Speed control system and method for a motor vehicle

• US 7,743,866 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2006
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Proemm, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLSZEWSKI, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/527,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20070021898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 180/170, 180/171, 180/178, 180/179
• US Class Current: 180/170
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/106 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle

Abstract

A speed control system is provided for a motor vehicle, including units for calculating a drive torque or a brake torque as a function of a pre-definable target speed, the target speed being pre-defined by the single actuation of an operable control element. A sustained actuation of the control element is used to pre-define a target acceleration, instead of a target speed. The drive torque or brake torque are calculated from the target acceleration.

Claims

1. Speed control system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a unit for calculating a drive torque or brake torque as a function of a pre-definable target speed, the target speed being pre-defined by a single actuation of an operable control element;

wherein a sustained actuation (db) of the control element (BE) pre-defines a target acceleration (as), instead of a target speed (vs), the unit calculating the drive torque (Ma) or brake torque (Mb) from the target acceleration,

wherein the calculation of the drive torque (Ma) or the brake torque (Mb) takes into consideration load resistances (L) of the vehicle (F), and

wherein the target acceleration is pre-defined as a function of a driving style of the driver.

2. The speed control system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein, upon releasing the control element (BE) from the sustained actuation (db), a current speed (va) or a speed (va-k), which deviates by a pre-defined value (K) from the current speed (va), is pre-defined as the target speed (vs).

3. The speed control system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target acceleration (as) is pre-defined as a function of at least one parameter (va).

4. The speed control system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control element (BE) is operable on several control levels, and further wherein a sustained actuation (db) pre-defines a control level-specific target acceleration (as).