DE102018201789B4 - Method and interface for operating a cruise control system - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for operating a system for controlling a driving speed of a vehicle to a target speed, the method having the following steps, consisting of: • when an operator acts on an operating switch (11), - ET11: storing a speed of the vehicle in a Intermediate memory and- ET12: Activation of a stopwatch,• furthermore, when the operating switch is released:- ET21: Deactivation of the stopwatch and, if a duration measured by the stopwatch is greater than a specified duration, updating a setpoint memory by storing the content in the setpoint memory of the intermediate memory is stored, - ET22: Transmission of the setpoint speed contained in the setpoint memory to the speed control system.

Description

Technical field and prior art

The invention relates to the field of monitoring the speed of movement of a motor vehicle and in particular to a method and a man-machine interface for such monitoring.

As is well known, a control system, upon receiving a target speed, controls the speed of a vehicle to regulate and maintain the speed at a speed as close to the target speed as possible, regardless of fluctuations in the running conditions of the vehicle. To do this, the control system generates and transmits control signals to a motorization device and/or a braking device of the vehicle; the control signals depend on the periodic comparison between the actual speed of movement of the vehicle and a target speed that it obtains.

Conventionally, the driver has a man-machine interface to use the control system, which has a two-position control to turn the control system on or off and an incremental control switch to change the target speed by increment or by decrement. However, in practice, the existing human-machine interfaces are barely visible, not very ergonomic and they distract the driver for valuable seconds, so that operating the control system while the vehicle is moving can be dangerous.

The pamphlet DE 10 2007 031545 A1 relates to a method for reactivating an interrupted cruise control of a vehicle which is not stationary. In order to allow the driver to intuitively reactivate the suspended cruise control, the driver can reactivate the suspended cruise control by pressing the accelerator pedal.

Further relates to the pamphlet DE 10 2007 031544 A1 a method for controlling the speed of a motor vehicle by means of a distance-related speed control system, which regulates the speed of a motor vehicle to a specified target speed when driving freely, and controls the speed of the motor vehicle to a specified target distance when driving ahead, with the before the transition to free travel, the current speed is specified as the target speed.

Furthermore, the document relates DE 10 2006 053 934 A1 a method for operating a cruise control system with a storage medium and with an input device. In the method, a new speed is determined, which was specified for the cruise control system independently of the new speed actually being reached. Depending on the new speed determined, the motor vehicle is automatically accelerated or decelerated in the method until the motor vehicle is moving at the new speed determined.

The pamphlet DE 10 2004 016 513 A1 relates to a speed control system for a motor vehicle with means for calculating a drive torque or braking torque as a function of a specifiable setpoint speed. The target speed is specified by a single actuation of a control element that can be actuated. If the operating element is actuated continuously instead of the target speed, a target acceleration is specified, from which the drive torque or braking torque is calculated.

Description of the invention

• ◯. bei einer Einwirkung auf einen Bedienschalter (11) durch eine Bedienperson,
• ◯. ET11: Abspeichern einer Geschwindigkeit des Fahrzeugs in einem Zwischenspeicher und

• - ET12: Aktivieren einer Stoppuhr,
  • • ferner, bei einem Loslassen des Bedienschalters:
• - ET21: Deaktivieren der Stoppuhr und, wenn eine von der Stoppuhr gemessene Dauer größer als eine vorgegebene Dauer ist, Aktualisieren eines Sollwertspeichers, indem in dem Sollwertspeicher der Inhalt des Zwischenspeichers abgespeichert wird,
• - ET22: Übermitteln der in dem Sollwertspeicher enthaltenen Sollgeschwindigkeit an das Geschwindigkeitsregelungssystem.

The invention proposes an operating method and a man-machine interface for operating a cruise control system, which are more ergonomic than the existing solutions. The method according to the invention comprises the following steps consisting of:

• ◯. when an operator acts on an operating switch (11),
• ◯. ET11: storing a speed of the vehicle in an intermediate memory and

• - ET12: activate a stopwatch,
  • • furthermore, when the operating switch is released:
• - ET21: deactivation of the stopwatch and, if a duration measured by the stopwatch is greater than a specified duration, updating a setpoint memory by storing the contents of the buffer in the setpoint memory,
• - ET22: Transmission of the setpoint speed contained in the setpoint memory to the cruise control system.

