Vehicle

Details Vehicle Vehicle

1999-08-31

2001-09-04

Mar, Michael (Department: 3619)

Motor vehicles

With means responsive to speed of vehicle for maintaining...

Including electrically actuated servomechanism

C180S179000, C701S093000, C701S094000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06283240

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the control of vehicle speed and in particular to improvements in the integration of the control of vehicle speed using various components of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Conventionally vehicles have an engine management system for controlling the torque output from the engine. This may form part of an integral power train controller, for example in hybrid vehicles where an engine and an electric motor need to be co-ordinated to provide driving torque for the vehicle. It is also well known to control electronically the level of braking in a vehicle using hydraulic brake modulators or control of electric brakes.
The present invention aims to improve integration of the control of the various parts of the power train and braking systems of a vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle speed control system comprising, at least one driving device arranged to produce drive for the vehicle, at least one braking device arranged to produce braking of the vehicles a vehicle speed sensor for determining a measured speed of the vehicles a speed controller, a driver operated acceleration demand indicator for producing a signal indicative of a demanded acceleration and driver operated deceleration demand indicator for producing a signal indicative of a demanded deceleration, wherein the speed controller is arranged to receive the signals from the two demand indicators and to control the at least one driving device and the at least one braking device so as to produce the demanded level of acceleration or deceleration.
The use of a single speed control unit to receive signals from the driver demanding acceleration and deceleration and control both acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle allows a large degree of flexibility in the control and management of the various sources of driving and braking torque in the vehicle.
The speed control unit may be integrated into a conventional type of brake control unit, engine management system, or power train controller, or it may be provided as a separate control unit which provides inputs to them.
The present invention further provides a vehicle speed control system comprising an acceleration demand member movable through a range of positions, at least one drive device, and a speed controller arranged to control the at least one drive device to control the speed of the vehicle in response to operation of the acceleration demand member, wherein the speed controller is operable in a first mode in which each of said positions has a target speed associated with it, such that when the acceleration demand member is in that position the speed controller is arranged to bring the vehicle speed towards the target speed, and a second mode in which each of said positions has a target drive torque associated with it and the speed controller is arranged to control the at least one drive device to produce the target torque substantially independently of the vehicle speed.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.


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