Pedal Cruise Control (PCC)

Abstract

A method of cruise control for a vehicle includes the following steps: checking for cruise conditions, determining whether the vehicle is in cruise control mode, and if in cruise control mode, maintaining and controlling the cruising speed of the vehicle until an exit signal is detected; checking the throttle deviation, whereby if not in cruise control mode, the throttle deviation is checked to determine throttle stability; checking cruising speed, whereby if conditions for throttle stability are met, the speed deviation of the vehicle is calculated, and the cruising speed is set; checking the cruising alert for drivers as well as drivers' actions, whereby if conditions for cruising have been met, issuing a cruise control prompt to the driver, and if it is detected that the driver has released the throttle pedal, entering the vehicle into cruise control mode; whereas if the driver fails to release the throttle within a certain period of time after cruise conditions have been met, the next check for cruise conditions is carried out. A system is provided to perform the method. A cruise control which is low-cost, requires no control buttons, and offers a simple product structure is achieved.

Claims

1. A method for cruise control of a vehicle, comprising: checking for cruise conditions, determining whether the vehicle is in cruise control mode, and when in cruise control mode, maintaining and controlling a cruising speed of the vehicle until an exit signal is detected; checking a throttle deviation, whereby if not in cruise control mode, said throttle deviation is checked to determine throttle stability; checking a stability of a vehicle speed of the vehicle and setting the cruising speed, whereby the stability of the vehicle speed is determined and the cruising speed is set; and checking a cruise control prompt for a driver of the vehicle as well as actions of the driver, whereby when said cruise conditions have been met, a driver's cruising prompt message is set, and once it is detected that the driver has released a throttle pedal, the vehicle enters cruise control mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said steps for checking cruise conditions comprise the following sub-steps: detecting signals relating to the operating conditions of the vehicle; said signals include the throttle pedal position signal, vehicle speed signal and exit signal; determining whether the vehicle is in cruise control mode; if determined as being in cruise control mode, the vehicle will be controlled at the cruising speed, and be kept at cruising speed as it is driven; during the process of maintaining the cruising speed of the vehicle, it is determined as to whether there is an exit signal, and if an exit signal is detected, then the vehicle exits cruise control mode, and the determining of cruise conditions begins once again; if no exit signal is detected, then the current cruising state is maintained; if determined that the vehicle is not in cruise control mode, it will be determined as to whether the count value of the cruise conditions counter is greater 0, and if so, the steps for checking the driver's actions will be proceeded to; whereby if not, the said process of checking throttle deviation will be proceeded to.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that said exit signal includes at least one signal selected from a brake signal, a signal for degree of throttle depression, a steering wheel signal, a gear signal and a clutch signal.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that said step for checking throttle deviation comprises the following sub-steps: determining whether the throttle stability counter value is equal to 0, and if not, the process for counting of the throttle stability counter will be proceeded to; if the throttle stability counter value is equal to 0, the absolute value of throttle deviation is calculated, with said throttle deviation absolute value being the absolute value given by the difference between two adjacent sample values of the degree of throttle depression; determining whether the absolute value of throttle deviation is less than the set throttle deviation threshold; if the absolute value of throttle deviation is determined as being less than the set throttle deviation threshold, the degree of throttle depression is set to the reference value, while at the same time, the throttle stability counter is set to 0, and the process for counting the throttle stability counter will be proceeded to; determining whether the throttle stability counter value is greater than the set throttle stability threshold, whereby if the value of the throttle stability counter is greater than the set throttle stability threshold, checking of the stability of the vehicle speed and setting of the cruising speed will be proceeded to.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the said step for counting of the throttle stability counter comprises the following sub-steps: calculating the absolute value of throttle deviation, with said absolute value being given by the difference between the current degree of throttle depression and the throttle depression reference value; determining whether the obtained said absolute value of throttle deviation is less than the set throttle deviation threshold, and if so, a count of 1 is added to the throttle stability counter, with the absolute value of throttle deviation calculation step then being returned to, and the next cycle being entered, with this taking place until the throttle stability counter value is greater than the set throttle stability threshold, and checking of the stability of the vehicle speed and setting of the cruising speed is proceeded to; if not, the throttle deviation checking is exited, and cruise conditions are checked once again.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that said processes for checking the stability of vehicle speed and setting cruising speed comprise the following sub-steps: determining whether the vehicle speed stability counter value is equal to 0, and if not, the counting of the vehicle speed stability counter will be proceeded to; if not, the absolute value of vehicle speed deviation is calculated, with said absolute value being the difference between two adjacent sample speeds; determining whether the absolute value of vehicle speed is less than the set vehicle speed deviation threshold; if the absolute value of vehicle speed deviation is less than the set vehicle speed deviation threshold, the speed will be set to the reference value, while at the same time the vehicle speed stability counter value is set to 0, and the process for counting the vehicle speed stability counter will be proceeded to.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that said process for counting the vehicle speed stability counter comprises the following sub-steps: calculating the absolute value of vehicle speed deviation, with said absolute value being given by the difference between the current vehicle speed and the vehicle speed reference value; determining whether said absolute value of speed deviation is less than the set vehicle speed deviation threshold, and if not, the vehicle speed stability counter is set to 0 and cruise control is exited, with checking of cruise conditions being carried out once again; whereby if so, a count of 1 is added to the vehicle speed stability counter value, with said vehicle speed deviation absolute value calculation step then being returned to, with this taking place until the vehicle speed stability counter value is greater than the set vehicle speed stability threshold, and the step for setting the cruising speed being proceeded to.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that said step for setting the cruising speed comprises the following sub-steps: setting cruising speed; and setting the cruise conditions counter to 0.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said steps for issuing the cruise control prompt for drivers as well as checking the driver's actions comprise the following sub-steps: setting the driver prompt signal; checking whether the driver has released the throttle pedal, and if so, the vehicle entering cruise control mode; if the driver fails to release the throttle pedal, a count of 1 is added to the cruise conditions counter, and the vehicle does not enter cruise control mode; determining whether the cruise conditions counter value is less than the set threshold for entering cruise mode, and if so, returning to the step for checking whether the driver has released the throttle pedal; if not, said step for checking cruise conditions is returned to.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that said driver prompt signal includes a cruise control prompt message and/or a voice signal on the dashboard display.

