Vehicle speed control system and method

• US 9,283,844 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2014
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Inventors: Franganillo, Diana, Gilling, Simon, Fairgrieve, Andrew, Woolliscroft, Daniel, Kelly, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US14/214,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 731 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36, 701/70, 701/71, 701/74, 701/76, 701/81, 701/82, 701/83, 701/93, 701/94, 701/97, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/439, 180/170, 180/171, 180/178, 180/179, 180/197, 180/271, 180/272
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/00 Arrangement or mounting of control devices for vehicle transmissions, or parts thereof, not otherwise provided for movable cabs having special adaptations of vehicle control devices B62D33/06; such control devices per se F16D, F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/20 Operator actuated switches or levers for cruise control or speed limiting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/22 Displays for target speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/244 changing target speed or setting a new target speed, e.g. changing algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/00 Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator fittings acting on two or more sub-units B60W30/14; speedometers G01P; systems or devices for controlling speed in general G05D13/00 ; in traffic anti-collision system for road vehicles G08G1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/14 Adaptive cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/146 Speed limiting
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/28 with deflection of beams of light, e.g. for direct optical indication G01D5/40 takes precedence; mechanical adjustment G01D5/264
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 7/16 in the form of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/24 Earth materials G01N33/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 7/14 by allowing the material to emit a gas or vapour, e.g. water vapour, and measuring a pressure or volume difference determining urea G01N33/48742

Abstract

A system for controlling vehicle speed in accordance with a current value of vehicle set-speed. The system responds to user input to change the current value of vehicle set-speed to a different value and is configured to store the current value of set-speed in a memory as a stored set-speed and to change the current value of set-speed in dependence on the user input. The speedometer indicates both the current and stored set-speeds. The system can return the current value of vehicle set-speed to the stored set-speed upon receipt of a “resume” or other user command. The system can enter into a descent control mode that applies braking torque but no drive torque and can also enter into a full functionality mode that provides either drive or braking torque to maintain the vehicle at the set-speed.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the speed of a vehicle, the system being configured to operate the vehicle in accordance with a current value of vehicle set-speed, the system comprising a controller configured to receive and output electrical signals to and from components of the vehicle, the controller being operable:

in response to user input to change the current value of vehicle set-speed from the current value to a value different from the current value via a user interface;

in response to the user input to store the current value of set-speed in a memory as a stored set-speed and to change the current value of set-speed in dependence on the user input; and

to set the current value of vehicle set-speed to the stored set-speed in response to receipt of a user command.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to allow a user to change the current value of set-speed in discrete amounts via the user interface.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to provide a visual indication of the current value of set-speed and a visual indication of the value of stored set-speed.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the controller is operable to provide the visual indication in the form of a current set-speed marker or chaplet and a stored set-speed marker or chaplet at respective locations of a speedometer corresponding to the values of current and stored set-speed.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein the controller is operable to set the current value of vehicle set-speed to the stored set-speed in response to receipt of the user command only if the user command is received within a prescribed time period of the change of set-speed.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the controller is operable to provide the visual indication of the stored set-speed only for the duration of the prescribed time period.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to set the current value of vehicle set-speed to the stored set-speed in response to receipt of the user command only if the user command is received within a prescribed time period of the change of set-speed.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to allow a user to command a reduction in the current value of vehicle set-speed by either one of first and second input devices, the controller being operable to store the current value of set-speed in a memory as the stored set-speed and subsequently to set the current value of vehicle set-speed to the stored set-speed in response to receipt of the user command only if the reduction in set-speed is commanded by the second input device.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein the second input device is a user operable brake control.

10. A system according to claim 8 wherein the first input device is a user operable control button.

11. A vehicle comprising a system according to claim 1.

12. A method of controlling the speed of a vehicle, comprising:

operating a vehicle in accordance with a current value of vehicle set-speed;

receiving a user input to change the current value of vehicle set-speed from the current value to a value different from the current value via a user interface; and

in response to receipt of the user input to change the value of set-speed, storing the current value of set-speed in a memory as a stored set-speed and changing the current value of set-speed in dependence on the user input;

the method further comprising setting the current value of vehicle set-speed to the stored set-speed in response to receipt of a user command.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

providing a visual indication of the current value of the set-speed in the form of a current set-speed marker or chaplet at a location on a speedometer corresponding to the current value of the set-speed; and

providing a visual indication of the value of the stored set-speed in the form of a stored set-speed marker or chaplet at a location on the speedometer corresponding to the value of the stored set-speed.

14. A method as set forth in claim 12 set the current value of vehicle set-speed to the stored set-speed in response to receipt of the user command only if the user command is received within a prescribed time period of the change of set-speed.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14 operable to provide the visual indication of the stored set-speed only for the duration of the prescribed time period.

16. A system for controlling the speed of a vehicle, the system being configured to operate the vehicle in accordance with a value of vehicle set-speed, wherein the system comprises a controller configured to receive and output electrical signals from and to one or more components of the vehicle, wherein:

in a first mode of operation of the system, the controller is operable to apply brake torque to one or more vehicle wheels in order to cause the vehicle to operate in accordance with a value of vehicle set-speed for the first mode and not to apply drive torque, and

in a second mode of operation of the system, the controller is operable to apply brake torque or drive torque to one or more vehicle wheels in order to cause the vehicle to operate in accordance with a value of vehicle set-speed for the second mode.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein in the first mode the controller is operable to apply brake torque in order to cause the vehicle to operate in accordance with the value of first mode set-speed only when the controller determines that the vehicle is descending a slope.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein the controller is operable to enter the first mode when system operation is requested, and when in the first mode the controller being operable to enter the second mode in response to a user command to enter the second mode input via the user interface.

19. A system according to claim 16, wherein the controller is operable to enter the first mode when system operation is requested provided a speed of the vehicle is below a first mode threshold value.

20. A system according to claim 19 wherein if the speed of the vehicle is not below the first mode threshold value when system operation is requested, the system is configured to enter a third mode corresponding to a standby mode in which the system is not operable to apply brake torque or drive torque to the one or more vehicle wheels.