Vehicle and method of control thereof
First Claim
1. An adaptive cruise control (ACC) system for a host motor vehicle, the host motor vehicle having a regenerative braking system, a non-regenerative braking system, a brake controller configured to control the regenerative braking system and the non-regenerative braking system, a powertrain, a powertrain controller configured to control the powertrain, an input device, and a sensor configured to obtain information in respect of a distance between the host vehicle and a followed vehicle,wherein the ACC system is configured to:
- communicate with the brake controller, the powertrain controller and the sensor to control the powertrain and the regenerative and non-regenerative braking systems of the host vehicle to;
maintain the distance between the host vehicle and the followed vehicle at a target distance, the target distance being substantially equal to a second distance that is greater than a first distance; and
employ only the regenerative braking system to slow the host vehicle so as to maintain the host vehicle at the target distance when a distance of the host vehicle behind the followed vehicle is greater than the first distance; and
communicate with said input device and to determine the first distance from an input provided by a user via said user input device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system for a host motor vehicle having regenerative braking means (122) and non-regenerative braking means. The system is operable to control a powertrain and the braking means of the host vehicle to maintain the vehicle at a target distance (d_target) behind the followed vehicle, the target distance being substantially equal to a second distance that is greater than a first distance (d_driver); and employ substantially only the regenerative braking means and not the non-regenerative braking means to slow the host vehicle when the host vehicle is greater than the first distance (d_driver) behind the followed vehicle and the ACC system determines that braking is required to maintain the vehicle at the target distance.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An adaptive cruise control (ACC) system for a host motor vehicle, the host motor vehicle having a regenerative braking system, a non-regenerative braking system, a brake controller configured to control the regenerative braking system and the non-regenerative braking system, a powertrain, a powertrain controller configured to control the powertrain, an input device, and a sensor configured to obtain information in respect of a distance between the host vehicle and a followed vehicle,
wherein the ACC system is configured to: -
communicate with the brake controller, the powertrain controller and the sensor to control the powertrain and the regenerative and non-regenerative braking systems of the host vehicle to; maintain the distance between the host vehicle and the followed vehicle at a target distance, the target distance being substantially equal to a second distance that is greater than a first distance; and employ only the regenerative braking system to slow the host vehicle so as to maintain the host vehicle at the target distance when a distance of the host vehicle behind the followed vehicle is greater than the first distance; and communicate with said input device and to determine the first distance from an input provided by a user via said user input device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A vehicle, comprising:
-
a regenerative braking system; a non-regenerative braking system; a brake controller configured to control the regenerative braking system and the non-regenerative braking system; a powertrain; a powertrain controller configured to control said powertrain; an input device; a sensor configured to determine a distance between the host vehicle and a followed vehicle; and an ACC system, configured to; communicate with the brake controller, the powertrain controller and the sensor to control the powertrain and the regenerative and non-regenerative braking systems of the host vehicle to; maintain the distance between the host vehicle and the followed vehicle at a target distance, the target distance being substantially equal to a second distance that is greater than a first distance; and employ only the regenerative braking system to slow the host vehicle so as to maintain the host vehicle at the target distance when a distance of the host vehicle behind the followed vehicle is greater than the first distance; and communicate with said input device and to determine the first distance from an input provided by a user via said user input device. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
-
16. A method of controlling a host vehicle having a powertrain, regenerative and non-regenerative braking systems, a brake controller, a powertrain controller, and a sensor configured to obtain information in respect of a distance between the host vehicle and a followed vehicle, the method comprising:
-
controlling the powertrain and the regenerative and non-regenerative braking systems, via the powertrain controller and brake controller respectively, to maintain the host vehicle at a target distance behind the followed vehicle, the target distance being substantially equal to a second distance that is greater than a first distance; and when braking is required to maintain the target distance, employing substantially only the regenerative braking system to slow the host vehicle when an actual distance behind the followed vehicle, as determined by the sensor, is greater than the first distance, wherein the first distance is determined from an input provided by a user.
-
-
17. An adaptive cruise control (ACC) system for a host motor vehicle, the host motor vehicle having a regenerative braking system, a non-regenerative braking system, a brake controller configured to control the regenerative braking system and the non-regenerative braking system, a powertrain, a powertrain controller configured to control the powertrain, an input device, and a sensor configured to obtain information in respect of a distance between the host vehicle and a followed vehicle, wherein the ACC system is configured to communicate with the brake controller, the powertrain controller and the sensor to control the powertrain and the regenerative and non-regenerative braking systems of the host vehicle to:
-
maintain the distance between the host vehicle and the followed vehicle at a target distance, the target distance being substantially equal to a second distance that is greater than a first distance; and employ only the regenerative braking system to slow the host vehicle so as to maintain the host vehicle at the target distance when a distance of the host vehicle behind the followed vehicle is greater than the first distance, wherein the system is arranged to communicate with said brake controller to determine a value of a maximum vehicle deceleration rate that is available via the regenerative braking system, and the value of the gap parameter is dependent on the value of a maximum vehicle deceleration rate that is available via the regenerative braking system, the value of the gap parameter being arranged to increase as a magnitude of the maximum available deceleration rate decreases.
-
-
18. An adaptive cruise control (ACC) system for a host motor vehicle, the host motor vehicle having a regenerative braking system, a non-regenerative braking system, a brake controller configured to control the regenerative braking system and the non-regenerative braking system, a powertrain, a powertrain controller configured to control the powertrain, an input device, a speed sensor, and a sensor configured to obtain information in respect of a distance between the host vehicle and a followed vehicle, wherein the ACC system is configured to communicate with the brake controller, the powertrain controller and the sensor to control the powertrain and the regenerative and non-regenerative braking systems of the host vehicle to:
-
maintain the distance between the host vehicle and the followed vehicle at a target distance, the target distance being substantially equal to a second distance that is greater than a first distance; and employ only the regenerative braking system to slow the host vehicle so as to maintain the host vehicle at the target distance when a distance of the host vehicle behind the followed vehicle is greater than the first distance, wherein the system is arranged to communicate with said speed sensor and to obtain data in respect of the rate of deceleration of the followed vehicle, and the value of the gap parameter is dependent on a value of an expected rate of deceleration of the followed vehicle, the value of the expected rate of deceleration being determined in dependence on historical data in respect of the rate of deceleration of the followed vehicle, the value of the gap parameter being arranged to increase with increasing values of expected rate of deceleration.
-
Specification