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:
Jan. 08, 1991
Filed:
Oct. 19, 1988
Yasuo Naitou, Himeji, JP;
Akihiko Mori, Himeji, JP;
Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The invention relates to a constant-speed cruise control apparatus for automatically controlling the cruise speed of a vehicle to permit the vehicle to cruise at a constant speed. The gradient of a road is estimated on the basis of an actual cruise speed of the vehicle, the opening of a throttle valve, and cruise performance characteristics of the vehicle which indicates the relationship between the cruise speed and the opening of a throttle valve. If it determines that the road is uphill, and moreover, the absolute value of a speed deviation (i.e., a deviation of the actual cruise speed froma target speed) is more than a predetermined value, shifting down is carried out. Subsequently, if the absolute value of the speed deviation is less than another predetermined value, and moreover, it is determined that the road is downhill, shifting up is carried out. Through such shift-up and shift-down control on the basis of both the speed deviation and the road gradient, it is possible to perform speed change control according to the conditions of the surface of a road, thereby carrying out a highly reliable constant speed cruise of the vehicle.