• • mindestens einen Bedienschalter (11) der Art an/aus,
• • eine Stoppuhr, welche dafür angepasst ist, um eine Dauer einer Einwirkung auf einen Bedienschalter abzuspeichern,
• • einen Zwischenspeicher, welcher dafür angepasst ist, um eine Geschwindigkeit des Fahrzeugs abzuspeichern,
• • einen Sollwertspeicher, welcher mit jedem Bedienschalter verknüpft und dafür angepasst ist, um eine Sollgeschwindigkeit abzuspeichern, und
• • eine Bedienvorrichtung, welche dafür angepasst ist, um den oder die Bedienschalter, die Stoppuhr, den Zwischenspeicher und den oder die Sollwertspeicher für die Durchführung der Schritte des Verfahrens nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche zu steuern.

Such a method can be performed with a human-machine interface, Human-machine interface comprising:

• • at least one control switch (11) of the type on/off,
• • a stopwatch adapted to store a duration of action on a control switch,
• • a buffer adapted to store a speed of the vehicle,
• • a set point memory associated with each control switch and adapted to store a set speed, and
• • an operating device which is adapted to control the operating switch or switches, the stopwatch, the buffer store and the setpoint store or stores for carrying out the steps of the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

Thus, by simply pressing a switch for a longer or shorter time, the driver can choose to memorize a set speed equal to the speed of movement of the vehicle and activate the control system at this set speed, or activate the control system at a set speed memorized from a previous use of the control system. In the case of a long exposure (duration of exposure greater than the specified duration), the stored speed is retained for future use. This is particularly interesting for a movement where the permissible speed changes several times on the same route.

The control switch(es) can be arranged on a steering wheel of the vehicle, preferably in a central area of the steering wheel. He (they) is (are) clearly visible and immediately accessible to activate the control system.

A step of displaying the target speed stored in the target value memory may also be provided. For this purpose, a means for displaying a setpoint speed stored in the setpoint memory of an operating switch can be provided. The display means is arranged next to the operating switch. The driver easily remembers the set speed associated with the switch and so, if he so desires, can quickly activate the control system at the set speed by a brief (of less than the predetermined duration) action on the control switch.

• • bei einer Einwirkung auf einen Bedienschalter unter einer Vielzahl von Bedienschaltern,
  • - ET11: Abspeichern einer Geschwindigkeit des Fahrzeugs in einem Zwischenspeicher und
  • - ET12: Aktivieren einer Stoppuhr,
• • ferner, bei einem Loslassen des Bedienschalters:
  • - ET21: Deaktivieren der Stoppuhr und, wenn eine von der Stoppuhr gemessene Dauer größer als eine vorgegebene Dauer ist, Aktualisieren eines mit dem losgelassenen Bedienschalter verknüpften Sollwertspeichers, indem in dem Sollwertspeicher der Inhalt des Zwischenspeichers abgespeichert wird,
  • - ET22: Übermitteln der in dem mit dem losgelassenen Bedienschalter verknüpften Sollwertspeicher enthaltenen Sollgeschwindigkeit an das Geschwindigkeitsregelungssystem.

According to one embodiment, the method according to the invention comprises the following steps consisting of:

• • in the event of an action on one control switch among a large number of control switches,
  • - ET11: storing a speed of the vehicle in an intermediate memory and
  • - ET12: activate a stopwatch,
• • furthermore, when the operating switch is released:
  • - ET21: deactivation of the stopwatch and, if a duration measured by the stopwatch is greater than a specified duration, updating a setpoint memory linked to the released control switch by storing the content of the intermediate memory in the setpoint memory,
  • - ET22: Transmitting the setpoint speed contained in the setpoint memory linked to the released control switch to the cruise control system.

