A vehicle speed control apparatus

Claim 2

A vehicle speed control apparatus for maintaining an actual vehicle speed at a desired vehicle speed comprising, a detecting means (51) for detecting a value of actual vehicle speed and outputting an actual vehicle speed signal, the actual vehicle speed signal having a value substantially equal to the actual vehicle speed, and a commencing means (53) for outputting an initial signal when the commencing means (53) is triggered, characterized in that the vehicle speed control apparatus further comprises, a memorizing means (211, 212, 262) for setting in a memory (612, 613), a value of the desired vehicle speed, the actual vehicle speed signal outputted by the detecting means (51), and the initial signal outputted from the commencing means (53), the value of desired vehicle speed being substantially equal to the value of the actual vehicle speed at the time the initial signal is outputted from the commencing means (53), and the memorizing means (211, 212, 262) outputting a desired vehicle speed signal having a value of the desired vehicle speed at the time the initial signal is outputted from the commencing means (53), a comparator means (242, 251, 252) for determining a difference between the value of the desired vehicle speed signal and a value of the actual vehicle speed signal, the desired vehicle speed signal being inputted from the memorizing means (211, 212, 262) into the comparator means (242, 251, 252), the actual vehicle speed signal being inputted from the detecting means (51) into the comparator means (242, 251, 252) and the comparator means (242, 251, 252) outputting a first manipulation signal when the difference is larger than a first predetermined value, a timer means (263-269) for counting down a value of a previously set time period, the time period beginning when the desired vehicle speed signal is inputted to the timer means (263-269) from the memorizing means (211, 212, 262), the timer means (263-269) outputting an end signal at an end of the time period, a quick response means (271, 272, 252) for outputting a second manipulation signal during the time period, the second manipulation signal being initiated when the initial signal is inputted from the commencing means (53) into the quick response means (271, 272, 252), the second manipulation signal ending when the end signal is inputted from the timer means (263-269) into the quick response means (271, 272, 252), and an actuator means (10) for opening a throttle valve (22) when at least one of the first and second manipulation signal is inputted into the actuator means (10) from the comparator means (242, 251, 252) and the quick response means (271, 272, 252).

Claim 3

A vehicle speed control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the memorizing means (211, 212, 262) has a relationship set in the memory (612, 613), the relationship being between the value of the desired vehicle speed and the value of the time period, whereby for each value of desired vehicle speed in the memory (612, 613) there is a corresponding time period in the memory (612, 613).

Claim 4

A vehicle speed control apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the value of the time period counted down by the timer means (263-269) is inputted into the timer means (263-269) from the memorizing means (211, 212, 262).

Claim 5

A vehicle speed control apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the value of the time period is determined by the value of the desired vehicle speed in accordance with the relationship.

Claim 6

A vehicle speed control apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the vehicle speed control apparatus further comprises a cancellation means (54) to cancel the first and second manipulation signals.

Claim 7

A vehicle speed control apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the commencing means (53) includes a first position and a neutral position and when the commencing means (53) is displaced to the first position from the neutral position while the actual vehicle speed is maintained at the desired vehicle speed, the commencing means (53) outputs a coast signal whereby the first and second manipulation signals are not outputted so that the actual vehicle speed is decreased from the desired vehicle speed.

Claim 8

A vehicle speed control apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the second manipulation signal is a maximum value signal during the predetermined time period and the actuator means (10) opens the throttle valve (22) to a maximum opening degree when the maximum value signal is inputted into the actuator means (10).

Claim 9

A vehicle speed control apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that at the end of the second manipulation signal the first manipulation signal is inputted to the actuator means (10) whereby the actuator means (10) opens the throttle valve (22) to a degree proportional to the value of the difference between the desired vehicle speed and the actual vehicle speed, the proportional degree being memorized in the memorization means (211, 212, 262).

Claim 10

A vehicle speed control apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the commencing means (53) includes a second position and a neutral position and when the commencing means (53) is displaced to the second position from a neutral position and when the actual vehicle speed is maintained at the desired vehicle speed, the commencing means (53) outputs an acceleration signal. into the. quick response means (271, 272, 252) whereby the quick response means (271, 272, 252) outputs the second manipulation signal into the actuator means (10), so that the actual vehicle speed is increased from the desired vehicle speed.

Claim 11

A vehicle speed control apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that when the actual vehicle speed reaches an increased desired vehicle speed, the commencing means (53) is displaced to the neutral position and the commencing means (53) does not output the acceleration signal into the quick response means (271, 272, 252) and the memorizing means (211, 212, 262) memorizes a value of the increased desired vehicle speed, whereby the actual vehicle speed is maintained at the increased desired vehicle speed.

