Speed control system for motor vehicles

• US 9,434,274 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2014
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Kagerer, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C.
• Application Number:
  US14/261,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20140324258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/10 for automatic control superimposed on human control to limit the acceleration of the vehicle, e.g. to prevent excessive motor current electric devices for safety purposes B60L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/42 related to electric machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2030/1809 Without torque flow between driveshaft and engine, e.g. with clutch disengaged or transmission in neutral
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18072 Coasting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling

Abstract

A speed control system for a motor vehicle has an electronic control device which generates actuation signals for controlling the speed of the motor vehicle to a specified desired speed, and a control element, on the actuation of which an intervention which influences the speed control is performed. The control element is designed in the form of a button. When the button is pressed, the system intervenes in the active speed control for the time for which the button is pressed in such a way that no drive torque is generated. When the button is no longer pressed, the original speed control is resumed.

Claims

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

an electronic control unit operatively configured to generate actuation signals for controlling a speed of the motor vehicle to a specified desired speed;

a control element coupled with the electronic control unit, actuation of the control element intervening in speed control and influencing same;

wherein the control element comprises a button configured such that;

(a) when the button is pressed, an intervention in active speed control occurs only for a time duration in which the button is actively being pressed such that no drive torque is generated; and

(b) when the button is no longer pressed, original speed control is resumed,

wherein, when the intervention in the active speed control for the time duration in which the button is actively being pressed occurs, speed control is completely interrupted.

2. The speed control system according to claim 1, wherein

the motor vehicle has an automatic transmission or an automated gearbox;

when the button is pressed, the intervention in the active speed control occurs for the time duration in which the button is pressed such that no drive torque is generated and an interruption in power transmission between an engine and drive wheels of the motor vehicle occurs.

3. The speed control system according to claim 1, wherein

the button is configured such that a first intervention influencing the speed control is generated when the button is pressed briefly, and

when the button is pressed for a longer time period, the intervention in the active speed control for the time duration in which the button is pressed occurs such that no drive torque is generated and, at an end of the longer time period, original speed control is resumed.

4. The speed control system according to 3, wherein

the button operates as a first control element for switching on, switching off and/or interrupting speed control, and

when the button is pressed briefly, active speed control is interrupted, interrupted speed control is deactivated and/or deactivated speed control is activated, and

when the button is pressed for a longer time period, the intervention in the active speed control for the time duration in which the button is pressed occurs such that no drive torque is generated.

5. The speed control system according to claim 4, wherein

the button operates a second control element for specifying a current speed as a new desired speed, and

when the button is pressed briefly and speed control is active, the current speed is specified as the new desired speed and/or, if the speed control is interrupted, the speed control is activated to the current speed as the desired speed, and

when the button is pressed for a longer time period, the intervention in the active speed control for the time duration in which the button is pressed occurs such that no drive torque is generated.

6. The speed control system according to claim 5, wherein

the button is operated as a third control element for reactivating the interrupted speed control to the stored desired speed and/or a stored separation distance, and

when the button is pressed briefly, the interrupted speed control is reactivated to the stored desired speed and/or the stored separation, and

when the button is pressed for a longer time period, the intervention in the active speed control for the time duration in which the button is pressed occurs such that no drive torque is generated.

7. The speed control system according to claim 3, wherein when the button is pressed for the longer time period, the speed control is completely interrupted for the time duration in which is button is pressed.

8. The speed control system according to claim 4, wherein when the button is pressed for the longer time period, the speed control is completely interrupted for the time duration in which is button is pressed.

9. The speed control system according to claim 5, wherein when the button is pressed for the longer time period, the speed control is completely interrupted for the time duration in which is button is pressed.

10. The speed control system according to claim 6, wherein when the button is pressed for the longer time period, the speed control is completely interrupted for the time duration in which is button is pressed.

11. The speed control system according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle has an automatic transmission or an automated gearbox, and further wherein

when the button is pressed for the longer time period, no drive torque is generated and an interruption in power transmission between an engine and drive wheels of the motor vehicle occurs for the time duration in which the button is pressed.

12. The speed control system according to claim 4, wherein the vehicle has an automatic transmission or an automated gearbox, and further wherein

when the button is pressed for the longer time period, no drive torque is generated and an interruption in power transmission between an engine and drive wheels of the motor vehicle occurs for the time duration in which the button is pressed.

13. The speed control system according to claim 5, wherein the vehicle has an automatic transmission or an automated gearbox, and further wherein

when the button is pressed for the longer time period, no drive torque is generated and an interruption in power transmission between an engine and drive wheels of the motor vehicle occurs for the time duration in which the button is pressed.

14. The speed control system according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle has an automatic transmission or an automated gearbox, and further wherein

when the button is pressed for the longer time period, no drive torque is generated and an interruption in power transmission between an engine and drive wheels of the motor vehicle occurs for the time duration in which the button is pressed.

15. The speed control system according to claim 7, wherein the vehicle has an automatic transmission or an automated gearbox, and further wherein

when the button is pressed for the longer time period, no drive torque is generated and an interruption in power transmission between an engine and drive wheels of the motor vehicle occurs for the time duration in which the button is pressed.

16. A method of operating a speed control system of a motor vehicle having an electronic control unit that generates actuation signals for controlling a speed of the motor vehicle at least to a specified desired speed, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a control element in the form of a button coupled to the electronic control unit actuation of the button influencing speed control of the speed control system;

generating a first intervention in the speed control when the button is pressed briefly;

when the button is pressed for a longer time period, intervening in active speed control for only the time duration in which the button is actively being pressed such that no drive torque is generated; and

when the button is no longer pressed, resuming original speed control,

wherein, when the intervention in the active speed control for the time duration in which the button is actively being pressed occurs, speed control is completely interrupted.