11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that during said step of throttle deviation checking, the deviation in the degree of throttle pedal depression between two control cycles within a certain period of time is less than the set throttle deviation threshold; meanwhile, during said step for checking cruising speed, the vehicle speed deviation is less than the set cruising speed deviation threshold, with a count of 1 being added to the vehicle speed stability counter, and if the count of said vehicle speed stability counter exceeds the set vehicle speed stability threshold, a request will be made for the cruising speed to be set; during said step for checking the driver's actions, once conditions for cruise control have been met, a cruise control prompt is given to the driver, and after the driver has received the cruise control prompt signal and released the throttle pedal, the vehicle enters a state of cruise control; when an exit signal is detected, cruise control is exited; this state is maintained until the above conditions are again met, whereupon cruise control mode is entered into once more.

12. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that said steps for issuing the cruise control prompt for drivers as well as checking the driver's actions comprise the following sub-steps: setting the driver prompt signal; checking whether the driver has released the throttle pedal, and if so, the vehicle entering cruise control mode; if the driver fails to release the throttle pedal, a count of 1 is added to the cruise conditions counter, and the vehicle does not enter cruise control mode; determining whether the cruise conditions counter value is less than the set threshold for entering cruise mode, and if so, returning to the step for checking whether the driver has released the throttle pedal; if not, said step for checking cruise conditions is returned to.

13. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that said steps for issuing the cruise control prompt for drivers as well as checking the driver's actions comprise the following sub-steps: setting the driver prompt signal; checking whether the driver has released the throttle pedal, and if so, the vehicle entering cruise control mode; if the driver fails to release the throttle pedal, a count of 1 is added to the cruise conditions counter, and the vehicle does not enter cruise control mode; determining whether the cruise conditions counter value is less than the set threshold for entering cruise mode, and if so, returning to the step for checking whether the driver has released the throttle pedal; if not, said step for checking cruise conditions is returned to.

14. A cruise control system, characterized in that said system is configured and arranged to perform the method according to claim 1, wherein said system comprises a signal acquisition and processing unit, as well as a degree of throttle depression stability checking unit, a vehicle speed stability checking unit, a cruising speed setting unit, a cruise control prompting unit and a driver action checking unit, which are connected to said signal acquisition and processing unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] The drawings illustrated herein are used to provide further elaboration on the present invention and form an integral part of the present invention; while the illustrative embodiments and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention, they do not constitute any improper restriction to the present invention.

