Tracking and driving speed regulating device for motor vehicles

• US 6,681,170 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Winner, Hermann, Koenig, Winfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US10/105,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20020177935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 701/93, 701/96, 701/301, 701/72, 701/41, 342/29, 342/104, 342/109, 340/902, 340/903, 340/435, 340/436, 340/444, 340/441, 340/465, 340/467, 340/459, 340/995, 340/460, 340/901, 340/905, 340/525, 180/170, 180/282, 180/169, 180/443, 180/446, 180/204, 345/173, 345/156, 345/157, 345/163
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/042 where at least one electrical quantity is set by the vehicle operator
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/08 Lane monitoring; Lane Keeping Systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/081 using distance control
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/087 using active steering actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/20 Direction indicator values
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/025 Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation B62D1/28 takes precedence

Abstract

A tracking and driving speed regulating device for motor vehicles, having a sensor device for detecting lane tracking, a steering regulator for evaluating signals from sensor device and for issuing steering commands to a steering actuator, and a speed regulator, acting upon the driving system of the vehicle, which may be switched to an operating state by a main switch and may be activated in the operating state by an actuation signal generated by an operating element, wherein the steering regulator may be switched to the operating state by a separate main switch independent of the speed regulator, and may be activated in the operating state by the same actuation signal as the speed regulator.

Claims

1. A tracking and driving speed regulating device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a sensor device for detecting lane tracking;

a first main switch;

a second main switch;

a speed regulator for acting upon a driving system of the motor vehicle, the speed regulator being switchable to an operating state by the first main switch and being capable of being activated in the operating state by an actuation signal generated by an operating element; and

a steering regulator for evaluating a signal from the sensor device and for issuing a steering command to a steering actuator, the steering regulator being switchable to the operating state by the second main switch independent of the speed regulator and being capable of being activated in the operating state by the actuation signal generated by the operating element.

2. The regulating device according to claim 1, wherein:

the steering regulator and the speed regulator are capable of being deactivated by a least one common switch-off signal.

3. The regulating device according to claim 2, wherein:

the at least one switch-off signal includes a first switch-off signal generated by a driver command and a second switch-off signal generated automatically in accordance with an operating condition of the vehicle.

4. The regulating device according to claim 3, wherein:

the speed regulator and the steering regulator are always deactivated when at least one of the at least one switch-off signal is present.

5. The regulating device according to claim 3, wherein:

the steering regulator is deactivated when one of;

the second switch-off signal is present, dependent on an operating condition, and

a signal from a gas pedal sensor appears after the first switch-off signal appears, the signal from the gas pedal sensor indicating an operation of the gas pedal.

6. The regulating device according to claim 5, wherein:

the signal from the gas pedal sensor temporarily suspends a regulating function in the speed regulator and the steering regulator for a duration of the operation of the gas pedal.

7. The regulating device according to claim 1, wherein:

a signal provided by a turn signal switch temporarily suspends a regulating function of the steering regulator.

8. The regulating device according to claim 1, wherein:

the speed regulator receives a signal from a radar sensor for detecting a distance from a preceding vehicle, the speed regulator being operable for an adaptive cruise control system having separation distance regulation.

9. The regulating device according to claim 8, wherein:

the speed regulator and the steering regulator communicate with each other, the steering regulator being capable of temporarily suspending a regulating function in accordance with a reaction of the speed regulator to a predetermined traffic situation detected by the radar sensor.

10. The regulating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating element includes a multifunctional switch arrangement coupled to the speed regulator and the steering regulator.

11. The regulating device according to claim 10, wherein the multifunctional switch arrangement includes a cruise control switch arrangement.

12. The regulating device according to claim 11, wherein the cruise control switch arrangement includes a set function, a resume function and a cancel function.

13. The regulating device according to claim 12, wherein the set function includes an increasing set function and a decreasing set function.

14. The regulating device according to claim 12, wherein the actuation signal is provided when one of the set function and the resume function is active.

15. The regulating device according to claim 10, wherein the multifunctional switch arrangement includes a logic arrangement to provide the actuation signal.

16. The regulating device according to claim 15, wherein the logic arrangement includes an OR function.

17. The regulating device according to claim 10, wherein the actuation signal is provided when one of a set function and a resume function of the multifunctional switch arrangement is active.

18. A regulating system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a switch arrangement to provide an actuation signal;

a speed regulator arrangement to provide a cruise control function in the motor vehicle, the speed regulator being switchable to its operating state by a first main switch and being activatable in its operating state by the actuation signal from the switch arrangement; and

a steering regulator arrangement to evaluate a signal from a lane sensing arrangement, and to provide a steering conmand to a steering actuator, the steering regulator being switchable, independent of the speed regulator, to its operating state by a second main switch, and being activatable in its operating state by the actuation signal from the switch arrangement.

19. The regulating system according to claim 18, wherein the switch arrangement includes a multifunctional switch arrangement, which is coupled to the speed regulator and the steering regulator.

20. The regulating system according to claim 19, wherein the multifunctional switch arrangement includes a cruise switch arrangement.

21. The regulating system according to claim 20, wherein the cruise control switch arrangement includes a set function, a resume function and a cancel function.

22. The regulating system according to claim 21, wherein the set function includes an increasing set function and a decreasing set function.

23. The regulating system according to claim 21, wherein the actuation signal is provided when one of the set function and the resume function is active.

24. The regulating system according to claim 18, wherein the switch arrangement includes a logic arrangement to provide the actuation signal.

25. The regulating system according to claim 24, wherein the logic arrangement includes an OR function.

26. The regulating system according to claim 18, wherein the actuation signal is provided when one of a set function and a resume function of the switch arrangement is active.

27. A regulating system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

means for providing switching functions and for providing an actuation signal;

means for providing a speed control function in the motor vehicle, and being switchable to its operating state by a first main switch and being activatable in its operating state by the actuation signal from the means for providing switching functions; and

means for providing a steering regulator function and for evaluating a signal from a lane sensing arrangement, and for providing a steering command to a means for steering, and being switchable to its operating state by a second main switch, and being activatable in its operating state by the actuation signal from the means for providing switching functions.

28. The regulating system according to claim 27, wherein:

the means for providing switching functions includes a cruise control switch arrangement, and further includes a logic arrangement to provide the actuation signal,

the cruise control switch arrangement includes a set function, a resume function and a cancel function, and

the actuation signal is provided when one of the set function and the resume function is active.

29. The regulating system according to claim 28, wherein the set function includes an increasing set function and a decreasing set function.

30. The regulating system according to claim 28, wherein the logic arrangement includes an OR function.