Method for controlling the speed of a vehicle

• US 7,593,801 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2008
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kustosch, Mario, Muehlbauer, Christian, Lock, Erwin
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US12/008,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20080177455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 701/70, 701/93, 180/170, 123/339.11, 477/107, 477/71, 477/186, 477/80, 477/84, 477/91
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/04 and means for comparing one electrical quantity, e.g. voltage, pulse, waveform, flux, or the like, with another quantity of a like kind, which comparison means is involved in the development of an electrical signal which is fed into the controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/04 Hill descent control
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/122 for locking of reverse movement
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/065 Idle condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links

Abstract

In a method for controlling a speed of a vehicle, when an actual speed of the vehicle exceeds a predefined setpoint speed by more than a first predefined speed difference, a service brake of the vehicle is activated. In the method, the first predefined speed difference has a value greater than zero. Also, when the actual speed exceeds the setpoint speed by a second predefined speed difference, which is smaller than the first predefined speed difference, an idle speed control can be activated and a torque request of activated ancillary components can be reduced. Further, when the actual speed exceeds the setpoint speed by a sixth predefined speed difference, which is smaller than the first predefined speed difference, an ancillary component can be activated.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a speed of a vehicle, comprising:

when an actual speed of the vehicle exceeds a predefined setpoint speed by more than a first predefined speed difference, activating a service brake of the vehicle, wherein the first predefined speed difference has a value greater than zero; and

when the actual speed exceeds the setpoint speed by a second predefined speed difference, which is smaller than the first predefined speed difference, activating an idle speed control and reducing a torque request of activated ancillary components;

wherein, when the actual speed of the vehicle exceeds the predefined setpoint speed by less than the first predefined speed difference, the service brake is set to an inactive state.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising deactivating the idle speed control when a difference between the actual speed and the setpoint speed drops below a third predefined speed difference, which is smaller than the second predefined speed difference.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising deactivating the idle speed control for as long as the service brake is activated.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to the activation of the service brake, deactivating the service brake when the actual speed exceeds the predefined setpoint speed by less than the first predefined speed difference conditional upon that an amount by which the actual speed exceeds the predefined setpoint speed is at least a third predefined speed difference.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first predefined speed difference is specified such that the activation of the service brake occurs only when the engine braking action realized by a deceleration fuel-cutoff has already reached a maximum value.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first predefined speed difference is specified such that the activation of the service brake occurs only when the engine braking action realized by a deceleration fuel-cutoff and activation of one or more ancillary components has already reached a maximum value.

7. A method for controlling a speed of a vehicle, comprising:

when an actual speed of the vehicle exceeds a predefined setpoint speed by more than a first predefined speed difference, activating a service brake of the vehicle, wherein the first predefined speed difference has a value greater than zero;

when the actual speed exceeds the setpoint speed by a second predefined speed difference, which is smaller than the first predefined speed difference, activating an idle speed control and reducing a torque request of activated ancillary components; and

when the actual speed exceeds the setpoint speed by a third predefined speed difference, which is smaller than the first predefined speed difference, activating a deceleration fuel-cutoff.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising deactivating the deceleration fuel-cutoff when a difference between the actual speed and the setpoint speed drops below a fifth predefined speed difference, which is smaller than the fourth predefined speed difference.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the fourth predefined speed difference is greater than the second predefined speed difference, and further comprising deactivating the idle speed control when the deceleration fuel-cutoff is activated.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the deceleration fuel-cutoff remains activated for as long as the service brake is activated.

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising deactivating the idle speed control when a difference between the actual speed and the setpoint speed drops below a fourth predefined speed difference, which is smaller than the second predefined speed difference.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising deactivating the idle speed control for as long as the service brake is activated.

13. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

when the actual speed exceeds the setpoint speed by a fourth predefined speed difference, which is smaller than the first predefined speed difference, activating an ancillary component.

14. The method according to claim 7, wherein, when the actual speed of the vehicle exceeds the predefined setpoint speed by less than the first predefined speed difference, the service brake is set to an inactive state.

15. A method for controlling a speed of a vehicle, comprising:

when an actual speed of the vehicle exceeds a predefined setpoint speed by more than a first predefined speed difference, activating a service brake of the vehicle, wherein the first predefined speed difference has a value greater than zero and

when the actual speed exceeds the setpoint speed by a second predefined speed difference, which is smaller than the first predefined speed difference, activating an ancillary component;

wherein, when the actual speed of the vehicle exceeds the predefined setpoint speed by less than the first predefined speed difference, the service brake is set to an inactive state.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

subsequent to the activation of the service brake, deactivating the service brake when the actual speed exceeds the predefined setpoint speed by less than the first predefined speed difference conditional upon that an amount by which the actual speed exceeds the predefined setpoint speed is at least a third predefined speed difference.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first predefined speed difference is specified such that the activation of the service brake occurs only when the engine braking action realized by a deceleration fuel-cutoff has already reached a maximum value.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first predefined speed difference is specified such that the activation of the service brake occurs only when the engine braking action realized by a deceleration fuel-cutoff and activation of one or more ancillary components has already reached a maximum value.

19. A method for controlling a speed of a vehicle, comprising:

when an actual speed of the vehicle exceeds a predefined setpoint speed by more than a first predefined speed difference, activating a service brake of the vehicle, wherein the first predefined speed difference has a value greater than zero; and

when the actual speed exceeds the setpoint speed by a second predefined speed difference, which is smaller than the first predefined speed difference, activating a deceleration fuel-cutoff.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, when the actual speed of the vehicle exceeds the predefined setpoint speed by less than the first predefined speed difference, the service brake is set to an inactive state.