Pedal Cruise Control via Throttle Stability Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current adaptive cruise control (ACC) systems are hindered by high costs and complexity, limiting their widespread adoption, especially in low-end vehicles, and one-click cruise control requires manual button operation, which is difficult for less experienced drivers and increases hardware costs.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for cruise control that eliminates the need for control buttons by monitoring throttle pedal position, vehicle speed, and driver actions to automatically enter and maintain cruise control mode without manual button operation, using a signal acquisition and processing unit, throttle deviation checking, vehicle speed stability checking, cruise control prompting, and driver action checking units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If adaptive cruise control (ACC) uses sensors, radar and imaging devices to detect driving environment, then the cruising speed determination accuracy is improved, but the system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential detection function needed for cruise control by removing complex sensors, radar and imaging devices. It retains only the throttle pedal position sensor and vehicle speed sensor, which are sufficient to determine cruising speed when combined with throttle stability detection algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses existing vehicle components (throttle pedal position sensor and vehicle speed sensor) that are already present in most vehicles, rather than adding dedicated cruise control sensors. The ECU leverages data from these existing sensors to perform cruise control functions.
2Device complexity
If one-click cruise control requires manual button operation, then the system structure is simplified, but the ease of operation deteriorates for less experienced drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects driver intention to enter or exit cruise control mode by monitoring throttle pedal operations and vehicle speed changes, eliminating the need for manual button pressing. The ECU interprets throttle stability patterns as driver intent, making the system self-activating.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of throttle stability and vehicle speed conditions before automatically activating cruise control mode, preparing the system in advance for mode transition based on detected driving patterns.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cruise control buttons are specially provided on the steering wheel, then the control functionality is improved, but the hardware cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The throttle pedal position sensor serves multiple functions: it controls engine power during normal driving and simultaneously detects driver intention for cruise control activation. The vehicle speed sensor similarly provides speed information for both normal operation and cruise control mode detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing throttle pedal position sensor and vehicle speed sensor are repurposed to provide cruise control detection capabilities, eliminating the need for dedicated cruise control buttons and their associated hardware costs.
4Measurement precision
If ACC uses many sensors and radar devices, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to high cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, complex sensor systems with inexpensive, readily available throttle pedal position sensors and vehicle speed sensors that are already standard equipment in most vehicles, significantly reducing manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the minimum necessary detection capabilities from the full ACC sensor suite, retaining only the essential throttle and speed sensors while removing expensive radar and imaging devices, achieving adequate detection accuracy at lower cost.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of cruise control for a vehicle includes: checking for cruise conditions, determining whether the vehicle is in cruisecontrol mode, and if so, controlling the cruising speed of the vehicle until an exit signal is detected; checking the throttle deviation, 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; if conditions for cruising have been met, issuing a cruising prompt message to the driver, and detecting actions of the driver, and if it is thereafter detected that the driver has released the throttle pedal, then entering the vehicle into cruise control mode whereby the vehicle speed is automatically controlled to the set cruising speed. 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.