The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 17, 2019
Filed:
Dec. 20, 2017
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
Volker Haupts, Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE;
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A cruise control system controls fuel supplied to an engine of a motor vehicle based in part on whether the vehicle is travelling on a positive gradient, a negative gradient, or a level surface. The system includes a sensor for detecting a position of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle, an inclinometer for detecting a gradient of a surface over which the vehicle is traveling; and an electronic processor operative to set a fuel flow rate. The fuel flow rate is set as a function of the accelerator pedal position detected at an activation time of the cruise control system, and that fuel flow rate is maintained at a constant rate if the vehicle is travelling on a positive gradient or a level surface. The vehicle therefore slows down on the positive gradient rather than maintaining a target speed as with a conventional cruise control system.