Terrain adaptive cruise control
US6374173B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 28, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 16, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 28, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60W2552/20
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An electronic vehicle system monitors vehicle parameters and calculates variables such as acceleration to determine when the vehicle is cresting a hill. An action is taken to alter operation of the cruise control to avoid expending excess fuel or braking as the vehicle descends the downward grade. In one implementation, a message is displayed to a driver indicating the driver should reset the cruise set speed. In another implementation, the system automatically resets the cruise set speed without driver intervention. In yet another implementation, the system automatically resets the cruise set speed and automatically increases the set speed as the vehicle accelerates. An exemplary embodiment employs variable smoothing and a fuzzy logic system with a degree of confidence variable and an increase-in-acceleration rule.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.