US4951208A — System for automatically controlling vehicle spee…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 189 words

A system for a vehicle, comprising: (a) first means for detecting a vehicle speed; (b) second means through which the current vehicle speed is set as a cruise speed at which a vehicle driver desires to cruise; (c) third means responsive to the set of the cruise speed through the second means for outputting a speed control command so that the vehicle speed coincides with the set cruise speed; (d) fourth means for adjusting a driving force of the vehicle through a first engine driving force adjusting mechanism according to the speed command from the third means; (e) fifth means for detecting whether a slip on a drive wheel of the vehicle occurs; (f) sixth means for outputting a speed reduction command when the occurrence of slip is detected by the fifth means; (g) seventh means for reducing the driving force through a second engine driving force adjusting mechanism according to the speed reduction command derived from the sixth means; and (h) eighth means for inhibiting the output of the speed control command to the fourth means when the occurrence of the slip is detected by the fifth means.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 189 words

A system for a vehicle, comprising: (a) first means for detecting a vehicle speed; (b) second means through which the current vehicle speed is set as a cruise speed at which a vehicle driver desires to cruise; (c) third means responsive to the set of the cruise speed through the second means for outputting a speed control command so that the vehicle speed coincides with the set cruise speed; (d) fourth means for adjusting a driving force of the vehicle through a first engine driving force adjusting mechanism according to the speed command from the third means; (e) fifth means for detecting whether a slip on a drive wheel of the vehicle occurs; (f) sixth means for outputting a speed reduction command when the occurrence of slip is detected by the fifth means; (g) seventh means for reducing the driving force through a second engine driving force adjusting mechanism according to the speed reduction command derived from the sixth means; and (h) eighth means for inhibiting the output of the speed control command to the fourth means when the occurrence of the slip is detected by the fifth means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 43 words

A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first engine driving force adjusting mechanism comprises a first throttle valve installed in an intake air passage of a vehicular engine, and wherein the opening angle of said first throttle valve is variable.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second engine driving force adjusting mechanism comprises a second throttle valve installed in an intake air passage of a vehicular engine, and wherein the opening angle of said second throttle valve is variable.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 76 words

A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first engine driving the force adjusting mechanism comprises a first throttle valve installed in an intake air passage of a vehicular engine, and said second engine driving force adjusting mechanism comprises a second throttle valve installed in an intake air passage of said vehicular engine in series with said first throttle valve, and wherein the opening angles of said first and second throttle valves are variable.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 247 words

A system for a vehicle, comprising: (a) first means for detecting a speed of a vehicular drive wheel; (b) second means through which the current drive wheel speed is set as a cruise speed at which a vehicle driver desires to cruise; (c) third means, including a first actuator, responsive to the set of the cruise speed through the second means for receiving the drive wheel speed information from the first means and for outputting a first actuation command to the first actuator so that the drive wheel speed coincides with the set cruise speed, the first actuator actuating a first vehicle driving force adjusting mechanism; (d) fourth means for detecting a variable determining the vehicle driving force from the first driving force adjusting mechanism; (e) fifth means for detecting a vehicle body speed; (f) sixth means, including a second actuator, for receiving the drive wheel speed information from the first means, the variable information from the fourth means, and the vehicle body speed information from the fifth means, and for outputting a second actuation command to the second actuator so as to reduce the driving force when a difference between the drive wheel speed and vehicle body speed exceeds a predetermined value, the second actuator actuating a second vehicular driving force adjusting mechanism, the sixth means outputting an interrupt signal to the third means so as to cancel the output of the first actuation command signal to the third means when outputting the second actuation signal.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 247 words

A system for a vehicle, comprising: (a) first means for detecting a speed of a vehicular drive wheel; (b) second means through which the current drive wheel speed is set as a cruise speed at which a vehicle driver desires to cruise; (c) third means, including a first actuator, responsive to the set of the cruise speed through the second means for receiving the drive wheel speed information from the first means and for outputting a first actuation command to the first actuator so that the drive wheel speed coincides with the set cruise speed, the first actuator actuating a first vehicle driving force adjusting mechanism; (d) fourth means for detecting a variable determining the vehicle driving force from the first driving force adjusting mechanism; (e) fifth means for detecting a vehicle body speed; (f) sixth means, including a second actuator, for receiving the drive wheel speed information from the first means, the variable information from the fourth means, and the vehicle body speed information from the fifth means, and for outputting a second actuation command to the second actuator so as to reduce the driving force when a difference between the drive wheel speed and vehicle body speed exceeds a predetermined value, the second actuator actuating a second vehicular driving force adjusting mechanism, the sixth means outputting an interrupt signal to the third means so as to cancel the output of the first actuation command signal to the third means when outputting the second actuation signal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 83 words

