Cruise control system having a stop and go function

• US 7,321,818 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Winner, Hermann, Michi, Harald, Uhler, Werner, Weilkes, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith; Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US10/507,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20050150701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,939 Days
• Field of Search: 701/93, 701/96, 340/903, 340/435, 340/425.5, 340/436, 180/170, 180/169, 180/171
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/20 Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/30 Road curve radius
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/17 with provision for special action when the preceding vehicle comes to a halt, e.g. stop and go
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18145 Cornering

Abstract

A cruise control system for motor vehicles is described, having a sensor device for measuring the vehicle'"'"'s operating parameters and for measuring the distance to an object located in front of the vehicle, and having a controller for controlling the vehicle'"'"'s speed or acceleration as a function of the measured operating parameters and distance data, the controller having a stop-and-go function for automatically controlling driving off, rolling, and stopping as a function of the movements of the object, and being designed for the purpose of continuously checking the sensor device during the stop-and-go operation for one or multiple predefined conditions which contradict a safe stop-and-go operation, and which, in the presence of such a condition, initiates a procedure for the shutdown of the stop-and-go function.

Claims

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

a sensor device for measuring an operating parameter of the motor vehicle and for measuring a distance to an object located in front of the motor vehicle; and

a controller for controlling one of a speed and an acceleration of the motor vehicle as a function of the measured operating parameter and the measured distance to the object, wherein;

the controller includes a stop-and-go function for automatically controlling driving off, rolling, and stopping as a function of a movement of the object, and

the controller continuously checks the sensor device during the stop-and-go operation for at least one predefined condition, wherein the at least one predefined condition includes a turning operation of the motor vehicle, and wherein the turning operation is detected when a turn radius is smaller than a predefined threshold value, the turn radius being determined by an evaluation of one of a yaw rate signal and a steering angle signal, and in the presence of the at least one predefined condition initiates a procedure for the shutdown of the stop-and-go function.

2. The cruise control system as recited in claim 1, wherein the turning operation is detected when the turn radius is constantly smaller than the predefined threshold value during a predefined time interval.

3. The cruise control system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one predefined condition further includes an instantaneous speed of the motor vehicle being essentially equal to an intended speed in effect for the stop-and-go function during a predefined time interval, and no target object being detected during the predefined time interval.

4. The cruise control system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one predefined condition further includes an instantaneous speed of the motor vehicle being lower than a limiting speed permitted for the stop-and-go function during a predefined time interval, and no target object being detected during the predefined time interval.

5. The cruise control system as recited in claim 1, wherein the procedure for shutdown of the stop-and-go function includes an output of a request to a driver to one of take over control of the motor vehicle and, provided a condition is met, to switch over to a regular cruise control mode and distance control mode.

6. The cruise control system as recited in claim 5, wherein the request includes an acoustic signal.

7. The cruise control system as recited in claim 1, wherein the procedure for shutdown of the stop-and-go function includes automatically regulating the speed of the motor vehicle one of down to zero and to a low speed value.

8. The cruise control system as recited in claim 5, wherein the speed is automatically regulated down after a certain waiting time subsequent to the output of the request has elapsed.