Method and device for inputting speed limiting values for a speed limiter of a vehicle

• US 6,795,764 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2002
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schmitz, Peter, Busch, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US10/063,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 701/93, 701/70, 701/96, 701/301, 701/95, 180/170, 180/179, 180/174, 180/282, 180/178, 180/176, 180/177, 340/438, 340/441, 340/902, 340/903, 340/435, 340/436, 340/444, 340/467, 340/465, 342/29, 342/10, 342/109
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/04 and means for comparing one electrical quantity, e.g. voltage, pulse, waveform, flux, or the like, with another quantity of a like kind, which comparison means is involved in the development of an electrical signal which is fed into the controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/146 Speed limiting

Abstract

The invention relates to the input of speed limiting values into a speed limiter in a vehicle. The speed limiting value which is to be complied with is set by activating a key (7) on an input device (8) one or more times. That speed limiting value of the predefined speed limiting values which is the next highest in relation to the current speed of the vehicle is selected. If the current speed of the vehicle is higher than the highest predefined speed limiting value, the speed limiter is deactivated or the speed of the vehicle plus a speed difference is accepted as the speed limiting value. In exceptional situations, the speed limiter can be temporarily suspended, it being possible for an exceptional situation to be, in particular, the upward transgression of the predefined speed limiting value or a rapid depression of the gas pedal.

Claims

1. A method for inputting speed limiting values into a speed limiting device of a vehicle comprising:

providing said speed limiting device, providing a plurality of pre-set speed limiting values to said speed limiting device, wherein said plurality of pre-set speed limiting values are vehicle speed values of the vehicle,

activating said speed limiting device, and

first actuating an activation element, said first actuating an activation element causing a first speed limiting value of said plurality of pre-set speed limiting values to be input to said speed limiting device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first speed limiting value is both higher than and, of said plurality of pre-set speed limiting values, closest to the speed of said vehicle at the moment of said first actuating.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of second actuating said activation element within a first time interval after said first actuating, said second actuating causing a second speed limiting value of said plurality of pre-set speed limiting values to be input to said speed limiting device, wherein said second speed limiting value is both higher than and, of said plurality of pre-set speed limiting values, closest to said first speed limiting value.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of second actuating said activation element within a first time interval after said first actuating, said second actuating deactivating said speed limiting device when there is no second speed limiting value of said plurality of pre-set speed limiting values that is higher than said first speed limiting value.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said first speed limiting value is further related to a speed difference.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said speed difference is related to the acceleration of said vehicle at the moment of first actuating, such that said vehicle does not exceed said first speed limiting value before said first speed limiting value is input to said speed limiting device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of further actuating said activation element, outside of a first time interval after said first actuating, whereby said further actuating causes said speed limiting device to be deactivated.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of activating said speed limiting device is accomplished by said first actuating an activation element.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of deactivating said speed limiting device when said vehicle is turned off.

10. A method for inputting speed limiting values into a speed limiting device of a vehicle comprising:

providing a speed limiting device,

providing a plurality of pre-set speed limiting values to said speed limiting device, wherein said plurality of pre-set speed limiting values are vehicle speed values of the vehicle,

activating said speed limiting device, and

first actuating an activation element, said first actuating causing a first speed limiting value to be input to said speed limiting device as at least one of said plurality of pre-set speed limiting values, said first speed limiting value being related to the speed of said vehicle at the moment of first actuating.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said first speed limiting value is further related to a speed difference.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said speed difference is related to the acceleration of said vehicle at the moment of first actuating, such that said vehicle does not exceed said first speed limiting value before said first speed limiting value is input to said speed limiting device.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of further actuating said activation element, outside of a first time interval after said first actuating, whereby said further actuating causes said speed limiting device to be deactivated.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of activating said speed limiting device is accomplished by said first actuating an activation element.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of deactivating said speed limiting device when said vehicle is turned off.