[0048] Drawings:

[0049] FIG. 1 is a work-flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of the cruise control method of the present invention;

[0050] FIG. 2 is a work-flow diagram for the checking of cruise conditions as shown in FIG. 1;

[0051] FIG. 3 is a work-flow diagram for the checking of throttle deviation as shown in FIG. 1;

[0052] FIG. 4 is a work-flow diagram for the checking of vehicle speed and setting of cruising speed as shown in FIG. 1;

[0053] FIG. 5 is a work-flow diagram for the cruise control prompt and checking of drivers' actions as shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0054] The drawings will be referred to in conjunction with the embodiments hereafter in the detailed description of the present invention. It should be noted that, where there is no conflict, the features of the embodiments of the present invention may be combined with one another.

[0055] The state of cruise control is, in fact, a function for setting the speed a vehicle travels at in accordance with the driver, with existing cruise control products requiring the driver to operate a button on the steering wheel in order to travel at cruising speed. In effect, the driver's intentions are mainly determined via the direct input of the gear, clutch, brake, and throttle pedal. When the driver wishes to reduce speed, they must press down on the brake pedal, or release the throttle pedal. Similarly, for the driver to maintain their current speed, the throttle pedal can be kept in a certain position to achieve this goal. Therefore, the input from a button is not mandatory for cruise control.

[0056] In view of the problems and deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention achieves cruise control by reading information relating to the degree of throttle pedal deviation and vehicle speed deviation. The cruise control method of the present invention mainly involves the following: if the deviation in the degree of throttle pedal depression between two control cycles within a certain period of time is less than a certain set valuethe throttle deviation threshold (throttle_deviation_threshold), while at the same time, the vehicle speed deviation is less than a certain set valuethe cruising speed deviation threshold (speed_deviation_threshold), then a count of 1 is added to the vehicle speed stability counter (Velocity_Sta_Counter), and if the count of said vehicle speed stability counter exceeds a certain set valuethe vehicle speed stability threshold (Velo_coun_threshold), a request will be made for the current vehicle speed or a certain set value to be set as the cruising speed, while said set value may be the average speed over a certain period of time, or an integer of speed having been rounded up or down, such as 50 km/h, 55 km/h, 60 km/h etc. When the driver receives a cruise control prompt signal and releases the throttle pedal, the vehicle will maintain the required speed after the throttle pedal has been released. When the driver brakes, or gives other exit signal, the vehicle exits cruise control. This state is maintained until the above conditions are met once again, with the vehicle entering into cruising mode once more.

[0057] The present invention compares both the degree of throttle pedal depression and the vehicle speed, so that a vehicle is able to enter cruise control without the driver being required to operate any buttons. The driver's intention to enter cruise mode can be identified via the degree of throttle pedal depression and vehicle speed, with the driver's intention with respect to cruise mode being confirmed by the release of throttle pedal, with this simplifying the need for hardware (such as buttons and their corresponding circuits), thus providing a low-cost solution for vehicle cruise control.

[0058] If the deviation in the degree of throttle pedal depression is less than a predetermined throttle pedal depression deviation threshold, such as 2%, the count of a timer or of a counter increases, and when the count exceeds a certain value, such as 500 control cycles (5 seconds), the vehicle speed conditions are checked, and if the vehicle speed deviation is less than a certain value, the count of the counter will increase. When the count of the counter exceeds a set threshold, a request to set the current vehicle speed as the cruising speed is made and sent to the vehicle controller, while at the same time, the corresponding prompt signal is shown on the dashboard display. After seeing the prompt signal, the driver releases the throttle pedal, and the vehicle enters cruise control mode.

[0059] The present invention controls speed and places the vehicle into cruise control mode by means of checking the deviation in the degree of throttle pedal depression, thereby solving the issue of button operation and the complicated product structure required to enter cruise control mode in the prior art, thereby simplifying the operational steps so that road safety is greatly improved.

[0060] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below in combination with the diagrams. With reference to FIG. 1, the method for cruise control in the present invention comprises the following steps:

[0061] Step S100: checking the cruising status, determining whether the vehicle is in cruise control mode;

[0062] Step S200: checking the throttle deviation, determining the throttle stability;

[0063] Step S300: checking stability of vehicle speed and setting cruising speed, whereby the stability of the speed of the vehicle is determined and cruising speed is set; and

[0064] Step S400: checking the cruise control prompt for drivers as well as the drivers' actions, whereby when conditions for cruising have been met, a driver's cruising prompt message is set, and once it is detected that the driver has released the throttle pedal, the vehicle enters cruise control mode.

