EP0729859A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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System and method for integrating intelligent cruise control with an electronically controlled engine
Assignee: Eaton Vorad Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1996-02-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for integrating intelligent cruise control functions (72) with traditional cruise control functions (70) in an electronically controlled internal-combustion engine (E) utilizes engine control modes as defined in the SAE J1922 and SAE J1939 specifications. In one embodiment, the speed control mode is utilized to broadcast a desired engine speed to automatically attain and maintain a desired following distance relative to a forward vehicle. In another embodiment, the engine speed/torque limit control mode is used to impose an upper limit on the traditional cruise control set speed to control the headway distance relative to a forward vehicle. The system and method relinquish control to traditional cruise control when no forward vehicle is detected. Another embodiment provides a control strategy similar to that defined by the J1922 and J1939 specifications to select the lower value as determined by the intelligent cruise control (72) and traditional cruise control (70) functions.
Inventors
- 👤 Shubhayu Chakraborty
- 👤 William Joseph Mack
- 👤 Daniel George Smedley
- 👤 G. Clark Fortune
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:25
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W30/00; B60W30/14; B60W30/16; B60K; B60K31/00; B60K31/0008; B60W10/00; B60W10/04; B60W10/06; B60W40/00; B60W40/02; B60W40/10; B60W40/105; F; F16; F16H; F16H61/00; F16H61/70; F16H61/702; B60W50/00; B60W2050/0001; B60W2050/0043; B60W2050/0044; B60W2050/0045; B60W2420/00; B60W2710/00; B60W2710/06; B60W2710/0644; B60W2710/0666; B60W2720/00; B60W2720/10; B60W2754/00; B60W2754/10; B60W2754/30; B60Y; B60Y2200/00; B60Y2200/10; B60Y2200/14; B60Y2300/00; B60Y2300/14; B60Y2300/16; B60Y2400/00; B60Y2400/30; B60Y2400/301
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A system for integrating cruise control functions (70, 72) based on distance between at least one forward object and a vehicle (10) having an engine (E) controlled by an electronic control module (40) having a plurality of engine control modes selectable via a communications interface for exchanging control and status information, the electronic control module (40) also including logic rules to implement cruise control (70) based on a selectable set point, the system comprising: a sensor (58) for determining distance between the vehicle and at least one forward object; and control logic (72) in communication with the sensor (58) and in communication with the electronic control module (40) for determining a desired vehicle parameter value based on the determined distance, selecting one of the plurality of engine control modes via the communications interface, and communicating the desired vehicle parameter value to the electronic control module (40) via the communications interface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the control logic (72) is further operative to determine a closure rate based on the determined distance and wherein the desired vehicle parameter value is also based on the closure rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of engine control modes includes an engine speed control mode and wherein the control logic (72) selects the engine speed control mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 3 wherein the desired vehicle parameter is engine speed and wherein the control logic (72) communicates a desired engine speed value to the electronic control module.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of engine control modes includes an engine speed limit control mode and wherein the control logic (72) selects the engine speed limit control mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the control logic (72) communicates an engine speed upper limit value to the electronic control module (40).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the control logic (72) communicates an engine speed upper limit value to the electronic control module (40) only when the determined distance is less than a selectable desired following distance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the control logic (72) selects one of the plurality of engine control modes only when the determined distance is less than a selectable desired following distance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the control logic (72) selects one of the plurality of engine control modes utilizing the SAE J1922 communications standard.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the control logic selects one of the plurality of engine control modes utilizing the SAE J1939 communications standard.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the engine (E) includes an engine retarder and wherein the control logic (72) is further operative to actuate the engine retarder when the determined distance is less than a selectable desired distance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of engine control modes includes an engine speed control mode, the desired vehicle parameter is engine speed, and wherein the control logic selects the engine speed control mode and repeatedly communicates a desired engine speed value to the electronic control module (40) independent of a change in the desired engine speed value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of engine control modes includes an engine speed and torque limit control mode, the desired vehicle parameter is engine speed, and wherein the control logic selects the engine speed and torque limit control mode and communicates an engine speed limit value to the electronic control module (40) when a change in the engine speed limit value is determined.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
157 words
A system for implementing cruise control functions based on distance between at least one forward object and a vehicle (10) having an engine (E) controlled by an electronic control module (40) including logic rules (70) for determining a first vehicle cruise control parameter value based on a selectable cruise control set point, the system comprising: a sensor (58) for determining distance between the vehicle and the at least one forward object; first control logic (72) in communication with the sensor (58) and in communication with the electronic control module (40) for determining a second desired vehicle parameter value based on the determined distance; and second control logic (70) disposed within the electronic control module (40) and in communication with the first control logic (72) for selecting the smaller of the first and second desired vehicle parameter values so as to determine a selected parameter value and for controlling the engine (E) based on the selected parameter value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 14 wherein the vehicle parameter comprises vehicle road speed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 14 wherein the second desired vehicle parameter value is also based on a time rate of change of the determined distance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 14 wherein the electronic control module (40) includes a plurality of engine control modes in compliance with SAE J1939.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 14 wherein the electronic control module (40) effects a control strategy in accordance with SAE J1939.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for integrating cruise control functions (70, 72) based on distance between at least one forward object and a vehicle (10) having an engine (E) controlled by an electronic control module (40) having a plurality of selectable engine control modes and logic rules (70) for implementing cruise control based on a selectable set point, the vehicle (10) also including a sensor (58) for determining distance between the vehicle (10) and the at least one forward object so as to define an inter-object distance and control logic (72) in communication with the sensor (58) and the electronic control module (40) via a communications interface, the method comprising: determining (180, 190) the inter-object distance utilizing the sensor; determining a desired vehicle parameter value based on the inter-object distance; selecting one of the plurality of engine control modes via the communications interface; and communicating (188) the desired vehicle parameter value to the electronic control module (40) via the communications interface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising controlling the engine based on the desired vehicle parameter value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the engine (E) further includes an engine retarder in communication with the electronic control module (40) and wherein the step of controlling the engine comprises controlling the engine retarder.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the desired vehicle parameter value is determined based on a time rate of change of the inter-object distance.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the steps of selecting and communicating comprise communicating at least one message in compliance with SAE J1922.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the steps of selecting and communicating comprise communicating at least one message in compliance with SAE J1939.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the plurality of engine control modes includes an engine speed control mode and wherein the step of selecting comprises selecting the engine speed control mode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the plurality of engine control modes includes an engine speed and torque limit control mode and wherein the step of selecting comprises selecting the engine speed and torque limit control mode.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the step of communicating comprises repeatedly communicating the desired vehicle parameter value independent of the desired vehicle parameter value.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for integrating cruise control functions (70, 72) based on inter-vehicle distance in a vehicle (10) having an engine (E) controlled by an electronic control module (40) having a plurality of selectable engine control modes and logic rules (70) for determining a first desired vehicle parameter value to implement cruise control based on a selectable set point, the vehicle also including a sensor (58) for determining distance between the vehicle (10) and a forward vehicle so as to define an inter-vehicle distance, and control logic (72) in communication with the sensor (58) and the electronic control module (40) via a communications interface for exchanging control and status information, the method comprising: sensing (190) the inter-vehicle distance utilizing the sensor; determining (194) a second desired vehicle parameter value based on the inter-vehicle distance; selecting the smaller (198) of the first and second desired vehicle parameter values so as to determine a selected parameter value; and controlling the engine based on the selected parameter value.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the step of determining comprises determining a time rate of change of the inter-vehicle distance.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the step of controlling the engine comprises controlling the engine in accordance with SAE J1939.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the first and second desired vehicle parameters comprise vehicle road speed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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