To this end, the man-machine interface may include a plurality of control switches of the on/off type, and preferably means for displaying a target speed stored in the set value memory of a control switch, each display means being in close proximity to the associated control switch, and preferably on the control switch , is arranged.

The driver thus has several identical switches available. Experience shows that the use of four switches is a good compromise in terms of ergonomics for using the control system during vehicle movement. Displaying the stored target speed in close proximity to each switch allows a desired speed to be easily selected.

The main advantages of the invention are ergonomics, ease of use and easy access to the interface for operating a vehicle's control system. In fact, the driver can memorize one or more set speeds of his choice, then activate the vehicle's control system at the speed of his choice by simply acting on a switch that is clearly visible and easily accessible.

character list

• • 1 ist ein vereinfachtes Schema einer Mensch-Maschine-Schnittstelle gemäß der Erfindung, und
• • 2 ist ein vereinfachtes Schema der Hauptschritte eines Verfahrens gemäß der Erfindung.

The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages of the invention will appear in light of the description which follows an embodiment of the invention. This example is given as non-limiting. The description should be read in conjunction with the attached drawing:

• • 1 is a simplified scheme of a man-machine interface according to the invention, and
• • 2 Figure 12 is a simplified scheme of the main steps of a method according to the invention.

Description of an embodiment of the invention

As previously said, the invention relates to a method and a man-machine interface for operating a cruise control system of a motor vehicle, adapted to generate and transmit control signals to a motorization device and/or a braking device of the vehicle; the control signals depend on the periodic comparison between the actual moving speed of the vehicle and a target speed VC, which is fed to the regulation system via the man-machine interface.

At the in 1 example shown, the man-machine interface has four control switches 11 which are arranged on the steering wheel 10 of the vehicle. For the sake of ergonomics in particular, the switches are located in a clearly visible area of the steering wheel that is easily accessible to the driver. So are in the example of 1 the switches are arranged in pairs on two different arms of the steering wheel and in the immediate vicinity of the rim of the steering wheel. The driver can thus press one of the switches without taking his hands off the rim of the steering wheel. In addition, by pairing the switches together, the driver can more easily remember the position of the switch to press depending on the desired set speed.

The operating switches are here of the on/off type, i.e. switches with two positions: a rest position (when the operator does not touch the switch) and an active position (when the operator presses the switch) which is adapted to perform an action or trigger a process step. In the example shown, the switches are mechanical switches that have a mobile part (here by pressing the switch) between the active position and the rest position. In other examples, the mechanical switches are pushbuttons or they can also be replaced by touch switches, for which simple contact of an operator's finger on a touch zone of the switch allows the switch to be flipped into an active position.

The interface also includes a stopwatch, a buffer, a set point memory per switch, and an operator. These elements are grouped, for example, on an electronic card provided for the control system, or else in a portion of an electronic card that includes other control devices that are also known and adapted to manage the operation of other parts of the vehicle, such as the motorization device , the braking device, the air conditioning device of the vehicle; etc. The stopwatch is used to measure a duration of an action on a control switch and generate a storage signal when the duration is greater than a predetermined duration, of the order of 1 to 3 s, for example equal to 2 s. The buffer is used to temporarily store the speed of the vehicle when a control switch is acted on. Finally, the setpoint memories are used to store the setpoint speeds associated with each control switch.

Finally, the human-machine interface has a display device per switch, which is adapted to display the target speed of an associated switch that is stored in the target value memory. In the example of 1 the switches are covered by an LED screen on which the target speed stored in the target value memory and assigned to the switch, in this case 50, 70, 90, 110 km/h, is displayed. The display means is controlled by the operating device.

The mode of operation of the operating device 1 is schematic in the 2 shown.

• • ET11: die Bewegungsgeschwindigkeit des Fahrzeugs wird in dem Zwischenspeicher abgespeichert, und
• • ET12: die Stoppuhr wird aktiviert.

When the driver operates one of the control switches, the following steps are performed:

• • ET11: the moving speed of the vehicle is stored in the buffer, and
• • ET12: the stopwatch is activated.

