ACC extended mode operation

• US 8,688,349 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenneth A. Grolle, Robert J. Custer, Srikiran Kosanam, Thomas J. Thomas, William P. Amato
• Original Assignee: Kenneth A. Grolle, Robert J. Custer, Srikiran Kosanam, Thomas J. Thomas, William P. Amato
• Inventors: Grolle, Kenneth A., Thomas, Thomas J., Amato, William P., Custer, Robert J., Kosanam, Srikiran
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Bao Long T
• Application Number:
  US13/529,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20120259516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/196 acting within the driveline, e.g. retarders
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle

Abstract

When employing an a cruise control system in a commercial or heavy-duty vehicle, an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system (14) is activated upon activation of a vehicle or set-speed cruise control (SSCC) system (16). The ACC (14) remains on, even after SSCC shutoff, to maintain a minimum following distance for a primary vehicle in which the ACC (14) is employed and a forward vehicle. The ACC (14) is deactivated after detection of an ACC shutoff trigger event, which may be driver application of the brakes of the primary vehicle, driver-initiated acceleration for a predefined time period, expiration of a predetermined time period, manual shutoff (e.g., via a switch or button), etc.

Claims

1. A controller for an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system comprising:

a processor;

an input of the processor for receiving a signal from a discrete set speed cruise control (SSCC) system;

an input of the processor for receiving a signal indicative of a driver-initiated acceleration request;

an output of the processor for communicating a deceleration request; and

control logic of the processor for

setting the ACC controller in a normal mode in response to a signal indicating the SSCC system is active; and

setting the ACC controller in an extended mode in response to a signal indicating the SSCC system is shut off, wherein the processor is operable to communicate a deceleration request when the ACC controller is in the extended mode;

setting the ACC controller in an inactive mode in response to the ACC controller being in the extended mode and the driver-initiated acceleration request being greater than a predetermined time.

2. The controller as in claim 1, wherein the input for receiving a signal from the SSCC system and the input for receiving a signal indicative of a driver-initiated acceleration request are separate inputs.

3. The controller as in claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to communicate the deceleration request when the ACC controller is in the normal mode.

4. The controller as in claim 1, the control logic setting the ACC controller in the inactive mode in response to at least one of a driver-initiated braking request and a manual deactivation of the ACC controller, regardless of the signal from the SSCC system and the signal indicating a driver-initiated acceleration request.

5. The controller as in claim 1, wherein the driver-initiated acceleration request is an application of an associated accelerator pedal by the driver.

6. A method for operating an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system, comprising:

receiving a signal from a discrete set speed cruise control (SSCC) system indicating the SSCC system is active;

activating the ACC system in response to the signal indicating the SSCC system is active;

receiving a signal indicative of a driver-initiated acceleration request;

setting the ACC system in a normal mode;

communicating a foundation braking request from the ACC system;

receiving a signal from the SSCC system indicating the SSCC system is shut off in response to the foundation braking request;

setting the ACC system in an extended mode wherein the ACC system is operable to communicate a deceleration request in response to the signal indicating the SSCC system is shut off; and

setting the ACC system in an inactive mode in response to the ACC system being in the extended mode and the driver-initiated acceleration request being greater than a predetermined time.

7. The method as in claim 6, wherein the ACC system is operable to communicate a deceleration request when in the normal mode.

8. The method as in claim 6, further comprising setting the ACC system in the inactive mode in response to at least one of a driver-initiated braking request and a manual deactivation of the ACC system, regardless of the signal from the SSCC system and the driver-initiated acceleration request.

9. The method as in claim 6, wherein the driver-initiated acceleration request is an application of an associated accelerator pedal by the driver.

10. An adaptive cruise control (ACC) system, including:

a sensor that detects the position of a forward vehicle relative to a primary vehicle in which the sensor is installed;

an input for receiving a signal from a discrete set speed cruise control (SSCC) system indicating the SSCC system is active or shut off;

an input for receiving a driver-initiated acceleration request;

control logic for;

receiving a signal from the sensor indicative of a distance between the primary vehicle and the forward vehicle;

setting the ACC system in a normal mode in response to a signal indicating the SSCC system is active;

setting the ACC system in an extended mode in response to a signal indicating the SSCC system in the primary vehicle is shut off in response to a foundation braking request from ACC system; and

setting the ACC system in a inactive mode in response to the ACC system being in a extended mode and the driver-initiated acceleration request being greater than a predetermined time.

11. The system as in claim 10, wherein the control logic is operable to communicate the deceleration request when the ACC system is in the normal mode.

12. The system as in claim 10, wherein the control logic is operable to communicate the deceleration request when the ACC system is in the extended mode.

13. The system as in claim 10, the control logic further setting the ACC system in the inactive mode in response to at least one of a driver-initiated braking request on the primary vehicle and a manual deactivation of the ACC system, regardless of the driver-initiated acceleration request.

14. The system as in claim 10, wherein the driver-initiated acceleration request is an application of an associated accelerator pedal by the driver.