Lucas Automotive Gmbh

Lucas Industries Public Limited Company

Reza Shokoufandeh

Ralf Leiter

Ralf Kinder

Lorenz Maack

Franz-Josef Endres

Gerhard Klapper

Andreas Söns

Gregor Poertzgen

Simon Peter Gilling

Douglas Ponsford

The present invention provides a method and a system for controlling a braking equipment of a motor vehicle in order to activate the braking equipment at a standstill of the motor vehicle such that braking forces are built up which are necessary to keep the motor vehicle in a state of standstill. To this end it is established on the basis of vehicle movements whether the vehicle is at a standstill. If vehicle movements are detected that cannot occur during driving modes of the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle is in a state of standstill. Subsequently, the braking equipment, and in particular a holding brake mechanism included in the braking equipment, are activated. In order to provide braking forces keeping the motor vehicle at a standstill also when it is on a slope, the braking equipment, and in particular the holding brake mechanism, are controlled in response of the vehicle inclination present in the state of standstill.

Method and system for controlling brake equipment which can be activated when a motor vehicle is stationary

The present invention provides driveaway assistance for a motor vehicle having braking equipment which, in the standstill condition of the motor vehicle, automatically or under the control of a vehicle driver summons up braking forces needed for the standstill condition. To assist start-up (driveaway) of the motor vehicle through a reduction of the braking forces generated in the standstill condition, a driveaway request or a vehicle driver is determined when defined conditions, which are to be met for driveaway of the motor vehicle, exist in the standstill condition. Once a driveaway request has been recognized, the operating state of the motor vehicle is checked until an operating condition required for driveaway exists. Once such an operating condition is reached, the braking equipment of the motor vehicle is controlled in such a way that its braking forces generated in the standstill condition are reduced to allow driveaway of the vehicle.

Method and system for assisting the driveaway of a motor vehicle

The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling braking equipment of a motor vehicle. Here, an operating state of a motor vehicle is determined, in which the motor vehicle is to be brought from a state, in which its speed is not zero, into a state, in which the vehicle no longer moves. If such a transition from a traveling state into a state of standstill is determined, braking equipment of the motor vehicle is controlled such that braking forces are produced, which are capable of bringing the motor vehicle into the state of standstill and/or assisting a vehicle driver in doing this. It is also possible to produce braking forces in the state of standstill, which are capable of holding the motor vehicle in the state of standstill. The present invention additionally enables to assist a vehicle driver when starting a motor vehicle. In this case, an operating state of the motor vehicle is detected in which the motor vehicle is to be brought from a state of standstill into a traveling state. If such an operating state is present, the braking equipment of the motor vehicle is controlled such that the braking forces produced by the braking equipment in the state of standstill are reduced in such a way as to allow a transition into the traveling state and/or to assist the vehicle driver in this respect.

Method and device for controlling the braking equipment of a motor vehicle

A vehicle cruise controller is provided which monitors the range to and relative speed of a target vehicle ahead of the vehicle being controlled by the cruise controller. A radar provides measurements of range and relative speed. The range measurement is compared by a subtracter with a desired range which is a function of vehicle speed, so as to form a distance error. The relative speed signal represents a speed error. An acceleration demand is formed as a function, for example, a weighted sum, of the distance and speed errors. More significance is given to the distance error when the target is relatively close. This is achieved by varying the gain of a multiplier. The acceleration demand may be supplied to vehicle brake and drive systems, but preferably the acceleration demand is compared with actual vehicle acceleration to provide the advantages of closed loop control.

Method of and apparatus for cruise control

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Green Lane, United Kingdom

Reza Shokoufandeh