Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Indication or control of braking – acceleration – or deceleration
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-19
2001-08-28
Zanelli, Michael J. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Indication or control of braking, acceleration, or deceleration
C701S070000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282482
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a device for controlling the drive of a vehicle, incorporating control means which in a first operating state are arranged to control the vehicle so that it maintains a substantially constant speed and in a second operating state to control the vehicle so that it accelerates.
STATE OF THE ART
It is usual today for various kinds of motor vehicles to be provided with such devices in order to be able to control their drive and adjust their speed automatically, i.e. by means of electronic control. These devices are often referred to conversationally as speed maintainers, cruise control, cruise settings, tempostats etc. It is also known that such devices may incorporate means of maintaining a constant vehicle speed, means of vehicle acceleration and means of vehicle retardation. The acceleration aspect of such known devices usually entails the vehicle accelerating with increasing acceleration or increasing torque, after a so-called time ramp. This usually involves the vehicle reaching maximum acceleration or torque after a relatively short period of time. Such an acceleration facility is sufficient in cases where only small changes of speed are desired, but not if it is desired to control the drive of the vehicle automatically over a substantial speed range and at the same time cater for changing conditions. Known devices thus provide no possibility of controlling acceleration to a suitable value, e.g. for a particular traffic situation.
EP-A-441 961 refers to such a device for adjusting the speed of a vehicle. This device includes a control which is designed to be situated on the steering column and which can be used to influence the speed of the vehicle. By rotating this control the driver can set a desired constant speed for the vehicle. The same control can also be shifted downwards from a position for constant speed to one of three defined positions in order to select a constant value for the acceleration it is desired to attain. The driver may thus select and achieve acceleration according to three different predetermined torque levels. This known device also makes it possible to change from such acceleration to maintaining constant speed and vice versa by pressing the control in towards the steering column. This known device thus incorporates a large number of different functions, which makes it difficult for users to handle.
BRIEF OF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a device by which it is possible to control the acceleration and/or retardation of a vehicle to a desired value in every situation. A further aspect of the invention is that the device should be easy to use.
This object is achieved with the device indicated in the introduction which is characterised in that it incorporates an element which in the second operating state is arranged to make it possible to set any desired substantially constant acceleration of the vehicle. Providing such a device with elements for setting any desired positive or negative acceleration enables the driver to control the vehicle's acceleration and/or retardation in a continuous manner during its forward movement and hence to adjust its speed increase or decrease dynamically according to his/her wishes and the prevailing circumstances such as traffic situation, fuel consumption, exhaust emissions, load carried, etc. At the same time, control means in a third operating state may be arranged to control the vehicle for retardation and the abovementioned setting element may be arranged to make it possible to set any desired constant retardation of the vehicle in the third operating state.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, said setting element is arranged to adopt a first position which corresponds to the first operating state. Thus, when the setting element is not being actively acted upon by the driver it can revert to the first position, which means that the vehicle will be driven at constant speed and in particular the speed which the vehicle has when said setting element reverts to the first position.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, said setting element can be shifted from the first position in a first direction in order to reach the second operating state. In this embodiment the setting element may take the form, for example, of a lever which it is easy for the vehicle driver to use.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, said setting element can be shifted from the first position to a second position arranged to generate an acceleration set-value which results in the vehicle accelerating at a constant acceleration, and to a third position arranged to generate an increasing acceleration set-value which enables the vehicle to accelerate with increasing acceleration, and said setting element, when in the second position, is arranged to generate an acceleration set-value which corresponds to the instantaneous acceleration set-value generated substantially immediately before said setting element is put into the second position. In such a version, the vehicle's driver can increase its speed with increasing acceleration by moving said setting element to the third position. When the driver has achieved the desired acceleration level, said setting element shifts to the second position and the acceleration remains constant, and when the desired speed is reached the setting element shifts back to the first position for constant vehicle speed. It is advantageous for said setting element to be arranged to generate a continuously increasing acceleration set-value in the third position. According to an advantageous version, said setting element can also be shifted from the first position to the second position against the action of a first spring force, and from the second position to the third position against the action of a second spring force, the second spring force being greater than the first. In this way, the vehicle driver can recognise the various positions, the increasing force required for operating said setting element during increasing acceleration will be perceived as natural in the context, and the functioning of said setting element will be understood intuitively by users.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, said setting element can be shifted from the first position in a second direction in order to reach the third operating state. By thus shifting said setting element in another direction, e.g. the opposite direction, the vehicle driver can thus brake the vehicle with any desired retardation. Both braking and increase of speed may thus with advantage involve said setting element functioning in a similar manner.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, said positions of said setting element are distinct, which makes it still easier for the vehicle driver to distinguish the various positions from one another.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, said setting element can be shifted steplessly in the first direction from the first position, and the extent of its shift is matched by the generating of an increasing acceleration set-value. In such a version the vehicle driver can select any desired positive or negative acceleration at will by shifting said setting element to a position corresponding to the desired acceleration. For example, the acceleration may be substantially proportional to the position of said setting element. Likewise, said setting element may in particular be shiftable steplessly from the first position in the second direction and the extent of the shift may be matched by the generating of an increasing retardation set-value. It is also possible, with advantage, for said setting element to be shiftable from the first position against the action of an increasing spring force, thereby enabling intuitive understanding of the functioning of the device according to the invention.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the control means are connected to at least one vehicle compo
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
Scania CV Aktiebolag
Zanelli Michael J.
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