Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Indication or control of braking – acceleration – or deceleration
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-13
2002-04-09
Nguyen, Tan (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Indication or control of braking, acceleration, or deceleration
C180S172000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06370469
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method of controlling a cruise control system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle cruise control controls typically are optimized for when the vehicle is driving substantially straight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a cruise control that selectively employs a strategy beneficial during traversal of a curved road section.
Advantageously, in an example operation, cruise control according to the present invention includes a software program which processes a number of inputs including lateral acceleration, differential lateral acceleration, torque command, and vehicle performance constants. The value of lateral acceleration is obtained from a brake control computer of the vehicle, from a lateral acceleration sensor, or derived from steering angle and vehicle speed. The value of torque command is obtained from a torque control computer of the cruise control.
In operation of the program, the lateral acceleration is monitored to determine if it has exceeded one of two thresholds. The first threshold is a low lateral acceleration limit and the second threshold is a high lateral acceleration limit. When the lateral acceleration of the vehicle is below the low lateral acceleration limit, the program does not compensate the cruise control torque command. When the lateral acceleration of the vehicle exceeds the low lateral acceleration limit, the torque command is monitored. During this monitoring, if the lateral acceleration of the vehicle remains constant or decreases, the program does not compensate the torque command; however, if the lateral acceleration increases, the torque command is compensated by setting the torque command equal to a minimum torque command, thereby clamping the torque command to the minimum torque command value. When the lateral acceleration of the vehicle exceeds the high acceleration limit, the torque command is further compensated by subtracting a calculated torque offset from the minimum torque command value.
These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4138723 (1979-02-01), Nehmer et al.
patent: 4987357 (1991-01-01), Masaki
patent: 5781103 (1998-07-01), Gilling
patent: 5868474 (1999-02-01), Abe et al.
patent: 6044321 (2000-03-01), Nakamuya et al.
patent: 6188945 (2001-02-01), Graf et al.
Allison Ronald C.
Bolander Thomas Eugene
Phung Tam Anh
Yurgil James R.
General Motors Corporation
Nguyen Tan
Pipala Edward
Simon Anthony Luke
LandOfFree
Cruise control method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cruise control method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cruise control method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2899441