A system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the sixth means calculates a difference between the drive wheel speed and vehicle body speed, compares the difference with the predetermined value so as to detect the occurrence of a slip on the drive wheel, and calculates a variable determining the reduction of speed through the second driving force adjusting mechanism on the basis of the speed difference, a difference between the current speed difference and a previous speed difference one control period before.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 69 words

A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the sixth means calculates the variable θ 2 in the following equation: θ.sub.2 =90° -(G.sub.p ×delta V+G.sub.D ×delta.sup.2 V), in the equation G p denotes a proportional gain, G D denotes a differential gain, delta V denotes the speed difference, and delta 2 V is expressed as delta V-delta VOLD, and delta VOLD denotes delta V one control period before.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 33 words

A system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the variable of the second driving force adjusting mechanism is set to 90° when no occurrence of slip is detected by the sixth means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 42 words

A system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first and second driving force adjusting mechanisms are first and second throttle valves installed in an intake air passage of a vehicular engine, opening angles of both throttle valves being the variables.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 64 words

A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the output of the first actuation command signal from the third means to the first actuator is carried out after a predetermined delay upon the detection of the difference of speed below the predetermined value after the sixth means outputs the second actuation command to the second actuator so as to reduce the drive force.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 15 words

A system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the predetermined delay is 10 seconds.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 15 words

A system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the predetermined value is 5 Km/h.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 26 words

A system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the third and sixth means are constituted by a single microcomputer except the first and second actuators.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 191 words

A method for controlling a driving force of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting a vehicle speed; (b) providing switch means through which the current vehicle speed is set as a cruise speed at which a vehicle driver desires to cruise and setting the cruise speed through the switch means; (c) outputting a speed control command when the cruise speed is set through the switch means in the step (b) so that the vehicle speed coincides with the set cruise speed; (d) adjusting a driving force of the vehicle through a first engine driving force adjusting mechanism according to the speed control command outputted in the step (c); (e) detecting occurrence of a slip on a drive wheel of the vehicle; (g) outputting a speed reduction command when the occurrence of the slip is detected in the step (e); (g) reducing the driving force through a second engine driving force adjusting mechanism according to the speed reduction command outputted in the step (f); and (h) inhibiting the output of the speed control command in the step (d) when the occurrence of the slip is detected in the step (e).

Claim 17

Independent Claim 191 words

A method for controlling a driving force of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting a vehicle speed; (b) providing switch means through which the current vehicle speed is set as a cruise speed at which a vehicle driver desires to cruise and setting the cruise speed through the switch means; (c) outputting a speed control command when the cruise speed is set through the switch means in the step (b) so that the vehicle speed coincides with the set cruise speed; (d) adjusting a driving force of the vehicle through a first engine driving force adjusting mechanism according to the speed control command outputted in the step (c); (e) detecting occurrence of a slip on a drive wheel of the vehicle; (g) outputting a speed reduction command when the occurrence of the slip is detected in the step (e); (g) reducing the driving force through a second engine driving force adjusting mechanism according to the speed reduction command outputted in the step (f); and (h) inhibiting the output of the speed control command in the step (d) when the occurrence of the slip is detected in the step (e).

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said step of adjusting a driving force of the vehicle through said first engine driving force adjusting mechanism comprises adjusting the angle of a first throttle valve installed in an intake air passage of a vehicular engine.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said step of adjusting a driving force of the vehicle through said second engine driving force adjusting mechanism comprises adjusting the angle of a second throttle valve installed in an intake air passage of a vehicular engine.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 87 words

A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said step of adjusting a driving force of the vehicle through said first engine driving force adjusting mechanism comprises adjusting the angle of a first throttle valve installed in an intake air passage of a vehicular engine, and said step of adjusting a driving force through said second engine driving force adjusting mechanism comprises adjusting the angle of a second throttle valve installed in an intake air passage of said vehicular engine in series with said first valve.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-08-20	1994-02-19	1994-08-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-08-20	1998-02-19	1998-08-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-08-20	2002-02-19	2002-08-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System for automatically controlling vehicle speed to desired cruise speed whose control function is inhibited when system for controlling a vehicular traction operates and method therefor

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