; (d) fourth means through which the current vehicle speed is again returned to the original cruise speed before a system operation is released and which outputs a third command signal to command the contents thereof; (e) fifth means responsive to any one of the first, second, and third command signals for outputting a control command signal through each of a plurality of output ports thereof according to the corresponding one of the first, second, and third command signals; (f) sixth means having a plurality of control valves for, with a power supply therefor being received, adjusting an operating variable of a vehicular engine driving force adjusting mechanism according to the contents of the control command signals outputted from the fifth means via the respective output ports so that the current vehicle speed is controlled according to the corresponding one of the contents of the first, second, and third command signals derived from the second means; (g) seventh means for detecting at least one of conditions that any one of the first, second, and third second, third, and fourth means and that the fifth means normally outputs one of the control command signals indicating that the corresponding one of the control valves is energized and enabling the power to be supplied to the control valves when detecting at least one of the conditions. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for a vehicle, comprising:
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(a) first means for detecting a current vehicle speed; (b) second means having a first command switch through which the current vehicle speed is set as a cruise speed at which the vehicle is desired to cruise and which outputs a first command signal to command the contents thereof, a second command switch through which the current cruise speed set through the first switch is increased at a constant change rate of the vehicle speed to another cruise speed at which the vehicle is desired to cruise and which outputs a second command signal to command the contents thereof, and a third command switch through which the current vehicle speed is again returned to the original cruise speed before a system operation is released and which outputs a third command signal to command the contents thereof; (c) third means responsive to any one of the first, second, and third command signals for outputting a control command signal through each of a plurality of output ports thereof according to the corresponding one of the first, second, and third command signals derived from the second means; (d) fourth means having a plurality of control valves for, with a power supply therefor being received, adjusting an operating variable of a vehicular engine driving force adjusting mechanism according to the contents of the control command signals outputted from the third means via the respective output ports so that the current vehicle speed is controlled according to the corresponding one of the contents of the first, second, and third command signals; (e) fifth means for detecting at least one of conditions that none of the first, second, and third command signals is outputted from the corresponding first, second, and third command switches of the second means to the third means and that the third means erroneously outputs one of the control command signals indicating that the corresponding one of the control valves is energized and disabling the power being supplied to the control valves when detecting at least one of the conditions.
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17. A system for a vehicle, comprising:
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(a) first means for detecting a current vehicle speed; (b) second means having a first command switch through which the current vehicle speed is set as a cruise speed at which the vehicle is desired to cruise and which outputs a first command signal to command the contents thereof, a second command switch through which the current cruise speed set through the second means is increased at a constant change rate of the vehicle speed to another cruise speed at which the vehicle is desired to cruise and which outputs a second command signal to command the contents thereof, and a third command switch through which the current vehicle speed is again returned to the original cruise speed before a system operation is released and which outputs a third command signal to command the contents thereof; (c) third means responsive to any one of the first, second, and third command signals for outputting a control command signal through each of a plurality of output ports thereof according to any one of the first, second, and third command signals; (d) fourth means having a plurality of control valves for, with a power supply therefor being received, adjusting an operating variable of a vehicular engine driving force adjusting mechanism according to the contents of the control command signals outputted from the third means via the respective output ports so that the current vehicle speed is controlled according to the corresponding one of the contents of the first, second, and third command signals; and (e) fifth means for detecting a condition that none of the first, second, and third command signals is outputted from the corresponding first, second, and third command switches of the second means to the third means and disabling the power being supplied to the control valves when detecting the condition. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification