Input device for speed regulating system on motor vehicles

• US 7,113,859 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Winner, Hermann, Hellmann, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thu V.
• Application Number:
  US10/506,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20050114009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 701/93
• 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: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/08 Arrangements of scales, pointers, lamps or acoustic indicators, e.g. in automobile speedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/103 by comparing the value of the measured signal with one or several reference values in general G01R17/00

Abstract

Input device for a cruise control system in motor vehicles, having an accelerator pedal, a switch for input of a desired speed and a determination device which increases the desired speed as a function of the duration of operation of the switch, wherein the determination device changes the function which determines the increase in the desired speed as a function of the operation of the accelerator pedal.

Claims

1. An input device for a cruise control system in a motor vehicle, comprising:

an acceleration control device, wherein the acceleration control device is an accelerator pedal;

a switch for inputting a desired speed; and

a determination device for increasing the desired speed based on an operating time of the switch, wherein the determination device changes at least one of functions which determine an increase in the desired speed based on an operation of the acceleration control device, and wherein the determination device increases the desired speed at a higher rate of increase when the accelerator pedal is also operated while the switch is operated.

2. The input device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a display device for displaying the desired speed that is currently valid.

3. The input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the determination device increases the desired speed by an increment after each time interval of increase has elapsed as long as the switch is operated.

4. The input device as recited in claim 3, wherein the functions which determine the increase in the desired speed differ in an amount of the increment.

5. The input device as recited in claim 3, wherein the functions which determine the increase in the desired speed differ in a length of a time interval of increase.