Apparatus and method for cruise control

• US 5,781,103 A
• Filed: 11/29/1995
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Gilling, Simon Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/563,121
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 340/463, 340/464, 340/467, 340/468, 340/438, 340/439, 340/903, 340/441, 364/426.044, 180/167, 180/170
• US Class Current: 340/441
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0022 Gains, weighting coefficients or weighting functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/106 Longitudinal acceleration

Abstract

A cruise control system for a road vehicle having apparatus which, when cruise control is engaged, is arranged to inform the driver of the vehicle when a maximum braking force allowed by the cruise control system is being applied, so that the driver can make a decision as to whether or not to take over control of the vehicle from the cruise control system.

Claims

1. A cruise control system for a road vehicle comprising:

a brake actuator applying a braking force to implement road vehicle deceleration;

a control portion determining and supplying a braking control signal to the brake actuator, said braking control signal having a level determining the level of the braking force applied by the brake actuator and corresponding road vehicle deceleration; and

a braking control signal level monitoring and warning portion, said braking control signal level monitoring and warning portion comprising,

a first comparator having a first input connected to a first reference source to receive a first predetermined reference level and a second input connected to the control portion to receive the braking control signal, said first comparator providing a first trigger signal when the level of the braking control signal exceeds the first predetermined reference level,

a start warning portion connected to the first comparator to receive the first trigger signal, said start warning portion responding to any received first trigger signals to supply a first warning control signal to a warning generator portion to control said warning generator portion to provide a first distinctive warning output to an operator of the road vehicle, said first distinctive warning output indicating that a maximum permitted road vehicle deceleration is imminent,

a second comparator having a first input connected to a second reference source to receive a second predetermined reference level and a second input connected to the control portion to receive the braking control signal, said second comparator providing a second trigger signal when the level of the braking control signal exceeds the second predetermined reference level, and

a maximum level warning portion connected to the second comparator to receive the second trigger signal, said maximum level warning portion responding to any received second trigger signals to supply a second warning control signal to the warning generator portion to discontinue the first distinctive warning output and to substitute a second distinctive warning output to the operator of the road vehicle, said second distinctive warning output indicating that the maximum permitted road vehicle deceleration has been reached.

2. A cruise control system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second distinctive warning outputs are provided by a transducer as an audible, visual, or tactile output.