[0065] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, said process for checking cruise conditions of the present invention, S100, comprises the following steps:

[0066] Step S101: detecting signals relating to the operating conditions of the vehicle, with said signals including degree of throttle depression (n), degree of throttle depression (n1), vehicle speed (n), vehicle speed (n1), a brake signal, steering wheel signal, gear signal, and clutch signal etc. Wherein degree of throttle depression (n) and degree of throttle depression (n1) represent two adjacent samples for degree of throttle depression, providing the throttle pedal position signal; vehicle speed (n) and vehicle speed (n1) represent two adjacent samples for speed, providing the speed signal, while the interval between the two sampling points is determined by the sampling cycle.

[0067] Step S102: determining whether the vehicle is in cruise control mode, and if so, proceeding to step S103; whereby if not, proceeding to step S106.

[0068] Step S103: if determined that the vehicle is in cruise control mode, it is controlled at the cruising speed, being kept at cruising speed as it is driven.

[0069] Step S104: determining whether or not a brake signal or other exit signal is present, with said exit signal mainly comprising of one or more from a brake signal, signal for degree of throttle depression, steering wheel signal, gear signal and clutch signal; whereby if a brake signal or other exit signal is detected, step S105 will be proceeded to, and if no brake signal or other exit signal is detected, step S101 will be returned to and cruise conditions are checked once again.

[0070] Step S105: exiting cruise control mode.

[0071] Step S106: determining as to whether the count value of the cruise conditions counter (CC_entry_counter) is greater 0, and if so (i.e. CC_entry_counter>0), step S400 for checking the driver's actions as shown in FIG. 5 will be proceeded to; whereby if not, the process of checking throttle deviation, S200 as shown in FIG. 3, will be proceeded to.

[0072] Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 3, the process for checking throttle deviation, S200, comprises the following steps:

[0073] Step S201: determining whether the throttle stability counter value (Throttle_Sta_Counter) is equal to 0, and if so, proceeding to step S202; while if not, proceeding to step S205.

[0074] Step S202: calculating the throttle deviation absolute value (Delta_throttle) by means of the formula Delta_throttle=|Degree of throttle depression (n)Degree of throttle depression (n1)|, wherein, Delta_throttle is the throttle deviation absolute value.

[0075] Step S203: determining whether the absolute value of throttle deviation (Delta_throttle) is less than the set throttle deviation threshold; and if so, proceeding to step S204; whereby if not, exiting the process and returning to step S100.

[0076] Step S204: when the absolute value of throttle deviation (Delta_throttle) is initially determined as being less than the set throttle deviation threshold in step S203, the formula for setting the degree of throttle depression reference value (Throttle_current) is given by Throttle_current=0.5*|Degree of throttle depression (n)+Degree of throttle depression (n1)|, while at the same time, the throttle stability counter (Throttle_Sta_Counter) is set to 0, and the cycle for counting the throttle stability counter is proceeded to.

[0077] The cycle for counting of the throttle stability counter includes the following steps S205, S206 and S208:

[0078] Step S205: calculating the current throttle deviation absolute value (Delta_throttle)=|Degree of throttle depression (n)Throttle_current|.

[0079] Step S206: determining whether the absolute value of throttle deviation (Delta_throttle) calculated in step S205 is less than the set throttle deviation threshold (Thro_coun_threshold), and if so, a count of 1 is added to the throttle stability counter (Throttle_Sta_Counter) i.e. step S208, with step S205 then being returned to in order to calculate the throttle deviation absolute value (Delta_throttle) for the next throttle depression sample.

[0080] This continues until the throttle stability counter value (Throttle_Sta_counter) is determined as being greater than the set throttle stability threshold (Thro_coun_threshold) in step S209, with the process for checking throttle deviation ending, and the process for checking cruising speed as shown in FIG. 3 (S300) being proceeded to.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 4, the process for checking vehicle speed stability and setting cruising speed in this embodiment (S300) comprises the following steps:

[0082] Step S301: determining whether the vehicle speed stability counter value (Velocity_Sta_Counter) is equal to 0, and if so, proceeding to step S302; whereby if not, proceeding to step S305.

[0083] Step S302: calculating the absolute value of vehicle speed deviation (DeltaV) by means of the formula DeltaV=|Vehicle speed (n)Vehicle speed (n1)|.

