Speed controller having a display device

• US 7,178,819 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Uhler, Werner, Scherl, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver; J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLADO, CYNTHIA FRANCISCA
• Application Number:
  US10/491,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20050006165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,617 Days
• Field of Search: 280/170, 280/171, 701 93- 98
• US Class Current: 180/170
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/185 connected to the speedometer display, e.g. by sensors or switches responsive to the position of the indicator needle arrangement of pointers in automobile speedometers for indicating predetermined speeds by the detection of the position of the indicator needle G01P1/11
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle

Abstract

A speed regulator for motor vehicles, including a standard mode in which the speed is regulated to a desired speed set by the driver, and at least one exception mode in which the speed is regulated to a setpoint speed that may deviate from the desired speed, and a display device for displaying the desired speed. An auxiliary display is also provided that indicates that an exception mode is active.

Claims

1. A speed controller for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a controller having a standard mode in which a speed of the vehicle is regulated to a desired speed set by a driver of the vehicle, and having at least one exception mode in which the speed of the vehicle is regulated to a setpoint speed that differs from the desired speed;

a display device configured to display the desired speed; and

an auxiliary display which indicates that an exception mode is active;

wherein the exception mode is a stop and go mode in which the vehicle is automatically decelerated to a standstill if a distance sensor detects a stationary obstacle in the vehicle'"'"'s own traffic lane;

wherein the speed of the vehicle in the stop and go mode is limited upward by a specified limiting speed;

wherein the auxiliary display is formed by an indicator light that is located in a speedometer of the vehicle at a point on a speed scale of the speedometer that corresponds to the limiting speed.

2. The speed controller as recited in claim 1, wherein the auxiliary display indicates quantitatively the setpoint speed to which the speed of the vehicle is regulated.

4. The speed controller as recited in claim 1, wherein the auxiliary display includes a plurality of indicator lights that can be turned on selectively, which are integrated into a speed scale of a speedometer of the vehicle.

5. The speed controller as recited in claim 1, wherein the display device configured to display the desired speed is formed by a plurality of indicator lights, which are integrated into a speed scale of a speedometer of the vehicle.

6. The speed controller as recited in claim 1, wherein the display device configured to display the desired speed and the auxiliary display are formed by the same indicator lights, which are triggerable using at least one of different degrees of brightness, flashing, non-flashing, or flashing frequency so as to distinguish between the setpoint speed and the desired speed.

3. A speed controller for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a controller having a standard mode in which a speed of the vehicle is regulated to a desired speed set by a driver of the vehicle, and having at least one exception mode in which the speed of the vehicle is regulated to a setpoint speed that differs from the desired speed;

a display device configured to display the desired speed; and

an auxiliary display which indicates that an exception mode is active;

wherein the exception mode is a stop and go mode in which the vehicle is automatically decelerated to a standstill if a distance sensor detects a stationary obstacle in the vehicle'"'"'s own traffic lane, and wherein the auxiliary display includes an indicator light having three states which correspond to an inactive state, an activatable state, and an active state of the stop and go mode.