One-touch cruise control system

• US 7,234,556 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2004
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clifford J. Pendleton
• Original Assignee: Clifford J. Pendleton
• Inventors: Pendleton, Clifford J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLADO, CYNTHIA FRANCISCA
• Application Number:
  US10/840,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20050247497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 180170-179, 701/93
• US Class Current: 180/170
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/042 where at least one electrical quantity is set by the vehicle operator

Abstract

A vehicle cruise control system comprises a plurality of pre-set cruise control speed buttons and cruise control logic circuitry coupled to the pre-set cruise control speed buttons. Each one of the pre-set cruise control speed buttons corresponds to a respective pre-set cruise control speed. The cruise control logic circuitry is configured for implementing control of a vehicle speed to maintain the respective pre-set cruise control speed corresponding to a selected one of said pre-set cruise control speed buttons.

Claims

1. A vehicle cruise control system, comprising:

a plurality of one touch pre-set cruise control speed buttons each button corresponding to a respective legal roadway speed wherein the speed is selected by depressing one button;

a first cruise control logic circuitry module coupled to said pre-set cruise control speed buttons and configured for implementing control of a vehicle speed to maintain the respective pre-set cruise control speed corresponding to a selected one of said pre-set cruise control speed buttons; and

a second cruise control circuitry module comprising original equipment manufacturer cruise control circuitry of a vehicle.

2. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 1 wherein each one of said pre-set cruise control speeds corresponds to a respective legal roadway speed.

3. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 1 wherein implementing control of the vehicle speed includes:

determining the respective pre-set cruise control speed; and

outputting a control signal corresponding to the respective preset cruise control speed.

4. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 1 wherein implementing control of the vehicle speed includes:

setting said components of the original equipment cruise control system to maintain the respective pre-set cruise control speed corresponding to the selected one of said pre-set cruise control speed buttons.

5. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a current speed set button for implementing control of the vehicle speed to maintain a vehicle speed exhibited at the time when the current speed set button is depressed.

6. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 4 wherein:

implementing control of the vehicle speed includes determining the respective pre-set cruise control speed and outputting a control signal corresponding to the respective preset cruise control speed;

determining the respective pre-set cruise control speed is performed by the first cruise control circuitry module; and

outputting the control signal includes outputting the control signal from the first cruise control circuitry module for reception by the second cruise control circuitry module.

7. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 6 wherein the control signal is configured for activating the second cruise control circuitry module.

8. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 6 wherein the control signal simulates a signal interpretable by logic of the second cruise control circuitry module.

9. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 1 wherein:

implementing control of the vehicle speed includes determining the respective pre-set cruise control speed and outputting a control signal corresponding to the respective preset cruise control speed;

determining the respective pre-set cruise control speed is performed by the first cruise control circuitry module; and

outputting the control signal includes outputting the control signal from the first cruise control circuitry module for reception by the second cruise control circuitry module;

the control signal is configured for activating the second cruise control circuitry module; and

the control signal simulates a signal interpretable by logic of the second cruise control circuitry module.

10. The vehicle cruise control system of claim 1 wherein:

implementing control of the vehicle speed includes activating components of the original equipment cruise control system and setting said components of the original equipment cruise control system to maintain the respective pre-set cruise control speed corresponding to the selected one of said pre-set cruise control speed buttons;

setting said components of the original equipment cruise control system includes outputting a control signal corresponding to the respective preset cruise control speed;

the control signal is configured for activating the second cruise control circuitry module; and

the control signal simulates a signal interpretable by logic of the second cruise control circuitry module.

11. A method for facilitating vehicle cruise control operation, comprising:

receiving a speed control request signal corresponding to a selected one of a plurality of pre-set one touch cruise control speed buttons each corresponding to a respective pre-set cruise control speed, wherein cruise control speed is selected by depressing only one button, wherein each button corresponds to preset speed rather than to a digit of a desired speed as in a numeric keypad; and

implementing control of a vehicle speed to maintain the respective pre-set cruise control speed corresponding to the selected one of said pre-set cruise control speed buttons in response to receiving the speed control signal;

implementing control of the vehicle speed includes determining the respective pre-set cruise control speed and outputting a control signal corresponding to the respective preset cruise control speed;

determining the respective pre-set cruise control speed is performed by a first cruise control circuitry module comprising said pre-set cruise control speed buttons;

outputting the control signal includes outputting the control signal from the first cruise control circuitry module for reception by a second cruise control circuitry module comprising original equipment manufacturer cruise control circuitry of a vehicle;

the control signal is configured for activating the second cruise control circuitry module; and

the control signal simulates a signal interpretable by logic of the second cruise control circuitry module.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein implementing control of the vehicle speed includes:

determining the respective pre-set cruise control speed; and

outputting a control signal corresponding to the respective preset cruise control speed.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein implementing control of the vehicle speed includes:

setting said components of the original equipment cruise control system to maintain the respective pre-set cruise control speed corresponding to the selected one of said pre-set cruise control speed button.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein:

implementing control of the vehicle speed includes activating components of the original equipment cruise control system and setting said components of the original equipment cruise control system to maintain the respective pre-set cruise control speed corresponding to the selected one of said pre-set cruise control speed buttons;

setting said components of the original equipment cruise control system includes outputting a control signal corresponding to the respective preset cruise control speed;

the control signal simulates a signal interpretable by logic of the original equipment cruise control system.