Control system for automatic resumption of speed control after gear change
First Claim
1. A method for automatic suspension and resumption of a vehicle speed control system during a gear change of a manual transmission of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- (a) sensing a start of the gear change;
(b) suspending operation of the speed control system;
(c) beginning measurement of an elapsed time;
(d) sensing a completion of the gear change; and
(e) resuming operation of the speed control system if the elapsed time is less than a predetermined limit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for automatically resuming vehicle speed control after a gear change of the vehicle'"'"'s manual transmission. The method may be implemented as a subroutine in the vehicle'"'"'s general control software. After disengagement of the clutch, the subroutine suspends the automatic speed control system and then periodically checks to determine if the driver has shifted gears within a predetermined time period. This determination is made by checking to see if the clutch has once again been engaged with the transmission in gear. If this occurs within the predetermined time period, then the control system automatically resumes the speed control of the engine. The determination of whether the transmission has been placed into another gear is made by an examination of calculated gear ratios, rather than by the addition of a hardware sensor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for automatic suspension and resumption of a vehicle speed control system during a gear change of a manual transmission of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) sensing a start of the gear change; (b) suspending operation of the speed control system; (c) beginning measurement of an elapsed time; (d) sensing a completion of the gear change; and (e) resuming operation of the speed control system if the elapsed time is less than a predetermined limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for automatic suspension and resumption of a vehicle speed control system during a gear change of a manual transmission of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) sensing disengagement of a clutch of the vehicle; (b) suspending operation of the speed control system upon disengagement of the clutch; (c) beginning measurement of an elapsed time upon the suspension of operation of the speed control system; (d) sensing a completion of the gear change; (e) completing measurement of the elapsed time upon the completion of the gear change; and (f) resuming operation of the speed control system if the elapsed time is less than a predetermined limit. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for automatic suspension and resumption of a vehicle speed control system during a gear change of a manual transmission of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) sensing disengagement of a clutch of the vehicle; (b) suspending operation of the speed control system upon disengagement of the clutch; (c) beginning measurement of an elapsed time upon the suspension of operation of the speed control system; (d) terminating the method if a current value of the elapsed time is not less than a predetermined limit; (e) determining whether the clutch of the vehicle has been engaged; (f) waiting for a predetermined time period; (g) determining a current gear ratio of the vehicle after expiration of the predetermined time period; (h) retrieving a plurality of previously determined gear ratios of the vehicle; and (i) resuming operation of the speed control system if the current gear ratio and the plurality of previously determined gear ratios are all within a predetermined boundary. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method for automatic suspension and resumption of a vehicle speed control system during a gear change of a manual transmission of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) sensing a start of the gear change; (b) suspending operation of the speed control system; (c) beginning measurement of an elapsed time; (d) sensing a completion of the gear change; (e) resuming operation of the speed control system if the elapsed time is less than a predetermined limit; and (f) validating the resumption of the operation of the speed control system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification