Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Indication or control of braking – acceleration – or deceleration
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-24
2001-02-06
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Indication or control of braking, acceleration, or deceleration
C340S468000, C340S425500, C340S479000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185495
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention proceeds from a system for generating a signal which represents a deceleration operation of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In today's vehicles, the brake lights are, in general, driven directly in dependence upon an actuation of a brake pedal.
DE-OS 20 40 337 discloses that a reduction of vehicle speed comes about not only by the actuation of a foot brake but also via other circumstances such as via a braking by the engine when there is a downshift operation in the transmission or exclusively by releasing the accelerator pedal. According to the contents of this publication, the vehicle deceleration is detected by a special acceleration sensor. The brake lights are then driven in dependence upon a deceleration when the latter occurs. A separate sensor of this kind is relatively complex and is, under circumstances, expensive and subject to malfunction.
The German utility model registration GM 91 08 827 shows a signal output device for controlling the brake light in a motor vehicle wherein the following is evaluated to determine a sudden reduction of vehicle acceleration: the position of the accelerator pedal actuated by the driver, the engine underpressure and/or the fuel throughput supplied to the engine. Here, it is disadvantageous that all of these quantities do not provide a reliable index for the vehicle deceleration.
An engine control system is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,230 wherein the actual engine drag torque is determined in the engine control apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to generate a signal in a simple manner which supplies a precise index for the vehicle deceleration outside of braking operations.
As already mentioned, the invention proceeds from a system for generating a signal which represents a deceleration operation of a motor vehicle having an engine. The signal is provided especially for driving the brake lights of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, a control apparatus is provided which drives or controls the engine in dependence upon data present in the control apparatus. The signal is generated in dependence upon the data present in the control apparatus.
The essence of the invention is that the data, which are present in the control apparatus and which are applied for generating the signal, represent at least the drag torque (the engine drag torque) effected by the engine. With the system of the invention, a relatively precise index for the vehicle deceleration is obtained in a simple manner from the data, which are anyway present in the engine control apparatus at least in newer or future engine control apparatus. If a drive of the brake lights takes place in dependence upon the signal generated in accordance with the invention, then the traffic following behind will also be made aware of decelerations which are not attributable directly to an actuation of the brake. The brake lamps can, of course, continue to be driven additionally in dependence upon an actuation of the brake.
It is especially provided that the engine is configured as an internal combustion engine or an electric motor. Especially in the case of an electric motor, it is provided that the batteries of the motor are charged during overrun operation and, in the case of an internal combustion engine, the control apparatus can control (open loop or closed loop) at least the metering of fuel to the engine.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the signal must not originate directly from the control apparatus of the motor. According to the invention, the signal can also be transmitted quasi indirectly via a data transmission system (for example, a CAN bus system).
If data are present in the control apparatus which represent the drag torque (which is effected by the motor) at the drive wheels, then these data can be applied for generating the signal in an advantageous manner.
The drag torque at the drive wheels, which is effected by the motor, namely, the wheel drag torque, can be determined in the control apparatus from the data present therein which represent the engine drag torque and from the data which represent the actual transmission ratio between motor and the drive wheels.
Furthermore, it is provided that the data, which are present in the control apparatus and which represent the motor drag torque and/or the wheel drag torque, can be compared to at least one pregiven threshold value in order to generate the signal. The brake lamps should only be driven when there is an adequately high deceleration.
Here, it is especially advantageous that this threshold value is pregiven in dependence upon the ambient temperature and/or the temperature of the inducted air in the case of an internal combustion engine. The data, which represent the ambient air and/or the inducted air, are generally present in the control apparatus. The deceleration threshold at which a drive of the brake lamps takes place can be reduced when there is a danger of icy streets in the winter. This increases driving safety.
Alternatively, or as a supplement to the evaluation of the drag torque, it can be provided that the data, which are present in the control apparatus, represent at least the vehicle longitudinal speed or the vehicle longitudinal acceleration. Such data are, in general, likewise present in more modern motor control apparatus, for example, for controlling road speed or for limiting road speed.
Here it is especially provided that the data, which represent the road speed, can be differentiated to generate the signal.
Even with this configuration, the differentiated road speed data or the road speed acceleration data in the control apparatus for generating the signal can be compared to at least one pregiven threshold value. This threshold value can be pregiven in dependence upon the ambient air temperature or the intake air temperature. Here it can be especially provided that data are likewise present in the control apparatus which represent the ambient air temperature and/or the inducted air temperature.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5631829 (1997-05-01), Takasaki et al.
patent: 5856793 (1999-01-01), Tonkin et al.
patent: 5909174 (1999-06-01), Dietz et al.
patent: 5931884 (1999-08-01), Ochiai
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Hernandez Olga
Ottesen Walter
Robert & Bosch GmbH
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