Cruise control safety disengagement system

• US 7,051,827 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2001
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel K. Westlund, John C. Thiry, Thomas W. Cardinal
• Original Assignee: Daniel K. Westlund, John C. Thiry, Thomas W. Cardinal
• Inventors: Westlund, Daniel K, Thiry, John C, Cardinal, Thomas W
• Primary Examiner(s): RESTIFO, JEFFREY J
• Application Number:
  US09/804,769
• Time in Patent Office: 1,904 Days
• Field of Search: 180/170, 180/172, 180/174, 180/178, 180/179, 180/271, 180/282, 701/93, 701/97
• US Class Current: 180/174
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/14 operated upon collapse of driver deadman's devices for electrically propelled vehicles B60L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/125 Lateral acceleration

Abstract

A cruise control swerve release system effective for automatically disengaging a cruise control system when a vehicle experiences a lateral acceleration indicative of a loss or impending loss of driver control.

Claims

1. A system for automatically disengaging a cruise control system on a motorized vehicle when the vehicle experiences a lateral acceleration in excess of a predetermined threshold value, comprising:

(a) a sensor mounted upon the vehicle for sensing lateral acceleration of the vehicle; and

(b) a controller in direct communication with the sensor and the cruise control system for disengaging the cruise control system when the sensor detects a lateral acceleration in excess of a predetermined threshold value.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the motorized vehicle is a passenger vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the motorized vehicle is a light duty truck.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the motorized vehicle is a heavy duty truck.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the motorized vehicle is a semi truck.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is an accelerometer.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein (i) the accelerometer is effective for generating an electrical lateral acceleration signal which is proportional to lateral acceleration experienced by the vehicle, and (ii) the controller is a microcontroller in electrical communication with the accelerometer and the cruise control system effective for (A) receiving the electrical lateral acceleration signal from the accelerometer, (B) comparing the value of the lateral acceleration signal to the predetermined threshold value, and (C) effecting disengagement of the cruise control system when the lateral acceleration signal exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a pendulum.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller is a mechanical switch.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is a mechanical switch.

11. A safety system for a motorized vehicle equipped with a cruise control system, comprising:

(a) an accelerometer mounted upon the vehicle so as to sense lateral acceleration of the vehicle and generate a lateral acceleration signal having a value proportional to the sensed lateral acceleration; and

(b) a controller in direct electrical communication with the accelerometer and the cruise control system for disengaging the cruise control system upon receiving a lateral acceleration signal in excess of a predetermined threshold value.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the motorized vehicle is a passenger vehicle.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the motorized vehicle is a light duty truck.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the motorized vehicle is a heavy duty truck.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the motorized vehicle is a semi truck.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the controller is a microcontroller.

17. A method for automatically disengaging a cruise control system on a motorized vehicle when the vehicle experiences a lateral acceleration in excess of a predetermined threshold value, comprising

(a) sensing lateral acceleration of the vehicle;

and

(b) automatically and directly disengaging the cruise control system when the sensor detects a lateral acceleration in excess of a predetermined threshold value.