Claim 12

A vehicle speed control apparatus for maintaining an actual vehicle speed at a desired vehicle speed including, a vehicle speed sensor (51) for detecting a value of the actual vehicle speed and outputting an actual vehicle speed signal being substantially equal to the actual vehicle speed, characterized in that the vehicle speed control apparatus further comprises a setting switch (53) for outputting an initial signal, the setting switch (53) including a movable contact (533) and a first secured contact (534), the setting switch (53) being adapted to output the initial signal when the movable contact (533) is in contact with the first secured contact (534), a cancel switch (54) for outputting a cancel signal, the cancel switch (54) outputting the cancel signal when the cancel switch (54) is operated, a vacuum switch (40) for detecting whether a surge tank (23) has a vacuum, the surge tank (23) being connected to an intake manifold (26) of an engine (21) and a throttle body (27), the vacuum switch (40) connected to the surge tank(23), the vacuum switch (40) adapted to output a vacuum signal when the surge tank (23) does not have a vacuum, a control circuit (60) for receiving the actual vehicle speed signal, the initial signal, the cancel signal and the vacuum signal and for outputting at least one of the first and second manipulation signals, the control circuit (60) comprising a memorizing means (211, 212, 262) for setting in a memory (612, 613) a value of the desired vehicle speed, the actual vehicle speed signal outputted by the vehicle speed sensor (51), and the initial signal outputted from the setting switch (53), the value of desired vehicle speed being substantially equal to the value of the actual vehicle speed at the time the initial signal is outputted from the setting switch (53), and the memorizing means (211, 212, 262) outputting a desired vehicle speed signal having a value of the desired vehicle speed at the time the initial signal is outputted from the setting switch (53), a comparator means (242, 251, 252) for determing a difference between the value of the desired vehicle speed signal and a value of the actual vehicle speed signal, the desired vehicle speed signal being inputted from the memorizing means (211, 212, 262) into the comparator means (242, 251, 252), the actual vehicle speed signal being inputted from the vehicle speed sensor (51) into the comparator means (242, 251, 252) and the comparator means (242, 251, 252) outputting a first manipulation signal when the difference is larger than a first predetermined value, a timer means (263-269) for counting down a value of a previously set time period, the time period being initiated at the initial time at which the desired vehicle speed signal is inputted into the timer means (263-269) from the memorizing means (211, 212, 262), the timer means (263-269) outputting an end signal at an end time of the time period, a quick response means (271, 272, 252) for outputting a second manipulation signal during the time period, the second manipulation signal being initiated when the initial signal is inputted from the setting switch (53) into the quick response means (271, 272, 252), the second manipulation signal ending when the end signal is inputted from the timer means (263-269) into the quick response means (271, 272, 252), and an actuator meams (10) for operating the throttle valve (22); the actuator means (10) including a coil (121), a valve (122) and a first and second port (111, 112), the actuator means (10) opening the throttle valve (22) when at least one of the first and second manipulation signal is inputted into the actuator means (10) from the comparator means (242, 251, 252) and the quick response means (271, 272, 252) of the control circuit (60).

Claim 13

A vehicle speed control apparatus for maintaining an actual vehicle speed at a desired vehicle speed including, a vehicle speed sensor (51) for detecting a value of the actual vehicle speed and outputting an actual vehicle speed signal being substantially equal to the actual vehicle speed, characterized in that the vehicle speed control apparatus further comprises a setting switch (53) for outputting an initial signal, the setting switch (53) including a movable contact (533) and a first secured contact (534), the setting switch (53) being adapted to output the initial signal when the movable contact (533) is in contact with the first secured contact (534), a cancel switch (54) for outputting a cancel signal, the cancel switch (54) outputting the cancel signal when the cancel switch (54) is operated, a vacuum switch (40) for detecting whether a surge tank (23) has a vacuum, the surge tank (23) being connected to an intake manifold (26) of an engine (21) and a throttle body (27), the vacuum switch (40) connected to the surge tank(23), the vacuum switch (40) adapted to output a vacuum signal when the surge tank (23) does not have a vacuum, a control circuit (60) for receiving the actual vehicle speed signal, the initial signal, the cancel signal and the vacuum signal and for outputting at least one of the first and second manipulation signals, the control circuit (60) comprising a memorizing means (211, 212, 262) for setting in a memory (612, 613) a value of the desired vehicle speed, the actual vehicle speed signal outputted by the vehicle speed sensor (51), and the initial signal outputted from the setting switch (53), the value of desired vehicle speed being substantially equal to the value of the actual vehicle speed at the time the initial signal is outputted from the setting switch (53), and the memorizing means (211, 212, 262) outputting a desired vehicle speed signal having a value of the desired vehicle speed at the time the initial signal is outputted from the setting switch (53), a comparator means (242, 251, 252) for determing a difference between the value of the desired vehicle speed signal and a value of the actual vehicle speed signal, the desired vehicle speed signal being inputted from the memorizing means (211, 212, 262) into the comparator means (242, 251, 252), the actual vehicle speed signal being inputted from the vehicle speed sensor (51) into the comparator means (242, 251, 252) and the comparator means (242, 251, 252) outputting a first manipulation signal when the difference is larger than a first predetermined value, a timer means (263-269) for counting down a value of a previously set time period, the time period being initiated at the initial time at which the desired vehicle speed signal is inputted into the timer means (263-269) from the memorizing means (211, 212, 262), the timer means (263-269) outputting an end signal at an end time of the time period, a quick response means (271, 272, 252) for outputting a second manipulation signal during the time period, the second manipulation signal being initiated when the initial signal is inputted from the setting switch (53) into the quick response means (271, 272, 252), the second manipulation signal ending when the end signal is inputted from the timer means (263-269) into the quick response means (271, 272, 252), and an actuator meams (10) for operating the throttle valve (22); the actuator means (10) including a coil (121), a valve (122) and a first and second port (111, 112), the actuator means (10) opening the throttle valve (22) when at least one of the first and second manipulation signal is inputted into the actuator means (10) from the comparator means (242, 251, 252) and the quick response means (271, 272, 252) of the control circuit (60).

Claim 18

(22) in response to the first manipulation signal when the desired vehicle speed is greater than the actual vehicle speed.

Claim 19

(22) in response to the first manipulation signal when the desired vehicle speed is greater than the actual vehicle speed.