Speed control with stop function

• US 7,117,077 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Scherl, Michael, Michi, Harald, Uhler, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/494,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20050228569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/186 Status of parking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle

Abstract

Cruise control system for motor vehicles is provided, which control system has a sensor device for measuring the vehicle'"'"'s performance characteristics and for measuring the distance to a target ahead of the vehicle, a controller to control the vehicle'"'"'s speed or acceleration as a function of the measured performance characteristics and distance data, and an input device for a shut-off command to shut off the controller. The control system also has a shut-off function to shut off the controller as a function of other operational commands from the driver, and the controller has a stop function for automatically braking the vehicle to a standstill. The input device for the shut-off command is deactivated if the stop function is active and the vehicle is stationary.

Claims

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

a sensor device for measuring the vehicle'"'"'s performance characteristics and the distance to a target ahead of the vehicle;

a controller for controlling at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s speed and acceleration as a function of the measured performance characteristics and the distance to the target, wherein the controller has a stop function for automatically braking the vehicle to a standstill; and

an input device for inputting a shut-off command to shut off the controller, wherein the shut-off function to shut off the controller is also triggered by at least one of selected operational commands from the driver other than an activation of the input device, and wherein the input device for the shut-off command is deactivated if the stop function of the controller is active and the vehicle is stationary.

2. The cruise control system according to claim 1, wherein the stop function of the controller is a part of a stop-and-go function for automatic control of the vehicle'"'"'s stopping and starting as a function of the distance to the target.

3. The cruise control system according to claim 1, wherein one of the selected operational commands from the driver to trigger the shut-off function is pressing of a brake pedal.

4. The cruise control system according to claim 1, wherein one of the selected operational commands from the driver to trigger the shut-off function is setting of a hand brake.

5. The cruise control system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle has an automatic transmission and an automatic-transmission selector lever, and wherein one of the selected operational commands from the driver to trigger the shut-off function is moving the automatic-transmission selector lever to a position other than a position for driving forward.

6. The cruise control system according to claim 1, wherein the stop function of the controller is switched off by the driver'"'"'s pressing the accelerator when the vehicle is stationary.