Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method of controlling the road speed of a motor vehicle

US6554744B2 · kind B2 · utility

31Cited by
12References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 31, 2001
Grant dateApr 29, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 31, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60W2540/30
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for controlling the road speed of a motor vehicle has an accelerator pedal (12), which is biased counter to its actuating direction into an inoperative position and is movable from the inoperative position into a neutral position, from which a further movement of the accelerator pedal (12) counter to the spring bias leads to an increase of the drive torque of the motor vehicle drive. A device for detecting the inoperative position of the accelerator pedal (12) is connected to a braking-force generator (40) and in the inoperative position of the accelerator pedal (12) causes the braking-force generator (40) to make a predetermined braking force available. In order to make the apparatus (10) more comfortable, according to an alternative the braking-force generator (40) builds up the predetermined braking force in a controlled manner when the accelerator pedal (12) attains its inoperative position, and/or reduces the built-up braking force in a controlled manner when the accelerator pedal (12) leaves its inoperative position. According to another alternative, the device for detecting the inoperative position of the accelerator pedal (12), upon a movement of the accel…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.