Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Vehicle mounted systems – Automobile
Patent
1994-11-22
1996-10-22
Wysocki, Jonathan
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Vehicle mounted systems
Automobile
180178, 200 6154, 36442604, B60K 3100
Patent
active
055679927
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention refers to an arrangement for a cruise control system for a motor vehicle.
It is becoming increasingly common for various types of motor vehicles to be provided with cruise control systems (constant speed maintenance systems).
The control units which currently exist for such cruise control systems are usually designed to be able to activate a number of predetermined functions such as setting and adopting a desired set speed and switching off with or without cancellation of the setting.
There are both simple solutions which comprise only these basic functions and more advanced designs which allow a number of set speeds to be stored. However, such advanced solutions are often complicated and relatively expensive, involve a number of buttons or controls and often require the operator to be well acquainted with how to achieve the various functions, which is unfortunate from a safety point of view.
In both cases the control unit is designed to activate only these specific functions.
There are at present no cruise control units which are designed to be adaptable to a variety of embodiments whereby a uniform design of control unit can be used, simply by applying different software to it, to adapt the cruise control system to being able to activate the specific functions desired for a particular vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to create an arrangement for a motor vehicle cruise control system which can easily be adapted to activate alternative functions without impairing safety.
To this end, the arrangement according to the invention is distinguished by an electrical control unit having a memory for storing a set speed; a plurality of input signal lines connected to the control unit, the control unit generating output signals for controlling the cruise control system in response to signals on the input signal lines; a source of power; and a switch connected between the source of power and the input signal lines to selectively connect the source of power to the plurality of input signal lines. The switch has a neutral position, first and second operating positions spaced in a first direction from the neutral position and first and second contact units. The switch includes a moveable contact which is moveable in the first direction from the neutral position to the first and second positions. The first and second contact units and the moveable contact are arranged with the source of power and the input signal lines such that when the moveable contact is in the first position, signals are applied to the input signal lines to cause the output signals from the control unit to temporarily deactivate the cruise control system without cancellation of the set speed and, in the second position, the signals applied to the input signal line result in output signals representative of a predetermined cruise control function being generated. The switch is further structured and arranged such that the second position can only be reached by the moveable contact first passing through the first position, so that the first contact unit applies signals via the input signal lines to the control unit as the moveable contact passes therethrough to temporarily deactivate the cruise control system. This means that whatever function is chosen for the selectable position, the cruise control system is switched off when the function is activated and there is no risk of undesired acceleration.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the switch takes the form of a sliding contact which is urged towards a neutral position by a spring device.
According to a first embodiment, the selectable position corresponds to an ON/OFF function whereby alternate signals respectively activate the cruise control system and switch it off with cancellation of the set speed.
This solution also means that stopping the engine automatically switches off the system, which is thus in the OFF position the next time the cruise control system comes into operation.
Such a solution
REFERENCES:
patent: 4219709 (1980-08-01), Scarbro
patent: 4543456 (1985-09-01), Iwata et al.
patent: 4967357 (1990-10-01), Mimura et al.
patent: 5023792 (1991-06-01), Shioyama
patent: 5105361 (1992-04-01), Senoo et al.
patent: 5294759 (1994-03-01), Krehnovi
Grahn Micael
Tordby H.ang.kan
Elms Richard T.
Saab Automobile Aktiebolag
Wysocki Jonathan
LandOfFree
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