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:
May. 11, 2010
Filed:
Mar. 24, 2006
Koichi Okuda, Susono, JP;
Mitsuhiro Tabata, Suntou-gun, JP;
Koichi Okuda, Susono, JP;
Mitsuhiro Tabata, Suntou-gun, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabuhsiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
In the vehicle of the invention, when the driver releases a depressed accelerator pedal, the drive control sets a vehicle speed V at the moment to a target vehicle speed V* (step S). An engine and a motor for outputting driving power are controlled to drive the vehicle at the target vehicle speed V*. When the driver steps on a released brake pedal, the drive control stores the target vehicle speed V* set before the driver's depression of the brake pedal as a previous target vehicle speed Vpre and cancels the setting of the target vehicle speed V* (steps Sand S). In response to the driver's subsequent release of the brake pedal, the drive control sets the vehicle speed V at the moment to the target vehicle speed V* (step S) and restarts constant-speed drive (cruise drive). When the driver turns a steering wheel to or over a preset degree for a left turn or a right turn, the drive control sets the previous target vehicle speed V* to the target vehicle speed V* (step S) and restarts the constant-speed drive. This arrangement ensures easy and quick start of the constant-speed drive (cruise drive) and enables the constant-speed drive (cruise drive) according to the variation of the driving state.