[0084] Step S303: determining whether the absolute value of vehicle speed (DeltaV) is less than the set vehicle speed deviation threshold; and if so, proceeding to step S304.

[0085] Step S304: when the absolute value of vehicle speed (DeltaV) in S303 is initially determined as being less than the set vehicle speed deviation threshold, the speed reference value is set, i.e. Cruise_speed_base=vehicle speed (n), so that the most recently measured vehicle speed (n) (in step S302) is set as the speed reference value. At the same time, the vehicle speed stability counter value (Velocity_Sta_Counter) is set to 0, and the cycle for counting the vehicle speed stability counter is proceeded to.

[0086] The cycle for counting of the vehicle speed stability counter includes steps S305, S306 and S308.

[0087] Step S305: calculating the absolute value of the current vehicle speed deviation (DeltaV), with the formula DeltaV=|Vehicle speed (n) Cruise_speed_base|, i.e. the speed deviation absolute value is the absolute value given by the difference between each measured vehicle speed (n) and the speed reference value.

[0088] Step S306: determining whether the absolute value of vehicle speed deviation (DeltaV) calculated in step S305 is less than the set vehicle speed deviation threshold, and if not, the vehicle speed stability counter is set to 0; whereby if so, i.e. the vehicle speed deviation absolute value (DeltaV) calculated in step S305 is less than the set vehicle speed deviation threshold, a count of 1 is added to the vehicle speed stability counter value (Velocity_Sta_Counter) (step S308), and step S305 is returned to, with the vehicle speed deviation absolute value (DeltaV) for the next speed sample being calculated. This continues until the vehicle speed stability counter value (Velocity_Sta_Counter) is determined as being greater than the set vehicle speed stability threshold (Velo_coun_threshold) in step 309, with step S310 then being proceeded to in which cruise conditions are set.

[0089] Step S310: the current vehicle speed (n) or a certain set value is set as the cruising speed, while said set value may be the average speed over a certain period of time, or an integer of speed having been rounded up or down, such as 50 km/h, 55 km/h, 60 km/h etc.

[0090] Step S311: the count of the cruise conditions counter (CC_entry_counter) is set to 0. At this point, the process for checking vehicle speed deviation is ended, and the process for checking drivers' actions (S400), as shown in FIG. 4, is proceeded to.

[0091] With reference to FIG. 5, the process of cruise control prompt and checking of drivers' actions (S400) contains the following steps:

[0092] Step S401: setting the driver prompt signal. The driver prompt signal in this step may include a prompt message and/or voice signal on the dashboard display.

[0093] Step S402: checking whether the driver has released the throttle pedal. In this step, it is checked whether the driver has released the throttle pedal, and if so, step S403 is proceeded to, with the vehicle entering cruise control mode; while if not, step S404 is proceeded to.

[0094] Step S404: a count of 1 is added to the cruise conditions counter value (CC_entry_counter), and the vehicle does not enter cruise control mode.

[0095] Step S405: determining whether the cruise conditions counter value (CC_entry_counter) is less than the set threshold for entering cruise mode (CC_entry_threshold), and if so, returning to step S402, further checking whether the driver has released the throttle pedal; whereby if not, step S100 is returned to, and checking for cruise conditions begins once again.

[0096] The aforementioned cruise control method may be realized via the electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 6, in another embodiment of the present invention, a cruise control system is also provided, with said cruise control method being used by said cruise control system, which comprises:

[0098] A signal acquisition and processing unit 601, which is used to execute the checks for cruising status in step S100 and its sub-steps;

[0099] A degree of throttle depression stability checking unit 602, which is used to execute the checks for said throttle deviation in step S200 and its sub-steps;

[0100] A vehicle speed stability checking unit 603 and a cruising speed setting unit 604, which are used to execute the checks for cruising speed in step S300 and its sub-steps;

[0101] A cruise control prompting unit 605, and a driver action checking unit 606, which are used to execute the checks for drivers' actions in step S400 and its sub-steps.

[0102] The degree of throttle depression stability checking unit 602, vehicle speed stability checking unit 603, cruising speed setting unit 604, cruise control prompting unit 605 and driver action checking unit 606 are connected to the signal acquisition and processing unit 601.

[0103] The foregoing gives only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and does not pose any limitation to the present invention; to those who are skilled in the art, the present invention may have various alterations and variations. All the modifications, equivalent replacements or improvements in the scope of the present invention shall be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.