Operating device for a cruise control system of an automobile vehicle

• US 7,000,722 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2003
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Beijing Voyager Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Thomson-CSF
• Inventors: Callac, Maurice, Artis, Jean-Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AVERY, BRIDGET D
• Application Number:
  US10/626,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20050173172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 180/167, 180/170, 180/174, 180/177, 180/178, 180/179, 364/426.041, 364/426.042, 364/426.043, 364/426.044, 701/93, 701/94, 701/95, 701/96, 701/110
• US Class Current: 180/170
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/021 with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/042 where at least one electrical quantity is set by the vehicle operator
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/30 Controlling members actuated by foot
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/03 Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015

Abstract

A device for the operating of an automative cruise control system for an automobile vehicle comprises means to separate the travel of the accelerator pedal into two parts. The depressing of the pedal in the first travel part engages the automotive cruise control system, the pull-back force of the pedal being smaller in the first travel part than in the second travel part. The device can be applied especially to vehicles equipped with means for checking the distance and/or the speed of obstacles located in the path of the vehicle, the pace of these vehicles being regulated or controlled as a function of the information on distance and/or speed given by said means. More generally, it can be applied to any vehicles equipped means of automative cruise control.

Claims

1. A device for operating a cruise control system for a vehicle, comprising:

means for separating a travel of an accelerator pedal into first and second travel parts, depression of the pedal being less in the first travel part than in the second travel part, depressing the pedal in the first travel part engaging the cruise control system to automatically control the vehicle by the cruise control system, and a pull-back force of the pedal being smaller in the first travel part than in the second travel part;

wherein the second travel part controls the acceleration of the vehicle.

2. A device for operating a cruise control system for a vehicle, comprising:

means for separating a travel of the accelerator pedal into first and second travel parts,

depression of the pedal being less in the first travel part than in the second travel part,

depressing the pedal in the first travel part engaging the cruise control system to automatically control the vehicle by the cruise control system, and

a pull-back force of the pedal being smaller in the first travel part than in the second travel part.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the second travel part controls the acceleration of the vehicle.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein the means for separating the travel of the accelerator pedal into two parts comprises a first support forming an upper face of the accelerator pedal and a second support rigidly linked to an arm of the accelerator pedal whose motion activates the acceleration of the vehicle, the first support being mobile with respect to the second support according to a pull-back force smaller than a pull-back force associated with the arm.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the pull-back force of the first support is created by at least one pull-back spring placed between the first and second supports to hold the first support upward when there is no pressure exerted by the driver on the first support.

6. A device according to claim 4, further comprising a sensor placed between an inner face of the first support and the second support, the sensor creating a piece of information to start up the system by detection of motion of the first support with respect to the second support.

7. A device according to claim 4, wherein the first support is extended perpendicularly towards the second support to guide its motion with respect to the second support.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein the sensor comprises a push-button selector switch.