• • ET21: die Stoppuhr wird angehalten und, wenn eine von der Stoppuhr gemessene Dauer größer als eine vorgegebene Dauer ist (welche einer langen Einwirkung auf den Schalter entspricht), wird der dem losgelassenen Schalter zugeordnete Sollwertspeicher aktualisiert, indem in dem Sollwertspeicher der Inhalt des Zwischenspeichers abgespeichert wird, das Anzeigemittel wird mit der aktualisierten Sollgeschwindigkeit aktualisiert (ET21a).
• • ET22: die in dem Sollwertspeicher enthaltene Sollgeschwindigkeit wird an das Geschwindigkeitsregelungssystem übermittelt; das Regelungssystem wird so aktiviert.

Then when the driver releases the control switch:

• • ET21: the stopwatch is stopped and, if a duration measured by the stopwatch is greater than a preset duration (corresponding to a long action on the switch), the set-point memory associated with the released switch is updated by storing in the set-point memory the content of the buffer is stored, the display means is updated with the updated setpoint speed (ET21a).
• • ET22: the setpoint speed contained in the setpoint memory is adapted to the speed quality control system transmitted; the control system is thus activated.

A long action on a control switch makes it possible to store a set speed in the set value memory of a control switch, on which the set speed is displayed, and then to activate the control system with this set speed. A brief action (that is, of a duration less than the predetermined duration) on a control switch enables the control system to be activated by applying to it the target speed memorized from a previous action/release of the switch. Preferably, the target speed associated with each switch is retained even after the driver has lost contact with the vehicle. Preferably, the target speed is also only modified by another long press on the corresponding switch.

The driver can set four target speeds, one per switch, for the course of his route, here the target values 50, 70, 90, 110 km/h. Furthermore, by simply pressing briefly on the desired control switch, he can then change the set point used for the control system or activate or reactivate the control system at a different set speed than the previous one.

Claims (8)

Method for operating a system for controlling a driving speed of a vehicle to a target speed, the method having the following steps, consisting of: • if an operator acts on an operating switch (11), - ET11: storing a speed of the vehicle in an intermediate memory and - ET12: activate a stopwatch, • furthermore, when the operating switch is released: - ET21: deactivation of the stopwatch and, if a duration measured by the stopwatch is greater than a specified duration, updating a setpoint memory by storing the contents of the buffer in the setpoint memory, - ET22: Transmission of the setpoint speed contained in the setpoint memory to the cruise control system. operating procedures claim 1 , likewise having a step (ET21a) for displaying the setpoint speed stored in the setpoint memory. Operating procedure according to one of Claims 1 until 2 , having the following steps, consisting of: • when an operating switch among a plurality of operating switches is acted upon, - ET11: storing a speed of the vehicle in an intermediate memory and - ET12: activating a stopwatch, • furthermore, when the operating switch is released: - ET21: deactivation of the stopwatch and, if a duration measured by the stopwatch is greater than a specified duration, updating a setpoint memory linked to the released control switch by storing the contents of the intermediate memory in the setpoint memory, - ET22: transmission of the values in the with set speed contained in the set value memory linked to the released control switch to the cruise control system. Human-machine interface, comprising: • at least one control switch (11) of the type on/off, • a stopwatch adapted to store a duration of action on a control switch, • a buffer adapted to store a speed of the vehicle, • a set point memory associated with each control switch and adapted to store a set speed, and • an operating device which is adapted to control the operating switch or switches, the stopwatch, the buffer store and the setpoint store or stores for carrying out the steps of the method according to any one of the preceding claims. interface after claim 4 , in which the operating switch is arranged on a steering wheel (10) of the vehicle, preferably in a central area of the steering wheel. Interface after one of Claims 4 until 5 comprising a plurality of on/off type operation switches, preferably four operation switches. Interface after one of Claims 4 until 6 , likewise having a means for displaying a setpoint speed stored in the setpoint memory of an operating switch. interface after claim 7 , comprising a display means for each control switch, each display means being arranged in close proximity to the associated control switch, and preferably on the control switch.

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